CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

Okay, one of my lil sis's friends lent her a volume of Rounini Kenshin (forgive me if I misspelled. I know I did in the title though--) Enchanting, I know. It was the first volume to be precise, but he has upto three which he is more than happy to give to her.

So, here's my dilemna. She's just 12. "She'll be thirteen soon"(as I am reminded on almost daily basis), but "thirteen soon" is still twelve. My first reaction when I saw her with it was *clears throat and dons a very stern visage* "You are not reading that. You are not" She was really mad at me and told me not to be her mom. But I'm ALOT older than her, and wether I am her mom or not-- sometimes I still feel like I am. This feeling is only intensified by the fact that my parents know little or nothing about manga. So saying "Oh, yeah, I'll just let mom decide. " is really lousy option. Afterall, all she'll see when she looks at it is a comic book. You know-- the "Archy and Jughead" of her youth. But we all know manga ain't that.

Once my initial anger subsided, I said "You remember what it's like when older people clamped down on you because they didn't know what you were into. Do you want to be one of those ignorant condemning people you've had to fight all your life." So, I did what I wish people would do for me before they condemned by manga. I read the first volume. (Which proves I REALLY love her, because I really can't stand most shonen. Kenshin is no exception. And if you're wondering-- yes, I am a fraud. My user name should really be "Shoujofanatic." It would atleast be more truthful.) Now, aside from some violence (which really wasn't THAT graphic compared to alot of the movies she's seen. LOTR, being one of them), there wasn't anywhere when I just stood up indignantly and said "Oh, her innocent eyes must not behold this!!!"

So, my question to you guys-- is there something in further volumes which I should no so I can just warn her that there will be volumes she won't be allowed to read. I am sorta the manga armchair adviser to my parents, so you guys will be helping more than me. Thanks alot. (I'd like to know if there's any sex/nudity or any violence that's excessive.)

I've read the first five volumes, and should be getting the sixth pretty soon if I can find it someplace.
I can't really speak for any volumes past number five however.
The worst violence so far is in volume 4 where four people get mowed down with a gatling gun, and get their heads sliced off after they have died. You can skim through it if you want to know how violent it actually is.

No sex/nudity so far. The content of the dialouge and the language is about PG-13 level.

That's about as much as I can tell you. Do note that the Rurouni Kenshin manga is rated T for Older Teens instead of just T for Teen.

Kenshin is perfectly fine. I let my 13 year old sister read almost all my manga and Kenshin's very tame compared to some stuff she likes. But then again, my sister is *very* mature for her age so that's the only reason why I do it. But I've read as much Kenshin as he wants to give your sister and it's fine. She'll be ok with it.
-Angel

It's older teen. Are you serious? *hits her younger sister's friend on the head.* "You're not old enough to be reading this!"

Those ratings are stupid, seriously. They mean nothing. They're so not accurate, or so I think. You don't rate Kensshin and NGE on the same level. No. It doesn't work. Kensshin is sooo much more tame than NGE. If you're really concerned, I'd suggest either reading the manga's yourself or pm'ing Vash_is_a_Plant who is the Kensshin expert here in Florida.
-Angel

I understand your dilemma, Mangafanatic. My little brothers are starting to ask to read my manga, and I'm hesitent about some of it. I think alot does depend on the maturity of individual people. But it seems to T+ rating has solved your problem for you. ^^

I did read the first volume. But I will think about PMing Vash. Thanks.

I imagine they rated it Older Teen to be on the safe side...and probably for violence.

But, I myself don't really see any problems giving it to a 13-year-old...

I really can't stand most shonen. My user name should really be "Shoujofanatic."
[quote]

So you don't consider Evangelion totally Shonen? I think I could agree too.

Where did that come from?

Evangelion is very definetly shonen.

Nah, I wouldn't consider it totally shonen. Just some shonen. I guess the difference to me is that Evangelion center alot on characters and not as much on the mechas (if it were all about mechas and the characters were secondary, it would be more shonen to me. I know this is probably a generalizaion, but please don't barbacue me. I will be the first to say that I'm completely ignorant about shonen.) Kenshin was just too much about swords and fighting. (You know the passage when Kenshin and Kaoru are discussing the blade he carries around and how it's backwards,er, whatever. I was like-- "and why do I care?")

BTW, Master D, Zip made reference to Evangelion because we've been PMing about it. Don't worry, Zip, it didn't seem random to me.

Mangafanatic wrote:Nah, I wouldn't consider it totally shonen. Just some shonen. I guess the difference to me is that Evangelion center alot on characters and not as much on the mechas (if it were all about mechas and the characters were secondary, it would be more shonen to me. I know this is probably a generalizaion, but please don't barbacue me. I will be the first to say that I'm completely ignorant about shonen.) Kenshin was just too much about swords and fighting. (You know the passage when Kenshin and Kaoru are discussing the blade he carries around and how it's backwards,er, whatever. I was like-- "and why do I care?")

BTW, Master D, Zip made reference to Evangelion because we've been PMing about it. Don't worry, Zip, it didn't seem random to me.

Glad to hear it. yah, it's basically half and half. But I think it's more shonen than shojo just because it's overall style and main story. Then again, whenever I think Shojo, I think of delicately drawn girls and bishonen dudes all over the place dating and stuff. (eew) I hear Fruit Baskets is pretty good, but I dunno. (sorry for this being so random and I'm sorta going off topic.. )

Mangafanatic wrote:Nah, I wouldn't consider it totally shonen. Just some shonen. I guess the difference to me is that Evangelion center alot on characters and not as much on the mechas (if it were all about mechas and the characters were secondary, it would be more shonen to me. I know this is probably a generalizaion, but please don't barbacue me. I will be the first to say that I'm completely ignorant about shonen.) Kenshin was just too much about swords and fighting. (You know the passage when Kenshin and Kaoru are discussing the blade he carries around and how it's backwards,er, whatever. I was like-- "and why do I care?")

BTW, Master D, Zip made reference to Evangelion because we've been PMing about it. Don't worry, Zip, it didn't seem random to me.

Finally, someone who agrees with me on NGE's genre.

Fruits Basket is way better than pretty good. It's awesome. Read it. (and I would agree that NGE is more shonen.)

hey guys...just a reminder...take it easy on the NGE talk, alright?

Righto. We're off it. So-- back to Kenshin.

Mangafanatic wrote:Fruits Basket is way better than pretty good. It's awesome. Read it. (and I would agree that NGE is more shonen.)

I think I'll pick up the first volume sometime then. Azumanga Daioh looked very promising too. Ok, sorry for being off subject so much. back to KENSHIN.

I've read the complete Rurouni Kenshin manga series (Vol 1 to erm...20 something) so I thought I'll say something. It's been a while since I've read it (2-3 years back but let me share what I remember).

Nudity = Nothing explicit, right until the end of the story. Unless you count a half naked Kenshin bandaging his wounds as nude.....

Sexuality = No sex scenes at all (read spoiler for more)
[SPOILER= About later RKenshin manga volumes, major spoilers abound] 1) Only one kiss scene, clean, nothing to worry about
2) One future character is a homosexual and somewhat exposes himself during a battle. This is "censored" by the mangaka himself in a comical way. I found it more humorous than offensive. [/SPOILER]

Violence = In general, do expect slash/gun wounds, a bleeding Kenshin every now and then, and assasinations.
[SPOILER= About later RKenshin manga volumes, major spoilers abound]
During the Kenshin/Battousai flashback, ~ Vol 20-21, you will see more violent killings. Hands, heads, legs will be chopped off. ^^;;; There is a lot more blood. I personally thought it was a little more graphic then. But really, compared to other manga such as Blade of Immortal or Berserk, this is nothing. [/SPOILER]

Occultic = None. No significant references to any religion.

Did I miss anything? I think it's OK to let your sister read RKenshin. Instead of being overly protective and heavily forbidding her from reading it, I suggest you read it with her and become her guide instead. ^^ She's going to read worse stuff in the future and it's your job to educate her and teach her how to make wise decisions for herself on her own. Believe me, RK is a good manga title to start with as an introduction.

Okay, I'll read it with her. But if I die of sheer boredom, I'm comin' back to haunt you Mave.

But really, thanks Mave for the complete review. I didn't want to say "Oh, yeah, read the first volume" and then say that she can't read the rest. That would be cruel.

i cant add anything to the kenshin maga side (never even read manga) but from what it sounds like it is close to the series (so much language in the japanese version... i started laughing because it did not even fit in) but the series, besides some blood, should be ok... it all depends on what your siblings can handle

Mangafanatic wrote:Nah, I wouldn't consider it totally shonen. Just some shonen. I guess the difference to me is that **a-hem** center alot on characters and not as much on the mechas

So, what? Shonen tiitles are devoid of character devolpment?

Sorry, I just wanted to stick that little jab in.

I hope you don't die of Kenshin boredom ShoujoFanatic, I'd miss you terribly on the 'boards!

SORRY!!! That's not what I meant. What I was trying to say was that shoujo manga is MORE about character and less about the mecha. That's not to say that shonen isn't about characters. I hope you know what I mean. And I am sorta ignorant about shonen, cause I haven't read much of it. (Not that I haven't tried--- I have.)

I knew what you meant, I was just being a..., well I was just being difficult. Sorry, Mangafanatic. You always carry yourself very well in your posts, so I couldn't help myself.

termyt wrote:I knew what you meant, I was just being a..., well I was just being difficult. Sorry, Mangafanatic. You always carry yourself very well in your posts, so I couldn't help myself.

Weh, glad I didn't offend anyone with that one. And thanks about the posting thing. I think you've said a couple things to that effect, and they have not gone unnocticed. Many thanks.

It shouldn't be T+. Mave read all the manga and said it was clean. The only thing is, there's a lot of sword-fighting violence and stuff. 12+ is fine with Rurouni Kenshin though. Just be warned, Sano can have a bad mouth as well as some villains.