Hey guys, Josh here! You know, Valentines Day (Or if you’re me “Singles Awareness Day”) is coming up, and I found myself thinking about that famous piece of scripture from 1 Corinthians 13…you know the one:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
It’s a beautiful verse about what love is supposed to be; unconditional, pure of heart and soul and stronger than strong. Which got me to thinking; are there any anime couples that I feel best exemplifies this scripture? Are there examples that I could point two from the thousands upon thousands of shows out there that shows this depth of Godly love? And also, could these couples be represented by non-anime related songs, probably made long before their creators were even out of diapers? Yes, this is how my mind works!
I’m going to break down 1 Corinthians 13 into anime form by showing you guys 12 couples from various anime that best exemplifies a certain tenant of “love” as told in this scripture. And because I feel that Beneath the Tangles could use an infusion of Black Musical Excellence, I also included a song that I feel best represents these particular couples. I have to admi, there are a lot of old school songs on this list; if you don’t recognize a lot of these songs, just ask your parents or hit us up on Twitter (@AnimeTangles) and we’ll be more than happy to clue you in! Also hit us up if you feel you have a better song that best matches these couples. Lets get the conversation going, guys!
All that being said, lets see what the Good Word says about Love…
“Love is Patient…”
Hachirota “Hachimaki” Hoshino and Ai Tanabe (Planetes)
Song: “Joy and Pain” – Frankie Beverly and Maze
“Love is Kind.”
Akito Hayama and Sana Kurata (Kodomo no Omocha)
Song: “Crazy in Love” – Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
“It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
Takeo Goda and Rinko Yamato (My Love Story!!)
Song: “Try a Litte Tenderness” – Otis Redding ¹
“It does not dishonor others…”
Narumi Momose and Hirotaka Nifuji (Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku)
Song: “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” – Wilson Pickett
“It is not self-seeking…”
Keiichi Morisato and Belldandy (Ah! My Goddess)
Song: “Let Me Be Good To You” – Otis Redding and Carla Thomas
“It is not easily angered…”
Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga (Naruto/Naruto Shippuden/Boruto)
Song: “I Believe in You” – Johnnie Taylor
“It keeps no record of wrongs.”
Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno (Naruto/Naruto Shippuden/Boruto)
Song: “Love Will Never Do Without You” – Janet Jackson
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”
Shoya Ishida and Shoko Nishimiya (A Silent Voice)
Song: “Ribbon in the Sky” – Stevie Wonder
“It always protects…”
Ryuji Takasu and Aisaka Taiga (Toradora) ²
Song: “Reach Out I’ll Be There” – The Four Tops
“Always trusts…”
Yukino Miyazawa and Soichiro Arima (His and Her Circumstances)
Song: “You’re My Everything” – Anita Baker
“Always hopes…”
Nasa Yuzaki and Tsukasa Tsukuyomi (Tonikawa: Over the Moon for You)
Song: “Prayin’ for You / Superman” – Anthony Hamilton ³
“Always perseveres.”
Renton and Eureka (Psalms of Planets Eureka Seven)
Song: “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)” – Otis Redding
¹ I used the live version of “Try a Little Tenderness” for the link because I’m of the belief that Otis Redding was at his best when he was live in front of a crowd. If you get a chance, check out the rest of his set at the Monterrey International Pop Music Festival on YouTube. It’s absolutely amazing to see and it’s a crying shame he passed away in a plane accident six months after this. I also used the live version of “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)” later for the same reason.
² TWWK probably would fire me if I didn’t find a way to put Ryuji and Taiga in this post, especially considering that they just wrapped up the Toradora Live Viewing, so here we are. 😛
³ Yeah, this is a little modern for the list, but Anthony Hamilton has this kind of old school soul sound that I felt matched the other singers I included so…yeah. Besides, my mom is an Anthony Hamilton fan. If you’re reading this mommy, I love you!
featured illustration by コユル (reprinted w/permission)
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