Join Our Newsletter
  • Visit Our Store
  • Come Write for J-List!
J-List Blog
Visit J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
No Result
View All Result

Star Wars, Japan, and goofy ideas for anime

Peter Payne by Peter Payne
9 years ago
in Your Friend in Japan

Last time I talked about how the classic Japanese novel The Tale of Genji — about the playboy son of a fictional emperor from the Heian Period (794-1185) — can be thought of as Japan’s first “harem” story, and that got me thinking about ways they could potentially update the tale for our modern age. Genji can go to high school, and all the beautiful and stylized characters in the book — Lady Murasaki, Aoi-no-Ue, etc. — can be his classmates trying to get him to join their school club, with the warring Taira and Minamoto clans represented as rival high schools who play a game of baseball to determine which is the better school. This got me thinking about what other absurd anime stories I’d like to see. I’m a fan of the film Pleasantville, about a brother and sister who get teleported inside a 1950s black and white TV show, and I wondered why there’s no anime version of this? It can be about an otaku who obsesses about his favorite anime so much, some all-powerful force sends him “into” the show, where he has special powers because of his knowledge of anime tropes. Perhaps the characters can “sense” that there’s some force guiding their actions (the animators and character designers), like the programs and users in Tron. When the main character has to return to the 3D world, there can be a moving scene with the 2D girl he fell in love with, who can’t be with him because he’s real and she’s not. What other silly ideas for an anime do you have?

Looking back, there have really been only two important influences in my life: Japan and Star Wars. Japan came first, delighting my 5-year-old self with the early series like Space Battleship Yamato and Marine Boy (about this kid who could breathe underwater with the help of “oxygum,” it was so cool), plus classic monster fare like Godzilla and Ultraman. Then came Star Wars, which blew my mind by creating a galaxy we never suspected was possible. It turns out that Japan and Star Wars are both two sides of the same coin, since the former draws so much inspiration from Japanese films and history, from the space samurai Jedi to Darth Vader. I love the way Star Wars brings people from different corners of the world together, the same way Japan’s pop culture would enable me to instantly connect with otakus from Norway or New Zealand. After I post this I’m taking off work to head down to Tokyo to watch the film with friends. Have a great weekend, everyone!

J-List loves to bring you fun and unique products from Japan, and we’re loaded with awesome Star Wars toys, snacks and other products that are popular in Japan right now. Browse these fun items during out $25-off-EMS-sale right now!

Tags: cultureGodzillahistoryJapanotakusportsStar Wars

More Posts Like This

Screenshot
Your Friend in Japan

Introducing Megumi Express, The Proxy Buying Service From J-List!

by Peter Payne
2 months ago

Last year, J-List began offering a custom order service, giving customers a way to request items from Japan that weren’t...

I Raised That Boy
Your Friend in Japan

What Anime Raised You? J-List Customers of Culture Respond!

by Peter Payne
3 months ago

One reason I love social media like X, Bluesky, and Facebook is that I can post questions to my followers...

Happy World Otaku Day

Happy World Otaku Day! How Is J-List Celebrating?

5 months ago
Camera Angles In Anime

Yandere Meets Instant Noodles! Anime Marketing with Seiyuu Saori Hayami

6 months ago
How Do Japanese View U.s. Elections

Elections in Japan vs The US! How Does Japan View American Politics?

7 months ago
What Products Should You Get On The J List Sale Page

Senpai, Want to Save Some Money? Browse the J-list Sale Page!

8 months ago
Next Post

The history of 'fanservice' in anime, and a Japan ski report

Trending Today

Please Put Them On Takamine San PV2 5
News

The Power of No Panties, Please Put Them On, Takamine-san

3 months ago
Anime Reverse Image Search Ultimate Guide
Your Friend in Japan

Find That Anime! The Ultimate Anime Reverse Image Search Guide

1 week ago
Shock! Manga Artists Who Also Created Hentai
Your Friend in Japan

Shock! 15 Famous Manga Artists Who Also Made Hentai

1 year ago
Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime Web Cover
News

Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime and Where to Watch Them

2 months ago
Summer Pockets Blog Post
Your Friend in Japan

Summer Pockets: Rewinding to a Simpler Era of Visual Novel Anime

4 days ago
Get the Newest Figures from J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
Happy News! J List's Fiscal Year End Sale Gives You The Best Anime Deals
Your Friend in Japan

Don’t Miss the Best Anime Deals in J-List’s Fiscal Year-End Clearance!

by Peter Payne
May 19, 2025

Don’t Miss the Best Anime Deals in J-List’s Fiscal Year-End Clearance!

Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse Fights Oni in Another World

The Holo Yukata Beauty Figure — Beautiful Beyond Words

The Guilty & Punish Punish Figure — Mixing Succubi with LSD

Marin Kitagawa Cosplay That Hypes Us for Season 2

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Discord
  • YouTube

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.