Thinking back to shows like Zeta Gundam, they really made a lot about adults being the ones making war and the poor kids getting caught up in it and being used. And then Eva has the really manipulative Gendo. I wonder if there is a particularly Japanese cultural preoccupation here…

It’s certainly interesting how in anime characters are often either portrayed as looking much younger than they are, or acting much older than they are, both of which sort of cater to the loli/kawaii sort of appeal, I suppose.

I definitely agree that in a number of these shows the setting really stretches your suspension of disbelief. The maturity in the way these supposed high school students handle themselves often seems pretty hard to believe, considering that when I think back to my highschool days I can remember guys still cracking up over shooting spitwads, or going through awkward emo stages and stuff like that.

Then along with that you have the “only highschoolers can save the world” syndrome. Of course, as you’ve pointed out, that’s mostly to increase the appeal to the main target demographic – kids.

And then finally, in a class all its own, there’s Akagi, who at 13 was more badass than any of us will ever be. ;)