The Search For A Solarpunk Anime

The Search for a Solarpunk Anime

Allow me to think aloud for a moment. Because I noticed something.

Whenever people ask for movie recommendations or anime recommendations for Solarpunk, a movie that often gets named is Netflix's Bubble. And on one hand... I get it. The aesthetic of the movie is more Cozy Apocalypse than Solarpunk (aka lots of greens on the buildings and what not, but not because they have been planted there to make a better environment, rather than because the buildings falling into disrepair). But it scratches that certain itch, aesthetically.

Yet, the movie does not really feel Solarpunk to me. While one can argue that the folks who have fled into the bubble zone are kinda anarchistic in that they do lack clear hierarchies, they also do not do a ton of mutual aid, rather competing over ressources. Which to me is the issue. The movie does not have a lot of that Solarpunk spirit. Not much in terms of either mutual aid or environmental protection going on. It just has a pretty green aesthetic. (Though it should be said: Fucking darn, that movie is pretty.)

Of course, the obvious answer to name when it comes to Solarpunk anime movies is Studio Ghibli. Obvious, because the studio is one of the central inspirations behind the genre. So, duh, yes, there are quite a few Ghibli movies out there that are pretty darn Solarpunk. Most notably of course Nausicaä, Laputa and Princess Mononoke. These movies all are not only Solarpunk in some aesthetic aspects, but also when it comes to the themes inspiring them. Which is kinda funny to me, because neither of the movies is classical science fiction - making clear that scifi really is not a prerequesit for the genre.

But there is also another genre, I would say. And that genre is the movies, that do not have much of the aesthetic - outside maybe a vague cottagecore aesthetic - but have a lot of the themes I associate with Solarpunk.

To me two of those movies are Ame to Yuki: Wolf Children, and Misaki no Mayoiga. I already talked about the second movie, but just to sum up: Both movies really go deeply into the aspects of community building, mutual aid and also living in harmony with nature in some degree. Both very much show that we are really good at helping each other. And that you can have a good life without rigid organisation. And I really fucking love that about those movies.

Funnily enough: While funnily enough Makoto Shinkai with his generous aesthetic does have some scenes in several of his movies that just have the aesthetic flair of Solarpunk, I would say that thematically Suzume is the one most in line with the genre. Because it, too, as a lot of themes of mutual aid and just forming community and what not.

And I do not know. Maybe we are gonna see more of that stuff in the future?

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I wanna point out a thing that feels still so "off" to me about alt!Powder.

Homegirl is so quick to jump in and anxiously make everything seem okay.

(season 1) Jinx was obsessed with not appearing weak (as a means of obtaining love)

and alt!Powder seems to have a toxic trait of smoothing over other people's problems. That sort of, "everything's fine! we're fine! he's fine!" attitude that happens when someone is so afraid of the boat rocking that they ignore all conflict and with it all opportunities to grow and connect more deeply with those around them.

Her reaction to smooth it all over when alt!Benzo was confused by Ekko's reaction was so anxious. And she did this despite her own fear at the change in Ekko. When she goes "...did you just throw that?" she is so shocked she can't even understand what just happened. And yet, alt!Benzo walks in and expresses the same confusion she felt/is feeling but rather than confront Ekko and sharing her confusion with alt!Benzo, she jumps in to smooth things over. What are you talking about? Everything's fine! He's just having a little inventor moment, nothing to see here!

This is a girl who is used to "cleaning up everyone else's messes," probably for the same reason that Jinx was obsessed with not seeming weak: as a way to earn love.

(probably because her biggest mess ended up killing her sister, so for the rest of forever she will deal with that guilt by putting everyone else's emotional comfort above her own)

Alt!Powder may be more mentally stable than Jinx (by a longshot) but she is not emotionally healthy/secure in an objective sense. What probably works even worse against this toxic trait is that everyone around her is okay with her smoothing things over--she's praised for helping out Ekko and rescuing alt!Mylo. Everyone but alt!Vander is down with alt!Powder's coping mechanism for dealing with discomfort.

poor cutie.

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An illustrated gif of a fantasy guide titled “How to Maintain Your Magical Items”, which is in the first of six panels. The other five panels have static text and images of fantasy items that alternate between dirty/in disarray and clean/orderly. Please check the following individual still images’ alt text for their detailed descriptions.

How to Maintain Your Magic Accessories: an overview for novice mages

Many spellcasters-to-be imagine how exciting life will be once they've acquired some skills and a wand, but very few picture the everyday upkeep of said wand. That's why we at the Mage Guidance Department created this guide: to spread awareness so that prospective mages can know what to expect when choosing a life of magic. It's not all fun and mind games—it's a commitment to care!

(This is my piece for Dottolus' Dotnomicon: Grimoire of Wonders, a magic book zine organized by @dotzines. Below the cut are the static versions. It was fun to play with the idea of a book with magically shifting content!)