ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the symbiotic but antagonistic relationship between cyberpunk and anime by generally dividing anime into three groups: mecha (robots and cyborgs), the grotesque (horror and Asian representations), and idols (virtual idols and cross-media business). Through such mecha anime examples as Patlabor II and Battle Angel Alita, this section addresses issues of identity often split between machine and human, and between female and male. The section on the grotesque discusses representations of Japan and Asian bodies in western cyberpunk and how they translate to Japanese anime, including Serial Experiments Lain and Texhnolyze. Finally, the third section focuses on virtual idols ranging from idols in robot anime, such as The Super Dimension Fortress Macross and Megazone 23, to virtual idols in intermedia industry, including Vocaloids and video games. Through many anime and its media-crossing examples, this chapter locates similarities and differences between cyberpunk and anime and thereby concludes that anime continues to pursue cyberpunk themes.
