Dat 11 - Favorite mech series
Escaflowne
While Gundam Wing is still very dear to my heart, I have to say it can't top Escaflowne for this.
At first a simple series about a girl who gets transported to a magical land by way of an artifact given to her by her late grandmother, Escaflowne steps above and beyond its cliche by way of well-rounded character development, perfectly paced story and a deeper message underlying a shallow surface. To draw a metaphor, this series reminds me of puddle that masks a pothole.
The lead character of the series is Hitomi, a gifted young seer whom uses cards and a pendulum-like pendant to read fortunes for her classmates. When a chance occurrence in a parallel world opens a window between their worlds, Hitomi is whisked away by newly crowned King Van of Fanelia into the waring world of Gaia.
For her help with killing a dragon (whose crystalized heart is the key to Fanelia's great mecha, "Escaflowne"), Van has promised to find a way to deliver Hitomi back to Earth--here known as the "mystic moon." Despite this promise, Hitomi is treated as a burden and a nuisance until her power proves itself useful when Fanelia is attacked by the Zaibach Empire--a nation bent on totalitarian control of Gaia.
Though Fanelia burns, Van and Escaflowne are saved to fight another day. Together with Hitomi, he begins a mission to bring down Zaibach and protect the survivors of his kingdom.
What I love about Escaflowne is that while the mecha is important, it is not the focus of the series; it is used as a tool for the plot, but does not attempt to function as the plot itself, as is the problem with most of this sort of series. Instead, the driving focus behind the plot is the relationship between Van and Hitomi--respect, friendship, care and trust--as well as their political relationships to other members of the cast.
In a way, Escaflowne is very much like Gundam Wing, save that it has better animation and is, to be completely honest, better paced.
I also admit to having a soft spot for Hitomi herself. Unlike most action-anime girls, Hitomi manages to have a solid backbone and strength throughout the series without resorting to either "super bitch" tactics or "Kick ass girl" antics. She may not be able to fight with a sword, but she'll still stare one down for her ideals, friends, and family. Not to mention make six-foot jumps mid-air between airships floating several miles above ground. That rocked.
Day 1 - Very first anime
Day 2 - Favorite anime you've watched so far
Day 3 - Your anime crush
Day 4 - Anime you're ashamed you enjoyed
Day 5 - Anime character you feel you are most like (or wish you were)
Day 6 - Most annoying anime character
Day 7 - Favorite canon anime couple
Day 8 - Most epic scene ever
Day 9 - Saddest anime scene
Day 10 - Most under-appreciated anime character
Day 11 - Favorite mech series
Day 12 - Best anime soundtrack
Day 13 - An anime you didn't think you would like but ended up loving
Day 14 - Current (or most recent) anime wallpaper
Day 15 - Characters whose hair you'd kill for
Day 16 - Favorite crack pairing
Day 17 - Funniest scene ever
Day 18 - Best fight scene ever
Day 19 - Mandatory swimsuit post
Day 20 - Favorite shoujo anime
Day 21 - Anime that made you cry
Day 22 - Favorite boy’s love couple (or yuri couple, if you don't like that sort of thing)
Day 23 - Anime you think had the best, or most intriguing, art
Day 24 - Favorite anime hero or heroine
Day 25 - Best anime villian
Day 26 - A character everyone loves but you just can't see it
Day 27 - Favorite anime opening theme song
Day 28 - Favorite pokemon
Day 29 - Favorite school uniform
Day 30 - Favorite anime ending theme
While Gundam Wing is still very dear to my heart, I have to say it can't top Escaflowne for this.
At first a simple series about a girl who gets transported to a magical land by way of an artifact given to her by her late grandmother, Escaflowne steps above and beyond its cliche by way of well-rounded character development, perfectly paced story and a deeper message underlying a shallow surface. To draw a metaphor, this series reminds me of puddle that masks a pothole.
The lead character of the series is Hitomi, a gifted young seer whom uses cards and a pendulum-like pendant to read fortunes for her classmates. When a chance occurrence in a parallel world opens a window between their worlds, Hitomi is whisked away by newly crowned King Van of Fanelia into the waring world of Gaia.
For her help with killing a dragon (whose crystalized heart is the key to Fanelia's great mecha, "Escaflowne"), Van has promised to find a way to deliver Hitomi back to Earth--here known as the "mystic moon." Despite this promise, Hitomi is treated as a burden and a nuisance until her power proves itself useful when Fanelia is attacked by the Zaibach Empire--a nation bent on totalitarian control of Gaia.
Though Fanelia burns, Van and Escaflowne are saved to fight another day. Together with Hitomi, he begins a mission to bring down Zaibach and protect the survivors of his kingdom.
What I love about Escaflowne is that while the mecha is important, it is not the focus of the series; it is used as a tool for the plot, but does not attempt to function as the plot itself, as is the problem with most of this sort of series. Instead, the driving focus behind the plot is the relationship between Van and Hitomi--respect, friendship, care and trust--as well as their political relationships to other members of the cast.
In a way, Escaflowne is very much like Gundam Wing, save that it has better animation and is, to be completely honest, better paced.
I also admit to having a soft spot for Hitomi herself. Unlike most action-anime girls, Hitomi manages to have a solid backbone and strength throughout the series without resorting to either "super bitch" tactics or "Kick ass girl" antics. She may not be able to fight with a sword, but she'll still stare one down for her ideals, friends, and family. Not to mention make six-foot jumps mid-air between airships floating several miles above ground. That rocked.
Day 1 - Very first anime
Day 2 - Favorite anime you've watched so far
Day 3 - Your anime crush
Day 4 - Anime you're ashamed you enjoyed
Day 5 - Anime character you feel you are most like (or wish you were)
Day 6 - Most annoying anime character
Day 7 - Favorite canon anime couple
Day 8 - Most epic scene ever
Day 9 - Saddest anime scene
Day 10 - Most under-appreciated anime character
Day 11 - Favorite mech series
Day 12 - Best anime soundtrack
Day 13 - An anime you didn't think you would like but ended up loving
Day 14 - Current (or most recent) anime wallpaper
Day 15 - Characters whose hair you'd kill for
Day 16 - Favorite crack pairing
Day 17 - Funniest scene ever
Day 18 - Best fight scene ever
Day 19 - Mandatory swimsuit post
Day 20 - Favorite shoujo anime
Day 21 - Anime that made you cry
Day 22 - Favorite boy’s love couple (or yuri couple, if you don't like that sort of thing)
Day 23 - Anime you think had the best, or most intriguing, art
Day 24 - Favorite anime hero or heroine
Day 25 - Best anime villian
Day 26 - A character everyone loves but you just can't see it
Day 27 - Favorite anime opening theme song
Day 28 - Favorite pokemon
Day 29 - Favorite school uniform
Day 30 - Favorite anime ending theme