Lessons learnt from Fullmetal Alchemist

Lessons Learnt from Fullmetal Alchemist

The story follows two young alchemists, Edward and Alphonse Elric. When their mother passes away, the boys attempt to bring her back to life by performing human transmutation, a forbidden technique in alchemy. The two boys pay a terrible price for their actions: Edward loses his leg and Alphonse loses his physical body. Luckily, Edward is at least able to transplant Alphonse’s soul into a suit of armor by giving up his own arm, making them a mangled metal pair. The story follows the boys in their journey to acquire a philosopher’s stone, which would bypass the limitations of alchemy and allow Alphonse to get his body back.



The Law Of Equivalent Exchange

One main principle that is repeatedly brought up throughout the series is the 'Law of Equivalent Exchange'. This principle states that 'Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost first.' Although this series takes this principle to a whole another level that involves life and death. However, I think that this saying can be applied as a way of life in our daily lives. Nothing can be attained without giving up something in return, whether it be time, money, or health. The value that we place on these things differs, but each is extremely important and can have adverse effects on our lives. Therefore when I feel inferior about a particular task or to someone else, it reminds me that I have not yet sacrificed an equal amount of time and effort into the task, hence I need to work harder to achieve the results I hope for.



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Lessons learnt from Hunter x Hunter

Lessons learnt from Hunter x Hunter

This anime series follows an 11-year-old boy named Gon and his adventures as a hunter. A hunter in the world of Hunter x Hunter is a special occupation that is only obtainable through successfully completing an arduous physical and mental examination called the Hunter exam. Once certified, a hunter is able to perform tasks that regular humans are either forbidden from doing or are unqualified. Gon successfully obtains his permit to be a hunter and sets off on his adventure.

One conflict he faces in his adventures is the Chimera ants. The Chimera Ants are a previously unidentified species of monsters with one particularly defining characteristic: the Queen Ant is able to consume living beings and give birth to ants with the consumed beings’ intelligence and physical attributes. The Queen Ant is surprised by the existence of humans and realizes that she can create the perfect being by consuming a large number of humans and that perfect being would wound up being the Chimera Ant King.

Don't judge a book by its cover. 

 As the Chimera Ant King came to life and was learning about the world around it, he developed a relationship with a blind, uneducated and clumsy girl called Komugi. What immediately stands out is the remarkable difference between the two individuals. One is a creature born into the world as the “Perfect Being” and the other is a human who admits that she cannot “do things even a baby can do”.  The two individuals meet because the King took an interest in challenging board games such as Shogi (Japanese chess game). So the King sought out professionals in order to prove that he is more intelligent than humans. After defeating several game masters, he meets Komugi, whom he repeatedly loses to and eventually wonders how a repulsive, unintelligent, blind girl was able to come up with strategies so beautiful. This highlights the wonder of human potential and how people who ostensibly appear to be talentless can possess a great talent. The king is dumbfounded that a human such as Komugi, who is incapable of fending for herself due to her blindness and low intelligence, is able to possess a talent that far surpasses his own.

After watching the whole interaction between these 2 characters, it has reminded me of the saying of 'Don't judge a book by its cover.' No matter how a person may look like on the surface, that person would always be better at doing something than you. Therefore instead of judging others, everyone should take the time and actually learn from each other to improve themselves. 

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