It saddens me to see that many people consider Kemono Friend’s popularity a joke or a meme.
I get the impression that many equate its success to a kind of “haha, look at this
weird thing right here,” and it blew up so much that indeed that may have been some
people’s sentiments.
But I don’t do joke scores, and I have it at a 9 for a reason.
And the closest comparison I can think of for that reason, is Kino’s Journey.
I’m talking about the OG Kino’s Journey from 2003, specifically episode 8.
It’s about a girl from a less technologically advanced town who keeps making wacky inventions
using knowledge from an old encyclopedia.
Despite facing opposition every step of the way, from the town leader, to her very lover,
she digs in with her attempt to build a flying machine.
Kino’s Journey is a contemplative show usually focusing on different moral questions that
are given shape by the different countries Kino visits.
I won’t spoil the ending to episode 8, but the “Land of Wizards” is really an homage
to human curiosity, ingenuity, and kindness.
It’s one of the few times anime has made me experience frisson, which are the kind
of chills you get when watching or listening to something particularly awe-inspiring or
moving.
To me, Kemono Friends is Kino episode 8 spread out across 12 episodes.
It’s a love-letter to, and a celebration of, humanity.
Every Friend carries aspects of what animal they were originally, Crested Ibis can fly
and loves to sing, Serval has her claws and well, just tends to act like a curious cat
in general, and American Beaver can chew through wood like nobody’s business.
So, like Serval asks in the beginning of the series, what can Kaban as a “Human Friend”
do?
What aspects does Kemono Friends think composes humanity when given a blank slate?
Well she’s intelligent and fast-thinking.
It’s due to this trait that she’s able to help out Serval with the Cerulean despite
not being physically strong.
It’s because of her that they’re able to get across the broken bridge, she leads
them out of the maze after recognizing the signs, and successfully cooks curry for the
two owls.
Kaban is also an excellent mediator.
She helps American Beaver and Prairie dog reach their true potentials by having them
work together, thus shoring up their weaknesses.
She levels the playing field between Lion and Moose, illuminating, well, the existence
of strategy, haha.
And the thing is, she didn’t have to do any of this.
She could have ignored everyone and been on her merry way to the library, which was her
true goal in the first place.
Instead, the thought of being selfish doesn’t even occur to her.
When the Sandstar Low gets discharged and the park goes into crisis, she defies Lucky’s
pleas to evacuate, stating that she can’t just abandon everyone that’s gotten her
so far.
And in keeping with that, she gathers up the courage to face the colossal Cerulean alone,
in the face of overwhelming odds and incredible danger.
In introductory Psychology or Philosophy classes, one of the first things you learn are the
three main approaches to human nature—those of Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Hobbes believes humans are evil by nature and must overcome that nature in order to
succeed.
John Locke was the pioneer of the tabula rasa theory, that posits the mind is a blank-slate
from which experience imprints knowledge.
And finally, Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued for the “natural goodness” of human nature,
one that is challenged and sullied by society.
When looking at what Kaban represents, as well as the Friends in general, it’s easy
to see where Kemono Friends stands on the subject.
Kaban is intelligent.
She is caring.
She is courageous, a great teacher, and most of all… a great Friend.
Thanks for watching!
Especially around this time of year, I think it’s best to deny Hobbes’ assertion that
the life of man is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short,” but rather focus on
all of the amazing things that humanity is capable of.
Hopefully we can all remember to be just a bit more like Kaban-san.
Special thanks to my patrons TaluBG, I.R.Vom, Animetuck, QuakeShamer632, Brisk Tea294, and
Derrick Elklundh for their support, and merry christmas to everyone else.
And of course if anything I said was wrong, I’m sorry.
I must’ve stuttered.