10 Lessons Learned From Animes

While meekness is not generally associated with strength, it is an admirable trait that deserves some notice. In anime, there aren’t a lot of humble characters who are cool or powerful. However, there is one young man from a popular anime series that fits this trait like a glove. His name is Gon and he’s the main protagonist of Hunter x Hunter.

Although Gon is naturally perceptive and talented in many unconventional skills, he is often ridiculed by his peers simply because of his kind and humble nature. Still, all of Gon’s friends and foes can agree that he is the real deal. This is because Gon proved himself to his peers through his actions and not through any haughty shenanigans like Leorio. This goes for anyone who is reading; humbleness is a strength. It’s perhaps the greatest strength.

Without the communication, others will not able to understand all of your action, even your action did not bring bad effects. Watch Re:Zero and you’ll understand this. The main character of the anime, Natsuki Subaru is a shut-in NEET who is sent to a fantasy world. He thought himself the hero of his own story but was faced with reality when he didn't have the op powers of a usual protagonist, he however choose to ignore that he wasn't the hero and that the world would go on with or without and tried to force his way into Emilia's affairs, and in the process making a complete fool of himself. The world then proceeded to show him how weak he was, and that he couldn't save anyone, after being utterly broken, he wanted to run away but was however stopped by Rem. He enlightened by Rem when he tells Rem what he feels and thoughts after he had go through those dangerous events.

“The one’s who accomplish true greatness, are the foolish who keep pressing onward. The one’s who accomplish nothing, are the wise who know when to quit.” – Celica Arfonia

The difference between a person who succeeds, and a person who fails, is how they think.Imagine you’re in a 100 meter race with 5 people. You’re all equally talented, healthy, and fit enough to run a 100 meter sprint. Despite these facts, only ONE person will be declared the winner.Why is that? Because along the way, some will say: “there’s no way I’m going to win, so I may as well quit while I can”. But the winner will say: “I’ll succeed no matter what it takes”.While I might have exaggerated that a little, it’s still true. Success is mostly a state of mind.

Mushi-shi follows Ginko, whose profession is in the title. Mushi-shis research and solve problems involving mushi, which are the most basic forms of life in the world. They can create traveling rainbows or blinding children. They can be more complex than human beings, or as simple as bacteria. In short, they're very versatile.

In every encounter with mushi, Ginko approaches them with respect and caution. He knows that they have power beyond what he understands, so he comes prepared. This is a great template for how humans should approach the natural world, or really anything too complicated and grand for us to understand.

This lesson can go both ways, but it couldn’t be any more true than in anime. Reading this, one might retort, ‘Hard work only beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,’ or, ‘What if talent works hard?’ The answer is still pretty straightforward. Let’s take the famous anime Naruto and Naruto and Sasuke’s last battle for example.

Naruto is an example of someone who doesn’t have a lot of talent but works very hard and strives to be the best. Sasuke is an example of a prodigy who also strives for excellence. In their last battle, Naruto proved to Sasuke that he was the stronger of the two. Although Naruto’s techniques were a far cry from Sasuke’s, and despite the fact that he was holding back in an attempt to reach him, Naruto still overcame Sasuke’s hate. It was Sasuke who acknowledged his defeat.

Similarly, this lesson can be applied to those trying to overcome the tough obstacles of competition. Whether you’re playing a sport or trying to be the best in the classroom, this lesson can have a profound effect in your life as a tool for motivation.

Shows such as "Code Geass" or "Death Note" provides a fictional perspective that is so unrealistic and far-fetched that some might deem it childish. Yet, if you do end up watching it, then you realize how much you can relate to such a perspective.

To elaborate, in "Death Note," an academically successful teenager randomly gets a hold of the Grim Reaper’s notebook, providing him the power to end a life just by writing the victim’s name in the book. This concept is dissected throughout the show as the teenager is consumed by the notebooks capabilities, and irresponsibly takes on the role of a higher being by killing off people who he, as a human, thinks deserves the ultimate punishment of death. It is a dark, conceptually deep thriller that forces you to think about the actuality of the show, “What if I had such an ability? Would I use it for good? Who am I to say what is good and what is bad?”

This show progresses as it generates a battle between two forms of justice: the condemnation of criminals versus the condemnation of a killer of criminals. An unrealistic show like "Death Note" has made me understand the reality that all humans are killers, you just have to either push them to their limits or provide them with power, and their instincts or greed will kick in.

Matthew 5:38-42 - "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away."

In the world of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, alchemists live by the principle known as Equivalent Exchange. This states that in order to obtain something, something of equal value must be lost. This applies not only to the alchemical reactions performed, but also to the many business dealings and such found within the series. This principle is also the reason Edward and Alphonse lost their bodies when trying to bring someone back to life. This principle can apply partially to real life through the Law of Conservation of Mass, which states that matter is neither created nor destroyed. However, this principle is not as applicable in everyday life. The verses above are from the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus commands us to give more than we receive. Doing this will yield spiritual blessings as we live for God each day.

You fans already know how everything started – how Ed lost his right arm and left leg, and how Al became a fullmetal being. You know the taboo. You can simply define them as sinful, but you can’t blame them for what they did either. When it comes to human transmutation, the law of equivalent exchange is exemption. As what I was trying to say in the aforementioned, the law of equivalent exchange doesn’t always give positive consequences. You can’t bring back life once it falls into ashes. It was painful, but the Elric brothers didn’t regret no matter how much they lost. In fact, it is what makes them stronger to move from the darkest footprints they left behind.

In life, loss is a normal stage people experience with either grief or anger. They feel an intense anger because denial is still there and they experience grief because they can’t accept it. However, the end stage is still acceptance where people need to overcome the pain and keep moving forward. Edward Elric is a good example of character in the world of anime who emphasizes the importance of moving forward despite the pain he experienced from the past.

Fruits Basket tells the story of Honda Tohru, a high school student who becomes involved with the magical and emotionally troubled Sohma family. How does she become involved? After her mother’s death, she doesn’t want to burden her relatives, so she moves onto the Sohma’s property in a tent. Because she goes to school with Yuki and Kyo, she’s allowed to live with the family in exchange for light housekeeping.

There’s a lot to learn from Fruits Basket (including a lesson about how to convince someone that your hair isn't really dyed by showing them your pubic hair), but one of the most powerful messages is that it’s okay to let people help you. Tohru has spent her whole life trying to help others and not be a burden. She takes care of the Sohma family, managing their complex emotional needs and secrets with great stoicism—but she doesn’t let herself mourn her mother’s death, and she doesn’t let herself rest when she’s sick. In return for all of her help, the Sohma family shows Tohru that she is worthy of being cared for too.

No collection of learning would be complete without a lesson from the ultimate anime teacher, Koro-sensei. Assassination Classroom tells the story of a genetically engineered monster who plans to destroy the earth within a year’s time—unless, that is, a group of middle school students can stop him first.

The monster, Koro-sensei, seems fearsome at first, but ends up building powerful bonds with his middle school students. Though the kids have been ostracized by the rest of the school due to poor grades, Koro-sensei sees their potential, and helps bring out their talents. These skills range from assassination skills to mathematical brilliance to being, like, really good at capturing insects. It's kind of a mixed bag. Koro-sensei might be a giant tentacle monster, but he reminds us that everyone is special in their own unique way.