CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

I figured this would be the place to post this.

When I got into drawing Anime, it was because God called me into it. He uses me and the style for teaching Children's Church twice a month or more, plus He's provided a couple of christian themed comission pieces I got to do. Now I am becoming a devoted defender and promoter of Christian Anime. I may very well be changing my degree program in college to pursue it professionally.

I was wondering how other people use the gift of Anime God gave them; and where they think God may be taking them as Anime artists?

Paul

Pretty much the same way that you do...

I feel strongly that God has called me to use my artistic talents for him, and though I know I have a lot to learn I'm excited to say that I am!

I've felt led to go to anime conventions and take my artwork to them...through artist alleys. And I was truly blessed when I did! Of course this year, a lot of things happened that has prevented me from doing conventions -_- but I totally plan to do some next year! It's exciting to talk to other anime fans about their passion and still show them that Christians can like anime too!

God didn't give me much artistic talent, but He did give me a passion for writing and I believe He's called me to write, for lack of a better term, Christian anime novels. I guess people would just call that Christian fantasy, but all the characters are anime styled in my head, so whatever, XD. God's given me just about a zillion ideas to play with, which is awesome because all I have to do is develop them.

For me I love to watch it and be apart of its community. I support you and everyone else in there endeavors.

Gotta say most of my uses are pretty selfish. I don't feel a particular call to this talent specifically. I may find use for it in the things that I have been called to someday, but right now? Not so much. I do use it, though, to tell my Fiancee I love her.

While I'm not an artist I am a filmmaker (what a concept).....or in the process of becoming one.....
The style of Anime has influenced how I've thought of camera angles as well as how combat plays out in an action sequence.....Though, technically, I've only madeone film (and am still working on it ) that takes many angles and ideas from anime, it's influenced a lot of ideas I've had for upcoming projects......

LadyRushia (post: 1249526) wrote:God didn't give me much artistic talent, but He did give me a passion for writing and I believe He's called me to write, for lack of a better term, Christian anime novels. I guess people would just call that Christian fantasy, but all the characters are anime styled in my head, so whatever, XD. God's given me just about a zillion ideas to play with, which is awesome because all I have to do is develop them.

If you have one person who writes anime and another who draws it? What a combination for God, eh? There is nothing one cannot do through God who stregthens them.

ChristianKitsune (post: 1249521) wrote:Pretty much the same way that you do...

I feel strongly that God has called me to use my artistic talents for him, and though I know I have a lot to learn I'm excited to say that I am!

I've felt led to go to anime conventions and take my artwork to them...through artist alleys. And I was truly blessed when I did! Of course this year, a lot of things happened that has prevented me from doing conventions -_- but I totally plan to do some next year! It's exciting to talk to other anime fans about their passion and still show them that Christians can like anime too!

I am looking forward to going to an Anime convention in the next 12 to 18 months. I'll have to check in on it.

*looks around* I use anime to help me wind down, since I don't really watch TV anymore. It also helps me forget that I have no other hobbies, ha ha.

Paul wrote:If you have one person who writes anime and another who draws it? What a combination for God, eh? There is nothing one cannot do through God who stregthens them.

And I have an artist in mind who I'm totally calling up to do the cover artwork if whoever decides to publish me is awesome and lets me do that, XD.

But other than what I feel to be my purpose in life right now, anime is something that helps me wind down or laugh or think about something or completely blow my mind. I love it mostly for the stories and I love running into a plot line that's so epic that I spend only a week reading the entire thing **cough** 20th Century Boys **cough**.

Random note: Writers and filmmakers are artists, too.

I "use anime" for what it's created for: entertainment.

.rai//

I hope that my presence as a friend and a member of fandom can help communicate God's love to others, and show people that Christians aren't just hanging around to tell everyone they're going to hell. Apart from that, I don't particularly "use" anime for any other purpose than to amuse myself.

Raiden no Kishi (post: 1249633) wrote:Random note: Writers and filmmakers are artists, too.

I "use anime" for what it's created for: entertainment.

.rai//

I give you kudos for the random note and the fact that i was beaten to the answer. Yes people use anime as something else wether to witness or turn against other anime (sounds confusing i know) But i take it for what it is. Something entertaining to watch.

I sometimes feel that the Devil gave me anime because whenever I watch it, I'm not thinking about God. (Same with cheesecake.) It's my passion, which means that God's not, so I feel like I could never pursue a related career because I'd feel too guilty. This is kinda why I am going to study something I have no interest in and be a businesswoman. >_>; I honestly think that I cannot be the Christian that God wants me to as long as I still enjoy anime; I know I'm probably wrong to think that, but whatever I do that does not directly glorify God seems to defy him. God only wants someone to be 100% for him, right?

My mind is pretty warped, it seems.

I used to feel the same way, especially when I started noticing that my anime hobby hardly had anything to do with God; however, God has worked in my life so that He is involved with it in many different ways and He may or may not do the same in others as He has different purposes for each one of us.

Raiden no Kishi (post: 1249633) wrote:Random note: Writers and filmmakers are artists, too.

I "use anime" for what it's created for: entertainment.

.rai//

I agree, writers and filmmakers are artists too.

Raiden no Kishi (post: 1249633) wrote:Random note: Writers and filmmakers are artists, too.

I "use anime" for what it's created for: entertainment.

.rai//

Ditto:thumb:

[quote="minakichan (post: 1249776)"]I sometimes feel that the Devil gave me anime because whenever I watch it, I'm not thinking about God. (Same with cheesecake.) It's my passion, which means that God's not, so I feel like I could never pursue a related career because I'd feel too guilty. This is kinda why I am going to study something I have no interest in and be a businesswoman. >_>]

Very interesting! But I don't think the devil gave you anime. I think the devil may be trying to confuse your thinking.

10 years ago, I didn't really care about Anime. Today it's a different story. I know when I draw, I pray and most of the time, and I can only draw really good when I am drawing for God and ask for his help. My passion is to be available for God. If that means to draw Anime, then out comes the pencil. I'm even praying about changing my degree program to become an illustrator and am being encouraged by my pastors and Bishop to try to get a strip published in the local newspaper. Fred Rogers, of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, was in school to be a presbyterian minister when tv first came out. He saw a tool which could positively or negatively influence children. He changed his schooling to productions to get on the air, and changed the course of peoples lives, because he saw a vision and pursued it with a passion for God. I call that being 100% for God.

I know this. Faith ain't just believing, it's an action word. We can't just sit there with a vision in our head, we have to do something about it.

I don't think your mind is warped. I think you're afraid you are going to miss God. But don't be so afraid to miss Him that you miss the calling in your life. So I would think twice about becoming something you're not. I.E. a business woman. If you have no interest in the career you go into, you will be miserable, it will affect you as a worker, a leader, and a servant of God. Employers have fired people because there was no interest from the person doing the job. I can't think of anyone in the bible who pursued something they had no vision for. But the Bible is full of successful people who risked everything on faith, for something they could not see, and some even never obtained, yet died knowing they fulfilled the calling of God. There are two types of people who die of old age. Those who lay in bed miserable, wishing they could go back and change the course of their life; and those who die happy, with no regrets. Those who die happy are the ones who pursued their dreams and visions. Which one will you be? I know I want to stand before God and laugh with him about how I stepped out by faith, believing on Him when it wasn't; rather than try to explain to Him why I didn't step out by faith, when it was Him.

Just becareful. I would hate to see anyone make a mistake they couldn't take back.

Great post, enjoyed reading it.

Paul

While I definitely am aware of the witnessing strategies one could use regarding anime, I mainly just use it as a method of entertainment and sometimes as inspiration for artwork. I definitely keep my eyes open for people I could witness to, and I'm always finding things in anime that could be (often loosely) used as an illustration to explain points of my faith. Still, I typically just use anime for what it is: fun animation to watch with good stories and characters. XD

Lol, RD, you stole my way of using anime XDD

I have used it for drawing a little and the same goes for writing, but mostly for pure entertainment \o.o/

I don't use anime directly in my ministry, but it does help me connect with a lot of people who want nothing to do with church.

I use anime the old-fashioned way - I crush it into powder and snort it.

Kaligraphic (post: 1249989) wrote:I use anime the old-fashioned way - I crush it into powder and snort it.

</thread> XDD

LOL

"teh animu: mai anti-drug. o wait a sec lol"

I know that I've been given a gift for art, but how to use it? I don't know. I do know that I feel called to this field. Mainly the computer graphic area. I don't know how God will use it, but I want to improve my skill, so I will be ready when that time comes. I hope to go back to college for some art classes, and maybe pursue it as a full time career if it's something I really feel strong about.

While my primary "use" of anime is entertainment, of course…. Well, after delving into YouTube videos from anime cons, namely certain panels with Vic Mignogna and other Christian VAs, I’ve discovered that anime can be a way to reach people about Christ. I haven’t ever used anime to witness to anybody, but the possibility is open to me now, so who knows?

Other than that, though, I think anime is helping my talent with writing. That might sound kinda quonky, but my writing skill has improved exponentially since I’ve started writing FMA fanfiction. Being such a big fan means that I keep on getting ideas for stories, and I start experimenting with different things, or just keep on writing so my writing will get better with practice. Various animes have also made me realize some things that I might not have realized for a long time.

And how does this tie in with God? Well, I hope to one day get published, and hopefully be a city on a hill, so to speak, to be a witness to people. If I do, I can look back and thank God for bringing anime into my life.

It's so strange how God leads us into things that we don't expect, and we end up loving it.

I was into anime as a pre-teen; not heavily, really, but I liked the kids' series that were on TV at the time (Pokemon, Cardcaptors, etc). I grew out of it through high school, because I was never aware that there were anime titles for older audiences (I knew about hentai, but didn't want to go anywhere near it), so I just got involved in other things and forgot about anime because it was "dorky". And then suddenly in my second year of college, less than a year ago, I was back. I was awed by the wonderful stories that anime revealed (starting with Fullmetal Alchemist)...and I found myself (probably) the only Christian in my anime club.

I love anime first and foremost as entertainment, but since I have the opportunity to be "The Christian" among a group of people I share an interest with, I'm proud to serve God by sharing Christ's love with this group of people who do not necessarily share my views of morality.

And...I love cosplay. God gave me an insatiable desire to create, to make things, to draw, to write, and this includes using my creativity to sew and fashion myself into a character I enjoy. So essentially, being into anime is God's gift to me which allows me to use the creativity He gave me to the fullest extent, and to build relationships with people who enjoy the same things I do.

[font="Trebuchet MS"][SIZE="4"][color="RoyalBlue"]You know, this has to be one of the most intelligent questions I've come across on CAA. How do I use anime?

Well...at different stages of my life, I've used anime in a variety of different ways. When I first got into it in high school, I used it to form friendships with my classmates because we were all so different, the fact that we found a common element was really cool. I also used anime to ignite my love of writing.

Now that I'm older and have a lot more issues to deal with in my life, I find I use anime as stress relief; especially now that I'm going through my internship. With so much stuff jammed in my head ("This has to be done by tomorrow!" "Why wasn't this task completed?" "We shouldn't have to tell you more than once.") I find that anime lets me drift off into another world where all I have to do is press "play" and watch.[/color][/SIZE][/font]

I often try to look at anime and see if there's any Christian interpretations. I'm amazed at how Christianity can unintentionally be brought into some titles, like these:
Full Metal Alchemist
Haibane Renmei
Trigun

rocklobster (post: 1251890) wrote:I often try to look at anime and see if there's any Christian interpretations. I'm amazed at how Christianity can unintentionally be brought into some titles, like these:
Full Metal Alchemist
Haibane Renmei
Trigun

Don't forget about Sailor Moon. I think alot of anime can be used to share the word of God. This goes for Video games too.

rocklobster (post: 1251890) wrote:I often try to look at anime and see if there's any Christian interpretations. I'm amazed at how Christianity can unintentionally be brought into some titles, like these:
Full Metal Alchemist
Haibane Renmei
Trigun

What do you mean by "Christian interpretations"? Remember, it is the creator who determines the meaning of a story.

.rai/