Wanted: Female heroes who can stand on their own.

I remember the time I was conceiving both Ranao and Mindayen back in Negros. I told myself “My heroines are strong, resolute, and resourceful and they never had to have a bossy leading man to help them through their adventures.”

Like I once said, perhaps it’s the influence of two Hayao Miyasaki’s animation films, “Nausicaa Of the Valley of the Wind” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service” respectively. Plus, the all-Filipino legend of Princess Urduja! (MABUHAY!!! Those feisty and beautiful ancient Filipinas before the coming of the Spanish colonizers!)

Well, okay, even if I pulled both my pseudo-legendary stories together. I can’t help but wonder why do female characters in many stories, even though they were titled after them, ends up being merely a follower of the lead male character counter part?

I remember back in Negros, “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” was such a hit. The title is true as morning; The Little Mermaid-So that means “Ariel” must have been the central character…Right?

I really don’t know, Prince Eric was the first of the characters to appear and he seems to steal the show and to top it all, he ends up killing Ursula!
Ariel is just that, a helpless little mermaid…

Now, more recently, I’ve seen an anime titled “Nadia-The Secret of Blue Water” Well, the so-called “central character” named Nadia is supposed to be this dark-skinned darling with an enigmatic blue crystal pendant, and a mysterious past. Now, we may say “Hey…It’s her NAME on that title right?”

Yeah but here comes mister young inventor Jean…Jean is the very first character introduced in that show.

A contrast to that of Milo and Princess Kidda of Disney’s “Atlantist: The Lost Empire” where a very young Kidda was the very first character introduced in to the movie, which in my point, accentuate her importance to that story.

Jean…perpetual rescuer of Nadia, Jean the guy with planes, plans and stuff, Jean the rescuer of the Nautilus, Jean the beholder of the Nautilus’ heart.

And what become of poor Nadia?

The last time I watched, she’s with this Gratis lady cooking in the galleys.

I told myself “enough” and decided to stop watching the series.

Nadia is just this girl so Jean can take someone with him in his adventures.

Nadia is nothing more but good looks,
A companion, a talkative complainer, added comedy.
A teenaged girl for Jean to look her small developing boobs at.
A girl that goes to shower so Jean can have a peek.
A girl who’s only there for panty shots…the girl who can kiss Jean to show the viewers how adorable Jean is…

Nadia is nothing more but a follower for the leader-like, know it all Jean…

Gainax should never have titled it “Nadia” in the first place…they should have called it “JEAN-The Secret of Blue Water…”

Well, I felt like I’ve been drenched by cold ice water. I though Nadia can be an inspiration for “Mindayen”, just like Nausicaa, being an inspiration for “Ranao”…I was wrong. And the only thing that I derived from Nadia for “Mindayen” was her dark skin color, her age and her usual silent moments. Nothing more…

Okay, let’s say the show came from Japan and Japanese women were treated as secondary citizens…

Well, how about the two aforementioned Hayao Miyazaki animes?
They too, came from Japan, don’t they?

Why can’t there be shows or stories with the male character on the title, yet the leading lady does the entire major stuff?

Can you imagine a show like “Indiana Jones”, “James Bond” or “Harry Potter” but the leading girl character takes all the action, the mysteries and the lime light?

Why can’t there be shows, anime, animation or live action where the female heroines act as “Leaders” and not merely followers?

Well, there’s “Tomb Raider” for once. (Yeah, right…)

In Western animation there’s “Ferngully-The Last Rainforest, and in anime…Yep “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.”

But these are still just a handful…Hmmm…Maybe if I wait a little longer…
Who knows…Maybe someday, Ranao and Mindayen can level the scores…