Are you an Anime Otaku?

People at work seem to think I am an anime otaku. The thing is though I only really like two anime: Bleach and Rurouni Kenshin. And while I love the animation and the soundtracks of both series, the reason I watch them is because of their stories. Something in the stories really intrigues me and I guess it is because of this that I tend to talk, talk, talk about these anime and in turn get people to think I am an anime otaku.

These shows have some similarities. Like for example, the seemingly fragile looking hero who has superhuman or super death god powers, or the band of friends that seem to follow the hero everywhere despite his objections. Even the friends’ physical appearances are quite similar. There is also the samurai-esque theme of both shows. But the underlying storyline of bravery, friendship and self-sacrifice is the thing that clinches it for me.

The main characters always give “Inochi wo Mamoru Tame ni (命を守るために、 To protect a life)” or “Tomodachi wo Mamoru Tame ni (友達を守るために, To protect a friend)” as the reason of their existence or of their passion to do battle. It always humbles me and I usually get goosebumps from how self-sacrificing they are about their causes: protecting people above all else and fighting to the bitter end, not giving up and rising from deathly blows to prove that good conquers.

This is the reason I watch anime. It’s a whole and very different world. There is so much beauty in the drawings, and there is so much meaning in the story. It gives hope and strength. It gives meaning to where there might be none, and it gives entertainment to the majority of us.

In related matters, I received a link from a reader. He is presently conducting a research about an extract from the show Bleach. See his site here.