Spring 2013 Anime

Centuries ago, humanity was driven nearly to extinction by colossal, humanoid monsters known as Titans, forcing the survivors to cower behind enormous concentric walls. The true horror of these giants lies in their consumption of human flesh, which seems motivated not by hunger but by pleasure. To ensure their survival, the remnants of humanity lived within these defensive barriers, enjoying a hundred years without a single Titan encounter. But that fragile peace is shattered when a Colossal Titan breaches the supposedly impregnable outer wall, reigniting the desperate fight for survival against the man-eating abominations. After suffering a devastating personal loss at the hands of the invading creatures, Eren Yeager dedicates his life to their eradication by joining the Survey Corps, an elite military unit that battles the merciless humanoids beyond the walls. Alongside his adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman and childhood friend Armin Arlert, Eren enters the brutal war against the Titans, racing to find a way to defeat them before the last walls fall.

Hailing from Ente Isla, the Demon Lord Satan commands vast demon armies to strike fear into mortals while conquering the land. However, his brutal quest to seize the continent is thwarted by the hero Emilia, forcing him to flee through a dimensional portal into the human world. Stranded in modern-day Tokyo alongside his loyal general Alsiel, the demon vows to return and complete his subjugation of Ente Isla, provided they can find a way back. Deprived of magic in a world where it does not exist, Satan assumes the human identity of Sadao Maou and takes a job at MgRonald's, a local fast-food restaurant, to survive. He soon discovers that conquering Ente Isla is no longer sufficient; instead, he becomes determined to climb the corporate ladder and establish himself as the ruler of Earth, one satisfied customer at a time. Through the eyes of this hapless demon lord, Hataraku Maou-sama! offers a hilarious perspective on the mundane realities of everyday life, whether dealing with part-time work, household chores, or simply managing to pay rent on time.

Hachiman Hikigaya is a disaffected high schooler with narcissistic and somewhat nihilistic outlooks. He is convinced that joyful youth is nothing but a sham, and that anyone who claims otherwise is only deceiving themselves. As an unusual punishment for composing an essay that mocks contemporary social dynamics, Hachiman's teacher compels him to become a member of the Volunteer Service Club—a group dedicated to assisting any student who asks for help in reaching their objectives. With the sole other club member being the stunningly cold Yukino Yukinoshita, Hachiman finds himself on the front lines of other people's problems, a situation he never imagined he would be in. As Hachiman and Yukino employ their intellect to resolve various students' issues, will Hachiman's cynical perspective on society prove to be an obstacle or a tool he can wield to his benefit?

Thirty years ago, a massive "spatial quake," a phenomenon involving space vibrations of unknown origin, devastated the Eurasian continent and claimed over 150 million lives. Since then, these quakes have continued to occur worldwide, though on a smaller scale. Shidou Itsuka is an ordinary high school student living with his younger sister, Kotori. When an impending spatial quake threatens Tengu City, he rushes to save her but gets caught in the eruption. At the quake's epicenter, he finds a mysterious girl who is identified as a "Spirit," a supernatural being whose appearance triggers such quakes. Soon, he is caught in a battle between the girl and the Anti-Spirit Team, a ruthless task force dedicated to eliminating Spirits. Yet there is a third group that believes in saving the Spirits: "Ratatoskr," which, surprisingly, is commanded by Shidou's little sister! After the clash, Kotori forcibly enlists Shidou and offers him an alternative approach to handling the danger Spirits pose—make them fall in love with him. Now, the world's fate depends on his dating skills as he sets out to charm the Spirits.

After spending a year in America, Kurisu Makise returns to Akihabara and meets up with Rintarou Okabe again. But their time together is interrupted when Okabe starts having repeated visions of other timelines, as the repercussions of his time travel begin to surface. These effects eventually lead to Okabe suddenly disappearing from existence, with only the shocked Kurisu remembering him. Facing despair, Kurisu must make a difficult decision that challenges her scientific principles and her devotion as a friend: either heed Okabe's warning to avoid time travel and prevent harm to the world lines, or disregard it to save the person she values most. Whichever path she chooses, her decision will impact the past, the present, and the future.

Youto Yokodera is a young man who, unlike most, wants to be seen as a pervert. However, his inappropriate actions are often misinterpreted as acts of kindness, so no one recognizes his true nature. After hearing about a stone cat statue that can remove unwanted traits, he visits it and wishes to get rid of his perverted tendencies. But every wish comes with a price: the discarded traits are passed on to someone else who desires them. Realizing that losing his dirty thoughts wasn't the solution, Youto decides to retrieve his lost traits by tracking down those who received them. Unfortunately, he wasn't the only one who made a wish to the statue, forcing him to fix not just his own life but also the lives of everyone affected by his wishes.

Kirino Kousaka, a passionate otaku, has come back to Japan and is trying to resume her everyday life with her family and friends. But she keeps ignoring her older brother Kyousuke, even though he went out of his way to help her before. This coldness bothers Kyousuke, who worries that getting Kirino to quit track and field in America and come home might have hurt their relationship. Making things more complicated, Kyousuke has to figure out a mysterious message from Ruri "Kuroneko" Gokou, who is both his underclassman at school and a friend of Kirino's. As the bonds between the siblings and their group grow stronger, Kirino and Kyousuke have to deal with their changing relationships and face how they really feel. Even with all this personal conflict, Kirino still makes time to enjoy her otaku interests with her brother.

Mikoto Misaka and her friends return to investigate strange rumors circulating through Academy City. Before long, Mikoto uncovers a horrifying truth: deadly experiments are being conducted across the city, involving the systematic murder of thousands of espers. Even more shocking, these espers are not ordinary individuals—they are clones of Mikoto herself. Overcome with guilt over their plight, she resolves to stop the experiments. But the enemies she faces are far more formidable than she expected, pitting her against some of the most powerful espers imaginable. Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S follows the Railgun as she desperately battles to end the inhumane experiments she believes she inadvertently caused, plunging her life into deep despair. Academy City never lacks excitement, but not all of it is pleasant.

Long after most of humanity abandoned Earth, the Galactic Alliance of Humanity was established to lead exploration and secure mankind's future. A grave danger emerges in the form of mysterious creatures known as Hideauze, sparking an interstellar conflict to save humanity from annihilation. Armed with his autonomous robot Chamber, 16-year-old lieutenant Ledo of the Galactic Alliance joins the fight against these monsters. During the battle, Ledo loses control and is flung across space, crash-landing on a flooded Earth. On this blue world, Gargantia—a massive fleet of salvage ships—discovers Chamber and hauls it from the sea, believing they have found something valuable. Misinterpreting their actions as hostile, Ledo sneaks aboard and takes a young messenger girl named Amy hostage, only to realize the people of Gargantia are not the threat he imagined. Stranded and unable to contact his comrades in space, Ledo struggles to adapt and find his place in this unfamiliar lifestyle. Yet his peaceful days will not last, for this ocean-covered planet hides deeper secrets.

Takao Kasuga is a high school student with a deep fascination for poetry, admiring Charles Baudelaire so much that he keeps the poet's portrait in his room. One ordinary day, Takao accidentally leaves his copy of The Flowers of Evil in the classroom. When he goes back to retrieve it, he impulsively steals the gym clothes of Nanako Saeki, a model student he considers his muse and a femme fatale. Overwhelmed by shame and aware that his act is seen as both a sin and a crime, Takao is horrified to discover that his classmate Sawa Nakamura, a social outcast, witnessed the theft. Sawa blackmails him, forcing Takao to participate in her disturbing fantasies under the threat of exposing his secret to everyone. Trapped in a downward spiral of increasingly traumatic experiences, Takao must find a way to break free from Sawa's grip and seek redemption for his wrongdoing.

A young boy named Nai, searching for a dear friend, is captured by a beautiful woman whose appetite for human flesh is as striking as her appearance. Meanwhile, Gareki, a skilled thief, is robbing her lavish home. After creating a diversion, Gareki agrees to help Nai escape, but they are caught when the woman returns and transforms into a monstrous creature, forcing the boys to flee. While on the run, Nai and Gareki are discovered by "Circus," a government defense agency that handles crimes too severe for the police and protects civilians from "varuga"—terrifying monsters that feed on humans. Hoping it will lead Nai to his missing friend, the two decide to join Circus. As they embark on a perilous journey, they confront dangerous varuga and begin to unravel the secrets of a mysterious organization called Kafka.

Nyaruko continues her pursuit of Mahiro, and Hasuta is still in the race as well. Kūko has her eyes on Nyaruko, but she's convinced that both Nyaruko and Mahiro owe their "first time" to her. Yoriko endures all this chaos with a cheerful attitude while managing the household they all share. Mahiro simply craves a bit of normalcy. He has no desire to be the plaything of a Nyarlathotepan, a Cthughan, or a shots-like Hasturan. Whether he can hold out remains uncertain.

In the 71st year of the True Era, humanity has expanded into space and established independent colonies across the galaxy. The world is divided by two major powers: the Atlantic Rim United States (ARUS) and the Dorssia Military Pact Federation (Dorssia), which wage war on Earth and in outer space. Amid this conflict, a neutral third faction made up of Japan and the Islands of the Oceanian Republic (JIOR) maintains peace and economic prosperity while staying out of the fighting. Kakumeiki Valvrave begins in a JIOR space colony, where 17-year-old Haruto Tokishima's quiet life is shattered when a Dorssian fleet suddenly invades the neutral colony. Their goal is to seize the Valvraves, rumored to be powerful mechanized weapons hidden beneath Haruto's school, Sakimori Academy. In the chaos, Haruto discovers one of the Valvraves. With his friends' lives at risk, he enters the mecha and makes a contract for its power, sacrificing his humanity. Alongside L-elf, a mysterious Dorssian agent and brilliant strategist, Haruto and the Valvrave begin a revolution to free the world.

On a Sunday, the countdown to humanity's extinction begins as the Septentriones, invaders from another world, appear with the goal of wiping out all life. Hibiki Kuze and his companions find themselves caught in this conflict and make contracts with demons to become "Devil Summoners," joining the fight for survival. Their newfound abilities soon catch the eye of JP's, a secret organization led by Yamato Houtsuin. After being recruited, Hibiki and his friends fight alongside other ordinary civilians who have also become Devil Summoners, forming bonds through battle. But each new day brings another Septentrione to unleash destruction across Japan. Even when many lives are lost, the young summoners must defeat the invaders before nightfall, no matter the cost.

High school student Kazuya Maeda feels his everyday existence is dull and pointless. That changes just before summer break ends when he gets an old camera from his father. Though hesitant at first, Kazuya decides to try his hand at photography and begins searching for girls willing to pose for his shots. Several girls offer to model for him: Haruka Niimi, his popular childhood friend; Nonoka Masaki, the star pitcher of the softball team; Aki Muroto, the student council president; Hikari Sanehara, another photography lover; Tomoe Misumi, his shy classmate; Rina Yunoki, the sole member of the Cooking Research Society; and Mai Sakura, a friend of his sister. As he pursues this new interest, Kazuya finds each day growing more lively and meaningful. Yet his ongoing interactions with these girls make him wonder whether they want a place in his life beyond his camera lens.

Fifteen-year-old Izumiko Suzuhara longs to live an ordinary life, but that proves difficult. Raised in a remote mountain shrine, she is extremely sheltered and painfully timid. Additionally, any electronic device she touches instantly breaks. Still, she is determined to change herself. To show her commitment, Izumiko starts by cutting her bangs, shocking both classmates and her guardians. That is only the beginning. Her guardian, Yukimasa Sagara, orders his son Miyuki to come to the mountain shrine and serve as Izumiko's lifelong protector. Unfortunately, Izumiko and Miyuki cannot tolerate each other. They have known one another since childhood, and Miyuki used to bully her relentlessly. He sees nothing special about Izumiko. His father calls her a goddess—but could that actually be true? Can Izumiko and Miyuki overcome their animosity? Is she truly a divine being? Discover the answers in RDG: Red Data Girl!

Nanami Haruka is now entering her Master's course, and she finds that the challenges have become even more difficult than before. She is not the only one facing this; the six main members of Starish have also been assigned new seniors to act as their mentors. However, these seniors are not very willing or cooperative about the situation. Join Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Maji Love 2000% and become completely absorbed in a brand-new adventure that blends comedy and romance!

Kiri Haimura has an unusual fascination with beautiful hair—specifically, cutting it. This odd compulsion drives him to search for a rumored long-haired ghost said to haunt an abandoned house on a hill. Instead of a spirit, he discovers Iwai Mushanokouji, a lovely girl with flowing locks known as the "Hair Queen," whose hair cannot be cut because of a family curse. Iwai reveals that a death game revolves around her: if someone kills her with a cursed object called a "Killing Good," that wielder's wish will be granted. After defending Iwai from "Authors"—users of Killing Goods—Kiri learns that his own family possesses a Killing Good: a pair of scissors once used by his ancestor to commit murders. Dubbing the scissors "The Severing Crime Edge," he realizes they can cut Iwai's cursed hair, freeing her to live a normal life. Yet many Authors still seek to slay the Hair Queen, and Kiri must protect her in this lethal game of fate.

Yui Ichii, Yuzuko Nonohara, and Yukari Hinata make up an unusual group of friends; though each girl has her own quirks, they get along well. Starting high school, they look forward to the coming years together and also hope to be involved in something meaningful. Discovering the data processing club, which has no current members and faces disbandment, they quickly decide to join. As the club's newest additions, Yui, Yuzuko, and Yukari pass their time with wordplay, teasing each other, and using computers to look up subjects for entertaining discussions. The girls' everyday lives stay lively as they make the most of their school days.

Second season of Hyakka Ryoran: Samurai Girls.

Giant monster-like insects are terrorizing Edo, and ordinary people are powerless against them. To combat this threat, a group called the Insect Magistrates, skilled in secret techniques and fighting styles, hunt these creatures. Seeking to strengthen their ranks, they summon master swordsman Genjuurou Tsukishima from the Tsugaru Province. However, due to an unfortunate incident, Genjuurou cannot respond and sends his son, Jinbee, to take his place. Driven by a desire to atone for the cowardice that caused that incident, Jinbee agrees to travel to Edo and join the Insect Magistrates. Armed with a fiery spirit and unyielding resolve, he vows to become a stronger samurai and eliminate the insect menace from Edo once and for all.

Spring vacation is ending, and a new school term is on the horizon. Wanting to enjoy the last days of break, Ayuko Uehara goes for a walk in her neighborhood and drops into a small café. But her calm outing gets interrupted when a girl clumsily runs into her. Ayuko is confused by the encounter, and she's even more startled when she runs into them again as first-year students at the same high school. Recognizing her from the shop, the girls introduce themselves as Kanaka Amaya and Saki Iwasawa, and the three quickly become close friends. As they go through their everyday routines as high school girls, the trio's unique personalities—Kanaka's carefree attitude, Saki's boyish manner, and Ayuko's relaxed nature—are bound to turn even the most ordinary school day into a series of silly and amusing moments.

Arata, a youth from a distinguished lineage in Amawakuni, anticipates carving his own path until news arrives that the princess is failing. Secretly, his grandmother registered him as female at birth, and since the matriarchal Hime clan lacks other female heirs, he becomes the next in line for the throne. Posing as a woman while awaiting a substitute, Arata observes an assassination attempt on the princess by her personal guards, the 12 Shinsho. Framed for the crime, he flees into the Kando forest, a place rumored to transform all who enter. Simultaneously, in contemporary Japan, Arata Hinohara seeks refuge from his classmates’ brutality. Lured by a voice calling his name from an alley, he strays from his route and accidentally swaps universes with the Arata of Amawakuni. Empowered as a newly awakened Sho, a warrior capable of wielding Hayagami, divine weapons, and aided by companions he meets along the way, Hinohara aims to bring stability to this unfamiliar realm.

By the latter half of the 21st century, humanity has departed Earth to reside in space. To survive the space environment and combat hostile aliens near Jupiter, genetically engineered youths known as "Princes" are artificially raised and trained to pilot armed mecha called AHSMB (Advanced High Standard Multipurpose Battle Device). The narrative follows Hitachi O Izuru, one of these teenage Princes, who attends school in the academic city of Grandzehle.

Having liberated Japanese soccer from the control of the Fifth Sector, the nation’s teams are now free to compete on the field once more. However, a fresh threat arises in the shape of the Football Frontier International Vision 2, a global tournament designed to unite the top squads from every participating country. Tenma Matsukaze joins his former Raimon comrades, Takuto Shindou and Kyousuke Tsurugi, as they are chosen to represent Japan in the Inazuma Japan lineup. To their astonishment, the coach adds eight other recruits who possess absolutely no prior soccer experience. The Inazuma Japan roster faces a steep uphill battle, needing to rapidly develop their teamwork and abilities. Unbeknownst to them, this competition is merely the prelude to an even grander event that reaches beyond Earth in Inazuma Eleven Go: Galaxy.

After their encounter with Team Plasma, Satoshi, Iris and Dent start a new journey in the Decolora Islands.

Set after the conclusion of Hayate no Gotoku! Can't Take My Eyes off You, this story follows Hayate, Nagi, and Maria as they resume their everyday routines at the Sanzenin Mansion and the Violet Mansion.

The docks offer a glimpse into the true nature of ocean life—the gentle, steady sound of waves, tiny insects darting across the pier, and—mermaids!? Takurou Mukoujima's peaceful fishing days come to an end when he hauls in the lively mermaid Muromi-san, who then delights in amusing herself around her new acquaintance, despite his clear lack of interest. With a chatty and impulsive companion constantly at his side, Takurou finds it hard to avoid being swept up in Muromi-san's rhythm as she begins bringing her deep-sea acquaintances to the dock, turning it into a popular hangout for mythical beings. Each day brings novelty and excitement, but Takurou's only wish is to fish undisturbed.

The second season of Yondemasu yo, Azazel-san.

In the world of Aquafall, a lush fantasy land filled with water, forests, dragons, and fairies, dangerous creatures emerge from falling meteorites, threatening all life. To counter this menace, the fairy Syrup forms the Aquafall Defense Force, recruiting three girls from the dragon clans. The narrative follows Syrup alongside the dragon maidens Leviathan, Bahamut, and Jörmungandr as they fight their foes and mature through their shared battles.

Naru Ayase is in eighth grade and possesses the ability to perceive the colors of music whenever she hears it. She has a strong talent for decorating, and her ultimate ambition is to one day own a store like Dear Crown. Upon learning that the manager of a recently opened shop is seeking middle school girls capable of performing Prism Dance, Naru immediately submits her application. During the audition, she starts dancing the Prism Dance, and an unfamiliar aura unfolds before her. It is then that a mysterious girl named Rinne asks if she can see "rainbow music."

What if all A-type individuals are both kind and indecisive? Could being a B-type mean the complete opposite? Are O-types more passionate and childish? And how does anyone get along with AB-types? Ketsuekigata-kun! examines Japanese and Korean cultural stereotypes about blood types in romantic and casual settings.

The story follows Sayuri Satou, a new employee at the front desk of Sparrow's Hotel—"the closest hotel to Heaven". She is distinguished by her large chest and her assassination abilities. Using these skills, she neutralizes anyone causing disturbances at the business hotel. However, she becomes extremely clumsy and often trips over her words when speaking to the male hotel manager.

Year 2055, four years after the events of Danball Senki W. LBXs have grown into the world's most popular hobby, now large enough to support professional leagues where players can make a full-time living. Fourteen-year-old Arata transfers to Kamui Daimon Integrated Academy on Kamui Island, near Japan. This academy is renowned globally as the top institution for training LBX players and mechanics, but admission requires an extremely tough qualification: being the champion of at least three official tournaments. Together with his platoon members, Arata faces rivals and uncovers the hidden secrets of the academy.

In this alternate universe, the apocalypse never occurred, forcing the characters of Hokuto no Ken to navigate modern-day Japan by relying on their cooperation to survive.

The story centers on main heroine Chiari Tsukikage and her friends as they run the Jewelpet Cafe. In the magical realm of Jewel Land, Lady Jewelina gives Ruby the Magical Jewel Box a mission: make friends and gather Magic Jewels. Ruby must also attend Jewel Academy and open a shop called the Jewelpet Cafe to accomplish this. However, things do not go smoothly with her friends; several failed mishaps occur, scaring the students and leading Ruby to nearly give up. But when Ruby meets a young girl named Chiari Tsukikage and decides to help, Ruby's life changes forever. Now, Ruby and her friends must work together to make the cafe succeed, stick with each other through good and bad luck, and protect the Jewel Box from being stolen.

Continuation of the first season.

BakuTech! Bakugan Gachi is the sequel to the BakuTech! Bakugan series.

An animated flash series of the manga Mini Vanguard.

The continuation of Battle Spirits Sword Eyes.

In this reimagining, Maya Kitajima and her rival Ayumi Himekawa are delinquent girls, each striving to become the leader of the "Crimson Goddess" gang.

A millennium has passed since the time of Princess Mikoto, during which a specific historical event led to all hunters being trapped within cards. Hagan, a spirited young boy, holds the power to release these sealed warriors. He embarks on a journey with his companions to locate the cards, encountering dangerous combat along the way.

Following his victory over the YA.RA.SI faction and the restoration of his fame after besting Leo and Nai Minamimo, Katta Kirifuda moves forward. In this installment, he employs a fresh breed of Outrage monsters to counter the emerging Oracle deck players. Meanwhile, the creature world enters a brand new era.

The kingdom of Gemini comes under attack from the wicked Queen Halle. The twin princesses of the realm have disappeared, along with the crucial Night Star Box, causing disturbances on planets including Earth. The fairy Queen dispatches Prince You Le and Sally to Earth to search for the Night Star Box, assisted by Maggie and Michelle. The group soon discovers that one of the girls taking dance lessons with Maggie and Michelle is actually one of the lost princesses, Bei Bei! The fairies now bear the responsibility of locating the Night Star Box and the other missing princess, Ya Ya.

Mazinger ZIP! is a set of animated flash-shorts broadcast on NTV's ZIP!, airing in place of the network's earlier anime parody short Ohayou Ninja-tai Gatchaman. The series reuses the cast from the original Mazinger Z anime in brief comedic sketches. In certain episodes, the Gatchaman team also appears.

It's a heartwarming and sometimes nonsense comedy about an elementary school boy Tomoo Kinoshita.

Characters from NHN's well-known app—including Moon, Brown, Connie, James, Jessica, and Sally—live joyfully together in Line Town.

A continuation of the previous season under a new director and new name.

This narrative centers on the everyday experiences of a diverse flock of birds, featuring a duck, a Caique parrot with an insatiable appetite, and an elderly great grey owl who holds nihilistic views.

Sequel to the previous season.

The anime adapts MegaHouse's Ziguru Hazeru (roughly "Jiggle and Pop Out") line of mecha toys, which allow parts to be removed from the joints and replaced with different components. Furthermore, combining Hazeru Gokuu, Hazeru Sagojo, and Hazeru Hakkai creates Hazeru Seioh, enabling users to assemble their toys together. The ZIGURUHAZERU animated series is based on MegaHouse's upcoming original toy line of the same name, featuring cool robot toys modeled after characters from the classic Journey to the West story.

These anime shorts, each roughly five minutes long, focus on protagonist Shoutarou Kaneda's daily life rather than the battle scenes seen in previous Tetsujin 28 titles. The title robot, its rival Black Ox, and other elements feature a pop-art visual style.

In the year 2100 A.D., the era of super high-speed railways dawns. The World Railway Conference unveils the Laser Rail, a revolutionary travel system where trains are no longer limited to the ground. To manage this new technology, the Train Base is created. Trains from around the world, equipped with artificial intelligence and robotic bodies, are housed there. Hence, the Train Heroes come into existence. At the Train Base, these Heroes endure rigorous training. Sometimes, they are summoned to help with disaster rescue and relief.

Features 5 nurses working at the secret service at International Medical Center.

Boku wa Ousama is an adaptation of a book series created by Teruo Teramura and Shizuko Wakayama. The initial book was released in 1959, and with 49 additional volumes following, it became one of Japan's most beloved children's book series. Both the books and the anime depict the chaotic adventures of Ou-sama, a silly, greedy, lazy yet endearing and cute king. His antics include searching for elephant eggs (which make the biggest omelets, his favorite meal), hiding toys in the woods to trick his three wise advisors, or riding a bicycle around the castle grounds.

In a futuristic city, many children play with Finger Skateboards—tiny boards that control a simulated character in battle at the player’s whim. The protagonist enters a shop and joins the game alongside three of his friends. The kids go on numerous adventures and compete against Alexander, the son of a rival company that opposes the original shop.

This surreal and comedic television anime follows the daily life of Clinoppe and an office lady named Onei-san. It is based on GREE's creature-raising game Odoriko Clinoppe.

In this series centered on siblings, one of them is selected by a specific animal power, and the older brother makes new companions during his journey. Together with his friends, he pursues larger animals that threaten innocent people and locations. He must rescue those he cares about and confront adversaries stronger than himself.