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!

List of Anime to Watch: 10 - 6th place (Recommendations updated October 2017) Part 1

Hey there guys,

Endblade here. In lieu of restarting this blog, I'll be updating some of my old posts with new information! This being one of them, I'll be introducing a top 10 anime to watch (including anime movies or series) as of today, October 2017! Do take note, recently I haven't been watching much anime due to school commitments and other events, but I have been following some here and there. Also, if you guys are interested, my previous posts backs in 2015 can be seen here:

2015 list of anime recommendations part 1
2015 list of anime recommendations part 2

DISCLAIMER: My opinion is purely my own and I welcome all discussion about the choices I made for my top 10, and these choices are made in comparison with anime that I have watched. It is based on my personal taste and hence greatly influenced by it. What I rate highly may not always be what you deem the same, hence this is called 'a noob's perspective, me being the noob :)

With that out of the way, let's dive in! Do note: minor spoilers ahead, I won't spoil everything, I'll talk about it like how you would recommend a movie to someone else. But certain events or points I deem necessary to include will be included. I will try to avoid mentioning anime that I have mentioned in my earlier posts.

10. Koe no Katachi (A silent voice) aired 21 September 2016/ runtime 2 hr. 10 min. (movie)

What is friendship?

Released in September 2016, I personally only watched this a few days ago (in October 2017). Before this, I remember some of my friends recommending this movie to me, but I never got around to watching it. After watching Just Because (An ongoing anime), I decided to browse around and stumbled upon this movie. At first, I was apprehensive. Would this be a waste of my two hours? I mean, with foresight (and the fact that this is my number 10 anime selected), obviously it was good.

The show revolves around Shouya Ishida, a highschooler who is a shadow of his former self. He used to bully Shouko Nishimiya, a classmate in elementary school for being deaf. However, the tables turned and now he is the one being bullied. This movie is basically a redemption arc for Shouya as he rediscovers himself and reunites with old friends to make amends.

What I found refreshing was the blatant honesty of the show in exposing the weaknesses of the main character, that he isn't someone who is the implicit hero (unlike other anime or shows). He is on a journey, like all of us are in our lives to find meaning and to seek purpose. Nishimiya, the girl whom Shouya bullied also has her own insecurities, and the way the film portrays it is realistic and you can empathize with how she felt.

How is this movie a good movie? At the climax (no spoilers) My heart literally beat faster with the tempo of the music. Did I say that the music is just so apt for the movie? Each scene and music accompaniment helped to evoke the right feelings at the right time, and that for me made this movie an unforgettable one. While the plot may be quite simple and mundane (at first), once you relate to the characters, you understand that after all, everyone, even anime characters, can be human too.

9. 91 Days aired July 2016 - October 2016 / 13 episodes

Avilio and Nero

91 Days takes places in 1920s, during the period of Prohibition in America. True to its' namesake, it takes place over a span of 91 days, or roughly 3 months. A tale of revenge where Avilio Lagusa's family has been murdered by the Vanetti Mafia family, Avilio goes down a destructive path of vengeance as Avilio Bruno, losing himself in the process.

What made me like this anime was the dark themes and the historical setting of the anime. While the town featured, Lawless, doesn't really refer to any particular town or city, the art style and dark tones in the animation help to ensure its' validity and sell the idea of a town rules by gangs vying for importance. While the ending left more to be desired, what 91 Days does well is the art and the portrayal of the environment in the 1920s, slightly romanticized but nonetheless riveting and leaves you on the edge of your seat while watching it.

91 Days shows that sometimes, people that could have been friends could be forced by the cruel twist of fate to become sworn enemies. And yet, inside each and every person, we all have feelings. We all want to be accepted by others.

8. Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans aired October 2015 - October 2017/ 50 episodes (2 seasons)

Tekkadan

Ahhh Gundam. Always with the violence, dark themes and flashy machines. But what made this Gundam anime so great that it broke into the top 10 for me? Well, firstly being 50 episodes, its quite hard to summarize the entire plot and condense such that there isn't any major spoilers to be had. But I'll try. This show revolves around one word: Family. Family runs deep in the crew of Tekkadan (Iron Flower), who are a ragtag bunch of orphans forced into the warring business (think child fighters in the Middle East) and attempt to make a name of their own and create a future where they can live in harmony and peace against the corrupt and evil Gjallarhorn.

Of course, harmony and peace don't go well with the world of Gundam, and Mikazuki Augus, pilot of the Gundam Barbartos (the one you see in the picture above) is the demon of Tekkadan. This is a touching tale of familial bonds, horrible circumstances, plot twists and betrayals with bloodshed that could paint an entire house red.

The entire plot was well-spaced out, although it could feel like the main plotline might not be moving at times due to certain side events, but those side episodes provide a refreshing break from the warring in the Mars and Earth Sphere. Although the final ending may not be satisfactory for some, but the conclusion to this was well-thought out and touching to say the least. Towards the ending, things felt a bit rushed to conclusion but I could understand why - too many plot strings to tie up and it can feel a bit overwhelming in the final 10 episodes climax.

Family

I would recommend you to watch ALL 50 episodes (in spite of the amount of time it may take). For me, I followed it religiously every week for both seasons because it was simply so good, each episode left me wanting more. While the first few episodes may seem slightly slow-paced, it serves as a basis for Tekkadan and its' struggles so that when you look back, you realize how far they have come.

While the first season may suffer because of this initial setup time to lay the ground, when you look at it from a composite whole, the theme and message the creators want to portray definitely ring true towards the end of the anime. It really is a refreshing difference from previous Gundam series (of which I watched them all but never got to finishing because after a while it was too tiring and cliche).

7. Boku dake ga Inai Machi (Erased) aired January 2016 - March 2016 / 12 episodes

Its' too late for regrets

Erased. That's how I feel sometimes, when people forget my name or forget me. Not that it matters as much, but this anime rings true with the idea that some people just remain forgotten to most, but cherished by some. A touching tale where the washed-up main character Fujinuma Satoru finds himself in deus ex machina fashion, using a mechanic called Revival to go back in the past to right the wrongs he felt he did to Hinazuki Kayo, a female classmate in the 1970s.

Another touching tale of redemption, although plot device being slightly incredulous (well it is fiction after all), the interactions between Satoru and Kayo are heartfelt and genuine. Kayo seems like a mysterious girl and Satoru is awkward at first, but the development between the two characters blooms in the form of an innocent type of friendship and love. Who says anime is always about boobs and hentai? (well where did I get that thought from? Not me definitely!)

6. Hai to Gensou no Grimgar aired January 2016 - March 2016 / 12 episodes

RPG? I'm in

Ever reminisced the time you were playing games like Maplestory and DragonNest? Well, I did. Watching this anime a year back brought back many memories of fun times grinding low-level mobs (back when Maplestory had difficult levelling curves). Party quests, dungeons, bossfights, the full monty. All of it is represented in one way or another when 6 people wake up in the land of Grimgar, a fantasy world of goblins and kobolds. Forming a party, they each take up different 'jobs'. A tank, knight, cleric, mage, archer and thief. These are classic archetypes in all MMOs, old or new.

Their adventure starts them off as noobs, clueless as to the mechanics in the world of Grimgar. But united they stand, and they overcome the initial adversity to form a bonded party, taking on monsters for money. Like mercenaries for hire. What made this anime so amazing to me was the setting and of course the art style. A-1 Pictures did a A+ job of watercolour-like backgrounds melded into the animation of the characters smoothly. 

Beautiful art by A-1 Pictures

All-in-all, riveting fight scenes that seem more realistic than most other action animes coupled with amazing art direction places this anime in a solid 6th position. The plot follows a steady tempo throughout, which makes the show well-paced and although the ending leaves much to the imagination, similar to MMOs, the story ends only when you stop playing.


Final Thoughts
I thought about placing all top 10 choices in one post, but I realized that after writing at length on the first 5 anime (there's really so much to talk about that writing doesn't do any of these works of art justice at all), its' just too long.

Hence I have decided to split it into 2 parts, for ease of reading, like how I did my first recommendation post 2 years back.

Anime is a beautiful medium to express your fantasies and intepretations of the world. It pains me when people deride anime as a lesser form of 'real life' shows. The effort gone into animating every scene and the creation of entire worlds to fit these shows is no less of a mean feat. Every anime takes a great deal of effort and we should appreciate it. Some other honourable mentions (which did not get into my top 10 but nonetheless should be appreciated):

Fate/Apocrypha
Kuzu no Honkai
Gundam: The Origin
Tsurezure Children
Golden Time

I may do reviews on these anime above, do let me know if you guys are interested in any of them!

Also, you can check out my Youtube channel here

Until Next Time,

Endblade

List of Anime to watch: Recommendations Part 2

Hello everybody out there in the big big world of the Internet! This post today will be touching on a continuation of the anime recommendations that I have, a rough plot outline and what makes the anime worth watching! If you liked my previous post (see here), then you'll be sure to enjoy this one!

Now before I even begin to harp on the next 5 animes that you should most definitely watch, I'll first recap the top 5 animes which I ranked previously.

1) Fate/Zero

2) Shigatsu wa kimi no uso

3) Fate/staynight-Unlimited Blade Works

4) Sakurasou no pet na kanojo

5) Anohana-The Flower we saw that day

And here you go! If you didn't read my previous post, then these above quicklinks will direct you to the website with which I watch my anime - Kissanime.com! I am in NO way promoting or selling their website or their services to you, its' just like my header of this post- a recommendation. They do have pretty good streaming capabilities and updated subbed episodes though!

Moving on to my next 5 in my recommendation list (in order of merit):

6) Hyouka - 

Released in 2012 and adapted from a Light Novel (aren't all animes adapted from these nowadays?), Hyouka follows the story of a boring, lazy but genius schoolboy named Oreki Houtarou who joins a mysterious Literature club and meets Chitanda Eru, a girl who is constantly curious about the school's mysteries and cases which the dynamically awkward duo take on to improve their club's reputation. Budding romance, simple yet twisted cases, Hyouka is in my top 10 solely due to the fact that they can make something that seems so plain and boring and craft it into an anime that keeps you hooked. One of the anime which I slowly enjoyed, although some parts may seem a tad bit slow and draggy for some. Highly recommended if you like animes like Detective Conan and the school-type of anime!  

7) Gangsta - 

Word of warning: If you are not comfortable with seinen themes i.e. prostitution, drugs and gang violence, DON'T attempt to watch this anime. Splattered with gore and action, Gangsta (as its' name suggests) depicts a dystopian world where Naturals (normal humans) and Tags (superhumans) coexist in a autocratic-like environment. It touches on topics of discrimination and other mature themes, which to the school-girl loving anime geek will most likely be put off completely by this anime. However, that being said, this anime is still highly rated in my books mainly due to the fact that it manages to mix in comedy with some aspects of reality - that life usually isnt that straightforward and people that enter the seedy nightlife industry and participate in gang-related activities usually are trapped in there...for life. If you like violence mingled with some storyline, watch Gangsta! The only thing I dislike about this anime is that there is only 12 episodes so far, but I think there will be a second season coming up soon, so put on your seatbelts and sit tight!

8) Aldnoah Zero - 

Don' get this mixed up with Fate/Zero! Although they may have similar sounding titles, the truth is that these two animes couldn't be further from each other! Released in 2015, Aldnoah Zero takes place in the distant future, where humans have colonized Mars and there is a rift between the Mars-dwelling humans and the ones who are on Earth. They fight over what is called the Aldnoah Drive, an ancient technology that like any other cliche Mecha anime, determines the fates of both civilisations. Much like any Gundam anime, this show features Mechas and big explosive fights between the two planets, with a main character who is hell-bent on bringing peace and defending his planet from the Mars invasion. The start of this anime was great, but it sort of tapered off towards the end, with an anticlimatic final fight and ending which left much to be desired. But hey, real life doesn't always go the way you want it to right? 

9) Clannad: After Story - 

What is an anime list without an anime with the intense feels? Clannad: After Story is just that. Picking up after the first season (which I felt was undoubtedly boring and bland), Clannad: After Story is undoubtedly one of the most moving and emotionally-driven animes which aim to empty your nearby convenience stores of tissue rolls. Regret, Sadness and Reconciliation are the main themes of this anime. This anime is a far cry from the first season and many other people have claimed that this season was far better than the previous one (which I wholeheartedly agree). Although this anime may be a tad bit old and doesn't look as flashy or great unlike newer animes, this show is a MUST-WATCH in my eyes. The only reason why I didn't give it a higher spot was due to the fact that it had too much emotion and the graphics left much to be desired. Overall a highly recommended anime!

10) Steins:Gate - 

Rounding off my top 10 list and the last of my recommendations in this post is Steins:Gate, which features a weird protaganist, Rintaro Okabe with his trusty friend, Mayuri Shiina as they unravel the physics and attempt to create futuristic tech with their weird contraptions and ridiculous ideas. With the concept of time travel and multiple universes coming into play in this anime, you have to watch the entire thing to not be mind-f****ed (for lack of a better word to describe this) by the logic and what actually goes on in this show. Tough choices face our odd and funny protaganist. Will he triumph over his adversaries and challenges? Or will he become a shadow of regret and pain? Funny, weird and oddly perverted (in some ways), this anime is a good watch if you need a laugh! Watch to find out more!

With that, we have come to the end of this post! Hope you have enjoyed the anime that I have recommended and do comment on what YOU like to watch, whether you find the recommendations great/not-so-great! Until the next post,

Endblade