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Anime Characters Who've Impacted Your Life

PostPosted: Thu Oct 09, 2003 4:09 pm
by Haibane Shadsie
I know, this probably sounds stupid. Just wondering if anyone has had an anime character really positively impact their lives. If so, who? And from what series?

For me it's... Vash the Stampede. Seriously! I love him so much! Just... some of the things he's said, his great nobility...

I suffer from some emotional problems... poor self-esteem and all that. Vash... has helped me feel special and valuable.

I remember one time I was drawing on this Trigun fancomic I did. (I have it posted, but... it's really, really crappy.. it was fun to do at the time, though)... and I was watching this show interviewing American soldiers and firefighters... (this was all soon after 9/11/01 ). The year before, I had been discharged from the Air Force because boot camp made me suicidal... I couldn't go on. Anyway, hearing these stories of bravery, and a comment by a firefighter about risking their own lives to save people... I was thinking, if I were ever in a situation where I needed my life saved, I'd want to tell the rescuers not to try with me, that I'm a weak person who is not worth saving, and that they should see to their own lives.

Then, well... I was drawing Vash at the time, and I was struck with the thought: He would think I was worth saving! In the anime, he always had a way of conveying to people how special they were and how every life has value. He risks his life all the time, has taken all kinds of abuse... because he wants to save everyone.

Then, that led me to think about Jesus and how - He loved me, and He DID lay down his life for me.

Don't misinterpret me. I'm not saying that Vash is a Christ-figure AT ALL, I'm just saying... he's got such great values, and is such a beautiful character. He helps me not to be too depressed, because I know that if he were real, he'd love me and not want me to hurt myself or anything. He's just... a very special character to me.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 09, 2003 6:30 pm
by TheMelodyMaker
I'm going to go with Laura Haruna from Hamtaro. At the end of almost every episode when she finishes writing in her journal, she says something to Hamtaro along the lines of, "Today was a great day, but tomorrow will be even better."

Each day that goes by is another step closer to our Lord's return, when we'll finally be able to go home to be with Him forever. So each day really is better than the previous one, despite how the world is going.

Laura's very simple but optimistic catch-phrase is what I try to remember whenever I'm having a bad day. (Like today with the allergy attack that I have on occasion.)

PostPosted: Thu Oct 09, 2003 7:40 pm
by Michael
SPOILERS



Vicious and Spike from Bebop; They found peace in the end by killing each other. Not something I would do, more as something inexplicable.

Ruri from Nadesico. Taught me to read all of any contract I signed.

Ami from Sailor Moon because she proved you can be smart and have a huge fanbase.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 09, 2003 7:50 pm
by Razgriz
Shu from Now and Then, Here and There. He had hope when there wasn't any.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 09, 2003 7:52 pm
by shooraijin
I've been thoroughly impacted by Ryoga from Ranma 1/2. Even when my life is in the pits, and I'm completely lost, I know I haven't touched rock bottom because I can't turn into a little black pig.

;)

(I suppose it beats having Moroboshi Ataru or Mendoo Shutaroo for role models ...)

PostPosted: Fri Oct 10, 2003 4:22 am
by Bobtheduck
Hmm...

In compassion:
Setsuko and Seita

In warning:
Spike

Positive unspecific
Hmm... Probably Lain...


Life Lesson
I picked up some good lessons from "I, My, Me Stawberry Eggs"

Oh, and Rei from season 1 of sailormoon... The way she protected Usagi physically and emotionally despite what could have turned into severe hatred (this is the anime, and only the Japanese version... This aspect did not come across in the Dub, the episodes specifically I'm reffering to were changed so they didn't mean the same thing...) I guess jealosy has been a big issue in my life and seeing the way she reacted (in the long run) had somewhat of an effect on me.


Nothing really was incredibly lifechanging, but the better ones got me to think about things and indirectly affected me...

The only anime that really affected me personally and directly would be End of Evangelion... And, well, that was negatively... I was depressed and quiet for a couple weeks after that...

PostPosted: Fri Oct 10, 2003 9:56 am
by Gypsy
Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket was very inspiring. She would always look for the best in people even when they were being downright cruel to her. Also, her general outlook on life was completely from an unselfish view point.

PostPosted: Fri Oct 10, 2003 11:07 am
by Haibane Shadsie
Bobtheduck mentioned Eva. I havent' seen the End of Evangelion movie yet. Perhaps I should stay away from it for a while. (Though I wanna see it eventually).

Whenever I watch Neon Genesis Evangelion the series, it makes me a bit depressed. The end of the TV series had a sense of hope at the end, but... man, the whole series is quite depressing! I was talking to an anime loving friend of mine who has only seen a few episodes of the series... she was depressed at the time I was talking to her, so I told her to wait until she's in a better state before watching the rest of the series.

Not anime, but... I watched Schindler's List once. I was depressed for three straight days afterward. It's why I've been avoiding seeing Grave of the Fireflies, because of what I've read of it, I'm afraid it would affect me the same way.

A great anime to watch when you are depressed is Azumanga Daioh. It's so fun and silly that it's impossible not to be happy when watching it. :grin:

PostPosted: Fri Oct 10, 2003 5:29 pm
by Rev. Doc
The dad in Fancy Lala. He was just a cool dad, always there for his daughters.

Kasumi Tendo from Ranma 1/2. Always a positive attitude about everything.

PostPosted: Fri Oct 10, 2003 10:33 pm
by Kirika
Sangoku wrote:Shu from Now and Then, Here and There. He had hope when there wasn't any.


Yup, Shu really is a great character. I like the fact that he never gives up "As long as we're alive good things will come"
And also Nabuka, he taught me to never look away from the truth like he did. Since he knew from the beginning that he was never going home but just didn't want to know and looked away... :(

NTHT really have great characters which teach you all something.

strange...

PostPosted: Sat Oct 11, 2003 6:31 am
by Macross
This will sound strange... but i belive it was Kaneda from Akira...

The way he steped over everybody trying ot help Tetsuo:bang: ... and specially the way he maneged to do what he had to, alll the way long :thumb:..

And of course i could not forget his nice bike!

PostPosted: Sat Oct 11, 2003 11:02 am
by Spiritsword
I thought about this one for awhile, but I just can't think of any anime character or any anime, for that matter, that changed my life. Unless you count Slayers, which changed my life by getting me hooked on anime. I have characters I admire, or identify with, but none that have really caused any noticeable changes in my life, or my outlook on life. There have been some books which have made a definite impact, either positive or negative, on my life, but I guess for me anime is just something fun and enjoyable that I have a passion for--not something to take life lessons from. I also suppose that's why shows like End of Eva have little to no impact on me--it's pure fantasy for me.

But the Lord works in everyone's life in a different way, and He knows what will impact you the most, so that's cool that so many people have been positively impacted by anime. I liked your story about Vash, Shadsie, and how considering him led you to a realization about our Lord.

Spiritsword

PostPosted: Sat Oct 11, 2003 8:47 pm
by Mave
Tohru Honda from Fruit Basket. She's the first character who made me want to be more like her and got me pumped about being kind-hearted, compassionate and caring for others. :)

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2003 4:06 am
by HEDGESMFG
Dumb as this sounds, Mamoru and Usagi's relationship in Sailor Moon.


They managed to keep true, pure, and loving to each other throughout 200 episodes, and into an eventual marridge. As immature as Usagi was throughout the series, she still handled her love for Mamoru genuinely and amazingly well, as well as the love, friendship, and compassion for other people, even the worst of the worst. Of course, the show is hardly biblical material, We certianly don't go around and using happy little crystals to heal people, ect ect...but that, to me, is just the fantasty aspect that is to rediculous to take seriously anyway.

I guess at times it reminds me abit of the life we seek to live as Christians when it comes to people. Pure, loving towards even our enemies, and even being willing to sacrafice ourselves for the cause of Christ and for the sake of others. Not to mention to have a pure and true love relationship in marridge when on this earth (Stupidly corny as that sounds ;) ). So what if I'm a guy, I have taste and emotions to. XP


Beyond that, anime has always been a hobby, fantasy, and a means to entertain. Several of which can have great morals, but most which are nothing more then another good story to think about.

PostPosted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 3:36 am
by Aibou
Ah.. Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket. She's so humble and so kind.. and she never gets angry!
I cried while watching the episodes with Kisa and Momiji.. Good Lord..

PostPosted: Wed Oct 15, 2003 5:24 pm
by Taslin_Jewel
Kenshin Himura from "Rouroni Kenshin: Wandering Samurai". He was inspiring in the way he kept his oath never to kill again no matter what happened. People would give him every reason to crush them--and it wasn't as if he couldn't, either--but in the end he always managed to avert tragedy.
I confess that I first started to watch because I had a bit of a crush on him, but soon I was impressed at how far he would go to keep from killing. You have to admire that determination and that attitude in a person.

Sarah-chan (I still think he's adorable!) :red:

PostPosted: Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:07 am
by Blewin
Rem from 'Trigun' - the ticket to future is always empty (something like that). It hits on me that i don't have to worry about this and that, because if i didn't do anything at all, my future might not turn out as good as if i did something. Things in the past is past, look ahead, and go forward. :)

PostPosted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 7:10 am
by AnimePriest
Spike(Cowboy bebop) and Kai(Beyblade) have helped me with my confidence
Wolfwood(Trigun) has helped me with asking forgiveness of God




[img]http://C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Zuleika\Desktop\Daniel\Kai\DranzerV2Bit.jpg[/img]

PostPosted: Sat Oct 25, 2003 7:00 pm
by CobaltAngel
Probably Sora from Digimon. Because she at first didn't have faith in herself to help the others, so she just left. But she found out how much the others needed her! She helped me realize that by giving up on yourself, your giving up on others too. So have faith that you CAN make a differance!

Seriousness aside, I must say that Roy is the best and has impacted my life with his mightly coolness. Pizza! Pizza!

PostPosted: Sat Oct 25, 2003 7:24 pm
by Shao Feng-Li
St. Peter wrote:I can't believe no one has said Kenshin yet!

Well, I will, and because Kenshin has seriously made an impression on me. I know some of y'all may start drawing the Kenshin-Vash parallels, yet I find Kenshin touches on a different theme: second chances. Kenshin did a lot of heinous stuff back in the day supposedly in the name of a righteous cause] Kenshin died. This country, this world was never meant for someone as wonderful and beautiful as you.[/SPOILER]


i didn't know that about kenshin *sob* HEs the greatest anime character...*runs off crying*

PostPosted: Sun Oct 26, 2003 5:24 pm
by Taslin_Jewel
You can't be serious. Kenshin....he can't be....
:waah!:
Oh, my love....it's too terrible.....it can't be true! You can't be..... :waah!: :waah!: :waah!: :waah!:

PostPosted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 11:32 pm
by Bobtheduck
Please don't kill me...

I know this is an old topic, I really apologize for gravedigging, but I would like to bring it up again, if only to get some recent members' perspectives on it... Who else has been impacted by an anime or by anime characters? A lot of people have joined since then who have probably been impacted by an anime at some point.

I am sad to say that I haven't watched anything recently that impacted me, but as soon as I finally show Marmelade boy discs 1 and 2 to some friends here, I'm gonna work on getting "Now and Then, Here and There" I get the feeling I'm in for some really impacting stuff. I tried to watch it before, but I picked it up in the middle and I couldn't get into it... Netflix gives them in order, so I know I'm catching it from the beginning.

It was great to look over my old answers, because I remember those things now... It's been so long... A year ago.

PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 4:27 am
by Aka-chan
To agree with a whole bunch of people, Honda Tohru just makes me go "Wow...I wish I were like that..." I'll never have her infinite patience and how she always sees the good side of everyone.

And sort of Goku from Saiyuki, how he bounces back from just about anything and goes right back to being his cheerful old self.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 8:01 am
by Kami
Personally, Naruto has influenced me a lot, showing how you should never give up in what you believe in, or let what other people think of you bring you down ^_^! AND OF COURSE THE LOVE OF RAMEN XD <3

-Kami

Characters That Impacted Me - Tohru Honda

PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:37 am
by Madeline
I know that this character has been mentioned several times already, but Tohru Honda is a very inspiring character.

Even though many trials and misfortunes have come her way, Tohru does not live in the past or try to gain others' sympathy to make up for it.

Instead she picks herself up, dusts herself off, and keeps on going with a cheerful disposition.

I think that's a wonderful quality that I hope God develops in me. :)

PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:15 pm
by Android raptor
Well, I have a weird one. Ghinius Sakhalin (whom I never shut up about). Yes, he goes crazy and kills alot of people, including trying to kill [SPOILER] his own sister [/SPOILER]. But I really do sympathize with him, because I feel that he is one of the most misunderstood Gundam characters, and he probably had a rough life.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 1:21 pm
by mitsuki lover
Kagome,she has spiritual depths to her that are still unknown.I wish a lot of times I was as good a Christian as she is a Buddhist. :angel:

Mitsuki Sanada,she's the type of girl I can see myself marrying one day. :thumb:

Katsumi Liqueur,every time I watch Silent Mobius I get a knot in my
stomach when it comes to the last 5 or 6 eps.because I get so emotional
about that entire part of the storyline.Plus she is one of the characters who
is so much like me.

Yuki Saiko,the first anime character I fell in love with. :angel: :)

Flay,I can see bits of myself in her.

:angel:

PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 5:13 pm
by Myoti
Vash (Trigun), Luffy (One Piece), and Yoh (Shaman King).

Yes, they seem to be completely different characters, but if you really look at it, they have more similarities than you think.

They all just seem to be complete goofballs, but in serious times, they all know what needs to be done and will go out of their way to help someone, even if the person constantly refuses for them to do so.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 1:27 pm
by mitsuki lover
Having no brothers female characters have more of an impact on me than
male characters since I do have sisters and have a tendency to be around
females more than I am around other males.So naturally I tend to find it
easier to look at it from the female character's perspective. :angel:

PostPosted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 11:24 pm
by Aeolus21
If there was ever an 'anime mascot' in my life, it would be Fuu Hououji from Magic Knight Rayearth. Perhaps I can relate to her personality as I was once a shy, and sometimes overly polite person. Plus I admire her being able to think of others besides herself and help her friends in need. Her intelligence also comes in handy in such cases.

And I have a crush on her! :)