Ghost in the Shell. I just want to start off by saying that "Ghost In The Shell" loves to asks it's audience questions.
What is it that makes us human? Is it the soul (refered to as 'ghosts' in this film)? Or is it flesh and bone? What happens when your memories can be erased and replaced like music on your iPod? If your body is entirely mechanical, can you still call yourself human? Okay, I'm giving myself a headache. Story Cyborg cops battle an anonymous super-hacker who takes control of people's computerized brains and forces them to do his bidding. Art GitS came out in 1995 and still the visuals can compete with current animation standards. Sound The sounds of the film remain on the same high level as the art. Character Though all the characters had aspects that made them interesting, Motoko is really the star of the show here and is the only character who developped over the course of the film.
FLCL. Some may compare it to a meaningless black painting, others compare it to a symbolic innuendo of sexism; regardless whatever opinions you may hold before watching this, you may toss in the wastebasket right now.
FLCL is the peak of mental curiosity, the crux of anime history, the meaningless jumble of human desires scrunched into six short quarter-hour episodes. The pace is so fast that the viewer is shot as a paper ball from a bazooka down from a helicopter, blown out to the moon by kamikaze winds, and then pummeled in the face by a bat wielding Babe-Ruth. Michiko to Hatchin.
Anime that are set out of Japan whilst not as uncommon as many may think are still few and far between but what is even more rare is an anime that takes place in Latin America. Michiko to Hatchin is representative of everything that is uncommon but amazing about the anime industry: it has style, nice characters, a unique setting and a vast array of themes, and whilst at times it is harsh it never forgets to be light-hearted in its ingenuity. Michiko to hatchin's story is rather unusually executed; my original impressions was that the series was episodic but upon completion that statement was a fairly inaccurate description, but in saying that I still find that each episode is 'episodic' in its own way. To its credit these many moments scattered throughout the series helped maintain my interest throughout the series entirety; each scenario was new and refreshing, each life had something different to offer.
One of the best things about Michiko to Hatchin is the background designs. Afro Samurai: Resurrection. "Watch your damn mouth... cause I'm coming for my father.
" Afro Samurai. I'm gonna go out ahead and say that most people should watch Afro Samurai at least once, or give the first episode a chance.
Story: The story is pretty flat, but at it's heart it follows the traditional revenge story. Samurai blaxploitation revenge even. Not at all uncommon for anime. Outlaw Star. On the technical side of things, Outlaw Star has aged incredibly well.
While not a fossil by any means, this show is at least old enough to have hand-painted cels instead of being digitally painted like what new fans are used to, giving it a classic texture. Don’t let the aged appearance fool you, though, because the action sequences in Outlaw Star are caster-tastic. There are zero corners cut in the space battles or hand to hand combat and there are often numerous fights per episode to pop your peepers at. The music is pretty low-key unless there’s a grappler duel a brewin’, but it’s a fun mix of techno, rock, and a lot of brass to lay down some smack to, though I quickly forgot it in the heated wake of the opening song and a soothing closer written for Melfina to sing throughout the show.
Black Lagoon. Elfen Lied. "Elfen Lied" has been nothing short of a phenomenon.
There were no big budget promotions (like "Full Metal Alchemist" was promoted, for example), the manga wasn't exactly red hot property (like "Death Note" was, for example), but it was suddenly catapulted to fame in an incredibly short time in 2004. It's the kind of overnight success story that films and anime have been made from. But does it deserve all this hype? The short answer is no. Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu. Warning: This review contains some SPOILERS I've read many reviews of this show, and they're varied - some people love it, some hate it.
Personally, I love this show, and am almost surprised that some people don't. Tokyo Godfathers. I started watching this movie knowing little more than that it was directed by Satoshi Kon, and even though I'm a fan of the man's work in general, I must say I was pleasantly surprised.
STORY - In brief, Tokyo Godfathers is a heart-warming Christmas story about family. Slightly elaborated, it's a rather unique slice-of-life movie featuring a less-than-average family. Sure, inspiration was taken from an old western film (3 Godfathers), but I haven't seen it, and I don't think having seen it would have affected the charm of this one. Samurai Champloo. I caught Samurai Champloo as it aired back in 2004, and though I liked it enough, it didn’t impact me as much as I hoped it would.
Though maybe that’s not entirely true, as the soundtrack did indirectly change my life, thanks to the composer Nujabes introducing me to instrumental hip hop and providing a soundtrack to my life for the next few years. I recently re-watched the show and felt compelled to write a retrospective/review of the series. Cowboy Bebop. What the people above me said :D Adding to that; similar in storytelling, often episodic but in a good way.
The music is a big influence for both anime. Hip-hop and jazz. Same director, but completely different settings. Even so, they match up very well. You can't watch one without the other. Same type of feel when it comes to all the random stories, etc.. Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin. ‘Even as the storm howls, even as they starve, they are preparing for it. Afterwards, with guts, courage and a little luck, their dreams will come true. The seven canaries believed this.’ Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin, referenced henceforth as Rainbow, follows the story of six men, who begin their stretch in a Japanese young offenders institute. Upon entering they meet their cell’s only other resident: the hardened boxer Sakuragi Rokurouta. After a brief but violent beat down, the men become friends with their cellmate and thus begin the hardships that come with being locked out from the rest of the world.
Summer Wars. Same director, similar settings. The cyber world is compromised and causes great effects on the real world as well. The characters battle the villain that caused the attack to recover control over the network. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo. Hands down the best movie (animated or otherwise) I've seen in at least five years. Although the character art is simple, I love it <i>because</i> it is simple and clean. The backgrounds, environment, and special effects are a different thing entirely. They are rendered in such gloriously realistic detail. The landscapes, the classrooms, the streets -- I have never seen such detail in an animated film. Akagi. Baccano! Durarara!! Both have many main characters and the overlapping of all their stories forms the plot of the anime. Kaiji. Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch. Lots of thinking involved, and the main character exploits a 'magical power' to try to change the world.
Genius's with a special power using their brain strategising and planning. Death Note. Higashi no Eden. Welcome to the NHK! Welcome to the N.H.K. is the story of a 22-year-old hikikomori/NEET named Satou Tatsuhiro. Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin. Steins;Gate. K-ON! Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom. Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha. Beck. Organize, Discuss, Discover.