Get into some Ani-Mazing Anime

The most recent Sunday episodes of “Attack on Titan” (AOT) and “Demon Slayer” are top-tier representations of anime at its finest. Yes, this is me telling you to believe the hype.

The highly anticipated part two of the final season of “AOT” and the “Entertainment District Arc,” “Demon Slayer’s” second season exceeds the expectations of manga readers and anime watchers.

If someone wanted to start their anime journey, this “AOT” season’s fifth episode and “Demon

Slayer’s” tenth episode — which is a 10 out of 10 by the way — would be the perfect “this is her” post to successfully convince anyone, and I mean absolutely anyone, to watch.

If they don’t mind a little  — okay — a lot of gore.

Truth be told, I could write a “Harry Potter” novel series number of pages on why someone should give anime a chance, but for the sake of everyone’s time — mine included —hopefully, the following three points will suffice.

Let’s talk about the main characters (MC), shall we? Then we’ll move on to fan favorites, plot,

and who knows what else will make its way into this article.

Please read the next sentence with extreme dramatization. Bonus points if you pronounce his

name correctly.

Who is really doing it like Eren Yeager?

I mean first, he’s beautiful, and wow, the Attack Titan’s power is just unbelievable. Don’t worry I

won’t spoil anything, just talk about a perfectly executed 2D glow-up.

But really, Yeager is simultaneously the best protagonist and antagonist.

The only character I’ve ever seen come somewhat close to his status is Death Notes’ Light

Yagami. But if we’re being honest, anyone could sense his morals were crooked from the start

despite whatever justification he told Ryuk, a literal Shinigami you know, a god of death, grim

reaper, a totally non-evil character companion.

Now, Kamado Tanjiro is everyone’s favorite sibling, and don’t get me started on his dad, he’s

another topic of its own. Sorry, sorry, I’m getting a little ahead of myself.

It’s just, it’s impossible to dislike Tanjiro, I mean even literal demons can’t resist his

all-talk-no-Jutsu Naruto Uzumaki speeches. He’ll beat you so bad, you’ll start apologizing to

him and contemplating your entire life’s existence.

But guess what? It’s too late, you’re already on your deathbed. Better luck next time.

Moving on to other important topics, before I unintentionally reveal my deep infatuation with a

certain fictional character, every anime has fan favorites which usually include the MC, but are

oftentimes the MC’s best friends, a sensei-like character, or a menacing villain.

In anime Jujutsu Kaisen, Gojo Satoru, and Ryoumen Sukuna are perfect examples of fan

favorites. Let’s not forget female sorcerers, Kugisaki Nobara and Zenin Maki, but everyone

knows if Naruto’s Kakashi Hatake didn’t exist, Gojo would literally be nothing.

Unless you’re a “My Hero Academia” manga reader, you probably don’t care at all about the

crybaby MC, Midoriya Izuku, but Katsuki Bakugo or Todoroki Shōto on the other hand might

have all your attention. That’s just the way it goes.

In “AOT” there’s no denying every watcher’s attraction to The — yes, I’m putting respect on his

name — Captain Levi Ackerman also known as the Beyblade, the Beast Titan’s worst nightmare,

and countless other threatening nicknames.

The war goddess, Mikasa Ackerman, also has the heart of all fans alongside Armin Arlert, the best friend of Eren Yeager.

All in all, even if you don’t care for the main character, there’s someone in the series who will

have your heart.

Caution if you’re into the Shonen genre, fingers crossed your favorite character doesn’t die

quickly. Please beware of flashbacks in the middle of an intense fighting scene.

Because it’s still too soon, I won’t get into a particular fan favorite in “Demon Slayer’s” Mugen

Train, but I will briefly say Tanjiro’s demon sister — yes demon — Nezuko, his best friend’s

Inosuke and Zenitsu, and the reappearances of Hashiras usually rank highly on this anime’s fan

favorite list.

I could gush about my anime character simp list, but I doubt any sane person would want to hear how much I love antagonist Hisoka Morow from “Hunter X Hunter,” so again moving on.

Plotwise, “AOT” and “Demon Slayer” are much more than a story about two MC’s fighting the

“bad” guys.

Without revealing too much about the anime, “AOT” is a journey of a young boy with a deep

desire to go beyond his confinement. He resides within three enormous walls where humanity

lives inside in hopes of being protected by the outside giant man-eating humanoids, Titans.

After witnessing Titans destroy the walls resulting in the destruction of his hometown and the death of his mother, Eren vows to exterminate all Titans. It’s not until later seasons when Eren

realizes there is more outside the walls than what he previously believed.

“Demon Slayer” pulls the heartstrings in a different spiritual manner than “Attack on Titan.”

Just like Eren, starting the first episode with the death of his family at the hands of demons,

Tanjiro and his turned-demon sister spend a long journey avenging their family and searching for a cure to turn his sister human again.

Through amazing dialogue, plot twists, and character development, as cliches as it sounds, anime can teach significant life lessons. It may seem extreme, but it can drastically change your

perspective or serve as a catalyst for eye-opening moments.

Living vicariously through these fictional characters is no different than the principles you take

away from 3D television shows. Don’t sleep on anime just because of its “weird” reputation, you

would be missing out on fantastic works of art.

Oh, and before I finish, let’s stop calling people strange for enjoying something different than

what’s normalized.

Overall, “Attack on Titan” and “Demon Slayer” aren’t the only anime series in existence; find the genre that piques your interest and go from there.