Japanese cartoons, or anime, are increasingly appearing on television and computer screens. They are especially popular among the young generation, which, like a sponge, absorbs everything new. Many parents do not approve of such a hobby, because sometimes the scenes in these cartoons can shock with their frankness. And the genre of senen ah, in their opinion, even promotes homosexuality.
But anime fans vehemently defend their hobby. They believe that there is nothing wrong with the work of Japanese animators, and there are age restrictions on all cartoons. There is logic in their words. In order to finally understand everything, you must first learn about the origins of this genre. This is the only way to understand what senen ah is and whether it is fraught with a threat.
It's all about the manga
All cultures have their own magazines and picture books: the Americans had comics, the Soviet Union - the journal Pepper, well, and the Japanese began to draw manga. Outwardly, this work resembled a comic book, with black and white pictures and a very thoughtful plot.
Until 1960, most of the manga stories were devoted to historical figures and were a kind of samurai action movie. But time passed, more and more new genres began to appear. And in 1970, the first manga Senen Ay saw the light.
Features of Japanese culture
Japan has always been famous for its strict adherence to traditions. Therefore, in order to understand what senen ay is, first of all, it is necessary to study the cultural characteristics of this country. The fact is that in Japan a woman could not openly express her feelings, otherwise she would have shamed her entire family.
And so, the Japanese mangaki found themselves in a delicate situation where the plot demanded a feeling of warmth, and a moral taboo forbade the use of female characters for this purpose. Then one writer created a story where the main characters were exclusively guys. Since then, the manga Senen Ay began to gain popularity, until it became one of the most popular genres.
Japanese animation
Over time, the manga began to move to TV screens. At first, it was only an adaptation of famous authors, made in black and white. But then the viewer began to demand more and more. Animation studios began to appear in all districts, the sole purpose of which was to create animated films.
In addition to the usual genres, the producers of the studios did not disdain the anime and senen ah. Initially, even the types of the main characters were clearly distributed. For example, by the color of the hair, it was easy to understand what kind of character the hero had. There was also an unwritten “rule of growth”, according to which a character with a short stature was often the initiator of a relationship.
But over time, the writing cliches began to disappear, and now it is quite difficult to determine the inner world of the characters based on their external data.
What is senen ah in modern animation
If the history of the genre is clear, then what it is now should be dealt with in more detail. First of all, it should be noted that this type of animation production is released with a age limit of 16+. Therefore, these cartoons were not originally intended for viewing by children.
Often the main characters of the works are young men who love each other or who realize their feelings as the story develops. Frank scenes, and even more so pornography, are alien to the genre senen. In their manga, and then in the anime, the masters first of all want to demonstrate the beauty of platonic love between two guys. In such works you rarely see even a kiss, what to speak of intimate moments.
In most anime, Senen Ai, everything is limited to strong friendship, bordering on love. The only thing pushing homosexuality is that the heroes are too reverent about their feelings, cherishing them like a little miracle. In addition, the characters are often given a feminine look, which involuntarily pushes the viewer to think about their unconventional orientation.
Also, according to the tradition of the genre, the main characters, or at least one of them, often die at the end of the story. Therefore, the continuation of any relationship in the future is impossible for very tragic reasons.
The myth that Senen Ay was invented for homosexuals
Now you can often hear that this product is designed for people with certain deviations in sexual terms. But the paradox is that Senen Ay is designed primarily for female audiences. In Japan, manga of this genre is sold only in the female departments of a supermarket or bookstore. And the most ardent fans of this anime are girls aged 16 to 24 years.
What makes the young lady watch such cartoons? Here are a few theories.
First , as mentioned earlier, women in Japan cannot openly express their feelings, and this leads to the appearance of hidden desires. Comparing themselves with the heroes of manga, girls, albeit briefly, break out of the framework established by morality, which undoubtedly brings them pleasure.
Secondly , the image of a sensitive man has always attracted a female heart. Indeed, in real life such a boyfriend is rarely seen.
Thirdly , many are attracted by a well-thought-out plot of stories. Dynamic scenes, sharp turns and intrigue often accompany this genre.
The best works of the genre
There is a huge amount of anime senen ah. The list of championships can be made for a long time, but among the Russian-speaking population, the following works are considered the best:
- "The world's best first love" / Sekaiichi Hatsukoi;
- "Blood of a cursed dog" / Togainu no Chi;
- “Betrayal knows my name” / Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shitteiru.
After reviewing them, you can finally understand what senen ah is. And here everyone has to decide for himself whether it is worth watching this genre or not. As for the children, here parents must control so that they do not violate the age prohibition.