I like anime and manga. New anime. Old anime. New manga. Old manga. However, I find myself distracted from time to time by the new hotness, be it a new anime series that strikes my fancy or a fresh manga series of which I can’t seem to get enough. Something always finds a way to distract me from diving deep into the classics.
A while back, I began a journey through Fist of the North Star. I got about a quarter of the way through the series when I stalled out on my watch. I found myself distracted by Meow Meow Japanese History, Hi Score Girl, and My Roommate is a Cat. I am loving the series, but have a hard time powering through the older episodes. I started reading Battle Angel: Alita, inspired by TWWK’s walk through of the series. I made it through the manga series proper, but am starting to lose traction on the sequel series, Last Order. I find myself distracted by reading through the Haikyuu! manga series as well as keeping up on my other ongoing manga. I just got more excited about the newer manga series I was reading. But why?
Is it that the newer shows are inherently better? I, as others on this site have done in the past, would argue no. Fist of the North Star is a much more complex series that it appears at first glance. Some could argue that the depth and intensity of character development is far more intense/interesting than many modern anime series. It’s the same with Battle Angel: Alita. There is so much depth of thought about the meaning of being human in this series. It also addresses issues that some modern anime or manga have yet to even tackle. Both older and the newer series have value.
As I consider that value which classics have, I am reminded of biblical examples. King Hezekiah of Judah, for instance, heard the word of the Lord, which inspired him to destroy the high places and restore monotheism to Judah.
I am reminded of Ezra during the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple. The Israelites were inspired and wept as they heard the law read to them.
I am reminded of Moses, who told the people to never forget and to write on their doorposts the importance of God.
Throughout the Bible, old truths are important and it is stressed that they not be forgotten. Let us not forget the classics. Still, I get distracted. The world moves at a rapid pace and I find myself surrounded by new, new, new. How do I slow myself down and allow myself to enjoy that which is old?
To tell you truth, I don’t know.
No, really. I don’t have a good and perfect answer to this question. I know I will go back to Fist of the North Star, but I will continue to be distracted by other newer shows before I do. I know I’ll return to Battle Angel Alita: Last Order, but the new manga series I am reading and the joy of reading Haikyuu! continues to distract.
So, I’m going to throw this one to you: How do you get into classics as people recommend them to you? What encourages you? What keeps you going as new shows or manga keep you distracted?