Annie Is Awesome - Tumblr Posts
That is so cute.
Armin: So, I heard some person bullied Shadis into letting them keep a cat in the girl’s barracks.
Annie: …Is that so.
What a beautiful interpretation of Annie’s character. I only read the manga where the anime left off but now I think I should probably read what I missed.
unfaithful representations: annie leonhardt in episode 23 and the anime adaptation at large, and why you really need to read the manga
Earlier today, I watched the raw version of Episode 23. Though I have not been as constant in watching the anime adaptation as I have been in reading the manga, I knew what was coming and felt excited about this episode–partly because Hitch and Marlo, two of my favorite side characters, were going to be animated, but mostly because Annie Leonhardt is one of my favorite characters, and I am especially fascinated by how she interacts with the Shiganshina trio.
After I finished watching, I…was pretty taken aback. Then I became frustrated, even a little angry. Watching the subbed version has done little to alleviate those feelings.
In my view, the anime adaptation’s treatment and depiction of Annie is, from a viewing of Episode 23 alone, highly problematic. When taking into account its treatment of her throughout, however, Episode 23 becomes but the cherry atop an incredibly problematic and reductive representation of a character who, in her original incarnation in the manga, is complex, nuanced, exerts a significant degree of agency in the narrative, and is pivotal to the development of our protagonists, especially Eren, who in turn has an important role in Annie’s character arc.
Through both addition of “anime-only” content and the omission of pertinent dialogue, expressions, and entire scenes, the anime adaptation presents a much different depiction of Annie Leonhardt than the manga does, so much so that I would urge anime-only fans to read the manga for its treatment of her character alone–though there are various reasons why you should consider reading!
Herein I will be reacting to Episode 23 by comparing it to the chapter of the manga it is adapting (Chapter 31: Smile), as well as addressing content that was omitted or changed in earlier episodes. Therefore, if you’re caught up with the anime, there are no spoilers here!
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