Menma will ruin this show (possible spoilers)

Dec 29, 2011 4:52 PM

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Sep 2011

Here's the answer to Menma-hate for me, which an insightful man posted earlier:

"Menma's the center of attention via the guilt everyone feels. These types of emotions are very real in life, and while the show does exaggerate these kinds of feelings, I can say with certainty that it does a really friggin' good job at showcasing the guilt of losing someone."

All I can add to that is the general observation that Japanese manga frequently features characters having a feeling of unendurable loss about someone (or some situation) they loved in the past. I believe that stems from the near-absence of Christianity from Japan. People in the West, especially Americans, believe in, or at least live out their lives against the background of, a general expectation of actual survival of their own sweet selves after death. For most Asians, by contrast, when a person is dead he's dead and gone. (Reincarnation doesn't bring THAT PERSON back.) Therefore there is absolutely NO hope of ever meeting that person and making things right as regards harm you did to them in life. Add to that the fact that Menma in life appears to have been the ultimate cute moe little girl, and you can see why all of them might have had substantial parental feelings toward her. Our hero (sorry, I'm bad with names) clearly sure did, and to top that, the last thing he said to her may have broken her heart and led to her death.

It's natural that the sense of guilt all of them have over her death would well up in their young teenage years. The period of first stepping into maturity, comprising the beginnings of an ability to think rationally about complex things and the full awareness of death, is a good time for a buried guilt to bloom.

Jan 6, 2012 7:06 PM

#42

AnoniMus

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Oct 2009

145

Nerdo said:
Are you seriously making a graph of how much you like this show? Dude- get a life!

Yup I have lots of free time, but even if I didn't have, making a graph doesn't take long. Just type in google make a quick graph or something, it will take about 5 minutes.

@cecropiamoth What about those who are just atheist? Like me, if they're gone, they're gone, so what?

Jan 6, 2012 7:10 PM

#43

Ki-kun

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Jan 2012

But without Menma this show wouldnt be as good as it should be.

If Menma is ghost that can touch things what if you
throw paint at her,will they be able to see her?

Jan 12, 2012 1:37 PM

#44

fishergirl16

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Jul 2010

2005

What..? Sorry. But no. Menma does everything for this show; if you think about it, every single relationship depends on her. Also, really think about it. Sure, Menma had died a long time ago, but if you're best friend when you were little; someone you had played SO much with and knew inside out, had died near you and was partly your fault, how could you EVER forget that guilt. I know that I wouldn't be able to. That guilt must be unbearable, and of course they would think about her a lot. Very reasonable in my opinion. I feel that her death didn't allow all of them to move on and their feelings of that day were almost stuck in 'limbo'.

Mar 31, 2012 7:10 PM

#45

Beezheen

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Oct 2010

186

Nerdo said:
Are you seriously making a graph of how much you like this show? Dude- get a life!

That's what I was thinking as well.

I just saw this forum and I disagree to those who think that the main character herself ruin this show. Although I get what you're saying, yes. But admit it, you see the whole story and felt an heartwarming impact. You might even shed a tear. But if you do not understand, go. Gtfo. You must have no heart to appreciate this relationship either. Didn't you see it? Almost every inch of your opinion has a constant contradiction. That will definitely maybe prove you wrong. Why don't you just find another anime to watch that can fulfill your expectations?

Plus, check your spelling. And oh, one more thing... Being sarcastic doesn't make you a better person.

Apr 2, 2012 7:01 PM

#46

AnoniMus

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Oct 2009

145

^ born in 1997. Talk to me when you get more experience in life.

So young and you already show lack of empathy, that's sad.

Apr 3, 2012 12:36 AM

#47

adrienne_

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Feb 2012

going to ignore the entire thread so far and respond to the op. menma acts as a foil for the rest of the characters; they are all growing into adults, while she still has the mentality of a child; they have all forgotten about their friendship, while she tries to rekindle it. menma isn't the "main character", since there is an ensemble main cast from which she is distinctly separate. without menma acting as she does, no character growth would occur, and the show would be a boring romance with a supernatural twist.

i would argue that the characters' being still overwhelmed by menma's death is not unreasonable. i pictured them being around 13, which is a very sensitive time in life; i can't imagine how i would react if my first love died suddenly.

if you strive to disbelieve everything you see, you won't enjoy any of it

Apr 3, 2012 5:37 PM

#48

Beezheen

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Oct 2010

186

AnoniMus said:
^ born in 1997. Talk to me when you get more experience in life.

So young and you already show lack of empathy, that's sad.

Funny, stealing someone else's statement just to defend yourself. "You lack empathy." was exactly for you right? Check the previous page. :) Two things: Absurd & Lame. So you've had enough experience? Why don't you just die then? Haha. But kidding aside, in my opinion, you act like you know everything. That's worse. You don't even know me, sir.

Apr 4, 2012 11:43 AM

#49

AnoniMus

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Oct 2009

145

MizuuHime said:

AnoniMus said:
^ born in 1997. Talk to me when you get more experience in life.

So young and you already show lack of empathy, that's sad.

t's not stealing, I just thought that saying you have no empathy really fit in you well, considering what you said.

I don't have enough experience, never said that, you never have enough experience, but I clearly have more than you.

Apr 5, 2012 4:16 AM

#50

Beezheen

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Oct 2010

186

Prove it.

Apr 5, 2012 9:17 PM

#51

AnoniMus

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Oct 2009

145

Prove what?

Apr 6, 2012 7:03 PM

#52

Beezheen

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Oct 2010

186

AnoniMus said:
Prove what?

To state the obvious, prove your point. Honestly, for me, it's hard to talk to people who are so bent on their own opinion.

Well you know, I'm pissed that you're blabbering hatred over an anime.
Gosh. Why am I even typing these. Guess you hate me, don't you? Feel free.

Apr 7, 2012 5:31 PM

#53

Knave

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Oct 2008

729

Holy shit.

Apr 7, 2012 7:44 PM

#54

AnoniMus

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Oct 2009

145

MizuuHime said:

AnoniMus said:
Prove what?

Hate is a strong word.

I have alread proven my point in other posts. By the way, if you're pissed, stop reading my posts, it's not healthy to get pissed over internet discussions.

Apr 8, 2012 4:25 AM

#55

Beezheen

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Oct 2010

186

AnoniMus said:

MizuuHime said:

AnoniMus said:
Prove what?

Hate is a strong word.

I have alread proven my point in other posts. By the way, if you're pissed, stop reading my posts, it's not healthy to get pissed over internet discussions.

What's the right word FOR YOU then? I must get used to it, you always have your own thing. You rarely accept an idea. Duh, your post just now was for me right?

It's not healthy to get pissed over a non-existing character.

So you thought I read all YOUR posts?

Apr 8, 2012 12:36 PM

#56

AnoniMus

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Oct 2009

145

MizuuHime said:

AnoniMus said:

MizuuHime said:

AnoniMus said:
Prove what?

Hate is a strong word.

I have alread proven my point in other posts. By the way, if you're pissed, stop reading my posts, it's not healthy to get pissed over internet discussions.

You don't know me to know I rarely accept an ideia.

Apr 8, 2012 5:37 PM

#57

Beezheen

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Oct 2010

186

Criticism is meant to help you be a better person. Learn from it.

Apr 8, 2012 6:16 PM

#58

AnoniMus

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Oct 2009

145

MizuuHime said:
Criticism is meant to help you be a better person. Learn from it.

I think you stoped making sense.

Apr 8, 2012 8:38 PM

#59

Beezheen

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Oct 2010

186

AnoniMus said:

MizuuHime said:
Criticism is meant to help you be a better person. Learn from it.

I think you stoped making sense.

Now you think that a fact is senseless. Well, I'm not surprised 'tho. I'm arguing to a user who doesn't even know how to spell right.

Apr 8, 2012 10:59 PM

#60

AnoniMus

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Oct 2009

145

MizuuHime said:

AnoniMus said:

MizuuHime said:
Criticism is meant to help you be a better person. Learn from it.

I think you stoped making sense.

Now you think that a fact is senseless. Well, I'm not surprised 'tho. I'm arguing to a user who doesn't even know how to spell right.

*stopped, happy?

Apr 8, 2012 11:37 PM

#61

Beezheen

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Oct 2010

186

AnoniMus said:

MizuuHime said:

AnoniMus said:

MizuuHime said:
Criticism is meant to help you be a better person. Learn from it.

I think you stoped making sense.

Now you think that a fact is senseless. Well, I'm not surprised 'tho. I'm arguing to a user who doesn't even know how to spell right.

*stopped, happy?

You're pathetic.

Apr 9, 2012 12:43 AM

#62

AnoniMus

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Oct 2009

145

MizuuHime said:

AnoniMus said:

MizuuHime said:

AnoniMus said:

MizuuHime said:
Criticism is meant to help you be a better person. Learn from it.

I think you stoped making sense.

Now you think that a fact is senseless. Well, I'm not surprised 'tho. I'm arguing to a user who doesn't even know how to spell right.

*stopped, happy?

You're pathetic.

Apr 9, 2012 3:44 AM

#63

LordLagann

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Sep 2009

1214

I'm just gonna assume you haven't finished it yet.....

SPOILER

.

.

.

.

.

Or else you would of known that she was the center of attention BEFORE she died as well... >_>

Dec 9, 2019 2:18 PM

#64

NarutoGaming12

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Dec 2019

For all the people saying that menma shouldnt be able to touch things, bruh u need to watch it again. It literally shows that she can touch things but she cant change the things on them unless it once belonged to her. So basically she can pick up a pen but cant write on anything unless its something she owned back when she was alive.

Dec 9, 2019 2:21 PM

#65

NarutoGaming12

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Dec 2019

-Azure- said:
Menma annoys me just as most loli characters do by being immature, naive, etc... If she was just a normal character, I am 100% sure that I would've despised her and thought exactly the same thing. However, not only is the entire plot based around her, the circumstances surrounding her have been done well enough that I actually do feel bad for her, although I think the show could have been better if Menma was just a bit less.... "stupid". Not that I'm complaining, this show is already good enough. You have to understand how close the friend really were, and how young they were when this happened. It is perfectly understandable that they are still grieving for her, considering the situation.

bruh she is mentally a 5 year old and u r saying how she shouldnt act childish???

Dec 9, 2019 2:26 PM

#66

NarutoGaming12

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Dec 2019

And also i love how everyone that says menma is a bad influence to the anime shuts up after they watch the last episode

Dec 9, 2019 2:59 PM

#67

Thegib98

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Jan 2019

424

Okay imagine this. You are 6 years old. You are hanging out with your friends and all of a sudden one of them dies. Not only that, YOU are the one responsible. You feel hatred from their parents, your friends, and most importantly, yourself. This isn't just how Jintan feels, it is how ALL 5 of them feel.

Now let's say you start getting older. Your friends have all abandoned you because, i mean, of course they do. You remind them of the friend YOU killed, right? You try to forget that day, you really do, but every so often she pops back into your head. "What have I done? It's my fault. I didn't mean to." These thoughts bother you until you cry yourself to sleep...until you don't cry anymore. These feelings of helplessness follow you around, but now they are just a part of your entire being.

The only thing you can do is try to run from these feelings. I mean how could you face them head on when the cause of them is dead...because of you. You bury your head in books, start drawing, you travel the world, you try to blend in with the popular crowd...you stop going to school.

Anohana isn't about people that can't get over a death. This is about kids, 6 year old kids, that all feel responsible for the death of someone extremely close to them and don't really have any mechanism to help them cope. If they had been 16+ years of age when Menma died, the anime never would have happened. These kids grew up with the guilt of having killed someone, with the guilt that they are the person solely responsible for so much pain to so many people. It isn't that they don't want to get over it. It is that they physically CAN'T. They got no closure. No last words. Nothing...Except guilt. And they have to carry that guilt on their backs until the day they die. And the saddest part of the whole thing is that there is nothing they can do that will change that.

Jun 14, 2021 6:30 AM

#68

heyringwaldhaze

Offline

Oct 2016

i don't like characters like menma who are overly cheerful and childish. but as you all said there would be no story without menma but if she was a different kind of character i probably would've enjoyed the anime more.

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