Gundam, Promare, And The Need For Yaoi/Yuri Escapist Fantasy
by Tito W. James
After revisiting Promare and discovering Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, I noticed that they have several aspects in common. Both anime focus on giant robots and have a suggested Yaoi/Yuri relationship between the main characters. Anime exploring same-sex relationships or the mecha genre isn’t exactly new territory. However, since there’s been a lot of friction online when discussing “queer themes” in genre fiction and geek culture I decided to highlight these anime.
The reason Promare and Witch from Mercury work for me is because they are primarily escapist entertainment. These are big, dumb, fun, robot action anime with characters who just happen to be “shippable.” Ultimately whether you’re gay, straight, or questioning, everyone can enjoy an escapist adventure.
There are many rising creators (myself included) who wish to include gay characters and themes into their work as it reflects their own lives or the lives of those they love. There will always be space for grounded realistic portrayals of queer life and culture. But I believe that bombastic escapist entertainment plays a pivotal role in opening minds and super-charging imaginations. When you create characters and worlds where anyone can feel at home, it offers a break from reality that is too often not as kind. That is why I believe we need more Yaoi/Yuri escapist fantasy for everyone.
