Forum - View topicReferences to Western Sci-Fi literature in anime.
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einhorn303
 Posts: 1180 |
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I'm a big fan of SF, and it fascinates me to see Western novels and short stories referenced in anime. I'm sure there's a lot of stuff I've missed, so please post any you recall. Some that come to mind are:
Clannad, "The Dandelion Girl" by Robert F. Young: Kotomi reads it as a child in her arc, and it's the source of the recurring line "Day before yesterday I saw a rabbit, and yesterday a deer, and today, you." Japanese readers voted it the "6th best SF story of all time" in a magazine poll. In the US, it's not well known enough to keep in print, although it was printed online by SciFiction. The story has also been adapted into a visual novel by fans. Eureka Seven, Greg Egan/Greg Bear: The scientist character of that name is based upon the reclusive Australian author Greg Egan, who is also especially popular in Japan. That Japanese poll? His "Reasons to be Cheerful" was voted the #1 best foreign SF story...and himself the #2 best foreign SF writer, behind only Philip K. Dick. The character's nickname "Dr. Bear" also refers to the author Greg Bear. Geneshaft, multiple books: The episode titles are references to classic SF stories/books. In some cases, they're based on new names used for to the Japanese publication, so they're not obvious to English readers. For example, James P. Hogan's "Thrice Upon a Time" was printed in Japanese as "未来からのホットライン" (Hotline from the Future), and episode 6 is titled 過去からのホットライン ("Hotline from the Past"). Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, "Fall of Hyperion" by Dan Simmons: The book Yuki gives to Kyon, which she placidly describes as "unique." Gurren Lagann: The subtitles for the two movies reference the science fiction novels "Childhood's End" by Arthur C. Clarke and "The Lights in the Sky are Stars" by Frederic Brown. Nichijou, episode 20, "The Sirens of Titan," by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.: The book is seen randomly and conspicuously in one of the intermissions. |
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EricDent
 Posts: 997 Location: Georgetown, TX |
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How about western Sci-Fi TV shows?
A really good example is in Paniponi Dash! spoiler[When they spoof Star Trek The Next Generation] |
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MorwenLaicoriel
 Posts: 1617 Location: Colorado |
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I think this is on the really light end of sci-fi, but it's briefly mentioned in the beginning of Full Metal Panic! that Kaname is carrying a copy of So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish to school with her. There's a lot of references in the FMP! series in general, although most of the references I can remember off the top of are action films, not sci-fi. There might have been others I didn't catch though.
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shadow13
 Posts: 111 |
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There are a bunch of 2001: A Space Odyssey references in Neon Genesis Evangelion
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rojse
 Posts: 234 |
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There's plenty of SF references in NGE - 2001, Flowers For Algernon, Heinlein, among other works, as well as movies such as Star Wars. |
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Shiroi Hane
Encyclopedia Editor
 Posts: 7585 Location: Wales |
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It's in the anime too, Fumoffu I think and I know I took a screenshot.... aha: 
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shadow13
Posts: 111 |
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Would you mind elaborating on the Star Wars references in NGE? |
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yuna49
 Posts: 3804 |
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Episode ten of RD Sennou Chosashitsu (aka "Real Drive") takes place in a white room that's based on the final sequence of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The scene depicts a meeting between one of the protagonists and "Eliza Weizenbaum," an homage to artificial intelligence pioneer Joseph Weizenbaum. In the 1970's he wrote a famous program at MIT that mimicked a psychotherapist; he named the program ELIZA.
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Anymouse
 Posts: 685 |
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It is interesting to think that Real Drive is still unlicensed. Maybe I will watch it someday. I myself have also played with Eliza, although I used the DOS version.
Funny thing is that I remember few literature references from anime that are science fiction. I remember many other references, including dystopian fiction references and Salinger but no science fiction. |
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Errinundra
Moderator
 Posts: 6602 Location: Melbourne, Oz |
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Time of Eve ODs on them - the more you look, the more you find, including Blade Runner, Isaac Asimov's I Robot, the George Lucas film THX1138 and R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) by Karel Čapek.
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rojse
Posts: 234 |
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The manga contained a reference to midchlorians in Shinji's dossier. |
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