frustrating to admit, but netflix may be more formidable for anime than i anticipated...
Sigh… I can’t believe I’m writing this. Initially, I didn’t consider the possibility of discussing anime, competence, and Netflix in the same sentence.
I’ve constantly dismissed the possibility of strong offerings coming from the platform and downplayed it constantly. I originally pegged it as a redundant service with occasional exclusives. My kouhai, Drleg3nd, and I have had numerous debates about what made the service a viable anime platform. And he’d always combat with whatever exclusive content it had, which admittedly was more often good than bad, the ability to binge Netflix grown anime, and the mighty skip intro button, which is admittedly convenient. However, much of Netflix’s library are series commonly available on Funimation and CrunchyRoll. And skipping the intro takes seven to eight taps of skip forward 10 secs.
so how did we get here then?
I really have been pondering on why kouhai has been so adamant about the platform for anime. Why was he so passionate about Netflix? And then it hit me. Something he really never mentioned. There are three anime that reminded me of VHS era anime OVAs and movies. And when I say that, I am talking about how uncensored it is. I know it is a rather crass thing to notice, but anime is somewhat subdued. Anime during the VHS era was very liberal with displaying gore, blood, and sex. I’ll elaborate and compare.
Anime today is much more tame in comparison. The most stomach churning elements typically shown are gallons of blood spray and bone breaking. The most explicit sexually is typically implied actions, subtle noises, and possibly ecchi activity. The anime of that era let it all “hang out” figuratively.
First two is from the OVA: MD Geist Last two from Alita Battle Angel
the profound three that opened my eyes...
The beauty that I am starting to notice, and what is actually fairly promising about Netflix: DevilMan Crybaby, Castlevania, and Super Crooks were not censored whatsoever. So the gore was actually shown. Viscera and all. Again, it is rather crass to be excited about this, but it’s honestly refreshing and nostalgic. The grittiness and maturity is a defining trait of anime, and it blew my mind when I saw it during those days. Censorship takes away the impact of particular scenes, sheer brutality of particular actions. And for my deviants, actual sex scenes.
So for Netflix, there is even larger potential that is unlocked with the ability to provide uncensored content. A lot of the manga that would be difficult to adapt because of its excessive gore and violence, could properly air on Netflix platform. Immediately what comes to mind is a 2nd season of Deadman Wonderland, which manga was much more… chaotic than the anime. Jackals. Goblin Slayer S2. Even Terra Formars. Some anime’s uncensored content is its lifeblood. The brutality and savagery of the Goblins in Goblin Slayer are conveyed with proper purity in the manga. Thinking about it, censorship of some anime is why the manga counterpart is so much better.
Additionally, some manga live and die by its brutality. Let’s be honest, Terra Formars is a B-Movie slasher flick of a series that lost a lot of its bite due to censorship. It lived and died by that violent content. So without it, you’d evaluate it more seriously, which the writer did not intend. It’s just supposed to be “shut your brain off and enjoy the carnage” type of anime. So it just feels hollow without the hollow violence properly showcased.
Wild thought: an actual continuation of Berserk anime as intended, possibly giving proper closure to the late Miura’s work. Allow it to be as savage, as brutal, and as dark as the manga. Literally the skies are the limit because shackles of censorship do not apply on the platform. Netflix may be the Dark Horse I didn’t expect. And that excites the hell out of me.
sigh... so here leg3nd, take your bouquet
Have you guys considered this possibility yourselves? “DevilMan” and soon to be “Bastard” have been revived on the platform. Are you guys excited?
Chime ya thoughts below. I’m looking forward to the responses and discussion