Ask John: What are Anime’s Most Iconic Scenes?

Question:
From Psycho’s shower scene to the revelation of the relationship between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, many iconic movie moments exist. Along that same parallel, what would you say are the most iconic moments in anime?

Answer:
Naturally, iconic images tend to hail from iconic titles. The anime that have most provided timeless scenes and images are anime revered as classics. Their most memorable scenes have inspired homage and parody, and resonate with viewers because these single shots encapsulate tremendous meaning and significance. Doubtlessly, on spontaneous response, I’ll overlook some of them. But a handful of anime’s most singularly memorable images do come to mind.

Kaneda’s sliding stop on his motorcycle after playing chicken with the leader of the clown gang in Akira encapsulates the futurism, kineticism, and spirit of youthful rebellion that characterize the entire film.

“White Joe” or the death of Joe Yabuki in Ashita no Joe 2 episode 47 is arguably anime’s singular most iconic scene ever. The bruised and exhausted Joe, slumped over yet smiling represents his Japanese spirit to pursue his dream to his utmost, giving everything he’s got when personal pride and determination are more important than even his own life.

The RX-78-2 Gundam’s final beam rifle shot to destroy Char’s MSN-02 Zeong during the battle of A Baoa Qu in Mobile Suit Gundam episode 43 is such an iconic image that in Japan it has its own name. The scene is referred to as the “Last Shooting” scene. Once again, the disabled and headless Gundam continuing to fight represents the Japanese spirit of perseverance and loyalty to one’s goal.

Kenshiro’s “Omae wa? mo shindeiru” (You’re already dead) statement to Zed in Hokuto no Ken is as much iconic for its dialogue as the visual scene of the hero so assured that he can turn his back on his enemy and walk away unafraid.

The final shot of the first episode of the classic baseball anime Kyojin no Hoshi has become ingrained into the consciousness of Japanese pop culture as symbolic of aiming for perfection, fame, and glory.

Satsuki standing beside the O-totoro at a bus stop is a whimsical and resonant image because it conveys the charming Japanese recognition of the interconnectedness of humans, nature, and spirits.

The three-quarter view of the Yamato may be the singularly most iconic imagery of a spaceship in all of world literature. There’s no other vessel that’s so frequently and so distinctively perceived from that particular perspective. The image of the Yamato, the embodied spirit of Japan, launching into the unknown frontier to save the Earth is a very powerful visual and mental image.

I’m not sure that any recent anime has contributed a genuinely iconic scene or image to the lexicon of anime. Perhaps recent anime simply haven’t had enough time to establish particular scenes into the collective consciousness of pop-culture society. I’m not yet ready to say that Makoto Konno’s leap from the diving platform in Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo may be poised to become one of anime’s iconic scenes, but it seems to have more probability of doing so than any other recent scene I can immediately recall.