Blog 12 One Punch Man
One of my all time favorite shows/anime I’ve seen is One Punch Man. It’s honestly something that’s so simplistic yet amazing to watch. The anime is literally what the title says. It’s the story of a dude who’s a hero, who is crazy strong that he defeats every enemy in one hit. That’s the basic plot overview but it goes a bit deeper. The main character, Saitama, has this amazing strength yet he has no satisfaction in life or what he’s doing. He became a hero while he was younger because he couldn’t find a job in the harsh environment. He didn’t really see a point to life this way and had already given up. Then he saw a kid about to be killed by a monster who told Saitama he was just as empty as him by his stare. He had this amazing courage and will to start this new life as a hero. He trained extremely hard to the point he became bald. He did all this and still ended up the same way. Seeing no point to life because he was just too strong to find a strong enough opponent to fight. Being a hero was just boring.
To me this is what made the simple series so great. It’s the story of a depressed man going through life and trying to find a meaning for it again. A way to feel alive without giving up his soul to work or just having nothing to do because he’s so strong. He goes about everything in a strange manner, especially compared to everyone around him. Other heroes go for ranks and strength, while Saitama just doesn’t care. Other humans aspire to be like heroes and worship them for their strength and might. He became a hero just for the fun of it and to help others, not to be admired. Others constantly worry about everything and get upset about the smallest things but Saitama is very calm and easygoing. He only gets mad when he can’t kill a mosquito or missed a grocery sale. His interactions with other heroes and characters around him is astoudnig to see too. His words and explanations can mean something so profound yet simple. Saitama affects everyone he meets in a good way. Giving lessons and hope to those around him. Through all this what get’s me the most is the ways we see Saitama go about his depression. He’s just like any other guy. The strongest man in the world is just looking for reason in life like the rest of us. Even though this is just an anime, to me it’s a powerful show that means a lot to me. I may be reading too much into this simple anime but I like to see it in this way.
Anime is a great thing to watch while we’re stuck inside. One Punch Man is one of many great animes that are out right now to watch. I recommend anyone who doesn’t watch it give some a try. Some of it may be hard to get into but just watch it with an open mind. You’re bound to find something you’ll like!