It’s not uncommon in anime for the protagonist to find themselves teaming up with a non-human partner in order to save the day. But for the hero to wake up and find an alien life form trapped inside his hand?
This is the new normal for Shinichi Izumi in the hit series Parasyte as he and his newly acquired alien hitchhiker are forced to work together for self-preservation.
Sentai Filmworks
Shinichi and Migi‘s relationship is unlike those of other humans infected by this strange alien invasion; while the other aliens managed to reach the brain and take over their hosts, Migi is unable to move past Shinichi’s right hand and arm (hence his name). Migi is insanely curious, constantly seen reading or researching things on the internet in an effort to become more knowledgeable of his new surroundings. Shinichi is a soft-spoken, all around nice guy and decent student. With no other choice, the two agree that co-existence is the best option, not knowing just how much this relationship is about to change the both of them.
Sentai Filmworks
As the alien invasion hits much closer to home, Shinichi and Migi’s partnership becomes more important than ever. Migi seems to be embracing some of those human emotions he scoffed at earlier in the series. Has Shinichi’s personality rubbed off on him? Did Migi’s change of “heart” affect his outlook somehow? Shinichi is changing, as well. Not only has he gained incredible strength and agility, he is increasingly distant towards his friends. It’s clear that Shinichi is embracing certain aspects of his relationship with Migi, even if it is just to prepare himself for the battles that lie ahead.
As much as this series is about saving the world from an impending alien invasion, I believe that at the heart of Parasyte lies a study in relationships and how they affect our growth as people. This one just so happens to involve the unnatural friendship between a high schooler and an alien.
