Anime and manga can provide a brief respite from real life as we dive into these lush, fictional worlds. I discovered anime at my local library when I was 10 years old. My family had just moved across the country and I was struggling to fit in. I found comfort in series such as Kodocha, One Piece, Fruits Basket, and Fullmetal Alchemist. While uplifting, these shows also heavily trekked in themes of grief/death, found family, and even fascism. We frequently forget that the fiction we consume is often at least partially based in reality. More than just a pleasant distraction, these series can mirror the conflicts happening in our world.

Recently, while recording the character of a little boy who loses everything when his country is plunged into war, I was struck by the story's relevance to current events. We as anime fans only spend two episodes mired in this character's tragic backstory, but for many in the world right now, this sort of devastation is the only life they've ever known. While we get to return to the cast's goofy antics after a short while, there are some folks that have to navigate the horrors of stategic and terror bombing daily. 

If you've found these recent episodes moving, I would encourage you to donate through this fundraiser to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund. I myself have donated $5,000 and I hope to garner another $5,000 in donations from anime fans so we can collectively raise $10,000.

Photo: A Palestinian boy recovers toys from the rubble in Khan Yunis on 26 May 2021 following Israeli air strikes (AFP/Said Khatib)