Interest Stacks

Already done a review. But:
An explosion annihilates most of Tokyo city and leads to WWIII in 1988. Now it's 2019, and the city, Neo-Tokyo, is the restored version. However, despite its restoration, Neo-Tokyo is a gang and crime-ridden dystopian, cyberpunk world. One of the gangs is "the Capsules," and two of the members are the main characters in the story, also. Several events lead to another, and the explosion from before is about to happen once more.

Akira broke down the stigma of "all animation is for kids" by introducing mature themes and graphic imagery to the medium. Not to mention popularizing the cyberpunk genre and influencing a breakthrough in typical narratives for the industry itself.

Works.

Madhouse seriously never stops.

Again, dropped, but it did influence one of my fav new gen- Jujutsu Kaisen.

Every debate over whether or not Cowboy Bebop—Shinichiro Watanabe’s science-fiction masterpiece—is the pinnacle of anime is a semantic one. It is, full stop. Its particular blend of cyberpunk intrigue, Western atmosphere, martial arts action, and noir cool in seinen form is unmatched and widely appealing. Its existential and traumatic themes are universally relatable. Its characters are complex and flawed, yet still ooze cool. The future it presents is ethnically diverse and eerily prescient. Its English dub, boasting some of America’s greatest full-time voiceover talents, somehow equals the subtitled Japanese-language original. Its 26-episode run was near-perfect, and episodes that might have served as filler in another series are tight, taut, and serve the show’s thesis even as they do not distract from its overarching plot, which is compelling but not overbearing. It’s accessible to new hands and still rewards old-timers with every repeated watch. Yoko Kanno’s magnificent, jazz-heavy soundtrack and score stand on their own. Its opening credits are immaculate. It’s an original property, not an adaptation. It feels like a magnum opus produced at the pinnacle of a long career despite being, almost unbelievably, Watanabe’s first series as a director. It is a masterwork that should justly rank among the best works of television of all time, let alone anime

Death Note is expressionism in the form of a high stakes thriller. The show asks the difficult questions of abusive relationships, capital punishment and vigilantism. Light Yagami is like Thanos in the sense that he wants to make the word a better place but takes an radical approach after receiving the Death Note. He abuses his power when It benefits him and him alone. L, on the other hand represents the more heartless and systemic form of control.

The actual battle between Light and L is amazing. There is so much at stake that creates so much tension between the two.

Cute.

Inspiration for nearly everything in Seinen.

Childhood.

In every practical sense, Akira Toriyama’s status as one of anime’s greatest creators was all but secured with Dragon Ball. Loosely inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, the manga and subsequent anime series of Son Goku’s misadventures to collect all seven of the mythical dragon balls inspired whole generations of manga artists and animators in Japan. The original series was a classic, but it was Dragon Ball Z that marked the series’ transition from a national treasure into a worldwide phenomenon. With hyper-kinetic violence, flashy energy attacks, dizzying spectacles of mass destruction, and tense moments of serial escalation, Dragon Ball Z is a singularly important installment in the canon of martial arts action anime and an enduring entry point for newcomers to the medium to this day.

FLCL was intended to feel unlike anything else you’ve ever watched, anime or otherwise. It’s got an incredible Japanese alt-rock soundtrack from the band The Pillows. Its editing is frenetic. Its characters interact in extremes of manic, moody, or forlorn. Its plot—in which robots pop out of a young boy’s swollen, injured head, heralding the return of a powerful extraterrestrial being—kinda doesn’t matter. None of that stuff matters, according to series director Kazuya Tsurumaki. “Difficulty in comprehension should not be an important factor in FLCL,” he once wrote in a comment thread for Production IG. “I believe the ‘rock guitar’ vibe playing throughout the show is a shortcut on the road to understanding it.” Rock on, brother.

For many, Brotherhood is the essential anime experience, and it’s easy to see why. A more faithful adaptation to Hiromu Arakawa’s mega-popular manga series than the original adaptation, Brotherhood contends with loss, grief, war, racism and ethics in mature and unique ways, ahead of its time in nearly every aspect. What’s more, the show is paced perfectly, with neatly wrapped arcs that lead into each other and bolster a greater global narrative on selected themes. Brotherhood is just the right length, never overstaying its welcome and proving how versatile and malleable the conventions of shounen anime can be.

Brotherhood has a sizeable cast of characters all of different nationalities and ideologies, with motivations that often oppose one another—the show manages to use these moving forces to form factions, alliances, and foils that flow in multiple directions, paralleling the often messy, always chaotic nature of human relationships during wartime. The show’s emotional core revolves around the plight of the Elric brothers, Ed and Alphonse, two alchemists sponsored by the authoritarian Amestris military. It’s not your classic military drama, though, as Ed and Alphonse quickly learn how far Amestris’ authoritarianism stretches.

Where Brotherhood excels lies in the sensitivity it expresses for every one of the characters fighting for their desires and contending with their mistakes, with particular highlights for the plights of minorities and women. Ed and Alphonse struggle with the fallout after attempting forbidden alchemy to revive their recently deceased mother. Later, their childhood friend Winry is portrayed heroically for acting as an emergency midwife. Scar, initially introduced as a brutal serial killer, is one of the last remaining indigenous Ishvalans, an ethnic group purged during a colonial war at the hands of Amestris—his odyssey continues to ring more and more resonant as we stray further into a post-terror world. It’s why the series continues to wow today: it eschews cliche to make cogent points on human consciousness.

Seen till 50. Cant wait for more.

Comedy and anime have never really been a thing that I connect too well with but GTO really worked for me. One of the things I appreciate most about this show is how they really don't hold back. It's pretty bold to make your main character as awful a person as Onizuka is. I mean the dude only became a teacher to look at girls, he's a former gang member, and his sense of human empathy is quite questionable at times. Even with all that being said this shows unrelenting and massively successful absurdness makes him a likable character along with the fact that he seems to end up on the right side of things at the end of the day.

The show's main shtick is playing off of the "bad guy turns out to be a good guy because of his/her unfair past" trope. Playing into tropes is usually a complaint of mine, but this show does it so well by bringing the characters along throughout the rest of the show and developing them in such natural ways I couldn't help but love it.

While this show may not be for everybody its ridiculous over-the-top style works perfectly for me.

....

Hunter x Hunter begins with Gon Freecss, as he sets out on a journey to become a Hunter. He’s your typical savior-figure protagonist, but fortunately he keeps the annoying, repetitive mantras to himself. His determination to see the best in people becomes a marvel of the series, and his dedication to others drives the plot. He makes friends with a young boy from a family of assassins, and their polarized dynamic creates a connection that makes the series inspiring. The compelling relationship between these two boys demands emotional investment from you. Togashi emphasizes their youth and inexperience by pitting them against much older, more experienced villains, and introduces powerful mentors that help them evolve. He’s meticulous about tailoring his characters’ abilities to their personality, but everyone draws their strength from resolve. The feats of pure determination you’ll witness in this anime will change you.

Kagome Higurashi is a typical modern-day schoolgirl whose life is forever changed when she is transported back in time to feudal Japan. There, she meets Inuyasha, a half-demon with a penchant for attracting dangerous and violent situations. The duo soon goes on a quest to retrieve the shards of the powerful Shikon Jewel, which has the power to grant someone anything their heart desires.

A darker anime series, Inuyasha is a beloved classic that took the world by storm in the early 2000s. It showcased a surprising level of violence, which was still tempered with well-timed comedic moments. Kagome and Inuyasha are, of course, at the heart of the show, and their budding romance keeps viewers coming back for more.

Beautiful.

Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind is a beautiful anime that deals with serious themes that provides deep meaning and life lessons for people of all ages. It was written and directed by the famous Hayao Miyazaki, the founder of Studio Ghibli, and inspired the storytelling of the Ghibli movies loved and known today.

Humanity has moved to space and lives in clusters of colonies called "Sides." A declaration of war begins after one of the colonies declares one upon the government, Earth Federation, currently ruling Earth. The colony proclaims itself as the "Principality of Zeon" and has humanoid robots known as mobile suits ready for battle. Eventually, the Earth Federation develops mobile suits soon after and calls them Gundam. The story truly begins when a 15-year-old civilian gets caught up in the conflict.
Mecha became a popular genre in Japan following World War II as the country began to experience rapid economic and technological growth. The production of titles like Astro Boy and Gigantor defined the genre's foundation. However, it was Mobile Suit Gundam that truly gave birth to mecha.

Niihama City is a technologically advanced metropolis, and cybernetic enhancement is commonplace for its citizens. Also, the central narrative for Ghost in the Shell. To protect this evolving shift in interconnection, the city's public security, Section 9, is responsible for combatting any threat. Currently, Section 9 is tackling a case of a mysterious hacker called the "Puppet Master" that can strip victims of their memory, and Major Motoko Kusanagi is the case's leader. Throughout its plot, Motoko and her subordinates, along with others, have to confront the complicated nature of the case as it brings forth many philosophical questions.
Similar to Akira's cyberpunk theme and Neon Genesis Evangelion's philosophy of existence, Ghost in the Shell interpolates both aspects quite well. It's a successful narrative that inspired anime after it and even movies like The Matrix.

Childhood.

One of the rare moments when an environmental film isnt hating on the human race

Naoki Urasawa is one of the most critically-acclaimed manga writers of his time, adored by the literary community both within and outside of Japan and the author of some of the most densely plotted, character-driven, and experimental manga ever published. So it’s only natural that Monster, Urasawa’s fifth serialized manga and one of his best known outside of Japan, would translate into one of the greatest anime series ever put to the screen. Spanning 74 episodes, the show’s premise unspools in the way only the finest crime-thriller should: patiently, yet purposefully. Dr. Kenzo Tenma’s fall from esteemed brain surgeon to disgraced murder suspect on the run, and his frenzied search for the man who framed him, is a riveting saga from start to finish, darting from one corner of Europe to the next in a deadly contest of wills. If you ever have the chance to watch this series, jump at the opportunity.

Satoshi Kon's magnum opus.

Ah, just some cool, low brow fun. Miss this.

By now, most people have at least a cursory awareness of Neon Genesis Evangelion, whether it be from the overwhelming amount of branded merchandise or the consistent references in popular media. But for a show as ingrained in the animation canon as Evangelion, how we discuss it is in constant flux. Initially touted as a meaningful deconstruction of the mecha popularized by Gundam and Macross, the franchise later became bloated and rife with superfluous content much like the melodramas-as-merchandise they lampooned years before.

Nevertheless, Evangelion’s influence is palpable with a cultural overlay that can be seen anywhere from Persona 3 to Gurren Lagann, becoming a phenomenon that seems to exceed the show’s literal text. Much like Star Wars, its original creator Hideaki Anno has lost control of the franchise’s growth and has since augured the end of anime as we know it, once saying Japan’s animation world is “moving by inertia.”

One of my favourite films ever made.

I seriously don't like it. I hate it rather. But the sweeping popularity and influence exists for a reason.

Satoshi Kon is a genius.

While its idiosyncratic, scratchy art style may dissuade some, Ping Pong: The Animation is one of the most creative anime in years—one that uses its bold visual choices to communicate its powerful sentiments on the nature of competition. Peco and Smile are childhood friends who are the stars of a high school table tennis team, but after Peco is unexpectedly crushed in a match, he finds himself questioning his future with the game. Meanwhile, we also follow Wenge, Kazama, and Sakuma, three other players participating in the same tournament circuit, who each have their own deeply felt reasons for wanting to be the best.

There's a world where various creatures of different types, called Pokémon, exist, and a 10-year-old boy, Ash Ketchum, dreams to "catch 'em all." The story begins with Ash's dream of becoming a Pokémon Master, but he must first get his Pokémon license and choose his first Pokémon. Ash arrives late, and all that's left is the Pokémon, Pikachu. Then begins the story of Ash and Pikachu as they set off on their journey to be the very best.
Pokémon started as a game, with its first installment in the video games series being Pokémon Red and Green. The aim was to introduce the franchise into the West, so anime was the medium used to do so. The production was a big success, thus making Pokémon an anime loved by all and one of the biggest video-game franchises to this day.

Funky, cool, medieval and absolutely fucking metal.

Its one of the most popular anime films and for good reason.

If you took every heady, philosophical cyberpunk thriller of the late 1980s and 1990s, filtered them through The Matrix and Ghost in the Shell, and then deliberately chopped and screwed the timeline, you would be left with this psychological head-scratcher of a seinen. At its center is Lain Iwakura, a shy teenage girl whose personality morphs both online and off as she becomes more and more involved with the Wired, a virtual reality world comprising, simultaneously, every communication method known to humanity. Director Ryutaro Nakamura manages to cram an extraordinary amount of metaphysical musing into the show’s brief 13-episode run, which, despite being anything but an easy watch, is exceptionally rewarding for those willing to plug into its world with an open mind.

Nobody expected this, certainly not.

With a psychic incision on adolescence, Kunihiko Ikuhara’s opus Revolutionary Girl Utena is a shining beacon for the shoujo genre. Inspired by the seminal works of Riyoko Ikeda and legendary all-female theater troupe Takarazuka Revue, Utena is a post-structural examination of queer identity and generational trauma filtered through a surrealist lens and romantic, heart-swelling backdrops. The show follows Utena Tenjou, a middle schooler obsessed with becoming a prince so that she might meet the prince who saved her when she was a young girl. She challenges the gender norms of her school (which may as well be a Grecoroman city-state with its own all-powerful student council and intersecting political structures) and charms the female student body with her unwavering dedication to safeguarding other women. After saving the school garden’s caretaker, Anthy, from her abusive boyfriend, Utena becomes embroiled in duels for Anthy’s possession, who is somehow instrumental to revolutionizing the world as we know it.

After losing his son Tobio in a car accident, Professor Tenma is left distraught and loses himself in his latest project. The project was the robot boy, Atom, who was also a substitute for his late son. Eventually, Professor Tenma becomes displeased with Atom since the robot boy can't grow up. So, being unhappy with this case, the professor sells Atom to a cruel ringmaster of a robot circus. Fortunately for Atom, he's adopted by the kind Professor Ochanomizu who raises him to fight against evil.

The creation of this lovable robotic hero story, Astro Boy, is thanks to the legendary "God of Manga" Osamu Tezuka. Arguably it's not the first anime series to be produced, but it is the first anime that candidly pioneered and defined Japanese anime, which would later kickstart the medium as a whole.

Gun.

Cards