Grief and Loss in Anime: a case examination of Puella Madoka Magica Magi, Mawaru Penguindrum and X

Either you are recently introduced to anime or you are a seasoned fan, it's highly unlikely you haven't watched or simply heard about the first two shows in the picture above, because twitter, forums and blogs were abuzz and overly hyped about them last year. Now, it's highly possible you don't even recognize the hunks in the bottom and the anime/manga they are from, unless you are an obsessed fan of CLAMP or a MADHOUSE admirer. All three of them have as central themes the loss and how people face them. The important issue here is how these series present the themes and how well they handle them...

My-HIME: On Love

If My-HIME has done something right apart from the gorgeous music and beautiful character designs, is how it presents the theme of love and a refreshing view to what is 'true love'. Akane's and Kazu's romance, Shizuru's and Natsuki's love, and Tokiha Mai's relationship with her brother, Mikoto and Yuuichi are what I'll keep in my heart after years have passed.

Jorge Bucay- An Interview translation (partly) and 'Count on me' quotes

Hallelujah by Misty on deviantart

I want you to listen to me without judging me
I want your opinion without advice
I want you to trust me without requirements
I want your help, not to decide for me
I want you to take care of me without invalidating me
I want you to look without projecting yourself onto me
I want you to embrace me without making me choke
I want you to give me vitality without pushing me
I want to be supported by you, not to become a burden to you
I want you to protect me without lies
I want you to be close without invading
I want you to be aware of my sides that are the most disturbing to you, to accept them and to not try to change them...
I want you to know.. that today you can depend on me... unconditionally

 
Jorge Bucay was on this blog earlier and I think that he'll continue to make appearances, because he is a very competent story-teller and a phychotherapist that can talk simple words and still be a professional or a scientist if you want. Some of his stories helped me immediately with problems 'on the agenda' or ones occuring suddenly. I think this tells something. And today this post about him is also a way of giving an answer to a person very dear to me :)

So, I'll begin with a translation of a small part of an interview I found in greek and I'll proceed with a summary and some very important stories from his book 'Count on me'.

Loving Oneself With Open Eyes by Jorge Bucay and Silvia Salinas

Amor Liberate by kuscherlirmer on deviantart

Love can liberate, but not until we're willing to expose our flaws to others, admit that what annoys us in others is 99% part of ourselves and work it out. After all, as Hugh Prater said:

A stone is never annoying, unless it's in your way

In this wonderful book with the veil of a novel, one discovers the truths behind the success and the fail of some relationships. We are urged to tend carefully to our partners and subsequently to ourselves. We learn of the nature of love and all these in an understandable way.

Eros is to love the similarities, and love, to fall in love with the differences.

 (Translation from Greek version)