Anime Eccentric

I know I said that someday I might write a review for an anime series, but I just haven't gotten around to it. Besides, there are literally hundreds of websites devoted to anime reviews... I'm not saying that I never will, but it's unlikely to happen anytime soon. However, that doesn't mean that I can't discuss anime in general. Prepare for more random ramblings...

I'm going to assume that no one reading this has any idea what I'm talking about, so I'll start with the basics:

Anime
an·i·me [an-uh-mey]
A Japanese style of motion-picture animation, characterized by highly stylized, colorful art, futuristic settings, violence, and sexuality.

Manga
man·ga [mahng-guh]
Manga is Japanese for "comic book, graphic novel". Anime largely are based on manga and until the 1970s, anime were known as manga eiga or "TV manga."

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From what I understand, people in Japan use the word "Anime" like people in America use the word "Cartoon". It can refer to anything from Rurouni Kenshin, to South Park, or Disney movies. Most of the rest of the world, however, think of anime as strictly Japanese animation. So for clarification: if it wasn't made in Japan, it's not anime.

One of the many things I love about anime, is how diverse it is. It can be targeted towards any audience. It doesn't matter if you're in pre-school, or if you're a 40 year old business man. Teenagers, children, housewives; there's something for everyone. There's a vast number of genres to choose from. If you're looking for action, adventure, comedy, coming of age, demons, drama, ecchi, fantasy, games, horror, historical, kid's shows, magic, martial arts, mecha, music, mystery, parody, romance, samurai, science-fiction, shoujo, shounen, sports, or vampires... you will find something to suit you. You could sit around all day, every day, and still not have time to watch every anime series ever released.

Of course, it's somewhat harder to find what you're looking for if you don't live in Japan. There is a wide variety of anime to choose from at any Blockbuster, but it's only the tip of the iceberg. New anime series and movies are released in Japan all the time; it just takes a while for them to make it to the shelves here in the US. That's why I thank goodness for Fansubs. To all those wonderful people who spend their time delivering subtitled anime to the masses - Thank You. You are the unsung heroes of the internet.

Something to keep in mind: english voice overs, or "Dubs", are terrible. 80% of the time, they just plain suck. If you want to fully enjoy the experience of watching anime, you have to watch the subbed version (Japanese language & English subtitles). I don't want to put down American voice actors, but they really can't compare to the original Japanese talents. The important thing when doing voice acting, is to put some passion into it; make it real. A large portion of english VAs have trouble putting emotion into their character's voice. Without emotion, it just sounds like someone's reading from a script (which is exactly what they're doing).

When I think back to the first anime I ever watched, it probably had to be either ThunderCats, or Speed Racer. Both of which I watched as a young child - before I had ever even heard the word "anime". The first show I watched that I knew was anime was Dragonball Z, or Sailor Moon. They used to come on Cartoon Network in the afternoons when I was in elementary school. I'd like to think my taste in anime has matured a bit since then. Although, if Dragonball Z were on right now, I might secretly turn it on and watch for a while. I've never paid much attention to what people refer to as "age appropriate" material. Even when I was a child, I was already reading books that were "too old" for me, and I don't mind watching a few shows that might be considered "too immature" by some. Hey, if I wanted to watch Big Bird dance around on Sesame Street... who cares? It's nobody's business but my own. I'd like to say that that's my outlook on life, but truthfully, I do still care what people think.

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A few anime series/movies that I like:

Naruto - particularly Naruto Shippuuden
An action/adventure/drama/comedy series about Naruto: a boy who is feared and detested by the villagers of the hidden leaf village of Konoha. The distrust of the boy has little to do with the boy himself, but it’s what’s inside him that causes anxiety. Long before Naruto came to be, a Kyuubi (demon fox) with great fury and power waged war with the villagers, taking many lives. The battle ensued for a long time until a man known as the Fourth Hokage, Yondaime, the strongest ninja in Konoha, fiercely fought the Kyuubi. The fight was soon won by Yondaime as he sealed the evil demon in a human body. Thus the boy, Naruto, was born. As Naruto grows he decides to become the strongest ninja in Konoha in an effort to show everyone that he is not as they perceive him to be, but is a human being worthy of love and admiration. But the road to becoming Hokage, the title for the strongest ninja in Konoha, is a long and arduous one. It is a path filled with betrayal, pain, and loss; but with hard work, Naruto may achieve his dream of becoming the next Hokage.

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xxxHolic
An action/mystery/comedy series about a boy named Watanuki Kimihiro who can see spirits and ghosts. All his life he has unwillingly attracted evil spirits. One day he meets a mysterious woman named Yuuko. She claims to have the means to end his torment, but she never works for free, and she won't grant his wish until he works enough to pay for her services. He works in her shop as a cook and an errand boy, and discovers that in that place, nothing is what it seems... and everything is connected by fate. "There are no coincidences".

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Slam Dunk!
An action/sports/comedy series about Sakuragi Hanamichi: a punk used to getting into fights and being rejected by girls. Upon entering high school he meets the girl of his dreams, Haruko Akagi. He will do anything in order to win her heart, including joining the school basketball team. The problem is that Sakuragi has never played basketball before, and a freshman sensation is stealing the spotlight and Haruko's affection from him. So begins a fierce rivalry, on the journey to "conquer the nation", and become the best basketball team in Japan.

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Inuyasha
An adventure/comedy/drama/fantasy/historical/romance series about a half-demon named Inuyasha, and Higurashi Kagome. Kagome, after being pulled down a well by a demon, finds herself in Feudal Japan, where she learns that a powerful jewel has been reborn inside her body. After the jewel shatters in an attempt to retrieve it from one of the many demons who was after its power, Kagome must join forces with Inuyasha (also after the jewel's power) to track down the shards of the jewel before its power falls into the wrong hands.

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Rurouni Kenshin
An adventure/comedy/drama/fantasy/historical/romance series about Himura Kenshin: a vagabond with a dark past and sunny disposition. Not a ronin but a rurouni, he was never a samurai, but an assassin of utmost skill in the Meiji restoration, who in the turning point of the war simply walked away. His travels lead him to Tokyo in the 11th year of the Meiji era, where he befriends a female Kendo master, a former thief, a brawler and a doctor, all with their own secrets. Together they fight off the enemies surfacing from the dark past that Kenshin cannot escape.

Howl's Moving Castle
An adventure/comedy/drama/fantasy/romance movie about a plain young hatter named Sophie, who's life changes when an evil witch transforms her into an old woman. Unable to face her family in such a condition, Sophie runs away in search of a way to become young again. Along the way, Sophie helps a turnip headed scarecrow, who repays her by leading her to the moving castle owned by the dreaded wizard Howl. There she befriends Howl's apprentice Markl, Howl's fire demon Calcifer, and eventually, Howl himself. Sophie then becomes the castle's cleaning lady in an effort to not only find the solution to her problem but to save Howl from his own terrible secrets as well.

Hunter X Hunter
An adventure/comedy/drama/fantasy series about Gon Freecs: a young boy that lives on a small island. He learns that his father, (who he doesn't remember), is an extremely famous man and has become somewhat of an amazing hunter. Gon takes the hunter exam to seek out his father, while teaming up with 3 other candidates, Kurapica, Leorio, and Killua. He learns that there is more to becoming a hunter than he imagined, and the challenges that he must face will be beyond his wildest dreams.

Shounen Onmyouji
An adventure/fantasy/historical/supernatural series about Abe no Masahiro: the grandson of the great omnyouji Abe no Semei, who passed his teachings on to his grandson. Masahiro has a sixth sense and the ability to see spirits, and with Mokkun as his guide, he works to become his grandfather's successor.

Full Metal Alchemist
An adventure/comedy/drama/fantasy/ series about Alphonse and Edward Elric. After losing their mother, Ed and Al attempt to bring her back using the forbidden science of human alchemy. However, alchemy operates on the theory of equivalent trade, and breaking the human alchemy taboo carries a heavy price. Ed loses his leg, and Al loses his body. Ed is able to seal Al's soul inside of a huge suit of armor, at the cost of his arm. Years later, Ed (now with two mechanical limbs) and Al (still trapped in the armor) leave their childhood home, each brother concerned with the other's happiness. Ed, who has a natural talent and skill for alchemy, becomes nationally certified and is soon known everywhere as the "Fullmetal Alchemist." Their true objective is to search for any information on the fabled Philosopher's Stone, hoping it will allow them to regain their old bodies. All of their hopes rest with this mythical stone, which may not even exist at all. However, the brothers soon learn that they are not the only ones after the powerful stone.

Samurai Champloo
An adventure/comedy/drama/historical series about Mugen, Jin, and Fuu. Mugen is a fierce animal-like warrior with a unique Bboying (break-dance) inspired fighting style. Jin has a more traditional style but don't think of this as a weakness, because his skills are amazing. The two contrasting samurai warriors are far from friends, yet their separate paths seem to cross anyways. Mugen is wandering aimlessly through the city when he stumbles upon a teahouse where he meets Jin and Fuu (A ditzy waitress, but don't think she doesn't have anything hidden up her sleeves). Fuu convinces them both to come with her in search of a mysterious samurai that smells like sunflowers, and their journey begins. This modernized hip-hop tale breaks the barriers of the common, historical, samurai anime.

Ouran High School Host Club
A comedy/drama/fantasy/romance series about Haruhi: a poor tomboyish student at a school for the ultra-wealthy, able to attend because of a scholarship, and unable to even afford a uniform. One day, she stumbles across the decidedly peculiar but very popular Ouran Host Club. She tries to leave, but accidentally breaks a vase, and unable to pay for it, she's told that she'll have to stay and do odd jobs. That is, until they decide she would be more valuable as a club member. Not realizing she's female due to her appearance, they fix her up and give her a male uniform. She's an instant hit, so they decide to have her keep up the charade even after they find out the truth. Haruhi, being average almost to a fault, doesn't know what to make of the unconventional activities of the Host Club (or of the even more unconventional members), but having little choice, she plays along. Before long, real bonds are formed, friends made, and Haruhi finds herself accepted in a way she could never have been otherwise in this affluent school.

Spirited Away
An adventure/comedy/drama/fantasy/romance/supernatural movie about a girl named Chihiro. On their way to their new home, Chihiro and her parents stumble into what appears to be an abandoned theme park. But all is not as it seems, as the theme park is a resort for the gods, and not a place where humans are welcome. Chihiro must fend for herself and rescue her parents, as they have been turned to pigs as punishment for eating the food meant for the gods.

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Well, that was my longest post yet. I hope I was able to shed some light on the subject of anime for you.

For more information on any of the shows listed above, simply Google each one.
Many of these shows can be found on Youtube.com