Any cartoons with no clear cut heros and villains?
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yelobird96
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The Simpsons has no war, no struggle between two sides. I made it clear I was referring to cartoons in which there is fighting and conflict between two or more sides. Shows like the Simpsons, Family Guy, it just people living their lives.
Sports anime often have a brutal opponent or two, but they are a rarity amongst a huge crowd of honorable opponent. Eyeshield 21 comes to mind as whenever there is a game not involving the Deimon Devil Bats you're not always sure who to really cheer for. The Ojo White Knights, the Seibu Wild Gunman, heck even most of the Nagas are presented in the same positive light as the Deimon Devil Bats (and Hiruma is a pretty evil guy for a hero 
).
Someone could argue for Zipang. It is set in the middle of World War II with a modern Japanese ship thrown into a war that is not their. They are not Japanese of the time but they are not Americans. They first try to just hide out but then that proves impossible, as such they decide they will do their best to limit the deaths and end the war as soon as possible (its heavely implied they want to end it before the Atomic Bomb becomes a solution). Off course one could say Kusaka is the villain as he is manipulating events with the knowledge he gained from the Mirai's library...but at the same time he too wants to end the war...he just doesn't want Japan to lose EVERYTHING in the process. Pretty good show... better manga even.
). Someone could argue for Zipang. It is set in the middle of World War II with a modern Japanese ship thrown into a war that is not their. They are not Japanese of the time but they are not Americans. They first try to just hide out but then that proves impossible, as such they decide they will do their best to limit the deaths and end the war as soon as possible (its heavely implied they want to end it before the Atomic Bomb becomes a solution). Off course one could say Kusaka is the villain as he is manipulating events with the knowledge he gained from the Mirai's library...but at the same time he too wants to end the war...he just doesn't want Japan to lose EVERYTHING in the process. Pretty good show... better manga even.
I would say that Avatar is about the potential for good and evil. It exists in all people, in all actions, and in all cultures. So you have the Dai-Li and Hama and Jet... while the Fire Nation is mostly repressed, mostly good, and under leadership that makes the Oedipus cycle (Tyrannus, @ Colonnus and Antigone) look ideal.
I'd say Rose of Versailles is a good one as well. It's melodramatic and kitschy in places and unavailable in the US (I got the French DVDs and alternated from Japanese dialogue and French subs, since I have some understanding of both). But it's definitely worth seeking out if the most recent Marie Antoinette film struck you as too soft and evasive. It does assign more blame on the aristocracy but not to the point where they're dehumanized.
I'd say Rose of Versailles is a good one as well. It's melodramatic and kitschy in places and unavailable in the US (I got the French DVDs and alternated from Japanese dialogue and French subs, since I have some understanding of both). But it's definitely worth seeking out if the most recent Marie Antoinette film struck you as too soft and evasive. It does assign more blame on the aristocracy but not to the point where they're dehumanized.
Wait for season 3 The Fire Masters Everything starts to come into line.
The end of Danny Phantom was all about mutual cause.
Oban Star racers. There were several times when Molly discovered the evil she perceived wasn't what she thought. Then it turned out there was a greater hidden evil no one had thought of.
The US shows generally like simple evil that can be made to look stupid. To find gray areas mostly comes from Europe or Japan. It's a lot harder to write for.
The end of Danny Phantom was all about mutual cause.
Oban Star racers. There were several times when Molly discovered the evil she perceived wasn't what she thought. Then it turned out there was a greater hidden evil no one had thought of.
The US shows generally like simple evil that can be made to look stupid. To find gray areas mostly comes from Europe or Japan. It's a lot harder to write for.