Editing Boogiepop Phantom (section)

== Themes ==

''Boogiepop Phantom'' is a story that primarily deals with change<ref name=bpep5com >{{cite video|people=Jeff Thompson and Crispin Freeman|title=Boogiepop Phantom Episode 5 "Interlude" Commentary|medium=DVD|date=2001}}</ref> and how [[perceptions]] change as people grow older.<ref name=bpep11com >{{cite video|people=Jeff Thompson and Angora Deb|title=Boogiepop Phantom Episode 11 "Under the Gravity's Rainbow" Commentary|medium=DVD|date=2001}}</ref> The theme of change is represented not only by the ongoing struggle between the Towa organization and the evolved humans, but also by the way the look of the city is changing and through the growth of children into adults.<ref name=bpep5com /> Similar to the theme of change, the concept of moving on and not being stuck in the past is integral to the story as both [[Boogiepop (character)|Boogiepop]] and Boogiepop Phantom confront Manaka for what they perceive as keeping people stuck in the past.<ref>{{cite video|people='''Boogiepop Phantom''' (to '''Manaka'''): "Your power ties people down to their past and takes away their ability to move forward. I have no choice but to cut you off."|title=Boogiepop Phantom Episode 11 Under The Gravity's Rainbow|medium=DVD|date=2000}}</ref> However, the series' view on change is presented ambiguously, as while the Towa organization seeks to prevent change in the world,<ref>{{cite video|people='''Snake Eye''' (to '''Officer Yamamoto'''): "The purpose of this organization is to prevent change in this world...You see this organaization doesn't like change. That's why they're only observing this world."|title=Boogiepop Phantom Episode 5 "Interlude"|medium=DVD|date=2000}}</ref> it has world domination as its agenda.<ref name=SSEUltGuidePart4 >{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Lesley|title=Boogiepop: The Ultimate Guide (Part 4)|publisher=Seven Seas Entertainment Page|url=http://www.gomanga.com/news/boogiepop_04.php|access-date=2007-07-08|archive-date=2007-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625211439/http://www.gomanga.com/news/boogiepop_04.php|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Boogiepop (character)|Boogiepop]] parallels this dualism as he encourages people to move forward with their lives<ref>{{cite video|people='''Boogiepop''' (to '''Suema'''): "Please remember this Suema. There's a difference between missing the old days and being stuck in the past. In the same way that the city must change over time, it's important that people move forward in their lives."|title=Boogiepop Phantom Evolution 2 Episode 5 Interlude|medium=DVD|date=2000}}</ref> while hunting down evolved humans thus preventing the possible transformation of society.<ref name=AnimeonDVDBPThem />

Retreat from [[reality]] and the consequences of [[escapism]] are important themes that play a major role in the series.<ref name=AnimeonDVDBPThem /> The image of burning memories to forget them and so escape them is used throughout the latter half of the series to symbolize the theme of escapism.<ref name=bpep9com >{{cite video|people=Jeff Thompson and Rachael Lillis|title=Boogiepop Phantom Episode 9 "You'll Never Be Young Twice"|medium=DVD|date=2000}}</ref> For the characters Misuzu and Yoji, their retreat from reality has devastating consequences: Misuzu enters a despairing insanity after being forced to realize the truth of her reality, while Yoji goes through a mental breakdown as his reality is no longer the fantasy he believed it to be.<ref name="AnimeonDVDBPThem">{{cite web|url=http://www.animeondvd.com/news/article.php?article_view=266 |title=A Thematic Analysis of Boogiepop Phantom |last=Stanton |first=Robert |publisher=Anime on DVD |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195750/http://www.animeondvd.com/news/article.php?article_view=266 |archive-date=2007-09-27 |access-date=2016-10-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, the question as to how people should live their lives goes unanswered by the series.<ref name=bpep3 >{{cite video|people='''Misuzu''': "What else was I supposed to do? Tell me, how should I have lived in this screwed up world where everything is painful?" '''Boogiepop Phantom''':"......"|title=Boogiepop Phantom Episode 3 Life Can Be So Nice|medium=DVD|date=2000}}</ref> Later on in the series, retreat from reality is revisited in the form of Poom Poom, who represents the ultimate escape from reality into childhood.<ref name=AnimeonDVDBPThem />

Relationships, and the tragedy of loss and misunderstanding inherent within them, are major themes in ''Boogiepop Phantom''.<ref name=bpep2com >{{cite video|people=Jeff Thompson and Jo DiGiorgi|title=Boogiepop Phantom Episode 2 "Portraits in Darkness"|medium=DVD|date=2000}}</ref><ref name=bpep6com >{{cite video|people=Jeff Thompson and Rachael Lillis|title=Boogiepop Phantom Episode 6 "Mother's Day" Commentary|medium=DVD|date=2000}}</ref> The relationships that the characters Mamoru, Manaka, and Shizue have with their parents highlights the lack of support that children receive from parents who are otherwise busy, and the resulting disconnection between parents and children.<ref name=AnimeonDVDBPThem /> With the actions of Poom Poom later in the series the theme of the Pied Piper is explored, as Poom Poom takes away the children because the parents have broken their promise.<ref name=bpep7com >{{cite video|people=Jeff Thompson and Rachael Lillis|title=Boogiepop Phantom Episode 7 "Until Ure In My Arms Again" Commentary|medium=DVD|date=2000}}</ref> The message the show leaves the viewer however is positive, as both Manaka and Shizue reconcile with their mothers, and so the parent-child relationship can be saved by open communication and understanding.<ref name=AnimeonDVDBPThem /> Another form of relationship is explored through the interaction between Moto and Manticore Phantom, where the physical surrender of Moto, who harbored feelings for Masami, associates the sexual relationship with death.<ref name=bpep1com >{{cite video|people=Jeff Thompson and Joe Diorgi|title=Boogiepop Phantom Episode 1 "Portraits From Memory" Commentary|medium=DVD|date=2000}}</ref>

''Boogiepop Phantom'' is also a series that is about memory and how memories help define who we are.<ref name=bpep2com /> For most of the characters, their memories of the past and background are crucially important in determining the direction their lives have taken.<ref name=bpep1com />