[EVA] "Banned" and Evangelion (was: & Battle Royale)

[Brendan Jamieson]

"John Hokanson Jr." wrote: 
>since our legal system is based largely on common law.

You mean, 'used to be', right? ^_^;

>Misato's overtures to Shinji is a minor detail. You could scarcely
>accuse her of soliciting sex to a minor because it's obvious she
>wasn't serious, as confirmed by her untimely death (which she knew
>was coming).

Well, I'd say Misato certainly thought of Shinji in a sexual manner...
but I suppose that's neither here nor there.
(I'd say she was quite sincere about "the rest"... imho. even if she was
going to die.)

>I personally thought the scene with the kiss was very sweet.

As did I, but I also felt that it showed Misato's way of relating to
males (= sex). It wasn't just a  peck, it was an "adult kiss". Misato
even saw fit to point it out to Shinji (in case he didn't notice, I
suppose).
Michael Wignall pointed out that the Newtype books noted that when
Misato went to talk to Shinji in episode 23, she was looking for more
than comfort.

>I don't think there exists a very strong case here, although
>I admit there hasn't ever existed a case to specifically test this.

Well, really I wasn't thinking of the Misato-Shinji scene alone, but as
a component of the sum total.
Evangelion is a very sexual film, some subtle and some blatant, and the
sexuality of the protagonists is a major plot point.
The Tin Drum was banned solely for 'suggesting' oral sex with a minor
(of course, that *was* in Oklahoma ^_^;;)

Also, I wasn't aware of the overturned rulings. The last article I read
about this topic said that the rulings were *any* media that featured a
minor, or what 'appeared to be' a minor, was illegal (including drawings
and computer-generated/altered images). And that certain forms of
pornography would be watched closely (they noted the school girl uniform
look as one walking a thin line...). The idea behind it was that these
images (etc.) condoned or endorsed certain illegal behaviors. (Of
course, the flaws in the kind of logic should have been readily
apparent...)

In the end, I suppose EoE will simply be too low-key to garner much
attention from anyone who would pursue these issues though. Hopefully
anyway.
 
>They haven't banned it (yet), nor will they probably ever unless it's
>specifically categorized as child pornography.

The uncut 'Kite' would certainly be regarded as such. It may not be
"banned" per se, but it is illegal.
(Of course, I've noticed the uncut HK VCD appears in eBay from time to
time...)

>Plus, I think Bochan Bird pointed out that Gainax and the TV studios made
>cuts to Eva because of pressure from Japanese parent groups.

Yes but the final product was still infinitely more explicit than what
you'd find on US television.
And Bochan has also talked about the explicit sex 'soap opera' -esque
programs that have run in the evening. Shows so explicit they that
utilize the digital mosaic.

-brendan