Controlling smoking among youths in America has always been a problem. In contrast, Japan seems to encourage this habit through subtle messages in various anime. Let’s take a look at some examples from Triangle Heart ~Sweet Songs Forever~, Gad Guard, and Fullmetal Alchemist.
I think there can be no doubt about the message in the first picture. In the second picture, the character seems unfazed by a rather grim picture depicting the effects of smoking; ads like these are rarely effective, so it’s probably the animators thumbing their noses at people who put up these signs. Finally, the last picture is a bit confusing since instead of the usual circle with a slash through it, we have a heart. Does it imply that if you say “Good bye” to Tobacco, you’re saying no to your heart?
Oh well, the message is clear…
For those of you who missed the entry on Anime News Service on January 21, 2005, they mentioned a Tohato brand Habanero Growing Kit. Now I can make my own Habanero-tans to torture…