So, I was going to review a Marvel movie this month, but decided to take the more positive route. People will probably be mad at me for that more than my Noah review. Instead of me being a Scrooge and be negative on Christmas, I've decided to do two top 10 list of things people usually don't ask me about; Anime and Video Games. I'm starting of course with my top 10 favorite anime.
Anime is interesting to talk about because of how far it has come since it was originally brought over to the states in the 80s and 90s. It has gone from being a sub-genre of American animation to becoming it's own genre.
I have two rules for this list.
1) I'm excluding the longer running series like Dragonball and Naruto. They are kind of easy things to put on a top 10 and I really wanted to push myself.
2) These are anime's I've watched from start to finish. Any anime I haven't finished, but like will not be on this list.
Now, let's get started!!
#10) DNA2 (pronounced DNA Squared)
This is probably the oldest anime on my list, it came out in the mid 90s but feels like a more early 90s. It follows the story of someone coming from the future that has been over populated because of the Mega Playboy and his offspring each having 100 children with 100 different women, and this girl has come from the future to prevent it from happening by using a DNA altering bullet to stop him from becoming the Mega Playboy before it even happens, but instead grabs the wrong bullet that turns him into the Mega Playboy... Wow! That is a crazy plot! Why is this in my top 10? Oh yeah! It goes just as over the top as the plot calls for. You learn to appreciate how they took this plot and went the route of humor, not porn. I found this website on some random website made by anime fans, and it had my interest for quite sometime until I actually got to see it. It has some great humor and all the characters have their own personalities and they build off of one another in a beautiful way. The voice acting hasn't aged that well, but that is the charm. If you like older anime that matches it's time period, I recommend it.
#9) Shuffle
This is a Rom-Com, like the previous one on this list. This anime takes place in a world where Gods and Demons co-exist among humans and they live in harmony. The story is that a guy in school is offered a chance to become either the Lord of Heaven or Lord of Hell depending on if he chooses to marry one of the heiresses of said realm. Along with that offer, there are also human girls seeking his affection. Yes, I did write a full review of this anime before, so you can look back and find that somewhere on this blog. Where it does have the R rating for obvious reasons, it's characters make up for that just like DNA2 has characters that make up for it's flaws as well. For example, unlike other Rom-Com anime out there where you wonder why the girls like the main character, this main character is the kind of good hearted character that women love and it makes sense why they love him so much, making his choice even harder. Where I do acknowledge that this isn't for everyone, I still found myself really enjoying this anime.
#8) Black Cat
Unlike the last two on my list, this story is kind of hard to explain in writing. So, I will make it simple. An assassin finds someone that changes his life and makes him give up on killing people and becomes a bounty hunter in order to honor her memory after a jealous friend assassinates her and it leads up to a lot of other plot points that I didn't explain. It is a good mix of Drama and Humor, without causing emotional whiplash. You see all the characters progress and have levels of depth that you would not expect from this kind of anime. Unlike the last two I can actually recommend this one to everyone. It uses a style that everyone can enjoy... Except Chick Flick lovers... Sorry. You may not like every part of the plot, but I found everyone who has watched this loves the characters and that is one thing that makes anything worth watching.
#7) FLCL
Has everyone heard of this anime. This is a famous short series (six episodes) that has that over the top humor that is very famous in anime. However, it is short and establishes characters early to let the over the top story and humor take over. I'm also kind of partial to this one over other straight up Comedy anime because it also has Rock and Roll elements to it. It is hard to explain, which is why I haven't tried to explain the story. Let me put this into context, I was working on this list for a week, trying to explain the story in my head alone. Just watch it for yourself and you'll understand.
#6) Clannad
Have you ever seen anything and said to yourself, "This is a standard setter." That is this anime as far as Rom-Com anime go. It follows the story of two people who meet in high school and influence each others lives for the better and you even get to see them fall in love, finish school, and- Wait! That is Spoiler territory! I can't recommend this one for Rom-Com lovers more. You feel every emotion in this anime. You love these characters, you love their experiences, and you grow with them as you watch it. NO anime teaches about love as well as this one. Watch it and you will fully understand everything about it.
#5) Gunslinger Girl
No, it isn't a Western anime. The story is, the Italian government has decided to experiment with human cybernetics and use younger girls as test subjects for brainwashing and in the battlefield. It is a serious story, and a series anime. The tone matches the subject matter, and highlights all the cons with this idea as well as pros. You follow these girls and their mentors as they accomplish missions all around Italy. The first thing you notice is that this doesn't take place in Japan or any fantasy world, it takes place in Modern Italy. It is one of the few anime that tried to tell the story in another region in the world and succeed. The art style is also more western than other anime I have seen. It doesn't have fan service, it isn't over the top, and the story telling using more western influences than the usually Japanese anime. You would have the same impact watching this as you would any live television show. It is as dark as it's subject matter and one of the few anime that is actually better with the English dub. If you want a good drama, check this out.
#4) Code Geass
This is also a Rated R anime, just a warning before you check it out. The story is, a young man who is sick of the world he is living in seeks to destroy the world in order to rebuild it to secure a good life for his younger sister who is both unable to walk and blind. That is the short of it, unlike Black Cat that has some confusing plot points, me sharing more will spoil it for you. it is a combination of Political anime and Mech anime. So, we see both political debates and battles as well as Giant Robot Fights! It is something for everyone as it also includes elements of drama, romance, and even small bits of humor. I watched this anime and was sucked into it right away, mainly by how incredible the main character is and what he does that leads to- Nope! You have to see it to find out.
#3) Death Note
What Anime fan hasn't heard of this gem? It is marked as one of the best anime of all time and for good reasons. It follows the story of a young man in his senior year of high school finding a random notebook with supernatural powers that kill the person whose name is written in the notebook of a heart attack unless it is specified how the person is to die. He in turn uses it in his conquest to change the world to fit his image. Along with that, an infamous detective seeks him and tries to stop his long line of murders. The anime is an interesting game of Cat and Mouse that catches your attention from start to finish, as well as some of the best characters you will see in anime. To put simple, if you haven't seen it, what rock are you living under? Go see it!
#2) Gurren Lagaan
"JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?!"
I could not leave this off my list, I really couldn't. It follows two friends that manage to find a small mech and use it to leave their underground city and explore the service world that is controlled by Beast Men. This is a beautiful, over the top, and heartfelt series that will leave you laughing, crying, smiling, and jaw dropping multiple times throughout. Add some unforgettable characters and a climax at the end that is a total adrenaline rush and you have an anime that will is just the best of everything. Just like Death Note, if you haven't watched it, go watch it now. Don't even go to my number 1, log off and go have a binge marathon of both of these anime. They are on Netflix, so that won't be a problem.
Before going to Number 1, I have to explain this. This is a series very people know even exist, and it was probably one of the few good things that ADV gave us. The reason it is number 1is not only because of how good it is, but how it also improved in areas where the manga failed. Yes, my number 1 is the only anime I have seen that is better than it's source material in terms of art style and story telling. With that said...
#1) Jing: King of Bandits
I haven't seen an anime better than this in my mind, and I watch a good amount of Full Metal Alchemist. It follows two characters (A young man, Jing, and his friend, a bird named Kir) as they explore this large fictional world in a steampunk era in which they meet equally interesting character and villains, in turn changing the lives of all the people they meet for the better even if they are thieves. The manga didn't do as good as the anime did in portraying these characters. It is an adventure with elements of humor and even a little romance that leaves a positive mark. Not only that, but it manages to use episodic story telling by having a different story in every city or region they travel. It gives us a huge world and characters that are given depth in the short amount of time given. I own a copy of this series and currently also looking to buy a copy of the OVA that is an extension and it's own story as well. If you find a way to see this, watch it. It isn't as easy to get a hold of like Death Note or Gurren Lagaan, but you will not regret watching this gem that has been hidden in Anime history.
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