alright! alright!
So a few people have been asking me to give them some really good anime/manga recommendations because too often, like many anime viewers, they find themselves watching or reading something totally ridiculous and stupid. And since practically the only people that read this are the people who will appreciate these suggestions, here goes:
Anime:
Library War (Toshokan Sensou): Very well done, not as silly as the name might lead you to believe. It's actually quite serious and good.
Chiko: Heiress to the Phantom Thief (Nijuu mensou no musume): A continuation/remake of a very old anime. It has a very jazzy, cool theme to it, but as it progresses, it becomes something really profound and memorable. Although some episodes later on are a bit bothersome, it's definitely worth watching (and the opening theme by 369 is a favorite of mine).
Natsume Yuujincho: Also a manga, this very humble anime has been catching a lot of attention recently. It has that same late-summer nostalgic feeling that you sometimes get with a good anime that comes along, minus all the romance crap. It's like a more interesting yet more touching version of Mushishi, and definitely sticks with you well after you watch each episode. All in all, it's very pleasant.
Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora: Despite the long name, this anime is sort of like a second season to "Someday's Dreamer" but is overall much more enjoyable. With the same artists as "Beck", it gives off that same vibe that captured our attention, while being very sweet and charming at the same time. Definitely something to relax to.
Kara no Kyoukai: Otherwise known as the "Garden of Sinners", this series is actually 7 different movies with a very confusing plot. Because the movies are not chronologically in order, "Kara" is very stylized, but at times can be difficult to follow. And trust me, it's quite R-rated. But if you're in the mood for a creepy tale, great character designs, and some of the most beautiful art you'll ever see in an anime, then by all means, give it a shot. Once you watch the first one, they'll be no going back... muahaha...
Manga:
The Scarlet Chair: From the same writer and artist that did "Natsume Yuujincho", The Scarlet Chair is a pretty simple tale of a tomboyish girl set out to find her friend Luca who was taken from her village when she was younger. When you read the description, it's easy to turn away because it seems like every other anime out there. But it's difficult to say what makes this so different - it just is. Maybe it's the wonderful, flowing art that looks like it just jumped out of someone's sketch book and not out of a computer. Or maybe it's the in-depth character relationships that charm us into wanting to know more. Whatever it is, this is a beautiful series that I wish so terribly would continue.
Tora Dora!: A very cute high school story that's more charming and funny than it is romantic. The only down side is how short the chapters are, and how irregularly they are released.
Alive - The Final Evolution: I'm not gonna lie. It's quite a downer. A mass suicide virus hits cities around the world, leaving a small percentage of those that remain with strange abilities. It's a little bit darker than one would anticipate. And the psychological trauma of most of the death scenes are mind-blowing.
Deadman Wonderland: Another pretty F'd up manga that is impossible to stop reading. After a giant disaster, the world has imprisoned all of the criminals, however minor or major the crime, and locked them up into one giant prison called Deadman Wonderland, and turned it into a amusement park for the general public. The main attraction? You guessed it. Modern day gladiators called "deadmen". The story follows a very young boy falsely accused of killing his entire class, and is sentenced to fight as a deadman. Many other sub plots occur that make it quite a read, as expected from the creators of "Eureka Seven". I wouldn't be surprised if an anime adaptation were to come out soon.
Koukou Debut: A personal favorite, though probably not the best thing out there. A very cute romantic comedy about a very manly girl who begs a popular senior into coaching her on how to get a boyfriend. If you're in the mood for something funny, charming, and cute (and not in the wide-eyed typical moe cute that you normally see) then I highly recommend it.
Alrighty! Now leave me alone.
Just kidding.
...But really...
Anime:
Library War (Toshokan Sensou): Very well done, not as silly as the name might lead you to believe. It's actually quite serious and good.
Chiko: Heiress to the Phantom Thief (Nijuu mensou no musume): A continuation/remake of a very old anime. It has a very jazzy, cool theme to it, but as it progresses, it becomes something really profound and memorable. Although some episodes later on are a bit bothersome, it's definitely worth watching (and the opening theme by 369 is a favorite of mine).
Natsume Yuujincho: Also a manga, this very humble anime has been catching a lot of attention recently. It has that same late-summer nostalgic feeling that you sometimes get with a good anime that comes along, minus all the romance crap. It's like a more interesting yet more touching version of Mushishi, and definitely sticks with you well after you watch each episode. All in all, it's very pleasant.
Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora: Despite the long name, this anime is sort of like a second season to "Someday's Dreamer" but is overall much more enjoyable. With the same artists as "Beck", it gives off that same vibe that captured our attention, while being very sweet and charming at the same time. Definitely something to relax to.
Kara no Kyoukai: Otherwise known as the "Garden of Sinners", this series is actually 7 different movies with a very confusing plot. Because the movies are not chronologically in order, "Kara" is very stylized, but at times can be difficult to follow. And trust me, it's quite R-rated. But if you're in the mood for a creepy tale, great character designs, and some of the most beautiful art you'll ever see in an anime, then by all means, give it a shot. Once you watch the first one, they'll be no going back... muahaha...
Manga:
The Scarlet Chair: From the same writer and artist that did "Natsume Yuujincho", The Scarlet Chair is a pretty simple tale of a tomboyish girl set out to find her friend Luca who was taken from her village when she was younger. When you read the description, it's easy to turn away because it seems like every other anime out there. But it's difficult to say what makes this so different - it just is. Maybe it's the wonderful, flowing art that looks like it just jumped out of someone's sketch book and not out of a computer. Or maybe it's the in-depth character relationships that charm us into wanting to know more. Whatever it is, this is a beautiful series that I wish so terribly would continue.
Tora Dora!: A very cute high school story that's more charming and funny than it is romantic. The only down side is how short the chapters are, and how irregularly they are released.
Alive - The Final Evolution: I'm not gonna lie. It's quite a downer. A mass suicide virus hits cities around the world, leaving a small percentage of those that remain with strange abilities. It's a little bit darker than one would anticipate. And the psychological trauma of most of the death scenes are mind-blowing.
Deadman Wonderland: Another pretty F'd up manga that is impossible to stop reading. After a giant disaster, the world has imprisoned all of the criminals, however minor or major the crime, and locked them up into one giant prison called Deadman Wonderland, and turned it into a amusement park for the general public. The main attraction? You guessed it. Modern day gladiators called "deadmen". The story follows a very young boy falsely accused of killing his entire class, and is sentenced to fight as a deadman. Many other sub plots occur that make it quite a read, as expected from the creators of "Eureka Seven". I wouldn't be surprised if an anime adaptation were to come out soon.
Koukou Debut: A personal favorite, though probably not the best thing out there. A very cute romantic comedy about a very manly girl who begs a popular senior into coaching her on how to get a boyfriend. If you're in the mood for something funny, charming, and cute (and not in the wide-eyed typical moe cute that you normally see) then I highly recommend it.
Alrighty! Now leave me alone.
Just kidding.
...But really...