Figured I'd take a moment to talk about the formatting for these essays. I've decided, mostly due to the fact that it's hard to do a lot of formatting that's complex in a journal like this with pre-done posting programing (I'm much to lazy to attempt writing my own script format like I used to on blogger.com) that I'm going to us the High School/College MLA format because it will allow for acceptable post essay referencing without an exorbitant use of footnoting (which in a journal would be a pain since you'd have to scroll down constantly). It's not my favorite, or my field standard format, but it's certainly the easiest in this kind of scroll down internet world.

First Essay is going to focus directly on what was known as "The Salinger Connection" in Ghost in the Shell. We're going to examine The Laughing Man in both the case it's based on and the short story the character was named for. This definitely isn't like The Catcher in the Rye you read in high school (or perhaps that you didn't). The Laughing Man might not be a short story that's connected to lone Gunman assassins, but it's certainly an interesting delve into the world of the group identity of individuals.

This is a first post to a blog I've wanted to create for a long long time now. Don't hold me too much. I tend to run on my own schedule, but the information, I assure you, is good. I've been working on and in the field of Asian Cultural Studies and Linguistics for about 6 years now, although it's been my passion for more than 16.

For years I've been noticing how my textbooks seem to eerily mirror my Anime viewing and Manga reading habits and it's lead me on an interesting journey into Anime Historica (as we've come to call it), otherwise known as アニメにおける歴史 (History in Anime). Thought it was time to put all this together finally and really tell the true stories behind the series we have come to know and love.

Be warned, I'm picky about my anime and manga. I don't tend to jump onto bandwagon series, and if I do, it's generally about a decade after they were huge, but that can be a good thing. It helps you cut through the fanboy/fangirl information that gets leeched into the web when series are big. I'm going to do my best to keep this as academically feasible as possible. If I put in my two cents I'll make it clear. These essays should be research material useable and I strongly frown on all forms of academic theft. All the information on this cite pertaining to my research and personal thoughts are (C) to me (SyaoranMotoko). Readers are welcome and encouraged and I hope at some point to be able to take questions as well about specific series.

Other rule type things:

Do not send me messages saying my taste in anime/manga stinks. Chances are I can tell you yours does too in 7 different languages, two of which haven't been spoken in over a thousand years. Don't test me on it. I'm in my 20's and I'm not really fond of series aimed at Tweens so you probably won't see a lot about those kinds of shows here. I also am not the biggest fan of series involving pornographic scenes, so don't expect that either. Historically we can say that prostitution is the oldest profession in the world and then we're moving on.

I will not arrange to meet people in person from online who I do not already know in real life. Please do not ask. My only exception to this rule is if you go to an anime convention that I frequent, I will arrange to meet and chat as long as everything remains anonymous and friendly. It will be in a very public setting. I'm partial to the Starbucks at Conneticon and Otakon, and at Anime Boston there is the Cheesecake Factory (very yummy). I'll post if I return to any overseas conventions well in advance. If it's Tokyo Game Show, the Makuhari Messe is right near a Baskin Robins 31, and Comita is on Odaiba and I'd highly suggest going down to Zepp Tokyo (Yes the place in Gravitation actually exists). They specialize in food made from beer. Anyway...

Try to keep comments to a dull roar. If you want to have a swearing fest with me over a heated point of information then sit on it for a day and then send an e-mail. I have no inhibitions of duking it out verbally with anyone, but I'd rather it not land on the comments section of this site. That could turn into a problem. At the same point, do not bash guests if I have any. Historical Anime Researchers are a pretty tightly knit group. If you'd like to challenge something, just be respectful and cite your sources as we are going to cite ours.

~End Rules Type Stuff~

Okay, now that that's finished. Other things of reference. My name here is Syaoran Motoko (Motoko is the first name) 小狼素子. I use the same Kanji as Syaoran Li from Card Captor Sakura and Tsubasa Resevoir Chronicles ((C) to CLAMP 1996-2008) and I use the same Kanji as Major Kusanagi Motoko from Ghost in the Shell (I prefer the Stand Alone Complex version of her personally, but I do very much enjoy the movies, games and the Manga as well) (Broad Copyright to Masamune Shirow 1989-2008 and Production I.G.). It basically translates to "Small Wolf Element" with the 'ko' on the end for a female name.

Part of this name originated because of a pronunciation issue when I was living in Japan with how my first name was said and we finally realized it was easier to give people a reference, so Syaoran worked rather well. Motoko is because of my obsession with Ghost in the Shell, as well as the fact that I also have purple hair and command a growing Tachikoma Model Army of 16. I also have now gone to two conventions as the Major in her military UN uniform and people at these cons have simply started to call me Motoko. I like it. My other internet name is Taikoubou_Evva which has more historical value, as I will post about later, but it has in fact nothing to do with my own name and seemed strange to use here. So please call me Motoko. It will make things much easier.

I'm also a gamer. If anyone is an FFXI player on Siren Server I play 3 characters there named Taikoubou, Evva, and Watanuke. My brother plays a character as well named Tsuzukiasato. Highest jobs for me are 75BRD, 68SMN, 66WHM, 59BST, 42MNK, and my brother's is a 42WHM and a 33BLM. Happy Sunbreeze Festival.

I'm a big fan of D&D3.5 Eberron setting and I'm currently trying out 4E and finding that as a RNG at least, it's quite enjoyable. Some of my mage friends have been less fortunate though >.<;; I also GM for Tri-Stat DX under the Open Gaming License and have always loved Big Eyes, Small Mouth (Formerly of Guardians of Order who went out of business, and now of White Wolf (C) 1997-2008).

On top of all of this, I'm a writer, working on getting my first novel published. If I don't update for long periods of time, it's because I'm working on that project. All I can really say is that it's a Space Opera genre (Best compared to Cowboy Bebop (1998-2008) for Genre type) and I hope to have it out on shelves in the next three years.

Preview:

With all that mess out of the way. My first post series will be having to do with elements of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (Including Second Gig) tackling The Laughing Man, The Individual Eleven, and some other historic tidbits from the Anime Series. Figured I should start with my name sake. From there I suspect a look at derivations of the Ming Dynasty Folk Novel "Journey to the West" (Gensomaden Saiyuki, Dragon Ball, Assobot Goku, and others), followed closely by another of the 4 great folk Novels of China known as Fenshen Yanyi/Houshin Engi (Houshin Engi, Battle Houshin, Legends of Gods and Heroes, and Fenshen Bang) which talks about the immortals and the foundation of the Zhou Empire in Ancient Chinese history. After that, who knows. There's hundreds and hundreds of series with fascinating pasts out there. We'll get to at least a chunk of them here. Hope you enjoy.