Anime has a way of tackling deep philosophical questions and Steins;Gate is no exception. It’s not just a time travel thriller, it’s a story that forces us to question whether we control our own fate or if everything is already set in stone. Well at the very heart of all this is Rintarou Okabe, a self-proclaimed mad scientist who stumbles upon time travel and quickly realizes just how terrifying and unforgiving the concept of destiny can be, you know just like every time travel movie out there. Free Will vs. Determinism: Are We Truly in Control? One of the biggest debates in philosophy, “Do humans have free will?” the ability to make choices independent of any pre-existing conditions or if determinism rules all.Well this means that everything that happens is already decided by past events. Steins;Gate leans into this heavily, especially when Okabe learns the hard way that no matter how many times he changes the past, some events are inevitable. The idea of “World Lines” i...
Do you sometimes think that anime has this weird way of making human struggles feel way too real. Sure, we all love the epic fights in anime and the amazing plots but sometimes, an anime comes along that just punches you in the gut with how relatable it is. Like Welcome to the NHK and its protagonist, Tatsuhiro Satou, a guy who doesn’t have big dreams, insane intellect, or the plot armor of a shonen hero. Instead, he’s just... stuck and I mean stuck. And if you’ve ever felt lost, isolated, or like you’re watching life move on without you, well, Satou hits a little too close to home. The Reality of Hikikomori Life Satou isn't your typical anime protagonist. He doesn’t have the ambition of Luffy, the genius of Light Yagami, or the sheer luck of Subaru Natsuki. Instead, he’s a college dropout who’s been holed up in his tiny apartment for years, living off his parents’ money and convinced that the world is out to get him. His struggles with social anxiety, paranoia, and deep-r...