Q: Is Animation Escapism? If so: What are YOU escaping from?

Albeit a personal observation of mine, I admit my "guilt" in it, if any, that I do certain things/activities in order to escape from a sometimes dreary world where few things seem to go right.
I think it fair to say that most people, by & large, wish to escape reality at times. Some do so destructively, i.e. alcohol, drugs, crime, etc...while still others do so constructively, i.e., music, poetry, reading good books, art, etc.

If anime is in fact YOUR "escape": What then are you escaping from?
And why did you choose anime over anything else?

School, usually. Though college tends to be better than High School in that respect, there are times when I just don't want to deal with it.

"Why animation over anything else?" Well, I don't exclude other forms of escapism (reading, writing, music, other movies, etc.) it's probably one of my favorites to indulge in. With The Secret of NIMH, I'd say it's mostly because of the other fans I associate with, either here on the forum or on NIMHmuck... they're a great, intelligent bunch of people, and we end up having some fun and interesting discussions (or Role Play, in the case of NIMHmuck).

BTW, anime refers to Japanese/Oriental animation, generally speaking. When we're not talking about the Secret of NIMH, specifically, we're usually referring to Western (US/European) animation (which includes The Secret of NIMH) or just animation in general. I like some anime, so I don't mind, but to avoid confusion, you might want to make sure to use the right term. ;)

I would say school like Simon and also "worry." To be honest, Disney is more of the thing that I use (or try). My big problem is that I think I'm too into it, that my worries make me think that the stuff that I like are mad at me for some reason. I know it sounds stupid for some people though. And I really need something that actually works. I really want Disney to be it. I'm wondering how to lower my obbsessive level so that I can relax with it. I'm really mad about myself 'cause once someone told me that if I don't forget about all the bad stuff when you do the stuff you like, it's actually NOT what you like. I go to Disneyland (Tokyo) quite often. That kinda helps more than staying in my house though.

Why "worry" you might ask. But there was an event (which I can't tell what it is since it's kinda personal) that made me so guilty and gave me a habit of worrying about stuff too much. I would say feeling better by talking to people (like on NIMHmuck) sorta works though...

Hmm, this is interesting to consider, so thank you. For me, animation and/or fictional movies in general have a tendency to be "amusement" rather than "entertainment," so taking part in them helps relieve some stress for me.

(NOTE: Amusement is derived from the Greek "A" meaning "no" or "not," and "Muse" meaning "to think." Therefore, "Amusement" means "not to think," a literal escapist agent)

Is escapism wrong? It can be, but who doesn't need a break? I hope I don't wear out my welcome by continuing to refer back to my Christian uprbinging, because I don't want to be haughty, proud or offensive in any way (if I am, please tell me; I will amend my focus and conversation); but I find that in the Old Testament the Israelites were told to take the seventh day of the week off (not doing anything remotely related to work), and also to grant their land an entire year (every seventh year) when they didn't grow crops on it, in order that the land may replenish its mineral supply for the next six years.

I find that anything you take part in that inspires thought and/or consideration of other things is beneficial. Your comment was on escapism, so I'll try and not be too tangential. :wink: I suppose if you continually run from something, that "something" will always be in your shadow and continue to haunt you. Escapism, if you define it as any moment where you wish to put aside a subject of anxiety or worry, doesn't have to be wrong or damaging at all, whether you use western animation or any alterior medium. I know from experience that anything you subsitute for your anxieties for very long will just become another problem in life, something you can't give up easily.

When it comes down to it, it's important to come to terms with whatever ails us. School (for some of the above-posted and myself) is just oen of those things that you need a brake from, but can't ignore for very long without facing consequences that you'll kick yourself over for the rest of your life. Work is the same. Family and personal issues fall in the same ballpark. Ultimately, you make a choice, and western animation and movies can be your medium for stress release, just don't let it grip you innescapably. It's in human nature to hate a tyrannical lord or master, and anything to which we subject ourselves as slaves becomes a master of our life.

En finis, don't get so discouraged and despairing about what has a hold on you if it does (your obsessions). Everyone deals with them, and it takes a calm determination to let go. True, it's harder to get free when you tie the knots yourself (sometimes), btu decisiveness and a determination to find that freedom is reasonably close at hand when we come to a point where we accept full responsibility for things. I know that was my big issue with several areas. :? Bearing the weight of the situation seems like balarky, but it frees people to do what is needed to no longer need to escape.

I'm talking too much. :wink: I should take from Shakespear, yes?

"Lend every man thine ear, but few thy voice." - Shakespear

I'll be working on that. :)

one word (stress)

the stress of home. the stress of school. the stress of everyday life.

Hmm, this is interesting to consider, so thank you. For me, animation and/or fictional movies in general have a tendency to be "amusement" rather than "entertainment," so taking part in them helps relieve some stress for me.

That's an interesting shade of meaning (entertainment v. amusement), and one that I'd never considered.

Hmm, this is interesting to consider, so thank you. For me, animation and/or fictional movies in general have a tendency to be "amusement" rather than "entertainment," so taking part in them helps relieve some stress for me.

That's an interesting shade of meaning (entertainment v. amusement), and one that I'd never considered.

I'm glad you think so. :) It's something I was taught in a word study not too long ago. It has since stuck with me.

I never thought of it as that as Escapism, but as art form that I love yes!! :D , I use It to getaway, You bet , But anywho, the works of an animater just sends off such power in the pen, that being wonderful works of art (thru the artist hands) I just love it , because I cannot do it (draw), But Yay!! to those who can!! I also enjoy the works of others!! :D, Why do I hang out in the Fan-Art section a lot ?, I just love what they bring to life in their works :)

Even when 120,000 works of art, (cels) makes a movie named "THE Secret of NIMH",..... One must read the book "Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" To enjoy to the most of both arts 8)
It goes on and who can halt it.

Yeah, but cartoons aren't my escapism, MIDDLE EARTH is. :lol:

To escape from the idiocy, the stupidity of man kind is something that will never happen unless I move to a remote island where there is no hope for emergency supplies, monkeys in a barrel, or the little everlasting gobstopper that would give me a lead to an untimely death by choking...liblinkli yeah...what the hell am I talking about? O_O

This is definitely something I haven't really thought of before...

Well, I guess that escapism is an important aspect of anyone's life. Everyone needs a chance to relax, settle down, and just get away from it all. Some enjoy a good piece of art, or listen to soothing music. Others engage in physical activity like sports or gymnatics. The privileged few immerse themselves in a fantasy world for hours on end ;)

I, personally, escape into the NIMH fandom and animation in general for several reasons. Firstly, I just enjoy the wonderful stories and fantastic world that surrounds the NIMH rats and the various adventures they have; such things are certainly quite a break from the normal drudgery of life. Secondly, I have discovered the hard way that one cannot simply focus his life upon his work without becoming seriously fatigued. The fandom, therefore, is my primary method of "letting out steam," as it were, and renewing my strength for more challenges.

The third reason, however, requires some explanation. Throughout my personal and spiritual education, I have come to realize that there are certain grand themes, certain great meanings and symbols that permeate the world, expressing ultimate truths that lead to the real meaning behind it all. For example, what better symbol of charity can one find than that of a kind-hearted benefactor like, say, Mother Teresa offering aid to the most helpless? What better symbol for the tragedy of the human condition can we find but the piteous figure of an orphaned child, the victim of war, pestilence, and neglect? It is symbols like these that reveal to us that there is something more meaningful, more amazing, more profound than the simple, material world which we experience daily.

Unfortunately, the hustle and bustle of modern life makes it very difficult for us to see this greater meaning. In fact, many people, especially in the developed world, have stopped believing in such a world altogether, focussing their lifes instead upon the purely base and material, becoming shallow and flat in the process...I believe that the world of animation, particularly that of the "fantasy" persuasion, serves to alleviate this crisis of spirit in today's society. Great animated features, like any other excellent form of media such as literature and art, relate to us more fully these higher, essentially human themes. Through the struggles and trials which the characters undergo, we develop a greater acquaintance for the greater truth behind that struggle. We begin to ask questions like; what does this trial mean? How does it relate to our condition? What is it trying to teach us? Animation is especially useful in this regard because of the vividness of its presentation; it's makes these grand themes of life seem more concrete, more real than what we normally see. Thus, it is not just the body that benefits, but the soul as well.

Please, don't feel embarrassed about displaying your beliefs, Tort. Everyone is a very understanding and open-minded. I myself am even very welcome to it; it's not very often I encounter someone who shares my Christian beliefs. Also, your references to Scripture only serve to add depeth and richness to the discussion by highlighting our ultimate dependence on Western intellectual and spiritual traditions :)

Anyways, I hope that you will all find my view on this matter a bit refreshing. Have a good time, as always ^_^


P.S. Special thanks to Big Bee for starting up this profound topic ;)

Stress, and far more than my fair share of it..

But my escape ended up bringing me more stress.

I am driven to go to greater and greater lengths to escape from the stress, using the very thing which stresses me as a catylyst.

Soon, I hope, the stress will be gone..

--Tzolkin

Perhaps so, for some. For example, in "The Great Mouse Detective", at the beginning of the film when Olyvia is found by Dawson, she is sitting on a small box inside a boot, crying. The box that she is sitting on is a box of liver pills. The artist had put that in after a death in the family, taken by liver disease.

interesting how events effect us like they do.