I'd like to take a moment to go over some of the really good anime that I mentioned in that long list in my last post as well as some interesting comments on the order I watched them.
I'll start from the top of the list and move down (which is the order I watched):
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
Shigurui
Elfen Lied
Gantz
The above order was quite interesting. At the time, I was told that Higurashi was really great, so I decided to watch it. I then was told about the other three. Of course, I had a ton of other anime that I wanted to watch, but I thought to myself "Screw it, I'll just watch all the crazy psychological ones in a row just because I can." So I did. All four of them are pretty intense with blood squirting everywhere and otherworldly things going on, but they were all good.
Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni:
"After moving into the quiet town of Hinamizawa, Maebara Keiichi spends his days blissfully in school often playing games with his local friends. However, appearances can be deceiving. One fateful day, Keiichi stumbles upon news of a murder that had occurred in Hinamizawa. From this point on, horrific events unfold in front of Keiichi, as he soon learns his close friends may not be all that they seem."
It's extremely good. I highly recommend it for anyone; however, there are some scenes that may not be appropriate for children (such as people being beaten, stabbed, and tortured). There is also a twist that you learn about later, which adds so much to the show.
Rozen Maiden:
"Sakurada Jun spends his days online, ordering whatever he takes a liking to, only to return it before the payment is due. Due to psychological trauma from school, Jun generally keeps contact with people as little as possible. One day he finds instructions online that tell him to put his order into his desk drawer. Rubbing it off as a joke, Jun mindlessly does so only to find that his order instantly disappears from his drawer. A package suddenly appears, containing a beautiful antique doll. When wound up, this doll comes to life. Sadly for Jun, this doll Shinku views Jun as an equivalent for a servant. Despite the constant demands Jun now receives from Shinku, she slowly helps him overcome his fears of human contact as well as protect him from the deadly battles that come into his life due to her appearance."
Rozen Maiden is a very cute and funny show that is a really nice watch. It does get a little serious near the end of both seasons, but everything leading up to those points is pretty hilarious. Of course, it also contains Suiseiseki, a character known as the "Desu Queen" among several internet communities.
Darker Than Black:
"In Tokyo, an impenetrable field known as "Hell's Gate" appeared ten years ago. At the same time, psychics who wield paranormal powers at the cost of their conscience also emerged. Hei is one of the most powerful of these psychic agents, and along with his blind associate, Yin, works for one of the many rival agencies vying to unlock the mysteries of Hell's Gate."
Darker Than Black is either a love or hate it type of show. I absolutely loved the show, mainly because of the main character not [seemingly] having emotional attachment to anything. But the show definitely advances and delves deep into story and action fairly quickly. Not to mention that the episode titles were really poetic and awesome.
Bakemonogatari:
"The story centers on Koyomi Araragi, a third year high school student who has recently survived a vampire attack, and finds himself mixed up with all kinds of apparitions: gods, ghosts, myths, and spirits."
Though the description seems to be describing an action-packed adventure, this anime couldn't be further from it. Most scenes consist of talking, but this dialogue-driven story keeps you interested because of the jokes, puns and odd camera angles that are involved. The title is a portmanteau of the word for monster (bakemono) and story (monogatari).
Tower of Druaga:
"It is said that every few years, there is what's known as the "Summer of Anu." During that summer, thanks to the divine protection of the sky-god Anu, all of the demons in the tower lose their power. The country of Uruk has begun an invasion of the tower in order to suppress the demons. They've built up positions inside the tower, with their sights set on getting to the upper levels. The Uruk army knows that this is the third Summer of Anu-a perfect time to launch a mission to suppress the monster Druaga once and for all. The army soldiers aren't the only ones in the tower, though. An enitre city called Meskia has formed inside the tower's first floor. It plays host not just to soldiers, but also to adventurers who have heard rumors about a legendary treasure called the Blue Crystal Rod, which is said to rest at the very top of the tower. With all these different groups in the mix, each with its own agenda, one can only guess how things will play out during this unusual summer."
The best part of this series is that it has great filler. Most people don't like filler in anime, and I'm no exception; however, this filler actually advances the plot with some hilarious way of doing so. Not to mention that the first episode completely makes fun of the average action-adventure video game. This anime was based off of an old arcade game, though there aren't really that many similarities. I'd recommend it just for laughs (though, the story does get pretty intense later on).
Baccano:
"During the late 1930s in Chicago, the transcontinental train, Flying Pussyfoot, is starting its legendary journey that will leave a trail of blood all over the country. At the same time in New York, the ambitious scientist Szilard and his unwilling aide Ennis, are looking for missing bottles of the immortality elixir. In addition, a war between the mafia groups is getting worse. On board the Advena Avis, in 1711, alchemists are about to learn the price of immortality."
As the description points out, this anime takes place all over the place. And it will often skip from one year to another (1711, 1930-1932) which some find bothersome, but I personally liked it. Also, the way the story is presented just adds so much suspense to the whole thing; mainly because you don't know who is an immortal or not until near the end. This is also one of the few anime that I'll tell you is much better to watch in English than Japanese simply because of the accents involved (though some may be over-exaggerated).
Hanamaru Youchien ("Hanamaru Kindergarten") :
"Anzu goes to a kindergarten with her friends, the shy Koume and the eccentric Hiiragi. Together they try to attract attention from their caretaker Tsuchida. However, he is clearly more interested in the pretty Yamamoto who supervises the class next door."
This was such a cute show that it really lights up your day. The way the kindergarteners act captures children really well and clearly derives a lot of its comedy from that. A lot of things happen, but this show is really a joy to watch.
Kara No Kyoukai ("Garden of Sinners"):
I couldn't find a small description of this series because it's split into several full length movies. However, this show touches upon the supernatural and the lives of a few people during their school life and afterwards. This show mainly is about solving serial murder cases through unconventional means. It was really well done.
The Book of Bantorra:
"In a world where dead people turn into books and are stored in the Bantorra Library where anyone who reads a book can learn their past, Bantorra Library is maintained by Armed Librarians who wield psychic powers and their enemy is a religious society known as Sindeki Kyoudan."
The head of the Bantorra Library is a women whom you'd love because she's so evil, yet good. You wouldn't understand unless you saw some clips, but she's quite something. This show definitely is full of surprises and twists as well as a different world. Though the ending is a little over-the-top, the show is a great anime to watch.
Eve no Jikan ("Time of Eve"):
"The future, probably Japan. Robots have long been put into practical use, and androids have just come into use. Influenced by the Robot Ethics Committee, it's become common sense for people to treat androids like household appliances. Their appearance - indistinguishable from humans except for the ring over each android's head - has led some people to empathize unnecessarily with androids. Known as "android-holics", such people have become a social problem. Rikuo, a high school student, has been taught from childhood that androids are not to be viewed as humans, and has always used them as convenient tools. One day Rikuo discovers some strange data in the behavior records of his family's household android, Sammy. Rikuo and his friend Masaki trace Sammy's movements, only to discover a mysterious café that features a house rule that 'humans and robots are to be treated the same'..."
Time of Eve really brings up some questions about the boundaries between robots and humans. This show is wonderfully animated and is relatively short. However, that doesn't mean that it isn't great. This anime was extremely interesting and I loved every moment of it. I'd recommend it for anyone.
Seitokai no Ichizon ("The Student Council's Decision"):
"The members of the student council of Hekiyou Gakuen are chosen by a popularity vote. As a result, all the members are cute girls except for Sugisaki Ken, who studied hard to enter the council. The story features the endless chattering of the members with full of parodies of 'The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya', 'Dragon Ball', 'Death Note' etc."
I would recommend this show only for people who have seen a lot of different anime because the characters are constantly making references to anime left and right. This show is hilarious, yet it actually goes into a little bit of the characters' dark pasts. This anime, like "Bakemonogatari" is very dialogue-driven, but that's okay because you'll be constantly laughing at way they say.
K-ON!:
"Hirasawa Yui, a young, carefree girl entering high school, has her imagination instantly captured when she sees a poster advertising the ‘Light Music Club’. Being the carefree girl that she is, she quickly signs up. However, Yui has a problem, she is unable to play an instrument. When Yui goes to the clubroom to explain, she's greeted by the other members: Ritsu, Mio and Tsumugi. Although disheartened at Yui’s lack of musical know-how, they still try to convince her to stay to prevent the club’s disbandment. After playing Yui a short piece which re-ignites her imagination, they succeed in keeping their new member and guitarist. Along with the tasks of school and homework, Yui begins to learn the guitar with the help of the other band members, experiencing many mishaps along the way. However, with the school-festival drawing near and Yui getting stuck with her practice, will the Light Music Club be ready in time for their debut?"
The characters in K-ON! are all really cute, in both how they look and how they talk. This anime is a slice of life of the light music club; however most of their time is spent drinking tea and eating sweets. This show is absolutely hilarious and will keep you interested because of the random things they do, as well as the "fluffy" music they play.
Angel Beats:
"In a world after death, angels fight for their fate and their future. Yuri, the leader of the Shinda Sekai Sensen, rebels against the god who destined her to have an unreasonable life. On the other hand, Tenshi, the chairperson of the student council for the world after death, battles against the SSS members. SSS members utilize armed weaponry to battle it out against the angels harnessing supernatural powers. "
This show has stunning graphics and an excellent story. As they battle Tenshi (literally translated to "Angel"), they find out several things about the world they live in and about their pasts. This show has its funny moments, but the pride and joy of this anime is the emotional build up of the characters through out the series.
Durarara!!:
"In Tokyo's downtown district of Ikebukuro, amidst many strange rumors and warnings of anonymous gangs and dangerous occupants, one urban legend stands out above the rest – the existence of a headless “Black Rider” who is said to be seen driving a jet-black motorcycle through the city streets. Ryuugamine Mikado has always longed for the excitement of the city life, and an invitation from a childhood friend convinces him to move to Tokyo. Witnessing the Black Rider on his first day in the city, his wishes already seem to have been granted. But as supernatural events begin to occur, ordinary citizens like himself, along with Ikebukuro's most colorful inhabitants, are mixed up in the commotion breaking out in their city."
Durarara!! was unexpectedly excellent and created by the same people as Baccano. I began watching and was, almost instantaneously, dragged in. The anime quickly builds on the many characters that inhabit the story as they become involved in a deadly gang battle. The way the characters are introduced and the way the plot runs together are simply great. I highly recommend this anime.
Summer Wars:
"When timid eleventh-grader and math genius Kenji Koiso is asked by older student and secret crush Natsuki to come with her to her family's Nagano home for a summer job, he agrees without hesitation. Natsuki's family, the Jinnouchi clan, dates back to the Muromachi era (1336 to 1573), and they've all come together to celebrate the 90th birthday of the spunky matriarch of the family, Sakae. That’s when Kenji discovers his "summer job" is to pretend to be Natsuki's fiance and dance with her at the birthday celebration. As Kenji attempts to keep up with Natsuki's act around her family, he receives a strange math problem on his cell phone which, being a math genius, he can't resist solving. As it turns out, the solution to the mysterious equation causes a bizarre parallel world to collide with Earth, and it's up to Kenji and his new fake family to put reality back in order."
This movie quickly builds up into chaos. The world begins to fall apart and the many personalities of the Jinnouchi clan start to come together. The best part of this movie is probably how the family is put together. You have the old woman in charge, the history buff, the technologically advanced child, the popular high school girl, etc. It's a good feeling to watch how their dinner conversations turn out.
Kanamemo:
"Nakamachi Kana is a junior high school girl. Her grandmother passed away and she was left all alone. She finds a newspaper carrier station and starts working as a live-in carrier. Her room has a hole on the wall. Other female workers living next door comes in through the hole and start a wild merrymaking."
Not the best description above.. but whatever. Each character in this has a unique personality. Haruka is a pedophile, Kana is a helpless middle schooler, Saki is a reliable elementary schooler, Yume is a cat-like girl who is in love with Yuuki, Yuuki is always jealous when Yume is around others and in love with Yume, Hinata is a tomboy, and Mika is the rich girl who longs for friends. They all come together to create hilarious situations and awkward comedy. If you love silly anime, then this is one for you.
Clannad:
"Okazaki Tomoya is a delinquent who finds life dull and believes he'll never amount to anything. Along with his friend Sunohara, he skips school and plans to waste his high school days away. One day while walking to school, Tomoya passes a young girl muttering quietly to herself. Without warning she exclaims "Anpan!" (a popular Japanese food) which catches Tomoya's attention. He soon discovers the girl's name is Furukawa Nagisa and that she exclaims things she likes in order to motivate herself. Nagisa claims they are now friends, but Tomoya walks away passing the encounter off as nothing. However, Tomoya finds he is noticing Nagisa more and more around school. Eventually he concedes and befriends her. Tomoya learns Nagisa has been held back a year due to a severe illness and that her dream is to revive the school's drama club. Claiming he has nothing better to do, he decides to help her achieve this goal along with the help of four other girls. As Tomoya spends more time with the girls, he learns more about them and their problems. As he attempts to help each girl overcome her respective obstacle, he begins to realise life isn't as dull as he once thought."
This anime was probably one of the best shows I've watched. It has a perfect blend of comedy, mystic, and seriousness. This takes place over the course of a few years and every little piece of story is very emotionally touching. If you aren't in tears while watching at least one part of this show, there's something wrong with you because there is so much happiness and sadness in it. I'd recommend this for everyone.
Working!!:
"Set in a family restaurant in Hokkaido, the northern prefecture of Japan, 16 year old high school student Takanashi Souta works part-time along with his strange co-workers: Taneshima Poplar, a high school girl who's a year older than Souta and easily mistaken for an elementary/middle schooler, and Shirafuji Kyouko, the 28-year old store manager who doesn't bother to do any work at all."
There are many other strange co-workers as well and they all add a little spice to the show. This anime is a comedy that mainly focuses on the characters trying to work together without any problems, which turns out to be much harder than they'd think.
Those were all the really exceptional ones; however, some of the other good ones in that bunch were:
Chaos;Head, Elfen Lied, H20: Footprints in the Sand, Chrome Shelled Regios, Heroic Age, Ergo Proxy, Innocent Venus, Candy Boy, Ladies Versus Butlers!, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, The Sky Crawlers, Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, Sands of Destruction, Mayoi Neko Overrun!, Highschool of the Dead, Seitokai Yakuindomo, Black Rock Shooter
Interviews
14 years ago
