Of Animes...

So lets talk on this subject which was just grazed upon previously. Much to the probable disappointment of my parents, I still remain a hardcore animation freak. The passion, which was pretty much starved due to the lousy programmes on Cartoon Network, and the serious facade required during +2, got a free reign in college as a reward.

I would not be an overstatement to say that personally, I felt like puking on seeing the new shows introduced on CN in 2004-06, the icon being Ed, Edd n Eddy. Even popular shows like Samurai Jack, n Powerpuff Girls did not remotely hold my fancy. Especially since they replaced the greats like Garfield and Friends, Johny Quest, Little Lulu show, and the evergreen Power Zone Centurians. And also, CN decided to cater to the local audience and thus offer its shows in Hindi! So Swat Kats became 'chote mia' and 'bade mia' , 'power Xtreme.... ' became 'Veer Shaktiman....'.

(This para was unnecessary, but I felt like throwing it in to vent my frustration developed as I remembered those days)

Whatever. I would like to consider I like more 'deep' shows, which a whole world of itself, logical even tho a bend of reality, and a good character development. Of course, a great story, power conflict, superhuman/godlike fighting go without saying. This was when I discovered the world of animes...
Animes are a Japanese super weapon. Once it strikes you, you become enchanted, ready to view subtitled episodes running into hundreds, spend nights collecting AMV's and wallpapers, checking forums for plot prediction.
(One thing I really liked about Animes in general, is that they arn't shy to kill off somebody if required for plot development)

Here are synapses of the various shows I have watched over the past year, and I recommend all of them in the order. Enlightened would point out that I merely mention the most popular shows, and that may be the case, as I always check out the ratings before starting one, and only those are available on LAN.


1. Rurouni Kenshin

Can't recommend enough. This is the arguably the most different and the most superbly marvelous of all the shows I have ever watched. First of all, no super powers(O__O), just plain a**-kickin sword fighting. The lead character Kenshin Himura, is a legend, a soft-spoken Japanese revolution hero, feared as 'battosai the man-slayer' during the coup. However, he has left the front, and become a marauder, carrying only a reverse blade sword to protect people but never kill. However, it is inevitable that his past would come back again and again to haunt him. A strong scene throughout the series is that no person is literally evil, all have had their circumstances and have their own point of view and sense of justice, which might be a little skewed...but we always have our hero to point out the correct way to them.

There are also 2 OVA's which you would not want to miss if you do decide to watch it, the first 'Love and Betrayal' is a masterpiece, dealing with Kenshin's life during the revolution. The other 'Reminiscence' is in the future, telling us what came to of out characters, and is just sad.

If you want to feel what true patriotism for your country is, watch this.


2. Full Metal Alchemist

This is another great one. It made me take a break from Prison Break, so you can imagine. We are introduced to a world in an alternate reality, where they have alchemists, their replacement for physicists. Alchemy is a science, with its own laws and principles. Our protagonists are two brothers, Edward and Alphonso Elric, alchemists, who lost parts of their body in a disastrous alchemy experiment(which of course was in the forbidden domain) they tried. Now they are on a quest to find a way to regain their limbs and become whole. What they stumble upon turns out much much bigger, with them destined to be at the fulcrum. One of the best storylines ever, with a perfected narration technique which will keep you in expectation.

There are a mere 52 episodes. Plus a movie which is gives the ultimate conclusion to the series.
Highly recommended.

3. Bleach

This is a complete show. With a huge(100+) range of characters, good storyline, lots of powerful fighting and nice humour. Its not really a show, its a lifestyle. You get really close to the characters, heros and villains alike.

Central character, Kurosaki Ichigo, a teenager who can see ghosts for since he can remember. Eventually he comes to know of the afterlife, the soul reapers, the place called Soul Society, and gets intricately involved with its matters.

The serial has over time, developed several stereotypical elements like riatsu(power level - dbz), power ups, and like. Still, its one of the most popular animes currently and running strong. With 160+ episodes, not dubbed but subbed, still with no end in sight, it is a leisurely undertaking, not something for a weekend timepass.


4.Dragonball Z

You ask, why is this so down in the list? Well, though I was seriously crazy about this series for a long time, eventually after watching all episodes dozens of times, I have gotten quite tired of it, and would probably see little of it in the future.

This was I believe, what started the anime industry in the west, and the first series Indian kids were exposed to. (the frustration of a whole generation of Indians shall lie on CN for stopping this series on a pivotal point and then rerunning the series several times stopping at the same point).

I shall not delve on this much, after all its one of the oldest and most loved series of all time. Vanilla Dragonball and Dragonball GT should not go without mention, even though I did not appreciate them much. They deal with the childhood and future of Goku, in that order. Not to forget, there are a dozen or so movies too, which you might want to see if you are feel unsatisfied(after watching a total of 400+ eps). I recommend 'The future of Trunks' and 'Bardock, father of Goku', they provide more insight/backstory to the DBZ universe.


5. Death Note

This was a surprise. I just randomly started watching it and it turned out pretty good. In fact, I read its become something of a phenomenon in Japan.

This is a series with no violence, at least not in the traditional sense. It tells of a super-student and genius Yagami Light, who finds a notebook with a unique property. Whomsoever's name thy shall write in it, with the mode and time of death, shall die so exactly. He starts using this to kill all the criminals and cleanse the society. The police ask their top detective, L, to take the case. Thus a battle of mind begins between the two as who discovers the other's identity first.

A short series, finishes in just 34 eps. Although the stating episodes were highly promising, the series kind of turned downwards after 17 or so episodes, the last ones felt extremely crammed with not enough explanation.
Still, definitely worth a watch.

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Avatar, deserves a special mention. Its not exactly an anime(no japanese roots) , although definitely inspired from it. As from Rahul's opinion, I would recommend Avatar, but if you are or have a 12 year old kid with you. It is pretty childish and innocent, some jokes are repeated beyond repair, and the characters are not too deep. Ok, its not that bad, many of my friends watch it, but not exactly my taste.

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