I Clearly Need A Life
I feel like a sick, sick person for having watched all of this anime, but not at all guilty.
I find wasting hours of my time watching anime very rewarding...and it also doubles as pseudo-research for my thesis, since my life is a shojo manga anyway. :P
Or maybe I'm just special.
Like, right next to "don't eat the paste" special.
My Summer in Anime:
(These are in no particular watching order, since it all kind of runs together after a while....)
1. Chrno Crusade: Fantastic take on a secret demon hunting organization in New York during the 1920s. While probably the only thing historically accurate about the series is the technological advancements, the fantasy elements manage to create an enjoyable alternate universe. However, the series ended on a rather depressing note (I knew it was coming, but still), and I didn't do much for the next day or so.
2. Suzuka: Love is Not a Spectator Sport: An excellent addition to the 'Harem Anime' genre (one guy, multiple girls), this series focuses around a new guy who develops a crush on the school's star track athlete. I watched the first episode about a year ago and couldn't get into it, but decided to try it again and liked it. The anime does a good job of showing the struggles of unreqited love and the power of perserverance.
3. Love Hina: A personal favorite, this anime is about a young man, who after three failed attempts to get into his choice University goes to visit his grandmother to find that she has made him the manager of an all-girls dorm. Hilarity ensues, as most of the girls spend a large portion of the anime trying to get him to leave, but in the end, realize that the Hinata Apartments would not be the same without him. It makes me want my own Keitaro....
4. Samurai Champloo: Finally finished this, and found it very enjoyable. Fuu is actually more crafty than we give her credit for, and the guys seem to have bonded with her more than they want to admit.
5. Love Hina (Again): The three OVA 'sequel' to Love Hina, which focuses around the relationship of Naru and Keitaro and how it is affected by the appearance of Keitaro's sister. The same hilarity ensues, but this story has more of a fantastical element to it compared to the series, which seems moderately out of place, but works anyway.
6. Popotan: This came as a 'reccomendation' from
spirit_of_fyre, who was watching it right around the time I was looking for something new to watch and thought it was adorable. Popotan follows the story of three sisters, Ai, Mai, and Mi as they search for dandelions (popotan) and the friends they meet along the way.
7. Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal, Reflection: Because I loves me some samurai. XD
8. Clannad: I watched this because people were referencing it in the comments below Suzuka videos on youtube and thought I would check it out. The story centers around a young man who is known at school for being a complete slacker and, believing that there is anything left in the town, has a strong desire to pick up and leave. This changes when he meets a young girl who was held back because she spent a year in the hospital that wants to start up the drama club at their school again after it was disbanded. Cute and sentimental, the young man gradually comes to change his mind about the town and the way he looks at life.
9. Full Metal Panic!: Megatokyo did an omake theatre called 'Full Megatokyo Panic: Clan'd Wars' and I thought I would watch it to see if I could get the joke. The series centers around a young woman names Chidori who, unbeknowst to her, holds important information about giant mecha in the far reaches of her brain. Because of this, the governments of a few different countries want to kidnap her and use her brain to help them with mecha development. Enter 'military fanboy' Sagara Souske, a teenage seargeant with a secret organization called MITHRIL who is assigned to protect her while trying not to call too much attention to himself at which he is unsuccessful. The perfect combination of a love story and a slice of life...although it is slightly unrealistic that the army would pilot giant mecha.
10. Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid: Because they weren't done telling the story, the second season reveals a little more of Souske's character, which was missing from the first season. More mecha, more hilarity, and more of Souske trying too hard.
11. Full Metal Panic! Fumoffu: The second anime adaptation of FMP! which is more focused on slapstick comedy and school life than the other two series. The characters seem somewhat out of character, but it was still enjoyable.
12. Midori No Hibi (Midori Days): Tough guy Seiji wakes up one morning to realize that a girl with a crush on him who has been watching him at a distance for many years has become his right hand. The series revolves around how he comes to terms with Midori as his right hand, and proves that the one person you can't stand might just be the person you just can't live without.
13. Howl's Moving Castle: While different from the book (which I can now say I have read), Miyazaki transports us to a world of magic, wizards, and witches where it really is dangerous to step out of your front door - there's no telling where you may be swept off to. Just ask Sophie.
14. Bleach: I finally remembered (halfway down the page) how I wasted most of June. The only gripe I have with this series is that the filler has filler and characters with strong personalities will become wimpy at the drop of a hat...or sword...you pick. There's quite a bit of both hats and swords.
15. Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody: This movie has the potential to stand on its own, but you had best be familiar with the characters and the storyline if you are going to enjoy it.
16. Gravitation OVA: While it still kept with the basic plotline and elements of the series, it was less enjoyable than I thought it would be. It seemed to move too slowly for me (and normally I don't mind slow moving anime), and Shuichi is much more insecure than I remember him being.
17. Blue Submarine No. 6: The world has been covered in water and the last hope to save the world lies in the hands of the crew of Blue Submarine No. 6. The story focuses around a former submarine officer and a crew member of Blue No. 6, who must learn to work together if they are going to survive. I watched this mostly because I am so in love with Range Murata's art, but like Last Exile, found the story hitting a certain chord in terms of its message about people and, of course, obligatory environmentalism.
18. Kiki's Delivery Service: I told myself for a long time that I wasn't touching it, but then after watching it on the Disney Channel one night (it was a long time ago and there was nothing on), I fell in love with it. The story centers around a young witch named Kiki who leaves her small town for training in the big city. She starts a delivery service for a bakery, through which she is able to make new friends and learn an important lesson about just being yourself.
19. Whisper of the Heart: The touching story of love at first sight...bookworm style. Two middle school students fall in love based on their mutual love of books and music, which bonds them together despite the fact that for most of the movie, neither character will admit they are in love with the other.
20. Fruits Basket: Touru Honda is left homeless and living in a tent when she meets the Souma family, who are cursed to turn into a different animal of the Chinese Zodiac when embraced by a member of the opposite gender. The manga is by far better, but in the anime's defense, the adaptation wasn't terrible. Yuki's English voice actor sounds like he's going to rape me when I'm not looking....
21. Negima!: Ten-year-old Negi Springfield, fresh from graduating an English Wizardry Academy, is sent to Japan to teach English at an all girls middle school. Told not to use magic lest he be sent back to England and turned into a ferret, one of his students who is somehow impervious to magic finds out. Most of the series revolves around the two as they attempt to keep Negi's secret. Cute and comedic, it takes a dramtic turn around episode 20 or so (just before the end of the series) that explains why the girl is impervious to magic.
22. Nana: Two women, the same age with the same name, meet on a train to Tokyo and end up sharing a flat. Though they are two different people, the two Nanas grow attached to each other and help each other deal with life, love, and fame. The series is done by the same artist that did Paradise Kiss, and the two series are very similar - particularly considering that the endings for both left something to be desired. Around episode 30-something, I wanted to be able to reach through my computer screen and punch people, and I haven't had the desire to do that while watching an anime since I saw Peach Girl - and that series made me want a nursery really badly.
23. Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem: Basically an extended music video for Daft Punk's Discovery. The story revolves around a band that is kidnapped by an unscrupulous music producer and brainwashed into becoming the best new band of the year and the brave pilot who comes to their rescue. I have wanted to watch it for a while and I finally found it on boxtorrent after two years. Sometimes I love boxtorrent.
24 Nodame Cantabile: Chikaki, a piano student who aspires to be a conductor, has all but given up on his dream of ever achieveing his dream when he meets Noda Megumi, an unkempt packrat with a disregard for personal hygiene and a gifted pianist. The two seem to be constantly at odds, which Chikaki refusing her every time she confesses her love to him, but they complement each other in a way no one else can. I enjoyed the music element of the series the most, but I am also of the band nerd variety. I think it is refresihing to have a take on the world of classical music, as opossed to the rock world.
25. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya: Kyon had decided to give up on his childish interest in aliens, espers, and time travelers until he met Haruhi, who wanted to surround herself with them. Somewhat silly at times, the series teaches you that you are never too old to let go of childhood dreams and explores just how important one person can be to the fate of the world.
26. D.C. Da Capo: Junichi and Nemu live on an island known for its never-withering Sakura trees and the magical tree in the center of the park that is said to grant wishes. Their friend Sakura comes back from a long absence, looking the same as when she left, and unwitingly causes both Nemu and Junichi problems when she confesses her love for him. A sort of mystery/romance woven together with fantasy and comedic elements that shows that you can overcome the obstacles, no matter how tough it may seem.
27. D.C.S.S. Da Capo Second Season: Same island, two years later, Junichi needs a support system because he is grieving the loss of Nemu. She's not dead, but she's certainly not there, and you don't find out what happened to her until episode four. Most of the same cast is still around from season one, but this time, they are trying to unwork the Sakura tree's magic to bring Nemu and Junichi back together.
28. D.C. II Da Capo II: Again, same island, forty years later, the grandchildren of the cast of seasons one and two deal with their own loves, losses, and 'racism' against robots. Cute and enjoyable, but I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again.
I find wasting hours of my time watching anime very rewarding...and it also doubles as pseudo-research for my thesis, since my life is a shojo manga anyway. :P
Or maybe I'm just special.
Like, right next to "don't eat the paste" special.
My Summer in Anime:
(These are in no particular watching order, since it all kind of runs together after a while....)
1. Chrno Crusade: Fantastic take on a secret demon hunting organization in New York during the 1920s. While probably the only thing historically accurate about the series is the technological advancements, the fantasy elements manage to create an enjoyable alternate universe. However, the series ended on a rather depressing note (I knew it was coming, but still), and I didn't do much for the next day or so.
2. Suzuka: Love is Not a Spectator Sport: An excellent addition to the 'Harem Anime' genre (one guy, multiple girls), this series focuses around a new guy who develops a crush on the school's star track athlete. I watched the first episode about a year ago and couldn't get into it, but decided to try it again and liked it. The anime does a good job of showing the struggles of unreqited love and the power of perserverance.
3. Love Hina: A personal favorite, this anime is about a young man, who after three failed attempts to get into his choice University goes to visit his grandmother to find that she has made him the manager of an all-girls dorm. Hilarity ensues, as most of the girls spend a large portion of the anime trying to get him to leave, but in the end, realize that the Hinata Apartments would not be the same without him. It makes me want my own Keitaro....
4. Samurai Champloo: Finally finished this, and found it very enjoyable. Fuu is actually more crafty than we give her credit for, and the guys seem to have bonded with her more than they want to admit.
5. Love Hina (Again): The three OVA 'sequel' to Love Hina, which focuses around the relationship of Naru and Keitaro and how it is affected by the appearance of Keitaro's sister. The same hilarity ensues, but this story has more of a fantastical element to it compared to the series, which seems moderately out of place, but works anyway.
6. Popotan: This came as a 'reccomendation' from
spirit_of_fyre, who was watching it right around the time I was looking for something new to watch and thought it was adorable. Popotan follows the story of three sisters, Ai, Mai, and Mi as they search for dandelions (popotan) and the friends they meet along the way.
7. Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal, Reflection: Because I loves me some samurai. XD
8. Clannad: I watched this because people were referencing it in the comments below Suzuka videos on youtube and thought I would check it out. The story centers around a young man who is known at school for being a complete slacker and, believing that there is anything left in the town, has a strong desire to pick up and leave. This changes when he meets a young girl who was held back because she spent a year in the hospital that wants to start up the drama club at their school again after it was disbanded. Cute and sentimental, the young man gradually comes to change his mind about the town and the way he looks at life.
9. Full Metal Panic!: Megatokyo did an omake theatre called 'Full Megatokyo Panic: Clan'd Wars' and I thought I would watch it to see if I could get the joke. The series centers around a young woman names Chidori who, unbeknowst to her, holds important information about giant mecha in the far reaches of her brain. Because of this, the governments of a few different countries want to kidnap her and use her brain to help them with mecha development. Enter 'military fanboy' Sagara Souske, a teenage seargeant with a secret organization called MITHRIL who is assigned to protect her while trying not to call too much attention to himself at which he is unsuccessful. The perfect combination of a love story and a slice of life...although it is slightly unrealistic that the army would pilot giant mecha.
10. Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid: Because they weren't done telling the story, the second season reveals a little more of Souske's character, which was missing from the first season. More mecha, more hilarity, and more of Souske trying too hard.
11. Full Metal Panic! Fumoffu: The second anime adaptation of FMP! which is more focused on slapstick comedy and school life than the other two series. The characters seem somewhat out of character, but it was still enjoyable.
12. Midori No Hibi (Midori Days): Tough guy Seiji wakes up one morning to realize that a girl with a crush on him who has been watching him at a distance for many years has become his right hand. The series revolves around how he comes to terms with Midori as his right hand, and proves that the one person you can't stand might just be the person you just can't live without.
13. Howl's Moving Castle: While different from the book (which I can now say I have read), Miyazaki transports us to a world of magic, wizards, and witches where it really is dangerous to step out of your front door - there's no telling where you may be swept off to. Just ask Sophie.
14. Bleach: I finally remembered (halfway down the page) how I wasted most of June. The only gripe I have with this series is that the filler has filler and characters with strong personalities will become wimpy at the drop of a hat...or sword...you pick. There's quite a bit of both hats and swords.
15. Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody: This movie has the potential to stand on its own, but you had best be familiar with the characters and the storyline if you are going to enjoy it.
16. Gravitation OVA: While it still kept with the basic plotline and elements of the series, it was less enjoyable than I thought it would be. It seemed to move too slowly for me (and normally I don't mind slow moving anime), and Shuichi is much more insecure than I remember him being.
17. Blue Submarine No. 6: The world has been covered in water and the last hope to save the world lies in the hands of the crew of Blue Submarine No. 6. The story focuses around a former submarine officer and a crew member of Blue No. 6, who must learn to work together if they are going to survive. I watched this mostly because I am so in love with Range Murata's art, but like Last Exile, found the story hitting a certain chord in terms of its message about people and, of course, obligatory environmentalism.
18. Kiki's Delivery Service: I told myself for a long time that I wasn't touching it, but then after watching it on the Disney Channel one night (it was a long time ago and there was nothing on), I fell in love with it. The story centers around a young witch named Kiki who leaves her small town for training in the big city. She starts a delivery service for a bakery, through which she is able to make new friends and learn an important lesson about just being yourself.
19. Whisper of the Heart: The touching story of love at first sight...bookworm style. Two middle school students fall in love based on their mutual love of books and music, which bonds them together despite the fact that for most of the movie, neither character will admit they are in love with the other.
20. Fruits Basket: Touru Honda is left homeless and living in a tent when she meets the Souma family, who are cursed to turn into a different animal of the Chinese Zodiac when embraced by a member of the opposite gender. The manga is by far better, but in the anime's defense, the adaptation wasn't terrible. Yuki's English voice actor sounds like he's going to rape me when I'm not looking....
21. Negima!: Ten-year-old Negi Springfield, fresh from graduating an English Wizardry Academy, is sent to Japan to teach English at an all girls middle school. Told not to use magic lest he be sent back to England and turned into a ferret, one of his students who is somehow impervious to magic finds out. Most of the series revolves around the two as they attempt to keep Negi's secret. Cute and comedic, it takes a dramtic turn around episode 20 or so (just before the end of the series) that explains why the girl is impervious to magic.
22. Nana: Two women, the same age with the same name, meet on a train to Tokyo and end up sharing a flat. Though they are two different people, the two Nanas grow attached to each other and help each other deal with life, love, and fame. The series is done by the same artist that did Paradise Kiss, and the two series are very similar - particularly considering that the endings for both left something to be desired. Around episode 30-something, I wanted to be able to reach through my computer screen and punch people, and I haven't had the desire to do that while watching an anime since I saw Peach Girl - and that series made me want a nursery really badly.
23. Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem: Basically an extended music video for Daft Punk's Discovery. The story revolves around a band that is kidnapped by an unscrupulous music producer and brainwashed into becoming the best new band of the year and the brave pilot who comes to their rescue. I have wanted to watch it for a while and I finally found it on boxtorrent after two years. Sometimes I love boxtorrent.
24 Nodame Cantabile: Chikaki, a piano student who aspires to be a conductor, has all but given up on his dream of ever achieveing his dream when he meets Noda Megumi, an unkempt packrat with a disregard for personal hygiene and a gifted pianist. The two seem to be constantly at odds, which Chikaki refusing her every time she confesses her love to him, but they complement each other in a way no one else can. I enjoyed the music element of the series the most, but I am also of the band nerd variety. I think it is refresihing to have a take on the world of classical music, as opossed to the rock world.
25. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya: Kyon had decided to give up on his childish interest in aliens, espers, and time travelers until he met Haruhi, who wanted to surround herself with them. Somewhat silly at times, the series teaches you that you are never too old to let go of childhood dreams and explores just how important one person can be to the fate of the world.
26. D.C. Da Capo: Junichi and Nemu live on an island known for its never-withering Sakura trees and the magical tree in the center of the park that is said to grant wishes. Their friend Sakura comes back from a long absence, looking the same as when she left, and unwitingly causes both Nemu and Junichi problems when she confesses her love for him. A sort of mystery/romance woven together with fantasy and comedic elements that shows that you can overcome the obstacles, no matter how tough it may seem.
27. D.C.S.S. Da Capo Second Season: Same island, two years later, Junichi needs a support system because he is grieving the loss of Nemu. She's not dead, but she's certainly not there, and you don't find out what happened to her until episode four. Most of the same cast is still around from season one, but this time, they are trying to unwork the Sakura tree's magic to bring Nemu and Junichi back together.
28. D.C. II Da Capo II: Again, same island, forty years later, the grandchildren of the cast of seasons one and two deal with their own loves, losses, and 'racism' against robots. Cute and enjoyable, but I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again.