On Sun, Sep 19, 1999 at 08:41:32PM -0700, Jack Staik wrote:
This is a little something that went through my head recently.
Anime 'heroes' and 'heroines' lead lives that might get them killed
(even something like Maison Ikokku has violent moments). Logically, the
characters would leave behind messages for their friends and loved ones.
Don't forget that these characters generally have a superhuman
toughness that makes up for, and in some cases more than makes up for,
the violence that they experience.
Suppose some character finds the Last Message prepared by another
character while the writer still lives? How would they react to it, and
how would it change their view of that person?
I'd say that this is a good idea, but you've picked some poor examples.
Example: Akane finds Ranma's Last Letter while he's out, where he
confesses his True Feelings (whatever they are). How does she take it?
The problem here is that I simply cannot see Ranma writing such a letter.
He's abysmal at expressing himself, but that's only the beginning.
Most teenagers seem to go through a phase of thinking themselves
invincible. Ranma is far more arrogant than most teenagers. He also
has some pretty good evidence, in the form of all of the things he's
been through, that he actually is invincible. Likely, the thought of
his own demise would not even occur to him, and if it did, he'd simply
dismiss it as impossible.
On the other hand, I can easily see Ryouga writing such a letter.
What would Akane do if she found out? What about Akari?
Example: Gourry Gabriev finds Lina's Letter, in which she writes of her
regret of never telling him how she felt. Does Gourry start acting
romantic? Does he get nervous? Does he foolishly say he read it, thereby
dying a quick death?
Again, I have just a little trouble believing that Lina would write
such a letter -- same factors as with Ranma. However, whereas Ranma
likely has himself totally convinced of his immortality, Lina would
probably like to think herself immortal, but knows that she isn't. It
would be a little more believable.
I've only seen what has been released in English, but from that,
I have trouble seeing exactly what her feelings for Gourry are,
anyway.
These are just two examples. There are examples, both canon and
non-canon, and they don't have to be romances. Is Asuka's Last Letter
addressed to her child, given up for adoption several years before? Does
All I can say is that I hope you're not talking about Asuka from
Evangelion, who was about 14 when the series took place...
Kasumi have a Last Letter, revealing her Dire Secret to her family?
Such tales can be comedic, dark, romantic, etc. They can be major
divergences, or have no effect at all.
Can anyone think of a 'Last Letter' tale?
I seem to remember a story in which Ranma dies, and afterwards,
everybody that he knows reads a letter that he had prepared before
he died.
I can't remember the author or title. It was posted on the FFML
a long time ago.