January 9th, 2012
Best Anime of 2011
Anime Relations: Steins;Gate, Fractale, Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica, Tiger & Bunny, Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai II, Usagi Drop, Persona 4 the Animation
2011 had an interesting variety of anime that I can honestly say surprised me with how good it all was. Granted I didn't see every single anime that came out this year, but here are the 7 best I saw all year. If you have any suggestions, feel free to comment.
Persona 4- Anyone who ever wants to make a video game adaptation, take notes. This anime is single-handedly the best video game adaptation ever made. Better than any video game anime beforehand, better than any live action video game movie, and I’ll go so far as to say it’s better than Advent Children. Everything that is right with the Persona 4 game is translated well in this anime, because the animators not only don’t change the story too much, but because they smartly translates the gameplay into exciting fight scenes and keep the same character development as seen in the game. This anime proves that great video game adaptations are possible in the right hands.
Mahou Shojo Madoka Magica- Talk about an anime that defies all expectations. Acting as a deconstruction of the magical girl genre in the same way Evangelion is a deconstruction of the giant robot genre, this anime hopefully will serve as a creative relaunch of the genre. Very few animes this year had such creative ideas for their characters and story and executed them this well. Take note though, this is not your typical magical girl show; this is a really dark story that is really messed up in a lot of ways. At the same time though, I feel that people who were fans of shows like Sailor Moon will immensely enjoy this show because of how daring it is with this well established formula. The only issue I have with this series is that it needed to be one episode longer to have a totally complete ending. Even so, the ending is still very good and will satisfy most, if not all anime fans.
World God Only Knows II- The first season of WGOK was one of the biggest surprises in recent anime. It was a harem show that had well developed characters for both the sexes as well and had some genuinely funny and interesting stories to go with it, something unseen to me in the harem genre in years. The second season of WGOK continued this great formula and improved it on every single level. The stories with Keima and the girls he “conquests” are all interesting and have great character development between everyone involved, and all are genuinely funny. Instead of relying on boob shots, the comedy is more or less entirely character driven instead of relying on contrived situations that so many anime comedies do these days. If you are looking for a harem anime that actually provides a good story and good comedy, look no further. (On a side note, Amagami SS is another really good harem show if you’re interested.)
Steins;Gate- Surprisingly, this is also a video game adaptation, this time based on a “visual novel” released for Xbox 360 in Japan, from the same creators as Chaos;Head. This series uses clever time travel mechanics in essence to do some of the best character development and storytelling in anime this season. This series does have a slow start, with most of the first half of the series being about the ragtag team of mad scientist wannabes trying to perfect a time machine they accidently invented that can send text messages to the past out of a microwave (it’s anime.) However, after the halfway point, the main characters (particularly Kurisu and Okabe) go through some of the most interesting character development that happened in all of anime last year. On top of really digging into what makes these and the other characters of this show tick, the sci-fi plot actually is very intelligent and merges the best of both worlds of character study and tricky sci-fi plotting. In some ways, this is kind of like the Inception of anime in this regard, but it is also a very different beast in its own unique ways. People who love sci-fi anime seriously need to track this down immediately.
Usagi Drop- The odd one out of the entire list. Who would have thought that a show about a single 30 year old man raising his dead grandpa’s illegitimate 6-year old daughter would be one of the best animes of the year? The reason this show works as well as it does is, like Steins;Gate, is because of the characters and how they develop over time. Daikachi and Rin are both great characters and this show, most important of all, gets the kid characters absolutely right. Rin and the other kids on this show are written very believably and actually act like kids should. Sometimes they can be bratty, sometimes they’re sweet, and other times they have serious discussions with their parents. This is the kind of writing for kid characters that so many shows (anime or not) get completely wrong. A fantastic watercolor art style also adds a lot of charm to the show. Simply put, this show is just delightful to watch. Yeah, I said delightful, deal with it.
Tiger & Bunny- It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of American comics and superheroes, and I will freely admit this is probably the most original take on this concept in recent years. The idea of commercialized superheroes is not only original, but strangely plausible in modern society. This concept doesn’t detract though from the strong visuals, actions scenes, and character development of this anime. All of the superheroes have unique personalities that are all enjoyable in their own right, but the heart and center of the show is the relationship between hero duo Wild Tiger and Barnaby (Bunny). The way they play off each other makes the show not only hilarious but a thrill to watch as well. In short, this is the best buddy cop movie since Hot Fuzz. And it’s in the middle of a well realized superhero mythology with great characters? What’s not to love about this anime?
Fractale- The best anime of 2011 was also probably one of the least watched or appreciated. This is the kind of show that makes me happy to be an anime fan, combining an interesting story, well developed and likeable characters, and a phenomenal art style into a simply fantastic anime. The story is complicated, yet subtle at the same time, with most of the depth coming from the scenery and expressions characters make as opposed to cramming down a convoluted back story. The characters have personalities and motivations that are easy to understand, that again are fleshed out based on how they interact with others and the world around them as opposed to explaining it to the audience. This trend continues as more of the plot is explained and the audience sees how organizations such as Lost Millennium and the Fractale religion interact with each other. This series also does a fantastic job of making both sides of the conflict both flawed, yet reasonable in their arguments. It would be really easy for a series like this to end by clearly stating one side is right and one is wrong, but Fractale addresses both ideologies in a very smart and thoughtful way that makes it much more interesting in retrospect than most series this past year. Combining all of this with a watercolor art style that would make Hayao Miyazaki proud, I can without a doubt say Fractale was the best anime of 2011, hands down. I seriously hope the people who made this get another opportunity to work on an anime this good and well realized soon.
Persona 4- Anyone who ever wants to make a video game adaptation, take notes. This anime is single-handedly the best video game adaptation ever made. Better than any video game anime beforehand, better than any live action video game movie, and I’ll go so far as to say it’s better than Advent Children. Everything that is right with the Persona 4 game is translated well in this anime, because the animators not only don’t change the story too much, but because they smartly translates the gameplay into exciting fight scenes and keep the same character development as seen in the game. This anime proves that great video game adaptations are possible in the right hands.
Mahou Shojo Madoka Magica- Talk about an anime that defies all expectations. Acting as a deconstruction of the magical girl genre in the same way Evangelion is a deconstruction of the giant robot genre, this anime hopefully will serve as a creative relaunch of the genre. Very few animes this year had such creative ideas for their characters and story and executed them this well. Take note though, this is not your typical magical girl show; this is a really dark story that is really messed up in a lot of ways. At the same time though, I feel that people who were fans of shows like Sailor Moon will immensely enjoy this show because of how daring it is with this well established formula. The only issue I have with this series is that it needed to be one episode longer to have a totally complete ending. Even so, the ending is still very good and will satisfy most, if not all anime fans.
World God Only Knows II- The first season of WGOK was one of the biggest surprises in recent anime. It was a harem show that had well developed characters for both the sexes as well and had some genuinely funny and interesting stories to go with it, something unseen to me in the harem genre in years. The second season of WGOK continued this great formula and improved it on every single level. The stories with Keima and the girls he “conquests” are all interesting and have great character development between everyone involved, and all are genuinely funny. Instead of relying on boob shots, the comedy is more or less entirely character driven instead of relying on contrived situations that so many anime comedies do these days. If you are looking for a harem anime that actually provides a good story and good comedy, look no further. (On a side note, Amagami SS is another really good harem show if you’re interested.)
Steins;Gate- Surprisingly, this is also a video game adaptation, this time based on a “visual novel” released for Xbox 360 in Japan, from the same creators as Chaos;Head. This series uses clever time travel mechanics in essence to do some of the best character development and storytelling in anime this season. This series does have a slow start, with most of the first half of the series being about the ragtag team of mad scientist wannabes trying to perfect a time machine they accidently invented that can send text messages to the past out of a microwave (it’s anime.) However, after the halfway point, the main characters (particularly Kurisu and Okabe) go through some of the most interesting character development that happened in all of anime last year. On top of really digging into what makes these and the other characters of this show tick, the sci-fi plot actually is very intelligent and merges the best of both worlds of character study and tricky sci-fi plotting. In some ways, this is kind of like the Inception of anime in this regard, but it is also a very different beast in its own unique ways. People who love sci-fi anime seriously need to track this down immediately.
Usagi Drop- The odd one out of the entire list. Who would have thought that a show about a single 30 year old man raising his dead grandpa’s illegitimate 6-year old daughter would be one of the best animes of the year? The reason this show works as well as it does is, like Steins;Gate, is because of the characters and how they develop over time. Daikachi and Rin are both great characters and this show, most important of all, gets the kid characters absolutely right. Rin and the other kids on this show are written very believably and actually act like kids should. Sometimes they can be bratty, sometimes they’re sweet, and other times they have serious discussions with their parents. This is the kind of writing for kid characters that so many shows (anime or not) get completely wrong. A fantastic watercolor art style also adds a lot of charm to the show. Simply put, this show is just delightful to watch. Yeah, I said delightful, deal with it.
Tiger & Bunny- It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of American comics and superheroes, and I will freely admit this is probably the most original take on this concept in recent years. The idea of commercialized superheroes is not only original, but strangely plausible in modern society. This concept doesn’t detract though from the strong visuals, actions scenes, and character development of this anime. All of the superheroes have unique personalities that are all enjoyable in their own right, but the heart and center of the show is the relationship between hero duo Wild Tiger and Barnaby (Bunny). The way they play off each other makes the show not only hilarious but a thrill to watch as well. In short, this is the best buddy cop movie since Hot Fuzz. And it’s in the middle of a well realized superhero mythology with great characters? What’s not to love about this anime?
Fractale- The best anime of 2011 was also probably one of the least watched or appreciated. This is the kind of show that makes me happy to be an anime fan, combining an interesting story, well developed and likeable characters, and a phenomenal art style into a simply fantastic anime. The story is complicated, yet subtle at the same time, with most of the depth coming from the scenery and expressions characters make as opposed to cramming down a convoluted back story. The characters have personalities and motivations that are easy to understand, that again are fleshed out based on how they interact with others and the world around them as opposed to explaining it to the audience. This trend continues as more of the plot is explained and the audience sees how organizations such as Lost Millennium and the Fractale religion interact with each other. This series also does a fantastic job of making both sides of the conflict both flawed, yet reasonable in their arguments. It would be really easy for a series like this to end by clearly stating one side is right and one is wrong, but Fractale addresses both ideologies in a very smart and thoughtful way that makes it much more interesting in retrospect than most series this past year. Combining all of this with a watercolor art style that would make Hayao Miyazaki proud, I can without a doubt say Fractale was the best anime of 2011, hands down. I seriously hope the people who made this get another opportunity to work on an anime this good and well realized soon.
Posted by BatOtaku13 | Jan 9, 2012 7:05 PM | 0 comments
December 18th, 2010
Anime Jump the Shark moments
for those of you who don't know, jumping the shark refers to a point when a TV show goes completely downhill from that point onward. it's the point where the entire show completely falls apart with no hope of return. out of curiosity, what are your anime "jump the shark" moments?
three come to mind:
Yusuke's demon powers in YuYu Hakusho during the Sensui fight. This is mainly because of the lack of any foreshadowing or hinting of any kind to his demon powers. They just come pretty much out of nowhere and yet we the audience are supposed to act like there's nothing out of the ordinary about it. It also doesn't help either that the Three Kings Saga is by far the weakest in the whole show.
The introduction of Naraku's baby heart and Hakudoshi in Inuyasha. This is more of a personal choice than an obviously jump the shark moment, but when these two came along Inuyasha was scrapping the bottom of the barrel for ideas as it was, so Rumiko Takahashi introduces the two least interesting characters in the entire series for our heroes to deal with. The baby has no personality (i know it's a baby but anything would have been fine) and Hakudoshi is just a one note version of Naraku. And plus the endless parade of Naraku offsprings from this point on didn't help matters at all.
The Majin Buu Saga from DBZ. Another example of scrapping the bottom of the barrel for ideas. I know Akira Toriyama was forced to write this by Shonen Jump, but that doesn't excuse how lazy this saga can be at points. The fusion concept is just a weird diversion while everyone that isn't named Goku, Vegeta, Trunks, Gohan, and Goten are all rendered completely useless. Why couldn't DBZ end with either Freiza or Cell? Those would have been perfect endings for the series, instead we leave on a whimper.
three come to mind:
Yusuke's demon powers in YuYu Hakusho during the Sensui fight. This is mainly because of the lack of any foreshadowing or hinting of any kind to his demon powers. They just come pretty much out of nowhere and yet we the audience are supposed to act like there's nothing out of the ordinary about it. It also doesn't help either that the Three Kings Saga is by far the weakest in the whole show.
The introduction of Naraku's baby heart and Hakudoshi in Inuyasha. This is more of a personal choice than an obviously jump the shark moment, but when these two came along Inuyasha was scrapping the bottom of the barrel for ideas as it was, so Rumiko Takahashi introduces the two least interesting characters in the entire series for our heroes to deal with. The baby has no personality (i know it's a baby but anything would have been fine) and Hakudoshi is just a one note version of Naraku. And plus the endless parade of Naraku offsprings from this point on didn't help matters at all.
The Majin Buu Saga from DBZ. Another example of scrapping the bottom of the barrel for ideas. I know Akira Toriyama was forced to write this by Shonen Jump, but that doesn't excuse how lazy this saga can be at points. The fusion concept is just a weird diversion while everyone that isn't named Goku, Vegeta, Trunks, Gohan, and Goten are all rendered completely useless. Why couldn't DBZ end with either Freiza or Cell? Those would have been perfect endings for the series, instead we leave on a whimper.
Posted by BatOtaku13 | Dec 18, 2010 11:02 PM | 0 comments
December 15th, 2009
Top 5 Worst Animes of this Decade
Anime Relations: Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Seisou-hen, Kore ga Watashi no Goshujinsama, Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch, To LOVE-Ru, Soul Eater
As much as I praised the 2000s in terms of anime, it doesn’t mean there weren’t a few terrible series along the way. Just to remind you guys, this is purely my opinion, so don’t get offended if I put your favorite series on this list. Here is my list of the top 5 worst animes of this decade.
5. Soul Eater- The entire reason this one is on the list is because of the second half of the show. The fist half is still entertaining and fun, but the second half just sucks the life out of this series. To this day I have no idea what in the world Bones was thinking when writing the second half of the show. Why in the world would you turn every single character into a whining little prick who just mopes around every episode? Where is the sense of fun? This is what happens when you completely ignore why your series is successful in the first place and try to deviate too far away from it. There’s nothing wrong with experimentation, but it has to make sense in the context of the show you have created. Bones is a great animation company, so hopefully they learn from their mistakes and do better on their next show.
4. Samurai X: Reflections- How did a Rurouni Kenshin spinoff end up on this list? Because it took one of the best shonen mangas of the 1990s and made it into one of the most unnecessarily depressing animes in recent memory. The happy ending established in the manga story is completely ignored for something that is supposed to be “deep”, but just comes off as forced beyond all belief. There is literally no reason for Kenshin to do anything he does in this OVA, as it completely ignores everything his character stands for all in the name of making a depressing ending to an otherwise happy and entertaining anime series. Nobody else fares any better, with characterizations that range from non-existent to completely inaccurate given their histories. This is why sometimes it is just better to leave a series alone rather than revive it. Only revive something when you have a good idea and when you know you can execute it properly. Unfortunately, the makers of this OVA didn’t take this advice.
3. To Love-Ru- This show treats its audience like complete morons, simply put. It’s another harem comedy involving aliens, and it is one of the laziest animes I have seen in a very long time. It is so content with its own badness, it never once tries to do anything remotely original. I can’t say anything about the characters, since they’re so one note it would be futile to describe them. They’re not so much characters as they are just paper cut out archetypes. The writing is not only bad, but just lazy every single episode, and always settles on the lowest common denominator for every single joke it tries to tell. It’s so one-dimensional its almost embarrassing to even attempt to write about. There is no reason to ever bother watching this series since if you’re looking for cheap sex, the internet exists for a reason. Do me a favor, don’t encourage this kind of tripe to reproduce into the future.
2. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion- I have never seen an anime so consistently shoot itself in the foot. I fist heard this show described as an action show about the nature of terrorism and how the lines between diplomacy and violence is often blurred. I’m still waiting to see that show! What we got instead is one of the most confused, overdramatic, and ridiculous animes to come out in a very, very long time. Whether it is characters that are completely oblivious to anything that happens within five feet of them, robot battles that are so generic they put me to sleep, and a storyline that would make All My Children blush. I can’t decide which is more ridiculous, a culture festival episode following one about an mass genocide, or girls fighting about who will take Lelouch in a show about TERRORISM. The entire thing is ludicrious beyond belief, butchers what could have been one of the most interesting stories ever produced in anime, and is one of the worst animes I have ever seen. God, the more I think about this series the more I loathe it.
1. He is My Master- This is the low point of all anime. There’s really no other way to describe this disaster. Not only does this show make the huge mistake of confusing boob shots with jokes, it also doesn’t even bother to actually attempt to write legitimate jokes. Literally everything here is a boob/bra/butt joke waiting to happen, all done with 14 year old girls running around in “sexy” French maid outfits. Yeah, not only is this not funny in any way, its also incredibly tasteless. All of the characters are either complete morons or douchebags, there is not a single joke that is actually funny, the animation is lazy and messy, the entire thing just reeks of pedophelia, and just thinking about this drek makes me want to take a shower. Whoever thought this would make a good series needs to never work in anime ever again. He clearly has no idea what taste or entertainment is. This is a prime example of why I have so little faith in anime comedies. Just attempt to watch one single episode of this series without turning it off in disgust, I can almost guarantee it won’t happen.
I certainly hope I don’t have to relive any of these series in the future, and here’s hoping people learn from their mistakes.
5. Soul Eater- The entire reason this one is on the list is because of the second half of the show. The fist half is still entertaining and fun, but the second half just sucks the life out of this series. To this day I have no idea what in the world Bones was thinking when writing the second half of the show. Why in the world would you turn every single character into a whining little prick who just mopes around every episode? Where is the sense of fun? This is what happens when you completely ignore why your series is successful in the first place and try to deviate too far away from it. There’s nothing wrong with experimentation, but it has to make sense in the context of the show you have created. Bones is a great animation company, so hopefully they learn from their mistakes and do better on their next show.
4. Samurai X: Reflections- How did a Rurouni Kenshin spinoff end up on this list? Because it took one of the best shonen mangas of the 1990s and made it into one of the most unnecessarily depressing animes in recent memory. The happy ending established in the manga story is completely ignored for something that is supposed to be “deep”, but just comes off as forced beyond all belief. There is literally no reason for Kenshin to do anything he does in this OVA, as it completely ignores everything his character stands for all in the name of making a depressing ending to an otherwise happy and entertaining anime series. Nobody else fares any better, with characterizations that range from non-existent to completely inaccurate given their histories. This is why sometimes it is just better to leave a series alone rather than revive it. Only revive something when you have a good idea and when you know you can execute it properly. Unfortunately, the makers of this OVA didn’t take this advice.
3. To Love-Ru- This show treats its audience like complete morons, simply put. It’s another harem comedy involving aliens, and it is one of the laziest animes I have seen in a very long time. It is so content with its own badness, it never once tries to do anything remotely original. I can’t say anything about the characters, since they’re so one note it would be futile to describe them. They’re not so much characters as they are just paper cut out archetypes. The writing is not only bad, but just lazy every single episode, and always settles on the lowest common denominator for every single joke it tries to tell. It’s so one-dimensional its almost embarrassing to even attempt to write about. There is no reason to ever bother watching this series since if you’re looking for cheap sex, the internet exists for a reason. Do me a favor, don’t encourage this kind of tripe to reproduce into the future.
2. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion- I have never seen an anime so consistently shoot itself in the foot. I fist heard this show described as an action show about the nature of terrorism and how the lines between diplomacy and violence is often blurred. I’m still waiting to see that show! What we got instead is one of the most confused, overdramatic, and ridiculous animes to come out in a very, very long time. Whether it is characters that are completely oblivious to anything that happens within five feet of them, robot battles that are so generic they put me to sleep, and a storyline that would make All My Children blush. I can’t decide which is more ridiculous, a culture festival episode following one about an mass genocide, or girls fighting about who will take Lelouch in a show about TERRORISM. The entire thing is ludicrious beyond belief, butchers what could have been one of the most interesting stories ever produced in anime, and is one of the worst animes I have ever seen. God, the more I think about this series the more I loathe it.
1. He is My Master- This is the low point of all anime. There’s really no other way to describe this disaster. Not only does this show make the huge mistake of confusing boob shots with jokes, it also doesn’t even bother to actually attempt to write legitimate jokes. Literally everything here is a boob/bra/butt joke waiting to happen, all done with 14 year old girls running around in “sexy” French maid outfits. Yeah, not only is this not funny in any way, its also incredibly tasteless. All of the characters are either complete morons or douchebags, there is not a single joke that is actually funny, the animation is lazy and messy, the entire thing just reeks of pedophelia, and just thinking about this drek makes me want to take a shower. Whoever thought this would make a good series needs to never work in anime ever again. He clearly has no idea what taste or entertainment is. This is a prime example of why I have so little faith in anime comedies. Just attempt to watch one single episode of this series without turning it off in disgust, I can almost guarantee it won’t happen.
I certainly hope I don’t have to relive any of these series in the future, and here’s hoping people learn from their mistakes.
Posted by BatOtaku13 | Dec 15, 2009 10:58 PM | 2 comments
Top 10 Animes of this Decade
The 2000s were a very interesting decade of anime with many new franchises being born that will define many generations of anime to come. Here is my personal list of the top 10 animes of this decade, which covers tv shows, movies, and OVAs, and a mix of popular and less recognized animes. Feel free to talk about my picks in the comments.
10. Death Note- Although the second half isn't quite as good as the first half and despite the sometimes repetitive stories, this is quite a great cat and mouse detective show. Light Yagami is still a great villain I hate with a fiery passion and the interplay between him, L and the police is all very well done and tense the entire time. It's morally gray message about where the line between hero and monster is located is also is a highlight, forcing the viewers to think about what really is happening in the grand scheme of things.
9. 5 Centimeters per Second- This is the first purely romantic anime movie I've ever seen, and surprisingly it is a fantastic love story. The characters of Tagaki and Akagi have real chemistry together and you truly understand why there is such strong emotion between the two. The story is very interesting, covering the years following their relationship in high school and how both have evolved and met new people over time. The ending is bound to make some people very upset, but at the same time it's one of the most realistic I've ever seen in this kind of series. It's a great movie that really should get more attention than it has gotten.
8. FLCL (Fooly Cooly)- This show is quite literally insane. At only 6 episodes long and a plot that isn’t even revealed fully until the final episode, it would be easy to dismiss this as utter nonsense. However, its at its heart a coming of age story, just with robots that come out of the main character Naota’s head. Yeah… Haruko is one of the best anime heroines in recent memory, always doing what she feels like and never letting anybody bring her down or tell her otherwise. The action scenes are fantastically animated, the entire show is hilarious, and even if the plot doesn’t quite make a ton of sense in the end (it doesn’t 100%), the coming of age story combined with the sheer weirdness of the whole thing makes it unforgettable and fantastic anime.
7. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex- An offshoot of the fantastic Ghost in the Shell movie and manga series, GITS: SAC is a really intriguing sci-fi series about our growing dependence of technology and how it is in some ways a blessing, and in others a curse. All the characters from the 1995 movie return in this prequel series, and their personalities are as well defined and iconic as always. Major Mokoto Kusanagi still retains her crown as the single greatest anime heroine ever made, with her strong convictions, determined attitude, and above all else pure badassness. The stories told here are all very methodical and intriguing, dealing with everything from government corruption, to terrorism, to our reactions to the world changing right in front of us. Its combination of unique sci-fi storylines in an fascinating future, cool characters and film-quality animation definitely makes this series worthwhile to people who loved the film and newcomers alike. If anything, it will create new fans of the 1995 film, which is to this day one of the best animated films ever made.
6. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Season 1)- This anime literally convinced me not to give up on anime comedies. Here we have an anime series that actually wrote jokes that were not only funny, but worked on many different levels; some were sarcastic, some were subtle, and some were laugh out loud jokes. The storyline is one of the most unique in all of anime, combining high school life with a bizarre sci-fi universe only possible in Japan. All of the characters were believable (given the context of the story) and most importantly likeable. I would hang out with everyone in this show; Haruhi, Kyon, Mikuru, Yuki, and Koizumi would all be great people to be friends with, despite the weirdness that surrounds them. This mixture of comedy, likeable characters, and so weird its great sci-fi makes this a great anime in general. Despite a somewhat lackluster second season, here’s hope to the movie out next year rebounds Haruhi back to the top where she belongs.
5. Spirited Away- One of the best examples of pure movie magic ever in recent memory, Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece is a celebration of imagination. The story, while very simplistic is quite applicable to people of all backgrounds and ages, kids and adults. The visuals are some of the best ever put into an animated picture, with new creatures and ideas being shown literally in every frame of animation. It’s the Wizard of Oz for the modern generation and makes everyone who ever had an over-active imagination happy to experience its wonders. This is the kind of anime you want to show to people who dismiss anime in general in order to convince them otherwise. More than likely, this one movie more than any other will convince them to give the medium a second look.
4. Casshern SINS- The best sci-fi anime of this decade is also the most criminally underrated series of the decade. Literally coming out of nowhere, this remake of the 1960’s anime Neo Human Casshern is one of the most thought-provoking and philosophical animes I have ever seen. It’s bleak setting and nature is bound to turn off some fans from the get go, but its ideas and outlooks on life and humanity are so rich and textured you will be addicted. It also doesn’t hurt that the animation is beautifully done, with more simplistic and interesting character designs than most shows, and fight scenes that look effortless crafted. The entire cast is rich with depth and complexity uncommon in most anime in today’s market and their journey is one of the most compelling I’ve ever seen, despite it not being as stereotypically epic as other shows. This is the anime for people who want to think and be entertained at the same time. It is strongly recommened to anybody who wants a little bit more out of their standard anime fair.
3. Rebuild of Evangelion Film Series- This might be considered cheating since this is a remake of my favorite anime of all time, Neon Genesis Evangelion, but this is much more than a simple remake. It’s a complete reimagining of the classic series, exploring radical new ideas and directions the original never looked at, and succeeding in every single one of its gambles. The first movie, You Are (Not) Alone is basically an HD remake of the first 6 episodes, but still introduces new ideas in the end. It’s the second film however, You Can (Not) Advance, that really elevates the Rebuild series into perfection. It takes so many radical new directions and introduces ideas that sound ludicrious on paper, but in practice create something that is equal to the original series. This is the future blueprint of how to remake anime series; take the concepts of the original and introduce fresh ideas that work effortlessly in a new context. The animation and music are also top notch along with the new story, elevating the Rebuild of Evangelion from pure remake to second coming of a unbelievably fantastic anime universe.
2. FullMetal Alchemist- How many series do you know that have had two amazing animes in one decade? Probably not a lot, but FMA somehow managed to do so. The original series, while it radically departs from the manga at the halfway point, tells its own interesting story that tackles the same themes as the original manga but in different ways. It still retained the spirit of the manga and managed to create its own unique interpretation of its themes and characters and is unquestionably one of the best and most unforgettable animes of the decade. The new FMA series, Brotherhood, looks just as fantastic. This time, Brotherhood follows the manga story, which already was great, and manages to addict the viewers in the same way the original series did. FMA tackles many diverse themes such as the nature of war and science vs. the power of God, and both series show the complexity of these two issues and the depths in which humanity will go to prove its righteousness. These themes never overshadow the story of the Elric brothers though, which at its heart is about two brothers trying to fix their past mistakes, and by extention humanity’s. It’s too early to decide whether the original series of Brotherhood is superior, but both FMA series are terrific action shows that have much more depth and complexity than most animes can ever dream of.
1. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann- No series this decade made me this excited about anime in general than Gurren Lagann. It is not as emotionally or philosophically challenging as other animes on this list, but at the same time it doesn’t matter; Gurren Lagann provided more entertainment per minute than almost any anime I have ever seen. The animation is crazy like FLCL’s, but that just makes the giant robot battles that much more exciting to watch and the characters more interesting to watch. You would be a fool to dismiss Gurren Lagann’s story though as childish, it does explore themes rarely seen in anime, such as the nature of evolution and man’s reaction to it. How does one react when you realize we have reached the top of the food chain? Where does humanity go once he has evolved to its highest potential? Most important though, Gurren Lagann is a show “about believing in the me that believes in you”. It’s about rising up from the past to see a better tomorrow. It is about achieving the impossible even if you don’t think you can. It is about doing what is right for not only yourself, but for others as well. The crazy animation elevates the fights to astronomically epic levels, with the final fight making the word “epic” sound miniscule. The characters are all timeless archetypes that resonate within all of us in some form or another. The story is uplifting and emporwering, the themes are quite interesting in retrospect, and overall Gurren Lagann is in one word, satisfying. There is nothing that could possibly add to this series; it is simply, PERFECT.
That is my list of the best animes of this decade. Here’s hoping for more fantastic anime in the future.
10. Death Note- Although the second half isn't quite as good as the first half and despite the sometimes repetitive stories, this is quite a great cat and mouse detective show. Light Yagami is still a great villain I hate with a fiery passion and the interplay between him, L and the police is all very well done and tense the entire time. It's morally gray message about where the line between hero and monster is located is also is a highlight, forcing the viewers to think about what really is happening in the grand scheme of things.
9. 5 Centimeters per Second- This is the first purely romantic anime movie I've ever seen, and surprisingly it is a fantastic love story. The characters of Tagaki and Akagi have real chemistry together and you truly understand why there is such strong emotion between the two. The story is very interesting, covering the years following their relationship in high school and how both have evolved and met new people over time. The ending is bound to make some people very upset, but at the same time it's one of the most realistic I've ever seen in this kind of series. It's a great movie that really should get more attention than it has gotten.
8. FLCL (Fooly Cooly)- This show is quite literally insane. At only 6 episodes long and a plot that isn’t even revealed fully until the final episode, it would be easy to dismiss this as utter nonsense. However, its at its heart a coming of age story, just with robots that come out of the main character Naota’s head. Yeah… Haruko is one of the best anime heroines in recent memory, always doing what she feels like and never letting anybody bring her down or tell her otherwise. The action scenes are fantastically animated, the entire show is hilarious, and even if the plot doesn’t quite make a ton of sense in the end (it doesn’t 100%), the coming of age story combined with the sheer weirdness of the whole thing makes it unforgettable and fantastic anime.
7. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex- An offshoot of the fantastic Ghost in the Shell movie and manga series, GITS: SAC is a really intriguing sci-fi series about our growing dependence of technology and how it is in some ways a blessing, and in others a curse. All the characters from the 1995 movie return in this prequel series, and their personalities are as well defined and iconic as always. Major Mokoto Kusanagi still retains her crown as the single greatest anime heroine ever made, with her strong convictions, determined attitude, and above all else pure badassness. The stories told here are all very methodical and intriguing, dealing with everything from government corruption, to terrorism, to our reactions to the world changing right in front of us. Its combination of unique sci-fi storylines in an fascinating future, cool characters and film-quality animation definitely makes this series worthwhile to people who loved the film and newcomers alike. If anything, it will create new fans of the 1995 film, which is to this day one of the best animated films ever made.
6. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Season 1)- This anime literally convinced me not to give up on anime comedies. Here we have an anime series that actually wrote jokes that were not only funny, but worked on many different levels; some were sarcastic, some were subtle, and some were laugh out loud jokes. The storyline is one of the most unique in all of anime, combining high school life with a bizarre sci-fi universe only possible in Japan. All of the characters were believable (given the context of the story) and most importantly likeable. I would hang out with everyone in this show; Haruhi, Kyon, Mikuru, Yuki, and Koizumi would all be great people to be friends with, despite the weirdness that surrounds them. This mixture of comedy, likeable characters, and so weird its great sci-fi makes this a great anime in general. Despite a somewhat lackluster second season, here’s hope to the movie out next year rebounds Haruhi back to the top where she belongs.
5. Spirited Away- One of the best examples of pure movie magic ever in recent memory, Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece is a celebration of imagination. The story, while very simplistic is quite applicable to people of all backgrounds and ages, kids and adults. The visuals are some of the best ever put into an animated picture, with new creatures and ideas being shown literally in every frame of animation. It’s the Wizard of Oz for the modern generation and makes everyone who ever had an over-active imagination happy to experience its wonders. This is the kind of anime you want to show to people who dismiss anime in general in order to convince them otherwise. More than likely, this one movie more than any other will convince them to give the medium a second look.
4. Casshern SINS- The best sci-fi anime of this decade is also the most criminally underrated series of the decade. Literally coming out of nowhere, this remake of the 1960’s anime Neo Human Casshern is one of the most thought-provoking and philosophical animes I have ever seen. It’s bleak setting and nature is bound to turn off some fans from the get go, but its ideas and outlooks on life and humanity are so rich and textured you will be addicted. It also doesn’t hurt that the animation is beautifully done, with more simplistic and interesting character designs than most shows, and fight scenes that look effortless crafted. The entire cast is rich with depth and complexity uncommon in most anime in today’s market and their journey is one of the most compelling I’ve ever seen, despite it not being as stereotypically epic as other shows. This is the anime for people who want to think and be entertained at the same time. It is strongly recommened to anybody who wants a little bit more out of their standard anime fair.
3. Rebuild of Evangelion Film Series- This might be considered cheating since this is a remake of my favorite anime of all time, Neon Genesis Evangelion, but this is much more than a simple remake. It’s a complete reimagining of the classic series, exploring radical new ideas and directions the original never looked at, and succeeding in every single one of its gambles. The first movie, You Are (Not) Alone is basically an HD remake of the first 6 episodes, but still introduces new ideas in the end. It’s the second film however, You Can (Not) Advance, that really elevates the Rebuild series into perfection. It takes so many radical new directions and introduces ideas that sound ludicrious on paper, but in practice create something that is equal to the original series. This is the future blueprint of how to remake anime series; take the concepts of the original and introduce fresh ideas that work effortlessly in a new context. The animation and music are also top notch along with the new story, elevating the Rebuild of Evangelion from pure remake to second coming of a unbelievably fantastic anime universe.
2. FullMetal Alchemist- How many series do you know that have had two amazing animes in one decade? Probably not a lot, but FMA somehow managed to do so. The original series, while it radically departs from the manga at the halfway point, tells its own interesting story that tackles the same themes as the original manga but in different ways. It still retained the spirit of the manga and managed to create its own unique interpretation of its themes and characters and is unquestionably one of the best and most unforgettable animes of the decade. The new FMA series, Brotherhood, looks just as fantastic. This time, Brotherhood follows the manga story, which already was great, and manages to addict the viewers in the same way the original series did. FMA tackles many diverse themes such as the nature of war and science vs. the power of God, and both series show the complexity of these two issues and the depths in which humanity will go to prove its righteousness. These themes never overshadow the story of the Elric brothers though, which at its heart is about two brothers trying to fix their past mistakes, and by extention humanity’s. It’s too early to decide whether the original series of Brotherhood is superior, but both FMA series are terrific action shows that have much more depth and complexity than most animes can ever dream of.
1. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann- No series this decade made me this excited about anime in general than Gurren Lagann. It is not as emotionally or philosophically challenging as other animes on this list, but at the same time it doesn’t matter; Gurren Lagann provided more entertainment per minute than almost any anime I have ever seen. The animation is crazy like FLCL’s, but that just makes the giant robot battles that much more exciting to watch and the characters more interesting to watch. You would be a fool to dismiss Gurren Lagann’s story though as childish, it does explore themes rarely seen in anime, such as the nature of evolution and man’s reaction to it. How does one react when you realize we have reached the top of the food chain? Where does humanity go once he has evolved to its highest potential? Most important though, Gurren Lagann is a show “about believing in the me that believes in you”. It’s about rising up from the past to see a better tomorrow. It is about achieving the impossible even if you don’t think you can. It is about doing what is right for not only yourself, but for others as well. The crazy animation elevates the fights to astronomically epic levels, with the final fight making the word “epic” sound miniscule. The characters are all timeless archetypes that resonate within all of us in some form or another. The story is uplifting and emporwering, the themes are quite interesting in retrospect, and overall Gurren Lagann is in one word, satisfying. There is nothing that could possibly add to this series; it is simply, PERFECT.
That is my list of the best animes of this decade. Here’s hoping for more fantastic anime in the future.
Posted by BatOtaku13 | Dec 15, 2009 10:55 PM | 0 comments
Top 10 Animes of this Decade
Anime Relations: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
The 2000s were a very interesting decade of anime with many new franchises being born that will define many generations of anime to come. Here is my personal list of the top 10 animes of this decade, which covers tv shows, movies, and OVAs, and a mix of popular and less recognized animes. Feel free to talk about my picks in the comments.
10. Death Note- Although the second half isn't quite as good as the first half and despite the sometimes repetitive stories, this is quite a great cat and mouse detective show. Light Yagami is still a great villain I hate with a fiery passion and the interplay between him, L and the police is all very well done and tense the entire time. It's morally gray message about where the line between hero and monster is located is also is a highlight, forcing the viewers to think about what really is happening in the grand scheme of things.
9. 5 Centimeters per Second- This is the first purely romantic anime movie I've ever seen, and surprisingly it is a fantastic love story. The characters of Tagaki and Akagi have real chemistry together and you truly understand why there is such strong emotion between the two. The story is very interesting, covering the years following their relationship in high school and how both have evolved and met new people over time. The ending is bound to make some people very upset, but at the same time it's one of the most realistic I've ever seen in this kind of series. It's a great movie that really should get more attention than it has gotten.
8. FLCL (Fooly Cooly)- This show is quite literally insane. At only 6 episodes long and a plot that isn’t even revealed fully until the final episode, it would be easy to dismiss this as utter nonsense. However, its at its heart a coming of age story, just with robots that come out of the main character Naota’s head. Yeah… Haruko is one of the best anime heroines in recent memory, always doing what she feels like and never letting anybody bring her down or tell her otherwise. The action scenes are fantastically animated, the entire show is hilarious, and even if the plot doesn’t quite make a ton of sense in the end (it doesn’t 100%), the coming of age story combined with the sheer weirdness of the whole thing makes it unforgettable and fantastic anime.
7. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex- An offshoot of the fantastic Ghost in the Shell movie and manga series, GITS: SAC is a really intriguing sci-fi series about our growing dependence of technology and how it is in some ways a blessing, and in others a curse. All the characters from the 1995 movie return in this prequel series, and their personalities are as well defined and iconic as always. Major Mokoto Kusanagi still retains her crown as the single greatest anime heroine ever made, with her strong convictions, determined attitude, and above all else pure badassness. The stories told here are all very methodical and intriguing, dealing with everything from government corruption, to terrorism, to our reactions to the world changing right in front of us. Its combination of unique sci-fi storylines in an fascinating future, cool characters and film-quality animation definitely makes this series worthwhile to people who loved the film and newcomers alike. If anything, it will create new fans of the 1995 film, which is to this day one of the best animated films ever made.
6. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Season 1)- This anime literally convinced me not to give up on anime comedies. Here we have an anime series that actually wrote jokes that were not only funny, but worked on many different levels; some were sarcastic, some were subtle, and some were laugh out loud jokes. The storyline is one of the most unique in all of anime, combining high school life with a bizarre sci-fi universe only possible in Japan. All of the characters were believable (given the context of the story) and most importantly likeable. I would hang out with everyone in this show; Haruhi, Kyon, Mikuru, Yuki, and Koizumi would all be great people to be friends with, despite the weirdness that surrounds them. This mixture of comedy, likeable characters, and so weird its great sci-fi makes this a great anime in general. Despite a somewhat lackluster second season, here’s hope to the movie out next year rebounds Haruhi back to the top where she belongs.
5. Spirited Away- One of the best examples of pure movie magic ever in recent memory, Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece is a celebration of imagination. The story, while very simplistic is quite applicable to people of all backgrounds and ages, kids and adults. The visuals are some of the best ever put into an animated picture, with new creatures and ideas being shown literally in every frame of animation. It’s the Wizard of Oz for the modern generation and makes everyone who ever had an over-active imagination happy to experience its wonders. This is the kind of anime you want to show to people who dismiss anime in general in order to convince them otherwise. More than likely, this one movie more than any other will convince them to give the medium a second look.
4. Casshern SINS- The best sci-fi anime of this decade is also the most criminally underrated series of the decade. Literally coming out of nowhere, this remake of the 1960’s anime Neo Human Casshern is one of the most thought-provoking and philosophical animes I have ever seen. It’s bleak setting and nature is bound to turn off some fans from the get go, but its ideas and outlooks on life and humanity are so rich and textured you will be addicted. It also doesn’t hurt that the animation is beautifully done, with more simplistic and interesting character designs than most shows, and fight scenes that look effortless crafted. The entire cast is rich with depth and complexity uncommon in most anime in today’s market and their journey is one of the most compelling I’ve ever seen, despite it not being as stereotypically epic as other shows. This is the anime for people who want to think and be entertained at the same time. It is strongly recommened to anybody who wants a little bit more out of their standard anime fair.
3. Rebuild of Evangelion Film Series- This might be considered cheating since this is a remake of my favorite anime of all time, Neon Genesis Evangelion, but this is much more than a simple remake. It’s a complete reimagining of the classic series, exploring radical new ideas and directions the original never looked at, and succeeding in every single one of its gambles. The first movie, You Are (Not) Alone is basically an HD remake of the first 6 episodes, but still introduces new ideas in the end. It’s the second film however, You Can (Not) Advance, that really elevates the Rebuild series into perfection. It takes so many radical new directions and introduces ideas that sound ludicrious on paper, but in practice create something that is equal to the original series. This is the future blueprint of how to remake anime series; take the concepts of the original and introduce fresh ideas that work effortlessly in a new context. The animation and music are also top notch along with the new story, elevating the Rebuild of Evangelion from pure remake to second coming of a unbelievably fantastic anime universe.
2. FullMetal Alchemist- How many series do you know that have had two amazing animes in one decade? Probably not a lot, but FMA somehow managed to do so. The original series, while it radically departs from the manga at the halfway point, tells its own interesting story that tackles the same themes as the original manga but in different ways. It still retained the spirit of the manga and managed to create its own unique interpretation of its themes and characters and is unquestionably one of the best and most unforgettable animes of the decade. The new FMA series, Brotherhood, looks just as fantastic. This time, Brotherhood follows the manga story, which already was great, and manages to addict the viewers in the same way the original series did. FMA tackles many diverse themes such as the nature of war and science vs. the power of God, and both series show the complexity of these two issues and the depths in which humanity will go to prove its righteousness. These themes never overshadow the story of the Elric brothers though, which at its heart is about two brothers trying to fix their past mistakes, and by extention humanity’s. It’s too early to decide whether the original series of Brotherhood is superior, but both FMA series are terrific action shows that have much more depth and complexity than most animes can ever dream of.
1. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann- No series this decade made me this excited about anime in general than Gurren Lagann. It is not as emotionally or philosophically challenging as other animes on this list, but at the same time it doesn’t matter; Gurren Lagann provided more entertainment per minute than almost any anime I have ever seen. The animation is crazy like FLCL’s, but that just makes the giant robot battles that much more exciting to watch and the characters more interesting to watch. You would be a fool to dismiss Gurren Lagann’s story though as childish, it does explore themes rarely seen in anime, such as the nature of evolution and man’s reaction to it. How does one react when you realize we have reached the top of the food chain? Where does humanity go once he has evolved to its highest potential? Most important though, Gurren Lagann is a show “about believing in the me that believes in you”. It’s about rising up from the past to see a better tomorrow. It is about achieving the impossible even if you don’t think you can. It is about doing what is right for not only yourself, but for others as well. The crazy animation elevates the fights to astronomically epic levels, with the final fight making the word “epic” sound miniscule. The characters are all timeless archetypes that resonate within all of us in some form or another. The story is uplifting and emporwering, the themes are quite interesting in retrospect, and overall Gurren Lagann is in one word, satisfying. There is nothing that could possibly add to this series; it is simply, PERFECT.
That is my list of the best animes of this decade. Here’s hoping for more fantastic anime in the future.
10. Death Note- Although the second half isn't quite as good as the first half and despite the sometimes repetitive stories, this is quite a great cat and mouse detective show. Light Yagami is still a great villain I hate with a fiery passion and the interplay between him, L and the police is all very well done and tense the entire time. It's morally gray message about where the line between hero and monster is located is also is a highlight, forcing the viewers to think about what really is happening in the grand scheme of things.
9. 5 Centimeters per Second- This is the first purely romantic anime movie I've ever seen, and surprisingly it is a fantastic love story. The characters of Tagaki and Akagi have real chemistry together and you truly understand why there is such strong emotion between the two. The story is very interesting, covering the years following their relationship in high school and how both have evolved and met new people over time. The ending is bound to make some people very upset, but at the same time it's one of the most realistic I've ever seen in this kind of series. It's a great movie that really should get more attention than it has gotten.
8. FLCL (Fooly Cooly)- This show is quite literally insane. At only 6 episodes long and a plot that isn’t even revealed fully until the final episode, it would be easy to dismiss this as utter nonsense. However, its at its heart a coming of age story, just with robots that come out of the main character Naota’s head. Yeah… Haruko is one of the best anime heroines in recent memory, always doing what she feels like and never letting anybody bring her down or tell her otherwise. The action scenes are fantastically animated, the entire show is hilarious, and even if the plot doesn’t quite make a ton of sense in the end (it doesn’t 100%), the coming of age story combined with the sheer weirdness of the whole thing makes it unforgettable and fantastic anime.
7. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex- An offshoot of the fantastic Ghost in the Shell movie and manga series, GITS: SAC is a really intriguing sci-fi series about our growing dependence of technology and how it is in some ways a blessing, and in others a curse. All the characters from the 1995 movie return in this prequel series, and their personalities are as well defined and iconic as always. Major Mokoto Kusanagi still retains her crown as the single greatest anime heroine ever made, with her strong convictions, determined attitude, and above all else pure badassness. The stories told here are all very methodical and intriguing, dealing with everything from government corruption, to terrorism, to our reactions to the world changing right in front of us. Its combination of unique sci-fi storylines in an fascinating future, cool characters and film-quality animation definitely makes this series worthwhile to people who loved the film and newcomers alike. If anything, it will create new fans of the 1995 film, which is to this day one of the best animated films ever made.
6. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Season 1)- This anime literally convinced me not to give up on anime comedies. Here we have an anime series that actually wrote jokes that were not only funny, but worked on many different levels; some were sarcastic, some were subtle, and some were laugh out loud jokes. The storyline is one of the most unique in all of anime, combining high school life with a bizarre sci-fi universe only possible in Japan. All of the characters were believable (given the context of the story) and most importantly likeable. I would hang out with everyone in this show; Haruhi, Kyon, Mikuru, Yuki, and Koizumi would all be great people to be friends with, despite the weirdness that surrounds them. This mixture of comedy, likeable characters, and so weird its great sci-fi makes this a great anime in general. Despite a somewhat lackluster second season, here’s hope to the movie out next year rebounds Haruhi back to the top where she belongs.
5. Spirited Away- One of the best examples of pure movie magic ever in recent memory, Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece is a celebration of imagination. The story, while very simplistic is quite applicable to people of all backgrounds and ages, kids and adults. The visuals are some of the best ever put into an animated picture, with new creatures and ideas being shown literally in every frame of animation. It’s the Wizard of Oz for the modern generation and makes everyone who ever had an over-active imagination happy to experience its wonders. This is the kind of anime you want to show to people who dismiss anime in general in order to convince them otherwise. More than likely, this one movie more than any other will convince them to give the medium a second look.
4. Casshern SINS- The best sci-fi anime of this decade is also the most criminally underrated series of the decade. Literally coming out of nowhere, this remake of the 1960’s anime Neo Human Casshern is one of the most thought-provoking and philosophical animes I have ever seen. It’s bleak setting and nature is bound to turn off some fans from the get go, but its ideas and outlooks on life and humanity are so rich and textured you will be addicted. It also doesn’t hurt that the animation is beautifully done, with more simplistic and interesting character designs than most shows, and fight scenes that look effortless crafted. The entire cast is rich with depth and complexity uncommon in most anime in today’s market and their journey is one of the most compelling I’ve ever seen, despite it not being as stereotypically epic as other shows. This is the anime for people who want to think and be entertained at the same time. It is strongly recommened to anybody who wants a little bit more out of their standard anime fair.
3. Rebuild of Evangelion Film Series- This might be considered cheating since this is a remake of my favorite anime of all time, Neon Genesis Evangelion, but this is much more than a simple remake. It’s a complete reimagining of the classic series, exploring radical new ideas and directions the original never looked at, and succeeding in every single one of its gambles. The first movie, You Are (Not) Alone is basically an HD remake of the first 6 episodes, but still introduces new ideas in the end. It’s the second film however, You Can (Not) Advance, that really elevates the Rebuild series into perfection. It takes so many radical new directions and introduces ideas that sound ludicrious on paper, but in practice create something that is equal to the original series. This is the future blueprint of how to remake anime series; take the concepts of the original and introduce fresh ideas that work effortlessly in a new context. The animation and music are also top notch along with the new story, elevating the Rebuild of Evangelion from pure remake to second coming of a unbelievably fantastic anime universe.
2. FullMetal Alchemist- How many series do you know that have had two amazing animes in one decade? Probably not a lot, but FMA somehow managed to do so. The original series, while it radically departs from the manga at the halfway point, tells its own interesting story that tackles the same themes as the original manga but in different ways. It still retained the spirit of the manga and managed to create its own unique interpretation of its themes and characters and is unquestionably one of the best and most unforgettable animes of the decade. The new FMA series, Brotherhood, looks just as fantastic. This time, Brotherhood follows the manga story, which already was great, and manages to addict the viewers in the same way the original series did. FMA tackles many diverse themes such as the nature of war and science vs. the power of God, and both series show the complexity of these two issues and the depths in which humanity will go to prove its righteousness. These themes never overshadow the story of the Elric brothers though, which at its heart is about two brothers trying to fix their past mistakes, and by extention humanity’s. It’s too early to decide whether the original series of Brotherhood is superior, but both FMA series are terrific action shows that have much more depth and complexity than most animes can ever dream of.
1. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann- No series this decade made me this excited about anime in general than Gurren Lagann. It is not as emotionally or philosophically challenging as other animes on this list, but at the same time it doesn’t matter; Gurren Lagann provided more entertainment per minute than almost any anime I have ever seen. The animation is crazy like FLCL’s, but that just makes the giant robot battles that much more exciting to watch and the characters more interesting to watch. You would be a fool to dismiss Gurren Lagann’s story though as childish, it does explore themes rarely seen in anime, such as the nature of evolution and man’s reaction to it. How does one react when you realize we have reached the top of the food chain? Where does humanity go once he has evolved to its highest potential? Most important though, Gurren Lagann is a show “about believing in the me that believes in you”. It’s about rising up from the past to see a better tomorrow. It is about achieving the impossible even if you don’t think you can. It is about doing what is right for not only yourself, but for others as well. The crazy animation elevates the fights to astronomically epic levels, with the final fight making the word “epic” sound miniscule. The characters are all timeless archetypes that resonate within all of us in some form or another. The story is uplifting and emporwering, the themes are quite interesting in retrospect, and overall Gurren Lagann is in one word, satisfying. There is nothing that could possibly add to this series; it is simply, PERFECT.
That is my list of the best animes of this decade. Here’s hoping for more fantastic anime in the future.
Posted by BatOtaku13 | Dec 15, 2009 10:16 PM | 0 comments