Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Why Is Anime Obsessed With Power Lines? (atlasobscura.com)

Posted by msmash on from the random-observations dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: Why are there so many shots of power lines in Japanese anime cartoons? The Tumblr Power Lines in Anime is dedicated to appreciating the truly lovely and surprisingly ubiquitous depictions of mundane power lines that appear in a large number of Japanese animation series. The blog is run by Tumblr user whitequark, who first started to notice the trend while watching a romantic comedy anime. Anime series can cover any number of genres, including sports, high fantasy, office life, and, of course, science fiction, but no matter what it's about, it seems that if the story is set on modern-day Earth, it will contain some amazingly detailed images of power lines, telephone poles, and other wired infrastructure. While a number of anime series (and cartoons in general), opt for a style of hyper-detailed backgrounds before which relatively simpler characters can interact, power lines stand out for the detail and complexity required to illustrate them.

4 of 233 comments (clear)

  1. Serial Experiments Lain by ziggystarsky · · Score: 4, Insightful

    SEL is a 1998 anime. It is full of power line shots. I'd estimate that around 2-5 percent of the series consist of power lines. It would be interesting whether this was the start of the trend. Can someone please categorize this Tumblr thing into pre and post 1998, please?

  2. Power lines equal western cultural encroachment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Before WWII, outside Tokyo - rural Japan didn't have as many power lines as western countries.
    With culture going back centuries... japanese perceived power lines as western encroachment and the loss of the authentic Japanese self.
    And since nearly all power lines come from and go to "someplace else", they are by definition "invasive" to the local world.
    And since power utilities are authoritative entities... they represent invasive authority.

  3. Re:Why are Slashdot editors so obsessed.... by Kierthos · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "News for nerds" includes anime nerds.

    I personally don't care for stories on pretty much anything Apple does, but they still should be posted. Nobody is making you read them or comment on them.

    --
    Mr. Hu is not a ninja.
  4. Because... by tarokejihi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    there are a lot of power lines in Japan you insensitive clod ! ^_^