THE RESOUNDING HOPE OF “ANGEL BEATS!”

XAI JETHANI - Managing Editor, 1st Year, Japanese

R.I.P. 2nd Beat…

SPOILERS FOR ANGEL BEATS!

If I had to describe Angel Beats! in a single word, it would undoubtedly be “hopeful.” But in the midst of searching for a word, I wondered why this one came to mind so singularly. Compared to works from Studio Ghibli or Kyoto Animation, for example, it is far less realistic and detailed in its portrayal of hope. Furthermore, despite many of my own hopes stemming from philosophy, I wouldn’t dare to describe Angel Beats! as “profound”, the same way I could about shows like Neon Genesis Evangelion or Serial Experiments Lain. Hell, I couldn’t even give it the honor of being “exciting” compared to shows like Code Geass or Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. So why, then, did “hopeful” seem like the only correct answer?

I want to start off by saying that Angel Beats! is not a perfect anime. It has conflicting plot points, and the show is riddled with inconsistent pacing. Sometimes the humor may not land, and there’s plenty of it throughout the show’s runtime. However, despite its flaws, I still kinda love this show. Perhaps it was simply a “right place, right time” kind of anime, but I think my bias is well-founded. It is true that one could say every joke made in life doesn’t always land, and it’s the well-placed intention that matters. The same justification could work with life’s pacing and its nonsensicality, and any myriad of life’s issues. Even though this justification is hardly an excuse for the flaws of Angel Beats!, I’ve actually found that its shortcomings have repeatedly enhanced its core message, that being of how to live. Each episode dedicates itself to showing the value of letting go of the past, and of believing in the hope that awaits in the future. While Angel Beats! doesn’t discuss this topic nearly as deeply as it could have, given its short length, I find the choice to structure its story around a handful of meaningful philosophical insights to be a smart decision.

As previously stated, Angel Beats! explores hope through the question of how to live. This question is explored through nearly every facet of the show, from the afterlife setting, to the character backstories and attitudes about peace, and even to the musical identity. The afterlife setting, for instance, gives space for both the characters and the audience to contemplate meaning and the importance of one’s life (“what meaning does anyone’s life have if everyone ends up dead”, “was I doing the right thing", etc.). The music of Angel Beats! also fleshes out different areas of human emotion, from the contemplative “Memory”, to the upbeat “School Days”, to the depressing “Unjust Life”. Its integration into the story is also done masterfully, with tracks like “My Song” and “Ichiban no Takaramono” being sung from certain characters’ points of view. When two or more of these elements are able to work off of each other, they create scenes which are more than the sum of their parts.

Each piece of Angel Beats! points towards the beauty of living, with the resolution that human beings should live with hope and make the most out of their lives. Throughout the anime, we see firsthand how someone’s purpose can be so long-forgotten that they may not even remember what they’re living for. Compounding this, the reality these characters convince themselves of ends up being much harsher than their current one. The characters of Yuri Nakamura and Ayato Naoi serve as great examples of this phenomenon, as in many ways, they are two sides of the same coin, despite Yuri being a protagonist and Ayato initially being an antagonist.

Both Yuri and Ayato had lives that robbed them of their childhood, involving the deaths of loved ones. After witnessing these unjust deaths, both characters changed, and became cynical, obsessed with enacting revenge. Once in the afterlife, both Yuri and Ayato abuse their power in hopes of feeling at peace, and both eventually come to the realization that the time with their new friends is what they should draw meaning from. This journey conveys a simple, yet powerful lesson: by incessantly holding onto the past, people can rob themselves of a meaningful future. The choice of having both an antagonist and protagonist realize this is immensely impactful, and this is entirely due to how Angel Beats! chooses to portray its ramifications, with innocent people being hurt as a result of both of these characters’ actions.

While these moments and their teachings are presented somewhat forcefully, there are also more quiet ones that communicate equally important ideas. One small scene that continues to stick with me is the scene with Kanade and her sunflowers in the garden. There is hardly any time dedicated to this scene, but it’s clear from Kanade’s diligence that she’s tended the garden for a long time. More importantly, there are tangible, beautiful results that have come from this dedication. What makes this scene “hopeful” to me is that even though Kanade isn’t in the real world, her garden demonstrates the worth of continuing to put in effort. Her attempts at creating beauty aren’t a necessary addition to this anime, but the fact that it’s there fleshes out her character, and makes her ideals more believable due to this small detail.

Angel Beats! includes these thoughtful character studies with almost all of its main cast, each examination showing the risks of viewing existence through a negative lens. Even though their unsatisfied lives brought them together, the characters could only find peace by accepting what had happened to them, and by choosing to move on. The fact that Kanade represents acceptance, and the fact that she’s placed as an antagonist are both brilliant concepts, although I will say that the story failed to emphasize this dynamic enough to create any sort of profundity. Kanade’s shifted role from enemy to ally in the second half of the anime also mirrors the nature of acceptance itself. While it may be easy to find acceptance, it is another thing to move on entirely from one’s pain.

Finding enough hope to even accept peace is one of the greatest themes that Angel Beats! covers, due to its nuanced and deeply thoughtful nature. This theme is the main reason why it has remained with me for so long. Denying hope isn’t a problem that has a simple answer, nor is it one that is consistently solvable for everyone. Angel Beats! attempts to show a possible answer, and while its answer is largely a blanket statement, it acts as a reasonable first step for people who may truly be lost. Angel Beats! suggests that even though you may occasionally feel worthless or out of place, it’s in those moments, more than ever, that you should rely on friends and positive influences. While it may not be a permanent fix, friends offer more strength than you realize, and being with them makes finding hope something more manageable.

Angel Beats!’ strong message of hope and persistence make it special, and even though it isn’t a unique message in the overwhelmingly large sea of anime, its specific combination of cohesive and noncohesive elements allow it to stand tall, 13 years after its original release. The impact that Angel Beats! has made upon anime fans and the industry cannot be understated, and despite its messiness, I maintain the opinion that I have never watched an anime as resoundingly hopeful as Angel Beats!