So there I was, taking a break from being, well, busy, and giant robots helped me get my working mojo back.
I know, you may need to reread that line again.
Essentially I was watching Gurren Lagann, an unusual anime that is hard to describe. It's a giant robot show, a space show, a drama, parts of a comedy, strangely sincere yet with winking nods and references. A big part of the show is the power of fighting spirit and people's emotions to drive them on and empower them. This is an anime that people who don't watch anime won't get.
It was actually quite inspiring, and it struck me that's something we geeks and fans need to keep in mind – we can find inspiration in seemingly mundane things, and that can push us on.
We take it for granted too often that the books we read, the games we play, and so on fire us up and inspire us. They can put us in touch with ourselves as we get motivated by a character's speech, or the thrill of a tabletop battle, or a corny yet heartfelt discussion of True Love.
Probably we don't want to admit it. It sounds sad to admit that listening to a Beatles song fires you up enough to complete that status report or finish that contract.
Forget it. Stop worrying. At least you have something that does inspire you and puts you in touch with that inspiration. Better to be motivated by comic book superheroes and the tales of old sports figures than never motivated.
So when you're down and unmotivated, when all is hopeless, play that game, watch that anime, read that sports biography, listen to that song. You're a fanboy, fangirl, a geek, a nerd, an otaku – something gets you fired up. Use it.
– Steven Savage