List of Anime to Watch: 5th -1st place (Recommendations updated October 2017) Part 2

Hey there guys, Endblade here.

This is a continuation of my list earlier in part 1 of anime recommendation top 10, you can find it here. Recently I have been thinking about making this blog an ongoing effort as a side project of mine, so if any of you have any good suggestions on what I could talk/discuss about (pertaining to maybe anime or any of my hobbies), do comment below and let me know! I'm always open to constructive feedback and suggestions to how to improve myself and this blog!

 Do note that these are my personal choices and it is hard to please everyone, the parameters or criteria of what I think is a great anime or makes a great anime may not always be similar to others. I did take a look at other websites to see their thoughts on the anime that I have chosen, for example MyAnimeList.net  where you can find reviews and ratings of tons of anime.

Sometimes the ratings are higher than what I would give the anime, although to be perfectly honest the metrics I used were more of Animation Quality, Setting, Plot and Character Development. These 4 criteria were the result of trying to balance out the different aspects of an anime. Of course, there are many other metrics you could use.

However, I was trying to separate them by these criteria because I realized some anime (like action-heavy anime) may have high animation quality, with all the fight scenes, but they may suffer from a lack of realism in terms of setting. One good example would be sci-fi mecha anime like Gundam. On the other hand, slice of life anime like Sakurasou (see my past top 10 here) may not necessarily have the best animation sequences (for their time), but they are set in a relatively more believable setting, hence they would score better on the second metric rather than the first.

That being said, I do tend to prefer anime that focus more on Plot and Character Development, rather than just flashy graphics and explosions. Don't get me wrong, I have watched and enjoyed animation heavy anime and some do impress me because they go beyond that their genre of 'Action' entails them to provide and lay out an impressive plot or detailed character nuances.

With that out of the way, let us continue with my remaining five choices in my top 10 recommendations.

5. Occultic Nine aired October 2016 - December 2016 / 12 episodes by A-1 Pictures

The English caption in the poster doesn't make much grammatical sense

Coming in at number 5, we have Steins:Gate ripoff Occultic Nine. Just kidding, although they do have similar plot progression and equally weird endings. But enjoyable and good nonetheless. Occultic Nine is heavily influenced by the latter because the creators are the same - Chiyomaru Shikura, who penned both light novels.

The similarities don't end here. Both anime are heavy into the mystery genre, so much so that in the first few episodes (similar to Steins:Gate) you are completely lost, only being given drips and drabs of information to go along, just enough to keep you in suspense but not enough to satisfy you. Treading on thin ice here sometimes makes both shows slightly disorienting and frustrating to watch, because you would want to get down to the end of the show and find out what is going on.

But this is what makes Occultic Nine and its' predecessor so excellent. The mystery and supernatural aspect is drummed up hard such that you cannot but anticipate what is going to happen next. Its' a bit like HBO's Game of Thrones in the way that they both keep you suspended and wondering what would happen.

However, to binge watch the series would do it less justice, as the suspense element would be taken out from the context because you could just click 'Next Episode' and satisfy that curiousity. Which is why I would concede and say that I rated Steins:Gate lower than Occultic Nine because I binge watched it and the element of surprise so masterfully crafted was lost.

Occultic Nine features Yuta Gamon, a boy who is a NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training). Basically he is a bum with no aim in life, with a bunch of friends to help him run his blog. (wait... sounds like someone I know. But I don't have friends sadface)

Mystery abounds and our NEET is forced into something he doesn't want to be a part of, something unpleasant brewing underground. Overall an anime worth watching if you enjoy Steins Gate, although the progression is quite similar.

4. Orange / Orange: Mirai aired July 2016 - September 2016 / 13 episodes by Telecom Animation Film

Kakeru (middle) and his friends

What can I say? I just enjoy school/slice of life anime a LOT, and it is quite evident. Orange is a classic example of a great anime. Not too fast paced, not too slow either. Just right. Orange is about friendship, and friends overcoming the odds together. Kakeru Naruse is plagued with personality issues and family problems that lead him to eventually commit suicide. Filled with remorse and guilt over the fact that Kakeru took his life, his friends attempt to make amends by sending a letter, a letter to their past selves to save Kakeru and help him before its too late.

Orange is a bittersweet show: you have budding romances between characters, a tragedy and some form of closure. The show paints the perspective of Takamiya Naho, who tries to make amends and change the future.

An honorable mention alongside Orange would be the movie sequel, Orange:Mirai, which features Hiroto Suwa (guy with the orange hair), as he helps both Naho and Kakeru get together. A truly amazing movie that opens your eyes to sacrifice and the selflessness of Suwa.

Orange is a feels-good show. It is the type of show that encourages you and lifts you up like how a cuppa of hot chocolate would in a cold rainy day.

3. Joker Game aired Apr 2016 - Jun 2016 / 12 episodes by Funimation

The crew of Joker Game

Set during the 1930s, before the onset of World War II, Joker Game is a thriller historical drama that paints the picture of the Empire of Japan's spy network in Europe and around the world, with each episode focusing on each character. Although it does whitewash the atrocities that the Japanese committed during the war and could be seen as propaganda, take it with a grain of salt and enjoy it for the entertainment it provides.

Each episode is a mystery and tells of an overarching narrative, only evident towards the end. What I enjoyed about this anime was their ability to squeeze so many characters' narratives or mini-stories into one whole picture. Joker Game is the type of show that keeps you thinking, though not as hard as Occultic Nine but with the historical context weaved into it, it got me hooked.

The plot was intriguing yet simple to follow and it offered a small glimpse, albeit not the most accurate depiction of a show. (although better than Shuumatsu no Izetta, which was a disaster)

If you're into history, thriller and mystery, you have to watch this anime.

2. Tsuki ga kirei (The moon, so beautiful) aired April 2017 - June 2017 / 12 episodes by feel.

Innocent love

Beautiful. Simply beautiful. No words can describe how amazing this anime is. A tale of simple, innocent first love between Mizuno Akane and Izumi Kotarou is what spans the 12 episodes. You already know that they are going to get together, but the way the plot develops and the simplicity (along with subtle visual cues and on-point music) makes it seem so natural.

It is a reminder of how we met our first crush or first love back when things weren't so complicated and life was just going to school and hanging out with friends. Writing about this just brings a smile to my face, as you recollect fond memories of your past and how innocent and pure love was then.

This anime doesn't have any raunchy scenes or action-packed sequences, but what it does, it does excellently. The relationship between the two is depicted as how any relationship at that age (middle school) would be like: the lack of certainty and the belief in 'true love'. Jealousy, love, concern and care between Akane and Izumi is heartwarming and uplifting. It shows the raw emotions in a relationship and the touching moments where both do little things for each other.

Overall, Tsuki ga Kirei is one of the best, if not the best anime of 2017 for me so far, a year which hasn't seen much refreshing and excellently executed anime but rather more of the same old tropes.

1. Kimi No Na Wa (Your Name) aired August 2016 / movie 1 hr 46 min by CoMix Wave Films

A tale of two lovers separated by time and space

I tried. I tried to find something else to feature as my number 1 pick on my top 10 recommendations. I didn't want to bandwagon or follow what others picked and perpetuate the cliche. But I couldn't. Now, Tsuki ga kirei comes a close second, with it being the best of 2017 so far. But for 2016, the crown has to go to Kimi no na wa or Your Name. Your Name is a story of Miyamizu Mitsuha and Tachibana Taki, where they both wake up in each other's bodies, one living in the city and one in the country. They first think it is a dream, but realize that their actions seem too real to be dreaming.

Both Taki and Mitsuha try to communicate with each other to prove that they aren't dreaming and discoveries of each other unravel something bigger than themselves. Fate is the theme of this movie, with them being connected to a special meteor flying in the sky.

What I love about the movie truly is the art direction. The stark contrast between the city boy and country girl, two halves of a whole that never meet is a compelling story in this impossible love scenario. While Tsuki ga Kirei focuses on the innocence and the simplicity of love, Kimi no na wa shows us what love can do and the difficulties of long-distance relationships.

While not realistic in the deus ex machina used to conclude the story, the way both characters and their quirks were portrayed in a scant 1 hour 45 minutes is amazingly detailed and subtle, so much so that you would believe it if the animation were actual human motion captures or a live action film. 

What truly sets this anime apart from others is the way they could conclude satisfactorily the plot and tie up most important loose ends in the short period of time, a feat some full-length 12 episode series anime fail to do so. 

If you never watch anime ever again and you had to choose one anime to watch, Your Name would be it. The throwback to school life and the real problems some of us face in our lives are portaryed somewhat in this movie, and the characters are well-fleshed out to pass for a great movie.

Closing Thoughts

While the list of recommendations I have made may not always appeal to everyone, it is a good place to start watching anime if you haven't already. Trust me, there are many worse anime and the top 10 recommendations are usually pretty solid. While not neccessarily the top 10 absolute of all time (because I had a previous list), where some of my previous top 10 recommendations would definitely go above some of these choices, I can safely say that these top 5 would still find some place in an absolute list of top 10s. So I hope that you have enjoyed reading this post, and will explore some of the anime that I have mentioned in both posts.

Your Name?

Until Next Time

Endblade

Updated 2020: Do take a look at my not-so-comprehensive personal list right here!