I wanted to introduce myself.
I’m a regular person. I’ve taken care of myself—ate well, stayed active, earned two master’s degrees and a doctorate.
I worked for a regular company in a role with enormous responsibility and almost no recognition.
Every day, I did things that literally saved the company. But I got smaller bonuses than others. Lower raises. Less credit—even when my work had more impact.
I didn’t need the spotlight. But I was good at what I did. And I was respected.
Then a bigger company bought us. I was laid off.
Then I found out I’ve had at least four strokes.
I had to change everything just to avoid another one.
Then the economy slid, hiring froze, and I’ve been unemployed for 10 months.
Then I learned I have a rare tumor. One in a million. The prognosis? Not great.
In anime and fantasy, this is where the hero shows up and saves the day.
But in real life? There are no heroes for most of us.
What if we’re the heroes of our own story?
I looked for anime characters like me—and there weren’t any.
No anime HR leaders. No anime operations managers. No anime quiet-behind-the-scenes people keeping things from falling apart.
Why? Why is that not heroic?
Why do nurses and teachers get hero gifts (which they absolutely deserve)…
but delivery drivers don’t? Or retail stock associates? Or admin assistants?
So I started creating them.
Using graphic design tools, I started turning “regular” jobs into anime heroes.
Because we deserve to be in the story, too.
Now we have an anime construction worker.
An anime graphic designer.
An anime delivery driver.
I’ve attached a few of the characters I’ve created. I’d love to hear what you think.
And if there’s a job you think deserves the anime hero treatment—drop it in the replies.
Because every job has a story arc.
And we deserve to be the heroes in ours.
