Growing up surrounded by 2-D role models
It’s strange now that I think about it, media has shaped a lot of how I think. More often than not, it has provided me a new perspective on life and a large breadth of what it means to live, love, and move forward. These characters may not have been perfect, or at the center of their own narrative, but they have changed me for the better. Here are my top three anime characters that have changed my perceptions on life.
3. Naruto Uzumaki from Naruto & Naruto Shippuden
Truth be told, Naruto is very much a brat. He challenges authority and he complains a lot in his youth… However, that doesn’t mean he has his reasons, nor does he lack any meaning as an iconic character.
Naruto is one of the Big Three when it comes to Shounen protagonists. He has always fought to see himself as good in the eyes of his village– to be accepted in their eyes even when they believed him to be a monster. To see someone like him rise up from it all, and also accept his dark past– the past that hated the people that hated him– is a motivating figure.
In the dub, his catchphrase is “Believe it!” He tagged it at the end of every sentence as an affirmation. He fought for his friends, the legacy of his family, and led others to victory. On a smaller scale, I am motivated by his heart and his belief in others.
2. Akane Tsunemori from Psycho-Pass
Akane, as the sole female on this list, represents true heart and uncertainty at the center of the human experience. We’re all relatively normal people seeking to do good for the betterment of society. Instead of relying solely on the technology that regulates her world, she puts heart and reason into the world in a place desensitized, yet sensitive to violence. Humanity always bounces back, and Akane is a prime example of this spirit.
She’s is the embodiment of my hope that we as humans can not only do better, but be better.
1. Edward Elric from Full Metal Alchemist & Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood
For more a reason why I love FMA and its protagonist Edward, head over to my post on Gateway Animes! Ed’s final words will always give me hope and the spirit to move forward:
“A lesson without pain is meaningless. For you cannot gain anything without sacrificing something else in return, but once you have overcome it and made it your own…you will gain an irreplaceable fullmetal heart.”
Abstract Echo Entertainment 