The Dark Meaning Behind Angel Beats!

Today we break down the themes and underlying messages in Angel Beats, an anime about death and despair.
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[@JustSumGuy01]

This story was made with the concept of hating god for creating a world were we all suffer unfulfilled lives but in the end, it isn't about god. It's about acceptance.

[@RohitKumar-kj9ul]

Can u explain more like accepting fate or accepting ourself

[@JustSumGuy01]

@@RohitKumar-kj9ul Accept the things you can't change. Simple as that.

[@RohitKumar-kj9ul]

@@JustSumGuy01 thnx dude

[@RiverbrookTsodmi]

I always thought that this was author's way to say that after they graduate and grow up they don't see each other and the school life they had was just a memory of good times. The death in the series was a metaphorical (ie. "dead-end" job) where they had to accept that after the school ends. They have to become boring salarymen or salarywomen and let go fo their past to prosper into the future. If you know or understand any history how japanese work culture works. Then you understand how hard it is to be happy or even have fun. Being high schooler is the last chance to "be yourself" before you become cog in the japanese workforce machine.

[@JustSumGuy01]

@@RiverbrookTsodmi That's a bit too grim. From the way I saw it, it's meant to give the characters the high school simple life they all missed so they can move on. Except the MC, none of them had a fulfilled life and died sad

[@yuo8432]

Made me cry again watching those bits of Angel Beats again. Such a good anime.

[@kezlenuts____5040]

Dead ass. Dude this is a GREAT anime, to me and if any disagrees idc.

[@amanzeihedioha]

Right!? Ah good times🥲

[@kalamazookalamazoo1202]

@@kezlenuts____5040 I disagree,it was waste of my time,Relifevis almost the same genre but i gave relife 10.

[@yanderemuffin]

@@kalamazookalamazoo1202 Other than it being in a school, and both being comedies they are very very different animes...

[@cryguy0000]

Imo, the dub was...iffy

[@drunkweebmarine9492]

Not many anime can make me laugh and then cry just as easily. A shame this was cut short due to budget reasons. All characters deserved their backstory

[@mesothelioma5024]

They wrapped it up well but would be fine with a second season with each episode covering what happened to each character

[@Noname__55]

​@@mesothelioma5024Nah man, we need a season 2 with a slice of life content where everyone at one point or another meets each other. And Hinata and Yui married. That's all I need😢

[@wallacesousuke1433]

@@Noname__55 what happened when that girl went after whomever was creating the shadows? It skipped to her being in the hospital... and what happened to the last dude after the Kannade disappeared?

[@Noname__55]

@@wallacesousuke1433Otonashi remained there for a little while after kanade disappeared. But he also passed on in the end. Watch the end credits.

[@wallacesousuke1433]

@@Noname__55 I did see the en credits, strange timeskip, but who was behind the NPCs turning into shadows?

[@ayy_real_og]

The fact that ppl are still talking abt this show truly puts a smile on my face

[@rais6036]

Mid anime

[@thehatred94]

I wish it wasn't talking about it just to pull out some far fetched theories from deep within one's nose like "they're bullying angel because she's different" .....

[@dawnstarguard3322]

Man I really appreciate the fact that he’s looking out for the viewers well-being before starting

[@anaritasilva627]

Loved this video. I think angel beats perfectly demonstrates the depths of despair and how it can make you blind to what happiness truly is (the path and not necessarily the destiny). Awesome job as usual, mister Ben 😊

[@GenerationOchi]

Thx miss Ana. 😁. And true re: your point about being blind to happiness.

[@metarukarakuri783]

Yuzuru Otonashi is an angel , sent to save them children from themselves .

[@ronroyes2375]

Truth

[@incrediblefunk7220]

Not a literal angel any more than Kanade, just a guy who died and had his organs donated (with his heart saving Kanade at an early age). But I do believe he and Kanade ended up in that same purgatory for a deeper reason.

[@GamingWithHajimemes]

This hit me that no other anime, no, not even another show, could. It left me crying for a week because of my struggle with comprehending death beforehand. I couldn't get over it for a month. And what hurt the most was how underrated the show seemingly was.

[@rithycheyhangsoth3413]

the most perfect anime i have ever watch

[@adriangomes1006]

agreed

[@ronroyes2375]

Same. The definition of quality over quantity. It was a short yet such a sweet anime ❤️

[@GenJeweler]

Yes! One of the best ever!

[@LegendzPlushStudios]

Mha >

[@RxgePlayz69]

so true

[@CobaltLancer]

25:54 *_A little correction:_* The shadows have nothing to do with the realm masters. They were created by a random person who also entered the realm.

[@incrediblefunk7220]

Yeah, the programmer guy made an entire software system and mechanics like NPCs and Shadows as a way of basically playing God out of heartbreak. God or whoever the realm masters are had no part in that, and since the actual purpose of purgatory is understood to be benevolant and kind to those who stay there for a while and then pass on, it was a good thing that Yuri shot up the programmer's system and freed the place from its influence.

[@neilstone3583]

I've seen angel beats and it makes me cry every time I watch it

[@killingragethrowback]

Angel Beat was Lost before Lost was a thing. If you like this, check the author's other works. I like Little Busters, but Clannad is probably Jun Maeda's masterpiece.

[@igakuroki675]

you mean Jun Maeda, Jun Fukuyama is voice actor (Leolouch from Code Geass and Shinra in Durarara!)

[@cryguy0000]

Didn't the team behind Angel Beats make the Charlotte anime? There's an Angel Beats easter egg in the show

[@killingragethrowback]

@@cryguy0000 Yes, they did.

[@SoulCyclone12]

I hesitate clicking on this video because how much Angel Beat has meant to me. ps. the soundtrack is touching.

[@notyouraverageguy2265]

there was even a darker theory that otonashi was not able leave the afterlife world because he himself is an anomaly thus he made himself an NPC out of despair. this somehow created an infinite time loop that would cause kanade's and all the SSS members' souls to get reverted and be sent back to the afterlife would to do the anime all over again.

[@ditsypixie3219]

He actually ends up moving into the after life. He stayed hoping Kanade will come back but he also didn't want to leave leaving people stuck in the after life. That's when he met another person who could continue his journey thus making Otanashi happy with leaving :3

[@RahulPieSuper07]

Ya luckily he left the afterlife world and started his new life

[@CaseNumber00]

Theres a manga that expands the story called Angel Beats Heavens Door with an unofficial English fan translation and a visual novel by the same name with an unofficial English patch to the Japanese game that expands the story but the VN was 1 out of an unknown number of sequels.

[@NinjaGamer572]

last I heard the visual novel sequels were canceled or stuck in development hell. I really wish the manga would get officially released and translated in the west

[@mehlover]

Always heard of it and now hearing what Angel Beats is a about, I'm interested in checking it out, awesome video essay!

[@Phoenixguyver]

His take is different than mine on this. Angel Beats is more about overcoming despair and accepting life in order to pass on. Maybe it's the way he's presenting it. Either it's good and emotional so be prepared.

[@agroed]

This video is amazing, Ochi. Thank you so much.

[@bodom1011]

This was an incredibly deep dive into behind the curtain narratives for this amazing show. It saddens me to see it doesn't get a lot of traffic.

[@JustSumGuy01]

I'm not crying, you're crying

[@Milty2001]

Angel beats was one of those animes that you can rewatch a decade later and still cry at the ending, watching the characters share their favorite things they wish they did before they died then help each other come to terms with their past lives still makes me cry till this day.

[@wallacesousuke1433]

No way I'm re-watching that, it had a few good moments but it's mostly low-tier at best

[@nao_tomori]

Yui's episode will always make me ugly cry

[@DeinoSarcosuchus]

7:44 The literal second this video gives me instant Post Traumatic Sadness Syndrome

[@notsonormalproductions8364]

"God never fails" Idk if anyone has mentioned this, but when he said this line. He was referring to himself cause he calls himself god many times during the show.

[@CobaltLancer]

Interesting concept. Good to see more videos about Angel Beats

[@leoakamutski2242]

I genuinely feel bad for otanashi at the end of episode 13

[@RxgePlayz69]

yeah same

[@ZAR556]

Angel Beat is story about Young Soul who died without having chance to living their life or having some huge regret Sad is understatement

[@duckhawkninja3614]

How the hell? I’m not even watching the actual show this time and I’m still bursting into tears at all the suffering they go through!

[@sneakytaze5336]

Personally I really enjoyed it and the ending of Episode 13.5 which many do not watch, actually shows how the MC in my opinion has developed and instead of hating god for the cruelty of the ending of Episode 13, he continues with the thought that if you dislike your circumstances, you have to get up and do something about it instead of whining! (Episode 13.5 is what happened after the ending scene of Episode 13, but before the after credit scenes). Angel Beats (Ending 13.5) - "Then stop whining and do something about it. You have something you want to do, right? What do you need to do to accomplish that? What you need right now? Answer me! One person needed courage to face the past. Another person needed effort to make a dream come true. Yet another person needed time and friends. What about you?"

[@ZZCAR1]

This was the first anime to make me cry like a baby

[@dylannavarro1902]

Omg they actually did an anime episode!!

[@aopg764]

made ma cry this anime

[@nim2187]

YAY an anime episode!

[@RxgePlayz69]

fun fact: this is the only anime that made me cry

[@sparrow9990]

God this anime is so depressing tbh it's too relatable with the backstories I was thinking oh this is gonna be a kill montage like another where it's quite hollarious when everyone said it was sad but nope that anime makes people wanna comit self sleep every time they watch it

[@Pinky-kc8go]

There has to be a reason for the existing of all of these shows🤔 Why do we like such dark stories that much?

[@Phoenixguyver]

I dont see this as a dark story. It's about overcoming the darkness and accepting life in all its forms.

[@GenJeweler]

At the end of the show it wasn’t dark. It made me appreciate like and the things around much more

[@mobious01]

Because we can relate to them, you cant be naruto but you can hate your life or “god” feel connected in a way.

[@OrionKaelinClips]

Welp, time to rewatch for the ... 5th time.

[@RRlife4]

I know I'm 2 years too late on this, but you would have enjoyed this more if you had watched it subbed instead of dubbed.

[@wezletbullock7424]

Such an underrated anime

[@pyeitme508]

Wow amazing video bro and first 🥇! Please make video about GATE Thus the JSDF Fought There anime?

[@SuperLadyDanger]

Your “first” proves my theory that KZbin doesn’t update well, so multiple people can see themselves as the only/first viewer & their comment as the first comment, even when there’s at least one other person watching & commenting! I even closed & reopened the video before posting a second comment & still only saw my previous view & comment posted.

[@pyeitme508]

@@SuperLadyDanger oh...

[@JustSumGuy01]

The manga is better

[@pyeitme508]

@@JustSumGuy01 ok

[@corro202]

Great video.

[@TCM1231]

19:15 lol cant believe that when I watched this I didn't dislike this stuff lol, God doesn't owe you anything, he gave you life, and even if that life was quick, painful, and mysterious, you should thank Him for it forever.

[@toribenita_kyo]

I liked this anime. Someone recommended this to me because I liked Chobits. The action-packed battle scenes, the stake-to-the-heart back stories of certain characters, and the improvement of the characters as time goes by... I liked them. It's my pack of gum... shows that "make people cry". It's not as heart-stabbing as "AnoHana" or "Clannad", but it fits in that category. "Angel Beats" didn't make me shed a tear, but it me hard. However, unlike "AnoHana" -- which, for me, ended with a good wrap -- the ending of "Angel Beats" was more like going a truce on Christmas Day. The last five minutes of the show were brutal. It's a good anime, though. Yurippe reminds me so much of Sora Takanashi from "Listen to Me, Girls! I Am Your Father" ("Papakiki").

[@SuperLadyDanger]

Is there enough to pick apart and analyze in “Pacific Rim: The Black”?

[@pyeitme508]

Maybe

[@flowtaku]

It's 12am and I ended up here LOL

[@chenchenfinthehol4]

Ok ok,but have you watched the sub?

[@ayatonaoi2889]

What differance does it make

[@lilmisfits77]

@@ayatonaoi2889alot..

[@Spider-Too-Too]

Angle beat is the first ever non-Sonia anime I watched.

[@billymcdonald2601]

i still cant after 10 years not cry at episode 10 and 12

[@billymcdonald2601]

good o wach if you need a good cry

[@thehatred94]

Wait sorry what the fraking toaster? Stop me if i'm missunderstanding/interpretting what you're saying, based on clips that are just randomly thrown and have nothing to do with what you're actually saying, but 2:30 sounds a lot like overthinking more than anythin, on your part. The countless deaths and stuff in the anime are just pure comedy, there's no sadness or anything to that anime. The only sad parts of that anime are the character's backstories of how they ended up here. But none of the actual content, is sad, asside for, again, some few moments that are tied to the characters story and stuff. I guess, the most overexagerated would be the moment that one guy just go crazy and decide to replace god or whatnot. That was a bit heavy, but that was it. No need to think deeper. If you're looking at the deaths showing into those clips, like X character throwing himself at kanade clone only to get perforated, and thinking "oh this is so needlessly sad" something is fundamentally wrong xD. Also, otonashi did NOT end up in the purgatory because he had regrets or anything, he was happy with his death as he had saved all the passengers, and then some. Hence why his memory loss unlike the other characters. Otonashi is not a good argument to use here at all. 14:34 please tell me you're not serious? That guy is just a jerk that was thinking about his own survival. He didn't CARE about hurting others or not hurting them. He just wanted to save himself. His own personal suffering didn't push him to hurt others. 15:29 right.... i, give up...here... 15:42 oh my god... and now we're onto "they're bullying her because she's different" really? Really?....

[@etherdemon9729]

Yeah as soon as he called the series melodramatic I stopped watching

[@thehatred94]

@@etherdemon9729 i cannot comprehend how someone could seriously think all that crap... i know the newer generation are full of extra sensitive marshmallows but geez xD

[@igstkr]

Anime 10/10 gotta get my hands on the manga

[@Thunderbird324-uk9ip]

What's with people saying the dubbed vers. of anime's are trash. Is it the mouth matching with the voices or is it the quality of their mics. PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME Y

[@yorick27]

Alot of people just think it doesn't fit the dynamic of the show/art.

[@Phoenixguyver]

It's a personal choice. Most dubbed have a little different dialog, jokes, and details. If I'm tired I can't read subtitles and see what's going on at the same time but mostly it's a purist view.

[@CobaltLancer]

@Thunderbird324 It’s just the sub elitists who absolutely shit on dubbed anime and it’s fans and treat it like it’s worse than _evil Austrian mustache man_ for literally no reason other than the fact that it’s a dub and are literally the most toxic people in the anime community. Gawd, these people drive me sane lol There’s nothing wrong with the quality of their mics and the lip synching is actually just as bad with the Japanese voices so those aren’t valid excuses.

[@Thunderbird324-uk9ip]

@@CobaltLancer thx, I was confused for so long even with the best anime's I've seen they've said that. Thank You So Much!!!!

[@Thunderbird324-uk9ip]

@@yorick27 I mean if I heard a high pitched American voiced actress/actor then I'd prolly cringe but say "hey they're dedicated at least" Ngl it'd prolly ruin anime for me but I can understand y

[@KeaNestor-wn1nv]

Cookies will make me happy foRevEr and eVer!!!!!!

[@nabieladrian]

Thank you.

[@masteryoma5350]

That was a great anime

[@rickymouser8003]

COOKIES WILL MAKE ME HAPPY FOREVER AND EVER!!! 24:40

[@JustSumGuy01]

Do Rurouni Kenshin next

[@weybye91]

i doubt its about god, but about the regrets you have, or the things wanted but never got cause your life were cut short

[@dylannavarro1902]

But seriously when are we getting into mobilesuit gundam one year war one year waaaaar !!!!

[@luisduron2722]

Too think

[@luisduron2722]

Life

[@TCM1231]

12:30 definitely mentally ill. Hundreds of millions of people far smarter go through life with no issue whatsoever all based off a simple presupposition, I do now know much, in fact I know very little, let me not make judgements about things which I know nothing about, like for example the "fairness" of life, or if life should even be "fair" in the first place. Stop assuming so much.

[@based9930]

You missed a lot of what was going on by watching the dub. Go back and watch the original with subs. The whole energy is much different in the original.

[@akiradkcn]

Thats why I hate dubs

[@ZZCAR1]

Honestly I still believe the theory that Otanashi is the Programmer.

[@incrediblefunk7220]

I don't think that theory works since everything the Programmer put into place just put restrictions on the place and its inhabitants (like "love cannot exceed a certain amount or otherwise Shadows clean up the system by stripping souls of their free will and NPCfying them"), which goes against the lessons that Otonashi learned. Also it was said that the Programmer turned himself into an NPC and has long since ceased to exist as his original self, which doesn't match Otonashi either.

[@Kyouma.]

Angel Beats would make more sense with 24+ episodes (which it actually was intended to have). Instead we got a literal mess

[@mobious01]

If they wanted they could release the missing episodes… after all thats how haruhi did with season 2 adding the missing episodes but then endless 8 happen lmao

[@greywolf9783]

AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL MESS!

[@noone-sc2fl]

I dont know alot about angel beats so i wanted to request death note because i love death note

[@JabamiLain]

When I tried to watch this two months earlier, my level of empathy was like Angel's, which means, almost non-existent if it meant the fulfillment of duty and purpose: -I saw Yuri as a mere warmonger, as she would risk the universe's integrity by facing God, even though it could have been the Devil who arranged for the unfairness that befell her life and family; -I did not judge Angel's attack on the protagonist (I'm sometimes like Inosuke when it comes to japanese names). He was dead and he asked for proof of it. She delivered, because that's her job; -I'm not sure I can be so forgiving towards the hypnotist. He was neglected, I get it. But steal someone's identity like that just to get the love of someone who probably doesn't even deserve it... This one I'll admit I refrain from passing on active judgement. It feels too unfair for me to do it, given I do not know that kind of neglect; -And, I saw the humans' actions in resisting erasure as futile. That was the purgatory. They would either be reincarnated or ascend. That's how it works both in the East and West. All they had to do was to either follow rules or fulfill their final wish. Yuri I might even understand why she couldn't do neither, because even in my scenario, I imagine she would need not to be at peace if she hoped to one day face the Devil. My final veredict... This show was perfect. And I, am an idiot who could never deserve to have my sinful eyes gaze upon this wholesome beauty. Because, I spent too much time with my routine of overseeing. My level of human concern and care is very minimal at worst and lowly average at best. I do have one complaint though. It should have been longer. Seriously ? 13 episodes ? For a show this complex with such 3 dimensional characters ?

[@greywolf9783]

I wish it was longer

[@SuperLadyDanger]

As a happy early viewer & comment, I’ll ask the question... Should we start recommending happier things for American Ben to review & comment on? (Edit changed: “The happy first” to “a happy early”.)

[@alyssenanney2169]

1 month in and 0 dislikes wow

[@luisduron2722]

Human

[@Powerangerguy2]

Naw I’d rather wake up as a barnacle

[@Thunderbird324-uk9ip]

Please, Call Me Christ Also did anyone notice that these voice actors were from clannd & there was another voice actress who was in Another

[@PatriotLaLiLuLeLo]

first mistake watching the dub instead of subbed lol

[@CobaltLancer]

@Tyler Strongly disagree

[@VivaErDuce]

@@CobaltLancer the adaptation is very bad

[@GenJeweler]

@@CobaltLancer better to watch original Japanese. But everyone has their preference

[@mobious01]

Stop gate keeping bro dont be that person

[@dinogt8477]

t

[@TrivatorGaming]

I fail to see the problem with the Dub

[@Dragonamy5]

It's because the dubs loses the Original meaning.

[@Pinky-kc8go]

Why are they called "SSS"😳? Somehow reminds me of Nazi-Deutschland .-.

[@CaseNumber00]

SSS means Shinda Sekai Sensen, 死んだ世界戦線, lit. "World of the Dead War Front". Afterlife Battlefront is what the English localizers went with.

[@allenharper2928]

Not to mention that was the "SS".🙄

[@Shadmannnn]

Nazi ss?

[@happyntboi4674]

This dub is a fucking sin.

[@CobaltLancer]

@Happynt Boi *_Wrong_*

[@mobious01]

You are a sin

[@duckhawkninja3614]

Incorrect

[@jj-hr6pb]

dead snow

[@ayatonaoi2889]

What

[@lilmisfits77]

Man i was hoping for a valid analysis but the moment i saw that u are referring to the dub version I’m like OH. Hell nah. I don’t remember this show being all about god. Geez this is why u watch the subs not dubs. Alot of the original intent of the show is lost in dubs. I wish people stop using excuses and being so lazy to read subs.

[@unholyfiretruck3531]

dude please stop watching the dubbed versions, they're rarely any good and often change your experience completely

[@mikesaucr9809]

That’s in your opinion the dub was pretty good

[@Phoenixguyver]

I've seen much worse dubs. Sometimes it's easier than subs though especially for mainstream viewers.

[@CobaltLancer]

@UnHoly Firetruck (UnHolyFiretruck) dude please stop *_whining and making excuses over nothing,_* they’re rarely any good and often *_make you look like a full-on dick for whining over something smaller than a subatomic particle_* Gawd the amount of sub-elitists in this comments section is concerning

[@mobious01]

Dude please stop, people can enjoy the show on whatever language they want

[@hebii9343]

some of their tragic backstories aren’t as tragic as much as they are self inflicted, just petty immature children

[@GenJeweler]

You didn’t even watch the show idk why you’re commenting

[@yadirect]

Yuri die to save her siblings while dies in prosess Otonashi death definitely isn't tragic. lmao They're teenager therefore immatures. as graduated mean They're accepted about their fate and "grow up" and reincarnated. you just don't understand it anyway

[@hebii9343]

this show seems very forced in many ways, from the character development to how dragged out the obvious conclusion is. very cliche in many ways

[@yadirect]

99% of anime is cliche and predictable anyway. judging from so-called criticism. i could figure out what your favorite is