Anime Recommendations for Anime Fans

Anime is very popular in Asian culture. It has also spread its popularity in other countries such as the United States, parts of Europe and South America.

Some of the most popular anime are action and fantasy type anime. I am going to introduce you the most popular ones at this moment.

Naruto Shippudden

This anime is still on going as the time of writing, but I believe it is about to get to the end stages. This anime is about the story of a young boy named Naruto, who was looked down upon because he was sealed with the nine-tails demon fox that destroyed the Konoha village. He grew up trying to win approval from his village. One day, he vows to become the Hokage of the village and gain respect from his peers. Fast forward, we have Naruto Shippudden, where he is all grown up and ready to tackle the most powerful enemy in the series, Uchuha Madara. As much as I love this anime, the only complain I have is the amount of fillers. Other than that, it is a great anime full of cool fighting scenes and comedy.

Death Note

Meet Light Yagami, the self-proclaimed justice ruler. In this psychological, suspense and thriller anime, a Shinigami called Ryuk dropped a supernatural note book known as the "Death Note". Light finds this book and realizes he could kill anyone if he knew his face plus name and wrote down the person's name in the note book. With this new found power, he creates his own twisted sense of justice and it is up to a special detective to stop this madness!

Code Geass

With a combination of mecha, action and thriller instilled in this brilliant anime, it is no surprise this is a big hit among anime fans. Japan has been invaded by Britannia and is colonized by them. Lelouch is a Britannia prince that was thrown into Japan as a bargaining chip after her mother was killed. As a result, her sister Nunnally becomes blind and is wheelchair bound because of this. Lelouch then vows to get his revenge. With the help of an unexpected incident, Lelouch gains the power of the "Geass", where he can control one's movement against their will with eye contact for one time. It is then he plans his uprising against the Britannia Empire.

Conclusion

These 3 anime are rather popular among many anime fans. If you are new to anime, I highly suggest that you watch the above anime. I guarantee you that you will like at least one of these. If not you can always check out other genres of anime that is available out there.

Top 11 Anime to Watch

If you're into anime, you've probably already seen all these.

But if you aren't... you MUST try it! Anime is NOT like your regular cartoons. These stories are unique, chock full of intense characters, and beautiful animation.

Action, drama, sci-fi, psychological, horror, apocalyptic, comedic, what it means to be human, humans merging with machines, the meaning of life. Anime's got it all!

You might have seen Pokémon or Sailor Moon. There's many more complex storylines and characters than that. Much of anime is a reflection of Japanese and modern society's reaction to globalization and technological changes of the 21st century. So don't be surprised to find intense themes in these stories. It might even be a bit difficult to completely digest the meaning of some of these anime.

So... there's my pitch. By the way, I have only recently gotten into anime, so feel free to suggest other great anime in the comments below!

11. Tokyo Ghoul

Length: 12 episodes
Genre: Action / Drama / Horror / Psychological / Dark Fantasy

Plot: Kaneki gets into an accident and receives organ transplants from a ghoul. He struggles to maintain his humanity while living as a half-ghoul who must eat human flesh to survive.

Intense character development and symbolism included! There is a postmodern feel you can see in Kaneki's hopelessness. The story criticizes modern society's excessive consumption and discrimination.

10. Haikyuu!!

Length: 25 episodes
Genre: Sports / Drama

Plot: Hinata has wanted to play volleyball since junior high. He finally gets the chance in high school. This is a story of teamwork and motivation between friends.

You learn a lot about volleyball from this anime. It is a fun, light story. If you're looking for something not too dark but with fun characters, this is the story for you!

9. Death Note

Length: 37 episodes
Genre: Psychological / Drama / Detective

Plot: Light Yagami is a genius high school student who one day picks up a Death Note. He discovers its power to kill humans and constructs a crazy elaborate plan to rule to world and eliminate corruption through strategic murders.

It gets pretty intense and complex. The number of crazy plot twists in this story will keep you on your toes. This story looks into institutional corruption. But the most interesting part is how Light keeps coming up with such intricate plans that somehow work every time.

8. Attack on Titan

Length: 25 episodes
Genre: Dark Fantasy / Post-Apocalyptic

Plot: Eren Jaeger lives in a peaceful town walled off from man-eating titans. But after a colossal titan breaks through the outer wall, chaos ensues. Eren joins the military in order to fight against the titans.

This story brings to light the pain of losing innocence and the illusion of peace. It presents issues of the current state of Japan's military, calling for forces to be at the ready1.

7. Blood: The Last Vampire

Length: 45 minutes
Genre: Action / Horror

Plot: Saya is a vampire who kills other vampires aka chiropterans. She goes undercover as a student on a US military base in Japan to destroy the threats. Her reasons for doing so? Unknown. Where she comes from? Unknown.

Saya is an interesting character. She's super hardcore and cool. Besides the action, this story is also a reflection of Japanese and American relations.

6. Steins Gate

Length: 24 episodes
Genre: SciFi / Mystery / Romance / Drama

Plot: Okabe is your average guy with an intense interest in time travel. He stumbles upon a conspiracy involving the use of human subjects in time travel experiments. Okabe and friends must use their wits and determination to prevent the world from descending into an authoritarian dystopia.

Time travel makes this story a bit confusing, but once you get past the first few episodes, things begin to make sense. The best part about this story is the deep and meaningful relationships between characters.

5. Spirited Away

Length: 124 minutes
Genre: Fantasy / Miyazaki

Plot: Chihiro is moving to a new home with her parents. They stumble upon a spirit world and her parents are transformed into pigs after eating the spirit food. Chihiro faces many challenges in order to save her parents.

This is a coming of age story that incorporates deep themes about disappearing traditions, environmental degradation, optimism1, and courage.

4. Grave of the Fireflies

Length: 89 minutes
Genre: Drama / Anti-war / Historical Fiction

Plot: Seita and Setsuko become orphans as a result of the war. They struggle to take care of each other and survive in desperate times.

This story talks about WWII in an incredibly humanistic way. It is intensely sad.

3. Ouran High School Host Club

Length: 26 episodes
Genre: Romantic Comedy / Drama

Plot: Haruhi gets accepted to the prestigious Ouran High School on scholarship. She befriends the host club members and shares many hilarious adventures with them.

Many of the other stories I listed were intense and deep, but this one is just funny. It rates so high on my list because I've seriously never seen anything this funny before.

2. Ghost in the Shell

Length: 82 minutes
Genre: SciFi / Cyberpunk

Plot: Kusanagi is a cyborg woman working for public security agency Section 9. Their mission is to find a hacker known as the Puppet Master who has been taking control of people's minds and making them commit crimes.

This story explores technology's potential for enhancing or degrading the human race. It addresses philosophical and social ideas about what it means to be human.

1. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

Length: 64 episodes
Genre: Adventure / SciFi / Action / Drama

Plot: Edward and Alphonse Elric learn alchemy at a young age. In an attempt to bring their mom back from the dead, Al loses his entire body and Ed loses his arm and leg. The two brothers travel the world searching for a way to regain what they have lost.

This story has everything. Adventure, drama, hope, courage, inspiration, a good soundtrack. Ed and Al's story is motivating as they face hardship after hardship with strength and a genuine belief in the good of mankind.

10 Reasons Why Anime Nerds are Highly Satisfied in Life

Ever wonder why so many adults find those weird Japanese cartoons appealing? It’s not just you. “Normal” adults in Japan think it’s weird, too. Read full content However, anime otaku (people who are totally obsessed with something – in this case – anime) tend to be highly satisfied in life, and I think it has a lot to do with these 10 reasons:

1. They’re immersed in vivid colors regularly Many anime shows have distinctive art styles that incorporate colors in beautiful and vibrant ways. Being exposed to all of these colors regularly can positively impact your mood , or maybe even help you pay attention to the vibrant colors around you in your daily life. True, not all anime have bright, vibrant colors. Some anime are meant to be dark and depressing. But regardless of what exactly the color scheme of a show is, you can count of the fact that it will suck you into whatever world of colors its artists chose to rely on.

2. They learn new things often While there are Chinese and Korean anime-like shows, a typical anime is Japanese. Anime fans come from all corners of the globe, so for anyone not Japanese, anime can actually be rather educational. You learn a little bit about Japanese culture regardless of what anime you are watching, and if you watch the subbed versions of anime (the version in Japanese with English subtitles), you can also learn phrases and single words in Japanese.

3. They exercise their imaginations You kind of have to have an imagination to get into anime in the first place. Most shows feature really crazy concepts and alternate universes that you just can’t view realistically. For example, some of the most popular anime right now includes Naruto Shippuden, which features a light-hearted ninja teen who uses the life energy from the giant fox demon living inside of him to become stronger. Another very popular show is Attack on Titan (or Shingeki no Kyojin), which features a group of people trying to survive the giant, naked cannibals that come into town and try to eat everyone. You know, stuff like that. Anime nerds are used to jumping into highly fictionalized shows and use their imaginations much more regularly than your average person. As a result, they’re generally much more creative and open minded than others.

4. They explore meaningful concepts regularly Despite the rather unrealistic nature of most anime, many shows teach viewers a lesson or explore at least one major thematic issue central to human existence. For example, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood explores the themes of kinship, death and corruption. Sword Art Online explores how we construct our perceptions of reality and what makes one reality the true one.

5. They really value friendship Of the core concepts discussed in anime, friendship is often one of them. Many shows place emphasis on how rare a truly good friend is, and this makes many anime nerds really appreciate the good friends they have.

6. They always have the perfect cure for a bad day I think just about everyone has had a terrible day at some point. One of those days when you don’t feel like dealing with anyone or anything. Anime is perfect for those kinds of days. Regardless of what you feel like watching, there’s bound to be an anime to fit the way you feel. Anime has many genres, some of which are more lighthearted, sci-fi, or serious than others. You can easily find something to inspire you with hope, or something to cater to your bad mood.

7. They know that nothing is impossible One of the best parts about watching anime is how often a show can surprise you. Sometimes for the better; sometimes for worse. But if anime nerds know one thing, it’s that anything is possible.

8. They can easily make new friends Not only is it pretty easy for anime nerds to be open to making new friends (see point #5), but the community of anime fanatics is actually quite large, even in the U.S. alone . This makes it really easy to find new people you have a lot in common with.

9. They’re comfortable with being “weird” Unless you also watch anime, you probably think anime nerds are a little bit weird. That’s okay, we kind of understand because very few of us were born watching anime. Most of us also thought it was weird at one point or another so, in a way, we can sympathize with you. Anime nerds are used to being called weird and many of us are actually much more comfortable with ourselves because of it.

10. They get to cosplay One final reason that anime nerds are highly satisfied in life is cosplay. Cosplaying is when you dress up like a character from an anime, comic book, movie or even a TV show. It’s kind of like dressing up for Halloween, except whenever you feel like it.

Cosplaying can lead to greater life satisfaction because it’s typically done with other, like-minded people at large conventions . Not only does this facilitate a sense of togetherness and community, but it’s also just a ton of fun.

Japanese Manga and Anime

Japanese culture has its own unique forms of comic books and animation. Manga (comic books) and anime (animation) are extremely popular in Japan. The earliest animation that is known to have been created in Japan was released in 1917. This early cartoon featured a samurai testing a sword and being defeated. Japanese animation pioneers included Seitarō Kitayama, Jun'ichi Kouchi, and Shimokawa Oten. The modern style of anime was developed during the 1960s. One of the most influential artists is Osamu Tezuka. He followed the example set by Walt Disney's popular animated films and simplified the techniques they pioneered to save time and money. Today's anime is both generated by computers and drawn by hand. All genres are represented, but science fiction is by far the most popular. Robots, post-apocalyptic metropolises, and motorcycles are all staples of the art form. Manga features similar content. During the decade of the 1970s, manga experienced a drastic increase in popularity, and many of the books were adapted into anime. Tezuka continued to shape the manga and anime industries over the years. Many of the common characters, like giant robots, come from his influence. Giant robots were further developed by Go Nagai and other animators into a new genre called Super Robot. This genre evolved through the work of Yoshiyuki Tomino and became known as Real Robot. The 1980s brought many classic animes in this genre, like The Super Dimension Fortress Macross and Gundam films. Anime obtained vast mainstream acceptance throughout Japan in the 1980s. Although, it was still less popular than manga. Many would argue that the seminal work of both manga and anime is Akira, written by Katsuhiro Otomo and Izo Hashimoto. Akira a long and epic science fiction story that is set in Tokyo that has been rebuilt after a catastrophic disaster. One of the interesting things about manga is that it is widely- read by women. People who are familiar with American comic books will know that women are a small minority of its reading audience. Popularity with women has helped manga spread rapidly outside of Japan. Manga that is specifically targeted towards women is call shojo (girl) and usually deals with teenagers looking for boyfriends or going through typical teenage experiences, such as having to attend a different school, suffering the trials and tribulations of being bullied, or attempting to make a break from their regular cliques. However, these are not the only stories that are told in shoji. Shojo can also include exciting action stories with strong female protagonists in interesting roles that inspire young women, like those of scientists and warrior samurai. A common characteristic of manga are females with huge expressive eyes. Supernatural elements are also popular in this reading material. Offbeat subjects are another theme that is common in some shoji manga.

Best Historical Anime

Part of anime's magic is how enthusiastically it explores the past as well as the present and the future. Here's a selection of anime that delve into other times and places, and bring back a great deal for your enjoyment.

1. Baccano!

Time and place: New York, the Roaring Twenties.
Gangsters, bootleg hooch that’s actually an elixir of immortality, massacres, hijackings, past, present, future— Baccano! takes all of its ingredients, slices them lengthwise and crosswise, and mixes them into a non-linear stew of storytelling, perspective, atmosphere and invention. Its multiple intersecting plotlines and out-of-order plotting bring to mind the new wave of live-action American cable TV dramas— The Wire, Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire—but it’s always unmistakably its own creation.

2. Black Butler

Time and place: Victorian-era London.
Young Ciel Phantomhive, the scion of a family with a lucrative toymaking business, has a secret: his butler is in fact a demon sworn to protect his master by any means necessary. The reasons for this diabolical pact—and the consequences it brings—form the backbone for this mix of gothic horror and lowbrow comedy. Despite the wealth of period details, don’t expect too much in the way of period accuracy —one of the antagonists wields a chainsaw , and there are references to “the movie of someone’s life” (a technology which was still at best in its extreme infancy).

3. Blood: The Last Vampire

Time and place: Japan, during the Vietnam war.
Saya looks like a teenaged girl, but she’s actually a decades-old monster hunter sent by her American military controllers to investigate a series of violent disturbances in a school on a U.S. Army base in Japan. Despite being only fifty minutes, this film does a great job of assaulting the senses and depicting an obscure part of Japan that most Americans rarely know about, let alone see.

4. Chrono Crusade

Time and place: The Roaring Twenties, New York.
If Baccano! wasn’t enough Jazz Age mayhem for you, Chrono Crusade ramps the action up to eleven and stirs in a generous dose of supernatural intrigue as well. The gun-wielding nun exorcist Sister Rosette Christopher and her demonic partner Chrono scour the tenements and speakeasy basements of 1920s New York for demonic incursions. Then the balance between the realms above and below are all thrown out of balance when Rosette’s long-lost brother Joshua turns up, and the three are sucked into a war that might be Armageddon itself.

5. Croisée in a Foreign Labyrinth

Time and place: Paris in the latter 1800s.
French traveler Oscar Claudel returns from Japan with a unique bit of treasure in tow: a Japanese girl named Yune, who works for Oscar’s grandson Claude in their ironworks shop. Plot takes a backseat to some wonderfully observed details about life in Paris at the time, about East and West discovering each other, and how the two do (and do not) see eye- to-eye about many things. It’s also one of the most gorgeously-designed and -animated shows in recent years, and is worth seeing for that reason alone. The slightly sinister title seems ill-suited for a show of great cheer and wonder.

Anime Beginnings

It all had to start somewhere. At some point in your life, someone
turned you on to the world of Japanese animation. The rest, of
course, is history, as anime has become mainstream entertainment
in the U.S.

What was your first anime?

For many of the older readers, you may remember Tetsuwan Atom
(Astroboy), which premiered in the early to mid '60s. Created by
the visionary Osamu Tezuka, it ran for 193 episodes and is
considered to be the "founding father" of the anime revolution.
G-Force found us in the early '70s and displayed the popular
mecha style that had surrounded anime during that time. Giant
robots and high action made this an anime favorite.
Mobile Suit Gundam followed suit (no pun intended) in 1979 and
gave us just over 40 episodes of robot-butt-kicking action.
Although remade, Gundam is still around in one form or another
today and remains one of the all time favs among hard-core
anime fans.
Robotech and Captain Harlock appeared in the 1980s and anime
fans were hooked.

The 5 Best Reasons Everyone Should Watch Anime

There’s no denying how popular Japanese animation (also called, “anime” by fans of the genre) has become. From its niche presence in the 70s and 80s with series like Speed Racer and Astro Boy to the anime boom in the 90s with Pokemon , Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z , anime has impacted Western pop culture and society dramatically with its quirky characters, imaginative worlds and original storytelling style. Yet, despite its popularity , there remains a stigma surrounding Japanese animation that's keeping many potential Western fans away. Many think anime is all about sex and perversion, others assume it's hyper-violent and bloody, while some people just think the whole Japanese animation thing is too weird for their Western sensibilities.

1. You don't have to worry about your favorite series being cancelled

There’s nothing worse than getting really into an awesome cartoon series like Star Wars: Clone Wars, Korra or Spectacular Spider-man only to see it discontinued after a season or two. With anime, this isn’t something you really have to worry about. When an anime series is ongoing, it’s really ongoing. Most of the popular franchises like Pokemon , One Piece and Fairy Tail have been running for years (Pokemon has been going for almost two decades!) and show no sign of stopping. Even when popular shows like Dragon Ball Z and Naruto do end they normally have several hundred episodes under their wing which is a great sign of faith for viewers. Anime fans very rarely get the rug pulled out from under them when watching a series.

2. Stunning animation and backgrounds

A lot of anime series and movies are visually stunning. Studio Ghibli films such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke are great examples of amazing quality animation and character designs with background artwork that could be framed and hung in an art gallery. Indeed many animation cells, backgrounds, and production designs are, in fact, well respected by artists and gallery curators and it’s quite common to see touring art exhibits featuring anime artwork exclusively.

3. Characters die

While there are exceptions such as the death of Bambi’s mother and Simba’s father in Bambi and The Lion King respectively, for the most part characters don’t really die in Western animation and when they do it’s almost always a supporting character and never the main protagonist. In anime, all bets are off. The original 80s Transformers animated movie was a massacre that saw the death of almost an entire generation of characters including the iconic Optimus Prime. Characters die so often in Sailor Moon that it actually became a plot point as the series progressed and more characters pass away during Neon Genesis Evangelion and Attack on Titan than during Game of Thrones' infamous Red Wedding. No one is safe in an anime series or movie (well maybe Pikachu and Doraemon are) and this makes for a much more rewarding and involving viewing experience.

4. Toe-tapping and heart-moving music

Anime has some of the best theme songs and background music regardless of genre. Looking for some catchy tunes for your kids? Pokemon and Sailor Moon have got you covered. Want to relax and listen to something a little more sophisticated? Any of the must see Studio Ghibli film soundtracks will enchant and entertain. Curious about the latest modern JPop hit? Naruto and Bleach will inspire anyone to explore modern Japanese music. Anime is a brilliant gateway into Asian music while still being a rewarding listening experience in its own right. Many fans admit to watching anime purely for the music and it’s easy to see – or rather, hear – why.

5. Most anime series can be viewed for free!

Sure you can watch Pokemon , Sailor Moon, Naruto and One Piece on DVD or Blu-ray but did you know that you can also watch these long-running anime series (and hundreds more!) online for free? There are numerous streaming services nowadays that allow anime fans to watch their favourite series on their computer, tablet, and smartphone or streamed to their TV for no cost at all. Not only does it make catching up on a series that much easier but it also provides a great opportunity for those who have never watched anime and are interested in giving it a go.