Hello. I'm Yoshitani, also known as staff member Y.
In this article, I will introduce four anime titles that I have chosen very subjectively, which are perfect for adults to binge watch on their rug.
Introduction
With people refraining from going out, "spending time at home" has become a trend, and I'm sure everyone is thinking about how to spend their time at home meaningfully.
Everyone is different, and they try new things, acquire skills and knowledge, etc.
One thing I started doing was watching anime.
I'm 27 years old now, and up until now I've lived a life that's had almost no connection to anime.
I even have a vague memory of the nationally beloved Ghibli films.
So why did I decide to watch anime?
Because this video by this person was so funny.
[No Going Out] Top 10 Chuunibyou Anime That the CEO Would Pay to Watch
I often watched the business YouTuber "Makonari Shacho" on my way to work.
He usually talks about business in a very easy-to-understand manner, but suddenly he posted this video.
Even if the topic changes drastically,
Your presentation is so good! LOL
I was shocked to see that there was such a way of looking at it.
So I looked up movies in the genre that I was interested in and watched a few of them.
...interesting.
That's how I ended up writing this article.
The works we will introduce are not ones that can be enjoyed by the whole family, but rather ones that adults can immerse themselves in on their own.
I hope this will be helpful for those who live alone, don't have many opportunities to meet people, and are wondering what to do.
If you watch it, make sure you do it on a rug. (Important)
A long-pile Gabbeh carpet will make watching for long periods of time less tiring. (Important)
Let's get started!
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
The main theme of the story is, "How can people coexist in the face of absolute fear? How can they stand up to it?"
Kabane zombies are attacking Japan around the Meiji to Taisho era, and if a human is bitten by one of these kabane, they will also become a kabane.
Exposed to an unknown fear, the citizens direct their hostility in the wrong direction.
There are many scenes where suspicions grow and conflicts arise between people.
"I just can't see how it's okay to cut someone off out of fear. You can't let fear take away your integrity as a person."
A line spoken by the main character, Ikoma.
This is a famous quote that teaches us the importance of correctly understanding the essence of things.
Personally, I was very impressed by this, as it has some similarities to the recent coronavirus outbreak.
The story unfolds with major themes changing, with the first half focusing on the psychology of people at the mercy of fear, as mentioned above, and the second half on the question of what strength is.
The animation is smooth and powerful, so it's worth watching just for that.
Babylon
The main plot of the story is that "a single incident develops into a major incident that shakes the world."
The world-shaking incident is a very serious theme, and the protagonist (Masazaki), a prosecutor, keeps asking himself, "What is good? What is evil?"
Masazaki was drawn into the story, wondering what kind of answers it would provide.
In the first half of the story, Masazaki is asked by his subordinate what "justice" is.
“Keep thinking about what is right. Even if you eventually arrive at the answer, don't stop thinking about it.”
Since I came across this line, I feel like my life has taken a turn for the better.
The American president appears in the second half of the film, and he is also very fascinating.
This is a work that allows you to deeply consider your own values.
Guilty Crown
The main plot of the story is about the protagonist's struggles and growth as he acquires the ability to use people's hearts as weapons.
The fantasy elements are much stronger than the two works introduced earlier.
Until recently, when I was almost completely uninterested in anime, the mere presence of a beautiful pink-haired heroine would have definitely put me off.
There are many scenes that are similar to what is commonly called "Chuunibyou" and some people may wonder if it is aimed at adults. (The old me would have definitely laughed at it.)
However, I chose it because it was full of ideas about "organizations" and "individuality" that are useful in modern society.
In particular, the character Gai, who is a rival to the protagonist (Shu), has impressive organizational leadership skills.
"You can either remain silent and be selected out by the world, or you can adapt and change yourself."
As with this line, his demeanor and words give us a glimpse into why he has earned the trust of his subordinates.
There are many highlights, such as the contrast between Shu, who has uncertain beliefs, and Gai and the other characters who have clear beliefs, and the scene where he learns the weight of "decisions."
(The heroine's song is also insanely good...it's still too much.)
PSYCHO-PASS series
Three films in the series have already been released, and this is the only one I've continued to watch, even though I've had very little to do with anime until now.
The main plot of the story is, "What happens to people in a society controlled by a perfect system?"
It's a near-future science fiction story, but it's also a passionate detective drama.
In the world of this work, there is a unique indicator called the Crime Coefficient, and this number is the standard for judging good and evil.
The system can detect strong malice (high numbers) and prevent crimes before they occur, but it also has the disadvantage that the numbers of unrelated people who come into contact with that malice will rise, lowering their social standing.
It is a somewhat opportunistic and sad world in which it is considered good to remain calm no matter what happens.
"When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you ... "
This line is spoken by a supporting character, a veteran detective (Masahikari). It is a quote from the German philosopher Nietzsche. It represents the main theme of the work.
This unfinished masterpiece combines various elements such as literature, philosophy, human emotion, and action in an exquisite balance.
summary
What did you think?
If any of you readers are avid fans of any of the works, you might say, "That's not it!", but please be lenient.
At this point, I think the good thing about anime is that you can follow the story and the characters' feelings from a bird's eye view, more than with live-action.
Thank you very much for reading this article, which contains content that you would never expect to find on a staff blog for a rug specialty store.
If you've been avoiding it until now, take this opportunity to find your favorite piece.
Japanese anime, which is the pride of the world, will surely enrich your life.
Lastly...watch it on a rug. (Important)