by Jean

Created on: August 14, 2007

What are the majority of today's youngsters hyped-up about? Batman? Superman? Or Spiderman? Somehow I don't think those are the correct answers.

Saving the world, fighting for justice and zapping aliens have all become "been-there-done-thats". According to my calculations, the new zest in the superheroes' section nowadays would be Japanese Anime. Yes, the fans and merchandise, Anime movies and Magna (Anime stories) are broadening throughout the globe. This is a spreading hot fever especially among the teens and early 20's.

All right, I admit- I have been caught like a fish-on-a-hook; I have drowned into the catching-craze as well. Naruto, Bleach and Inuyasha, they are all leaping into the media with fresh, new stories. I have to say my favorite superhero would be the main character in Naruto- Naruto himself.

It's not that I don't like Superman or Batman; I do watch them a lot. However, in my opinion, most Anime seems to have stood out because of how they probe into their "own evils" within their inner-selves, analyze who they are by their childhood, widen the bond of relationships and gives a new meaning to courage' and friendship'. It is speaking out from a more psychological aspect even though supernatural/spiritual, fantasy is widely involved.

For an example, take Naruto; here is this orphan boy who was rejected by society for the power of a demon spirit,'the nine-tail fox' which lies within him.He hopelessly fails to come up to the same standards as his classmates. But he grows up with a dream, with confidence in himself and with deep conviction to fulfill his dream through hard-work. As the story progresses, he touches the lives of many people and goes through exams and obstacles while he makes many mistakes. We 'normal' humans can immediately empathize with this imaginative character. Somehow, it is more realistic than zapping aliens or catching a damsel falling from a high tower.

Therefore, to me, Naruto is a wonderful, powerful superhero among many Anime superheroes. He is powerful because he stands-up against his weaknesses and insecurities, urges the people around him to follow the correct path, and he is also not Mr. handsome- and-popular' either, yet he strives against all odds. These inner-strength is common in most Anime stories.

These superheroes prove that there is a 'Naruto' in all of us; we just have to wake him up. Powerful superheroes definitely can be made in reality.

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