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Mar 27, 2021 10:49 PM
#1
| There must be in life something like a catastrophic turning point, when the world as we know it ceases to exist. A moment that transforms us into a different person from one heartbeat to the next. The moment when a lover confesses that there's someone else and that he's leaving. Or the day we bury a father or mother or best friend. Or the moment when the doctor informs us of a malignant brain tumor. For me, this moment was when I first crossed paths with Ex-Arm. Ex-Arm has changed me for the better. Before Ex-Arm I was addicted to alcohol, meth, nicotine, caffeine, beef, marijuana, DMX, Xanax, NASCAR and cheese. I was homeless, jobless, loveless. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place with no place to go and nobody to turn towards. One day, at my local McDonald's, I was watching MCR and Linkin Park concerts on Youtube. A Crunchyroll® advertisement preceded Linkin Park's "Breaking the Habit." I didn't think much of it at first, anime was not something I carried much interest for, but then it hit me. Expertly choreographed fight scenes, high-fidelity facial animation, captivating dialogue, and dynamic characters. The synergy of all of these made Ex-Arm and I was awestruck. When Linkin Park started playing, I immediately paused it and used my last paycheck to buy a Crunchyroll® subscription to see if the actual show would fulfill the expectations I had after seeing the trailer. After all, it is not uncommon for advertisements to be outright deceitful with their promises. Ex-Arm is not like that at all. Akira especially struck a chord with me. He was just a normal, shy kid whose last act as a human was a noble one, yet he still faltered to the flattening strength of a truck! It isn't fair, Akira committed no egregious sin, but has hitherto been the victim of many a cruel act, with this as a bellowing coda. But was it the end for Akira? No. He is given another chance. Thrust into an unknown world under dire circumstances. Reborn as a machine. To avoid getting too much into spoilers, as this is a series that must be experienced without any prior knowledge of the many twists and turns both the plot and characters make. Akira serves as an inspiration, instead of being melancholic about his new form and situation, he decides to make the best of it. In doing so he makes many friends along his journey finds something to believe in. Reaching the conclusion of the series, I realized that I must take my life and be reborn just like Akira. I cut off my addictions and detrimental habits cold turkey. When socializing, I adopt some of machine Akira's mannerisms and attempt to maintain the same disposition he exudes. Back to the present. I now work at a fortune 500 tech company in machine learning. I now am married with two kids and one more on the way. I now have a reason to live. For all of this, the least I can say is: Thank you, Crunchyroll®. Thank you. |
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Mar 27, 2021 10:53 PM
#2
| S--So touching! I am so glad you understand and appreciate Ex-Arm and Akira like me. We must share to the world this beauty and what is has taught us. There are too many haters. I hope you align with me and my goal of living in a world of where there is not a single Ex-arm hater. |
Mar 28, 2021 9:23 AM
#3
Wow--Ex-Arm saves lives, huh? We have Akira to thank:  |
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