i just read your levi analysis. can you explain kenny and levi more? and how kenny affected levi?
this ask has been in my inbox for a while, sorry for late answer
Levi's character is a fascinating study in contradictions, presenting a dynamic interplay between victories on the battlefield and losses in the realm of personal connections. Despite emerging triumphantly from numerous battles, Levi finds himself grappling with the poignant cost of his victories: the erosion of meaningful relationships, the severance from family, and a disconnection from humanity.
A pivotal influence in Levi's formative years was Kenny, a figure deeply entrenched in the philosophy that places a premium on violence and power. This perspective becomes a defining element in Levi's psyche, where his self-worth becomes intricately tied to notions of strength and dominance.
Kenny, recognizing the harsh reality of Levi's upbringing in the Underground, instills in him the belief that survival in such a brutal environment necessitates an unwavering commitment to strength. Levi's daily struggle for survival in the violent underbelly of society becomes a testament to this ethos. Both the narrative and insights from Isayama himself underscore the notion that Levi's focus in the Underground was singular: survival, an imperative that consumed his every waking moment.
Kenny's decision to abandon Levi is deeply intertwined with his own mindset and upbringing. He perceives himself as incapable of kindness, viewing the world as a harsh and unworthy place. Embracing the philosophy that 'might makes right,' Kenny navigates life with a belief system that shapes his interactions and decisions.
In acknowledging his own shortcomings, Kenny openly admits to feeling inadequate as a father. This self-awareness becomes a driving force behind his decision to distance himself from Levi, aligning with his belief in being an unfit paternal figure. The abandonment, in a way, becomes a manifestation of Kenny's conviction that he falls short as a parent.
Furthermore, Kenny's admission that he cannot provide Levi with parental affection takes a poignant turn. Instead of nurturing emotional bonds, Kenny opts to impart skills focused on manipulation and coercion. By deliberately withholding parental warmth and knowledge of their biological relationship, Kenny steers Levi towards a path where violence becomes a tool for problem-solving. This deliberate choice engenders a complex in Levi, a psychological knot woven from the absence of affection and the emphasis on utilizing force in navigating life's challenges.
As a kid, Levi used to make himself stronger in order to receive praise from Kenny. But one day, all of a sudden, Kenny was no longer by his side and left him with a question: “Then what is my strength for?” Later, he crossed swords with Kenny during the dethroning of the Monarchy, and at Kenny’s final moment, Levi finally resolved his hard feelings and discontent toward Kenny. It’s one of the “rites of passage” for Levi.
(isayama) source
Levi carries a profound belief that Kenny's departure stemmed from his own perceived inadequacy—his sense of not being good or strong enough. This conviction becomes a driving force in their confrontations, with Levi seeking to prove himself in an ongoing struggle for affirmation.
At the core of Levi's emotional landscape is a longing for parental affection, particularly from the man who served as his primary father figure following the early loss of his mother. However, Kenny's inability to express typical affection leads him to impart a different kind of lesson—one centered around violence and strength. For Levi, this unconventional form of guidance becomes a surrogate for the warmth he seeks, shaping his understanding that prowess in combat is the path to earning praise and affection.
Levi's childhood was marked by relentless violence, where survival meant mastering the use of force. Alone and fighting daily battles for survival, violence became not just a means of existence but also the linchpin of his identity. The skills that allowed him to endure the hardships of his youth, fighting each day to stay alive, now form the bedrock of his self-worth.
His journey unfolds as a narrative, where violence becomes both a survival mechanism and a means of making a significant impact. As "Humanity's Strongest Soldier," Levi's prowess in combat is not just a skill set; it is the cornerstone of his identity, a defining feature that has shaped him from childhood to the present.
The No Regrets interview delves further into Levi's evolution, highlighting a pivotal moment when he transcended the constant struggle for survival. As he rose above the daily battles, a newfound sense of purpose awakened within him. Contemplating the formidable skills and strength he possessed, Levi began to envision a higher calling – a mission to employ his power for the benefit of others.
The fact that he has great amounts of power means that he carries an immense amount of responsibility. When Kenny said, “Everyone is enslaved by something,” and questioned Levi “Whose slave are you?” Levi also recognized that he is tethered to his own strength, as well as the duty of “I must become a hero”…Mikasa is the same. When members of the Ackerman clan devote themselves to their liege, they’re able to unleash extraordinary power.
(isayama) source
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I've always found it funny how people get so devastated when their fave characters die. Like fanfic is there to keep them alive and I've always liked the freedom to take dead chars and do whatever I want with them, like there's more of a freedom to play around with them than the surviving chars? Idk how to explain it but canon ends with their death so you can fill in the gaps yourself yk? No offense to people who do feel this way pls!!! Just imo yk (also they're fictional yadda yadda)
If I’m being 100% real if yuuta dies it’s cool. I’ve said this before to kana but like. He has the best track record in the series for fights and he’s got such an amazing toolkit and he’s held his own in this fight. If he dies now he fought well!! I’m proud of him 🩷 even if he died this next chapter like you said there’s always fanfic and stuff like that so! Will I be sad? Of course! But it’ll be okay lots of my faves have died before haha
But there are lots of people who prefer to stick to canon too! Like if their character dies then they are dead dead yk? I don’t want invalidate their feelings either!
Like for example my previous fave, Eren. He’s dead in canon. And in my mind in any kind of canon-universe scenario I’m always gonna picture him dying cause that’s just what happened. But in modern AUs or other AUs it’s always up to me! So he lives on that way for me!
If yuuta died this chapter then in canon he would be dead to me but in canon-spinoffs or other AUs in my mind I can do whatever I want to him 🩷
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Well Gojo beat Levi in the anime corner popularity poll so id say he is better in every way and people are correct for thinking that
Is there any particular reason you are asking these questions anonymously?
I don't understand the whole, "[insert popular anime] is the worst thing ever and I don't know why people likes it","[insert popular anime character] is overrated and I don't understand why people loves them because [insert another popular character] is way better" thing.
Heaven forbid we actually find joy in something without being judged for it.
So, you don't like a certain character, or series? Big surprise! But instead of just flinging your distaste out there like it's confetti at a parade, how about you actually give some substance to your arguments? You know, provide some context, sprinkle in a few valid reasons behind your disdain. Wouldn't that be a refreshing change of pace?
Yeah there is a poll where Gojo has outranked Levi. So?
We all know Levi is the king of the hill in pretty much every anime poll. But does that really mean anything?
Does that make Levi better than Gojo? I am pretty sure you will disagree.
Context:
Levi is the most popular anime character in Japan.
According to Ranking.net's survey, he clinched the top spot as the most beloved anime character, over Gojo, Pokemon and Doraemon.
On Tumblr, Levi's tag boasts a following of 42k, outshining Gojo's 39k.
In fact Levi almost dominates every poll, and ranks over Gojo in almost all of them.
It is just a popularity contest, like voting for prom queen but with more swords and curse energy.
Let's not reduce our discussions to mindless popularity contests where one character reigns supreme over all others. Because obviously, that totally reflects the depth and complexity of the characters. 🙄
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Are you ready for the ending? I want to know how you feel about this. Personally, I am not okay.
(dw i saw your other ask fkdjghdfgjk)
I'm so torn lol. Part of me is hyped purely to just have some content even if it's just for a bit. The other part of me remembers the shit that happened when the manga ended and I wonder if it'll repeat especially with the dudebro aot fans, hate them actually LOL (then again I no longer look at r*ddit) and I've already seen another influx of terrible aot takes specifically on the clock app but I'm trying to distance myself from that app anyway, now feels like the perfect time.
I guess another thing I think about is how annoyed I've been with how the final parts of AOT have been handled. I'm sure it's going to look gorgeous, but to me it feels like AOT has been a complete afterthought in favor of boosting JJK. Which I get it, JJK is MAPPA's real baby and money-maker, so of course they're going throw all their funding into that. It just sucks that it's ending with these extra long episodes instead of a regular season. Mostly because I wanted to live out the hype over weeks at a time instead of everyone exploding over it for a week and then it's just... done. I don't like this new trend of seeing everything all at once just to enjoy it for shorter periods of time. It doesn't feel satisfying to me at all. (Which reminds me of how Haikyuu ending is gonna be handled and UGH. HORRIBLE)
I'm also just sad because, in a way, aot ending almost feels like I'm saying goodbye to an entire decade of my teenage years/20s, it's really weird. I know the fandom will always be around, even when it's been slow to have new content provided for fans I've never had a problem finding a community here/on AO3/at conventions. But it does make me a little teary-eyed knowing we most likely won't get much new stuff (aside from the upcoming side story that was announced). To be honest, I loved the characters of AOT WAY MORE than the story itself and for me, I'm happy writing them into other universes, making new fanart of them, even if it's for a smaller and smaller community.
Anddddd the show ending more reminds me of a lot of people I knew who were into aot just...either not being around or moving onto other things. which is totally fine! it's bound to happen with all things, just a bit of a sad moment, you know?
but yeah gfjkfgjdh I don't really know my entire point but this has been what I've thought about recently with it all ending!
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The best thing about watching AoT is that I get to try and use my brain to come up with all the theories regarding the whos and whys and hows.
Too bad most of the time, my partner reacts with: "Cool, but you're thinking too much. They don't bother to explain it that well."
BUT! (BUTT!) yesterday I got an "interesting". I'm intrigued ;>
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