Do that. Lists like that are always interesting.
Meh, what the hell, I'm bored anyway. I've been doing this for a few years, and
the list is up to 150 completed entries and counting, so I've seen a good variety of stuff. These are in no particular order, as I'm just going down that list and picking out several of my favorites, and I hope you'll forgive me if I repeat any earlier suggestions. As in all things, your mileage may vary.
Also, this could (read: will) get very, very long.
1)
One Piece -- Into long-running shounen? This is
the long-running shounen, par excellence. (For those not in the know, a "shounen" is an anime or manga primarily targeted at younger teenage boys, generally of the action variety.) More specifically, One Piece is how one does the long-running anime series right. It has an art style all its own, its main cast is eminently lovable and goes through an amazing amount of growth for a show of this type, the universe it's set in is insane in the best sort of way, and most importantly of all, it just keeps getting better, story arc after story arc. Particularly notable is its main protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, the man who would hunt down the legendary treasure One Piece and become the Pirate King...I've seen a whole lot of characters of his type, but no one with as unique a personality as his. The taste of adventure, the true value of friendship, the perseverance of inner strength...it hits all those old standbys in spades. The show's currently surpassed 400 episodes in Japan, so this isn't something you'd sit down and watch over the course of the weekend. Just stay far away from the horrifically butchered 4Kids English adaptation; thankfully, the American distributor FUNimation Entertainment is currently releasing it in uncut form.
2)
The Big O -- I know it was just brought up, but I have to give some love to my personal favorite series. Take one part steampunk-esque classic mecha action, mix in a heavy dose of film noir stylings, combine with liberal amounts of questions regarding the value of memories and one's true identity, and sprinkle in a bit of Jewish mysticism and
Metropolis references, and you have Big O. Forty years ago, the people of Paradigm City, humanity's last refuge, lost all of their memories; today, Paradigm's top negotiator Roger Smith protects the city as the Dominus of the giant robot Big O and tries to get to the bottom of the city's past. Trying to figure out exactly what's going on may drive you mad, and the ending is one of those heartbreaking semi-cliffhangers that will probably never get resolved, but the ride's well worth it. Plus, there's a bunch of giant robots repeatedly tearing the crap out of everything, which is always good stuff. BIG O! SHOWTIME!
3)
Cowboy Bebop -- I know almost everyone has probably heard of this before, but there's no way it could be left off such a list. For my money, Bebop is the
best anime series of all time, hands-down, and easily one of the best pieces of entertainment I've ever seen in any medium. In the year 2075, humanity is scattered across the solar system after a hyperspace cataclysm rendered Earth uninhabitable, and dangerous bounty heads are chased down by "cowboys" after quick cash. Spike, Jet, Faye, and Ed, the crew of the ship
Bebop, try to outrun the demons of their past as they make their way through this world. The show largely consists of stand-alone episodes, relying on the incredible strength and humanity of its main cast to bind it together. The production values are top-notch, and Shinichiro Wantanabe's genius touch of direction turns almost every episode into its own independent masterwork. And the music...by God, the music. This is Yoko Kanno at her very very best, breaking out all the stops and infusing the whole production with jaw-droppingly awesome jazz and blues tunes; in many ways, the soundtrack is just as much a cast member as any of the actual characters. I can't recommend this series enough, really. Oh, and if you are watching for the first time, please do it in English, as the American cast easily outstrips its Japanese counterparts.
4)
Dennou Coil -- Sadly unavailable domestically at this time, this little gem of a show takes a good look at what our daily lives might be like with the addition of augmented reality. By wearing special goggles, one can get a glimpse of the virtual world around oneself, including all of the wonders and dangers that that world possesses. A group of schoolchildren manage to get caught up in a strange web of hacking, viruses, and corrupted cyberspace, but the consequences to one's mind wind up being far more serious than a crashed hard drive. It's kind of a bit hard to describe, but there's some great plot and character work here.
5)
Eden of the East -- This series just aired this past spring, and its storyline is still waiting on two movies to complete it, but I had to throw this in. A Japanese college grad named Saki Morimi is on vacation in Washington, D.C., standing just outside the White House, when she comes across something strange. There's a man standing there. Completely naked. Carrying a cellphone with almost ten billion yen's worth of credit on it. And with no memory at all of his identity or past. Yup. Saki soon finds herself caught up in the world of this strange man, who it turns out goes by the name of Akira, a world surrounding a secret "game" to change the course of Japan's future. Like your Bourne-Identity-esque conspiracy thrillers? This is right up your alley.
6)
Ergo Proxy -- From the crazy writing mind of Dai Sato, whose touch can be felt on several of the shows on this list, comes a post-apocalyptic tale of artificial intelligence and existential philosophy. Re-l Mayer, of the authoritarian domed city of Romdo, comes into contact with a strange monstrous creature called a Proxy that's somehow related to a virus infecting the city's androids, as well as a mysterious immigrant by the name of Vincent Law. Her journey to find out just what the hell is going on leads her outside of the city's "safe" confines and into the blasted wasteland of what's left of Earth. There's a whole ton of classical philosophy at work here (that virus goes by the name of "Cogito"), and while you may be scratching your head half the time, it's a nice brain-teaser of a ride.
7)
Eureka seveN -- Ostensibly about sky-surfing giant robots and strange alien creatures, this Dai Sato work is really one of the most well-developed love stories I've seen portrayed in any medium. Renton Thurston is your standard anime teenage boy who's bored with his life...until the day a mysteriously beautiful girl named Eureka literally crash-lands her mech on his grandfather's mechanic shop. Renton soon gets whisked away with the anti-government group Gekkostate, headed by his sky-surfing idol Holland, yet he soon finds that he might be in over his head. The first half of the series concentrates mostly on character development, and the unfolding of the relationship between Renton and Eureka, culminating in a supreme Crowning Moment of Awesome at the halfway point...after that, it's full speed ahead plot-wise. As I said, the real joy of this show is watching Renton and Eureka slowly come to terms with their feelings for each other and develop as characters; by the end, they've come light-years ahead of where they started. This one might not be for everyone, as I've seen a few of you bums speak against it in the past, but I count it as one of my all-time sentimental favorites.
8)
Fooly Cooly (FLCL) -- Crafted by the crazy minds at Gainax, the studio responsible for Neon Genesis Evangelion, this gorgeously-animated 6-episode OVA (direct-to-video release) is, simply put, pure insanity. Naota is your average middle-schooler, living in a town where nothing happens...until an alien girl riding a Vespa scooter smacks him in the noggin with a Rickenbacker bass and starts pulling giant robots out of his head. Yup. The production staff was given essentially the budget of an entire 26-episode series, and the insane results include such gems as two animated-manga scenes, a South Park parody or two, some Matrix bullet-time, a Lupin the 3rd homage, a John Woo tribute, a Daicon IV throwback, and more nerdy references than you know what to do with. And yet at its core, it's essentially a coming-of-age story. Oh, and did I mention the fantastic soundtrack contributed by Japanese rockers The Pillows? This is an absolute must-see for everyone, and I'd highly recommend giving it a listen in English, as it's one of the best dubs out there.
9)
Fullmetal Alchemist -- This popular series from a few years ago tells the story of Edward and Alphonse Elric, two brothers who pay the ultimate sacrifice in an attempt to bring their mother back from the dead, and who now seek to regain what they have lost. The fundamental principle at work here is that of alchemy, the ability to transmute matter into something completely different...but unlike the ancient treatment, this alchemy is subject to strict scientific rules, such as the Law of Equivalent Exchange (think conservation of matter). To overcome this supreme law, Ed and Al must seek out the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary item that can overcome equivalent exchange and grant them what they seek...but at what cost? The plot is intricate, the characters are complex, and the whole package is a ton of fun. This original 2005 anime series started off fairly close to its parent manga, but instead of going into a realm of "fillers" as so many shounen series do, it chose instead to craft an entirely-original second half, to great result. I'm not really sold on the concept of the brand-new remake, which adheres very closely to the manga, so I haven't been watching it.
10)
Ghost in the Shell: Stand-Alone Complex -- Set in an alternate storyline than the 1996 movie, this cyberpunk gem based on the works of Shirow Masamune follows the members of Public Security Section 9 as they deal with cyberterrorism and government corruption in a world heavily changed by the 'Net. When humans can enclose their brains in fully-prosthetic human bodies, and artificial intelligences become almost indistinguishable from the human mind, what really defines humanity? What is this "ghost" that represents the human soul? GITS deals with all sorts of fun stuff like this, particularly through the eternally-cheerful Tachikomas (think super-curious five-year-olds...in the form of multiped tanks). Both the first and second season (known as 2nd Gig) consist of both stand-alone episodes and an overarching storyline, and everything's pulled off with top-notch production values. Oh, and did I mention the fantastic Yoko Kanno soundtrack?
11)
Haibane Renmei -- This beautifully-understated little show comes from the creative mind of Yo****oshi ABe. A girl named Rakka awakes from a giant cocoon in a mysterious walled city and finds herself as one of the Haibane...winged creatures with no memories of their past lives. The Haibane live out their lives among normal humans in this strange town, at least until their mysterious Day of Flight. The series has what I can only describe as a beautifully warm feel, with rich characters whose personal struggles with identity lay at the heart of the story. This is another one that's very difficult to put into words, but it really is a wonderful piece of work.
12)
Kaiba -- Speaking of shows that are incredibly difficult to put into words...hoo boy. A boy named Kaiba suddenly awakens with no memory--and a hole in his chest. He finds himself in a strange, fantastical world that can probably best be described as Dr. Seuss on crack. In this world, memories can be removed from the body and transferred to another, so even death can be surmounted...so long as you're able to pay. The true noteworthy feature of this series is the art style, which can only be described as
ridiculously unique, though I guess another would be that you'll probably have little idea what the hell is going on until halfway through.
13)
Kino's Journey -- Yet another in the "hard to describe" pile. A quiet traveler by the name of Kino and her talking motorcycle Hermes journey from one town to the next, following her rule of staying only three days in any particular place. Each episode is its own stand-alone story, centered on a particular theme generated by the town in question. It's a very whimsical, almost dreamlike sort of show, just the thing for when you just want to sit back and spend some time in quiet thought. Oh, and the music is quite beautiful.
14)
Monster -- Very closely based on the manga by Naoki Urasawa, this psychological thriller centers on a Dr. Tenma, a brilliant Japanese neurosurgeon working in Japan, who one day is called on to save the life of a young boy named Johan stricken by a gunshot wound to the head. Tenma is successful...but when Johan returns years later, his life is thrown into a living hell, and he must fight to clear his name and rid the world of the evil that he unwittingly unleashed. Simply put, this series is 74 episodes' worth of fantastically-plotted thriller, populated by a rich and well-developed cast of characters. The persona of Johan is by far the creepiest antagonist I've come across in anime, but in an awesome way. Is there such a thing as pure evil in the world? Watch this gem to find out.
15)
Noein -- This uniquely-animated piece of science-fiction centers around a young girl by the name of Haruka, who finds herself at the center of an interdimensional war between dimension-hopping Dragon Knights and an entity known as Shangri'la that seeks the annihilation of all space-time. As luck would have it, Haruka is apparently the Dragon Torque and has the power to alter the flow of dimensions. What hooked me about this show is how effectively it utilizes many of the metaphysical aspects of the various interpretations of quantum mechanics, specifically the many-worlds interpretation; it's the only anime I know of where Schrodinger's cat actually makes a cameo. Haruka and her friends are given one of the most realistic treatments of middle-schoolers I've seen, and it's their interactions that really help drive the story.
16)
Paranoia Agent -- By the master of psychological head-cases Satoshi Kon, creator of such films as Perfect Blue and Paprika, comes this disturbing little tale of a strange entity called L'il Slugger, who with one swing of his golden bat brings relief to those driven to absolute despair. The detectives put on his case have to wade their way through a series of psychologically-troubled victims, starting with Tsukiko Sagi, designer of the immensely-popular animated dog Maromi. But as the case unfolds, the boundaries between fantasy and reality start to break down, and the question of just what Maromi represents comes to the forefront. Both a mind-screwing psychological trip and a poignant commentary on current Japanese society, this one's a must-see.
17)
Planetes -- From Goro Taniguchi, the director behind the schizophrenic-yet-massively-entertaining Code Geass and the utter fr00tiness that is s-CRY-ed, comes...a work of hard science fiction? With incredibly well-developed characters? Bwuh? But yes, this is the case. In the year 2075, humanity has finally expanded beyond Earth's boundaries, settling on lunar colonies and in massive space stations in low Earth orbit. Unfortunately, with the advent of space travel has come the ever-growing threat of space debris, a threat that holds deadly consequences for any spacecraft in the wrong place at the wrong time. The members of the Debris Section of the space-based Technora Corporation, derogatorily referred to as "Half-Section," are faced with the mundane yet necessary task of removing troublesome bits of debris from orbit, clearing the way for space commerce. Yes, this show is about space garbage collectors, but it's also a fantastic work of hard sci-fi...there's no sound in space, things move like they're supposed to, and the characters floating in 0-G look as natural as those on the ISS today. There's some great character interplay at work here, particularly between the main characters Hachi and Ai. Highly recommended for anyone who loves sci-fi.
18)
Samurai Champloo -- Another work from the masterful Shinichiro Wantanabe of Bebop fame, this anachronism-packed romp through feudal Japan tells the story of a young girl named Fuu who's looking for "a samurai who smells of sunflowers." She's joined by the hotheaded vagrant Mugen and the demure ronin (ex-samurai) Jin on her quest, which leads her to Edo and beyond. This series is heavily influenced by its hip-hop soundtrack, provided by some of Japan's biggest names in that genre, to the point where it takes on a style all its own. You'll see everything from beatboxing carpenters, to a graffiti-tagging contest, to ninjas playing baseball...all in Japan of the 1600s. Again, the characters are Wantanabe's true strength, and his directorial masterwork is evident in every episode. Definitely worth a look-see.
19)
Seirei no Moribito -- Also known as Guardian of the Spirit, this recent high fantasy gem centers around Balsa, a female bodyguard who's deadly with her spear, who one day comes across and rescues a young boy who's been thrown into a raging river. Said boy just so happens to be Chagum, second crown prince of the Yogo Empire, and he just so happens to be carrying a secret: his body has been possessed by the egg of a water spirit. As his father the emperor sees no other choice but to execute his possessed heir, Balsa answers the plea of Chagum's mother and agrees to protect the boy come hell or high water. This Production I.G. work features some of the highest production values I've come across in a televised series; the background art is practically orgasmic. If you're a fan of an incredibly well-crafted literary story, this is definitely for you.
20)
Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann -- Generator of many memes, recipient of much hype, Gurren-Lagann is packed with more raw manliness than an entire World's Strongest Man competition. Gainax's loving tribute to the super-robot classics of the past, and in many ways an anti-Evangelion, Gurren-Lagann starts out showing the life of Simon the Digger, a young boy living in an underground village whose hot-blooded best friend Kamina dreams of breaking through to the forbidden surface. One day, Simon digs up a small robot with a big face called Lagann, and the drill that powers it up...and with that, everything changes. Simon and Kamina, along with the bombshell sniper Yoko and the pig-mole Boota, find themselves caught up in an underdog fight against the oppressive Beastmen, led by the mighty Spiral King. But even that isn't the end of things...though I won't say any more here. Gurren-Lagann is 27 episodes of hot-blooded manly spirit, ridiculous super robot action, and incredibly fun characters, and it manages to keep ratcheting up the scale and scope of things (quite literally) as its plot unfolds. Leave plausibility and realism at the door, and enjoy the very personification of the Rule of Cool.
21)
Trigun -- Based on the manga by Yasuhiro Nightow, this true space Western centers around the persona of Vash the Stampede, the "Humanoid Typhoon," a dangerous man with an enormous $$60 billion bounty on his head. Insurance agents Meryl Strife and Milly Thompson are dispatched to catch up with the fearsome Vash and try to mitigate the massive damage toll he's been racking up. What they find when they finally come across him is not a terrifying force of nature...but instead a goofy klutz who craves donuts and lives by the motto, "LOVE AND PEACE!!!" It soon becomes apparent, however, that this man really is a legendary gunfighter...so why is it that he refuses to take another human life? This is one of those old standbys from the past decade for so that should be on anyone's watched list.
22)
Wolf's Rain -- Last (at long last), but certainly not least, is this masterwork from the minds of Studio BONES, also responsible for Eureka seveN and (before they were formed) Cowboy Bebop, which is probably the one series I can pick out that truly turned me into an anime fan. In a cold post-apocalyptic future, wolves are thought of as nothing more as an extinct legend of the past...yet they still walk among humans today, concealing their presence from the oblivious people around them. A lone wolf by the name of Kiba, driven by the scent of the lunar flower, meets up with fellow wolves Tsume, Hige, and Toboe, who together seek out the mysterious Flower Maiden, Cheza, whom legend says is capable of opening the way to the wolves' true Paradise. Along the way, they manage to drag several humans into the web of mystery surrounding Cheza, and are forced to deal with the machinations of the mysterious Nobles, who seek the Flower Maiden for their own nefarious ends. The series manages to meld together Eastern and Western spiritual concepts of sin and rebirth into a coherent whole. If Big O is my favorite series and Cowboy Bebop is what I call the best, I'd define Wolf's Rain as by far the most
beautiful I've had the pleasure to watch. The artwork is gorgeous, the characters incredibly memorable, and the soundtrack is Yoko Kanno at her emotion-grabbing best. The original series includes four recap episodes necessitated by the SARS scare a few years back, but it concludes properly in a four-episode OVA...and if this conclusion does not move you to tears even once, I have to include that you are less than human. Just a stunningly, soul-movingly beautiful work.
Well...that was ridiculously long.
If even one person reads all of that, I'll be intensely surprised. I didn't bring up any movies, but I can note those quickly. Anything by Hayao Miyazaki is obviously incredibly good stuff; the epic fantasy
Nausicaa is my personal favorite. Satoshi Kon's works, which I mentioned in the Paranoia Agent entry, are all good mind-bending stuff as well. For gorgeous background art and wistfully sentimental storytelling, I highly recommend Makoto Shinkai's three films, though I think I liked
The Place Promised in Our Early Days the most. And finally, for something completely different, the Gainax work
Dead Leaves manages to take the most insane elements of FLCL and Gurren-Lagann and then crank the volume up to 11.
...why the hell do I get myself into stuff like this?
