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"And slowly you come to realize, it's all as it should be... "
June twenty second, it's raining, the gray sky behind the TV screen, that plays the first episode of Monster.
July twenty six, it's raining again. I look at the screen thinking:
June twenty second, it's raining, the gray sky behind the TV screen, that plays the first episode of Monster.
July twenty six, it's raining again. I look at the screen thinking:
"Gray sky always complemented this anime well"
And that's how my Monster journey started and ended. The absolute magnificent experience I get to cherish and draw inspiration from.
A story wonderfully told through its direction, animation and fantastic artwork by Naoko Urasawa.
And that's how my Monster journey started and ended. The absolute magnificent experience I get to cherish and draw inspiration from.
A story wonderfully told through its direction, animation and fantastic artwork by Naoko Urasawa.
To add to all that visual richness is a memorable score and great voice acting from both Japanese and English cast. But what I think really drives people to praise this story so highly is an element I'm the most fond of talking about, writing.
One of the most impactful aspects of Monsters writing is the strong thematic thread presented through its most important characters: Kenzo Tenma and Johan Liebert. These two men are the embodiment of their philosophies and how they and many around them view humanity.
Both are portrayed as great forces that leave traces upon people they have encountered.
The bright side of humanity:
Doctor Tenma is man who sternly believes in humanity and the equality of lives. Naturally, it's something he realized working as doctor in a corrupt world.
The bright side of humanity:
Doctor Tenma is man who sternly believes in humanity and the equality of lives. Naturally, it's something he realized working as doctor in a corrupt world.
His lack of hesitation to show love and care to people is what drives people towards him, making many say that Tenma is like a father to them. His desire to keep to his kind nature represents the hope in this world. Which makes his final decision all the more poetic.
Despite the great shadow of guilt, he didn't let it consume him. Sticking to his belief he showed the monster the final act of righteousness, going so far to tell Johan that he is loved by his mother.
"When you are in the darkness you only slip deeper into it, keep the light shining."
In a world filled with terrible things it is important to keep the light there and it is something Nina realized as well by the end of the story. That she should have forgiven her brother.
In a world filled with terrible things it is important to keep the light there and it is something Nina realized as well by the end of the story. That she should have forgiven her brother.
It's something that the former director of 511 Kinderheim realized too, that a showing love can go a long way in raising children and preventing the creation of monsters.
Lost children:
How emotions and identity shape us as human beings, is something one of my favorite characters spoke about many times. Grimmer as someone who was robbed of such things and felt the consequences of his circumstances understood what it meant-
How emotions and identity shape us as human beings, is something one of my favorite characters spoke about many times. Grimmer as someone who was robbed of such things and felt the consequences of his circumstances understood what it meant-
- to strip humans of what essentially is their nature, leaving them as empty shell or rather nameless monsters.
Monsters such as Johan, who perfectly embodies this. Having no connection to himself or people around him, evokes only the worst in Johan. The nihilistic desire to-
Monsters such as Johan, who perfectly embodies this. Having no connection to himself or people around him, evokes only the worst in Johan. The nihilistic desire to-
-expose the monster within everyone while (what I believe to be the case) erase the monster that is he. Showcasing the darkest depths of humanity.
The doomsday scene of an empty world, with Tenma giving in to his inner monster while trying to slay the one before him.
The doomsday scene of an empty world, with Tenma giving in to his inner monster while trying to slay the one before him.
The clash of these two opposites is what made the ending for me, despite some criticisms that I have.
I view the ending of the Monster as the final "resolve" to this pondering question of humanity. Tenma's righteousness prevailed, but Johan still lives-
I view the ending of the Monster as the final "resolve" to this pondering question of humanity. Tenma's righteousness prevailed, but Johan still lives-
-portraying how these two opposites will always live in this world of ours.
