Great Teacher Onizuka, or as we better know it, GTO.
An anime whose ending music-video is the main character sitting and smoking, and yet, the feelings that it transmit to the viewers are marvelously warm and filled with nostalgia.
But who is the main character? Well, he is none other but teacher extraordinaire, Eikichi Onizuka, an ex-biker member, who has turned into a teacher who strives to change the lives of his pupils.
Something which might stand odd with some, but weirdly enough, watching the anime, everything just fits.
Onizuka-sensei does not leave his troubled past affect the warm personality and charisma he has, or the transmission thereof to his students; Not excluding the fact that even as a teenager Onizuka was equally charismatic in changing peoples’ lives.
Quite the contrary really; Whenever a student of his is in danger, or in urgent psychological support need, Onizuka steps up to the challenge and not only that, but he does wonders in teaching his pupils life lessons that stick with them, and the viewers, for years.
“..Whenever Onizuka does something incredibly virtuous, immediately afterwards he does something incredibly stupid..” or so, did a reviewer say back in the mid 2000's.
And the above phrase describes our sensei’s abnormal personality and idioms perfectly, making him be on par with some of the anime industry’s best anime characters, namely Vash the Stampede and Luffy.
Though, If one could describe that kind of personality, childish would be one way; However, would it be the appropriate answer? It is more proper to describe that personality as that of an adult with a pure heart, unwavering to the adulthood problems and must-dos/must-nots.
It’s that charisma that really makes someone fall in love with GTO.
But, there is a deeper truth that lies beneath the above description of Onizuka’s personality.
His charismatic abilities can positively impact the life of others, no matter their past or current circumstances.
Seeing those abilities from a philosophical perspective, one understands that Onizuka does things in a weirdly passive way.
Yes, he will say that “..The past is nothing but the past..”, to a misbehaved student, but his friendly, loosen, and non-aggressive way, all while smoking laid-back, is the finishing touch in the transmission of the feelings he wants to pass on to the other person, for them to feel them.
Without that charisma, the required results of Onizuka would not be as competent.
And that charismatic ability, in its basis, its the ability to be free.
Consequently, Onizuka-sensei shows to everyone, students, colleagues, friends, and us alike, what being free is all about.
It’s about enjoying life and all the misfortunes and blessings that come with it.
It is about embracing the life that we have been given, every single day; Without whining, without looking back, but most importantly, without being afraid.
Yet, that is another crucial thing that GTO teaches people.
Onizuka was never afraid of hammering down a wall, or even scaring his students to near death, or even beating people up to give them a lesson.
And regardless of his extreme, unorthodox, unstable and unique to his personality methods of extra curriculum teachings, it is safe to say, that his words do wonders.
His ability to teach a message and to widen the perspective and emotional intelligence of his students, and of his viewers, proves to be unparalleled.
And eventually, what Onizuka teaches everyone, is how to live; Or in his words “..It’s easy, all you gotta do is smile and move on..”.
Truly, a magnificent teacher.
