Deeper Meanings to Video Games & Anime
They’re everywhere, even places you wouldn’t expect them to be.
I’ve known video games my entire life, long enough to gain various perspectives on the gaming community as a whole. At first I didn’t see them as anything more than pixels on a screen that helped me overcome boredom and a fun hobby to indulge in. As I got older I started to get involved with various games that did more than cure boredom- they invoked deeper thought processes in my head as I played along. Eventually I started to look for meaning and symbolism in every kind of game I play, no matter how big or small, and I’m usually able to find a thing or two. It just takes a deeper look into them.
In regards to meaning and symbolism the best example I’m able to give you is the Persona series. All of their games are very intentionally made with various themes in mind and by the end they can hit home. In Persona 3 they touch on the uncomfortable subject of death. Various characters are affected and change drastically when it happens or is at risk, but gradually overcome it through several coping methods that eventually lead to them accepting it as reality. They then start moving forward with their head held high. The game’s plot as a whole touches on a subject people wouldn’t think of normally and makes you think in the shoes of the characters as the story progresses. By the end you’ve developed a strong bond with the main cast through the many hours of game play and when it’s time to say farewell it leaves many players in tears.
This is only one example out of the Persona series, which carries many meanings across its various games. Atlus has extraordinary storytelling abilities that span across all of their products. The Shin Megami Tensei series as a whole does a fantastic job in that aspect, so I highly recommend giving them a look.
Though I only listed one example, if I took the time to list several this would be much longer than it needs to be. Deeper meanings can be interpreted through games like Pokémon and Fire Emblem, but they can also be found in anime such as Dragon Ball and Naruto- childhood experiences for most that many still think is just for kids, when adults can take just as much meaning from them. All it takes is not taking everything at face value, reading between the lines and piecing together context that may click with you once you’ve sorted the whole puzzle.
Many quotes and actions from characters across all of these popular franchises and series have touched me on a personal level and inspired me to improve my own life in several ways. It’s changed me as a person for the better and I believe if more people were more open to learning from these things it just may change them too.
