Recently added anime on Netflix, “Oblivion Battery,” has shown controllable and uncontrollable ways that can prevent us from falling into the temptation of quitting our passion. But before we recap those ways, here is the plot of “Oblivion Battery.”
“Oblivion Battery” is a sports anime that follows the story of Taro Yamada, Aoi Todo, and Shumpei Chihaya. They are dropout baseball athletes because of the unbeatable battery: Haruka Kiyomine and Kei Kaname. But after meeting the two formidable athletes again—this time in high school—Yamada, Todo, and Chihaya, including Kazuki Tsuchiya, return to play baseball, where they must face their personal issues to win their games.
Back to your main why
Victories and glories can make someone hate their passion, specifically for Kaname. In middle school, being a catcher gave him a VIP view of his rivals’ dejected looks. Because of guilt, he wanted to forget how to play baseball and all the times he played the sport. As they say, “It gets lonely at the top.”
Surprisingly, Kaname’s wish came true. Yet he is still aware that he played baseball because of Kiyomine. When the latter invited him to join the high school baseball club, Kaname eagerly rejected the invitation. But after watching Kiyomine holding back his pitching because of Yamada, Kaname volunteered to become the catcher.
Kaname’s determined look before and after the trial is an epiphany moment that silently shows his main reason for playing baseball. That reason ignited his passion for his sport again. Kaname’s return to his motive reminds us that sometimes, we should recall our main purpose for doing our passion. By doing so, it might lessen our temptation to quit.
Invitation from the best
Kiyomine and Kaname’s overwhelming talent crashes Yamada, Todo, and Chihaya’s confidence in their ability to continue playing baseball. However, being Kiyomine and Kaname alone, the two made the dropouts feel they belonged and could grow in their sport by inviting them to join their high school baseball team.
In another life, Kiyomine and Kaname can be like Murasakibara from Kuroko’s Basketball. Murasakibara once believed that basketball players are born and not made. That is why he was eager to make aspiring players quit the sport before they could even try to play in a game, let alone join the team. Luckily, Yamada, Todo, and Chihaya did not experience this kind of rejection from Hoya’s powerful battery. Instead, Kiyomine and Kaname’s invitation may have caused the dropout baseball players to unconsciously appreciate again the achieved skill level they have earned from playing baseball in middle school – that they must secretly feel deserving of playing their sport again.
Hearing your potential from the people you have the same passion
The knowledge that receiving positive feedback can boost one’s motivation and performance is accurate to Yamada and Kazuki. Yamada’s play improved when Kaname motivated him to believe in himself. As for Kazuki, he finally agreed to join the team after he received constant recognition of his potential, patience, and understanding from the team.
Humility to ask and accept help
One of the most touching scenes in the show was Todo’s yip healing journey. Because even though Todo did not ask for help, his teammates volunteered to help him. The aid that he should have gotten from his middle school teammates had the team willingly helped Todo when they saw him struggling alone to cure his yips. But that is not his teammate’s responsibility alone. Todo himself should’ve tried to ask for their help – since Kaname’s help to Todo made us realize that sometimes other people’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience can be the missing puzzle piece that can help us move forward from the struggles that we’re in.
Focus on your lane
Chihaya’s stoic nature during the training with his high school team shows a significant improvement in his relationship with his height insecurity. In middle school, his height insecurity and constant comparison with his teammates’ skills and improvements made him realize that baseball was not for him. Fortunately, when he plays baseball again, his teammates’ wholesome attitude made it easy for him to apply the possible lesson he learned from letting his insecurity get in the way of his passion for baseball.
Having a growth mindset
Holding on to the belief that one can still improve and hope will eventually bloom for you and other people you think were affected by your mistakes is what we can learn from the scene where Todo reunited with his teammate in middle school. Even the regret Todo had experienced about his chosen school worked out for the best, as he found supportive teammates who would help him cure his Yip.
Taking a break
Yamada, Todo, and Chihaya’s baseball break can be the reason for their undramatic comeback. Perhaps the break secretly made them miss the sport. If it is, the benefit of resting to gain clarity works for them.
Final Takeaways
The fact that the above wisdom was born after the leads temporarily quit their passion showed that sometimes it’s okay to give up to discover how much you love your passion. But it may not be hurtful to try doing the above wisdom as soon as our motivation drops. While some of the wisdom above is out of our control, such as being invited by the best, we can still choose a response that can prevent us from quitting our passion when that opportunity comes.
So, considering everything, which “Oblivion Battery” characters resonate with you the most? Let us know in the comment box below or on our Instagram and Twitter.
Featured Image Credit: Boukyaku Battery official Twitter
