Rewind: Hunter x Hunter (2011)

I tried telling myself to pick another, shorter anime for tonight. But Hunter x Hunter weighs too much on my mind, and would distract me from any other anime. Despite its length and complexity, I think I can sum it up pretty well. This post's goal is not to analyze the details. Rather, I want to summarize why I love this show so much and, perhaps, convince some of you to invest the time in it.

Warning: Spoilers ahead... including some of the people who are alive and kicking in the last episode. If you've managed to avoid such spoilers from social media, you may want to find another review, or at least stop reading this one after the first few paragraphs.

I watched the first Hunter x Hunter anime in late 2009, I believe, on a friend's recommendation. This was during my unhealthy binging years, so I breezed through the 62 TV episodes and 30 or so OVAs very quickly. I doubt it took me much more than two weeks. I enjoyed it. However, at that stage of my fandom, I didn't have an eye for the details. I hadn't discovered Anime-Planet or read any anime reviews or blogposts. I was just along for the ride.

Thus, when Hunter x Hunter episodes began appearing on Crunchyroll two years later, I couldn't tell that it was a reboot. At first, I thought, "Cool! They're finally getting that old show on Crunchyroll!" Up until Fall 2011, I didn't pay much attention to any currently airing anime except Naruto Shippuden. I didn't check out season previews, and I definitely didn't commit to following anything new... until that fall. So I think I can be forgiven for not immediately recognizing the reboot for what it was.

I quickly became a fan. By my mid-season post in Winter 2012, I was already trying to convert other fans. Oh, and a note on that post—the screenshot I used from Hunter x Hunter's 19th episode? They re-used that frame during the flashbacks in the very last episode. It's one of many precious memories I now share with the characters.

Gon introduces himself to the ship captain taking them to the
 Hunter Exams in episode 1. New friends Kurapika and Leorio
stand at his sides.

Obviously, I feel personally connected with Gon and Killua, the central protagonists. But my admiration goes beyond emotional attachment. The character development, visuals, plot, and subject matter all deserve proper attention.

The main character is, of course, Gon. He's one of those precious 12-year-old anime boys. Except more so. He's cute, innocent... and he has talent. Between his animal-like senses and the inspiration of his absentee Hunter father, he's skilled enough to take on most adults, even at the beginning of the show. He's reluctant to kill, and he's stubborn about it. Like many shounen heroes, he's an optimist and thus a heart-healer.

Gon sees some rough situations. He befriends Killua, whose abusive family raised him as an assassin. He fights murderers and faces death. At first, none of this seems to darken his heart. Then, halfway through the show, tragedy strikes. He loses someone he admires, and he thinks it's his fault. By the last few dozen episodes, his can't help others change anymore. His own heart is too wounded. Even Killua, his best friend, can't do anything about it.

In episode 125, Gon waits impatiently for his enemy, a murderous
chimera ant, to finish healing an innocent blind girl. Note the
shadow on his face—an external symbol of his inner state.

I don't have time to talk about every important character, but let it be known: the other characters are developed well, too. Killua, especially, stands out to me. And then there's Kurapika, whose walk of vengeance received a lot of screen time. Unfortunately, the anime ended without a satisfying ending for Kurapika. I trust the mangaka, Togashi Yoshihiro, is developing the rest of his story.

The visuals in Hunter x Hunter are fantastic, espeically compared to other long-running shounen anime. It's not just that they're pleasant and smooth to look at; they set the mood. And Gon and Killua's expressions... heart-wrenching. Wonderfully, painfully heart-wrenching.

The pacing in Hunter x Hunter was great, when compared to similar anime. There were three recap episodes, which provided the only fillers. Only three fillers in three years, guys. Thank about that a moment. Pacing got a little rough at the beginning of the year, around episode 115. It felt like Hunter x Hunter was in a holding pattern, waiting for all the pieces to come together before starting the real action. Suspense was high, but it retained the same elevation for several episodes. And yet, it would be hard for the pacing to be any different without them leaving plot holes. By episode 118, things were looking up, as I wrote:

"In the process of writing this, I realize that, despite the tedious suspense abuse and overbearing narration, something wonderful is building. Gon and Killua's character development have me as in love with Hunter x Hunter as ever. It's not a blind love, but it's still there, pulsing on."

Those few weeks of less-than-stellar pacing are pretty much my only complaints in how the story is told. Granted, the story is still not complete. The anime, while it ended at a good stopping point, still has loose ends. The manga is ongoing, and part of me worries that the Togashi bit off more than he can chew. From what I've seen, I doubt that it's only the physical elements of drawing/writing that tire him out. Hunter x Hunter is deep, the kind of story no normal person can weave without a lot of time to brainstorm and let ideas simmer. Sure, I didn't realize it during the first few dozen episodes (I actually wrote that it wasn't deep and didn't hold surprises). But, since then, I've noticed themes of naturalism, Buddhism, moral ambiguity, and the need for redemption. I've noted some of the surface-level Buddhist influences, but I think I'm picking up more influences, including some that explain why Ging is not considered deplorable for abandoning his son. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll have time to explore these in more depth, especially since I don't know enough about Buddhism to say very much with any confidence.

Finally, I'd like to spend a moment on the last episode, because it's packed with meaning. First, notice the location. Gon and Ging meet at the top of the World Tree, in a nest that looks a lot like a crow's nest in a ship. They're not actually in a ship, but as they look out over the world, and the ocean in particular, it recreates the idea of a journey that's just begun, much like Gon's journey began in the first episode.

Second, Gon and Ging finally have a private father-son talk. Ging passes on some of his philosophy on life when his son asks what he wants: "That which I can't see in front of me now."

Ging and Gon are Hunters. They're often finders, but the successful end of the hunt doesn't light them up nearly as much as how they get there. At the very end, Ging gives his advice to Gon and, it's implied, to the audience: "You should enjoy the little detours to the fullest. Because that's where you'll find the things more important than what you want." It's about the journey, the chase, and the friends you make along the way, he says.

I'm not sure I entirely agree with Ging—after all, our worldviews would be quite different even if we lived in the same world. But it's something I'd like to chew on, and evaluate more deeply in this context if I have a chance. For now, I'm just enjoying that Gon and Ging have been reunited, and that Gon is acting carefree again. He's not unaffected by the past few years, but he gets to be a kid in his dad's presence. And after what I've watched over the last 148 episodes, this is a wonderful sight indeed.

At the end of the last episode, Gon and his dad talk into the night,
and I smile, happy to see them happy again.

Divine(ish) Characters Clash in Hunter x Hunter

This is one of many frames in episode 128 that gives a sense of divinity to the
whole situation, and Meruem in particular. Also, this beauty is one reason I was
so trigger-happy with the screenshots last week.

Just in case you somehow missed it, Hunter x Hunter has been dripping with references to religion and deity lately. I have several screenshots from the most recent episode which display it, but it's not limited to episode 128, or even to the King (aka Meruem). I think it's worth taking a few minutes to explore.

First off, there's Netero, chairman of the Hunters Association. His character is a walking, fighting reference to Buddhism, and even we Westerners have very little excuse for missing it. I have very limited education on Buddhism, so my explanation of the connections will be, at best, sparse, and I highly recommend using your favorite search engine for more thorough information. But here are the connections I've been able to make:

The first clue is his ears. Those long earlobes are typical in portrayals of buddhas and bodhisattvas. I've read a couple of reasons for the long ears. The primary reason is apparently the Buddha's past princehood. He would have worn heavy earrings and jewelry like other people of his station before he gave it all up. After his "enlightenment," the earrings were gone, but the ears remained stretched. There are also associations with him being all-hearing and such... again, I highly recommend you research this yourself.

If the ears aren't enough, then Netero's 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva (Japanese is Hyakushiki Kannon) should alert even the least informed Western teenager to the fact that there's something religious going on. I mean, first of all, in order to develop this move, Netero went through intense training with a lot of praying and mediation, as shown several episodes ago. 

Then there's the ability's name. I don't recognize the "Guanyin" part from my past education, but bodhisattvas are Buddhist saints - enlightened ones who have refrained from entering Niravana themselves in order to help others reach enlightenment. A little research shows that Guanyin (aka Avalokitesvara or Kannon) is one of the most famous bodhisattvas, and has become known as a goddess of mercy (although Guanyin used to be portrayed as a prince). 

Episode 125, the King fights Netero. Behind, you see the
manifestation of his 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Basically, the name "100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva" is important. But even without then name, the imagery makes it stand out. It's gold and bright, for one thing. It has many arms, something I recognize from Eastern religious icons. A quick Google search refers me to a legend in which Guanyin is given a thousand arms to help her reach everyone in need. 

So, yeah, Netero is tied to Buddhism and one particularly well-known, powerful bodhisattva. That's a rather divine connotation. Plus, while he and the King fight, music reminiscent of old Western church choirs plays in the background. 

But the King proves to be a worthy opponent - perhaps even superior. That's scary, since, despite his changing heart, murder is still an important part of his plans. If Netero has supernatural ties, then what does this imply about the King? 

When Netero stops his own heart, setting off the bomb, I hope the King is really dead. Sure, he's gotten nicer, but he's not exactly Mother Theresa, and I don't think anyone besides Netero has a chance of stopping him by force.

At the beginning of episode 128, the King looks dead. His appendages are gone, leaving only his upper torso and head. Both Youpi and Pouf are sobbing. But then... they notice a sign of life. Pouf starts feeding himself to the King. Youpi sees the improvement and joins the effort, liquifying his cells to drip into the King's mouth. They are the most delicious food the King has ever tasted, and that flattery delights them.

So, the King basically comes back to life. Deity point 1.

"Absolute being," huh? I think that's a slight exaggeration, but
I admit this episode makes Meruem look rather absolute.

He now wants to be called by his name, Meruem, which means "the light that shines on everything" (source: wiki). Deity point 2.

He's golden as he comes back to life, like an idol. Deity point 3.

There is a generally heavenly/divine environment: sky, winged creatures, columns reminiscent of Mount Olympus, golden background, etc. Deity point 4.


The wings may remind us of angels, but Meruem's royal guards, especially Youpi and Pouf, are a lot more like demons. Meruem's moral identity isn't set in stone yet - there is still a possibility of him becoming good (if, in fact, good really exists in this show). He isn't exactly a god, and he's certainly not up to snuff by Christian standards (sorry, Meruem, but we know the real God, and you're... pathetic next to Him). From what I've seen, there is no real god in Hunter x Hunter's world. But Meruem certainly seems godlike, and it's hard to imagine his defeat.

In fact, it's hard to imagine any satisfactory resolution right now. Will they be able to negotiate peace with Meruem? He promised Netero that he would limit human sacrifice and allow for survival of the human race, but can he be convinced to do even more? And how? By who? Certainly not by Gon - not the way Gon is now. Will Komugi have more influence?

Will they need to physically defeat Meruem? And how in the world can anyone manage that? It will take scores of episodes before anyone's ready to kill him - maybe even hundreds.

I knew that any battle with Netero, and especially between Netero and Meruem, would take Hunter x Hunter to a new level. But this... this is unexpected. The world order is being threatened by a superhuman being, a being whose traits are implied to be divine. The man renowned as the strongest Hunter in the world died trying to take him out. From what I've seen so far, even with serious teamwork, none of the other central characters stand a chance against the King of the Chimera Ants. Maybe, just maybe, Ging Freecss and some other powerful Hunters can do something, but they're not in the picture at the moment.

When Hunter x Hunter characters start looking divine, and Gon and Killua aren't among them, I'm forced to reevaluate my predictions. My new evaluation? I need to hold my guesses loosely and make no bets. This is approaching Naruto Shippuden-level epicness, except there is no promised savior rising to prominence. I no longer know what to expect.  

Hunter x Hunter and Moral Sides

[Spoilers through episode 127. I wrote most of this before I watched the latest ep, which I may write about in the next couple days]
---

Hunter x Hunter has blown me away with its recent episodes. The character development is masterfully done. Gon, the kind, merciful twelve-year-old kid from episode 1, has all but vanished. The light in his eyes is gone, replaced by, well... this:

On a more technical note, the animation has impressed me lately,
especially with how they portray Gon. I have a lot of screenshots
of him, since they've combined facial expressions, shadowing, and
angles in effective, heart-wrenching ways.

The screenshot above is from episode 116, in which we begin to see the ruthlessness, the anger, and the thirst for revenge that consume Gon. In this episode and more recent ones, I've searched his eyes for some sign that he's just pretending to be coldhearted. But his eyes are hard, his face shadowed by darkness. 

He's willing to hold Komugi, a sweet injured blind girl, hostage. And he seems pretty willing to actually follow through and hurt her. Again, I want to believe this is some cover tactic. But Gon's not that experienced with deception. I don't think he can act that well.

Right now, Gon is acting a whole lot like a bad guy. Look, I know he's been through a lot. I know he's upset about Kite. But that's no excuse. Actually, he could probably use a nice little talk about the drawbacks of revenge and hate from Naruto right now. Unfortunately, Naruto lives in a completely separate world (although I think his show could spare him right now, given his recently limited screen time).

Meanwhile, we've got Pitou, a Chimera Ant and known killer, protecting Komugi with her life... she is a bad guy, right? Maybe I need to go back and watch some of what she did to Kite, to help me regain perspective. Supposedly, she only cares about Komugi because the King cares for the girl. But right now, I'm starting to wonder about that.

The last dozen or more episodes begin to blur the moral lines between protagonists and antagonists. It's normal for anime bad guys to soften and become good guys. But Hunter x Hunter goes further than usual, forcing the audience to reconsider how they measure good and bad. It certainly can't be by race or stage of evolution (yes, Hunter x Hunter includes Darwinian evolution as an accepted part of the world, but that's for another post). A few chimera ants converted to the good side many episodes ago: Colt, Meleoron, Ikalgo. The King and Pitou are both becoming more sympathetic. More importantly, at the end of 126, the narrator suggests that Netero questions the real difference between Chimera Ants and Humans.

Netero - that's another example. Yes, we all love the ancient martial artist. But let's face it: he's ruthless. He won't consider sparing the King's life, and it's not just because the King is too dangerous. Rather, he has a job to complete, whether or not he completely agrees with it. He nearly kills the King without telling him his name, which he's longed to know. And, in the end, he uses a bomb implanted in him to kill the King and himself in one big explosion. Sure, he's awesome and heroic and all, but... perhaps such an action shows he is not as different from the Chimera Ants as we'd like to think.

Look at the royal guard: Yes, their moral compasses are warped. So far, they are completely devoted to what they perceive as the King's needs. There is no higher moral standard in their lives. Yet Youpi showed some respect and mercy with Knuckle. Pitou, as I already said, is almost emotionally invested in Komugi. And all three - Youpi, Pitou, and Pouf - are dedicated to their King emotionally and dutifully. Youpi and Pouf's response to the King's death is almost heartbreaking, especially knowing what we do about the King's softening heart. I dread their vengeance, for they look ready to fully embrace their demonic selves. Pitou's response still hangs in the balance.

Youpi, the big one, holds his king's remains, as Pouf's frantic
clones rush toward him. One of many heart-tugging, beautifully
animated scenes in episode 127.

Some of this is just good character development. But I think Hunter x Hunter is calling us to consider the distinctions between good and evil more deeply. How do you characterize good? By intentions? Being on the side you support? Emotions? Palatability? Is there a higher moral standard? Or is it all relative, based on the choices of individuals, groups, or cultures? Do the ends ever justify the means?

I don't know exactly what answers Hunter x Hunter will arrive at. It would appear, at least, that it's frowned upon to forget mercy entirely and resort to murder quickly.

Many of us, both in America and cultures across the world, live in a philosophically postmodern world. Moral boundaries are ambiguous, based on what's "right" for each individual or society. As a Christian, I try to stay alert to the postmodern messages around me. I believe that there is a higher moral standard, set by God. Sure, the morals are occasionally applied differently for different people and cultures. Because of that, I do agree that there are "grey areas," with room for interpretation. But I also believe that, the more a person studies the Bible and seeks godly understanding, the less grey situations will be. God is a God of justice, but also of mercy and love. Most people instinctively value each of those qualities. And, despite the corruption from our sin nature (the ultimate genetic disease), most people display at least some degree of justice, mercy, and love. So it makes sense that bad guys would be capable of showing some love, even if it's twisted love, as Pouf shows for the King (and becomes even more apparent in episode 128).

While villains are naturally able to show some good traits (in reality, this is because all humans are created in the image of God), ultimately, there are two sides: God's side and everyone else. Those who put their faith in Jesus as their savior and follow God will live eternally. They're on the winning team. Everyone else, like Satan, is living on borrowed time. There is a difference between the two.

We who follow God should strive, with His help, to obey Him. This includes cultivating some of the same traits He has, very similar to the ones a younger, more innocent Gon displayed: a strong sense of justice, value for life, love, and mercy. Like the [emotionally healthy] shounen hero, we should try to win over those who pit themselves against us and our Lord. So, yes, all you non-Christians who read this blog, be aware: I'm trying to win you over. I'm not as diligent as I ought to be, and, all too often, I write a too much for my own glory, rather than for God's. But I really want you to come on over to God's side of the line. Come to the bright side. We have cookies... sometimes. Actually, there can be a lot of hardship associated with this side. But, like most shounen protagonists, we also have the ultimate victory, so I recommend it.

I take interest in fights between good and evil, whether the conflict is internal or external, and Hunter x Hunter has both. I don't expect this anime's representation of moral conflict to be completely accurate (that would require acknowledgement of the Lord God). But I do hope that the "good guys," including Gon and Killua, will distinguish themselves by acting in mercy and love. I hope to see Gon redeemed from the hate that consumes his heart, and fully restored to the more recognizable "good guy" character. And I really hope that many of the current "bad guys" will join him. 

Despite Suspense Abuse, Hunter x Hunter Develops Well

If you're giving a speech or telling a story, and you want to highlight how sad something is, what do you do? The easiest thing is to emphasize something happy right before the sad. If you want to highlight life? Put it next to death. A flower growing among ashes is more powerful than the same flower growing in a healthy field.

What do you do if you want to highlight suspense? That one's a little trickier. By definition, suspense takes some time. It's not happy-danger-dead in two seconds. It's happy, sense of danger, then unknown result. Still, it takes a master's touch to maintain suspense for a very long amount of time. If you're not careful, the audience will become accustomed to it. Sequences of mounting danger become monotonous without some other mood to contrast with it.

Long running shounen anime are particularly vulnerable to this type of suspense abuse. Unfortunately, Hunter x Hunter is no exception, and it started to feel tedious early in the season. Episode 116 was a little better. It successfully got me concerned about Gon's wellbeing - not his physical wellbeing, but mental and emotional. He's not the same joyful, forgiving kid we met at the beginning of the series. He still can't be older than thirteen, but he's encountered evil. His friends have been hurt. One of them in particular, Kite, has been torn apart mentally and physically.

Gon is consumed by thoughts of revenge and hate. On reflection, this hardening of his heart has quietly built for at least several dozens of episodes. It's refreshingly realistic, but it's also heartbreaking. I no longer want him to battle and defeat Pitou. He's gone beyond the kind of righteous anger that I can agree with. He's not just angry for Kite's sake anymore; if he were doing this unselfishly, as his old innocent self, he would think about the girl's life and Killua's feelings. When (if) he battles Pitou or anyone else, I want it to be for justice and defense. In his current state, fighting her would only harden the blackness creeping into his heart.

I'm also intrigued by Pitou's willingness to sacrifice herself for Komugi. Yes, she's just doing it for the King. Still, it's like she and Gon switched places for the episode. She's humbled herself for the sake of another. Helpless, she kneels, upturned hands outstretched. Her face is often shown in light, with Gon's face shown in shadow. I don't think she's redeemed herself by healing that girl, but Gon is not in the right state of mind.

For those reasons, episode 116 got my attention, as I showed Tumblr. But, after episode 117, I said Hunter x Hunter is in a holding pattern, likely because suspense was stretched thinly over too many battlefronts. On further thought, it's kind of like what brought the downfall of Rome: it became too great for its own good, and didn't have the resources to deal with it. Of course, the Roman Empire didn't have the ridiculously loyal fan base that Hunter x Hunter and its cousin shows have.

This week's episode was better, and I have tentative hope that it will continue to climb up after this. There are multiple elements that stuck out to me, so I'll start with the smallest one: I've been wondering for a while where Palm went, and this episode reminded me of her danger. I'm glad the focus hasn't shifted back to her. For her situation, at least, there is a suspense simmering (although I admit I don't care that much about her). In her case, I think no news is good news, even if she said to assume she was dead. Oh, and the Ikalgo situation was rather interesting, though no more than it has been for several episodes. And I shouldn't forget what Pouf's doing behind that smoke in his cocoon; that's developed in a surprising manner, too.

For the first time in weeks, I was actually concerned about Knuckle. I'd thought that he was smarter than Youpi, but it turns out I overestimated Knuckle and underestimated his opponent. I watched and thought, Oh snap, even with the Shounen anime survival statistics, he might not get out of this one.

My face must have shown my tension. I could feel my expression change, and I decided I didn't care if the others in the library saw. When the screen switched to a rose losing its petals, clearly symbolic of something, I felt Knuckle's chances of survival drop.

I'd forgotten that Killua wasn't with Gon anymore.

Then, of course, came the usual, "Yay! Killua! And Knuckle is saved. And cool Killua!"

But when Killua said, "Sorry, but what is about to happen is just me blowing off some steam," I got concerned again, this time for him. It's not his coldhearted willingness to kill, or even his method of blowing off steam - that's something that he learned from childhood, and it's an old concern for me and other audience members. Still, the fact is, Killua has had to hold in his emotions, be cold and calculating, and support the team and his revenge-crazed best friend. He cares about Kite, too. And, remember, he's still a kid, a kid who had no real friends until Gon (not counting that servant girl). Now, he has several friends, and most of them have their lives on the line. Gon had helped him have moments of normalcy, helped him escape his mother's hold and the brainwashing of his brother... now, Gon is too absorbed with Pitou to give any support.

The ending frame in this week's episode. Killua looks like an
angel of vengeance, coming from heaven. I wonder if I'm reading
into it. Either way, this has the potential to completely break the
holding pattern.

Yes, selfishly, I'm excited for Killua's battle with Youpi. It looks like he's going to show us a new level of his lightning. It should be more electrifying than ever, excuse the pun. If Gon and Pitou ever fight, that will excite me, too. And I think both the original mangaka and the crew behind the anime want me to be excited. But it would be a shame to focus so much on the physical conflict that I miss the psychological. That part was carefully thought through, too, and we ought to be duly concerned.

In the process of writing this, I realize that, despite the tedious suspense abuse and overbearing narration, something wonderful is building. Gon and Killua's character development have me as in love with Hunter x Hunter as ever. It's not a blind love, but it's still there, pulsing on.

Rewind: Blue Exorcist

Every Saturday night, my Twitter feed floods with Tweets from Toonami faithful. I only follow three or four actual Toonami tweeters, but they send out more tweets that there are minutes in the shows, and they retweet others for good measure.

I could get annoyed with these tweets... but I don't. I find them entertaining, especially since I've already seen a lot of what's airing. I was especially entertained as Sword Art Online aired, and I'm kind of sad it's over. Those 140 character rants were often more fun to watch than the actual show, which I watched over the summer. 

As the Toonami Faithful said goodbye to SAO, some sadly, some with relief, they mentioned the next anime coming to Toonami: Blue Exorcist. 

I know that anime, too. I wrote about it two years ago, in one of my most popular posts. Apparently, I'm not the only one who was initially wary about its treatment of Christianity. Since it pops up in my stats, I've re-read it several times, so it's fairly fresh in my mind. Plus, Silvachief just posted a review of Blue Exorcist last week.

Basically, Blue Exorcist was the easy choice for today's Rewind post. Plus I think this might possibly get me a couple extra views, since it's more of a "current event" now. 

Rin's adoptive father, Fujimoto Shirou, tells him more about his
heritage in episode 2. I'm surprised to realize I remember this scene,
and I know it's because of the lovely visuals.

That 2012 post I linked to, "Blue Exorcist - My thoughts upon finishing it," could be called an informal review from a religious perspective and a just plain critical perspective. Looking back, I think it was a good for me to write that. It gave me practice in looking at religious elements in anime. 

I have an embarrassing moment attached to that post, though. For some reason, I assumed the original mangaka, Katou Kazue, was a man. She's not. A commenter corrected me, I thanked them, and I went back and changed all the pronouns. I now do my research properly before I list names.

My old post gives a pretty good idea of my opinion of Blue Exorcist. But I can elaborate on it. Over the past few years, I've started to see Blue Exorcist in a more positive light, probably because of positive comments and posts around the web. So, when I look back at my Anime-Planet rating, I'm surprised to realize I only gave the show a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I guess I was starting to get a little harsher with my star ratings by then. Not long before, I'd been terribly generous, giving out 5s like free candy.

I enjoyed Blue Exorcist, but, in my [past] opinion, it didn't get very far past mediocre. I plan to re-watch a few episodes on Toonami, to see what I think now. In fact, I already re-watched through part of the second episode on Crunchyroll, and I definitely looked at it in a slightly different light. It will be interesting to try the English dub. Plus, it's an excuse to use the TV in my rented room - that thing has been useless since the last episode of Sherlock aired on PBS.

I plan to use Blue Exorcist as practice more purposefully this time around. I've been thinking about what it means to thoughtfully consume media, and, in the past year, evaluating worldview and religion in media has been a theme in my classes. I've also grown a little more aware of how things look on the screen and who's behind it (only a little - baby steps). For example, I'm starting to take note of studio names; Blue Exorcist came from A-1 Pictures, as did Working!! and Servant x Service. Sure, I got it mixed up with Production I.G., but hey! I'll take the improvement, even if it's embarrassing that something so small is still a very recent accomplishment. 

Rewind: Kenichi

I've watched History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi, or however you want to translate the title, about 1.5 times. It's a very enjoyable shounen action anime. It's got killer martial arts training, crazy sensei, and fun fights. What's not to love?

Okay, so I can actually think of a fair amount of both lovable and not-so-loveable things in this show. I'll list three of each.

Let's start with what I disliked:

1. Fanservice. I actually didn't notice this as much the first time I watched (probably because I was still a starry-eyed new anime fan, easily enamored by even mediocre anime, so long as it was exciting). But it goes a little overboard. I mean, seriously. What kind of guardian lets his teenaged grandaughter go around in a tight leotard? I don't care if she can beat nearly every predator and gawking youth out there to smithereens. And, oh, how convenient it is that the big, slashing blow just ripped cloth, not skin, right down the center of her chest. There's more, but there's no need to list every example.

2. Implied approval (or at least lack of disapproval) of consistently objectifying women. Ma-sensei, one of the six martial artist masters at Ryozanpaku dojo, has some fine qualities. Like the others, he's a great teacher for Kenichi. However, he is also an unabashed pervert, always trying to cop a feel and taking inappropriate pictures of his female acquaintances, without their permission. In real life, we'd call him a predator, especially since one of his favorite subjects is a teen. He's an awful role model for Kenichi, and has even taken his student along in his attempt to view the ladies in the hot spring. These activities, combined with the girls' anger, are used for comedy. I didn't laugh.

Unfortunately, Kenichi is not the only anime that passes off porn and peeping at the women's baths as expected, shameless teen male behavior. But it stood out to me in this show.

3. Sob stories accompanying fights... actually this one didn't bug me too much. It's part of typical shounen fare: battles often come with a free counseling session and/or a new friend.

Things I liked:

1. While Kenichi has some noble ideas about protecting the weak, he's pretty weak himself, both physically and mentally. It takes a while for him to overcome his habit of strategic retreating (or cowardice: whichever you want to call it). He doesn't get brave overnight. It's kind of refreshing when compared to the usual confident shounen warriors.

From episode 47. I remember taking this screenshot of
Kenichi and a former enemy tag-teaming in a fight. I look
forward to re-watching this scene.

2. Ridiculous training (and the fights that result from this training). I've probably mentioned this in one or two previous posts, but I seem to find things like unrealistic sports camps (like the 2,000 km "Death March" in Eyeshield 21) and weapons/ninja/martial art training very entertaining. Don't ask me why. Maybe I'm a bit sadistic. Maybe I just like to see people persevere and do their best.

3. While not all of the show's "comedy" made me laugh, some of it did. I can't remember all the reasons I laughed, but it was probably due to the extreme situations and characters. Kenichi doesn't take itself seriously, and that's good. 'Cause I don't take it that seriously either.

So, overall? History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi is a lot of fun if you enjoy ridiculous characters and martial art fighting, so long as you can overlook the parts you wouldn't watch around your grandmother. Back in the day, I listed it as one of my favorite shounen anime (this was obviously pre-Gungrave and pre-Crunchyroll). I might not hold it in such high esteem anymore, but it still makes me smile.

--

This marks my seventh "Rewind" post. It's hard to believe I've already been at it seven weeks! I plan to keep up the rhythm, but my schedule this semester is busier than ever. In addition to my studies, I'm working at least thirteen hours each week in my school's dining hall. There's also club duties and, if I can squeeze them in, some of the mandatory volunteer hours. I realize that some people manage to juggle even more, but I've never attempted such a schedule. If I have to choose between my blog and my studies, I will, obviously, choose my studies. Still, if I have to miss any Thursday Rewinds, I'll either a) post something else that I already have written, or b) put up a couple sentence post that basically says "I'm swamped." I probably won't be able to read and comment on blogs as much, either. Those of you with "like" buttons on your posts may or may not see me stop by when I'm too brain-fried to form a coherent comment on what you wrote.

Rewind: The Prince of Tennis

In this post, I try to look objectively at an anime that I used to list as a favorite. "Try" is the operative word here...

I learned early on that I didn't like movies about sports. They tended to be boring, too realistic, and/or emotionally painful. If my parents put on Facing the Giants or The Rookie, I'd probably scoot on up to my room to enjoy something that was not so reality-based. Fantasy and action-adventure books and TV were my first choices. When I started watching anime, I naturally assumed that my genre preferences would remain the same.

I assumed incorrectly.

Echizen Ryoma looks confident as usual as he shows
off his split step in a match against his senpai in ep. 8.

The Prince of Tennis was my first sports anime. I can't remember why I decided to try it. Perhaps it was a recommendation or review on Anime-Planet. Perhaps it was an automatically generated suggestion on Hulu. Regardless, once I clicked on the first episode, there was no going back. One hundred seventy-eight episodes later, I was still hungry for more of my favorite tennis team.

Looking back, I see that The Prince of Tennis isn't perfect. The animation is over ten years old, and it shows. The plot is fairly simple shounen tournament fare. Many of the female characters are annoying, and Horio, an arrogant first-year, is worse. And... okay, actually, it's rather difficult for me to come up with very many things wrong with this show. My biggest beef is that only the first fifty episodes are available on Hulu, so I can't finish re-watching it without crossing my boundaries.

So, what made The Prince of Tennis so great in my eyes?

1. It introduced me to the joy of sports anime. For that, I will be forever grateful.

2. The main character, Echizen Ryoma, was very interesting to watch. His tennis matches and his improvement were amazing. I kept wondering what trick he'd show us next. Yet he wasn't completely invincible, so his matches kept me on the edge of my seat.

3. The other characters, especially the senpai in the tennis club, were endearing and entertaining. From the really cool club president, Tezuka, to the enthusiastic Momo, all of them earned a special place in my heart.

4. Its feel was closer to a shounen action anime than the sports movies I'd seen, complete with special moves and intense aura.

5. It made me laugh.

If you haven't given The Prince of Tennis a shot yet, then I have only one thing to say to you: "Mada made dane."

Or, at least, I'd like to say that to you. Maybe I should tell you to stay away instead, lest you fall in love with it, only to have your fun come to a screeching halt after episode 50. Viz Media doesn't carry any episodes beyond that at all. It's not available via streaming, downloading, or even DVD. And even that is only for the United States and Canada, as far as I can tell.

New Prince of Tennis is available on Crunchyroll. That picks up where the last series left off, I believe. The main reason I liked that was because I was already in love with the characters. Other than that, I was disappointed by it. I don't know how much you'd like it unless you'd already seen a good portion of the preceding series.

In sum: The Prince of Tennis is really entertaining, although I'll admit it's not perfect. Unfortunately, less than half of the series is available legally to U.S. residents. When you count all the movies and OVAs, the proportion gets even more disappointing. If you want the entire story, you'll have to watch something uploaded without license or read the manga (that, at least, is available in the States). So, despite my ravings about this show, maybe you shouldn't give it a try after all.

Naruto is Back! (again)

Warning: The following post is almost pure fangirling. Just like every other time that Shippuden returns from fillers, I have dissolved into gleeful singing and dancing. This is about as far from objective as I get. The grammar and thoughtfulness I usually prize are dismissed as secondary to excitement. Proceed at your own risk. 

Spoiler warning: I’ll warn you again right before it comes, but there’s a major spoiler near the end of this post.

In case you missed my one-girl party on Twitter:

Ahem. 

*Singing to a tune similar to “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”* 

Naruto is ba-ack, Naruto is ba-ack, Naruto is baaaa-aaak! Naruto is back!

*Singing over*

I can’t contain my smiling. No matter how many fillers they put me through, I always return. Why? Because I love Naruto. And Gaara. And Shikamaru, Kakashi, Shino, and Sakura (don’t you dare hate on her; she’s grown up a lot over the past couple hundred episodes), and... well, you get the idea. There’s so much excitement, and suspense, and fun. And I’m just plain attached to this show. 

“It’s alright now,” Naruto says. Yep. It’s better than alright. It’s fantastic, actually. You’re here! 

I really don’t have much else to say. I’m not in a mood to be critical. I try to avoid letting my critical wheels turn when I watch Shippuden. It’s too special to me.

There was a pretty big, exciting plot twist at the end. Unfortunately, it was a little spoiled for me. Apparently the Naruto wikia operates on manga readers’ knowledge. I tried to wipe what I learned out of my mind, but I only sort of succeeded.

MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD!

Tobi is not Uchiha Madara. 

I’m pretty dang excited to see the real, albeit reanimated, Madara in action.

I really want to know who Tobi actually is. And I want to tell Sasuke the truth... yeah, I refuse to give up on him until Naruto does. As irritated as I get with Sasuke’s illogical, emotional decisions, I will stand behind all of Team Seven until the end. So no bashing him, either.

I decided to take Crunchyroll up on their free trial offer, so I get to follow Shippuden episodes as they come out for a while. Whoo-hoo! I can’t wait to see Naruto demonstrate more of his improved fighting ability!

*All screenshots are, of course, from Naruto Shippuden episode 321

A Soul too Big to Comprehend

After reading two positive reviews of Soul Eater, I decided to give the show a solid try. It took a few episodes for me to get into it, but once I did, I started to make connections between the show and real life. One connection involved Lord Death and God, as ironic as that sounds, and other involved the temptation to break rules. The first thirteen episodes of this wacky-looking show managed to evoke surprisingly deep thinking.

Still, if it hadn’t come so highly recommended, I probably wouldn’t have made it past the first few episodes. There were too many things to adjust to. For example:

1. The scenery: The creepiest moon and sun I’ve ever seen, a school that looks more like a weird birthday cake, and too many jack-o-lanterns.
2. The names: Lord Death, Soul Eater, Black Star, Death the Kid... mixed with just a few normal sounding ones like Maka and Tsubaki.
3. The blasphemous Black Star. That kid... sheesh. I’d heard he was annoying and over confident, but the blue-haired meister is delusional. He thinks he’s bigger than God. I cringe every time he says that. If this show’s premise were different, I’d expect lightning to strike him. As it is, I kind of hope that does happen. He deserves it... No, wait! If he survives the lightning strike, he’ll get worse! He’ll yell things like, “I’m the man who beat lightning! I have surpassed Zeus!” Ugh...
4. Lord Death. The top gun in this anime is a character named Death. He doesn’t seem to be based on Greek or Roman myths I know, such as Hades, nor on Satan. He’s just a shinigami headmaster with Scythes. In fact, he seems like a pretty nice guy with a giant heart... or rather, a giant soul, big enough for all his students. Literally. I’ve had to adjust to the fact that, name aside, I like this dude.

As usual, I’m drawing comparisons, especially now that I’ve detached Death from the evil connotations that come with his name. For example, in one episode, Maka tries to see Lord Death’s soul. She can see other peoples’ souls - round, transparent things. But she can’t see his, and she shrugs it off, thinking that perhaps he doesn’t have a soul. He’s a shinigami, after all, and not like humans. 

Maka is wrong. The scene zooms out so we can see the school, the city it’s in, and Lord Death’s soul, which encompasses it all. In this show, such an impressive soul indicates impressive power. But I think, in this case, it has a double meaning. Lord Death cares deeply for his students - for everyone, really. He’s set up rules to protect humanity and oversees their wellbeing, even if they can’t always see it.

Maka can’t see Lord Death’s soul. It’s too big for her to comprehend. It reminds me a bit of God’s heart and soul, which is infinitely greater. Yes, I’m comparing God and Lord Death. It sounds weird, but roll with me, okay?

Sometimes, we’re so focused on the moments in our small lives, good and bad, that we miss the big picture. We see the good in the latest superhero movie, and the bad in the burglary down the street. We see the joy in the birth of new life, and the sadness in death. The things we experience are real and notable, but when we see only the moments, we miss the big picture. We don’t see God’s heart, and it’s easy to assume that perhaps He doesn’t have one, or that if He does, it doesn’t touch us. If we’re willing open our perspective to bigger possibilities, we might see that not only does God have a heart, but it’s big enough to hold us all. Each celebration and each heartbreak are cradled in a soul too immense for us to fathom... just as Maka couldn’t fathom Lord Death’s soul in that early episode.

Another comparison came up as I watched the thirteenth episode. Newly escaped immortal, “Free,” aka “The Man with the Demon Eye,” is fighting with Maka, Soul Eater, Black Star, and Tsubaki. He’s not on good terms with the witches (the enemy) or Lord Death. In fact, he seems to have a problem with rules in general, no matter how high of authority they come from. He says of Lord Death’s rules, in place to protect humanity, “Those arrogant rules. I don’t care if he’s a god or not. Where is your guarantee that you’re correct?” 

Free’s wrong, of course, and we know that if our hero, Soul Eater, gives any credence to Free’s words or any similarly tempting jargon, he’ll end up in a heap of trouble. Lord Death’s rules were made for good, and it’s a bad idea to break them. Regardless of Free’s thinking, the guy with the biggest stick (in most stories, that’s a divine being) gets to decide what’s good, what’s evil, and what the rules are. In this case, it’s Lord Death. In the real world, it’s God. No matter what we think about His rules, He’s still God, and there’s not much we can do about it.

Personally, I’ve decided to accept that. I don’t always understand His rules, but I do have faith that His commands and guidelines are set out for my good and the good of those around me. If I have questions about what He’s done or commanded, I write them down. Sometimes, I end up returning to those questions within a few years to write the answer I’ve found. It’s much healthier than taking “Free”’s route and disregarding any rules I find unpleasant to follow. It might sound weird, but I feel more free placing myself under God’s authority than trying to escape it.

Ironically, Free named himself that after the witch Medusa broke him out of prison, but he’s actually being manipulated by her. She gives him a chance to fight back against The Man by fighting Lord Death’s students, and he leaps on it, unaware that he’s already entangled in her web. Just as, when we listen to Satan’s smooth talk, it can temporarily sound like the more freeing choice, but we eventually find we’re trapped in a web of darkness, and we don’t know how to get out.

No. Bad idea. Don't listen, Soul! (ep 13)

Shortly before this episode, Soul began having a dream where a little demon tells him to break the rules in order to become stronger. As long as I’m making comparisons, I may as well bring up Genesis 3 and the Garden of Eden, where Satan told Eve to break the only rule God had given them: don’t eat the fruit on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan says, basically, “Eat it. It will make you stronger, and God doesn’t want that.” Okay, his lie, to quote the NIV translation, was closer to this: “God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil,” but knowledge is power, so same deal. Either way, it was a load of baloney sandwich, because figuring out that you’re naked and learning how to blame other people for your mistakes doesn’t exactly make you God. If I were reading Genesis 3 for the first time, I’d probably say the same thing I’m saying as I watch Soul Eater for the first time: “Don’t do it. Don’t break the rule. The rule is there for a reason, to protect you. You can get strong without breaking the rules. Please, please, please don’t listen to that demon! You’ll hurt yourself and all of humanity if you break this rule! Don’t fall into the bad guy’s trap!”

And, sure enough, Soul falls for it, just like Eve did in the Garden, and he gets a little more tangled in Medusa’s web. Much like Free did in his attempt to be his own man. Yup. This ain’t gonna turn out well. Thankfully, this is a shounen anime, so it’ll all be okay in the end, no matter how much pain comes before that. Unlike the reality, where... wait. Yeah, that turns out okay, too. There’s a lot of pain, epic battles, bloodbaths, and the whole world’s destroyed and remade, but in the end, it looks like things will be even better than they were before Eve made that dumb choice to eat from the wrong tree. 

It comforting to know that, in the meanwhile, God is still here, and his heart is big enough to hold all our joy, all our pain, and every moment in between. Even if we our perspective isn’t always wide enough to see it.

Bittersweet Nabari no Ou: Depression and Friendship

Yoite and Miharu

[Warning: Spoilers ahead]

Throughout Nabari no Ou, one fact rings clear to me: Yoite is depressed. I ache for him as he wishes to be erased from the world. He does not consider himself alive or dead. He does not feel wanted or loved. He doesn’t want to die, but he doesn’t want to live either. 

Hattori, chief of the Kairoshu, exploits Yoite’s depression. Instead of encouraging the youth to live, he promises a brand of “disappearance” - death by use of kira. The kid needs help, and not the kind of “help” that drains his life, but Hattori doesn’t care.

Others do care. First Yukimi and his sister, then Miharo, then Gau and Kaito and others. They begin to watch over Yoite and care deeply for him, but he is too deep in his depression to see it until Miharo spells it out for him in the last episode. Only then does he choose to live out the time he has left.

That is what people need when they are depressed. Whether they are suicidal or simply want to wish life away, they need people to care about them, and for that care to be made clear. Repeatedly and honestly. They need people who will be patient and stand by them, who will not give them an excuse to wallow in depression, but a hand to climb out of it, however long it may take. 

I know this from my own struggles. When you’re depressed, your thinking becomes twisted. You don’t see things in perspective. I never considered taking my own life, likely because, unlike Yoite, I had a foundation of love and trust to stand on. But I did wish I didn’t have to live. I wouldn’t have minded simply being erased. That wasn’t an option, so I stumbled along, holding tight to God’s love and to my parents’ hands, to my “Miharu”s, and to the promise that somehow my troubles would be used for good. 

There was good on the other side. It was a slow process to get there, but it was good. I wouldn’t trade any part of my journey, even if I’d be more successful in life without it. Like Yoite says, “It’s because of my past that I am who I am now.” Our pasts make us who we are to ourselves and to those around us. We might be ashamed of our pasts, and the consequences may haunt us, but who would we be without them?

I know that my past struggles with anxiety and depression, struggles that I’m still on the alert for in case they come back, made me more compassionate. I look at the world differently, with more understanding, and my sharp tongue is a little softer than before. Further, if I didn’t encounter the depression cycle in high school, I’d probably encounter it later in life, when I have more responsibilities. Now, I know the signs, and hopefully I can avoid the spiral.

Part of avoiding the depression spiral is to surround myself with the right people. A few years ago, I’d have said that the right people meant no people; I just needed my computer and the lock on my door. But I’ve discovered that, sometimes, friends are just what I need to keep my melancholy mood from becoming something more. They keep me from wishing the world away again, much as Miharu helps Yoite embrace his life.

Yoite is dying because he used kira, and he has blood on his hands because of the kira, too. But he won’t trade it in. Ironically, the very thing that was meant to make him disappear, the thing Hattori would use for his twisted plans, was used to give Yoite friends. Ultimately, the kira technique obtained because of depression brought him out of depression. It was used for good. I applaud the mangaka for that.

And I applaud my Lord, the Mangaka of my life, for the beautiful work He is using my struggles for. I barely see bits and pieces of it, but what I see fills my heart with praise. The pain brought on by sinful, broken flesh is being used for good, just like Romans 8:28 says.

Painful memories are used to create something good; that’s a theme in Nabari no Ou, stated in various ways in the last episode. What is bitter somehow becomes sweet. 

I was drawn to this show first because of the action, then the humor in character interactions. I don’t know how deeply I felt it the first time I watched, over three years ago, but now, it feels like I’m saying goodbye to Yoite for the first time. There was so much bitterness in Yoite’s past - in most of the characters’ pasts, really - yet by the end, it is sweet. Depression becomes peace and joy, even in the sadness of an ending life. 

It is a transition made possible by friendship. The theme can seem overdone when you’ve watched a lot of anime (or shows from any country, really). But as Nabari no Ou demonstrates, the connections between people are serious... serious, and beautiful, and, sometimes, what stands between life and death. 

We were not made to live life alone. Remember that. If you are feeling down, whether or not you think it’s diagnosable depression, or if the feelings that I described resonate within you, find someone to be with or talk to: a friend, relative, counselor - you can even drop me a comment or a tweet. And if you see someone feeling down, say hello. Offer a smile, a hug, or whatever is needed. Ask if you don’t know. Take suicide signs seriously (Google those if in doubt - I’m not an expert on it). 

As Yoite, Miharu, and the rest of the cast of Nabari no Ou illustrate so well, together, we can take the pain and bitterness and make something sweet.

Loud Ninjas and Chimera Ants

Every anime fan becomes accustomed to suspension of disbelief. Once we learn and accept the logic that runs a particular show, we can enjoy it without becoming hung up on little things. If we can’t believe in the logic, we may as well abandon the show for something more realistic... and most of us don’t center our entertainment on 2D Japanese shows because we’re looking for realism. 

Five school idols all fall for a plain, normal girl? Sounds logical.

A kid eats a fruit and becomes the stretchiest pirate around? Sure! Why not?

An orphan boy is allowed to live all by himself from a young age? Makes sense. 

Middle school kids have tennis moves an Olympian would envy? Okay.

Ninja and other fighting pros yell out their moves before doing them? Of course!

The crazy bunny, the penguin, and that other talking creature are Chimera Ants? Alright, if you say so... though they really don’t look at all like ants to me. 

Chimera Ants in episode 82 of Hunter x Hunter

It would be easy to criticize whoever came up with story and character design for expecting us to swallow some of the outlandish things they pull... but like I said, chances are that few, if any, of us came to anime because we wanted reality. It’s escape, a place to be enveloped in fantasy, whether that fantasy is wrapped as unlikely romance or shounen action. If you want reality, feel free to flip on the news. Personally, I’m going to stick with my Chimera Ants.

If I Had Shadow Clones, I Would...

I watched episode 311 of Naruto Shippuden yesterday. It wasn’t my favorite episode, since it wasn’t from the main plot (although, if a show is mostly fillers, backgrounds, and flashbacks, can we even call the actual story the “main” plot?). Plus the biggest conflict involved the old bathhouse tropes: peeping toms, body shape envy... you know the drill. It was also supposed to set up the Road to Ninja movie, which I’m in no hurry to watch anyway.

But I can’t complain too much. Shikamaru had a few lines, and I love that particular ninja. He’s so cool, and thoughtful... I love how he cleared his throat when he noticed his friends starting to talking about their moms wanting them home for dinner. No need to make Naruto feel lonelier about his ramen diet.

Anyway, there was a scene when poor Naruto was about to eat his instant ramen all alone on his day off. Bored, he decided to make two shadow clones to play a card game with him: winner would get the special limited edition ramen. Leave it to Naruto to garner both sympathy and amusement from the audience within a single second.

Some in the audience felt a third emotion, though: envy. We want shadow clones! One commenter said that if he had a shadow clone, he could both stay in bed and go to school. Sorry, pal, but that particular use of a clone has been dreamed about for decades. I’d like to hear other things people would do with shadow clones.

I can think of ten uses off the top of my head:

1. I’d have a real me to argue with when I nag myself to get homework done or go to bed. My shadow clone would literally drag me out from under my covers.
2. We could multitask in the kitchen and focus on more dishes at once... and talk to people without losing count of cups of flour.
3. I’d have a panel of Annalyns to talk with when I’m stuck with my writing. We could even role play, with each me being a different one of my characters, and another one writing down everything we did. That would be such a fun way to brainstorm!
4. I could play Boggle with myself, since my family won’t play me anymore.
5. My shadow clone could count how many reps of certain exercises I do, so I can focus on form and breathing.
6. I could get two more Twitter accounts with the same profile pictures and similar names, set my clones up on different devices, and argue with myself. I could do the same thing on Facebook. 
7. We’d play duets on the piano.
8. I could pretend I’ve found my long-lost twin, then, on April Fool’s Day, lock her up and announce to my friends that she’s under observation to make sure she’s not evil.
9. We could surround my dog when he runs off and refuses to come back in, instead of resorting to bribery.
10. I’d always have someone to unashamedly fangirl with about anime and otome games.

What would you do if you could conjure up shadow clones as easily as Naruto can? 

Delight and Meditation like a Shounen Hero's

Help! I'm drowning! So... much... homework... and socializing!

Okay, so I'm not drowning, but college life is little demanding. Plus, one of my roommates is writer. When I see her typing away on her latest novel, I feel inspired to spend my free time doing the same. Thus, my blog has suffered. But I'm alive, and I wasn't about to let October go by without a single post. So here we go.

Leorio from Hunter x Hunter, studying hard.

Part of my homework this weekend was to read and journal on Psalm 1. The second verse, which I'll make bold below, stood out to me, and I'd like to share some of my ensuing thoughts.

"Blessed is the man
         who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
              nor stands in the way of sinners,
         nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
              but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
         and on his law he meditates day and night."

There are four more verses in this Psalm, but that last part of the first stanza was the focus of my journaling. I've heard a lot about loving and meditating on God's word throughout my life, especially lately. Chapel not too long ago was about Psalm 119 - which, at 176 verses, is the longest chapter in the Bible, and it's all about treasuring God's word/law/statutes/etc. If someone is going to spend that long of a poem/song all on a single topic, it must be important.

Where is my love for what God has to say? Where is my delight?

God's word gives life; I've experienced the joy of it for myself. So why is my love for it so small? I succumb daily to distraction, to my passing fancies. To be completely honest, I am often unwilling to give up my selfishness to pursue the Lord, whom I call my Friend and King. Why is it?

We consistently look up to those who set everything aside to pursue their goal - be it worldly intelligence or prestige, saving the world (superhero movies and shounen anime!), becoming an awesome writer, climbing to the top of the aniblogging world, or serving God.

I look up their determination, to their sense of priority, to their willingness to sacrifice everything. Why? Probably because it's a reflection, albeit distorted and humanized, of part of God. These people understand what it means to delight and mediate on a single ideal.

I watched an episode of Grey's Anatomy with Lil Sis when she came to visit (her show choice, not mine). And old, amazing heart surgeon was talking to a younger colleague with ambitions to be just as good as him. He told her that when he went to bed, the last thing on his mind was heart surgery. He meditated day and night on his practice. It was his delight, his life, his identity.

I love the shounen anime I watch. The characters often set aside everything to focus on their goal. Gon from Hunter x Hunter doesn't allow childish play to distract him from mastering Nen. That's not to say he never plays, but his mind is always on the goal. In the same anime, Kurapika's goal of revenge, self-destructive though it may be, consumes his life. Everything he does is mindful of it - he meditates on it day and night. "Delight" may not be the right word for what Kurapika feels, but he's not pursuing delight anyway.

There's Lee from Naruto, whose determination to succeed as a ninja causes him to spend most of his days thinking about taijutsu. He delights in it. Tennis is always on Echizen Ryoma's mind. Edward Elric rejoices whenever he and Al make a breakthrough on their search for restoration. He mediates on the goal, thinks of it day and night; it identifies him.

When you delight in something, you meditate on it. When you keep thinking it through, mentally digesting it, you delight in it. And as this cycle of mediation and delight continues, it becomes and integral part of who you are.

I return to the opening line of Psalm 1: "Blessed is the man."

I know the blessings that come from delighting in and meditating on what God has to say. But that's so much easier to write than act upon. I'm thankful I go to a school where classes encourage me to study and love the Bible - even if those same classes keep my from my blog and the latest anime. Perhaps, someday, with God's help, I'll approach His word with delight and focus to rival a shounen hero's.

*Picture is from the ending sequence of Hunter x Hunter