30. Di Gi
Charat
The back of
the DVD says: Alien-hybrid
cat-eared girl Di Gi Charat
(Dejiko) travels to Earth with one goal: world
domination as a superstar. But superstardom doesn't just fall into your lap and
Dejiko discovers that living in
Comments: (Note: this is a review of the
original Di Gi Charat
series, which subsequently spawned several sequels including Di Gi Charat Nyo!
and Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat.)
Di Gi Charat is one of those shows
that you are bound to either love or hate. If you like cute characters,
very random (and sometimes surprisingly mean-spirited) humor, and don't mind
watching anime in 4 minute increments, then you'll probably enjoy this
one. On the other hand, many people seem to be put off by the random
nature of the show and by the rather minimalistic art style of the show.
Recommendation: Unlike a lot of comedy anime,
I've found that the show holds up remarkably well upon re-watch. The
three main characters (Dejiko, Puchiko,
and Rabi-en-Rose) are adorable, the short episodes retain the feel of the
four-panel manga (and the Gamers commercials) that spawned the show, and a lot
of the humor works really well. I highly recommend it, but it will
definitely not be to everyone's taste. Plus, if you're not careful nyo, you might end up talking like the characters nyo.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Synch-point/Broccoli, 16 4-minute episodes on one DVD, out of print.
29. Black Lagoon
The back of
the DVD says: Rokuro Okajima is a meek, mundane
and metropolitan man on a business trip to Southeast Asia. But things quickly
go from pleasure cruise to festival of pain when modern day pirates board the
ship and take him hostage! Revy, Dutch and Benny are merciless, maniacal and
mean and together, they make up the crew of the Black Lagoon. A mercenary group
has hired them to steal a data disc Rokuro was
carrying and with it, classified information that threatens the peace and
security of the entire world!
Comments: Every now and then a show comes
along which is not horribly original, but is a breath of fresh air nonetheless,
and Black Lagoon is such a show. It's often (and accurately) described as
a spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop, with a substantially ramped-up level of
violence. I liked the fact that the show can be enjoyed from a number of
different viewpoints (Rock's acclimation to his new life, the Rock-Revy
dynamic, etc.). I also found it enjoyable that the most of the show is split
into 3-episode arcs; there are no worries about a particular story dragging on
for too long.
Recommendation: I highly recommend it, although
the violence and the show's general level of politically-incorrect coarseness
may alienate/offend some viewers.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Geneon/Funimation, 24 episodes on 6 DVD's.
28. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
The back of the DVD says: Something strange has happened to
Makoto Konno. Time has suddenly stopped and moved her backwards. With her newly
discovered ability to literally leap backwards in time Makoto finds that tests
become a piece of cake, embarrassing situations are corrected and she can have
her favorite food anytime she wants. Unfortunately her carefree time traveling
has adverse effects on the people she cares for. With every successful leap
Makoto somehow alters the fate of those around her. This was not supposed to
happen and as she races back in time to fix everything, she notices that her
abilities are not limitless but with every successful jump she is one step
closer to discovering the most wonderful secret in her young adult life.
Comments: This film is sometimes compared
to the works of
Recommendation: Along with some of the works of
Makoto Shinkai, The Girl Who Leapt Through
Time rates as one of the better non-episodic anime of the last few years.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Bandai, also available in a special edition and on Blu-ray.
27. K-On! (Keion!)
The back of the DVD says: When Yui Hirasawa enters high school, she wants to join a club but
can't decide which one is right for her. Fortunately, the Light Music Club is
desperate to find another member or else they'll be disbanded! With the
enticement of delicious snacks and assurances that no musical experience is
necessary, Yui joins up, becoming the guitarist in
this all-girl high school rock band. Together with Mio Akiyama on bass, Tsumugi Kotobuki on keyboard, and Ritsu
Tainaka on drums, they're going to rock the school
and someday make it to the Budokan! Now, if only they
can just put down the snacks long enough to practice...
Comments: Cynics need not watch. Yes, in the world of K-On, the characters
meet nice and interesting people in high school who share their interests and
become their lifelong friends. Yes, the moe factor is quite high.
Recommendation: If the comments above didn’t sour
you on the show and you enjoy slow-paced slice of life anime, then K-On is probably a must-see. This show didn’t garner a rabid following for
no reason, and the songs really are quite catchy (“Please don’t say you are
lazy…”).
US
distribution/DVD information:
Bandai, 13 episodes on 4 DVD’s/Blu-ray discs.
26. Kannagi
(Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens)
The back of
the DVD says: Nagi is the local deity spirit of the town of Kannagi, and she was able to take a physical form when Jin Mikuriya carved a wooden statue of her out of a block of
wood from the sacred tree of his family shrine. Nagi's
mission is to cleanse the impurities that plague the land, but since her sacred
tree has been cut down, she can only do this with Jin's help.
Comments: At first, Kannagi
might look like a combination of every conceivable anime cliche. Magical girlfriend? Check.
Milquetoast male lead? Check.
Tsundere female lead?
Check. High moe factor?
Check. However, Kannagi ends up being a very low-key show, and the humor is
very effective, if quirky at times. It
was also refreshing to see a show where the two lead characters obviously have
some affection for each other, but it never seems forced or artificial.
Recommendation:
If you like Nagi, then you’ll love the
show. Enough said.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Bandai, 14 episodes on 2 DVD’s.
25. Strawberry Marshmallow (Ichigo Mashimaro)
The back of
the DVD says: Join
Chika, Miu and Matsuri, as
they go about their daily lives full of adventure and discovery. Follow the intrepid
trio as they try to make a surprise birthday gift. Then meet Ana, a transfer
student originally from England who pretends to be a foreigner. This becomes
more difficult to pull off when the girls pay a visit to her happy home. And
when Chika & Company find out where Nobue is
working, they decide to pay her a visit... with disastrous results!
Comments: Strawberry Marshmallow oozes
cuteness. In a lot of ways, this show reminds me of the Peanuts
comic strip, in that it is a mixture of everyday-life situations combined with
some rather surreal stuff (for instance, Ana pretending to not understand
Japanese).
Recommendation: The humor tends to be very dry,
so those who like their comedy uproarious probably won't appreciate this
one. Also, the cuteness level may be too high for some people to stomach.
Also
recommended: Azumanga Daioh, Lucky Star.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Geneon, 12 episodes on 3 DVD's. Out of print.
24. When They Cry
(Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni)
The back of the DVD says: It's tough being the new guy in town,
having just moved into the small rural
As shocking past events are
unveiled through different viewpoints, Keiichi learns that things and even
people aren't what they appear to be. How many of his club "friends"
are involved and what are their plans for him?!
Comments: When They Cry is notable for its
combination of cute character designs integrated into a fairly dark
story. Also, the story is composed of several different arcs; each
arc shares some common elements and some common story developments, but
ultimately much of the story resets with each arc.
Recommendation: If this was shown to a non-anime
fan, they very well might be turned off from the whole genre. However, I
thought the combination of the psychological terror and cute characters was
pretty effective. If nothing else, the first 4 episodes are fairly
awesome on their own.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Geneon/Funimation, 24 episodes on 6 discs.
23. NieA
7 (NieA Under 7)
The back of
the DVD says: As a
starving student, Mayuko's life consists of many
part-time jobs, a small apartment over a bathhouse, and sleepless study nights.
Unfortunately for her sanity, this hard life is complicated by Niea. Niea is a young 7th class
under-alien who is living in Mayuko's closet,
building flying saucers out of trash, eating Mayuko's
food and being a bum. Compared to this stress, the man eating plants and the
curry wars are nothing...
Comments: Niea
7 is a very humanistic anime. There is a sci-fi subplot, but the main
focus of the show is the everyday tribulations of Niea,
Mayuko and the other residents of Enohana
as they do their best to toil through economic and personal hardships.
The show also has some interesting things to say about society, as it seems
that the aliens have a somewhat rigid caste system and are having a difficult
time becoming integrated into Japanese society.
Recommendation: Niea could
be a hard sell since it doesn't offer a big story plotwise,
but the show works on a more personal level. Anyone who has ever felt
overwhelmed by their everyday problems can empathize with Mayuko.
Also
recommended: It
is amusing that the back of the DVD 'warns' viewers that the same team who
created NieA was also responsible for Serial
Experiments Lain.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Geneon, 13 episodes on 4 DVD's, out of print.
22. Lucky «
Star
The back of
the DVD says: Meet
Konata, an athletic and intelligent girl too
dedicated to her favorite primetime anime shows to excel in anything but otaku
culture; Miyuki, the cute, bespectacled living example of moe
with an encyclopedic knowledge of all subjects; Kagami,
the bitter-sweet, tough but shy straight-man to Konata's
constant teasing and pranks; and her younger fraternal twin sister, Tsukasa, a
kind but air-headed klutz. Witness this study in the human condition as our
heroines explore the unexplored in questioning the ordinary!
Comments: The most basic description of
this show would be 1 part Azumanga Daioh + lots of anime/otaku references. The style of
comedy is much like Azumanga's, in that each show is
a compilation of short sketches and a lot of the jokes are about nothing.
For instance, about 50% of the first episode revolves around Konata and company talking about food.
Recommendation: Some familiarity with anime is
probably required to enjoy this one (Full Metal Panic, Shuffle!, and Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya are often referred to). However, simply
watching the opening animation once will probably either sell you or sour you
on the show. Also, the Lucky Channel segment at the end of the show could
almost stand alone as a fairly entertaining bit of comedy.
Also
recommended: Azumanga Daioh, Strawberry
Marshmallow, Paniponi Dash.
US
distribution:
Bandai, 24 episodes on 6 DVD's.
21. Galaxy Angel
The back of the DVD says: Milfeulle
Sakuraba is the newest member of the Angel Brigade, a
branch of the Transvaal Empire military whose primary mission is to search for
relics known as "Lost Technology." The only problem is... no one
actually knows what the Lost Technology is!
Relegated to performing menial
tasks of the highest priorities: a search for lost kittens, defusing a talking
missile, and delivering an old school I.D - The Angel Brigade's here to save
the galaxy... one planet at a time!
Comments: Comedy anime is a difficult thing to
pull off, but Galaxy Angel does a pretty good job most of the time. The
humor can be hit or miss, but since each episode spans only 15 minutes (in
seasons 2 and beyond, each half-hour episode consists of two 15-minute
mini-episodes framed around the commercial break) even when the jokes fall
flat, things don't have a chance to drag on for too long. Also, a lot of
the humor tends to be character-centric; an understanding of each character's
personality is really needed to understand a lot of the jokes.
Recommendation:
Galaxy Angel is a very
hit-or-miss proposition. The humor tends to be fairly manic, random, and
self-referential and some will be put off by the fact that there is
(deliberately) no continuity whatsoever from one episode to the next (several
episodes poke fun at this fact; one particular episode kills off all of the
major characters, some more than once [in a volleyball game no less]).
Also, each season typically features one or two serious, non-comedy episodes
which are played straight. This will no doubt further perplex some
viewers.
US
distribution/DVD information:
At present, there are four seasons of Galaxy Angel (chronologically: Galaxy
Angel, Galaxy Angel Z, Galaxy Angel A/AA and Galaxy Angel X) released by
Bandai. There is also a bonus OVA episode (Galaxy Angel S) and a spin-off
series (Galaxy Angel Rune) which features a new cast of characters.
20. Welcome to the NHK
The back of
the DVD says: Sato's
life is going down the drain. He's dropped out of college, only goes outside
once a week, and sleeps sixteen hours a day. Then he has a sudden
epiphany. Sato decides that the sinister broadcast company known as "The
NHK" is trying to transform their viewers into jobless, societal recluses,
and they bombard them with images of cutesy anime girls.
Comments: If you like disturbing comedy
occasionally tinged with anime references, then you
will no doubt enjoy NHK. It is somewhat surprising that the comedy works
so well even though many of the characters (Sato in particular) seem made to be
despised by the audience. Probably no show other than Evangelion
has as many dysfunctional characters per unit volume than
HNK.
Recommendation: I thought the comedy was
dead-on. However, depending on the viewer, some of the jokes may hit just
a little close to home. Highly recommended.
US
distribution:
ADV, 24 episodes on 6 DVD's, re-released by Funimation.
19. Tenchi
in
The back of
the DVD says: Tenchi Masaki leaves the country to go to
Comments: This was the third series to be
based within the Tenchi Muyo
universe, and as such requires some knowledge of the Tenchi
characters and story. Tenchi in
Recommendation: I can't give Tenchi
in
US
distribution: Geneon,
26 episodes on 8 DVD's, out of print.
18. Kanon
(Kanon 2006)
The back of the DVD
says: Yuichi Aizawa used to visit his cousin Nayuki
all the time when he was younger, but now he can hardly remember a thing about
those visits. And upon his return to finish his senior year in high school
while living with his Aunt Akiko and his cousin, the blank spots in his memory
have become more and more worrisome. After a seven year absence, Yuichi makes a
valiant effort to adjust to his vaguely familiar surroundings.
Bits and pieces of his past
come back to him, but his memories elude him still. Why can't he remember? What
is he blocking out?
Comments: Kanon
is very similar in both plot and style to Air, also produced by Key/Visual
Art's. However, while there are certainly similarities (both shows
feature somewhat sardonic male leads surrounded by a large group of moe girls (a cynic might say "Yuichi chastely
interacts with moe characters"), and both shows
can be somewhat more melancholy than one might expect at first glance), there
are some big differences between the two shows. While Kanon
has some pretty sad moments, its overall tone is somewhat more lighthearted
than its companion.
Recommendation: If you liked Air, you will
certainly like this one and vice versa.
US
distribution:
ADV, 24 episodes on 6 DVD's, rereleased by Funimation.
17. Oh My Goddess! OVA
(Ah! Megami-sama, Ah! My Goddess)
The back of
the DVD says: College
freshman Morisato Keiichi gets more than he bargained
for when he goes dialing for dinner and gets an unexpected delivery - Belldandy, a real live, honest to goodness Goddess! Belldandy grants him a wish, and Keiichi decides that what
he really needs is a girlfriend just like her! And that's exactly what he
gets. The mysterious "Ultimate Force" that enforces all Wish
Contracts comes into play, and Keiichi and Belldandy
are now inseparable. That's when Keiichi remembers that his dorm has a strict
rule: no women allowed!
Comments: A very sweet and sentimental
story of boy-meets-goddess. The Oh My Goddess manga is vast, spanning 20+
volumes and 3000+ pages. The OVA, being only 5 episodes in length, has just
enough time to introduce the four main characters (Keiichi, Belldandy,
and her sisters Urd and Skuld),
and delve into a tiny part of the story.
Recommendation: Given OMG's short length and
likeable characters, this would be a very good show to watch for someone who
has not seen a lot of anime, although some may find the lovey-dovey
relationship between Keiichi and Belldandy to be a
bit too saccharine (such a person would no doubt echo Skuld's
take on the matter in episode three). The OVA was also followed up by a theatrical
film, and (at present count) a 51-episode TV series which is meant to tell the
story in greater detail (in the OVA, Urd and Skuld arrive in the course of three episodes, but in the
manga this takes place over the course of several months). There is also
the Adventures of Mini-Goddess spinoff for those who like superdeformed
cuteness.
US
distribution: Animeigo (OVA), Geneon (movie, Mini-Goddess), Media
Blasters (TV season 1), ADV (TV season 2).
The OVA is out of print.
16. Revolutionary Girl Utena (Shojo Kakumei
Utena)
The back of
the DVD says: Utena has it all. Beauty. Passion. Faith. A
sense of justice. She is the idol of her classmates at the exclusive
Recommendation:
Like Evangelion, this show has been discussed to the point where
one really can't say much about Utena that hasn't
already been said. It seems like every element of this one tends to be of
the "love it or hate it" variety. The story is quite creative
(and quite random at times, with stories about humans laying eggs and 1000-fold
curry spice among other oddities), but sometimes becomes a bit formulaic
mid-series (those with a critical disposition will note that a lot of the
animation, particularly that within each "duel of the week" gets
recycled frequently). Probably no other show is so defined by its
soundtrack; Utena's is a rather odd conglomeration of
classical, J-pop, and industrial music. All in all an
extremely dark, strange anime, but a very good dark, strange anime.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Central Park Media/US Manga Corps, 39 TV episodes and a theatrical movie on 11
DVD's (or three box sets). Rereleased by Nozomi.
15. The World of Narue (Narue no Sekai)
The back of
the DVD says: Narue is an adorable schoolgirl with a secret. She's really
an alien with powers right out of a sci-fi comic! But growing up is never
easy, and it doesn't help when you're from outer space. Our spunky
heroine faces androids, alien invaders, and the most terrifying challenge
ever...her first date with the boy next door!
Comments: Narue
no Sekai is the type of show that some people will
love and some people will despise. Some will appreciate the rather sweet
and sentimental tone of the story, and others will no doubt find it
nauseating. I liked the fact that the relationship between Narue and Kazuto seemed very natural; Narue
is very self-conscious about being half-alien and is attracted to Kazuto
because he really doesn't think twice about it. On the other hand, Kazuto
is a bit of an anime otaku (particularly when it comes to his favorite
character, Magical Girl #4) which doesn't faze Narue
a bit.
Recommendation: This one is basically a title
which is meant to have a high level of mainstream appeal. For a
12-episode show, the characters are very well developed, and the characters
give the show a high level of charm.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Central Park Media/US Manga Corps, 12 episodes in a 4-disc set. CPM
really gave this set some love. The set includes 4 discs in a very nice
fold-out book with a lot of artwork from the show. The discs also have a
lot of extras (commentary tracks, interviews with the English and Japanese voice
actors, extended next episode previews).
This set is out of print, but the show was rereleased in a less fancy package
by Section 23 films.
14. His and Her Circumstances (Kareshi Kanojo no Jijyo)
The back of
the DVD says:
Like a drug, Yukino Miyazawa was addicted to admiration
and praise from those around her. She worked hard to become the perfect
student, the perfect girl. But that was before...him. Souichirou
Arima. The instant she met him, she hated him.
Without even trying, he snatched the very glory from her hands by easily acing
the high school entrance exam that should have made her the class
representative. To take back what is rightfully hers, Yukino
is putting all her efforts into plotting her revenge; but was love part of the
plan?
Comments: Kare Kano was
produced by Gainax and features all of the trademarks
of that studio (quirky characters, varied animation styles, and what
not). Kare Kano was a long running manga series
and this show was produced long before the manga had concluded its run.
Thus, while the first half of the show deals with the developing Yukino-Arima relationship, the second half of the show
becomes more ensemble in nature, telling the stories
of Yukino's circle of friends.
Recommendation: Despite the fact that the show
doesn't seem to know where it's going at times (particularly during its second
half), the story is compelling enough. Highly
recommended even with its flaws.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Rightstuf, 26 episodes on 5 DVD's.
13. 5 Centimeters per Second
The back of the DVD
says: Beginning
with the lyrical image of cherry blossoms falling at five centimeters a second
Makoto Shinkai paints a breathtakingly vivid tableau
of young love, desire, loss, and hope. Told in three breathtaking chapters, we
follow the young dreamer Takaki through his life as
cruel winters, cold technology, silence, and finally adult obligations and
responsibility converge to crush the delicate petals of true love. Finding
beauty in everyday objects and moments, Shinkai
reveals he is a master of animation and haunting beautiful storytelling. Fall
in love with this gorgeous thoughtful film hailed by critics and audiences
alike for its beauty, truth, and innovation in animation.
Comments: This is the third film from
acclaimed director Makoto Shinkai (Voices of a
Distant Star, The Place Promised in Our Early Days). Those with a
critical disposition would note that all three films are in some sense the
same, as the common theme is of distance (both real and perceived) between
individuals. However, this one is the strongest of his works.
Recommendation: 5 centimeters has all the makings
of a neo-masterpiece. It's a quiet, thoughtful film. Also, I
thought splitting the film into three chapters was a very effective device
(particularly when Takaki realizes that as an adult,
he has essentially lost his way as an individual).
US
distribution: ADV
Films, rereleased by Bandai Entertainment.
12. Maria + Holic
The back of the DVD says: Kanako
thought attending an all-girls school would be the perfect way to meet the girl
of her dreams, but after her cute new roommate turns out to be a guy in drag
and catching the eye of the most popular girl in school only brings down the
wrath of all the other similarly obsessed girls, she's not so sure!
Comments: I was originally a bit skeptical
of the show, thinking that the Mariya-in-drag joke
would be recycled ad nauseam. However, the show does not fall into that
trap (Mariya is actually something of a secondary
character), and I was surprised to find a satisfactory explanation of what Mariya is doing at Ame-no Kisaki.
Recommendation: The show was produced by Shaft (Pani Poni, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, Moonphase, Hidamari Sketch), and the show reflects Shaft’s quirky
visual style and the strange humor of the manga. With this
combination of forces, the humor definitely will elude some viewers.
Examples include the dorm manager’s insistence on being called ‘boss’ or ‘god’,
the prohibition of all gaming systems in the dorms (save of course for the
Virtual Boy), the other girls bullying Kanako with
seafood, Matsurika’s repeated attempts to reprogram Kanako’s personality, and Kanako’s
fear of men, which causes her to spout random phrases whenever a man gets near
(“Trinidad and Tobago!!”).
Also, the
second part of episode 10 (A Love Letter from Berlin) could be the most
brilliant 15 minutes of animated comedy ever.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Sentai filmworks, 12
episodes in a 2 disc set.
11. Paniponi
Dash!
The back of
the DVD says: The
good news? She's an MIT grad. The bad news? She's an
11-year-old MIT grad. So while Becky Miyamoto may be intellectually able, this
MIT prodigy is painfully ill-equipped to deal with a class of temperamental
teens - especially THIS group.
Comments: This is the type of show that
demands quite a bit from the viewer as well as a healthy appetite for non
sequitur humor. There are many references to elements of Japanese otaku
culture, and they come fast and furious. With the Vid-notes
feature on, it can almost be overwhelming at times. This is also the show that convinced me that
director Akiyuki Shinbo is
a genius. While the Paniponi
manga is a fairly unremarkable school comedy, Shinbo
takes the premise and transforms it into manic comic gold.
Recommendation: Like FLCL and Lucky Star, Paniponi is one of those shows where the enjoyment level
will be directly proportional to one's knowledge of anime and other
otaku-centric forms of entertainment. Proceed accordingly.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Originally released by ADV on 6 discs, re-released by Funimation
in a boxset. The original ADV release is
preferable, as it contains the Vid-notes and all of
the extras intact.
10. Azumanga
Daioh
The back of
the DVD says: In Miss
Yukari's English class, every day is an adventure. First off, there's the
teacher herself. A bit of an air-head, she may have graduated from high school,
but she sure hasn't left. And with the arrival of not one, but two
transfer students - one ten-year-old prodigy and one space cadet - it's going
to be an interesting year!
Comments: Azumanga
Daioh quite possibly made popular the "anime
about nothing" genre, as the story simply chronicles the everyday
adventures of Yukari-sensei and her homeroom class from day one of high school
until graduation. Despite its seemingly throwaway nature, there are many
elements of the show that will no doubt stick with the viewer (Chiyo-chan in the penguin outfit, the Yukari-mobile, and so
forth) for quite a while.
Recommendation:
I would describe
this as anime comfort food. It's not a deep show, but it has a lot of
heart.
US
distribution/DVD information: ADV
Films, 26 episodes on 6 DVD's (also available as a thinpack
box set).
9. Shadow Star Narutaru
(Narutaru)
The back of
the DVD says: When
Shiina nearly drowns at sea, she is rescued by a
mysterious star-shaped creature and plunged into a strange adventure! But
is her new pet Hoshimaru truly a friend, or a threat
to all humanity?
Comments: Narutaru
is one of those anime where what you see isn't what you get. Based on the
first episode (and the opening animation in particular), you might think you're
in for a cheerful little adventure with some cute pet monsters. Then
during episode two (for instance, when Akira stares intently at the razor and
then at her wrist after her run-in with the dragon's child), you begin to
realize this show is not what it appears to be. By episode nine or so,
you will realize that you are watching quite possibly the most nihilistic anime
ever made. Narutaru is right up there with When
They Cry for the title of, as some reviewers have put it, "most
surprisingly disturbing anime".
Recommendation: On a first viewing, this can be a
difficult watch. The middle 6 episodes or so can seem like filler until
you get a clearer picture of the characters and their motivations. It's
much better when rewatched (or watched in parallel
while reading the manga), and the commentaries with the director on the DVD are
fairly enlightening. At the end of the animated series, there are still
many open questions which the viewer must try to answer for themselves. Highly recommended.
US
distribution:
Central Park Media/ US Manga Corps, 13 episodes on 4 DVD's, out of print.
8. Alien Nine
The back of
the DVD says: Yuri
is totally bummed. She just started 6th grade and has been elected to capture
and eliminate the aliens that are constantly invading the school. Even
worse, she has to wear a creepy symbiotic alien helmet to get the job done - gross!
Comments: In many ways, Alien Nine plays out
like a 1960's Twilight Zone episode. Being only 4 episodes in length, the
story forces the viewer to try to fill in the holes in its setting (for
instance, one would ask what the aliens are doing on earth, why they seem so
interested in humans, why certain humans seem to have alien abilities, why
humans seem to be orchestrating the appearance of the aliens at the school, why
the girls are directed to capture but not kill the aliens, and so forth).
Recommendation: Due to its very quirky nature and
presentation, this might be a hard sell to all but the most veteran of anime
fans. In addition, the anime stops rather abruptly, as a major plot
development is revealed during the closing credits of the last episode (the
anime was made when only about half of the manga was released). To really
get the most from the story, one pretty much has to follow up the anime by
reading the manga in its entirety. Then the meanings of several elements
of the anime will become clear (like what happened during the closing credits,
what is being foreshadowed in Yuri's dreams, etc.). I am willing to call
it an overlooked masterpiece.
US
distribution/DVD information: Central
Park Media/US Manga Corps, 4 episodes on one DVD, out of print.
7.
The back of
the DVD says: Welcome
to the year 4998, where the most important sporting event for humanity has
become the athletic competition for the Cosmo Beauty title. Since only three
students from each training school may advance to the University Satellite to
compete for this title, we find the midterms are complicated by cut-throat
competition between the star athletes, and underhanded deviousness by the
sneaky slackards.
However, for
our heroine, Akari, the real problem is that she just
can't fail quietly! If it wasn't bad enough that the competitions are
televised, Akari is also the daughter of the most
famous Cosmo Beauty winner ever, Tomoe Midoe! When
you combine her famous mom with her bad luck, Akari
always winds up a focal point in whatever event is going on.
Comments: At first glance (and possibly on
the basis of the first episode or two) one might think that this is going to be
a very bizarre sort of slapstick sports-comedy. While there is no
shortage of comedy in the show, Battle Athletes Victory ends up having a bit of
substance and many of the episodes are actually quite dark. Ultimately,
the show addresses topics such as dealing with loss and tragedy (through Akari, Jessie, and to some extent, the Ichino
character), spirituality (via the Kris character), and the motivation for
humans to compete with one another.
Recommendation:
This is one of
those shows that, for whatever reason, really resonates
with me personally. N the early 2000’s, this was a pretty well-known
show; today it's become a little bit obscure.
Trivia: Surprisingly, this was a milestone
anime of sorts; it was the first anime TV series to see all of its episodes
released on DVD in region 1.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Pioneer/Geneon, 26 episodes on 8 DVD's, out of print.
6. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu)
The back of
the DVD says: I
thought that when I entered high school, my days of believing in aliens, time
travelers and ESPers were over. That was, until she
introduced herself. Claiming to be interested in only aliens, time travelers,
and ESPers, Haruhi Suzumiya was the strangest girl I'd met in a long time...
Before I knew
what was going on, I'd been dragged into her weird club, and it looks like I'm
not the only one who has been drafted into this "SOS Brigade" of
hers, because there are three other students here who don't seem to be so
ordinary themselves.
Either way,
we've all found ourselves caught up in Haruhi's quest
to search for all things extraordinary. And what's this I hear about us making
a movie...?
Comments: For quite some time before its US
release, Haruhi was billed as the Next Big Thing in
anime and it's hard to disagree (and the steadily-increasing amount of Haruhi-related merchandise seems to confirm this).
About season two: Season two contains the often-maligned “endless
eight” arc where the same story is told eight different times, with some minor differences
each time (as I tend to think would happen locally in any attempt to duplicate a
timeline), and sometimes told from slightly different perspectives. It’s a clever idea and extremely well-done in
its execution, but I can also understand the fan rage that followed.
Recommendation:
This is another
easy recommendation. However, those new to the show might be well advised
to temporarily skip the first episode on the first DVD (episode 00, "The
Melancholy of Mikuru Asahina"),
as it contains a lot of in-references to later events in the show, and could be
a bit perplexing/off-putting for a new viewer the first time through.
US
distribution/DVD information: Kadokawa Pictures/Bandai USA.
5. FLCL (Fooly
Cooly, Furi Kuri)
The back of
the DVD says: Naota wants to be normal. But with a talented brother
leaving Japan for the US to play baseball, everyone now looks at him a bit
differently. His brother's girlfriend is acting strange and now there's an even
stranger girl hitting on him. Literally. With a bass guitar. Oh, and did I mention the robots
that keep springing from his head?
Comments: One doesn't watch FLCL so much as
one experiences it. With its rather surreal atmosphere,
sometimes-unconventional animation (including some rather amusing usage of
CGI), best soundtrack ever (courtesy of the Pillows), and copious in-jokes, this
is a show that anime fans will enjoy while many non-fans will probably not
understand it at all. However, all the episodes are pretty self-contained
and most can be summarized in one sentence (he swung the bat!).
Recommendation:
Devoted anime
fans have already seen this, and many will say this was the last really good Gainax production. Non-fans might want to watch some
other stuff first, if only to understand all of the references to robot shows.
US
distribution/DVD information: Synch-point/Broccoli,
6 episodes on 3 DVD's, rereleased by Funimation on Blu-ray and DVD.
4. Air
The back of the DVD says: Yukito is a
traveling performer; a wanderer. He survives with only the clothes on his back,
a puppet, and a story from his mother: the story of "The Girl in the
Sky." He doesn't know who or where she is; only that he must find her. On
the verge of starvation, he is befriended by a young misfit named Misuzu, whose eccentricities serve to hide a troubled home
life. Misuzu offers Yukito
a place to stay, and in return he listens to her dreams - dreams in which she
lives in the sky.
To make ends meet, Yukito takes odd jobs from the local doctor, where he meets
Comments: At first glance, one might
think that Air is going to be a lighthearted slice-of-life show. Alas,
this assessment would be incorrect, as Air turns out to be an extremely
melancholy story of love and loss. I found Air to be the type of show
that could make you smile one minute and just rip your guts out the next.
This is also the type of show that is better the second time you watch
it. After watching the show once in its entirety and also watching the
movie, all of the pieces of the plot will fit together much better. The
first time through, there are some things that could be a bit perplexing (like
how all of the side stories fit together, and what the "1000th Summer" business in the opening credits is about).
Recommendation: This show seems to have been well
received by the fan community in the U.S., as more than one installment earned
"release of the month" honors on animeondvd.com. It's
beautifully animated and is definitely worth a look.
Also
recommended: It
is almost certain that if you liked Air (sad girls in summertime) you will like
Kanon (sad girls in winter, also produced by Kyoto
Animation/Key) and Clannad. I rank Air > Kanon > Clannad, but the
prevailing opinion of most fans seems to be just the opposite, namely Clannad > Kanon > Air.
US
distribution/DVD information:
ADV, 12 TV episodes, 2 OVA episodes and a theatrical movie on 5 discs,
rereleased by Funimation.
3. Evangelion,
Neon Genesis
The back of
the DVD says: At the
turn of the century, the Angels returned to Earth, seeking to wipe out humanity
in an apocalyptic fury. Devastated, mankind's last remnants moved underground
to wait for the day when the Angels would come back to finish the job. Fifteen
years later, that day has come... but this time, humanity is ready to fight
back with terrifying bio-mechanical weapons known as the Evangelions.
Now it's up to Shinji, Rei, Asuka
and the rest of the mysterious shadow agency NERV to save Earth from total
annihilation!
Recommendation: It's hard to say much about Evangelion that hasn't already been said. It is a
classic, must-see anime and at the same time it's just a smidge
overrated. But however one views it, whether as a mecha
anime or as a study of the interaction of dysfunctional personalities, whether
one prefers the TV show's ending, its theatrical rethinking, or none of the
above, every fan will see this at some point.
US
distribution/DVD information: ADV
films (TV series), 26 episodes on 8 DVD's (also available in a set), Manga
Entertainment (Death and Rebirth/End of Evangelion), Funimation (the Rebuild movies).
2. Card Captor Sakura
The back of
the DVD says: Curiosity
is a part of any 10-year-old's life, but Sakura just broke the seal on a
magical book and released all of the mischievous spirits imprisoned on the cards
inside. Kero, the Guardian of the Clow Cards, is horrified to find all of the cards gone and
tells Sakura she must become the card captor and retrieve the spirits before
they work their mischief in the world.
Comments: Despite its rather formulaic structure
(about 80% of the episodes culminate in "Sakura vs. Clow
card of the week"), CCS is really a character-centric show. Most of
the series' charm comes from the natural nature of the relationships between
the characters (even some of the Clow Cards themselves
are strong characters; the Mirror card comes to mind), and some of the show's
more memorable installments (for instance, the conclusion to the second season,
episode 66 [the aptly named "The Person Sakura Likes the Most"], and
the second theatrical movie) all feature somewhat more drama than one might
expect.
Recommendation:
CCS might too
cute for some, but it is also widely regarded as masterpiece of shojo anime. Highly recommended.
Note: Fortunately, the much-abhorred English
language adaptation of CCS has begun to disappear into obscurity.
US
distribution/DVD information:
Geneon, 70 TV episodes on 18 DVD's (also available in two box sets, the aptly
named "Clow Book" and "Sakura
Book"), and two theatrical movies.
Out of print, while fans of the franchise wait patiently for a proper blu-ray release in the US.
1. Gunslinger Girl/Gunslinger Girl Il Teatrino
The back of
the DVD says: Officially,
the Social Welfare Agency is a government sponsored corporation that's in the
business of saving lives. At least, that's the ruse. In reality, it's an agency
on the fringe of technology. They give terminal patients another shot at life
using cybernetic implants. This conditioning process then shapes the patient
into an efficient machine for handling all of the government's dirty work.
Having survived
the brutal slaughter of her family, Henrietta awakens to her new life at the
Agency with a re-built body and no memory of the past. She has been teamed with
her handler Giuse, who is responsible for her
training and conditioning, turning her into the perfect killing machine.
Henrietta strives to find her place within the Agency, doing her best to win Giuse's affection. But can Giuse
control her? Can he balance the needs and desires between the assassin and the
developing adolescent?
Comments: Those expecting an action anime
will not find what they're looking for here. Gunslinger Girl is a very talky
and subdued character drama. There is a larger plot, but season one
mainly focuses on the girls at the agency, the stories of how they came to be
there, and ultimately their struggle to come to terms with the realities of
their second chance at life. Season two seems to be made for Triela fans, as the bulk of the episodes deal with the manga’s Triela/Pinocchio story
arc and the handlers gain a little more character depth (particularly some
insight as to why Giuse treats Henrietta so nicely).
Recommendation:
A good choice for
anyone interested in thought-provoking storytelling, especially when served
with a large helping of moral ambiguity. After watching it several times,
and also reading the manga, I'm willing to call it a masterpiece anime.
On the second season: I found the change in the art
style a bit jarring at first, but it is actually pretty close to the style of
the manga.
US
distribution/DVD information: Funimation.