2020...Happy New Year! A look back on my top 5 anime of 2019!

Hey there guys, Endblade here once again with another post! Well, its' been a while (more than a year in fact) since my last post on this blog. Well, by now those of you who have read my posts you should know that I'm pretty much a sporadic poster. I personally do not like to post here if I feel that I can't provide any constructive recommendations or detailed reviews. And of course, its' not like there aren't thousands of others who put up their recommendations on what to watch or what to avoid!

But that being said, no promises this year, but I'll try to slot in a post every month, more like a monthly review of anime to get some schedule going. I doubt this will happen, but hey, New Year's resolutions right? 

Speaking of New Year's, here's wishing all those who read this post a very happy new year! Let's hope 2020 is better than 2019, and that somehow Blogger doesn't fall into absolute irrelevancy (not that it hasn't), but hey we can always hope. What better way to start 2020 than to look back at what 2019 has gifted us in terms of anime releases, both movie-wise and on regular programming. 

I'll have to admit, 2019 hasn't been an excellent year for me in terms of the new anime released, I spent most of the time watching older installments. Some notable mentions of not 2019 anime which I enjoyed would be Grand Blue (picture below), which is definitely not the most work-safe anime to watch, but the comedic gags is just top class.

One of the best scenes in Grand Blue...not for the faint-hearted!

Another pre-2019 anime which I enjoyed in particular would be 3-gatsu no Lion, which some of you might remember as March Comes in like a Lion. My personal interest in chess and other board games drew me to this realistic and emotional piece on Go (a Japanese equivalent to chess), and the two seasons which I had the pleasure of watching were excellent to say the least. 

How the humble game of Go is portrayed beautifully

A final honourable mention for pre-2019 anime which I enjoyed would be the Bungou Stray Dogs series, of which I sadly *spoiler alert* did not watch season 3 due to anime burnout (yeah, that's a thing for me). But the first two seasons and the movie were par-excellent, especially the first half of season 2. My personal favourite character has to be Kunkida Doppo, what's yours?

The duo of Dazai and Doppo has to be my favourite bromances by far

You may take a look at my regularly updated personal anime list for recommendations here, of which I update after I have finished watching the series. I did watch many other series, but if I did not complete it or dropped it, I will not rate it. You can assume that I did not fancy it/ lost interest in it for whatever reason, and as such if I were to rate those dropped anime, it would not be favourable at all. So I decided to not rate them for fairness sake. But it doesn't mean I won't go back to them in the future, so as time passes I might pick some of them up again for viewing.

Other great anime which I have watched in 2019 include Koi wa Ameagari no You ni (After the Rain), Hoshiai no Sora (Stars Align), Asobi Asobase. 

Well. I think I might have digressed quite a bit, but without further ado, here's my top 5 recommendations of 2019 anime, alongside with a short review of each of the five! Each recommendation is linked to MyAnimeList, with which you can see the aggregate scores/reviews. But note that the following five are PURELY my own choices!

Number #5: Psycho-Pass Season 3

Reporting for duty! RESET RESET

We begin the top 5 with one of the last anime for the Fall 2019 season to be aired. With 8 episodes, each almost an hour-long, its' definitely jam-packed with action and suspense. It basically feels like you're watching a Psycho-Pass movie every week, which I felt was refreshing for a change, as 20-minute episodes when you remove the OP and ED sections, don't really help much in traditional storytelling of an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action then resolution/conclusion. Speaking of OPs, the opening for this season's installment was AMAZING. Love the song Cubism by Who-ya, definite earworm for end-2019 for me! An hour-long episode allows for ample time to draw cases to a close, and while not all episodes manage to do so (as suspense does help extend anticipation), Psycho-Pass does what it does well: thrilling action sequences interspersed with character development. 

What caused this fall to fifth position when it could easily be top 3 would be the unsatisfying conclusion to the season. While I understand that the next movie Psycho-Pass: First Inspector will provide the resolution for this season in 2020, the way it ended just left many things unsaid and unresolved. Commercially this might be a good choice, but just storytelling-wise it does take a slight hit. But definitely an improvement over season 2, the friendship between Kei and Arata really holds this season together, as well as cameos from the older cast make for great reminiscing without stealing the limelight from the new cast. Overall, Psycho-Pass Season 3 was done well, but it could have been so much better.

Number #4: Tate No Yuusha No Nariagari (Rising of the Shield Hero)

The bond between Naofumi and Raphatalia is strong, and one of the best pairings in anime so far

I would say that Tate No Yuusha comes in really close to Psycho-Pass S3 in the sense that both are well done shows, but disappoint when it comes to the ending phase of the story. The premise of Tate No Yuusha is like any other isekai or fantasy genre anime which has come to define the last two years of anime releases, but with a twist. While I won't elaborate on the twist here as it includes major spoilers, it does help to differentiate it from many other fan-service anime adaptations (not mentioning any, except maybe the one which has a season coming out soon, go figure).

Overall, the growth which our main character Naofumi undergoes is both touching at times and the friends which he makes along the way does lend the name "Rising" very well to this anime. Typical fantasy fights keep the story engaging, although we do know the inevitable 'happy ending' that would come, it feels like the door is left wide open for a second season, as it did not feel complete. While I agree that doors should always be left ajar (read: ajar, not flung wide open) for sequels, the intention of every show should be to be the last season, unless already announced. But for an adaption, Tate No Yuusha does well in making the storyline interesting, although too many mechanics and new plot threads were introduced towards the second half of the anime, which I felt caused it to suffer from a fast-paced and cramped second half. 24 episodes is a long time to keep someone's attention, and that being said I looked forward to every weekly installment of Tate No Yuusha in trembling anticipation. This says a lot about a show in its' ability to keep the audience coming back for more, and for that, it makes its' way into my top 5 anime of 2019.

Number #3: Tenki No Ko (Weathering with You)

Another success for Makoto Shinkai

At number three on my top 5 recommendations of 2019 is Tenki No Ko, an excellent movie by director Makoto Shinkai of hit anime movie which you might have watched, Kimi No Na Wa (Your Name). I had the opportunity to watch it in theatres when it came out a few months ago, and I loved that it focused on the innocence of love, which many animes and movies in our present era focus less on. The sheer emotional gravity of the show is what made Kimi No Na Wa great, and while I do not feel it is fair to compare it to Tenki No Ko, the same formula is somewhat emulated in this show very well. This a overall good-paced, well done movie by director Shinkai-san.

While refraining from spoilers, the show is focused on this weather girl who brings joy to others. The rain dance in the movie was a light-hearted moment in the story, and our main character's journey in finding himself was clearly depicted in the short span of a movie. While I feel that the ending was pretty cliche and predictable, the rollercoaster of emotions was ever present in the second-half of the movie. Tenki No Ko blends real-world issues of climate change with traditional Japanese mythology of shrine maidens. This is a show aimed at the mainstream, and with that comes the high expectations of the one that came before (Kimi No Na Wa) while also having the privilege of not being constrained to typical anime genres and overused stereotypes and tropes.

Tenki No Ko is not the best anime for me in 2019, but as a recommendation for someone that has barely stepped into anything anime-related, it is a great start to get your feet wet (pun intended) in a span of 2 hours. It deserves the number 3 spot on my list for 2019.

Number #2: Seishun Buta Yarou wa Yumemiru Shoujo no Yume wo Minai (Rascal Does not Dream of a Dreaming Girl)

A fitting and beautiful way to cap the Bunny Girl series

The next show was a surprise for me. This comes very close to the previous entry Tenki No Ko in terms of how I think it falls on the list, and if I could I would tie it. However, it being a definitive personal list, I had to choose, and Dreaming Girl (let's use this, the actual name is too long) is ever so slightly better in my opinion. However, I would still highly recommend that you watch both. It's surprising that I find movies somehow better than conventional anime series this year, and looking back 2019 has been personally disappointing in terms of the 'blockbuster' anime being released.

Bunny Girl Senpai: If you can get past the name, it is an amazing series

Dreaming Girl is somewhat of a sequel to the previous anime series which I enjoyed thoroughly: Bunny Girl Senpai (You just have to get past the name). This means that you MUST watch the anime series Bunny Girl Senpai for this movie to make any sense, which I highly recommend. Suspend your disbelief when watching this show, as the scientific jargon they use is mainly to justify the plot that follows (with quantum mechanics somehow everything is explained away). I personally don't agree with how it executes the whole plot in terms of logic, but hey as an anime (which I am grading it based on) it is excellent. Pacing is good, the climax is fantastic and the ending is stellar.

Emotionally, I was moved to tears (actual man-tears let me add) during certain scenes, it felt like the voice actors' emotions were just raw and so genuine at moments. While the plot may seem confusing at times, the entire picture and ending is wrapped up ever so beautifully. You might have to re watch the movie to understand the whole idea, but Dreaming Girl manages to compress the novels which it adapts from succinctly and beautifully, while still capturing the beauty of what made Bunny Girl Senpai great: an anime with subtle tones of psychological issues like depression, deep-seated hate and insecurity. The way the characters develop and how they overcome these challenges is an acknowledgement to the suffering of many ordinary people and the struggles we go through fighting our personal demons.

Dreaming Girl is a show which provides a beautiful conclusion to the Bunny Girl Senpai series, and definitely a must-watch!

Number #1: Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai (Love is War)

Love truly is a battle sometimes!

For the final anime, we look to the beginning of the year. The first thing that I have to say about Love is War is that I absolutely LOVE the anime opening. I dare say "Love Dramatic" is one of the most catchy, memorable and well-choreographed openings in anime by far. Usually I would skip the opening (sacrilegious! some of you might say), but hey, to be honest I don't really like most anime openings as they feel too generic, the song isn't catchy or memorable, hence not worth watching. But I sat through all the episode's openings without fail, tapping my feet to the tune by Masayuki Suzuki. My only peeve is that the song isn't available on Spotify! 

Onto the story. To put it simply, the episodes are based on daily mundane tasks from planning events to just normal interactions, but set in a 'winner-takes-all' kind of battle royale format, accompanied by an epic narrator who just states the obvious but helps to over-dramatise the unfolding events. Fun, joy and laughter ensues, and while there is some element of relatability in the sense that love and relationships is somewhat about give-and-take, this is dialled to the extreme and the wacky expressions alongside with the fact that us, as the viewer knows exactly what is going on while the characters don't, helps make this anime a beautiful gem. This is one that you ABSOLUTELY must watch for the cheap entertainment it provides. 

Ishigami Yu, my favourite character apart from the MVP narrator

Each of the four main characters have their own quirks, which make this anime quite similar to other shows like Asobi Asobase with comedic relief, but a romance unique compared to other high-school type of anime over the years. Ishigami has to be my personal favourite character in the show, with his anti-social behaviour and brooding self. What I particularly like about the show is that most of the plot is set within the same room, but still manages to be so interesting! Just goes to show that sometimes, a plain setting with great characters and an even better plot is a formula for success.

I'd say that the charm of it was that while there was an overarching storyline, each episode has a standalone mini-story which makes the weekly release perfect. While watching it now might not be as magical of an experience as before, Love is War still is a great show worthy of rewatching (since it came out pretty early in 2019). It is a great show to recommend as a starting point for those who have not watched anime, and similarly excellent for veteran weebs as it builds on existing anime love tropes. It has the magic of One Punch Man in the sense that every episode can be watched standalone and has the ability to carry itself.

While Love is War might not have the same emotional gravitas as our previous recommendations Dreaming Girl and Tenki No Ko, I believe the light-hearted anime is timeless and I placed it first as not only did I thoroughly enjoy the episodes, a Number #1 recommendation should stand the test of time and still hold it's own in the coming years. Hence, Love is War I feel is likely to maintain this air of longevity as a unique recommendation not constrained by emotions and as a stand-alone series. 

Summary

To end, 2019 while overall it has not been a great anime year for me, the small diamonds in the rough like Love is War and Grand Blue makes watching generic and dreary anime in the hope that I will find a gem is worth the struggle. I hope the list has given you some inspiration on your next series to watch! Again, if your favourites are not mentioned, take a look at my list here!

Until Next Time,

Endblade

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: 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

List of Anime to watch: Recommendations (updated Oct 2015)

Hello everyone! Its been a long time since I last posted on this blog, and I dare say I've missed writing up columns here, even though nobody actually reads this! But still I love doing this though! Anyway, for those of you who have just gotten into anime, or are in the midst of binge-watching anime (like me), then this list is for YOU!

Basically I'm listing down a few anime that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND (I've watched them to the end and LOVED them). Now if you guys are really interested in these types of write-ups I can always do up more of them, maybe do some Noob's Perspectives on some of these titles!

But until then (and if I ever get to it), enjoy the list below! Links are provided for you lazy shits.

In order of merit (watch the first few first!):

1) Fate/Zero -

If you like action, dark themes and a battle of twisted morals, this anime will not disappoint you!
The plot follows the hero of this franchise, Emiya Kiritsugu, in his quest to rid all the world of evils and in the process sacrificing and commiting acts which others deem as treacherous. The setting is in Fuyuki City, inspired by real-life city Kobe, in Japan. Willing or unwilling, magi (the term for Harry Potter's type of people) are drawn into this century long conflict. Will Kiritsugu emerge victorious in this conflict? Or will he lose more than he gained in this war? Even if you aren't into these themes, just watch it. 

2) Shigatsu wa kimi no uso -
 

Personal favourite! I've seen gushing reviews about this anime, and some not-so-satisfactory reviews about it as well. Mixed I guess, but nonetheless still worth the watch! 22 episodes of comedy, romance and tragedy! Much like your modern-day Romeo and Juliet, except that maybe not as tragic.
The story depicts a typical gifted individual, which in this case is 14-year old Arima Kousei and his hot-cold relationship with equally gifted Kaori Miyazono. Overcoming the odds and his past with this girl, who by herself has underlying issues plaguing her as well. This was one of the only anime where I actually teared (a little). Give it a shot!

3) Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works -

Sequel to Fate/Zero, where now we follow Emiya's son Shirou Emiya! This anime is less dark and more flashy. Fight scenes and action galore, past conflicts and fights from previous times are brought back to the fore 10 years after. There's a reason why people dub this anime as 'Unlimited Budget Works'! See it to believe it!

4) Sakurasou no pet na kanojo -

This anime is about as old as Fate/Zero, which debuted in like 2012/2013 if I'm not wrong. Your typical Shounen school-life anime. I watched it because my friend introduced me to it, and for a while this was my top favourite anime. Well until the top 3 above rolled into my life that is. Still a MUST-WATCH I dare say.

5) Anohana: The Flower we saw that day -

Similar to Shigatsu wa kimi no uso, the feels train on this hits hard, like a wrecking ball. Overall the art is really pretty and unique for an anime. The opening song is pretty good too! Do not watch this after/before you watch Shigatsu, because you'll feel so emotional you can't go to school/work the next day. Either that you'll sink into depression (haha).

These TOP 5 picks above are MUST-WATCHES in my eyes. The rest which I'll cover in another post will be those not too bad but not that great type of anime. Look out for that in the coming days/weeks/months/years!

Until next time,

Endblade

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