Sibling relationships in anime (Warning: Spoilers)

[carmella.2006]

Is there really more responsibility for the oldest sibling in a family in Japan? Is is custom for the younger siblings to show the same respect for the oldest sibling as you would a parent or grand parent?

It seems to me that the relationship between siblings in animes mean more than in cartoons in the west. The oldest sibling is typical is more of a parential figure, granted a lot of times it is due to one or both parents not being around, but sometimes even if the parents are there, sometimes there is still respect towarRAB the oldest and a sense of responsibility for the oldest to protest his or her siblings.

Though ironic, an opposite example is in Bleach, Ichigo's father acts more of an obnoxius older brother to his kiRAB than a father most of the time.

Also in Pokemon, Misty's sisters are parential figures, but still give her a hard time and express mostly tough love on her.

 

[Bitski]

I definitely agree with you on that one, in a manner of speaking, it's art (or anime) imitating life, there are several anime series I've seen that has strong emphasis on sibling relationships, where the younger sibling defers to his/her older sister/brother.


'Minami-ke' for instance, focuses on the family relationship of the three sisters: Haruka, Kana, and Chiaki. Haruka's the more maternalistic character to her younger siblings, while in a hilarious role reversal scenario, Chiaki's acts more maturely than Kana, and is closer to her eldest sister.

'Popotan' Also features sibling relationships with Ai, Mai, and Mii, While Ai (the eldest sister) is innocently na

 

[Vicente]

Anime displays the fantasy of a sibling relationship.

It's the Eldest child that is always looked up to by the younger one.
It's not a Japaneses thing, its a Human thing.

 

[Lindsay M]

In some anime series, having siblings to look after you or two look after is very valued, to a point that others try to steal that.

Spoiler

Code Geass - Emperior Charles knew how valueable Lelouch and Nunnally were to each other, (it was a theme for many characters, even Charles and V.V. valued that) that at the end of the first season, he seperated them, he knew that would punish Lelouch the most. Later, you had this sort of, but not really, a unusual sibling rivalory that fake brother Rolo had towarRAB real sister Nunnally, he wanted Lelouch to be his brother so badly, that he did and plotted to terrible things to get that. I had my reservation about Nunnally apperant death because Rolo was the messenger of that news.