Asher Farlow

When I was 9 years young, the year 2005, I was first introduced to Toonami on Adult Swim. An innocent time of nostalgia and yearning. Origas angelic theme for Stand Alone Complex graced my ears with a flair of the incredible. As the Major heel spun along the edge of a Tokyo roof top, she pushed her weight backwards, freefalling down with the grace of a Mayfly. The empowered strong female character of the Major was an inspiration to me growing up. An archetype we rarely see portrayed accurately or realistically. The visual style coupled with the cinematography created an immensely stimulating experience. Narrative wise it can be difficult to follow given its complexity. Ironic given the title. Soon after followed Gundam, Cowboy Beep-Pop, and so many others. I cherish these, and will so forever. My Grandfather served in the Second World War. He spoke fluent Naponese, yeah, as we say Japanese. His genetic memory of respect for their culture and nation seeps into my subconscious. This unique gift has allowed me to emerge myself into Anime with ease, and gives me insight into a land so far away. The same can be said for Britain, the middle ages, and others of which my family for over 1100 years took part in. My life, as well as hundreds of millions of others, has been drastically altered due to the virus. In Feburary my mother passed away due to sepsis from a drug resistant bladder infection which spread to her kidneys. We put her on hospice, she passed quietly in her sleep. My life this year has seen the most dramatic and seismic of changes. For whatever reason I decided to watch the live action Ghost in the Shell, and in so doing, awoken my nostalgia. I went to Adult Swim in hopes of finding this, I did. Season 1 & 2 for free, limited commerical interruptions as well. Something very profound happened to me psychologically whilst rewatching this anime I have not experienced since 2007 when I was 11. That was the last time I ever saw Ghost in the Shell. An existential nostalgia harkening back to a better time in my life. It has not given me comfort, rather awakening of self. For we all are Ghosts in a Shell.