ART AND ANIMATION

THE LONE WOLF IN ANIMATION

or Bojack Horseman, The Midnight Gospel, Neon Genesis Evangelion

By Kym Gray

What have you done?

There is an unsettling phenomenon going on in internet communities. And what I’ve noticed is that some of the most disturbing issues in current events are combining the collective with ideas of what it is to be a lone wolf. Whether it is undergoing a near-death experience, consuming hallucinogens, or venting about the problems of life in society, there is always a place on the Internet where one individual can connect with many individuals about how alone they truly are. This is the basis for a new genre that is emerging and which I call the “lone-wolf’” narrative; not surprisingly, it is interested in depicting lone wolves.

These characters exist more frequently than ever with the rise of internet culture and its corresponding appearance in political and social life. The internet was never meant to be a place where problems could be solved, though apparently you can solve anything if you rely on imaginary solutions. By that, I mean there is always going to be an answer to the problems at hand, but whether it is the right answer is often questionable. We need to understand that the social rejects now and have a club for their rejection and answers about why they’re rejected. And with that, as normal society rejects them, this other world forms and embraces their ideals, their problems, and their vulnerabilities. And in a way, makes them kings, of their own worlds.

I'm alone in a world of my own

To understand what exactly a vulnerable character is, or this ‘lone wolf’, we need to ask what categorizes them as lone wolves. For example, why are they considered alone? Why do they feel misunderstood and that they don’t quite fit into society? Are their actions and consequences fueled by unrealistic expectations of what it means to be part of the world? When we can answer these questions, then we can understand how they imagine what it means to live a solitary life. The problems and misunderstandings become the basis of community and a way of understanding the world.

BOJACK HORSEMAN

Bojack Horseman, the lead “horseman” character from the animated series Bojack Horseman, is a lone wolf character, but ultimately, also an asshole. He is a prime example of the way contemporary animation and culture has tried to understand the scope of the psychic strangeness of lone wolves. It is true he was raised by difficult and overbearing parents and saddled, sorry for the pun, with unattainable expectations. But what makes him fascinating is that he’s a Hollywood star wracked with anxiety over his status in the world. Even with wealth, fame, and access to the traditional guilty pleasures he indulges in, he is truly depressed. And though he recognizes he has friends that support him through relapses and mental illnesses, he continues to be crippled by loneliness. The series is excellent at scoping out the dimensions of Bojack Horseman’s condition and what it means for our culture.

A guilty, lonely horse

When Bojack pressures his closest friend Sara Lynn to go on an alcohol and drug binge with him, she od’s. Bojack later confesses that he could have saved Sara, but ultimately left her to die because he knew it was his fault. Over the months, Bojack covers up how he found her and pretends that he called 911. Afterwards, Bojack tries to go to rehab, start a new life in the boonies, and make things right with all the friends he took advantage of. In the end, though, he just backstabs them again. The cycle proves to be never ending and never changing, because it’s a tv series, but it’s cyclical nature also makes it good at catching a problem in the culture that feels irretractable.

Bojack sees himself as a hero in a world where he feels he is both totally free and without responsibility. Instead of taking accountability for his actions, he continues to blame everyone but himself. The series show that Bojack has the potential to do better but ultimately shows us that a thousand good deeds do not make you a good person. Bojack is the lone wolf as narcissist, though of the equine variety.

THE MIDNIGHT GOSPEL

Clancy Gilroy, the space traveler and caster of the animated series The Midnight Gospel, is also a lone wolf, but a different type than Bojack Horseman. He has adolescent tendencies and an underwhelming sense of care for others. Ironically his hobby is travelling to different dimensions and interviewing intergalactic species about the meaning and troubles of life. Although he gets many answers in his travels, Clancy never applies those lessons to himself. Rather, he procrastinates, he appeals to people in ways that break the laws of the universe, and he doesn’t seem aware of how his actions affect those around him. Of course, that’s one of the more mordant jokes of the series, because he is literally everywhere in the universe and yet he brings his silly problems and inadequacies with him wherever he goes.

I act up sometimes

As his sister says to him, he can move wherever he wants and start anew, but everything will stay the same, if he doesn’t change. As she tries to get through to him his denial turns to rage and he hangs up on her, which is what makes this scene so perfect for this new type of cultural hero? Villain? Every interaction he has causes harm, even if it’s only indirect. Later in the series, a neighbor warns him that if he does not take care of the world simulator, something bad could happen. His response is to waits until something bad happens. As usual, instead of trying to clean up his mess, he just slips away as if none of it was his problem. When the universe around Clancy caves in, he finds himself on the wrong side of the law. In a way, this reflects our own culture of narcissistic lone wolves. The bad habits and the aloofness are a result and an effect of those men who can barely take account for their actions. Of course, the series knows how harmful this intergalactic Bojack horseman really is.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

The lone wolf protagonist of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shinji Ikari, is beyond depressed. Most of the time you see Shinji, you can feel his loneliness despite the support of his friends. Even though his friends are there it is as if he has no emotional attachment towards his peers or any tangible connection to anyone. What’s clear is that Shinji has always felt alone, is paranoid and doesn’t know how to properly express what he wants in his life. One could say indecisiveness has created a lone wolf.

One handsome lone wolf

Shinji Ikari is often confronted with responsibilities that are not typical for a teen his age. The adults around him ask him to do the impossible, such as piloting Evangelion units (military grade humanoids) because “he is the only one who can do it”. Without either the mental preparation or training for such a job Shinji is wracked with anxiety. These unrealistic expectations forced upon a child create a tremendous anxiety. He knows that failure could be catastrophic. Here, we have a realistic depiction of cowardice and its effects (alienation). Shinji descends into a depressive state where he shuts down completely in spite of danger to those around him.

Like incel collectives, Sinji is scared and slipping away from reality. He avoids confrontation, and runs from, maybe rightly, responsibility and accountability. Like the narcissist Bojack, he simply cannot relate to others anymore and ironically seeks out others to buttress his most anti-social tendencies.

In the end, we all might to ask what matters when there is a rise of toxic internet culture that has blended into our way of life and what we value? When life imitates art and the imagination tries to become reality, we have to ground ourselves and seek out better ways. We should not try to solve problems with imaginary solutions. When animated series have a stronger grasp on the problem that the country, we’re in trouble.

©Kym Gray and the CCA Arts Review