It took me almost 4 days and night to finish this anime series. I always admired the artistic point of Japanese anime and the creativity in their stories. Though my enthusiasm for series usually keeps me impatient to watch the episodes weekly, I usually watch a season over night and for this anime series with 4 seasons and 2 special episodes in the final season I became sleep deprived for half a week.
After finishing the Anime Series I was moved with few quotes that I like to share them with you. But before that I have to say the entire story and Anime was not as expected. For me Samurai X is still considered my favorite anime. Though the animation style and graphic arts were as always splendid. One thing I love about post anime is that the final episode doesn’t just focus on the ending of the story but keeps minutes to show the story after the ending of main story and how the ever after would look like.
To be honest another think I give credit to, for this particular amine, were the numbers of twists in the story line. I let you to be judge of this because some people may find it good for major twists in story lines and some may think of it as a means to keep audience, specially when the story doesn’t go in a smooth singular linear style. AOT (Attack on Titan) had much twists and the last 2 seasons were shown much vintage points causing the story to be bigger rather than deeper. Over all these vintage points to the story gave new content and created a whole beautiful plot at the end. But as I said I was still expecting more, for such a rating anime.
As the anime was going on I realized how beliefs can give perceptions to us and how impact can it have on our judgment and how we see life! The fact that we judge some as friends and some as enemies are much influenced by the stories told to us and the beliefs created in us since we were child and later by news and media.
In one the images shown in the anime this sentenced popped up which actually made me think about this even more:
“When Titans were the greatest threat, Titans were the enemy. When countries were the greatest threat, countries were the enemy. For as long as people hold firm to different beliefs, there will always be an enemy”
And I can not argue with the last sentence. That is how those who are not flexible in taking time to understand and see other’s points of view and have a fixed mindset (like many of those extremists in any idea or ideology) make life for themselves and others harder. Sometime keeping and open mind and at least sitting on a new thought may actually expand our horizon of life and what can be done or achieved along the way. Be flexible and have an open mind to develop a growing mindset.
Later in the series and in the final episode Kiyomi Azumabito said something profound to Annie that I like to quote, specially that it made me recall the current war in Ukraine and Gaza, and it goes as:
“Why must we experience loss before we realize how to respect and value others without putting ourselves first?”
This made me think of the previous quote, and how our persistence on some of our belief comes to the point of hurting others and destroying relationships. Sometimes, as we hear in the news about incidences done by some radicals, such behavior leads to some barbaric actions towards fellow humans.
At the end of the series, I was touched how some of the main characters realized the importance of each moment we live together and how each moment shared by each other should be cherished. These memories and moments shared with one another can be the sole reason for us to value life and appreciate each second of it. Maybe this lesson itself will be enough for us to appreciate each other’s company in life and try to leave good memories for each other as long as we are alive. Sometimes our actions may not seem significant or even at times it may seems pointless, but just the joy and experiencing that moment by being present whole heartedly, makes those moments meaningful and priceless.
“Armin: in that moment, the thought entered my mind. When I read inside the house on rainy days, and when we walked around the market together, I had the sense that these insignificant moments were incredibly precious.
Zeke: oh, that’s right. We would just throw the ball and catch it. And then throw it again. Just that, over and over again. There was no point to it. But it’s as you said, I would’ve been happy just playing catch forever. “
Something to keep in mind, that sometimes it is all about those insignificant moments that creates the most precious and happy memories in the heart and mind of those we love the most or even strangers whom we may not know. Imagine how beautiful our life would be to keep in mind to appreciate each single moment spent with one another. And try our best to make it as beautiful as possible just by being fully present at that moment, regardless of the importance of the words or actions delivered.
The ending of the anime, unlike many others that I have watched, was not happy in the way I expected. Yet this itself made Attack on Titan, more beautiful. Personally, I may give the anime the rating of 8.2. and still I would recommend it to the animation and Manga Art Lovers who follow and watch Anime.