Ink and Imagination: Embracing the World of Anime.

I would have never thought in my life that I'd say that anime has become a part of my life. Growing up, I used to have a totally different point of view about this. For me, anime was just like any other animation. I used to think it was just some random animation with impossible storyline and weird characters. And I didn't know how foolish I was for thinking like this.

It all started unexpectedly. A friend of mine, a passionate anime fan and I always used to fight over anime. As he always kept telling me I needed to give it a shot, I used to say that he was being childish and anime is just a waste of time. The twist happened during the Covid-19 pandemic. As school was closed and I was not allowed to go out, I was getting too bored. So I thought of giving anime a shot. And bam! I was too stunned to even speak. My first anime was Attack on Titan. It was not a random animation, it was full of mystery, intensive characters and unexpected plots. The very first episode was enough to make me enter the realm of anime.

After Attack on Titan, I decided to explore more into the world of anime. So I started watching other shows like Death Note, Monster, Haikyuu, One Piece and so on. Each and every show was full of different stories and emotions. Each show always had something special to offer, whether it was the deep theme of love, friendship or the intense, exciting fight scene. The most surprising thing was how it made me emotionally connected with the characters. It made me feel like I was in their world. Soon without knowing, watching anime became a regular part of me.

Anime can move its audience just as much as live action shows. It can explore complex themes like mental health, identity, meaning of life and emotions in a very subtle and profound way. Even the animation style is a pure piece of art containing vibrant colours, different details and styles for different anime.

Anime has introduced me to Japanese culture. It made me discover the divine beauty of the country Japan. It taught me about Japanese tradition,its food and language. Soon enough, I even began catching up on some basic Japanese sentences. Through anime, I found a deeper connection to a new culture.

Watching anime helped me to discover my creative side. I have always enjoyed drawing but anime encouraged me to try something new. It was sketching 2D animation characters. At the beginning, it was just for fun but soon it became one of my hobbies. It allows me to draw my favourite character however I want.

Nowadays, anime is an escape route for me. Sad, stressed or tired with life whatever I may feel, then I watch anime, as it always cheers me up and lightens my mood at all times. I don't know how it became like this but it really helps me disconnect from reality and immerse myself in a different world. The characters, the story and the background music gives me comfort, making me feel less tired and stressed. It's become my go-to remedy for tough days and I am truly grateful for that.

If someone had told me many years ago that I would become a huge fan of anime, I would never have believed it. But here I am! Waiting eagerly for the next release of my favourite shows and always on search for new anime to watch. How unexpected life can be! What started out as something I once disliked has now turned into my comfort zone.

To all those who have been like me hating and questioning- just give it a try. Now I know why my friend told me to give it a shot. You never know what will surprise you. Maybe like me, you will discover a love for anime that you never expected.

Tasnia Sharmin Aurna (24101321)