Whether they’re tracing depictions of the apocalypse from their roots in the ancient Near East to hit anime of the 90s and 2000s, exploring the ways in which certain mecha and magical girl shows equate trauma and heroism, or just trying to figure out why the hell Utena turned into a car, the essays in this collection combine an accessible style and a bit of humor with literary analysis to present anime in a new light for old fans, new fans, and scholars alike! The product of nearly a decade of studying, writing about, and presenting on anime, these essays—many never before seen!—include: • Time travel and time loops in anime like Higurashi, Haruhi Suzumiya, and Erased • Narrative traps and identity in Utena and Princess Tutu • A defense of the notorious final two episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion • The secret history of American anime fandom • A guest chapter by Lex Dunbar on mecha, maturation, and the divine • And more!