The Portrayal Of Apathy Through Anime 

I’m only 27 pages into the light novel for Classroom Of The Elite but it’s already evident how different the main character is in here as compared to the show. So please keep in mind that the Ayanokoji talked about in the video is solely the anime representation. Thanks to everyone who pointed it out.

Honestly, so many want to appear apathetic because it’s an edgy phase or because they want to portray their favourite characters, but genuinely having an outlook like this sucks. So many people think it’s as simple as “oh I’m just smarter than anyone” but in reality you have nobody to relate to, nobody who understands how you feel, and more often than not this means you have trouble receiving love and giving it out to others.

One thing that always troubled me was how people around me would always say " How can you be so calm in this situation? How can you mantain your mind clear and not go crazy" and i've always thought it was because I was just a rational person thinking that it doesn't make any sense to scream, cry, or vent about stuff when its already happened . Only after watching the way Hachiman acted, I actually started noticing some similar traits and patterns which, kind of scared me. I've never described myself as an apathic person but I've always felt like I was a calmer person than average.

You mentioned apathy caused by being too good at something (lack of challenge) leading to boredom and apathy caused by loneliness and depression (detatchment). However,, I think there's also a third type of apathy. The kind of apathy where you're in a situation and you don't have any good options, so you just... accept whatever is about to happen (fatalism). You might pick the least bad option, but you don't really care because you've given up hope of being able to find anything better. So you just go though the motions, making choices you don't believe in because you've accepted that nothing you do is going to make much of a difference. In the worst case scenario, this can become a cycle that's extremely hard to break without external intervention.

Apathy is best portrayed in *"A Silent Voice!"*

Best apathy portrayal in anime is Shinichi from Parasyte: the Maxim. His realization that he was behaving abnormally and doubts about his own humanity are very relatable in a way that isn't too forced.

My theory about why apathy would be so well portrayed in anime as opposed to other media is that work culture in japan is depressingly meaningless, working to maintain; not create, share, enrich, just to keep expectations as they are. As such these writers would have friends that have felt like this or felt it themselves.

crazy thing is ayanokoji is someone who displays apathy cause he's bored like oreki but because hes completely emotionless lol, he wants to do normal things but those stuff were took from him

as someone who just stumbled on this looking for more apathetic characters because it’s the mood i’ve felt for so many years, i’m looking forward to watching Oregairu now. the series (while not the best but still my favorite) that literally started my apathetic understanding as a kid was Nabari No Ou, which has its issues but after the first three episodes just tells a story i wasn’t it expecting to go down. it has some of my favorite characters in it and both Miharu and Yoite speak to me on a physical level.

I feel like the cycle of hachiman is he does actions, those actions change others perspectives of him. Leading those people to change him.

It's insane how much more apathy is portrayed in the LN of cote, the way Ayanokoji describes his action's while realising the average individual's reaction towards him and his plans/ideas is wildly different as they clearly display an expression of confusion or doubt is such a strong juxtaposition towards the reader. Great content my dude.

I really like how you analyse each character in a "critical thinking" way. Keep up the good work! This kind of content really deserves more attention.

An angle that most people miss is the Japanese cultural one. Japan is one of the safest, most risk-adverse societies with very burdensome social rules. A lot of people experience the inflexibility and lack of freedom in everything as an extreme sort of boredom and can feel that choices don't really matter. The feeling of apathy, passiveness and indifference is something that permeates much of Japanese society.

The part about projecting yourself into the character hits really hard. I can't imagine how much time in my life, especially when I was younger, that I probably spent doing this. For me it was a form of inspiration. I could compare my apathy to having really severe writers block (except towards personal development/life). Watching these types of characters always brought me hope that I could take a step forward even wihout being able to feel it out whilr in a state of apathy. I've been to dark places, but this helped me stay out of so many more.

I have these weird ”waves” of apathy where i don’t feel anything, all emotionall connection to people (i ”love”) get severed, i treat people like shit, just cause i don’t care. Then like a day or 2 later im ”normal” again and start feeling bad about the shit that i did (tho usually im happy i did what i did because it ends with me being better off, and i both hate myself for it but am also thankful for it)

Apathy is a form of avoidance. Avoidance is a hell to get over. Personally, my apathy appeared after my anxiety got so bad that I stopped trying to fight it: aka, I burnt out. I don't want people to think that apathy is a valid coping mechanism. When I hear about these romanticizations of apathy, I start to think if my own mental illness can become a strength or whether it's really a bad thing.

Really liked that someone is giving attention to Hyouka. It's one of the best anime yet highly underrated. The depressed guys edit has made a bad presentation about Oreki. He is not depressed but he is lazy. And the laziness is shown on his face. He is not enthusiastic. But storyline and character developments make Hyouka a must watch anime. It has good animation along with good sound effects.

i think one of the best portrayals of apathy has to be Subaru's backstory in Re:Zero season 2

An Apathetic character I like is "Wang Ling" from "The Daily life of the Immortal King" which is a Chinese anime. I would categorize him as a mix between Saitama (One Punch Man) and Mob (Mob Psycho 100). This is due to him being way too strong for any kind of challenge and because his emotions are suppressed.

Apathy shown in anime looks cool but in reality it is extremely difficult to deal with. Yes, it helps with dealing witn breakups or loss as if doesnt emotionally impact you, but you loose emotion from rest of the things as well. I have been suffering through it for years, finding it difficult to get out of bed and feeling motivated to even do anything. Even when my loved ones died there were times when i found it hard to even cry whereas i should have been heart broken. There are some sparks of emotion at random times in the middle of the night when suddenly i wake up from a dream and start feeling emotional to cry my eyes out, but it all goes back next day. I used to think of it as a superpower, as a switch to turn of my emotions and not feel pain when i was younger but now i would give anything to feel anything be it sadness, happiness, jealousy. One day i was talking to my friend when i said i dont want anything more in my life , i am content that even if I die it is ok. At that point we both realized how serious my condition had become that i had even lost my motivation to live. I have been improving day by day slowly by giving myself small tasks or quests to feel productive and motivated.

Real moments of apathy hurt in a way where you think you are broken. I wonder why I can’t feel the same way many people do about certain things. I can understand their feelings but I never experience it. I think my apathy came from an abusive childhood so my response was to feel either happiness or nothing at all. Any other feeling couldn’t show or things would get messy. Now I feel like I have no depth to my emotions at times. I want to be passionate or but it also feels fake because I have the think myself into about feeling that way. I tell myself I should be mad at this situation but I just can’t… idk

I have never heard of apathy before, but I think I might have experienced it for a while. A Kind of sudden fear that nothing I could ever do, would ever matter and there was no future worth living. I think it's a kind of loneliness, because that was at a time when I had no one I could share my experiences with. That happend during my Holidays. Once I got back to school and had a "classtrip"(I hope that's the translation) I stopped having this feeling. Still I sometimes have the feeling that I will never be as invested into anything as in the past. That's usually when I ate Ramen noodles from certain brands. Still I eat them

my dude, this video is so well done and i really thank you for how well you articulated your points

Apathy is literally the defining characteristic of “Shikabane” from Aggretsuko tbh. Her name also means “Corpse” in Japanese.

This was such a nice view and analysis on the characters mentioned! And seeing Aomine being referenced, while I recently started watching the anime and really rooting for the guy, made me consider his conundrum of "The only one who could beat me is me" in a completely different light! I hope you keep up the amazing work. Can't wait to see your next analysis video!

@Slip Right now , I have been apathetic for 6 months , I wanted to do everything yet I couldn't due to my situation and now I'm feeling nothing and just want to do what everyone else can do or what I was able to do , I have found many things that this situation is called including *numbness* or *emotional* *numbness* . This is the first time actually when I have heard about apathy and I thank you for making this video as it relates to me deeply and I think your deep understanding of apathy stems from yourself being apathetic or you once we're , either way I thank you for making this video.

The analysis with examples were on point, enjoyed it alot, good stuff ^^

Really enjoyed watching this video man

Spoiler warning for OMORI because im dumb: A form of apathy not shown in anime but in a video game is Sunny from OMORI. Sunny has been apathetic since he was the cause of his old sisters death (sorry for spoilers if you haven’t played) which has been for four years now in the story. He has forced down his emotions and instead chooses to reside in his own headspace away from the harsh reality of the real world.

What a great breakdown video! I watched an interview segment of the mangaka for Attack on Titan. He was describing why he created such a story and how he relates to Eren the most, putting much of himself into the character, or projecting (in the way you used the term). His words were very dark, but they touched my heart, along with his facial expression. He is a great example of real-to-life apathy, AND he directly weaved it into Eren Jaeger, even before the character's apathetic transition in season 4.

Man this is such a well done video, It's hard to believe it was from such a small corner of the internet, but seriously it was really well done. On another topic though your "many people, have experienced loneliness, many people have hated themselves and many people have wanted to do something about themselves so badly but never lifted a finger to do so" hit way to close to home, as someone who has wanted to change for years, yet never actually do anything to change or if I do never following suite. So that hurt, but I'd also like to add, my form of Apathy was something back in the day I used to put up to prevent myself from harm, or so I thought. As such with my disappointment with most of the world, I used it as a barrier to trick myself into believing I didn't care. Nowday's I have much more to hold onto and much more to lose, friends, family and others. But I do believe that apathy comes in its own flavour for everyone. This was my little internet rant, feel free to ignore it.

So this is the emotion I've been feeling this whole time, I never knew that this emotion had a name.

this was a good video your take is genuinely interesting and delivered well

god dam this was a great video.. great choice of words👏🏽

Huh, I hadn't really thought about he nuances of this. Thanks for laying it out so clearly.

9:47 I don t know why i subscribes... great video bro keep it up

Aww slip this was very well made, keep up the good work fr!

Let's be honest we all needed this video

Bruh why only 500 subs this is such a great video!

sick video dude

I'm very late to seeing this video, but as someone who has had many lengthy apathetic episodes, i loved this video. It's strange to go through a time where you struggle to care about or feel anything, and explaining it to someone else is difficult. I was unfamiliar with most of these characters besides Kotaro from Hyouka, one of my favorite characters ever, so i enjoyed seeing more characters that portray this emotion well. This also got me to finally watch Oregairu! My personal favorite character that displays apathy is probably Rei Kiriyama from sangatsu no lion. He probably falls into the "unchallenged" group, but at the same time he struggles to go up the ranks despite being a prodigy. It's difficult to explain, but his story and how he dealt with his depression and apathy were really inspiring to me.

This is such an awesome video, i dont know why but i felt like crying toward the end ahah. Got a sub from me, keep up the great work.

The depth of the emotional connection I felt to 8man is simply something I can't put into words. I've been apathetic in a very similar way for a very long time, and the feeling is indescribable seeing that there is a road back from this life, it was as if there were the tiniest glimmer of hope for the first time in a long time.

I like they way you pointed out how they all felt apathy differently. Seem like it always stems from indifference? As in, not having someone to relate to or at the least perceive it that way

being able to truly empathize with others is a gift.

Dude I Thought this was an atleast 300k subscribers channel. You deserve more subs. SUBBED. great video.

I liked your views and the way you explained them whenever I'm not able to decide what i wanna watch i do go through videos like these just to decide.... Never thought much on these videos but yours got connected somewhere.... Anyway just wanted to say that loved it

Your little breakdown there at the end. XD So cute lol

That was so good, thank you

Quality video. Keep up the good work. 👍 -Subscriber #17

I came from the oregairu subreddit, and genuinely enjoyed your video. 👌

dope video man

Hey, I loved your video and your outro lol

Nah this was good to watch, thanks for posting!

Hey, Calc. I love that song.

I'll be real, it feels apathetic rn. I just transferred to another school, and it feels my motivation sooo drained. I used to feel so motivated in putting so much effort in my homework, and Art be sure I'm soo excited. Rn it feels Idc about what's happening in the friends lives, the knew franchises, and I don't feel excited drawing as much as I missed the feeling of getting lost in the art.

I love how varied apathetic characters in anime are..as an empethatic person..understand apathy as a whole is inspiring!!!

I currently think that you're my favorite RU-vidr.

Mate, good video.

Your little breakdown there at the end. XD

Very interesting and detailed analysis! I don't see apathy as a subject that's covered all that often in anime analysis videos (at least I don't think?) I think to some extent, yeah, everybody feels apathetic sometimes and experience the different types of apathy (the kind you feel due to loneliness vs the kind you feel because something is too easy, like playing on Very Easy mode in a video game). In the field of psychology we refer to apathy as "emotional blunting" which can result from Depression and other mental illnesses. As someone who suffers from Depression and who has also struggled with fitting in, i can definitely relate. I can relate to the apathetic feeling you get when things are too easy, too (sorry, I'm not trying to come off as arrogant). In school I became apathetic because I didn't think anybody really liked me or wanted to be my friend. For the most part I avoided others, kept to myself, and yeah I remember how it felt. I'm lucky to have found some good friends anyway that put in the effort to get to know me despite my lack of trying. Still I remember how it felt, walking around the playground at recess when those few good friends weren't around, or being in gym class and not having a gym partner, or simply preferring to just walk around the track the entire class time instead. I don't know whether or not my classmates truly thought I was weird or whether they were actually actively avoiding me, but that didn't matter because, whatever the reality of the situation, I perceived them as not liking me. And that led to me isolating myself, and feeling resentment towards my peers. I'm ashamed to say, I was rather immature back then. I partially coped with my loneliness by looking down on my classmates, thinking I was smarter and more mature than them. I put the blame on them for my lack of social skills, when maybe that wasn't really fair. Maybe my classmates didn't dislike me, maybe they didn't think I was "weird" or "annoying". But I'll never know, because I just retreated further into myself instead of trying to reach out. Sorry haha, I didn't mean to go off on a tangent or make this all about me. Anyway, I guess moral of the story is don't assume automatically that people don't like you or that you don't have a chance with someone. You'll never know until you try, or as basketball player Wayne Gretzky said "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take." If I could do it again I think I would try a little harder to connect with my peers and make more friends.

u really deserve a mill subs

this is a good video. I should check out your other videos

Living life with the "it is what it is" attitude yeah...

Very good video. I enjoyed watching it. Idk about your "analysis" of Ayanokoji (even assuming an anime-only pov and not mentioning the ln). It's probably "your experience" as you said at 0:38 and my experience that lead to the difference in perspectives. This is where I would insert my essay on the analysis of Ayanokoji as a character but I want to hold off until the series is over (most likely in 5-6 years) and also read other kinds of literature.

My Teen RomCom was brutal to watch the first time. Though, it is refreshing to see an anime protag with a wholesome and healthy relationship with his family.

u got such a sweet voice in the end

Why am I getting all choked up bro..

Very Enjoyable Very well explained Nice

I can relate with the apathic portrayal that you've given. Very detailed explanation man 💯

Apathy is also displayed extremely well through the character of Kanao Tsuyuri in Demon Slayer. Because of her miserable, abusive past, she completely broke and struggled to feel any emotion whatsoever. As the series goes on, however, she's motivated and emboldened by the friends and family beside her and manages to slowly be able to feel more and connect more over time. It's done very beautifully.

The apathy I've felt over the course of my life probably comes from mainly alienation. Alienation by being too good at certain skills, from not being good at talking to people, from no one understanding my emotions or interests, etc. It's fun to see a variety of characters going through the motions

very good vid

nice job m’guy

Thank you!

This is such a good, well-made video. The first time I watched Hyouka, I was weirded out by how similar he was to my cousin. She was bored with most things that she did. I mean, she was (and still is) really talented, can pick up most skills and figure them out really quickly, but she just become so bored with things. She really liked One punch man and heavily related to Saitama. Then she got married, fell pregnant, and now she is due, and I haven't heard her say she is bored yet. I guess pregnancy is really challenging 😅.

That's the nerdy talk i like to hear

I developed apathy from INTENSE INTENSE boredom. Boredom has thus far been the most PAINFUL emotion I have ever felt. Its so empty, its so defeating, it feels like there's no solution. When I was going through a miscarriage, I opened up my old journals from when I was in highschool and read about how bored and empty I was and it was honestly so comforting because yes I was going through a misscariage, bleeding out, losing a baby, but ATLEAST I wasnt bored!

At least for me, Apathy is something Akin to a room. That room has a couch and infinite hallways leading out of it. Some people look down the hallways and see darkness, but like the walls or the carpet and thus pick a hallway and start walking down it. However, some people have better eyesight and can see the end of the hallways. They see the same dead end -or what seems to them as the same dead end- at the end of every hallway and decide "Since it's all the same, I might as well stay in the room because the couch is comfortable"

I've never watched the last show you talked about, but what you described makes it the most real portrayal of apathy. There's no real reason behind it. You just don't care about anything. I was very much like this before, and it would hurt a lot of people around me. My family would be hurt because I didn't care to spend time with them, I didn't tell them I loved them because I never felt that kind of emotion. I didn't want to spend time with anyone, because it was always a bother. I'd much prefer to spend time alone, just sitting in my room. People always wanted to spend time with me, and I'd go if they really forced me to, but I never wanted to. In real life, I don't think apathy would have anything to do with being superior, and that would branch into narcissism. People don't have these super powers that would make them strictly superior to others like super strength or intelligence. I think people only relate to these apathetic characters more because you're told the reason why they are like they are, but in truth, it's the less realistic portrayal of the emotion.

My 3 favorite anime character ever in the thumbnail

thank you

does nagi seishiro from blue lock fall under the apathetic character category? also do you think you will make a video covering nagi seishiro's personality and or trope similar to how you did with this video? :)

places that CSM meme of Denji going "Damn he just like me FR!" in here

you re so sweet. thank you for the video.

I'm happy saitama is starting to get people into his life like Genos and King. This video just reminded me of how much they mean to him now.

Liked, subscribed and commented

...Hyouka always reminded me of myself, when I watched it I was suprised to how much he qcted like me, having talent but no want to try for it, even If I had it I wouldnt go for it for long, as I dont care.

Good job

This was good I understood .

I don’t know if I would have “apathy”, but I do feel that deep loneliness even though I have friends. It feels like I just can’t connect with anyone. The feeling of loneliness in a group is the worst.

Hey cool video!

Not bad. Also, I commented!

Though I watched it years ago, Hyouka really made an impression on me in its first few episodes. They were a few visual metaphors that showed a complete sensory overwhelm from mundane circumstances that I really related to. And while for me it was an overflow phenomenon rather than an all the time thing like in the show, I related to Oreki’s lethargy and shutting down in the face of that overload. So I was a little disappointed that Oreki’s exposure therapy was so effective, haha! Getting forced out of his comfort zone was really good for him, but I wish we got to see more persistent or relapsing stress.

true!

Best Apathetic anime character for me is Akira from Battle Game 5 Seconds. Not only does he have the mannerisms but he actually learns how to overcome them and be a more open and trusting character.

I Love the way they showed it in Horimiya. Just how one Person can Change your way of thinking so much

This video convinced me to watch classroom of the elite - and I was blown away. In certain parts, (you can probably guess which parts this WASN'T the case in) Ayanokoji felt like... me. It felt like I was being read like a book, which was indescribable. Of course, as said before, not everything was like that, but especially towards the start, he was very similar to me. Whether I am smart enough to be like him is unknown, but honestly that doesn't matter to me. In terms of his strategies, they were pretty easy to figure out beforehand, and I am assuming that most people would agree with me, which makes you think that he isn't *really* smart. He is stated to be smart, but his actions could be predicted after a couple of seconds, when he might have had much longer to adapt. Idk, just some ramblings I guess.

Does anyone know where the very start of classroom of the elite manga is? I've watched season 1 and 2 of the anime and just recently gotten into manga but when I looked it up I always only find mangas where everyone already knows each other

I love apathic characters in anime. It always gets me in some kind of weird mood.. Very dark, focussed and powerful. It feels kinda nice. Has anyone seen Grisaia no Kajitsu and it's sequels? I felt like Yuuji the protagonist is quite apathic as well. I came to really understand him better after the part about his past.