Central Theme: Difference between revisions

* ''[[Kino's Journey]]'' -: Is there any underlying point to the stories, any unifying concept? Perhaps. It could be seen as an extended lesson in the law of unintended consequences.

** [[H. L. Mencken]] said, that there is always an easy solution to every human problem: neat, plausible, and wrong. That is really the theme of this series. Each place that Kino visits, there was a problem which was solved by adoption of a solution which was neat and plausible and far too simplistic. And in each case we eventually learn why the chosen solution was wrong.

* ''[[Serial Experiments Lain]]'' is, at is core, an exploration of the impact of the information age on the human soul. At a time when the internet was only just getting off, it foretold a future where Everything is Connected. It explores the concept of a Technologicaltechnological [[The Singularity|singularity]], "Close the World, Open the Next"

** Not completely meaningless per se, but it's not quite as deep as most people think it is. Unless the person thinks it does, then it will be, because the entire series was [[The Walrus calledWas Paul]].

* ''[[Voices of a Distant Star]]'' -: Does physical distance matter for two people in love? What if she's in another city? Country? Continent? Star System? Einstein said "The great distances between the stars is nothing compared to the infinite distance between human hearts", and this movie tries to prove him dead wrong.

* ''[[Monster (manga)|Monster]]'' -: Can any human being be considered a monster, totally beyond redemption? Is it wrong to take a life, even to save others? It explores these questions right to the logical conclusion, then leaves it to the viewer to figure it out.

* ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'' -: You can never outrun your past. Even the [[Spoof Aesop]] from episode 10 works into this concept. {{spoiler|'Don't leave things in the fridge', if you're curious.}}

** ''[[Samurai Champloo]]'', it'sits [[Spiritual Successor]], has a similar theme. Or maybe it's "sometimes you need to let go of the past". Or some combination of both.

** ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'', ''[[The Big O]]'', ''[[Karas]]'' and ''[[Tiger and Bunny]]'' all seems to have the same central message - you can live neither by clinging to the past, nor rejecting it to blindly march towards the future. Each explores it in a different way - in ''Karas'' it takes form of conflict between tradition and progress; in ''Tiger & Bunny'' it's the clash between different brands of heroism with new ones claiming the old to be outdated as well as {{spoiler|Barnaby's breakdown once he finds out his memories are fake}}; in ''Cowboy Bebop'' it's contrast between Spike's inability to let go of his revenge, Jet's ability to confront and deal with his, and Faye's {{spoiler|problems with amnesia}}; and in ''The Big O'' it's constantly showing that even disconnected from his past, man will still build on his future on its legacy. Apart from that, some of them have additional central themes they explore:

*** ''[[Karas]]'' -: the relationship between [[The Cowl]] archetype and the city he protects.

*** ''[[Tiger and Bunny]]'' -: relationships between co-workers. Racism can be defeated.

* ''[[Death Note]]'' -: Power corrupts.

* ''[[Paranoia Agent]]'' -: You can't be a child forever.

* ''[[Princess Tutu]]'' -: You can control your own destiny.

* ''[[Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind]]'' -: It is better to try to understand what we do not know about rather than to fight against it.

* ''[[Kiki's Delivery Service]]'' -: Growing up isn't so bad; in fact, it can be wonderful.

* ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'' -: Can there be peace between man and nature?

* ''[[Sonic X]]'' -: While there is no real overarching theme, in the first season one message conveyed seems to be that friendship can last forever, even if two friends are apart.

* ''[[Dragonball Z]]'' -: The series gets a lot of flak for its [[Sorting Algorithm of Evil]], but Self Improvement IS''is'' the main theme of the series. "Just because you can blow up a planet, you shouldn't declare yourself [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpkeAQG6kQw perfect]; there is always someone out there better, so never stop trying to better yourself.

* ''[[Naruto]]'' -: Two major themes: "The old must make way for the new" (thus, all immortals to appear are villains) and "How far can a person go to save someone who doesn't want to be saved?". The second could also be expanded into the more general "[[Cycle of Revenge|How can you save the world from itself]]?".

* ''[[Blood Plus]]'' -: Family is made up of people who love each other in spite of their faults, not blood relations.

* ''[[Chrono Crusade]]'' -: According to [[Word of God]], "the idea of time running out." The bonds between people also seems to be a major running theme (Moriyama indicated in an interview that he felt that one of the themes was the relationship of the two main characters, and there's three pairs of siblings that are very important to the plot.)

* ''[[Code Geass]]'' -: Do the ends justify the means?

* ''[[Afro Samurai]]'' -: Two in one:

* The ''[[Ghost in the Shell]]'' franchise -: What does it mean to be human?

* ''[[Sailor Moon]]'': Evil never dies, but neither do the ones who fight it.

* ''[[Giant Robo]]: The Day The Earth Stood Still'' -: Can happiness be achieved without sacrifice? How can a son honor his father's legacy?

* ''[[Towa no Quon]]'' -: it is our emotions that makes us human.

* ''[[Un-Go]]'' -: When truth collides with good of the society, which is more important?