Hello! Just a random hooman who likes to write stuff. You can find my works here (on Wattpad): https://my.w.tt/vZhxhNRJ5U.I’m also the same person as @avataremrys
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood can get pretty dark.
Now there is a lot to be said on FMA:B, but Wisecrack already explained the main points in my mind in the best way possible while giving real life examples. Click here to see the video.
I apologise if I repeat any points in whatever I write next. It’s never planned and I just put in whatever thoughts are in my head.
Now that that’s done, Hagimemashou!
What do I start with, hm… I thought of doing Alchemy but there’s nothing really left to be said after the video.
Okay, so there’s some interesting stuff here, but also a few things I believe require some discussion:
When an alchemist transmutes in the series he does give something, in accordance with the laws, and while he doesn’t give anything personal, he does give something. Ice is made from water after all. Also to transmute an alchemist uses the energy of the tectonic plates. The whole point of this is “nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed” this is the law of the conservation of mass by Antoine Lavoisier, a very real law.
Now for the giving during the Human Transmutation that’s just Truth being a bastard. Literally in the show whatever is taken is some form of irony. Al lost the ability to feel because he wanted to feel the warmth of his mother, Izumi lost the ability to have children… The series also states multiple times that nothing is worth a human soul. Human Transmutation was a fools quest from the start. Truth is literally there to teach humans a lesson.
On Tucker and the Chimeras, animals do have souls in Fma:b watch again when Father steals all the souls, you can also see animals collapsing along with humans, birds falling from the sky, dogs on the ground. Also, Chimeras are close, but AREN’T Human Transmutation because Human Transmutation is trying to bring someone back from the dead. That’s it. Bioalchemy or alkestry is what changes the Human body. Human Transmutation is trying to regain a soul which no longer exists here. They do still exist as in the manga, once Hoenheim dies, he sees Trisha and they talk about how proud they are of their children.
Truth himself is a vague concept, but I believe he represents alchemy, simply put. The foundation of alchemy is the transformation of a natural state. All is one and one is all because everything is composed of the same basic materials. That’s how I see Truth at least, because he does sit in front of the gate. The gate which let’s an alchemist use alchemy.
Finally, “The Dwarf in the Flask” or “Father”, I believe the ending implies he is part of the Gate. Not just any gate, as multiple gates were established, but from the world’s gate. He has the eye symbolism going for him, the creepy black hands, and his knowledge on alchemy. He is a product of alchemy. And he screams “I can’t go back” when the Gate swallows him.
Or at least, a lot of this is how I saw things in the show
The reason I was confused on that part is because even during human transmutation, the elements are present and clearly the laws aren’t taking to give an individual. It’s what they’re ‘giving’ that I wonder about and Truth wouldn’t mock them here by giving ‘nothing’. I’m not really questioning what the anime shows in its principles (of course nothing equals a human soul, heh. Truth couldn’t take Al’s soul). I don’t believe Truth is there to teach them a lesson because in general, Truth is what it is. Human Transmutation isn’t possible because it is incomplete and will always be.
That is a good point, it confirms that the show believes animals to have souls too. Thank you!
That’s interesting. With all the philosophical elements portrayed around alchemy I see how that fits.
He is a product of alchemy, indeed, but he was sentient. He could be a part of the world’s gate though, seeing how Edward gave his gate or his alchemy to Truth in exchange for what he lost.
I wonder how it is that they perform alchemy. Since Edward was able to give his gate back there could be a possibility that the energy used in human transmutation is so great that a part of their body is taken instead.
How you’ve seen things gives me a bit of a different insight into some elements, so thank you for your response!
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood can get pretty dark.
Now there is a lot to be said on FMA:B, but Wisecrack already explained the main points in my mind in the best way possible while giving real life examples. Click here to see the video.
I apologise if I repeat any points in whatever I write next. It's never planned and I just put in whatever thoughts are in my head.
Now that that's done, Hagimemashou!
What do I start with, hm... I thought of doing Alchemy but there's nothing really left to be said after the video.
Human Transmutation
Following is a bit of information about the law of Equivalent Exchange (copied from Wikia. Hontoni Bakajanai)
-In order to obtain or create something, something of equal value must be lost or destroyed."
In standard practice, Equivalent Exchange is separated into two parts:
-The Law of Conservation of Mass, which states that energy and matter can neither be created from nothing nor destroyed to the point of elemental nonexistence. In other words, to create an object weighing one kilogram, at least one kilogram of material is necessary and destroying an object weighing one kilogram would reduce it to a set of parts, the sum of which would weigh one kilogram.
-The Law of Natural Providence, which states that an object or material made of a particular substance or element can only be transmuted into another object with the same basic makeup and properties of that initial material. In other words, an object or material made mostly of water can only be transmuted into another object with the attributes of water.
Rebound
Since the alchemical forces being manipulated are not human in origin, but of the world as a whole, the consequences for attempting to bypass the Law of Equivalent Exchange in transmutation are not merely failure and cessation. When too much is attempted out of too little, what occurs is called a Rebound, in which the alchemical forces that are thrown out of balance on either side of the equation fluctuate wildly of their own accord in order to stabilize themselves - taking or giving more than was intended in often unpredictable and catastrophic ways such as accidental mutation, serious injury, or death.
It is clear that other than the basic makeup and elements of the human body, there is something else that makes one a human. I mean, humans are beings that evolved from the first eukaryotes after billions of years. They are living, they think and feel and there is something that makes a human, human. For now I will refer to that as a 'soul'.
In a phenomenon of a rebound, the alchemical forces adjust the sides of the equation (somehow). Now we know that Ed and Al were transmuting the elements making up a human body into a human body, and they were attempting to obtain their mother's life. Naturally, they had to give something because of the law of Equivalent Exchange. Does that mean that Alphonse's body and Edward's arm held equal value as that of Trisha's life, a soul?
Of course not. Rebound adjusts both sides of the equation, and clearly Trisha does not come back to life. Instead, what we see is a humanoid that just moves with perhaps some coordination in the body, but it clearly has no life.
Therefore, human transmutation is impossible. Once one loses their life, the element that makes them living (the soul), it cannot be obtained back. Besides, the law of conservation of mass does not include that which is not matter.
Now what confuses me is that in general, when an alchemist performs alchemy, they have to give nothing. Just transforming the matter from one firm to the other, like water to ice or hydrogen from ammonia. Then why did they have to give anything during human transmutation, when they already have the materials? Do the alchemical forces understand what they want and attempt to execute it, even if it is impossible?
I don't really know where I'm going with this so let's now focus on the human chimera, another form of human transmutation.
Shou Tucker created a human chimera of his dog Alexander, and his daughter Nina. The chimera could speak (though it was minimal) and feel, though couldn't express. I think two souls (Alexander's and Nina's) were trapped in that body, almost like a philosopher's stone (but with two souls). This is false if Alexander does not have a soul but I think all life forms do have a soul. FMA:B hasn't explained everything clearly (which is fine, but can seem to contradict/confuse two things).
This transmutation was mostly a failure in terms of intelligence. However, once we come to the case of Greed's and Kimblee's chimeras, things are easier to understand. They had the physical ability of both human and the creature and were still intelligent, though they also gained the animal instincts of the creature.
Lastly, coming to what Van Hohenheim did to Izumi. He couldn't restore her organs, but could adjust them so the blood flowed better because he was a human philosopher's stone.
Many souls were trapped in him, but he couldn't restore the organs. I think that means once a change is made, it is made. What is done is done and to regain what we had previously, we must make another exchange.
So where does it all go, all that is perhaps not in 'existence' or in 'life'?
I'll refer to that as 'Truth'.
We've seen Truth in the form of Alphonse's body, having Edward's arm and leg. We've seen truth as nothing, perhaps just as physical form for our comprehension who echoes thoughts of a truth hidden in our mind. There is no good and no bad, and all must be equal. The value of a soul is perhaps as great as life (this is all my interpretation).
Perhaps this thing called truth is where everything belongs to. Life, death, all, nothing - everything is one.
Anyway, Truth could even be subjective or a perception of one entity, just one thing. There are endless possibilities and I don't know, in general 'Truth' or the 'One' is a very thought-provoking element in the story.
The Homunculus and Father
The Seven Deadly Sins of Human Beings, though in the show it is mostly referred to as the sins of Father. Each of them is intriguing in their own aspect and the human-like qualities that is perhaps attached to the sin.
Father was a result of some sort of alchemy using Slave 23's blood, if I remember correctly. I've always been curious about the guy; what exactly it is, does it have a soul, how did it become sentient, stuff like that. Other than Gluttony and sort of Sloth, I understand the significance of each sin in Father and it comes together when the Dwarf (Father in his 'original form') meets Truth. I cannot conclude much because the show really didn't explain much about its nature. I don't know where I'm going with this but the anime really explored humanity, especially with science. The Dwarf was a result of science and so were the chimeras. While the chimeras May have more than one soul, the Dwarf has none (and I think he was a Homunculus?). He created other Homunculi using the philosopher's stone, something that trapped a number of souls. One thing I can possibly draw from this is the following; each soul is somewhat a manifestation or a part of the Truth (I'm leaning more towards a manifestation because of the Gate of Truth and all). That soul does affect a living being, it's not just the nervous system and mind and even consciousness. You cannot tamper with these souls, this sort of truth because it is absolute. No amount of alchemy of anything can give you the dead back because it's not just that the soul has left their body. Time progresses for everything and thus information changes. Calling the dead back is like forcing that soul to return to some sort of previous state, maybe, and while you may receive a lifeless moving body you give your own body parts. Law of equivalent exchange; here it's mass. The soul never comes into the picture because it cannot.
The anime also continuously shows human curiosity, despair and the urge to 'grow' more and more through stuff like Riza's father and the flame Alchemist, the chimeras, the dwarf in the flask, human transmutation, other little political factors and even our general character's wishing for stuff like revenge. There's a lot of flaws explored but there are also the good points, quite often through the emotions of the homunculi (which is particularly interesting since they represent the sins of mankind).
At this point I'm just blabbering. It's a great show even if you're not into this random philosophical stuff because of the animation, characters, plot, comedy and heartfelt moments, everything. I've just let out this pretentious nonsense if anyone wants to read but it really deserves its rating of being number one in the places it is/was.
Now I am no expert on time travel but I do know the basics. It’s disappointing to see a good story’s logic be destroyed if and when they misunderstand the ‘laws’ of time travel. Here are a few points to help with time travel:
1. Paradoxes: They can be created out of absolutely anything. An event A occurs which leads to B. If you travel back in time and say, take something from A to provide a solution for an adversity in B, you must return the object without altering the circumstances for A even a little. Only with that exact condition will that exact event take place. (SPOILERS FOR AVENGERS: ENDGAME) Thanos coming to the present and dying prevents infinity war from happening. I’ve made a longer post about this so if you’re interested you can find it here.
2. Lives and Deaths: Going back in time to save/kill a person is a really big thing because you are wiping something out of existence. Even bringing a person to your time and doing anything to them can cause a horrible paradox. Usually stories refrain from killing or saving someone and if they do not, they show some effect of it (example Doctor Who). If not that then they use the concept of realities to let someone live but perhaps someone else in another reality has to suffer for it (perhaps Oxenfree can be taken as an example).
3. Memory: It often happens that a character doesn’t necessarily use a time machine or even if they do, they’re not properly/physically time travelling (it’s a little difficult to explain but two examples would be Steins;gate and Life Is Strange). Often characters have to undo their actions and they do so by retracing their steps, going sequentially to the point where they started so that that first scene is created. Now there are two different things; you could want only a physical environment or in general, the exact situation and information. I don’t want to give any spoilers but for this Steins;gate’s ending and Steins;gate 0 are a perfect example. They do not require the main character to forget the memory. However in Life is Strange (spoilers approaching!) Max needs to forget everything that happened because she knows that teacher dud (forgot his name) was guilty of the... stuff. Simply because the information exists in her head the butterfly effect would take place. Depending on your choices Kate (through the story) would either live or die. By reversing time she will definitely live but if Chloe’s life matters, so does hers because the universe is not biased.
4. Realities: There is of course the concept of alternate realities, if you choose to use it. You can play around with it for a bit if you wish to but just remember that normally, the smallest change can branch into a different reality. I doubt that this is based on any ‘important choice’ like buying n number of chocolates against who wins the election or someone’s death. However trivial a choice may seem (according to me), two potential decisions equals two different realities. To really understand the concept of realities I’d recommend watching Steins;gate or especially Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (this is a minor spoiler for the latter but issokay). The implications of Oxenfree’s ending could be helpful, too.
Girls' Last Tour is a slice of life anime that revolves around two girls Chito and Yuuri as they explore the remains of a war-torn city for their survival. As they ride on their motor-bike they encounter many places and and very little people, and on the way learn about the world they live in and develop perspectives on life and its essence.
Chito is a more serious and intellectual girl who makes the rationale decisions and keeps the two girls alive, while Yuuri is very carefree and strives to actually live life. Even so Chito does like to enjoy life which Yuuri makes sure she does, while Yuuri is a curious girl (about a few random things, too) and Chito helps her to understand what lays around better.
The anime asks some very thought-provoking questions in a very light-hearted manner; amidst the girls' banter and exploration as they wonder about what they experience. Every element in the story is carefully accounted for -- the art is not too grand but it perfectly fits the feel of the anime, the music is gentle or often delighting, the voice (at least in the sub) is perfect, though we mainly have the two girls as the characters. The sound of their movements of the rain or just what's around them is great, too, and it's basically sugoi. And the OST is ahhhhh.
It's basically a story of two girls who learn about life. They literally know next to nothing (not even about cheese, chocolate, God, potatoes, airplanes, nothing. Only Chito knows a little bit about whatever she's read in her books.)
I won't be saying much because this is a story you should experience and think about yourself. Come after you're done.
Recommendation: Go watch it. Now. This is an anime fit for everyone (other those who dislike a lack of plot).
Hagimemashou!
Going deeper into the anime
The cheerful tone of the anime will keep you happy at almost all times - as they explore the world in ruins with their positive and curious outlook. We don't know much about them, their history - only a grandfather mentioned a few times and towards the end a few flashbacks. Still, you feel an immediate connection with them, and go with them, together, on the girls' last tour as they scout for their basic necessities while going towards the highest level.
This is all sweet, but what I really loved about the anime where the questions asked. Almost every episode delved deeper into a single thought (that was connected to many other), and perhaps the girls reached a concluding point of some pause (which wasn't necessarily positive), the story allowed the reader to think about the themes themselves while seeing the girls' perspective. These questions are what I really want to talk about, with a few additional things.
Hajimemashou!
1. War
"War means killing each other, right? Why'd they do that?" - Yuuri
"Dunno. Their interests probably didn't coincide with the other's side." - Chito
---
Now, you must be thinking, what's so special or thought-provoking about this segment? What Chito says makes sense and it probably is the truth. And you're right (assuming you're thinking along the lines of that). However, moments later we see Yuuri raise a gun on Chito as they had five ration sticks and the two girls were starving. Chito proposed to split the last stick into two halves, but Yuuri snatched it from her, raised her gun at Chito (in a rather serious manner, though her real intention was obviously humorous) and ate it. Even though this wasn't actually serious, it just makes me think. Survival of the fittest is perhaps the most popular thought on this planet amongst everything. Us humans are also animals and thus we rely largely on our instincts, along with our intelligence. Perhaps the instinct of survival, the notions of desire and that intelligence is what causes the war?
2. The Afterlife
"We're actually dead, and we're in the pure white world of the afterlife." - Yuuri
---
"Hey, did you know that the afterlife is supposed to be really warm?" - Yuuri
"If that's true, it doesn't look like we're dead yet." - Chito
---
These girls know nothing, I've already established that. But as it was in the first segment, they are human and they do have those instincts, those feelings about what's around you. But they don't even know if they're in their lives or in the afterlife? I mean really, what makes us so sure that we are in the real world? That this isn't some sort of illusion that we forget after death? That an afterlife even exists? We know so less and yet we continue to live life. We are human beings and we are 'living', thus we continue to live life.
3. Why Life?
"Why do people live?" - Chito
---
"We find it [food], save it, then go one the move again, always thinking there might be something waiting for us at our destination..." - Chito
---
"It's what I live for!" - Kanazawa
"What you live for?" - Yuuri
"If I lost this [Kanazawa's maps], I'd probably die." - Kanazawa
---
The reason we exist is a topic that has been spoken about, written about many times. But why does an individual personally want to live? What motivates them, how do they ignore the question of a meaningless existence? And in this anime, what motivates these girls to live and keep travelling around the dead world? Perhaps its the support they gain from each other, perhaps curiosity, perhaps to fulfil their temporary goals, perhaps because they are alive (because of their grandfather, maybe they respect the fact that they are alive no matter the circumstances) or perhaps simply because they aren't dead. The reason (not meaning) of life varies from person to person and is constantly changing. Perhaps we're all just trying to understand life.
4. God
"What's the point of making a big disappointment [nice, fake god or the god's statue, I'm not sure] like this? Nobody knows what life's like after death anyway." - Yuuri
"Maybe they [the people] didn't want to think that, [the afterlife is a dark world] so they made those statues and all the lights." - Chito
---
These girls never knew who or what God was and had only each other during the past, when the war was going on. They didn't believe in or found comfort in such an existence and only in each other's presence.
Who is God? Does God really exist, or are they (I use 'they' because I don't believe God has a gender, and not it because it is kinda weird) something that comforts us in our times of adversity? Will God ever really help us, even if they exist? Is God just figment of our imagination and the stories just some awe-inspiring comfort? Are we afraid of some dark truth, and why do we even 'need' God? Perhaps God exists but we have misinterpreted that existence. We know nothing.
5. Home
"What are houses for again?" - Yuuri
"Well, you couldn't live without a house." - Chito
"Yeah, but we don't have a house now." - Yuuri
---
"In the end we're back to a cycle of resupplying and travelling." - Chito
"That means the road we travel is our house."
---
This isn't too philosophical and all but it is an interesting thought. Is home a specific place where we live and feel safe, or is it something we are familiar with and feel a sense of belonging to, or something entirely different?
Also in this (the 5th) episode, the part 'The Sound of Rain' has to be one of my favourite scenes, ahh.
6. Hopelessness and failure
"But, well, once you fail, you feel so carefree." - Ishi
"She's smiling." - Yuuri
"What? Why?" - Chito
"Maybe she's getting along with it.
"The feeling of hopelessness." - Yuuri
---
They're in a world which has been destroyed but they're finding their own goals, each character. We are in a world we don't know much about, we don't know what our failures and success mean.
Maybe we're just getting along with everything.
7. Living Life
"Life would be so easy is we had arrows like this all the time." - Chito
"Aww, that'd be boring!" - Yuuri
---
"Let's go explore!" - Yuuri
"Nope. What kind of person would ignore signs that would help them get to their destination?"
---
To set a destination and easily reach their, or to just be random and go along with time? To fulfil a purpose or simply explore life, no matter the struggles? Perhaps a mix of both, or something entirely different? How should life be lived? Really, what is life?
8. Remembrance and existing
"Then one day we'll probably forget about them." - Yuuri, about Kanazawa and Ishii.
---
"I bet they left behind these names and the things they owned so someone would see it and remember them.
"But now there isn't anyone passing through like we are and everyone in the world is gone... so who would remember them?"
---
We've often thought about the meaning of life, the possibility of an afterlife or simply rebirth, but what about this life? Not everyone is like Albert Einstein or Beethoven or Vincent Van Gogh or Alan Turing or George Eliot, who will be remembered for lifetimes. Not everyone would have the wish of being remembered but most people might want to leave some mark here in the world, of their existence. Again it's a matter of personal wishes, but what do we live for? Or is it someone we live for? Do we want our stories to be known, like Anne Frank, or just pass by and live life for ourselves? (That was probably a poor analogy, though)
9. Empathy - What is living?
"Maybe 'life' is something that has an end?" - Yuuri
—-
This has to be one of my favourite lines from the anime.
In this episode we see two robots. The girls question it if it is living or not, and such questions are raised throughout the episode. Humans are living, fishes are living, but it's a doubt on the machines. The smaller machine is programmed in a way that it invoked empathy in the humans (who are their customers) but the big one cannot speak to it.
By the end of the episode the girls reach the conclusion that the big machine was also living (hence coming to the mentioned dialogue) as it did feel empathy. Perhaps life is something that has an end, and perhaps those who live are those who can feel. Do microorganisms feel? They are living, after all. Are the machines really living?
Perhaps life is defined because it ends. This is an episode that really is felt while you watch it, so there isn't much to say. But it's inconclusive and asks interesting questions.
10th episode
This one mostly talks about waves and the power of music. The rhythm in the sound (just as how it was with the rain, back in episode 5), the sound waves, the waves of the light and how everything is associated with an emotion. The emotion conveyed depends for each person but there's really something profound about it (and because it's related to music, I love it).
Also, we meet a new creature who looks like the statues present throughout the anime. Also we later learn that it is very intelligent (as a species).
11th episode
I don't know what to say about this episode. Cultural differences and war, yeah. Then we saw Yuuri use a very destructive weapon (twice) and laugh it off. You've watched it, you know it. It's thought provoking and just... sits in your head.
12. What humanity, what people mean to us. Just what holds meaning for us.
There is nothing left to say. It's an experience, this entire anime is. I'm probably gonna read the manga soon especially if there is no news for a sequence but truly, it was a delight watching this anime.
S p o i l e r s - Go watch the anime and read the manga. This part assumes you have done so. Else spoilers.
Made in Abyss is brilliant. That is the only way I can think of, to start this (whatever this is).
The world here is so deep, so ethereal, and the characters really are one with it all. Here, I'm mainly going to talk about those elements of the world and the characters. No plot, only the thoughts these elements invoke.
Hagimemashou!
The Abyss
The Abyss will come up repeatedly because it is the centre of the story, literally. Still, I want to give a sort of introduction on it.
The abyss is a deep chasm that seems to go on forever. To delve into the abyss is a dangerous task and it does have little mysterious effects on the people around it. Even so, many humans settled around the abyss and made a sort of village. The world is obviously different from what is intuitive to us, and I'm talking about the characters now, but it hardly takes any time to connect with them.
Anyway, back to the abyss. If I were to compare the abyss with something in the real world, I'd say it's space (though I prefer saying everything beyond Earth). Obviously, space is much more dangerous and enigmatic, but the abyss is something where you can easily go and do not need rockets and such advanced equipment and thus, it piques more interest for people to go in there themselves, despite knowing the dangers of it. The deeper you delve in... nothing will happen. But once you begin to ascend you face horrible consequences (from a simple headache to nausea to bleeding from your eyes) and yet people go there, searching and searching and searching. Everything, for the mere sake of curiosity.
It is later that we know that there is a force field responsible for the effects, though there are no known counter-measures. And still they keep delving in. Riko is looking for her mother but she is fascinated by the abyss. Reg's origins lie somewhere in the abyss and he feels his sole duty is to protect Riko. They dive and they suffer so much and thus you suffer, because you're attached to them
I'm changing topics so much. Maybe I shouldn't talk about the abyss. But in short, the abyss is this ethereal, enigmatic and crazy place with its own ecosystem... yeah let's go into that.
The creatures in the abyss
These are known as predators. These alien creatures that hold such a frightening aura around themselves. However, they are a part of the abyss. It is their habitat and humans are diving into it. Uninvited guests. Let's go eat them, why not.
These creatures are all quite majestic (they are designed very thoughtfully and go so well with the abyss). The true danger of the abyss is the abyss itself, but these creatures cause one to be at caution at every step. That is why what Ozen did was justified, however harsh it may be (not that I like it).
But anyway, they have their own ecosystem and live by their own instincts and perhaps have something similar to 'the survival of the fittest'. Not only that, the danger each creature poses is so different and so dark, I suppose.
The more dangerous these creatures, the less in number they are (again, ecosystem). But going back to the point I'm beating around... they are creatures of the abyss. That means they understand the abyss better than anyone else and the deeper they go, the more the know. It's the same for us humans, we do form a connection with nature on the fundamental level (we are a part of nature). However those creatures aren't intelligent; they simply survive. Looking for preys, living by themselves, just going on but living indeed. Then there are us humans who are so curious about everything (because of our 'intelligence'), we delve deeper and deeper into their habitat. For example, the orb piercer understands the force field around it (even though it's only at the 4th level) and yes it has its weakness, but in its habitat other than a few white whistlers, no one can defeat it. The white whistlers are those humans with the most determination and perhaps the most curious minds (in regards to the abyss). This makes me wonder, what is intelligence? Is it really something that helps for survival? Is it the impulse behind curiosity and learning? Is it just, thoughts? Is it really what makes us more advanced than animals if it say, dulls our instincts (like the survival of danger instinct)? Is it mean to find the true meaning of life? Even though humans are a puny part of the universe? Is it just something to acquire knowledge, and knowledge and wisdom is the true aim of living beings? When the first humans came, the Earth was as abstruse as the abyss is. Perhaps then, with the abyss being a part of the Earth, something of the humans originate from there? Some sort of connection resulting in that abundant curiosity?
And just what is intelligence?
Let's get psychological
Whom should I start with... obviously Ozen. The mentor of Lyza, the one who will probably help Riko and Reg. And she does help them in a way that is best for the situation of the abyss, even if it's not morally good.
Every driver began because of their curiosity (mostly). These intense delvers like Ozen were obsessed with the abyss's mysteries, not caring for their body for even the slightest second as they went in deeper and deeper. She is also known for her immeasurable strength (Ozen the immovable) and how she developed an intuition for the abyss. She's been alive for so long but it's impossible to tell what her age is, and she now lives in the abyss as she studies it.
Anyway, let's talk about the Curse-Warding box and Riko. She was a stillborn when she was put in the box and was thought to be dead. However that box (most probably) caused her to move and Ozen even confirmed this by experimenting on a 'monster'. Essentially, Riko is a child of the abyss. It is in her instincts to reach the bottom of the abyss and has also inherited her mother's curiosity of the abyss.
Ozen tests this child and her companion just as she tests everyone - creepy face and scary time. She attempted to even convince Lyza to not go delving, but her stubborn nature was the first think Ozen liked about her.
Ozen's creepy face (manga)
Even though she is mostly testing them to understand if they are capable are not, spending so much time in and with the abyss causes her to find it amusing. She's conducting sorts of psychological experiments on children (Riko, Reg, Lyza, Marulk) as she explores the abyss.
Now, let's get to Bondrewd.
This guy did anything to obtain funds for his research into the Abyss, selling drugs made through human experiments on the black market, selling artefacts and relics illegally, and many other questionable acts. Some time ago he managed to steal the special-grade artefact the and used it to spread his consciousness on multiple bodies, creating the Umbra Hands (Bondrewd's group of delvers). When he became a White Whistle, he used his original body as the material for the Life Reverberating Stone necessary to make the whistle, becoming his very own whistle himself. Since then, Bondrewd became nothing but a soul moving between bodies with the use of the Zoaholic. (yes is copied from wikia. Yes I'm lazy).
The guy began to test the effects of the abyss and what not on children, completely abandoned his morality and soul and gave in to his curiosity by conducting literal vicious experiments. He even transformed his adoptive daughter, Prushka, into a cartridge for his soul transfer thing (though her sense of adventure let her go with Riko and the others.)
Bondrewd definitely conducted successful experiments, but they were horrible. So many children survived the 6th layer's curse and the became a narehate (or 'hollow') (I'll talk about the narehates later).
Now the thing about all of this is that Bondrewd and Ozen are white-whistlers. They are respected deeply by the people on the surface. They are respected for their research, but these are the people who are ready to dispose of their bodies, suffer trauma, make others suffer trauma, destroy souls and consciousness for the sake of 'knowledge'. How are they better than the creatures of the abyss who aren't intelligent and have knowledge, but are even less 'monstrous'? What good is such knowledge?
In these kinds of themes the anime gets dark, not the 'gory' scenes. If a person really thinks aout it seriously, the themes in the story can make you question yourself. What physical body, what physical existence? What mind and what instincts? What is the essence, the need?
Narehate - 'nare no hate' - 'the shadow of one's former self'
There's a lot of things to say here but I'll address (what I think are) the main points. We've got two types of narehates known - the ones from Idofront (Bondrewd's experiment) and the ones in the Ilblu village.
Mitty is a narehate from Idofront. As seen from Riko's perspective, her soul was trapped in the narehate body. She could feel but she couldn't express. She was alive, but couldn't live and couldn't die (she's even 'resurrected' by Bondrewd. That guy...). She was one of the children who wanted to really explore the abyss but became a shadow of her former self. Suffering for eternity.
This sort of tells us how important expression is. Keeping your thoughts and emotions buried inside will begin to destroy your humanity. You want death but you cannot die and you shouldn't die, waiting for the right time. The abyss basically dulled all senses and created a soul within an empty mind that somehow still felt, but could probably not really register anything. Existing like that is a scary notion.
The narehates at Ilblu are very diverse, with some even being intelligent. Once they become a part of it they cannot leave the village. They have this value system where if they want something they have to trade it with something of 'equal' value, and the values of things aren't necessarily predefined but mostly vary from person to person. It is clearly shown that the value of a human anything is very large as well as immortality (Mitty, here), and it shows how much these narehates desire humanity, how much they wish to return to their former self. It makes sense, of course, but what's really interesting is that we see the same behaviour in the 'non-intelligent' species. Perhaps their human instincts remain and similarly, because Riko is a child of the abyss (my assumption), her connection with the abyss and those instincts remain. Really, everything in this world is connected.
The last thing: The Three Sages (who created Ilblu). We do not know much about the, as they came during the ending of the manga, but they are now narehates and they are crazy, honestly. They used to be together, had this sort of bond as they searched the abyss but now they have lost absolute humanity. All that remains is the whole thing with value, (like when Belafu buys Mitty from Bondrewd and Nanachi sells herself to buy Mitty, but now Belafu has both Mitty and Nanachi). These three sages only come out when the village is in absolute danger and it's kind of sad to see them not care about much after seeing them in Vueko's flashbacks (ahh Vueko).
The concept surrounding value really makes you think what is valuable and what isn't, and in the end you realise two things - value depends from person to person and they all really don't matter to the universe, but nevertheless it matters so deeply to each individual. How does anything matter? It matters to us personally, and that is enough. But it is important to understand the essence of these values because we often might be wasting our time or are desperate about something we love, like when Nanachi sold herself even when there probably was a better solution.
That's it for now. When the manga update comes I'll probably talk (talk? More like rant) about the cradle of greed.
There are many stories in the anime industry sharing many traits, but really most stories are so diverse with a few being simply brilliant. Here's the list of those I've watched (You might notice that there is at least one psychological/philosophical theme present in these stories, being evident in some and subtle in others.)
***** = An absolutely amazing anime and a personal favourite (because of random reasons)
****/ = Very close to being an absolute favourite
**** = An absolutely amazing anime
***/ = I really like this anime but small things were missing
*** = A good anime
** = An okay anime
* = A little less than okay anime
/ = Half
To be honest, I'm not good with ratings and stuff but here's an idea, I guess. (And nothing is ranked)
-Noragami *****
-Your Lie in April *****
-Made in Abyss *****
-Shinsekai Yori *****
-Steins;gate *****
-Monster *****
-Code Geass *****
-Assassination Classroom *****
-Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood *****
-Girls' Last Tour *****
-Madoka Magica ****/ (Because of the little choppy parts, I guess. It's brilliant)
-Higurashi no Naku koro no ****/
-Neon Genesis Evangelion **** (I’m confused between **** and ****/)
-Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei ****
-Violet Evergarden ****
-A Silent Voice ****
-Sound of the Sky ****
-Anohana ****
-Kimi no na wa ****
-Death Note ****
-My Hero Academia ****
- No Game No Life ****
-Attack on Titan ****
-Zankyou no Terror ****
-Psycho Pass ***/ (Season 2, I think, was kinda... alright. Though the ending is brilliant.)
-Bleach ***/ (Can I give this a 3.75? Until the end of the arrancar arc and not counting the fillers, though I have to still read thousand year blood war)
-Eden of the East ***/
-Baccano! ***/ (only because of it's slow beginning and bit of...wariness. Otherwise, it's brilliant)
-Re: CREATORS ***/ (There was a little something that was missing, I'm not sure what. But go watch it anyway)
-Time of Eve ***/ (A sweet and thought-provoking story about humans and AI)
-Gurren Lagann ***/ (only because of the lack of seriousness and sometimes logic, though many will love this sort of anime)
-The Girl Who Leapt Through Time *** (It wasn't especially great, but it was kinda different)
--Sword Art Online: ***
1. SAO - **/ (weak characterisation)
2. ALO - Skip this stupidity. / for efforts.
3. GGO - *** (Better characterisation)
4. Mother's Rosario - ***/ (no special plot but good slice of life-ish, better characterisation. Especially Asuna)
5. Alternative GGO (spin-off) **** (This is definitely worth watching. Maybe like, 3.85 though, not 4)
-Nanatsu no Taizai **/ (I enjoyed watching it, though the few fan service and other stuff were annoying. Kinda a typical shonen...?)
-Mirai Nikki **/ (It has a really good mystery, though a bit... dumb on the character part)
-Akame Ga Kill */ (what's with the dumb killing and weak characterisation)
-Tokyo Ghoul (I don’t know. Absolute mixed feelings. Only anime)
Halo people. After doing anything in regards to fiction my mind is (usually) swarming with thoughts about the themes, plot, characters, everything. That is why I’ll be making a series of posts about random fictional thoughts I have, all under the tag of ‘Fictionverse’.
This is the (sort of) writing blog of @avataremrys though I won’t be posting chapters of my stories and other thinks (you can find them here if you are interested).
