30 Days of Anime, Day 25: When You're Evil, etc.

[plasmoids]

Best Anime Villain



Ozu is not quite a villain. There isn't exactly a villain or even an antagonist in Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei/The Tatami Galaxy, because with every episode the characters are met and seen from different perspectives. But Ozu is the primary antagonist throughout the series. Even though he's the main character's best friend, he often manages to ruin the "rose colored campus life" the main character seeks and also often ends up in a dress for some reason.

It's not so much that Ozu even means to make the character's life terrible. He just does it because him having a nice life conflicts directly with the main character having one. As it's said in the first episode, it's either the main characters or Ozu who will end up happy, and Ozu seems to win out until the main character (who, yes, does not have a name), gets his shit together and takes control of his own life.

Ozu, though an actual character, and not necessarily a villain, is a metaphor for all the unfortunate stuff that happens to us in life and keeps us down; the thing that always gets in the way from achieving what we really want. And many people have an Ozu. I think he makes for a wonderful villain because EVERYONE technically comes up against him at some point in their lives. Perhaps not in the form of an often dressing wearing co-ed, but somehow, somewhere, they do. He's the antagonist we all know and deal with on a regular basis.

Though I admit, Ozu often comes off as more likable than the main character a lot of time, so that also could be the reason I enjoy his "villainy" so much. While you're screaming at the main character to make better choices in his life already, you're watching Ozu scheme and get his life together in ways that just happen to screw with the main character's. That the main character can't see this can be a little frustrating, but at least the rehashing is fresh every episode and we don't have to sit through another Endless Eight disaster.

Man, I talk a lot. Did anyone besides me even watch this show?

Comments

[milkfed.livejournal.com]

OMG YES, THIS IS THE BEST ANSWER





this brings the number of people I know who watched this series to three, including myself

[plasmoids.livejournal.com]

\o/

Omg, well, my boyfriend watched it with me, so four?