Animes are so cheesy. Today I watched the last episode of Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba). The main character, Tanjiro, is leaving for a mission with his two comrades after intense training and recovery. While saying his goodbyes, one of the girls (about his age) who helped him train and recover admits to him that she’s a coward for choosing* not to go out on missions (killing demons).
Tanjiro tells her that doesn’t matter and that because of their time together she’s is now a part of him, and that he is carrying her emotions with him into battle.**
Anime protagonists are (often) so pure and good, even at times to a fault, at least in our eyes. They hold on tightly to their ideals, yet they are open-minded and humble. They aren’t infallible, but they never give up. They are people we wish we could be. And for all their cheesiness, that’s what I love about a lot of animes. It takes things we wish we could do or say or be and puts it to story.
If I said the equivalent what Tanjiro said to someone in person it would probably come of weird and creepy, or worse the person would think I’m coming on to them. But there are a lot of times when I wish I could say cheesy phrases in earnest and not be socially condemned, so anime is a good outlet for that.
And to all the people who I’ve met in my life, no matter how brief or for what reason, you’re a part of me now, and I think that’s pretty cool.
*I’m not sure if that’s the case, but based on context it seems that way.
**I’m curious if this is the truest translation
nANIMOv 