Hanasaku Iroha is a coming of age/slice of life story that had me quite taken aback. This show is all about character development, you watch the characters grow, learn, and shape their environment as well as each other. You delve into the thought processes of the characters, begin to understand why they work, learn their flaws, backgrounds, and their personality quirks.
This show really reflects the hard work ethic of Japanese culture, and emphasizes the satisfaction earned through it. The notion of putting others above yourself is a running motif. If anything, you are inspired to work towards something while watching this show. The
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Dec 8, 2011
Cowboy Bebop
(Anime)
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This is the show that started it all for me, I was never really that interested in Japanese animation, with the exception of shows like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh (but what kid didn't watch these shows?).
The very first thing that caught my eye (or rather my ears) was the music. Jazz was something I never really understood or liked, but the first time I heard those dynamic notes in the opening, I was hooked. Furthermore, the dubbing was great, I usually find that the English voice actors can never quite capture the same feeling that the Japanese voice actors could. It still remains one of the ... 
Dec 5, 2011
Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica
(Anime)
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Usually, I try to avoid magical girl series altogether, not my cup of tea, so to speak. However, Madoka manages to provide a dark, sinister twist on the genre, while still preserving the values it tries to represent; love, hope, compassion, and friendship.
The first thing about Madoka that caught my eye was the unusual visual style, it is essentially a collage of childish character designs and dynamic backgrounds that incorporates both 2 and 3-D elements that reflects the ambiance and moods of the characters. It combines the juvenile and creepy, and does it well. This story is definitely a little disturbing, especially if you ... |
