Top 15 Anime

Keep in mind that these are only the ones I've watched and remember. Now, moving on. I think I'll just do a Top 15 list, since I did that way back, but didn't really go into detail about WHY I liked them. I’m also including a brief plot summary (courtesy of Anime News Network) at the beginning of each section for the newcomers. I’ll also try to keep too many spoilers out of the reviews.

1.      Baccano!

Plot Summary: Each of the stories in the series involves several unrelated plots intersecting and crossing each other as events spiral farther and farther out of control. Immortal alchemists, mafia operated speakeasies, and many other elements of pulp fiction mashed together for a world straight out of the movies.

Baccano! is great for a lot of reasons. The main reason for me is because it presents a story in a very interesting way. It’s in a linear fashion, but there are also five stories in three separate years (that’s 15 total stories for those of you who are confused by my wording). I actually have no idea if it’s 15 stories, but there’s a lot going on in each episode and none of it really becomes clear until the mid-point in the series.

What I really like about the series, though, is the characters. The entire first episode is deciding which of these characters is the main character (it was eventually decided that Firo is main character-ish). There is an upward of 22 central characters, and that’s not including some of those who were aboard the Advenna Avis. And each and every one is very unique. I have a hard time juggling four characters and making each of them sound unique, but Ryohgo Narita does it with more than 20 and he does it well.

The series itself is hard to describe without giving away spoilers, but it’s a great watch if you want something high action and with a psychopathic killer. Side note, it’s not for the faint at heart.

If you want to check it out, and you have Netflix, here you go: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Baccano/70115224?trkid=2361637

And for if you don’t have Netflix: http://www.funimation.com/baccano/episodes

2.      Spice and Wolf

Plot Summary: Kraft Lawrence, a 25 year old peddler travelling from town to town selling and buying various things to make a living during a period much like Europe in the Middle Ages. One night when stopped at the town of Pasloe, he finds in his wagon a 250 year old pagan wolf deity girl named Holo. She appears to be that of a 15 year old girl, except for a wolf tail and ears. She introduces herself as the town’s goddess of harvest who has kept it blessed with good harvests of wheat for many years. Despite having the responsibility to watch over the town, she wants to go back to her homeland in the north called Yoitsu, she believes the people have already forsaken her anyway and that she has kept her promise to maintain the good harvests. She manages to bargain her way out of the village by making a deal with Lawrence to take her with him. As they travel, her wisdom helps increase his profits, but at the same time, her true nature draws unwanted attention from the church.

Spice and Wolf does some of the same things Baccano! does. Of course, the only thing I’m talking about here is that they both have really good characters. The two central characters are Kraft Lawrence, a traveling merchant, and Holo, the wolf harvest diety. Just from that, I’m a little sketchy as to whether to watch the series or not. But, hell, if J. Michael Tatum and Brina Palencia head the cast, then why the hell not.

What is really great about this show is the economics. Yes, the economics. It’s a show centered on Lawrence and his trials and tribulations as a traveling merchant. And, with mercantile, there is economics, money, and tons more interesting things. Lawrence is constantly giving Holo lessons on trenni silver coins and lumione gold coins and a myriad of other different kinds of coins (of course, trenni silver are the most reliable, one can live off of one trenni silver for a week after all). I can’t recall an action scene that had me on the edge of my seat by simply waiting to sell pyrite, but Spice and Wolf II fits that bill.

Sure, naked Holo is on the cover (thanks Japan for discrediting my recommendations), but I still highly suggest it: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Spice_and_Wolf_Season_1/70125476?trkid=2361637

And for those without Netflix: http://www.funimation.com/spice-and-wolf

3.      Ghost in the Shell

Plot Summary: In the future, life between the digital and physical world has been blurred. The boundary of technology and humanity has been stretched beyond imagination with lives being led in both the electronic and physical worlds. With the melding of man and machine, a new cybernetic level of existence is being created —an existence that continues to redefine mankind.

What Ghost in the Shell is missing in character development (at least compared to Spice and Wolf), it makes up for in concept. As you can tell, Ghost in the Shell is the best cyberpunk show I have ever seen. And for good reason. It has an amazingly complex story with The Laughing Man and The Individual Eleven that made me want to keep watching episode after episode.

Now, when I say that GitS is missing character development, I mean there isn’t nearly as much focus on characters as there is in Spice and Wolf. Spice and Wolf is all about the relationship between Lawrence and Holo while GitS focuses on the story aspect, with amazing Stand Alone and Dividual episodes to the side. Who can’t love Saito and Togusa after their respective episodes (Beware the Left Eye and One Angry Man)? But the focus is obviously on The Laughing Man and The Individual Eleven rather than Section 9. And it’s great.

The biggest downfall to this series I see is that, as a first time viewer, I was turned off by the pacing in the first few episodes of both the first and second anime series. It was frankly slow and kind of boring, but the world itself (and personal testimonies) interested me enough to keep watching. And, as the position on this list suggests, it’s well worth it.

You can get started on Ghost in the Shell  here: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Ghost_in_the_Shell_Stand_Alone_Complex/70001950?trkid=2361637

4.      Time of Eve (Eve no Jikan)

Plot Summary: In the not too distant future androids have come into common usage. Taking the androids for granted, humans treat them as if they were common everyday tools, while on the other hand, some people empathize with androids due to their human-like appearance (save for a digital ring floating above their heads). This has become a social problem and these people are frowned upon as a result. Rikuo, one who has taken androids for granted for his entire life, one day discovers that Sammy, his home android, has been acting strangely and finds a strange phrase recorded in her activity log. He, along with his friend Masaki, traces Sammy’s footsteps and come upon an unusual café. This café’s main rule is to not discriminate between humans and androids.

What I love so much about Time of Eve is that it represents the traditional Asimov rules of robotics in a very different way, I think. Admittedly, I haven’t watched many Asimov-related things (I, Robot being the big one). But unlike I, Robot, rules are not meant to be broken. These robots follow the rules steadfast.

The interesting part is the character relationship between the humans and the androids. As the plot summary stated, there is no discrimination between human and android. So when a human-acting human/android walks up to you, you have no idea whether it is a human or an android. And that’s ok, because they’re still a living being. The café, and thus relationships, are made even more interesting by the fact that it’s frowned upon in society to treat androids like humans. These people are called “android-holics” (dori-kei ドリ系).

If you love science fiction stories like I do, then this is a show for you. It’s only a six episode series and each of the episodes varies from 15-30 minutes. It’s worth checking out.

You can watch this, for free, right here: http://www.crunchyroll.com/time-of-eve

You don't even need a Netflix subscription.

5.      Hellsing

Plot Summary: Vampires exist. It is the duty of Hellsing, a secret organization sponsored by the British government, to hide that frightening fact and protect the blissfully unaware populace. Along with its own personal army, Hellsing has secret weapons. Alucard, an incredibly powerful vampire, has been controlled by Hellsing for years. It is unclear how he feels about being a servant to the Hellsing family, but he certainly enjoys his job as a vampire exterminator. Seras is a fledgling vampire and former police woman. Although reluctant to embrace her new self, she is a valued member of the organization. Integra Hellsing, the current leader, is usually fully capable of fulfilling her duty, but lately, vampire activity has been on the rise. Unfortunately, the cause is more alarming than anything she could have imagined. A group long thought dead has been plotting in secret since their apparent destruction over 50 years ago. Plotting to plunge England, and perhaps the entire world, into war.

Oh Hellsing. I want to just say, “Alucard. ‘Nuff said.” But I won’t.

While Thane will complain about the Major’s drawn out speeches (which they are drawn out), that’s an aspect of every anime. Especially a show like this. But trust me when I say it’s worse in shows like Bleach and Naruto. They have long, drawn out speeches. Which is why I don’t see a need to complain about that aspect.

The point of the series is Integra Faribrook Wingates Hellsing, Alucard, Walter C. Dornez, and Seras Victoria exterminating vampires (and these vampires don’t sparkle, unless they’re sparking with their own cum mixed in with the blood of their victims. Yeah, Kouta Hirano is a little sick). But don’t let that graphic-ness turn you off from the series because it is awesome.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Alucard and company aren’t just fighting against vampires, they’re fighting against Iscariot Section XIII and the Third Reich. Both organizations seek to destroy the Hellsing Organization from Alucard and then on to the rest.

Now, it feels like I haven’t really reviewed anything, but the show is a lot of Alucard masturbating to his own voice in the most awesome, vampiric way. The thing that separates this from other shows that do the exact same thing is the story. The Hellsing v. Iscariot v. Third Reich really brings it together into something that’s above and beyond the other vampire masturbation stories.

One last piece of advice: If you check out this series, do yourself and favor and skip the TV series and go straight to the OVA. Then, if you don’t like Hellsing I, then try Hellsing II, then drop it if you still don’t like it.

Unfortunately, both the Hellsing TV show (which I suggest against) and the Hellsing OVA aren't on Netflix, Crunchyroll, or any of those other legal outlets. Your best bet is not to buy them, though. Each Hellsing OVA can go for upwards of $70 at the high. So good luck finding where to watch it legally.

6.      Neon Genesis Evangelion

Plot Summary: At the age of 14 Shinji Ikari is summoned by his father to the city of Neo Tokyo-3 after several years of separation. There he unwillingly accepts the task of becoming the pilot of a giant robot by the name EVA01 and protect the world from the enigmatic invaders known as “angels.” Even though he repeatedly questions why he has accepted this mission from his estranged and cold father, his doing so helps him to gradually accept himself. However, why exactly the angels attacking and what his father’s true intentions are have yet to be unraveled.

I mustn’t run away. I mustn’t run away. I mustn’t run away. AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!

Shinji Ikari’s words are forever echoed in my mind through the voice of Spike Spencer. And now I know that he mustn’t run away. But in all seriousness, Evangelion is a great show which goes into very deep issues. Some that you don’t think most 14 year old boys and girls have. Now, I can’t go into those issues without spoiling anything about Shinji and Asuka Langley Soryu’s backstories, but know that they’re very well written.

And that is really why I love this series so much. It’s because we get such deep character analysis of Shinji, Asuka, Misato Katsuragi, Rei Ayanami, and even the less major characters like Ritsuko Akagi, Ryogi Kaji, Makoto Hyuga, and Maya Ibuki get some of their own character development later in the series. Sure, the first part of the series is very “What’s the angel of the day going to be like today?” But it picks up (or maybe slows down?) in the latter half. Who can forget the hedgehog’s dilemma after watching Evangelion after all? And who doesn’t love a story about growing up?

What draws me into this series, outside the characters, is the mythology. And I love mythology. Every time they destroy an angel, a cross appears in a giant explosion. I mean the angel’s names (Adam, Lilith, Sachiel, Shamshel, Ramiel, Gaghiel, Israfel, Sandalphon, Matriel, Sahaquiel, Iruel, Leliel, Bardiel, Zeruel, Arael, Armisael, Tabris, and Lilim) I’m sure have major mythological roots. I don’t know them, but ask an Evangelion scholar and they can talk your ear off for hours on just the mythology of Evangelion. The point being that there is a huge mythology within Evangelion and it is aweomse.

If you’re a newcomer to anime, there are a few things I would show you. Evangelion is one of them. Cowboy Bebop and Trigun are a few others.

Evangelion isn’t on Netflix (no surprise there, Gainax can’t profit from it as much if it is). From my research, you can’t find Evangelion anywhere for free. But Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Neon-Genesis-Evangelion-Platinum-Collection/dp/B000767QTA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1319254883&sr=8-3) and Right Stuf (http://www.rightstuf.com/cgi-bin/catalogmgr/EFEh=ty12M73FnlsSy/browse/item/81583/4/0/0) have it.

7.      Durarara!!

Plot Summary: Mikado Ryūgamine is a boy who longs for the exciting life of the big city. At the invitation of his childhood friend Masaomi, he transfers to a school in Ikebukuro. Masaomi has warned him about people he doesn’t want to cross in the city: a champion fighter, an informant, and a mysterious gang called “Dollars.” Nervous from Masaomi’s stories, Mikado witnesses an urban legend on his first day in the city, the Headless Rider astride a black motorcycle. From then on, the existence of supernatural cases and a gang called the Yellow Scarves will rise to the surface, and Ikebukuro will be pushed to the breaking point.

Here’s the main reason I love Durarara!!: It’s written by Ryohgo Narita. And, as you can tell from Baccano!’s position on the list, I love Ryohgo Narita.

Now on to the better reasons. Again, like Baccano!, Durarara!! has an ensemble cast. This time headed by Darrel Guilbeau and Bryce Papenbrook (the son of Bob Papenbrook, voice of Rito Revolto in Power Rangers). Now, these two are relative unknowns, at least to me, but the rest of the cast is headed by the likes of Kari Wahlgren (Rip Van Winkle in Hellsing), Crispin Freeman (Alucard in Hellsing, Togusa in GitS), Johnny Yong Bosch (Rossiu in Gurren Lagann), Steve Blum (Spike in Cowboy Bebop, Mugen in Samurai Champloo), and Yuri Lowenthal (Simon in Gurren Lagann), among others. Quite the prolific cast and with a prolific cast, I’m likely to pick it up.

But the show also came with heavy recommendation. Not only was there a relatively big ad campaign from Aniplex of America (big for an anime anyway), but friends also said it was good. Like Baccano!, it keeps the characters separate and individual very well. I had very few times where I wondered who was who because each and every character is distinct. It’s a bit harder to tell from the beginning, but once we get into the Dollars v. the Yellow Scarves, it becomes much more evident. Again, it’s hard to describe exactly why I like it without spoiling the series. So, like my friends before me, I’m going to recommend this to anyone willing to watch (basically, if you liked Baccano!, you’re going to like Durarara!!)

You can’t find Durarara!! anywhere to stream dubbed. But it is airing on Adult Swim (though I don’t know if it still is). And you can stream the sub here: http://www.crunchyroll.com/durarara

8.      Wandering Son (Hōrō Musuko)

Plot Summary: Shuicihi Nitori appears to be a shy and quiet preteen boy, when he transfers to a new school he quickly makes friends with the tomboyish Yoshino Takatsuki who sits next to him. It soon becomes apparent that both Shucihi and Yoshino are more than simply a sensitive boy and masculine girl, they both are transgendered. Together they decide to take the first steps toward becoming the people they want to be.

Wandering Son is one of my favorite shows. Hands down. I picked it up on a recommendation from some girl I was sitting next to at AnimeIowa during a panel, and was sketchy at first, but ended up loving it. I’ll admit that the audience may be very niche for this show and it’s a shame that it probably won’t see a state side release past the Crunchyroll run it had, but damn is it good (fortunately, Fantagraphics has the manga licensed and I’m going to buy that up once I get the funds).

The show is about a boy who wants to be a girl and a girl who wants to be a guy. And you’d think, “Hey, this is Japan where tentacle rape was a mainstay in art in the 1500’s, so it’s probably going to be all hentai-y.” Well, sir (or madam), you are dead wrong. There is nothing but innocence in terms of sex in this series.

That’s exactly what makes it good. It’s a subtle little show (12 episodes total) about these characters and their lives. This is especially difficult for Nitori and Takatsuki, who not only want to be the opposite gender, but are also going through puberty. Talk about hard! This show is all about characters and it does it so well and in such an interesting light. I have high praise for this show and it’s for good reason.

You can check out Wandering Son on Crunchyroll (and nowhere else legally): http://www.crunchyroll.com/hourou-musuko-wandering-son

9.      Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Plot Summary: In their closed-off underground village, Kamina and Simon chafe at the limits imposed by the village elder. Yet all this will change, when Simon stumbles across a fantastic device – just as the village’s peace is broken by a violent intrusion.

JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK WE ARE?!

That just about sums up the series, for those of you who have seen it. For those of you who haven’t, it isn’t for those who don’t like the over-stylized art and animation that anime sometimes does. However, having said that, I highly suggest this to anyone willing to give it a try. It knows that it’s being over-stylized and, while knowing that, it goes even more over the top. It’s great because it knows it’s being ridiculous, and it wants to be more ridiculous.

But the underlying theme of the story is what really gets me. It’s all about climbing from the bottom up, believing in yourself when no one else will and overcoming the most impossible odds. It’s a very heartwarming story with lots of unexpected twists and turns.

Now, it is a mecha anime, so if you have an irrational hatred for mecha anime (which you shouldn’t, by the way), then stray away from this. But if you want to be lifted up in your darkest hour, you’ve found the perfect anime. What Evangelion does to make you hate people, Gurren Lagann will do the opposite.

Gurren Lagann is streaming on Netflix! http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Gurren_Lagann_Vol._1/70087199?trkid=2361637

And YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/show?p=1GGORwgVQSw&tracker=show_av

10.  Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Plot Summary: Two brothers lose their mother to an incurable disease. With the power of “alchemy,” they use taboo knowledge to resurrect her. The process fails, and as a toll for using this type of alchemy, the older brother, Edward Elric loses his left leg while the younger brother, Alphonse Elric loses his entire body. To save his brother, Edward sacrifices his right arm and is able to affix his brother’s soul to a suit of armor. With the help of a family friend, Edward receives metal limbs – “automail” – to replace his lost ones. With that, Edward vows to search for the Philosopher's Stone to return the brothers to their original bodies, even if it means becoming a “State Alchemist,” one who uses his/her alchemy for the military.

Now, I hold Fullmetal Alchemist in very high regard, in my mind. There are three shows here that are targeted at the 13-17 demographic, and it’s for good reason. They’re usually a bit simpler, thus not quite as good as a show like GitS or Hellsing because of the age restrictions. However, FMA keeps a relatively simple plot and brings in very complex issue. In the first couple episodes, it’s established that Ed and Al’s father is a deadbeat who has left them and their mother alone. And then their mother dies of a terminal disease soon after. Jesus, what these two kids have gone through. Then, if that’s not enough, when they try to resurrect their mother (both of them being child prodigies), it turns into a horrible, gruesome thing. And why is that? Because it doesn’t have a soul. As Ed says, “It's like there's some missing ingredient...Humans are pretty cheaply made.” The chemical make-up of a human can be bought on a child’s allowance, and Ed so cruelly points this out to a damsel in distress, but they can’t simply be made.

That’s what sets FMA above the other shonen series is that. It goes into a deep issue of, rather simply, what is a soul? But it also has the political subplot of Roy Mustang trying to climb to the top of the military and restore power to a non-existent parliament. And it has very rich characters in just Edward and Alphonse Elric. Ed and Al are just in their teenage years, but have suffered so much more tragedy than I will. Even Winry, whose parents were killed in the Ishval conflict, has suffered through a lot. And when she finally gets the chance to kill the man who killed her parents, she decides not to! Her parents strove to save lives, not take them. That is amazing. Seven saw Detective David Mills (Brad Pitt) become Wrath incarnate. Winry took the high road.

This isn’t Brotherhood, but it is the first series: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Fullmetal_Alchemist/70018983?trkid=4792878 The first 39 episodes of Brotherhood are also streaming on Netflix starting here: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Fullmetal_Alchemist_Brotherhood_Part_1/70135442?trkid=2361638

Brotherhood is also available on FUNimation’s video player: http://www.funimation.com/fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood/episodes

11.  Death Note

Plot Summary: Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects, who’s bored out of his mind. One day he finds the Death Note: a notebook from the realm of the Death Gods, with the power to kill people in any way he desires. With the Death Note in hand, Light decides to create his perfect world, without crime or criminals. However, when criminals start dropping dead one by one, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer, and a battle of wits, deception, and logic ensues.

Death Note is good. It’s very good. But it’s drug down by the last 11 episodes, which are the most horrific adaptation I have ever had the displeasure of watching. On a scale of 1 to 10, the first twenty-six episodes are a 9.5. The last eleven are more around a 6. Now, the first six volumes of the manga are around a 9.5. The last six volumes? Around an 8. That is how bad the anime adapted it. And despite that, it’s in the Top 10. What’s that tell you about the first twenty-six episodes?

But the best part about Death Note is the ridiculous back and forth between Light and L. They have a tennis match in one episode that’s less about tennis and more about the two reading each other’s movements. It’s more of a chess match than a tennis match. And it’s the most brilliant tennis/chess match I have ever seen. Better than Isner-Mahut.

The appeal of the series, though, is the ridiculous logic battles between Light and L. If you love giant strategies that are plotted then executed, you’ll love Death Note.

Death Note is streaming on Netflix, but only subbed: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Death_Note/70081003?trkid=2361637 So you’ll miss out on Brad Swaile’s amazing performance. Unless you watch it on Hulu (I think, I didn’t actually check to see if it’s dubbed)! http://www.hulu.com/death-note

12.  Mushishi

Plot Summary: They are neither plants nor animals. They differ from other forms of life such as the micro-organisms and the fungi. Instead they resemble the primeval body of life and are generally known as “mushi.” Their existence and appearance are unknown to many and only a limited number of humans are aware of them. Ginko is a mushi master who travels around to investigate and find out more about the mushi. In the process, he also lends a helping hand to people who face problems with supernatural occurrences which may be related to the mushi.

Mushishi is so great because it’s about so many different things. In one episode, it’s about losing your sight and the consequences of that, in another it’s about losing your voice, in another, your memories. But it’s not just about losing things. One episode is the desperate search of a rainbow, another is a search for a long-lost lover. But whatever the story, there is always a unique mushi that must be dealt with.

Ginko, however, is one of the few mushi masters that try to deal with mushi in a non-violent manner. Most mushi masters will just exorcise the mushi like you would an evil spirit. But Ginko will see them as living, breathing beings.

In Mushishi, the world makes the show. And the world is so vast and amazing with its giant fantasy-like, old-style setting and the myriad of mushi that inhabit it, that I just wanted to keep watching. Don’t get turned off by the pacing (Travis Willingham, voice of Ginko, joked that the director was falling asleep because the lines were so quiet and subtle). Mushishi is one of the great anime out there.

You can check out Mushishi on Netflix (http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Mushi-Shi/70072935?trkid=2361637) and FUNimation’s video player (http://www.funimation.com/mushi-shi/episodes).

13.  Eden of the East

Plot Summary: On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan. However, this unprecedented terrorist act, later to be called as “Careless Monday,” does not result in any apparent victims, and is soon forgotten by almost everyone. Then, 3 months later, Saki Morimi is a young woman currently in the United States on her graduation trip. But just when she is in front of the White House, Washington DC, she gets into trouble, and only the unexpected intervention of one of her fellow countrymen saves her. However, this man, who introduces himself as Akira Takizawa, is a complete mystery. He appears to have lost his memory. And he is stark naked, except for the gun he holds in one hand, and the mobile phone he’s holding with the other hand. A phone that is charged with 8,200,000,000 yen in digital cash.

Careless Monday might not hold its own against Second Impact, but Eden of the East surely holds its own against Evangelion. Eden of the East was one of those shows that came out of the Noitamina block, so just that A. Makes it worth watching and B. almost (almost) makes it good by itself.

What’s great about Eden of the East is the concept. Twelve seemingly random people are given an (awesome) phone and 10 billion yen (that’s over $131 million) to create an Eden in the east. Yeah, that’s right, the funder for this crazy game wants one of these twelve people to save Japan. And in the middle of IX and his antics is Saki Morimi, a recent college graduate. Shenanigans ensue. As we move on, we learn more about Saki and Takizawa and we learn to love them (and Panties. Not the clothing, the person. Yes, his nickname is Panties).

I think what kept me watching Eden of the East was the fact that Takizawa could call Juiz on his Seleção phone and get nearly any request granted. I wanted to see what Takizawa would request next.

But what’s makes it good, like really good, is not just the concept, but the Eden of the East program. It’s a giant piece of software developed by Japanese NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). It can recognize and provide details on nigh any object. And since Japanese phones can actually take a decent picture, it can actually recognize near any object. Trust me, folks, Eden comes into play in a huge way. And in an extremely interesting way.

Eden of the East is on Netflix (http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Eden_of_the_East_The_Complete_Series/70143786?trkid=2361637) and FUNimation’s website (http://www.funimation.com/eden-of-the-east/episodes). Netflix also have the first movie (http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Eden_of_the_East_the_Movie_I_The_King_of_Eden/70173622?trkid=2361637)

Noblesse oblige, we pray for your continuing service as a savior.

14.  Cowboy Bebop

Plot Summary: Spike Spiegel, a bounty Hunter with a dark past, lives on bounty to bounty, barely making it each time, or not making it at all. His partners Jet Black, Faye Valentine, Ed and Ein the dog all help him in his adventures from planet to planet.

The two Shinichirō Watanabe shows take up the tail part of the list, and for good reason. The man is a genius AND he has Yoko Kanno writing the soundtracks for him. So why is it so far down? Well, there’s two good reasons. A. The other thirteen shows I liked more and B. I’m not a huge fan of space westerns. This makes it that much more impressive that it’s this high on a list written by me (I could not get through Outlaw Star, no matter how good it is. I might try it later again, though).

But what’s really great about Bebop is the characters. In an episodic show like this, the characters have to be great. Spike is the stoic lead character with a mysterious past, Jet is the straight man who is always trying to get their shit together, Faye is the girl who’s always fucking up their shit, and Ed is…well, she’s Ed. An androgynous, genius computer hacker with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Ein (personally, I’d like to see some sort of crazy hacking competition between Ed and The Laughing Man).

Then what sets it above and beyond is the (usually) self-contained stories within each and every episode. Now, my memory is fuzzy on a lot of the episodes (the last time I watched it all the way through was two years ago and I never watched an episode before 2 a.m. or after 4 a.m.), but I recall all of them being amazing. That might be a reason why it’s so low, my memories of it. But I still highly suggest checking out the show, if you haven’t for some reason. In terms of popularity, Watanabe is the Tarantino of anime.

No legal outlets to watch Bebop, but it (probably) still airs on Adult Swim and it’s pretty episodic, so it’s easy to pick up from the middle for the five of you in the world that haven’t seen the show.

15.  Samurai Champloo

Plot Summary: Mugen is a fierce animal-like warrior with a unique break-dance inspired fighting style (Champloo Kendo). Jin has a more traditional style but don’t think of this as a weakness because his skills are amazing. The two contrasting samurai warriors are far from friends, yet their separate paths seem to cross anyways. Mugen is wandering aimlessly through the city when he stumbles upon a teahouse where he meets Jin and Fuu (A ditzy waitress, but don’t think she doesn’t have anything hidden up her sleeves). Fuu convinces them both to come with her in search of a mysterious samurai that smells of sunflowers and their journey begins. This modernized hip-hop tale breaks the barriers of the common historical samurai anime.

Shinichirō Watanabe show number two. As many of you may know, I watch a lot of anime, and since I also watched this a long time ago, my memory is again fuzzy. Except with Kari Wahlgren asking for a samurai that smells of sunflowers. And, like with Cowboy Bebop, Steve Blum takes over as the stoic lead character (that bastard is lucky to have played both Spike AND Mugen). But the other main male and female leads are taken over by, as stated, Kari Wahlgren playing Fuu and Kirk Thornton playing Jin.

What sets this apart from Bebop is that, while episodic, it has more of an overarching story. As in, “Let’s find the samurai who smells of sunflowers” rather than, “Spike, how are we going to pay for the repairs when you keep breaking everything?” The characters are unique (I suppose with the very slight exception of Mugen, who is just as stoic as Spike). But the story makes the show in Champloo’s case. They travel around Edo-era Japan and the characters are made to be loveable. You just have to watch it.

Oh, and another Yoko Kanno soundtrack. That’s enough reason.

Unlike Watanabe’s other big show, Samurai Champloo is on Netflix (http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Samurai_Champloo/70020122?trkid=2361637), FUNimation’s video player (http://www.funimation.com/samurai-champloo/episodes), and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/show?p=X6qZJiN-eOM&tracker=show_av). Thanks, FUNimation, for stepping up to the plate of legal streaming.

Well, that’s it for this list. Trust me, I have seen lots of anime (235 individual series, OVAs, and movies to be exact) and a lot of them are good. I’m leaving out 220 series, OVAs, and/or movies in this list. Some of them deserve to be addressed. My next installment will be the series that just didn’t quite make it.