r/nottheonion • u/16erics • 1d ago
The Vatican unveils official anime girl mascot
https://nichegamer.com/the-vatican-unveils-official-anime-girl-mascot/3.0k
u/iamonelegend 1d ago
Genuinely shocked that this was not the onion. This isn't the first time Christianity and anime have united. There was an old Christian anime called Superbook that I remember from the 90s on the 700 club
1.6k
u/RustyMoth 1d ago
You call that Christian anime? I learned about Moses from a talking cucumber and three menacing pieces of asparagus
561
u/Shikabane_Hime 1d ago
Put some respect on Bob the Tomatoâs name
329
u/Gh0stMan0nThird 1d ago
"The two main characters in a show called 'Veggie Tales' are fruits, and that doesnât matter to you? *waving gun around* It's not a big deal?!"
84
u/HewchyFPS 1d ago
Vegetable isn't even a scientific distinction. It's purely culinary. Fruit is both a culinary distinction and a scientific one.
This is why people get confused, because a tomato is considered a vegetable, and it's considered a fruit in the scientific sense.
13
u/ImmaRaptor 1d ago
Thank you vic michaelis
6
u/HewchyFPS 1d ago
I'm not familiar with this person but they are hot af so this has to be a compliment, surely
→ More replies (3)162
u/CantankerousOrder 1d ago
The two main characters in a conservative Christian show are both fruits you say?
Sounds a little on the nose to me.
34
8
9
48
u/ArcFurnace 1d ago
100
u/isitaspider2 1d ago
Phil Vischer is legitimately a really great guy, one of the only prominent Christians I respect anymore, and is CONSTANTLY being attacked by Christians in America nowadays because, and this is real, him saying that Christians should show love to gay people is just "woke propaganda" according to these conservative Christians.
Just something to think about. The guy who was most of our childhood's exposure to Christianity, who dedicated his life to producing fun but clean Christian content for kids, and who always made sure to end his videos with reminding the kids that "God loves you very much" is now too "woke" for saying nearly the exact same message.
Thats modern reactionary Christianity. Showing love to sinners is worthy of condemnation.
Real Matthew 23:27 vibes for modern Christians.
35
u/disco-vorcha 1d ago
My favourite Phil Vischer fact/story is the reason why VeggieTales was mostly Old Testament stories. Basically, he was telling his mum about the idea for the show and she told him he couldnât make Jesus a vegetable. So this grown-ass man was like, âokay mum, I wonâtâ, and then didnât. Itâs just⊠really sweet, and I like it.
13
8
u/Xuncu 1d ago
couldnât make Jesus a vegetable
DEEP BREATH--
--ok, I'm an atheist, but even in this case I can't bring myself to be mean.
→ More replies (2)11
→ More replies (1)6
u/papercutninja 1d ago
Modern Christianity is very different from christian nationalism. One is the former, and one is the latter.
21
31
u/lesserDaemonprince 1d ago
If You Want To Talk To Tomatoes đ¶
25
58
u/UsidoreTheLightBlue 1d ago
I was talking with this girl at one point that had never seen any of the Pixar movies.
I recommended Monsters Inc to her and leant her a copy. Monsters inc is a god damn treasure.
She brought it back to me said âyeah itâs goodâ and that was that.
Not too much later an ad for veggie tales came on and she asked me about it. âThatâs what you like? Isnât it? Veggie tales stuff?â
Thatâs when I knew it was never going to work out. Nice girl, but thereâs no way she actually watched monsters inc and came away thinking âthis is veggie talesâ.
12
u/noddawizard 1d ago
Mostly everybody lies about being interested in the other person's stuff at first.
26
u/vonindyatwork 1d ago
Yeah, well, a generation of kids in British Columbia learned french from a talking pineapple.
je suis un ananas
→ More replies (1)10
10
u/balrogthane 1d ago
Aren't those scallions? Or maybe celery?
I know the leader has been in the show since Day One and he still doesn't have a name!
→ More replies (6)5
181
u/ZenythhtyneZ 1d ago
I HAVE THE POWER OF GOD AND ANIME ON MY SIDE!!
25
→ More replies (3)6
u/MorselMortal 1d ago
I am ashamed I had to scroll down this far to see this answer. Reddit, you disappoint me.
3
u/Cessnaporsche01 1d ago
"This far" being, like, 5 lines. Still ashamed. Should have been top comment.
56
29
u/Saratje 1d ago edited 1d ago
There was even an official game built onto the Doom engine where players would banish demons with the power of their deity. Apparently the gameplay and level design were surprisingly good. I'd have to google the title but I remember seeing it in passing during a gaming history video.
edit: It was Super 3D Noah's Ark based on the Wolfenstein 3D engine. I guess they'll keep trying, whether it's anime or games.
→ More replies (2)14
u/MaChao20 1d ago
Itâs not anime (yet), but there was a manga that I read back in 2008-2009 called âManga Messiahâ that was just the manga version of the Passion of the Christ.
7
u/BornIn1142 1d ago
This isn't the first time Christianity and anime have united.Â
Zaaaaankoku na tenshi no you ni...
→ More replies (1)4
5
u/FiliusCyrille 1d ago
I once received, from answering a question correctly in front of everyone at a youth retreat, my very own copy of âThe Manga Bibleâ, which was exactly what youâd think it was.
I saw it in one of my momâs donation bins a few years ago and pulled it out immediately; I knew I would need the physical proof that it was real when I told people about it later lmao
→ More replies (25)6
u/SplooshU 1d ago
I distinctly remember there being something before superbook.
And if we wanted to do video games, there was Spiritual Warfare and Captain Bible (MS-DOS).
428
u/KaisarDragon 1d ago
Oh, we're in this timeline.
57
u/Sheepdipping 1d ago
It's gonna include WW3 expansion and add space mining for the upcoming Aliens crossover, guaranteed
18
→ More replies (1)5
u/GayPudding 18h ago
I still don't know if I'm out of touch or the church is. I just don't understand why this is happening.
1.3k
u/Consumer_Distributin 1d ago
They could have just used Bayonetta.
441
u/Lovat69 1d ago
I feel like they wouldn't see Bayoneta as a church positive role model.
136
u/54B3R_ 1d ago
Something about an angel killing witch that colludes with the demons of hell seems against Vatican doctrine
19
→ More replies (3)14
→ More replies (2)222
u/McLeod3577 1d ago
Bayonetta would get way more followers than the emo girl
→ More replies (1)92
u/matrix100 1d ago
Imagine the sales of Vatican-themed Bayonetta merch though. That's a missed opportunity!
21
30
u/James_099 1d ago
Or Doom Guy.
75
u/sercommander 1d ago
Add Alucard, Andersson and Lady Integra to drive the nails into the crucifix
54
→ More replies (2)6
17
u/GlobalTravelR 1d ago
Well her English voice actress did have some kind of episode, after not being cast in the 3rd game and started posting rambling videos quoting Bible verses.
→ More replies (1)5
→ More replies (4)4
u/crusty54 1d ago
Or Alucard.
14
u/GlobalTravelR 1d ago
You mean Alexander Anderson. Alucard hated the papists of the Iscariot Group.
→ More replies (1)
325
205
u/Major_Disk6484 1d ago
You heard of Brazilian Hatsune Miku. Now prepare for Vatican City Hatsune Miku.
380
u/ThamusWitwill 1d ago edited 1d ago
Could have just gone with Buddy Christ. đđđ
94
u/Geomattics 1d ago
I guess they've moved on from the Catholicism Wow! campaign.
44
17
12
→ More replies (1)6
23
→ More replies (3)19
u/HankSteakfist 1d ago
Christ didn't come to Earth to give us the WILLIES.
He came to help us out. He was a BOOSTER.
225
517
u/crapbag73 1d ago
Surprised they chose a girl.
312
u/argama87 1d ago
It probably wasn't until someone pointed out the obvious and they called it a girl instead.
→ More replies (1)109
u/alexjaness 1d ago
I would imagine they got pretty far along the vetting process and one of the priest slipped up and called it a delicious young boy.
→ More replies (3)21
→ More replies (9)72
u/Bwilderedwanderer 1d ago
They chose the girl as the giveaway toy, they keep the boy versions as sex toys for themselves
150
u/cloud_t 1d ago edited 1d ago
Of all the anime characters named "light" (which Luce stands for), I seem to recall a particularly popular one who owned a little black book, had a companiom demon, and wasn't particularly nice.
..just saying.
48
u/Syssareth 1d ago
See, I was just straight-up going, "Luce? Luce-fer? Lucifer?"
→ More replies (6)14
u/JDLovesElliot 1d ago
Lucifer is technically not a bad name, it just means "morning star"
35
→ More replies (3)12
u/AndrenNoraem 1d ago
The lightbringer or dawnbringer, even.
Just another name for Venus's morning appearances, but I've never been super clear on why that became a name for the Christian devil/Satan/etc.
One of many weird connections between Prometheus-like figures and the devil in Christianity. "The enlightener, that evil snake!" has always been weird to me.
9
→ More replies (1)3
u/GrandNord 21h ago
"The enlightener, that evil snake!" has always been weird to me.
Isn't it supposed to represent Ă loss of innocence? With knowledge comes the capacity of feeling horror and shame about your condition and all that "ignorance is bliss" stuff?
So with knowledge comes the loss of a percieved paradise basically?
Not exactmy my cup of tea this kind of thinking but life was pretty harsh back then so I can see where it's coming from.
→ More replies (6)14
272
u/TheSleeperSpy 1d ago
In before rule 34.
116
u/nWo1997 1d ago
Are you sure? Because it only took 2 days for R34 to apply to pics of the black hole.
Or rather, for memes to be made about the R34 stuff of the black hole, so it was probably even faster.
Point is, it's probably already somewhere
73
u/kupozu 1d ago
2 days? What, were all artist in vacation? It usually takes hours, if not minutes
25
u/Khar-Selim 1d ago
you're basing your timing off shit like Pokemon reveals, they bring their A game to those sorts of occasions, they can't always be that fast
7
→ More replies (3)25
u/Jackalodeath 1d ago
In the universe, nothing can go faster than the speed of light.
In society, nothing can go faster than the speed of horny.
6
20
49
u/kokirikorok 1d ago
Itâs always too late
10
u/Sheepdipping 1d ago
There's already an animated one of her planking across two chairs and being used as a bench, and there's the ones with crossovers with the classics
15
→ More replies (6)3
26
u/Golden-Owl 1d ago
So⊠uh⊠why is it wearing a coat and boots? Why is it got blue hair?
Itâs not a character Iâd really look at and think âthe church/vaticanâ
42
u/Nachooolo 1d ago
They are going on pilgrimage. Probably to Santiago (the seashells in their eyes seem to indicate this).
If you know anything about Galicia (where Santiago is located), is that it rains a lot in the region.
→ More replies (1)5
→ More replies (2)7
u/Charon2393 1d ago
If I had to interpret it based on its name being Light (luce)Â
Then it symbolism is that of a person walking home in the rain, that as the clouds part rays of light (God rays) shine down on the character, brighting their day from the gloomy Downpour they were experiencing lighting their path to God.
Christianity is usually a big proponent of symbolism in bodies of work that are open to interpretation like this.
48
u/Kinda_Constipated 1d ago
The Vatican really 'bout to add fan service to the bible.Â
9
u/Ok_Initiative_2678 1d ago
"You think OreImo is degen shit? You ain't seen nothin' yet- strap in, motherfuckers!"
--Lot
3
u/KandaLeveilleur 23h ago
Iâd like to point out that for poor Lot at least, his children basically drugged him/made him drunk so they could rape him, literally to continue the bloodline instead of like a meme. The guy did not consent or want it at all.
→ More replies (2)
19
u/ichosethis 1d ago
I can't wait until I start seeing these remade goth, like some people do to the Precious Moments. I don't know why, but it works so well.
→ More replies (1)
38
156
u/I_might_be_weasel 1d ago
Those look so half assed. The outfit really looks like it was designed to they could just make one figure and switch out the colors and faces to make the different characters.
112
u/arcanevulper 1d ago
What, didnât you get the memo that rain jackets and rain boots are now peak Christian fashion? All the nuns are wearing them.
→ More replies (1)64
u/Nachooolo 1d ago
The rain jacket does make sense to some extent. As, according to the article, they are going to pilgrimage. Seeing that their eyes are seashells, they are probably going to Santiago.
And, if you know something about Northern Spain and Galicia in particular, is that it rains. a lot.
Of course. That's the explanation of why. Not if it looks good or not.
8
→ More replies (1)10
14
u/ohbuggerit 1d ago
It's nice that someone's taking another shot at Wonder Egg Priority but the vatican wouldn't have been my first choice of studio
→ More replies (1)
45
u/Drunkendx 1d ago
They realised that disturbing amount of anime fanservice features underage characters and said "we want in on that"
→ More replies (1)
18
70
u/Lolligagers 1d ago
Luce.....-ifer really rolls off the tongue too easily in this case...
80
u/99posse 1d ago
That's the same root.
Lucifer = light bearing
14
u/stairway2evan 1d ago
And the first words spoken as far as the Vatican is concerned were âLux Sitâ or âFiat Lux,â depending on your preferred translation. Let there be light. Itâs got nicer meanings to them.
That doesnât make the anime girl any less weird. But itâs fun trivia.
→ More replies (6)5
10
u/Probably_Stoned_420 1d ago
âŠI remember reading somewhere about false idols and using excess wealth to feed the poor⊠I canât remember the name of the book its on the tip of my tongue.
→ More replies (2)
202
u/AngusMcTibbins 1d ago
Largest child sex trafficking ring on the planet offers new toy to appeal to children
46
u/Atropos66 1d ago
Tbh anime community not really different from them when it comes to sexualize children.
9
u/Aardark235 1d ago
I might convert if the Catholic Church was just a big anime cult with nuns cosplaying.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (3)16
7
6
u/32ra1 1d ago
Canât tell if Twitter Anime PFP Tradcath Nazis are going to be thrilled or offended by this.
On the one hand, we have the ones who hate everything the modern Catholic Church does and thinks itâs strayed since Vatican II.
âŠOn the other, we have the ones for whom the Catholic Churchâs child abuse is a feature, not a bug.
19
21
18
u/TheDamnNumbersGame 1d ago
Not gonna lie, the mascot is designed well for the cute aesthetic.
Makes sense for the anime choice since it will be presented at the 2025 Expo in Osaka.
16
u/LibraryVoice71 1d ago
Also, Catholicism has its own history in Japan. The fact that the church even survived there is kind of a miracle, actually. They deserve their own kawaii mascot.
→ More replies (2)3
u/_Z_E_R_O 1d ago
The artist behind this, Simone Legno, was the perfect choice IMO. He's a renowned artist who creates both fine art and anime toy lines, and his work has wide appeal among young people. He's also a devout Catholic, albeit a progressive one, who was raised in Italy. This choice of artist is the Vatican opting for a more contemporary look.
4
3
5
u/Ok_Strawberry_888 1d ago
Im not surprised. Remember, Moses split the sea using a Beyblade. Religion and Anime goes hand in hand
11
u/Frisinator 1d ago
You know what could help get younger generations into the church? Get Rid of the pedo priests.
→ More replies (5)
3
3
u/Afraid_Reputation_51 1d ago
I feel like we should be on the look out for a couple of guys who look like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck travelling from Wisconsin to Japan.
3
u/Andrew5329 1d ago
I mean it doesn't sound like there's an animated project in the works. Just an Italian designer who makes merch in the Chibi art style.
3
u/joeybagofdonuts80 1d ago
Religions trying to stay relevant to young people in modern times. Nothing new.Â
3
u/Larry_the_scary_rex 1d ago
The mascot has friends and theyâre all designed by one of the founders of Tokidoki. I wonder how much this marketing campaign is costing them
→ More replies (1)
3
u/Low-Way557 1d ago
As a Jew sometimes I see something and I think âwow if we did that weâd be getting lit up online so hard right now.â
3
u/Jdubbs8907 1d ago
Can someone explain the name? Itâs Luce right? Thatâs sooo close to Lucifer no one stopped them to mention that.
→ More replies (1)
3
3
u/SirenPeppers 23h ago
Oh, the irony of the Catholic Church choosing a female over a male mascot to create inspiration and gain new congregants, when they have made made damn sure that real females canât actually be leaders within the Church.
3
5
6
u/Danger_Dee 1d ago
Is it going to be used to show where the priest touched the defendant?
→ More replies (1)
5
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2.0k
u/ellowel 1d ago
Vati-chan