A Take to the "Lolicon/UK Bill Issue": The Rebirth of the "Grown Up Character"?

The recurring "lolicon is the new bogeyman bill" issue has gotten tons of play lately. This is partly because the Japanese government seems to have decided to take a harder stance this time, only to delay a bill yet again. The atmosphere seems different this go around, especially with a landmark UK bill passed covering what was struck down in the US's own "Protect Act". While everyone would agree the real thing is bad, is it wrong to have a moral equivalence when it comes to a drawing, or in movement, animation?

Do you believe in the freedom of speech angle or the slippery slope argument? This blogger will always stick up for artistic freedom within reason, especially when it comes to anime. While one might enjoy lolicon ero manga, it's easier to defend a show with younger characters displaying the occasional panty shot instead of full on hardcore sex. Still, more liberal friends of mine who would see no problem with the latter, you have to take on the view of the fabled "outsider".

We're already anime and manga fans, we're used to shows from Shuffle to Major. Anime and manga, like any medium runs the gambit genre wise, and of course will share its wide range of fetishes. Drawing characters offers more freedom then using real people, especially when it comes to the ero market. As a fan of ero manga and doujin, that's why I was draw to it in the first place, the variety. With that being said, I don't plan on trying to recreate any of those scenes anytime soon...

Even with all the doom and gloom mentioned, I see an opportunity for studios and manga creators. As mentioned in my last post, some studios are having to alter what they want to make to fit the new, and ever-changing "moe" demographic. They're a business, that's what sells. Even with these monetary woes, what happened to shows full of characters in their late teens to twenties? Could it be that this anime fan is getting older and wants to see more of his age range? Possibly, I'll give you that. Still the answer isn't to make characters younger and younger.

Nina is a good example and it's why I used her picture from Gundam 0083. Could you imagine a hit show with a female lead who has... GASP! .... had a boyfriend and a relationship before?

Cries of "damaged goods" would be heard, Japanese Kanagi fans would glue their manga together only to rip it up yet again. Don't despair Kanagi fans, you can still have a "pure" older character like Belldandy from Ah! My Goddess(even if I'd rather have Urd...). While I know this more saber-rattling, I see it as an opportunity for studios to get out of middle school, even if that's the demographic they're trying to hit.