About

Anime and ELA. It’s no surprise that watching shows as a hobby is prevalent throughout the world. Stories engage people and immerse into worlds outside reality. It’s also no surprise that much of the young people and young adults (and some older folks :D) has engaged with the anime medium. From aesthetically-drawn animation sequences to compelling narratives, story-lines and characters, there is much to draw from as non-Japanese speaking watcher.

And here’s the funny thing. I believe that there are valuable and applicable ELA skills that one can learn through and from anime. I should know… Anime has played a pivotal role in my life: from my formative years to reinforcing the kind of teacher I wish to be my students—Koro-Sensei, you will forever live on in our hearts—anime isn’t some mainstream form of media fad destined to fade away. I believe that there’s much to learn from this medium: narrative technique, syntax, diction and symbolism are just a few of the examples that students and I can improve on in our understanding of the work and of our world. After all, fiction is meant to be a world grounded on the ideas, concepts, beliefs and imaginations of people. My desire is to utilize anime as a vehicle for potential lessons in the ELA classroom in addition to being a form of enjoyment.

This blog will also be where I will post reviews of currently running and past anime. Using my literature background, I analyze narratives, characters, symbols, motifs, and themes of shows. They could be made with brevity or they can be extensive. If you have questions, comments, or even a recommendation for show you wish for me to view or write about, please leave a post.

“[They] spoke to me, asked what I wanted to be. To be weak I said, to be flawed, vulnerable. To perceive weakness in others not to exploit but to protect. To be a guide, to be a teacher…”

-Koro Sensei (Assassination Classroom)

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-Class dismissed!