Capsule Reviews of Ten Exceptional Anime Series
As life long fan of animated films and cartoons (and classic Japanese science fiction films of my childhood like The Mysterians and Mothra) it was probably natural I would be attracted to Japanese animation. Here are some of my favorite series.
It is a treat to binge watch these in Japanese with English subtitles without commercial interruption and without the jarring and annoying censorship sometimes displayed in what is streamed via Amazon Prime and HBO Max. In no particular order, below are brief reviews; the links take you to the full reviews on this web site:
DOROHEDORO
Unusually weird story arc and characters. Not for the squeamish. Very funny at times if you have an odd sense of humor. Unique take on some standard dystopian elements.
Kazuhiro Furuhashi's DORORO (2019 version)
Epic adventure of a character’s search for his missing body parts which is actually a search for a soul. Strong supernatural elements and some amazing action scenes. A vivid picture of what a society that lacks any central governmental authority can devolve into.
Toshimasa Kuroyanagi's THE GREAT PASSAGE
An engrossing series about the development of a dictionary. The focus on words (a topic that has always fascinated me - I use a printed thesaurus as a prop for my laptop) is accompanied by strong cultural references and superb character development.
RAGE OF BAHAMUT VIRGIN SOUL
Amazingly rich world building that incorporates angels, demons, and a plucky heroine making her way through a deteriorating medieval society while trying to control her tendency to become a giant fire breathing dragon whenever she becomes sexually aroused.
INUYASHIKI LAST HERO
An in-your-face exploration of Good versus Evil built around sci-fi and superpower themes. Surprisingly mature and violent at times. Contains an embedded reference to Trump that is both disturbing and accurate.
LAND OF THE LUSTROUS
Visually and audio-wise this is superb and unique. The blending of traditional and computer based animation is breathtaking at times. This is the most unique example of animated characters and personalities I am aware of.
Masaaki Yuasa's “KEEP YOU HANDS OFF EINZOUKEN!”
The latest addition to my “favorites” list. A wonderful tale of three high school girls who set their minds to creating their own anime. A real celebration of creativity against a backdrop — Japanese high schools — that on other cases has become old hat. Simply wonderful animation, sound, and music.
Akiyuki Shinbo's "PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA"
This one sneaks up on you especially if you are somewhat familiar with the “magical girls” theme. This one becomes more bizarre and disturbing as it develops. Not for the faint of heart.
GARGANTIA ON THE VERDUROUS PLANET
Splendid world building that makes something unique from standard elements including a plucky heroine, giant robots, and excruciatingly detailed mechanisms and technology. Gorgeous animation and color.
Lain
This old series (1998) convinced me that it is possible to explore serious technology-and philosophy-related themes via animation. I saw it on DVD. I hope it’s streaming somewhere.
Copyright (c) 2021 by Dennis D. McDonald
