Naruto Shippuden : The conversation between Naruto and Nagato
I don't like crying.
I, like many guys, have the ridiculous idea that crying is an act of weakness buried into my psyche from years of childhood experiences which made me associate tears with being pathetic.
That said...the conversation between Naruto and Nagato is wrenching.
I know people bash the dubs, but this dub, this video game dub, was truly moving.
My brother wanted to hug...I preferred to shed the few tears I allowed myself alone.
Peace...
People actually understanding each other...
A world where we believe in one another...
Nagato was the embodiment of being consumed by pain.
Naruto is the embodiment of being able to move past pain.
I have to admit...I don't want to reexperience that Anime moment for a long time to come. It's too painful. Too close to home.
Fairy Tail : Juvia Shares Meldy's Pain And Happiness
What would happen if we could share each other's pain?
If we could directly feel the feelings of each other?
In this case, the desire to kill oneself, the desire to fight, vanishes, replaced by the desire to be understood and loved.
The moment when Juvia hugs Meldy, cries on her shoulder, Juvia tells Meldy not to die, but to live for the love she has for the person she most loves in the world, and Meldy weeps to, for the happiness and release of being understood by another person, who has felt what she felt.
Both of them fall to their knees, still hugging each other, before collapsing backwards onto the shallow water, exhausted from the battle and the journey of emotions they shared together.
What kind of world would it be if we could feel each other's pain, each other's goodness, each other's desire to just love and be loved?
This Anime moment gave me a small glimpse of the possibility.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Thursday, July 10, 2008
"You...think I'm useful?"
sniff. : ' )
The question we all long to ask of others when they surprise us by telling us we actually are.
poor. hurt. weary. humanity.
We all just want to be loved.
When we are, we are capable of any sort of heroism and nobility.
Inspired by Yusuke earning Koenma's respect through his selfless act to save Keiko and thus the privilege of having his body restored to life.
The question we all long to ask of others when they surprise us by telling us we actually are.
poor. hurt. weary. humanity.
We all just want to be loved.
When we are, we are capable of any sort of heroism and nobility.
Inspired by Yusuke earning Koenma's respect through his selfless act to save Keiko and thus the privilege of having his body restored to life.
The Beauty and Innocence of Young Love
How Would You Feel?
If you were 14 years old, a ghost, watching the person you loved, hovering over your dead body, cleaning your dusty face, declaring aloud, "It's a beautiful face..." and then bending over your body to kiss your still lips?...
Yeagh.
That's totally so awesome. = )
If There Was A Fire...
in the apartment where your unconscious body was resting, and the person you loved, ran from the other side of town at the premonition of you being in danger, arrived to see your apartment in flames, doused themselves with water and charged into the apartment to save you...
How would you feel as a ghost watching this?
What if the spirit guide accompanying you told you that you could save the one you love by sacrificing your chance at coming back to life?
You think about it, a moment only, before giving up your chance to save the person you could have had an incredible bond with alive.
...that's true love.
And it's so great to watch. : ' )
P.S : From Yu Yu Hakusho Episode 4.
You're Glowing Gold and...
only have 1 day for 1 of the 3 people who most love you in the real world to kiss you and transfer their life force to bring you back to life.
Your Spirit Guide possesses the body of your beloved's heat-exhausted Mother who is in the hospital and uncouncious (making the possession possible) and tells your beloved one that they have to believe in the vision they had of kissing you to bring you back.
Your beloved runs through the streets of Tokyo, sprinting up the stairs when the elevator is too slow, and runs into the apartment to bestow your first kiss before the clock finishes counting midnight.
wow...that's true love.
You awake and your first words are, "That was a nice kiss."
beautiful.
P.S : From Yu Yu Hakusho Episode 5.
If you were 14 years old, a ghost, watching the person you loved, hovering over your dead body, cleaning your dusty face, declaring aloud, "It's a beautiful face..." and then bending over your body to kiss your still lips?...
Yeagh.
That's totally so awesome. = )
If There Was A Fire...
in the apartment where your unconscious body was resting, and the person you loved, ran from the other side of town at the premonition of you being in danger, arrived to see your apartment in flames, doused themselves with water and charged into the apartment to save you...
How would you feel as a ghost watching this?
What if the spirit guide accompanying you told you that you could save the one you love by sacrificing your chance at coming back to life?
You think about it, a moment only, before giving up your chance to save the person you could have had an incredible bond with alive.
...that's true love.
And it's so great to watch. : ' )
P.S : From Yu Yu Hakusho Episode 4.
You're Glowing Gold and...
only have 1 day for 1 of the 3 people who most love you in the real world to kiss you and transfer their life force to bring you back to life.
Your Spirit Guide possesses the body of your beloved's heat-exhausted Mother who is in the hospital and uncouncious (making the possession possible) and tells your beloved one that they have to believe in the vision they had of kissing you to bring you back.
Your beloved runs through the streets of Tokyo, sprinting up the stairs when the elevator is too slow, and runs into the apartment to bestow your first kiss before the clock finishes counting midnight.
wow...that's true love.
You awake and your first words are, "That was a nice kiss."
beautiful.
P.S : From Yu Yu Hakusho Episode 5.
Feelings : The Essential (ignored) Part of Human Nature
He Can't Hear You, or See You
but he can feel you.
This is what Botan tells Yusuke when explaining to him how Kuwabara was able to respond when he wanted to punch that weasel teacher who intentionally sabotaged Kuwabara's test paper so that he would have to see his poor friend lose his job.
Feelings?
To this Yusuke recoils in horror exclaiming,
"You don't have to get all mushy!"
ah...feelings.
When we as a species learn to open ourselves up to our feelings, we will be healed as a species, and can get on with the adventure of exploring life, instead of limping through it like half-dead zombies.
but he can feel you.
This is what Botan tells Yusuke when explaining to him how Kuwabara was able to respond when he wanted to punch that weasel teacher who intentionally sabotaged Kuwabara's test paper so that he would have to see his poor friend lose his job.
Feelings?
To this Yusuke recoils in horror exclaiming,
"You don't have to get all mushy!"
ah...feelings.
When we as a species learn to open ourselves up to our feelings, we will be healed as a species, and can get on with the adventure of exploring life, instead of limping through it like half-dead zombies.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Yu Yu Hakusho : Bullies are Heroes who haven't found a purpose yet
He's Just A Bully
A simple statement.
Labeling another human being a bully denigrates them to the status of a beast : a mindless, heartless, brutal animal capable of nothing but cruelty and savagery.
Is that what they are really though?
Of course not.
They are kids who don't have a path in life to follow and the support and love of their society.
They are high-energy kids with tons of vim and vigour, a powerful desire to be challenged and stimulated physically, they want their limits to be tested.
I do not believe they are just : bad.
What an idiotically simplistic label completely ignoring the fact that all human behavior is a product of past experiences.
When kids bully, they are making a statement :
A simple statement.
Labeling another human being a bully denigrates them to the status of a beast : a mindless, heartless, brutal animal capable of nothing but cruelty and savagery.
Is that what they are really though?
Of course not.
They are kids who don't have a path in life to follow and the support and love of their society.
They are high-energy kids with tons of vim and vigour, a powerful desire to be challenged and stimulated physically, they want their limits to be tested.
I do not believe they are just : bad.
What an idiotically simplistic label completely ignoring the fact that all human behavior is a product of past experiences.
When kids bully, they are making a statement :
We're in pain.
We subject others to pain so that they can know how we feel like.
We do not know how to express our pain other than through violence,
but,
We hope that somebody strong will rise up and save us from ourselves,
and,
Protect us from our bullies, the way we were never protected.
We subject others to pain so that they can know how we feel like.
We do not know how to express our pain other than through violence,
but,
We hope that somebody strong will rise up and save us from ourselves,
and,
Protect us from our bullies, the way we were never protected.
From Bully to Hero
Kuwabara seemed like just a mindless bully.
But, as the Anime points out, he is far more than that.
What did he need?
A purpose.
A reason to prove himself.
A need to do something extraordinary.
Give that need to anyone, and they will show you their worth.
Rivals to Friends
Bullies are people who want others to show them their strength.
They are people who seek out strength in others.
Yusuke and Kuwabara were rivals, but, they prove to each other their mutual strength and thus form the basis for a friendship.
In a society dedicated to making people weak and subservient, vigorous people like Yusuke and Kuwabara, need each other to stimulate their desire to grow strong.
To be honest, it would be good if everyone got into fights to test their strength out.
People need to feel they are strong.
Oh, of course, everyone should wear protective gear.
It's cool to fight, not to scratch your face though.
Still want to look good on dates. ; )
Kuwabara seemed like just a mindless bully.
But, as the Anime points out, he is far more than that.
What did he need?
A purpose.
A reason to prove himself.
A need to do something extraordinary.
Give that need to anyone, and they will show you their worth.
Rivals to Friends
Bullies are people who want others to show them their strength.
They are people who seek out strength in others.
Yusuke and Kuwabara were rivals, but, they prove to each other their mutual strength and thus form the basis for a friendship.
In a society dedicated to making people weak and subservient, vigorous people like Yusuke and Kuwabara, need each other to stimulate their desire to grow strong.
To be honest, it would be good if everyone got into fights to test their strength out.
People need to feel they are strong.
Oh, of course, everyone should wear protective gear.
It's cool to fight, not to scratch your face though.
Still want to look good on dates. ; )
Saturday, July 5, 2008
A Society Dedicated to Making Kids Strong
Enter : Naruto Uzumaki
I just finished watching the first episode of Naruto.
It is utterly fantastic.
The ending always deeply moves me.
The remarkable bond between teacher and student.
Such a powerful, giving relationship.
I find myself irrevocably filled with a sense of longing for having had that kind of relationship with teachers during my own childhood.
Now that I am an adult, it's up to me to make sure the next young generation does experience this kind of vital relationship in the growth of a human being.
The Ninja Way
A society dedicated to making its young people strong.
I can never get enough of glimpsing the Naruto universe because of this all-pervasive theme.
My own childhood was a wash of meaninglessness, raising me to be a useless adult drone in a brain-dead and emotionally-void societal system.
Having seen another way, a so much better way, I cannot do aught with my life, but make this vision a reality.
For the young generation of today.
For the young me who never had this chance.
I just finished watching the first episode of Naruto.
It is utterly fantastic.
The ending always deeply moves me.
The remarkable bond between teacher and student.
Such a powerful, giving relationship.
I find myself irrevocably filled with a sense of longing for having had that kind of relationship with teachers during my own childhood.
Now that I am an adult, it's up to me to make sure the next young generation does experience this kind of vital relationship in the growth of a human being.
The Ninja Way
A society dedicated to making its young people strong.
I can never get enough of glimpsing the Naruto universe because of this all-pervasive theme.
My own childhood was a wash of meaninglessness, raising me to be a useless adult drone in a brain-dead and emotionally-void societal system.
Having seen another way, a so much better way, I cannot do aught with my life, but make this vision a reality.
For the young generation of today.
For the young me who never had this chance.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Love Letters
Here's an interesting question : "Does it make sense to be emotionally affected by a cartoon?" The answer is : "Of course it makes sense."
A cartoon is an artistic commentary on human behavior in some fashion or another. And I have a saying, "The most fascinating thing for human beings is : other human beings." Thus, a cartoon, which is a pictographic examination of human issues, naturally evokes a human emotional response, despite the fact, "they're just drawings."
I'm 28 now and a great deal more confident than I was when I was younger. It's funny to admit it to myself, but I must acknowledge the age-old adage that with "age comes wisdom". Although, I prefer my own take on this truism : "distance brings perspective", whether that be physical distance or the distance the passage of time affords. I think I prefer the word "perspective" in lieu of "wisdom". Personally I feel I was easily capable of the maturity I currently possess when I was younger, much younger, in my early teens. For this reason, I prefer the word "perspective", which anyone can have, over "wisdom", which connotates age.
Once again, a new Anime has kindled reflections in my mind. I just finished watching the 3rd episode of the Anime "Kamen no Maid Guy" (Masked Maid Guy). It's what called "Ecchi" in Japan and its defining feature is an unrelenting emphasis on playful sexuality. Not full blown porn by any means, more like the kind of innocent fantasies of adolescents. I could say "perverted fantasies", but I don't think there is anything wrong with obssessing about the opposite sex. Last time I checked sex was an absolute requirement for the continued perpetuation of our species. It's right up there in importance with eating and sleeping. It's one of our fundamental human drives. That it occupies a HUGE part of our thoughts and feelings is...well...as natural as breathing. Sexual repressiveness is something that stems from hurt feelings long ago. When some powerful guy was scorned by a girl and he decided to force her and other guys to subvert their sexual tension and bury it under the pretense of tradition and culture. Stupid stuff like not showing ankles, or communicating with the movement of fans, or wearing tops that covered the whole neck, and marrying for money not love, and arranged marriages, and on and on and on...All because some poor guy long ago got rejected by a girl. This is all just a theory on my part...but, I bet it's right.
The premise of the Anime is that 2 siblings are the sole remaining members of a once large and wealthy family. The Grandfather/Head of the family believes that foul play has resulted in the deaths of the other family members and thus he commissions 2 "special" maids to attend and protect his 2 remaining Grandchildren. The novelty of the show is that one of the special maids, Kogarashi, is a monster of a man who has the body of the Hulk, coupled with the skills of a super maid, packaged in a personality with a complete disregard for all discretion and "decency". The result is Naeka, the 17 year old granddaughter and heroine of the story, is constantly being stunned and embarrassed by Kogarashi as he criticizes her in her selection of panties, rebukes her for her enormous bust-size that causes her to be terrible at Math (it's a lewd cartoon, y'know ; ) , or makes her drink a love potion which causes her to lose all inhibitions.
It's really all hilarious stuff and I find it lots of sexually-playful fun. Again, it's only old-fashioned Victorian prudery that has inculcated us with the ridiculous belief that overt sexuality is "wrong". In plenty of cultures around the world (Bora Bora for one), sexual play is a common part of childhood, with children encouraged to explore their sexuality as soon as they are so inclined. It demystifies sex and prepares kids for healthy sexual relations in their adult lives. Again, sex is fundamental to human existence. I say, there is nothing wrong with thinking about it all the time. We think about food and water all the time. Sex is right up there in importance.
All the randy jokes aside, I've always found Ecchi to be compelling because it always has a sweetness and innocence to it. It's actually as important as the lasciviousness of the shows to me. In this particular episode, Naeka receives her very first love letter. It's a wonderful moment to bear witness to. Naeka is a very likable character in her physical attractiveness (of course), but also in her energy and her sensitivity. She had a traumatic experience with her 1st romantic endeavor (unfortunately she poisoned the poor boy she was interested in when she tried to make a lunch to share) and had since decided to dedicate herself to "the path of the sword" (she studies Kendo diligently). Naturally, she is just afraid of her feelings getting hurt again. But the female member of the 2 super maids : Fubuki, wisely recognizes that Naeka is just blocked by her fear of poisoning another boy, so Fubuki teaches Naeka how to properly prepare deep-fried shrimp, and so cures Naeka of her fear of loving a boy. Thus, Naeka is able to open up her 1st love letter.
I've written love letters to girls, and I'd always wondered what it was like for them when they opened and read it. I got an idea when I watched Naeka's reaction. Let me say, as a guy, it was so very, very sweet. I found myself wishing I would have been able to install cameras into the rooms of girls in my past I'd written letters to just to watch their reaction to reading my letter. ah...young love is so great... All the little hearts that pop up is an artistic touch in cartoons that definitely enhances the moment for me. : )
I feel compelled now to make a suggestion to young people (and adults too). If you like someone : TOTALLY write them a love letter. Pick some nice paper (maybe scented). Pick a nice envelope. Write about exactly how you feel. Be sincere. Show your feelings. It is just so totally great to get a love letter from someone else. We human beings are fuelled by love. It's our energy source. It's really what makes human life. You will totally make somebody's day, week, month, year by writing them a sincere love letter. Even if you don't "get together", you've still expressed your feelings, and that is just : pure magic. With such powerful feelings, you'll DEFINITELY meet someone special for you. ; )
Unfortunately for poor Naeka, this being an Ecchi Anime and thus inherently kind of twisted, her 1st love letter just happened to have been written by : a girl with seriously sappho inclinations. To complicate matters, Kogarashi (the Monster Super Maid Guy) made a trapdoor where Naeka and sappho girl have their rendezvous which drops the 2 of them into a "make out" room complete with bed and pink flowers. The episode closes with Naeka coming home looking like she has been wrestling for her life, armed with a katana, and charging at Kogarashi with the intention of turning him into sushi, all the while being restrained by her little brother and Fubuki (the other maid, female). It's all pretty crazy, but very fun. : )
Being young and engaging in romantic adventures (or misadventures) is great, but, speaking for myself, it's even more fun in Anime. Why? Because in Anime there is a neverending presence of adventure and surprise, you never know what will happen next. It's wild and exciting. Most of the time, real life just lacks that, y'know.
Totally write those love letters kids, but, look inside yourself to find what adventure means to you at the same time. When you add adventure and excitement to your love life, it will be special. What's adventure to me? Writing these articles, and, some day soon, going on my own journey of exploration. I know I'll meet a special girl for me doing so. Believe it! ; )
A cartoon is an artistic commentary on human behavior in some fashion or another. And I have a saying, "The most fascinating thing for human beings is : other human beings." Thus, a cartoon, which is a pictographic examination of human issues, naturally evokes a human emotional response, despite the fact, "they're just drawings."
I'm 28 now and a great deal more confident than I was when I was younger. It's funny to admit it to myself, but I must acknowledge the age-old adage that with "age comes wisdom". Although, I prefer my own take on this truism : "distance brings perspective", whether that be physical distance or the distance the passage of time affords. I think I prefer the word "perspective" in lieu of "wisdom". Personally I feel I was easily capable of the maturity I currently possess when I was younger, much younger, in my early teens. For this reason, I prefer the word "perspective", which anyone can have, over "wisdom", which connotates age.
Once again, a new Anime has kindled reflections in my mind. I just finished watching the 3rd episode of the Anime "Kamen no Maid Guy" (Masked Maid Guy). It's what called "Ecchi" in Japan and its defining feature is an unrelenting emphasis on playful sexuality. Not full blown porn by any means, more like the kind of innocent fantasies of adolescents. I could say "perverted fantasies", but I don't think there is anything wrong with obssessing about the opposite sex. Last time I checked sex was an absolute requirement for the continued perpetuation of our species. It's right up there in importance with eating and sleeping. It's one of our fundamental human drives. That it occupies a HUGE part of our thoughts and feelings is...well...as natural as breathing. Sexual repressiveness is something that stems from hurt feelings long ago. When some powerful guy was scorned by a girl and he decided to force her and other guys to subvert their sexual tension and bury it under the pretense of tradition and culture. Stupid stuff like not showing ankles, or communicating with the movement of fans, or wearing tops that covered the whole neck, and marrying for money not love, and arranged marriages, and on and on and on...All because some poor guy long ago got rejected by a girl. This is all just a theory on my part...but, I bet it's right.
The premise of the Anime is that 2 siblings are the sole remaining members of a once large and wealthy family. The Grandfather/Head of the family believes that foul play has resulted in the deaths of the other family members and thus he commissions 2 "special" maids to attend and protect his 2 remaining Grandchildren. The novelty of the show is that one of the special maids, Kogarashi, is a monster of a man who has the body of the Hulk, coupled with the skills of a super maid, packaged in a personality with a complete disregard for all discretion and "decency". The result is Naeka, the 17 year old granddaughter and heroine of the story, is constantly being stunned and embarrassed by Kogarashi as he criticizes her in her selection of panties, rebukes her for her enormous bust-size that causes her to be terrible at Math (it's a lewd cartoon, y'know ; ) , or makes her drink a love potion which causes her to lose all inhibitions.
It's really all hilarious stuff and I find it lots of sexually-playful fun. Again, it's only old-fashioned Victorian prudery that has inculcated us with the ridiculous belief that overt sexuality is "wrong". In plenty of cultures around the world (Bora Bora for one), sexual play is a common part of childhood, with children encouraged to explore their sexuality as soon as they are so inclined. It demystifies sex and prepares kids for healthy sexual relations in their adult lives. Again, sex is fundamental to human existence. I say, there is nothing wrong with thinking about it all the time. We think about food and water all the time. Sex is right up there in importance.
All the randy jokes aside, I've always found Ecchi to be compelling because it always has a sweetness and innocence to it. It's actually as important as the lasciviousness of the shows to me. In this particular episode, Naeka receives her very first love letter. It's a wonderful moment to bear witness to. Naeka is a very likable character in her physical attractiveness (of course), but also in her energy and her sensitivity. She had a traumatic experience with her 1st romantic endeavor (unfortunately she poisoned the poor boy she was interested in when she tried to make a lunch to share) and had since decided to dedicate herself to "the path of the sword" (she studies Kendo diligently). Naturally, she is just afraid of her feelings getting hurt again. But the female member of the 2 super maids : Fubuki, wisely recognizes that Naeka is just blocked by her fear of poisoning another boy, so Fubuki teaches Naeka how to properly prepare deep-fried shrimp, and so cures Naeka of her fear of loving a boy. Thus, Naeka is able to open up her 1st love letter.
I've written love letters to girls, and I'd always wondered what it was like for them when they opened and read it. I got an idea when I watched Naeka's reaction. Let me say, as a guy, it was so very, very sweet. I found myself wishing I would have been able to install cameras into the rooms of girls in my past I'd written letters to just to watch their reaction to reading my letter. ah...young love is so great... All the little hearts that pop up is an artistic touch in cartoons that definitely enhances the moment for me. : )
I feel compelled now to make a suggestion to young people (and adults too). If you like someone : TOTALLY write them a love letter. Pick some nice paper (maybe scented). Pick a nice envelope. Write about exactly how you feel. Be sincere. Show your feelings. It is just so totally great to get a love letter from someone else. We human beings are fuelled by love. It's our energy source. It's really what makes human life. You will totally make somebody's day, week, month, year by writing them a sincere love letter. Even if you don't "get together", you've still expressed your feelings, and that is just : pure magic. With such powerful feelings, you'll DEFINITELY meet someone special for you. ; )
Unfortunately for poor Naeka, this being an Ecchi Anime and thus inherently kind of twisted, her 1st love letter just happened to have been written by : a girl with seriously sappho inclinations. To complicate matters, Kogarashi (the Monster Super Maid Guy) made a trapdoor where Naeka and sappho girl have their rendezvous which drops the 2 of them into a "make out" room complete with bed and pink flowers. The episode closes with Naeka coming home looking like she has been wrestling for her life, armed with a katana, and charging at Kogarashi with the intention of turning him into sushi, all the while being restrained by her little brother and Fubuki (the other maid, female). It's all pretty crazy, but very fun. : )
Being young and engaging in romantic adventures (or misadventures) is great, but, speaking for myself, it's even more fun in Anime. Why? Because in Anime there is a neverending presence of adventure and surprise, you never know what will happen next. It's wild and exciting. Most of the time, real life just lacks that, y'know.
Totally write those love letters kids, but, look inside yourself to find what adventure means to you at the same time. When you add adventure and excitement to your love life, it will be special. What's adventure to me? Writing these articles, and, some day soon, going on my own journey of exploration. I know I'll meet a special girl for me doing so. Believe it! ; )
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
