posted on Feb, 7 2011 @ 10:17 PM
my theory is that a lot of these writers of anime and manga, at least from the 80's onwards have a more than passing acquaintance with Chaos Magick
and the occult in general.
but in general it's usually more the case that what we might consider occult is actually something from common folklore/Myth/Superstition or from any
of the religions and religious syncretisms native to that part of the world. though of course we are lately seeing a lot of symbols from western
occultism.
the Tree of Life/Lights is from Kaballah [no not that stuff Madonna is in to],
for example in the 80's series Battle Angel Alita [Gunm] the floating city over the Scrapyard is named Tiphares, from Tiphareth which is
astrologically related to the Sun, or in this case "the City of the Sun"/Sun City which shows up in various cosmologies all over the world.
Ninjas don't have a monopoly on Jutsu or magic by hand-signs, this came with Buddhism and originated in India where they are known as Mudras.
ancient Japanese magic was more shamanic and nature oriented.
here's a highly recommended series has that really Witchy feel to it :
Zoku Natsume Yuujin Chou
animeready.com...
in a two-chapter story the protagonist has to deal with an evil Yōki [a kind of spirit] that was born/came into being from a broken mirror that
wasn't disposed of properly.
in FMA Yoki is, a corrupt member of the military who imposes heavy taxes on the town of Youswell, bankrupting its citizens. [a Demon?], in Claymore
the word refers to Demonic energy.
yeah, I watch a lot of anime [among other things] so what?