Some Amazing Anime

Anime has gone mainstream, but I liked it "back in the day." 

If you've seen my reading lists, you'll know I love scifi and fantasy. You supply the imagination when reading a book. There is no budget. Practical effects could only do so much. Terminator 2 used groundbreaking CGI (In 1991 when I was 9 and it was R). Jurassic Park mixed CGI with practical effects to great effect in 1993 and Toy Story was the first fully CGI film in 1995 (I was 13).

Artists supply the imagination for comics. A bunch of artists can work together to make a cartoon.

I grew up loving cartoons. From Tom & Jerry and the Looney Tunes to all the extended toy commercials of the 80s like The Transformers, He-Man, The Centurions, and The Visionaries. 

Yes, the cartoons were awesome! And YES, for the low price of $$$ you could have the action figure and playset to recreate the action in your own home.

The word anime basically means cartoon in Japanese. There's not much difference. The difference was that anime wasn't only targeted at kids. There were more mature ones, as well (and some way more mature than anything I ever want to watch even today!).

Anime was an easy way for me to see sci-fi and fantasy worlds that didn't exist with practical effects. As a teenager, I was looking for animation that was less "kiddy-ish." American animated films were great (Transformers the Movie! GI-Joe! Secret of Nimh!), but I wanted more. 

Anime was it. It was different and that made it new and interesting. I didn't know much about Japanese culture, and I found out that multiple cartoons I loved as a kid (Time Fighters, Tranzor Z, Force Five, and Voltron!) were actually Japanese imports modified for American TVs. 

Which started my interest in Anime. From the days it was marked NC-17 at Bill's Blockbuster at University Mall, to Saturday Morning Animation on Sci-Fi, Toonami on Cartoon Network, Anime FX at Springfield Mall, and eventually downloading over the internet. It's mainstream now! Carrie and I subscribe to CrunchyRoll and some animes are released within a day of being shown in Japan.

I was going to make a "Top 10," but anime encompasses so many genres I decided to go a different route instead. I set up categories, picked an anime I thought fit the bill, and then gave an honorable mention. I'll do a bigger picture and a small write up for each pick. The HM's will only get a quick note.

And then, I asked Carrie for her picks, too! I introduced her to anime early in our relationship. I figured I was a nerd and I might as well divulge everything to see if it scared her away. She'd seen a couple of things before, but now she watches way more of it than I do!

NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, assume these are all DUBBED. I liked subs growing up (and still prefer the subbed voices on many nostalgic picks), but Carrie only wants to watch dubs. The quality of dubs has increased remarkably since anime has become more mainstream. If you're interested in learning Japanese or hearing the voices in another language helps you feel like you're in another world, you can stick to the subs. 

On to the list!

Nostalgic Pick - 

These are animes from the past! Maybe they were an introduction to the genre or another series that holds a special place in memory

Mike's Pick - Robotech / Macross 

    

When I was a kid, Nana made bootleg cartoon tapes. She stuck a number on them and then had a list of what was on each tape. There was no skip feature back in the day. If I wanted to watch something, I'd have to fastforward, hit play to see where I was, consult the list, and then decide my next move. On those amazing cartoon tapes, there were a few episodes of Robotech (Episodes 2 and 5? Maybe 18?).

I remember trying to show it to Jama when we first lived in Virgina (So...K or 1st grade). I kept telling her how cool the show was (there were airplanes that transformed into robots fighting giant aliens!). She laid on the couch and told me she was just resting her eyes. I was young, but not dumb. She started to snore! I was disappointed..., but I also got to keep watching my show! I believe this is the show I was looking for when I found a tape I wasn't supposed to (partly because I remember being distressed that Robotech may have been taped over!).

Robotech is actually 3 different animes bootlegged and chopped into a single storyline. It blew my mind when a main character died (that didn't happen in cartoons!). It felt more real than other cartoons I saw (or as real as giant aliens and planes transforming into aliens can be) and I was a huge fan of fighter jets. Fighter jets that transformed into robots were even cooler. 

That said, Minmei didn't age well. The aliens in the show have never heard music and Minmei is a singer. I remember thinking that part was dumb. For years, the only episodes I could find were the first 3 at rental places in Beaumont (Albertsons was the only place with Episode 1). Then the SciFi channel started broadcasting Robotech again when I was a teenager. 

Minmei was still dumb. I mean, culture shock is a thing. I understood that more as a teenager than as a kid. Normal force of arms would never have overcome the odds...., but Minmei was still a tough pill to swallow (The amount/intensity of looks I got from Carrie when I showed her this...)

The Macross series Robotech was made from have been semi-blocked from being allowed in the United States (Harmony Gold sucks). Macross Plus was Top Gun the anime and amazing! I watched that in High School. John was a huge fan of that. He jumped on the Kickstarter with me. Bill, Matt, Dan, and I used to play the Robotech RPG back in the day, too! 

Mike's HM - Armor Hunter Mellowlink (1988)

Good luck finding this one save online. The original masters burned in a fire! This is a tell of revenge. Corruption sent a platoon of loyal soldiers to their deaths with inferior equipment. One survived. Armed with the same outdated weapon his comrades died with, Mellowlink relies on wits, planning, and luck to track down the people responsible for the death of his platoonmates. 

Carrie's Pick - Captain Tylor

This was Carrie's first anime! I was so glad she picked it, too. I bought the whole series piecemeal by mail order from The Right Stuff (I can't remember if it was VHS or DVD!). They had a mail order catalog! The internet was out by then, so I probably ordered online. There was a free shipping threshold, so I'd save money and buy a bunch of anime at once (and hopefully on sale!). 

Tylor ends up by fate and fortune being the Captain of the destroyer Soyokaze. His main battle plan is: Run away! The ship is crewed by an assortment of characters dumped from elsewhere in the fleet (including a marine named Jason who wears a hockey mask...) who get into trouble at every turn as war erupts between the UPSF and Raalgon Empires ignites. 

Carrie's HM - Ranma 1/2

I showed this one to Carrie early on to see if she's dump me or not. It's hysterical. Imagine Bruce Lee, but cursed. When hit with cold water, he changes into a girl. Warm water changes him back to normal. Now make it a soap opera. Anyone who likes him as a guy, hates him as a girl, and vice versa! Other people are cursed, too. Ranma's dad turns into a panda (and has to speak through handheld signs), another character becomes a pig. It's insane, wacky hijinks. HOWEVER, it's also a 90s anime. Japanese cultures includes things like bath houses. There's nudity and boob jokes in the first season. It wasn't sexual so much as it was "Too dudes are fighting, fall in a pool, and BOOBS!? WTH!?" The nudity disappears once someone realized it was easier to sell Ranma overseas without nudity.

Artsy and Serious - 

Animes are known for all sorts of tropes and often for being 'over the top.' These animes buck that trend and act more like academy award winners. 

Mike's Choice - Violet Evergarden 

A young girl who lost her arms as a child soldier seeks to succeed as an "Auto Memory Doll." It equates to something akin to a ghost writer. Violet travels to places, talks to people, and tries to translate their feelings into the letter that they want to write (and not just what they think they want to say). Violet's development as a person is stilted, because of her involvement in the war. Yet that makes her more honest and straightforward than you'd expect. She earnestly asks and people respond in turn.

There is fighting and blood in Violet's backstory. Be warned. Her abilities are, frankly, super human,  and she has killed. That's not the emphasis of the story, but it could be shocking if you think this anime is only about discovering feelings, healing, and happy thoughts. Violet's past is harsh and tragic. There is a poignant sadness frequently present. SPOILER WARNING - An episode summary that shows the heart of the show in my opinion.: One episode involves a little girl and a mother who's ill. Violet shows up to the house and the little girl is jealous of how much time Violet spends with her mother. She talks to Violet and Violet becomes aware of the feelings, but stays silent about why she's spending so much time with the girl's mother. Eventually, the mother passes away. However, every year afterward on the girl's birthday she receives a letter from her mother telling her how much she is loved. 

Mike's HM - A Silent Voice

I almost put Your Name here, but Carrie picked it. This is another anime that I felt was moving. A young boy bullies a deaf girl in his class and later wants to make amends. There is one scene where he reaches for her cochlear implant like a kid would snatch sunglasses off someone's head. I flinched. I cringed. The girl transfers and the boy goes on to grow up regretting the situation. When he's older and meets her again he seeks to make amends. There are heavy topics brought up in this anime: Depression, bullying, suicidal thoughts, and forgiveness. I probably won't watch it again, but it left a lasting impression. 

Carrie's - Your Name

Your Name is a love story about two teenagers linked in a way they don't understand. One day, one woke up in the other's body. The body's owner was 'asleep' for the duration. Upon 'awakening' they realized what had happened. It was their turn later and they woke up in the other's body while that person slept.

Really, I wonder why I'm trying to use my own words here. People do write-ups online! From Wikipedia: "It depicts the story of high school students Taki Tachibana and Mitsuha Miyamizu, who suddenly begin to swap bodies despite having never met, unleashing chaos on each other's lives. The film was inspired by Japan's frequency for natural disasters. "

There is comedy, but the relationship between characters is of paramount importance. Carrie liked this movie so much she showed it to me and to Shane! He was a bit embarrassed/weirded out by the idea of romance, but even he enjoyed it.

Honestly, this is a great pick. It was in the running for my "Recommendations for a Non-Anime Watcher." 

Carrie's HM - Violet Evergarden

Carrie picked Violet Evergarden for her HM. She discovered in on Netflix, watched everything, and then watched it with me (She liked it that much!). It has a poignancy to it that makes it stand out from the field. 

Drama / Romance -

Mike's and Carrie's Pick - Fruits Basket

It has a silly name and a silly premise. A young girl meets a family of cursed individuals. Certain members of the Sohma family are possessed by spirits of the Chinese Zodiac. If hugged by a member of the opposite sex, they transform into that animal! Some silly hijinks ensue when the girl trips and accidentally hugs a guy who turns into a dog. Everyone's surprised and they run around doing awkward and embarrassing things for a scene.

But this series is so much more than that. All of the characters are dealing with some level of trauma that they unpack and work through as the seasons go on. The main character is a spot of sunlight that comes into a group of people who aren't coping well and, through both painful and funny encounters, helps start the healing process. 

The relationships between characters are a huge focus of this series. There are romantic couples trying to figure out where they stand and what they mean to each other, and there are characters who come to feel like they're family. 

Note: There are two separate series for this. The older one finished before the manga did. The newer one was able to follow through to the end. Carrie, of course, has seen both (multiple times). I have seen both, as well, because of her.

Note 2: This has some amazing side characters. There's a high school play episode that rates highly on my funniest ever episodes, but only when dubbed! I bet the original Japanese language made references more relevant to their country than Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. 

Mike's HM - Your Life In April

I know way more romantic comedies than serious ones (Silly and anime go hand in hand). I started naming romances and almost all of them fit the comedy category until I hit this one. 

I've only seen it once, but I remember it years later. It deals with developing feelings for someone with a terminal illness. With that said, there's obviously some tragic undertones, but there's also a celebration of living in the moment and treasuring memories.

This would be a good starter anime for someone who was interested in the genre. It's powerful. It's not what I typically want in an anime and yet I remember it well 6+ years later. There's not a lot of the standard anime over the top silliness. Music is central to the theme and a lot of the works played are by western composers.  

Carrie's HM - Horimiya

I've seen Carrie watching this one multiple times. It's a short 13 episode series. She's excited, because they're releasing another 13 episodes of "Missing Pieces" that were cut out from the manga to make the series fit into 13 episodes. I have not watched it with her....yet. Inevitably, if Carrie loves it I end up seeing it. There will be a lull where we run out of new things to watch together and she picks an old favorite like this.

Slice of Life -

Mike's - March Comes in like a Lion

This anime is about a shogi (Japanese chess). Or at least there are references to shogi and you can learn some about playing by watching, but, to me, this is a character story. The main character lives alone. He is both a professional chess player and a high school student. He battles with loss and having a low EQ (Emotional Quotient). He was adopted after his parents died in an accident, but is close friends (and basically adopted) by another family where the grandfather takes care of his three grandchildren. 

This is an anime about living. There's a lot of day to day adventures and discoveries. One of my favorite teachers in an anime is present. There's an arc where one of the daughters has to face bullying at school. Instead of all the terrible teacher archetypes, they eventually send in an awesome dude who knows what he's doing. It's not over the top, either. 

There are heavy topics dealt with, but overall I found this anime to be heartwarming.  

Mike's HM - Silver Spoon

There are a lot of animes set in high schools, but I find this one unique: A city boy goes to an agricultural school in Hokkaido. He's fleeing from home and knows nothing of farm life. He has to adapt quickly and makes friends along the way. The author wrote the manga of my favorite anime (later!). I have two complaints: 1) It's not dubbed and 2) There's not more of it. It's based off the author's upbringing and somebody not living the farm life could learn a lot. It breaks Carrie's "Dubs only, please!" rule, and yet she still likes it. She's even shown it to Shane (it'd be a great way to practice Japanese for him, but he prefers explosions!).

Carrie's - Kobayahi's Dragon Maid

"Really?" I asked. "Yes," Carrie said. "They're just living their best life!"

Kobayashi meets a chaos dragon from another world who decides she'd be fun to live with whether Kobayashi agrees or not. They become friends. More dragons show up for more misunderstandings and small adventures as they adapt to life in a non-magical world.

I've only seen bits and pieces of it, but Carrie likes it! "It's funny!"

Carrie's HM - Spy X Family

"REALLY!?" I asked AGAIN. "YES!" Carrie replied. She continues this a slice of life anime.

The story follows a spy who has to build a family. His goal is to get close to a paranoid politician to try and prevent another war. All the spy has to do is find a wife and a kid, enroll said kid a private school, and hopefully reach the politician through the kids meeting at school. The spy is a master of disguise, but not a master of family life! He adopts a kid who turns out to be a telepath and proposes a fake marriage to an assassin who happens to work for the other side! Anya, the telepathic kid, realizes "Dad's a liar" and "Mom's dangerous," but the adults are none the wiser! Anya's too happy eating peanuts, watching Spyman cartoons, and being part of a family to think to bring it up to anyone.

This show is amazing and my favorite anime to come out recently. So much so that you're about to see it listed again. 

Comedy -

Carrie's and Mike's Pick - The Disastrous Life of Saiki K

Anime is ripe with overpowered protagonists and Saiki Kusuo is one of the most powerful of them all. All he wants out of life, though, is to go through unnoticed. And yet, the world seems determined not to let him! Crazy classmates seem drawn to him and whenever he uses his powers the situations somehow escalate and catapult him into situations he can't stand: People noticing him! 

Saiki takes a few episodes to introduce characters in the menagerie and establish some of the running jokes. It gains more characters, more jokes, and more steam as time goes on until it can make off-handed references that will have fans laughing hysterically. 

This series inspired Carrie to make coffee jelly. It was delicious and I have Saiki to thank!

Mike's HM - GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka)

Onizuka is an ex-biker gang member, perverted, 22 year old virgin who wants to become a teacher to meet high school girls. How's that for a synopsis? And while it sounds cringeworthy and the anime flirts crossing lines (and the manga even more so!) it's fun and even explores topics like friendship, bullying, and what makes a good teacher. 

The first episode has a kid ask Onizuka for help. Onizuka blindly walks into a trap with good intentions. The kids try to blackmail him for more money has or they'll tell the principal and cost him his job. 

I say 'try,' because Onizuka figures he's lost his job anyway and has nothing to lose. The kids run afoul of a biker gang in the park and when Onizuka shows up he doesn't offer to help the kids. He offers to help the bikers! The kids get dragged across the park by motorcycles, dunked in the lake....it's not school approved punishments. Later when Onizuka is depressed and recounting what happened his friend points out the local Yakuza (Mafia) representatives are eyeing Oni with interest! 

However, when Onizuka shows up at school the next day, all of the delinquents are cleaning the courtyard. They stand and salute when he arrives!

Onizuka is a weird mix of terrible and awesome, but it works for him! The humor and subject matter is too raunchy for kids (even more so in the manga!), but this was a hilarious and even cathartic romp through education (have you ever been tempted to suplex a coworker?). It's definitely not for everyone, so if you can't stand the premise or low-brow humor you should probably pass.

Carrie's HM - Chiyo's School Road

Sometimes I hear people complain that media doesn't accurately portray female friendships. They should watch this one and be amazed. Manana and Chio are hilarious together. They love and they pick at each other non-stop. It's not kid appropriate, because the girls definitely act like teenagers (aka: Language and references). This could have made my list in a few spots if I wasn't sure it was going to appear in Carrie's. I can drop random quotes like "Bloody Butterfly" and have Carrie laughing with minimum effort.

I'd write more, but spoilers! There's a lot of gags and I'd hate to ruin anyone of the shock of "Did that just happen!?"

Parody / Satire - 

Mike and Carrie's Pick - Ouran

I found nothing about the cover or trailer to this show appealing. Yet Carrie watched it, laughed out loud, and got me to watch it. She was right. It's hilarious. 

Like many satires, it helps if you know something about the genre first. In Japan, host clubs are typically staffed by females and cater to men seeking drinks and attention. They can be themed. All the staff dress could be dressed as maids, robots, or whatever else. In this anime, the host club staff are all boys. Haruhi, a female student, ends up joining them to work off a debt. It's good clean fun from there on out. It's highly self aware, but no one looks at the camera and breaks the 4th wall. There's a fantastic line in the dub where a little girl walks into the club and says, "There's debauchery here!" (Trust me, it was laugh out loud shocking at the time). 

I'm not sure I'd pick this out as a first anime, but it was great. Carrie's seen it many, many times (and I've seen it somewhat fewer).

Mike's HM - One Punch Man

One Punch Man makes fun of every anime with long fights and power ups. The main character is so strong his hair fell out and he can beat anyone with a single punch.....and it's left him absolutely bored. There's no longer a thrill to any fight. It's one and done. Yet he never gets any credit from the masses for being so strong. They assume it's a trick or a cheat! Yet Saitama wants to be a professional hero and joins the Hero Association. 

This was almost my #1. It lost out to Ouran for two reasons: 1) I've written a lot and it was easier to agree with Carrie than move things around and 2) It does rely heavily on the same joke. The supporting cast of characters is what keeps the anime great and moving. There's been 2 seasons so far. I'm waiting to see if the magic holds for a third season or if the joke will have grown Stale.

Carrie's HM - Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun

Chiyo tries to ask a guy out in her class and he gives her his autograph instead! It turns out the clueless guy is Nozaki. He's a manga author and he writes a popular girls' manga! Chiyo is intrigued and ends up being recruited to help work on the manga. Nozaki draws inspiration from the school and a crazy ensemble of other students who all play off common stereotypes in girls' manga....and yet this manga about manga targetted to girls (shoujo) is actually a manga targetted to boys (shonen)! Well, sort of! The lines blur in this parody and it's a fun romp. I wouldn't have clicked it from the title, but I'm glad Carrie did. I heartily approve of this pick! 

Shonen -

Mike's and Carrie's Pick - My Hero Academia

I went into MHA not interested. There has been a glut of superhero material since the Disney realized they could make billions with the MCU. It starts somewhat slow and Deku's power progression is more "realistically paced" than most shonen animes. 

However, the series does a fantastic job of juggling a large cast. Carrie kept watching and eventually Shane got interested (Though Carrie did skip a Mineta scene or two!). I found myself liking the series more and more as I saw it. I liked that all the heroes were taught to think and analyze situations. The dubbed voices are great, the cast varied, the powers unique, and there's a blend of humor and action. The series pulled off a feat I attribute to stellar writing whenever I find it. A single scene made me rethink the motivations of character I found annoying and now I like them much more (No spoilers here!). 

Any series that Carrie dressed the whole family up for Halloween had to make my list. The series is not yet completed, but the 7th season may end up being the final arc. I hope it ends well!

Mike's HM - Demon Slayer

One Piece, Bleach, Naruto, and Dragon Ball are all massively popular shonen animes, but they have one big detractor: They have so many episodes! One Piece has 1000+! That may be a perk for many people, but I find that to be a massive turn off. I understand wanting more of what you like, but there are limits! Demon Slayer has been criticized for being "too short." There's something to be said about ending early and leaving people wanting more rather than hanging around longer than you're wanted! 

The truth is, I don't think the plot of Demon Slayer is anything special in the anime world. I don't find the plot particularly original. Something bad happens, a boy who is remarkably good natured wants to get stronger, trains, and keeps fighting more and more dangerous opponents. Other than maybe having more of a horror vibe than most shonen, it's predictable. That said, the music and the art are superb quality. Carrie and I saw Mugen Train in theaters and I was highly impressed. The movie was later extended to be part of a season, but someone who watched the movie could skip the season.

Carrie's HM - Fairy Tail

Speaking of animes that go on forever and day, Carrie loves Fairy Tail. The good news is: She likes what it serves! I watched at least 80 episodes before it fizzled for me, but she's seen hundreds!

It's honestly good fun even if predictable. I laughed out loud many a time. It's character dominated and there are great characters. There are a few "Will they or won't they?" relationships that were painstakingly kept at exactly that moment rather than delivering a final answer (boooo) to keep the tensions and vibe of the story the same, but Carrie was fine with that! She's happy to write her own endings.  

Sports - 

Mike's and Carrie's HM- Ippo

In case it's not obvious, Ippo is a boxer. The anime follows his journey/transformation from bullied kid to formidable athlete. Ippo is a pure soul who assumes the best, forgives instantly, and constantly seeks to improve. He's not a genius, but he is talented. He improves by applying himself 100% to training...which allows for boxing techniques and ideas to be introduced gradually. 

The series does a fantastic job of making Ippo's opponents human. They have backstories, goals, and quirks. Ippo's a good guy, but so are many of them! It's not a battle of good vs evil, but athlete vs athlete. How have they prepared? What are their strengths and what they fighting for? What's going on in their lives?

Carrie's Pick and Mike's HM - Haikyu

I never knew I could care so much about volleyball! I played it in gym and sporadically here and there throughout my life, but never seriously. I learned a lot more about it from this series. Shane tried it at our pool and I even signed him up for a season after this (I'd hoped the anime would help the sport stick, but it didn't!).

The best way to describe this anime is to say it's a team of hard-working, high school kids who through trial and error come together as a unified team. It's full of good feels. There are personality conflicts and arguments, but none of them are criminal or depressing. There are challenges, the kids put in effort, learn new techniques, work together, and become better for it. This is not a team that wins all of their matches. Yeah, there are the anime tropes of "This kid has a super special talent like no one else! Whooooaa," but other teams have their special talents and styles. The show does a good job of recreating all the best feels of high school sports and has a similar story structure to a shonen anime (which is fun even for those who don't like sports!). At times exciting, at times hilarious, we highly recommend Haikyu. 

Mysterious or Creepy -

Mike's Pick - The Promised Neverland

Disclaimer: There are two seasons of this, but from what I hear you should only watch the first. I saw the first and it is brilliant and chilling.

Since this is a mystery, I don't want to delve too deep into it. It starts off looking very happy, but a horror vibe will hit. The three main characters have no super powers, but are child geniuses. They must use their wits to survive the horrors that come their way. This is more of a psychological horror. I don't like gore fests, so look elsewhere if you're looking for jump scares, blood, and mutilated bodies. There will be casualties, but I won't say further than that.

Carrie's Pick and Mike's HM - Hyouka

Hyouka is a slice of life, mystery club. A group of students end up in a literature club, become friends, and solve mysteries because someone "has to know." It's cute, sweet, and intelligent. The mysteries are more casual. There's no serial killers on the loose or kidnapped classmates with only minutes to live. There are references to famous novels I knew and appreciated. 

There's not much more to say. Buzzwords: High school club of friends, low-stake mysteries, but smartly done.

Carrie's HM - Shadows House

This definitely hits on the creepy and the mysterious. A young girl wakes up with no memory and is a "Living Doll." She is the servant of her Shadow Master how appears to be a silhouette identical to her. They both live in the Shadows House. I really can't say much more without hitting spoiler territory. What is the purpose of the Shadows House? Is there a link between the Doll and the Shadow Master? It's a creep one, alright! It's still in production, too, so don't expect to have all the answers any time soon.

Not for kids / R-Rated - 

Mike's HM - Bio-Booster Armor Guyver

I went back and forth between my main pick and my HM here. Then I thought, "Which did I buy all the manga of?" and that was the tie breaker.

The first anime came out in 1989. There was an NC-17 rating slapped on it at Blockbuster and teenage Mike found out why. It's one of the goriest animes I've ever seen. Sho accidentally discovers an alien device that attaches itself to him. Monsters want it back. The suit gives him the power to rip off arms, sever heads, and blast through the Zoanoids that constantly stalk him. The gore is mainly monster body parts and bright red blood. Modern day gore in anime is probably worse, but I avoid those (I could handle the "this is clearly a cartoon and those are ugly monsters" back then).

The series was never finished, so I had to go out and buy the mangas to learn more....until those were never finished either (or if they were, they weren't in English!). Still, this is an early anime I will never forget. 

Mike's HM - Bubblegum Crisis 

My other R-rated anime also comes from the late 1980s. Bubblegum Crisis is a cyberpunk, dystopian thriller. The first episode starts with awesome rock music ("Hurricane") and the AD Police trying to stop a rogue robot (called a "Boomer"). Despite the awesome gear the police have, the Boomer rips them to shreds. There's blood and no one survives. It doesn't get away, though, because four women in Power Suits, the Knight Sabers, show up to eliminate it. They're a rogue/mercenary group with their own agenda and it seems to be they don't like Boomers. 

If you haven't guessed, this series is R for the violence. Surprisingly, I read that is was the inspiration for Tenchi Muyo! The creators worked on this show and wanted to do something lighter and funnier afterward. They'd apparently pitched a few silly episode ideas and the producers shot it down. I loved Tenchi and even bought the manga, so hooray for this series even more!

Carrie's - Food Wars

Did you think Carrie would label a show about cooking as not appropriate for kids? I don't remember any adult scenes.

Unless you count the reactions to food.

The reactions are so over the top, I'd call them 'orgasmic.' I've never once had a reaction to fried chicken that approaches how some of the food judges reacted! They can be funny, but not all of them are something you'd want a kid to imitate in jest!

Some of the characters are definitely drawn with fan service in mind, as well. 

Carrie's HM - Gun Gale Online

I was surprised when Carrie chose this one. There's no gore or sex. When I asked, she pointed out two things. The one I'll point out is that there is a character with suicidal ideations and is fascinated with the idea of a death game (this is in universe to Sword Art Online). 

She's not wrong. I'd argue this is more of a strong PG-13 because of how things are handled, but it was Carrie's pick! It was an enjoyable watch, regardless.

Mecha / Sci-fi -

Mike's Pick - Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket

Gundam is a thing. They have serious Gundams, heroic Gundams, goofy Gundams, and super-deformed Gundams. I picked up the book adaptations for the original Gundam series from a used book store somewhere when I was much younger. It was a great sci-fi story. While I have enjoyed multiple Gundam series (The 08th MS Squad, Gundam Wing, Gundam SEED, After War X), I wouldn't call myself a Gundam fanboy. I never bought the models for myself (but I did buy one for Shane once! He heard about them from an anime that's about to be mentioned...).

So why isn't Gundam top of the list for me? A common theme in Gundams is "War is hell" followed closely by "We could have been friends if we were on the same side." Many of them execute these themes very well (including some of the characters). There are times I'm in the mood for grit, but not as much these days. I like my good versus evil stories with good coming out victorious. 

So that brings up War in the Pocket. It's a short, 6 episode series and it is a perfect example of how Gundam can have awesome robot action and stick a dagger into your feelings and twist. That's why I picked it.

Honestly, if you're going to be an anime fan, you should try a Gundam at some point. They're not my favorite, but they're iconic to the genre. They've even made real life Gundam 'toys.' I'd say the majority are at least decent (with a few really weird ones like G Gundam!). If you're not a fan of the heavy nature of war, there's even lighter hearted ones to look for. 

Mike's HM - Neon Genesis Evangelion

My picks for this genre have been iconic and heavy on the nostalgia. Neon Genesis Evangelion is a terrific anime with a bad ending. So, why watch it? I think the ride up to the end is memorable. There's comedy, some amazing fights, unique characters, and a warm-water penguin named Pen-Pen. Shinji, the main character, is hesitant to fight in a giant robot (which is lampooned in many later animes), but I'm a little more forgiving of that as an adult. This is one of the first animes that was decent dubbed. Maybe it still holds up? It's so popular they have released movies to revisit the series and clarify the endings, but I haven't watched them. I enjoyed the original series enough and moved on. There's supposedly a lot of heavy philosophy and themes in the manga and movies, but I don't care. I'd honestly recommend avoiding all of that. I like the theme song, I like Unit 3 going berserk, and I like giant robots hopping on boats. Enjoy the simple pleasures and don't sweat the details.

Carrie's - Sgt Frog

This is a troll pick. Sgt Keroro loves building Gundam models. "They count as mecha!" Well, she's not wrong. There's definitely some sci-fi trappings in here, as well. 

Aliens have come to invade the Earth only they're idiot frogs. The narrator is sassy and there are a ton of pop cultural references thrown out one after another. Carrie insists you have to watch this one dubbed, because all the references are tailored towards an English speaking audience.

This is a super goofy, but fun anime. Don't expect plot so much as disasters of the week with new characters building it into a madhouse of morons contributing to mass chaos with hysterical results.

Shane's a fan, too. 

Carrie's HM - Full Metal Panic

This is actually a Mecha anime and not a troll pick. The mech parts are actually the weakest parts of it! In this anime, a mercenary is sent undercover to a Japanese school to be another student's bodyguard. The best parts of these series are him screwing up royally in the civilian setting. Who pulls a gun when someone mentions a test killing their grade? The main character! Sagara! That's who!  I will mention this again later, so I'll keep it short here.  

Fantasy -

Mike's - Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

Balsa is a spear-wielding warrior who has vowed to save 8 lives to atone for the 8 deaths from her past. She saves Prince Chagum on her journeys without knowing who he is and is asked to watch over him by the queen. The problem is: Everyone else wants him dead. Living inside Chagum is some sort of spirit or egg and his father, the Mikado, has called for his death. So begins the journey of Balsa and Chagum.

This is a slower paced anime and free of many of the over-top silly tropes. It was based on a novel instead of a comic and it shows. There's less comedy than most anime, but it's rich in plot, world-building, and characterization (the action sequences are great, too!). 

This is not your typical anime and I think it's well worth a watch.

Mike's HM - Record of Lodoss Wars OAV/TV series

This is an older anime and unlike most of what you'll find out today. It's heavily inspired by D&D and screams "Western influence!" The first episode of the OAV has a dragon, dwarf, fighter, mage, cleric, and elf. I mean, come on!

I put this anime up for two reasons: 1) It's different than much of what you'll find out there and 2) Orson. 

I'm going full fanboy for this: I love the design of Orson. He wasn't meant to be a main character, but he's what I remember most about the series. He only shows up in a couple of episodes of the OAV and the first half of the TV series. Orson is a berserker. He witnessed a tragedy as a child and was possessed by a spirit of rage. Most berserkers go down swinging with a trail of destruction behind them, but somehow managed to survive long enough to have a modicum of control. Or at least, he can stay calm and detached until he really can't anymore! I really like flawed characters. Orson managed to be tragic and dangerous and I liked him way better than Parn who was supposed to be the main character.

While this series hasn't been remade to my knowledge, it was influential for a ton of Japanese pop culture that came afterward. You could make an argument it helped spread D&D into Japan. Recently, a metroidvania came out called Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labryinth that I may pick up if it ever goes on a big enough sale. 

Carrie's - Iruma-Kun

This is a predictable, fun romp. Iruma manages to be the only human in a demon school. He doesn't want to let anyone know that, because the school song mentions how delicious humans are. He's a nice guy, though, and through good intentions, an aversion to danger, dumb luck, and allies he manages to fit in better and better while staying true to himself. It's an unfinished series. Carrie is up to date, but I just finished Season 1. It's our current watch an episode or two before bed show. 

Carrie's HM - Kamisama

I know very little about this anime other than Carrie has seen it multiples times. I imagine that means I'll see it eventually. From what I gleaned online (avoiding spoilers!) a girl falls in love with a yokai (demon). However, that's forbidden, so he rebuffs her. But is that the end of it? Does he fall for her, too? Do they overcome the taboo? Is there a terrible bad thing that happens?

You're asking the wrong guy. Carrie thinks it's worth a watch, though!

Because I Love that Character -

Mike's - Trigun

Vash and Wolfwood are awesome.

Vash is a "Crouching moron, hidden badass." He acts goofy, but he's supremely capable. His value system is different than the world's. He has no personal pride and would rather be hurt himself than kill anyone. 

Wolfwood is jaded. He wants to do what's right, but he's not sure that's always possible. He's willing to make the bad choice if it will spare someone else. That comes into direct conflict with Vash who refuses to do so.

Honestly, I love this anime as a whole. It starts off bonkers, pure comedy. Yet, somehow finishes being completely serious. There are tough moments and redemption is a major theme. It's a unique theme and style for anime and it was much more popular outside of Japan than in. It was written by a Catholic Japanese mangaka, so the author wasn't typical for a nation that values cultural conformity (with the irony that a lot of anime/manga rebels against some of those norms!).

Mike's HM - Full Metal Panic

Sagara Sousuke is awesome. He's a perfect example of flawed characters are so much fun. He was raised as a guerrilla and then a soldier. He's a military nerd and have no sense of humor. He takes everything seriously. Having never been a civilian, he's hopelessly lost when it comes to fitting in to normal life. 

So put him in a high school as an undercover bodyguard and all sorts of shenanigans take place! There's an opening scene where they're trying to familiarize Sagara with items that might be seen in a high school. Amongst all the clutter, there's a condom. "I know what that one is!" Sagara says. His friends start to poke at him. "Sagara, you've used a condom before?" "Yes I've used a condom before. They can store up to 1 liter of water."

The anime itself has a sci-fi story that's okay. It's Sagara trying to pretend to be normal where the most fun is! It's madcap and the OAV series Fumoffu is even better than the actual series in my opinion.

Carrie's - Kenichi

Amazing pick by Carrie. The main character is fine, but the masters are hilarious! We quote Apachai randomly at times. The premise of the show is that Kenichi is a weakling who wants to get stronger. He has no talent, but the masters at Ryozanpaku take him on anyway! They're the best of the best at what they do, but that doesn't mean they're sane! They're more than happy to let Kenichi fight his own battles win or lose, but when one of them steps into a situation there will be craziness! Do not watch this anime and expect it to be a realistic exploration of the different styles of martial arts. You may learn a thing or two, but the characters are going to ratchet things up to an 11 throughout.

Carrie's HM - Ouran

Carrie loves the characters in Ouran. There are a pair of twins no one can tell apart, except for her. The have different voice actors purposefully. Discerning how to tell them apart was a joy for her! Aside from Mori and Honey, the main characters have multiple layers to who they are and reasons for why they act they way they do. They play off each other really well and there's real conflicts and camaraderie between everyone.  

Isekai -

This genre is one of Carrie's favorites. When I told her to pick a fantasy anime, she said, "They're all Isekai!" The idea with Isekai is that someone from our world ends up in another. They could be reborn, teleported, trapped in a video game, or any other sort of author fiat to get them somewhere new. 

Mike's -

Seasons 1 and 2 of this anime are amazing. Sword Art Online is probably the most famous "Trapped in a Video Game" isekai out there. In SAO, the player's minds were trapped online in the game. In Log Horizon, the people trapped have fully become their characters in the game. It's a big distinction that quickly becomes apparent. Whereas SAO was more of a psychological thriller following a pair of main characters with death being on the line, Log Horizon is an ensemble through and through. In fact, it keeps adding more and more characters as time goes on! The world continues to broaden to the point where I'm not sure they'll ever be able to tie up all the loose ends. There's a lot of comedy, so I find this show more rewatchable than SAO.

The downside is: The creator went to jail for tax evasion in Japan. While he was in jail, the anime didn't continue. They made a season 3 later, but it had lost some of the magic. Carrie pinpointed the differences in the voice actors ages immediately and it became a sticking point for her.

It was a really fun world, though, so I may pick up the light novels one day if they all end up translated. 

Mike's HM - 

This is a nostalgia pick. Isekai's are fine, but there are a lot of them. There's a whole line of "reborn as" (Sword/Spider/Boy/Girl/Hero). There's a bunch of others that are funny ideas, but one trick ponies (Guy/girl who's good at cooking, guy who's a handyman, girl who loves books). And there are many, many based on being trapped or reborn into a video game. Some transcend and build an awesome world, but as a whole I think the genre is crowded. They can be fun, but they're normally not my favorites (probably because I have a few already and there's so many more left...).

In El Hazard, Makoto is transported to another universe with his friend Nanami, her brother Jinai, and the teacher Fujisawa. Once there they all have to adapt to a wildly different world. Some show unique abilities - Fujisawa is an avid drinker, but when sober he exhibits super strength ("A damnable gift!"). Makoto has the fortune/misfortune to look a lot like the princess who was kidnapped, so he's slapped in drag while Nanami and Fuji laugh. Jinai runs off to join an empire of bugs to defeat his lifelong rival Makoto (who's unaware he's Jinai's rival, at all!). 

El Hazard was one of my first isekai's before knowing what an isekai was. It's probably aged quite a bit. There is a bath scene some nudity in the first season (which again disappears in later seasons when Anime became more popular worldwide). It was my first introduction to a lot of anime tropes (including cross-dressing!). The TV series was fun (I bought the VHS set for cheap) until I watched the OAV which completely replaced the series for me (That was a thing in early anime - TV seasons vs OAVs/OVAs).  Well, there was one funny line I'll never forget from the TV series. Episode 1 or 2, the group hears a woman scream and the teacher, Fujisawa, yells, "Oh, sh**! Someone else is out of alcohol!" (In his defense, he was still trying to cope with waking up in another world!).

I tried to show it to Carrie a couple of times, but she kept falling asleep. Was it bad timing with raising a baby? Or indicative of the series being a total flop for her? It does start a little slow in our world before everyone is transported. We haven't gone back, because there are (as stated) so many other isekai's out there. I don't see it being remade any time soon either, because newer (and unique) themes are a dime a dozen. 

Carrie's - Reincarnated as a Slime

This is an underdog to overpowered story. A man dies and is reincarnated as a humble slime. From his humble origins, he makes friends with a dragon and starts down the road to becoming MASSIVELY overpowered. Carrie loves it. I enjoyed it for a while, but it's too blatant of a wish fulfillment fantasy for me. That said, it's not intended to be high literature or a deep plotline from what I can tell. It's intended to be fun, funny, and riff of a bunch of fantasy tropes. 

Carrie's HM - Sword Art Online

SAO rates highly for me, too. The first half of Season 1 was AMAZING. I'd rate it in my top animes ever. I bought the audiobook on sale to listen to with Carrie on a road trip. That was a failure. She's not as hyped about audibooks as Shane and I and it bothered her that the full ensemble wasn't speaking their parts (She's an audiophile and LOVES the music from this series, too). 

The story is a new game system comes out. Everyone rushes to log in, but then they're surprised they can't log out. The creator appears and warns them all that to die in game means to die for real. If any of their families try to unplug or disconnect them, the VR headgear they wear will kill them, as well. The only way out is to beat the game. 

I can't say enough about Season 1's first half. It was incredible. A+ for me. The second half of Season 1 was meh. C+ or B? There were some good moments, but it was hurt by being nowhere near as good as the first half. I enjoyed Season 2 a lot and there have been further spinoff series (Some great, some that fizzled). 

This is probably one of the most well known and well liked trapped in a video game out there. It's popular enough that it spawned people who love to hate on it and point out it's flaws. It's a winner in this house. Carrie tried World of Warcraft eventually, because I told her she was missing out on some of the references by never having played an MMORPG!

Recommendation for a non-Anime watcher -

Mike's Pick - Studio Ghibli - It's Disney Japan. I prefer series, but those can be a commitment. Movies are one and done. Ghibli has everything from the serious to the silly to the surreal. As long as someone doesn't detest animation in general, there has to be something they've made that can resonate with them. My personal favorite is Princess Mononoke, but if that's too violent there are plenty of others. Kiki's delivery service is a young witch delivering goods on her broom long before Harry Potter (1989). Spirited Away (2001) involves a lot of Japanese mythology, but in a child friendly way. Howl's Moving Castle is a reimaging from the German book (2004). If you like tragedy, I hear Grave of the Fireflies (1988) will reduce you to tears (I haven't watched it for that reason).

Mike's HM for adults- Venus wars

This is a war story. Venus has been terraformed. A city is invaded and occupied. A group of teenagers decide to fight back and are noticed by a resistance group. There are no super powers or magic. Not everyone makes it home when the story is done, but those who do are forever changed.

I watched the sci-fi edit of this and it burned itself into my mind. Travis wrote an entire RPG setting he called ROK based on the world presented in the movie. I would have loved to have seen this in a theater. The sci-fi edit did take out a few things that I felt made the movie better (like a couple of horny customs agents at the spaceport in the beginning), and, sadly, I don't think it's streaming anywhere (I used to own the DVD).  

Mike's HM for kids - Pokemon

Let's face it, kids know who Pikachu is. Unless you are isolated from other kids, the electric rat is prominently involved in pop culture. Pokemon is the best selling card game in the world (even over Magic the Gathering), it has tons of video games (including the Pokemon Go craze on mobiles), and the anime is 25 seasons long and counting. I've been to Pokemon game days with Shane and there are plenty of adults who love this series, too. I have no nostalgic attachment to it, but I can verify the game is solidly designed. I bought a copy of the Game Boy game way back when after teasing Patrick for liking it. He convinced me to try it and it was fun. So fun, Matze and I each bought copies. I haven't played future games, but I imagine they're more of the same. Pokemon has a winning formula and they don't seem intent on changing it anytime soon! 

Carrie's - My Roommate is a Cat

This is a light anime where an author adopts a cat (You can already see why Carrie likes it). The cat and the author can't communicate (There's no magic here), but you do get to hear the cats inner voice. Which means you get to see and hear how they quickly misunderstand each other's actions. Eventually, the author is forced to become more social as he shops for cat food and tries to take care of his new pet. He even finds inspiration for his novel much to his publisher's relief!

You could argue this series is a comedy and a basic primer on cat ownership. It's understated and subtle compared to most anime, but full of cute.

Carrie's HM - Your Name

This romance was mentioned earlier. This post is probably the single longest one I've written. If you want to learn more, scroll up, or Google it. Sorry!

Surprises / Embarrassed to admit I like -

Mike's Pick - Saber Marionette J

To this day, this has one of the oddest sounding plot synopsis: An attempt to colonize another world goes wrong when most of the colonists are killed. Only men survive. They are able to repopulate the world through cloning, but there are no women! The men do have the technology to make female androids called marionettes. However, they are not human and without emotion. When Otaru discovers Lime, a marionette like no other, because she has a 'maiden circuit' which allows her to experience emotions and act as a real person!

With a plot summary like that, I'm surprised I even watched the first episode. It came recommended from an acquaintance who worked at Anime FX, though, who swore it was hilarious. I think it was episode 3 where the Looney Toons, madcap crazy running around the palace, had me laughing out loud.

This show probably hasn't aged the best. The characters were over the top to say the least. SMJ was almost certainly more innocent (and dumb) than modern takes on a 'harem' anime.  

But I remember it fondly.  

Mike's HM - Vandread

I almost stopped watching this anime after the first episode. "This is weird." A planet full of only guys? Then they get attacked by pirates from a planet full of only girls. Then THEY get attacked by space aliens and a guy's Vanguard mech accidentally crashes into a gal's Dread fighter and they combine? Vanguard + Dread = Vandread (At least it's clear where the title comes from). 

This series is anything but realistic. The first girl to trust any of the guys, Dita, is a Xenophile who runs around calling Hibiki "Mr. Alien." It's goofy,  miscommunication between the sexes is rampant, and the power of our chromosomes combined magically lets our technology do cool things. It's somehow juvenile and then touches on some things I'd argue are too much for juveniles (like the end goal for the aliens).

Yet, I still thought it was fun. 

Carrie's - Maid-Sama 

When Carrie asked for an example for this topic, I said "Maid-Sama" flat out. She thought about it, and, yes, this fit the bill. Basically, this is embarrassment humor central. You have a strong female character who's class president and works her butt off in school, but she's figured out she can make great side cash by waitressing in a maid cafe. She'd die if anyone recognized it was her, but since it's such a personality shift no one does....until someone does. I have seen parts of it with her, and it is hilarious. I can only handle so much of the style of humor it offers, but Carrie ate it up! It's a romantic comedy dressed in a maid outfit.

What's an Anime I really want MORE of! - 

Mike's - Spy X Family

Carrie said this doesn't count, because they are going to make more episodes of it! I'm the one doing the writing, though, so in it goes! This series could end up rising into my favorites. It's been great so far, and if that trajectory continues? Amazement will follow. I want the plot to keep moving in the new seasons instead of it settling into a "Situation Normal all over gain" or pure filler mode. I think I'll get my wish within the next year! 

Carrie's - Chiyo's School Road

"High school girls are greeeeaaat," so it's natural Carrie would want more! This is only a 13 episode series. It was a shorter manga run, so I don't know how much of the source material is left. Carrie would insist on the original English voice actors all coming back, too. They helped make the series what it is!

Mike and Carrie's HM - Saiki but only in the original voice cast

Carrie and I only watch this dubbed. Several of the voice actors can make the unfunny funny just by how they say things. Each episode is usually a few smaller episodes. As the ensemble builds there are characters who can show up in the background and make you laugh out loud from their presence alone!

We were so bummed when the new series came out with new voice actors. To this day, there are several actors Carrie will point out to me and instead of telling me the actors name, she'll tell me who they were in Saiki. "Hey buddy! Heeeey budddy!!!"

Wildcard! What's an anime you'd like to mention just because?

Mike's Pick - Initial D

This anime made me pop a tire. Thankfully, I was in my neighborhood and close enough to walk home. John and I went back, grabbed another car, and went back to change the flat (this was before we had cell phones with convenient flashlights). Not many animes can claim to have encouraged me to do something so dumb. 

This anime involves kids racing cars down windy mountain paths. They drift (slide sideways). It's something you'd see in F1 or NASCAR, because it's not the scientifically fastest way to race. It does let someone charge into a turn hot, get in front, and then slow down enough to not die. Also, it looks cool. 

The main character doesn't like driving, but he's been doing it as a job non-stop. He gets suckered into a race and blows everyone's minds with his talent even though he's not interested. This leads to more races fueled by techno beats and early cgi. 

It's just a fun time. I used to download an episode a night on a dial-up internet connection. We listened to the Cantonese dub, so both the Japanese and English voices sound off to me!

Carrie's - Restaurant to Another World

I almost put this for my slice of life anime. That would have felt like a cheat, though, because this series is clearly magical in nature. It's an excellent palette cleanser anime. 

The plot is predictable. Someone in a fantasy world will find a door, they'll go through it, and they'll find themselves in Western Restaurant Nekoya. It's a restaurant from Earth that is closed every Saturday. However, while the Earthly door is closed, magic doors appear in another world! Whoever enters finds a meal unlike anything they've seen from their world before going back on their way. There are recurring characters/regulars at the restaurant and they call each other by the name of their favorite dish (Teriyaki, Pork-Loin Cutlet, Croquette, etc). Warning! There is a character who magically changes form in the first episode and is nude for a moment. I don't think there were any details drawn, but I know Carrie skipped that episode for Shane and I! Also, I have one minor personal nitpick: There's a half-demon character who says a quick grace, but it's themed for demons of that world. Saying "itadakimasu"/grace is engrained in Japanese culture. It's the author's way of showing you're not in Kansas anymore, but it does irk me for a second or two. 

This is not an anime I can binge watch. It's a one or two episode, that was fun, and then I'm done.

Overall favorite if I could only pick one anime -

Full Metal Alchemist - Brotherhood

Carrie and I both rate this as our favorite anime. The dub is better than the sub. The voice acting is superb (and the MC's voice was even a Christian worship leader). It has mystery, action, romance, comedy, tragedy, and world-building. It's the total package when I think about what I want in an anime or a great fantasy/sci-fi story. The attention to detail is immaculate with characters growing as the age between seasons. The music is fantastic and I don't even skip the introductions all the time. 

Edward and Alphone Elric are alchemists. Alchemy is the science/magic that allows for things to be transmuted from one thing to another. The boys are orphaned and attempt to use alchemy to bring their mother back to life with tragic results. Edward loses an arm and a leg and Alphone loses his whole body. Only the quick response of Ed allows him to attach Al's soul to a suit of armor. When the boys are older and wiser, Ed joins the military, but not out of patriotism. He wants to travel the world in search of the fabled Philosopher's Stone to restore both himself and his brother.

There are two Full Metal Alchemist series. The first FMA was written before the manga was finished. It stays loyal to the story in the beginning and some of the episodes are fantastic and even referenced by the later series Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood. However, when FMA the 1st reached the end of the manga, they went their own way and it does not compare to the magnitude and brilliance of the manga's finale. Brotherhood starts off much quicker. Since I watched the first series that was fine by me. I wanted to see the real story! Someone new to the show may be surprised or get a little lost in how quick Brotherhood lays things out.