Growing up, we all had something that shaped the way we see the world. For some, it was books, for others, movies, or even personal experiences. But for me? It was something else entirely.
ANIME! Yeah, the so-called “trend of this decade”. But I didn’t start it out of trend.
At first, Anime was just another form of entertainment – colorful and exciting. But somewhere along the way, it turned into an accidental masterclass. Years of watching these stories trained my brain to analyze narratives, decode character motivations, and pick up on tiny details like I was born to solve mysteries.
You don’t just watch anime—you absorb it. You start picking up on emotions people don’t even realize they’re showing. You see character arcs happening in real time. And sometimes, yeah, that makes you look a little… unhinged.
Let me explain. 👇
The Anime-Watcher’s Emotional Training Arc
When you’ve seen protagonists go through every possible shade of human suffering, betrayal, joy, and triumph, you develop a sixth sense of emotions. It’s like years of watching these stories have rewired your brain to anticipate the way people think, react, and change.
I once had a friend tell me, “You always know what I’m about to say before I say it.” And honestly? That’s because I’ve seen this story before.
Every anime character has a pattern—how they react when they’re hurt, how they respond when they’re lying, how they cover up sadness with jokes. And guess what? Real people do the same things. Watching anime is like running an emotional simulation for years. You see every possible scenario, every possible reaction, every possible version of what a person could become. And when you translate that into real life, it makes you insanely perceptive.
But also? A little bit of a lunatic.
Because when you can read people too well, you start predicting their actions before they even take them. And that’s when they start looking at you like you’ve got main character energy. Or worse—like you’re some kind of manipulative mastermind.
The God Complex Is Real
I won’t lie. At some point, every anime fan has had that moment—the one where they watch a protagonist make a move, pause, and think: Damn. That’s me.
It’s a dangerous realization. Because once you start seeing yourself as a protagonist, the world starts to feel like your story. You start making decisions like a character in an arc. You start acting with that same unshakable resolve. And when things go wrong? It’s just “part of the script.”
One day, I caught myself saying, “This is my training arc.”
I wasn’t even joking.
Anime doesn’t just make you feel emotions—it makes you assign meaning to them. Every setback becomes a stepping stone. Every moment of doubt becomes foreshadowing. Every challenge becomes part of a greater narrative. And before you know it, you’re living life like it’s building up to some grand, inevitable conclusion.
Is it inspiring? Yes.
Is it borderline delusional? Also yes.
Emotional Strength, But at What Cost?
Anime has made me resilient in ways I never expected. I’ve seen too many characters fall apart and rebuild themselves to believe that anything in life is permanent. Pain? Temporary. Failure? A setup for the comeback. Loss? Just another lesson.
But at the same time, it’s also made me emotionally… unhinged.
I’ll cry over a well-written line of dialogue. I’ll get deeply invested in a stranger’s life because I see the plot threads connecting. I’ll predict someone’s entire character development arc before they even realize they’re going through one.
And yeah, maybe that makes me weird. But it also makes me strong—stronger than most people realize. Because when you’ve seen every possible version of human emotion play out on screen, nothing in real life can catch you off guard.
Anime’s Impact in a Nutshell
| Effect of Anime | Real-Life Consequence | Potential Side Effect | How to Manage It |
| Extreme empathy | You understand people better… sometimes too well | Emotional exhaustion | Set emotional boundaries |
| Emotional resilience | You bounce back like a shonen protagonist | Suppressing real feelings | Acknowledge your emotions |
| Predicting behaviors | You start reading people like an open manga | Overanalyzing interactions | Take a step back sometimes |
| The protagonist mindset | Every struggle is now part of your “arc” | Main character syndrome | Stay grounded in reality |
| Overattachment to fiction | You cry over animated characters more than real people | Difficulty connecting with real-life events | Balance fiction with reality |
| Unrealistic expectations | You expect real fights to have background music | Disappointment in normal life | Accept reality as it is |
| Random Japanese phrases | Accidentally saying ‘Nani?!’ in a serious moment | Social confusion | Learn when to switch modes |
Final Thought: The Ultimate Side Effect?
At the end of the day, anime has given me a level of resilience that’s borderline impressive—but also completely absurd.
On one hand, I can handle loss like a seasoned war veteran. On the other, I’ll get teary-eyed over a well-animated ramen bowl.
So am I emotionally strong? Absolutely.
Am I also kind of a mess? You bet.
But hey, that’s just my protagonist arc.
And if that makes me a little unhinged, so be it. 😉