On a cold Wednesday night the week before Thanksgiving, the Central Connecticut State University Anime Club had its second-ever meeting. A gathering of students who all share a passion for this . . . hobby? Medium? Genre? Whatever you want to call it, anime is something enjoyed by a great many people, and more come every day. The Japanese anime industry is an entertainment colossus that is almost comparable in size and scale to Hollywood itself. Some market research firms estimate the brands will be worth $56 billion by 2030. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Marvel. Truth be told, with the variety and depth that can be found between games, merchandise, and anime itself, it isn’t hard to see why this thing that was once simply called Japanimation, has become so popular, and one has to wonder if the bean counters aren’t underestimating that popularity.
Amidst a veritable host of hoodies and backpacks, replete with shirts, keychains, and more, depicting peoples’ favorite shows and characters, one can witness several students talking about their favorite anime. People were talking about the latest big fight in Jujutsu Kaisen, or how they still love Tokyo Ghoul even though it was butchered in its third season, there is even some talk about the recent conclusion of Attack on Titan after ten years.
Most of the people at this meeting seemed to be more recent fans, but that’s not a problem. The gate is open, so come on in, we’ve got something for everyone; even with new shows coming out every season, the old stuff isn’t going anywhere and is still waiting to be rediscovered. The main event of the night for this meeting was what can only be best described as a tournament-style vote on whose favorite anime theme song was the best. Personal opinion says the song “Blue Bird” from Naruto should not have beaten “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” from Neon Genesis Evangelion, but that’s whatever.
So, if you’re tired of TV or just looking for something new, exciting, different, or (insert interesting adjective here) to watch, here’s a handful of the best (as dictated by a combination of ratings and personal opinions), in no particular order, to try out. The best part? All of these have an English version for those unwilling or unable to read subtitles.
My Hero Academia, Premiered May 5, 2018
If you like superhero shows and comic book movies, then My Hero Academia is right up your alley. At its core, the show tells the tale of a boy who wanted to be a hero. There are, admittedly, a few tropes that are, for lack of a better word, unpopular with certain audiences, but otherwise, this one is good for newcomers and anime veterans alike.
In the world of this show, the vast majority of people have some kind of power, known as a quirk, and being a professional hero is something people can do for a living and even go to school for, hence the name. But to quote Syndrome: “When everyone’s super, no one is.” That’s one of the first things we learn in the show. When everyone has powers and being a hero is a profession, one has to work extra hard to stand out, and not every hero out there lives up to the meaning of that word.
So what happens then, when a boy who has nothing, is given the chance to achieve his once- crushed dreams? On the opposite end of things, however, in a world where anyone can be a hero, what happens to those who fall through the cracks? Those whom the system fails to reach, or were actively cast aside, such as the members of the nefarious League of Villains. You’ve got a fun cast of characters, a collection of villains ranging from comical to diabolical, the makings of a good zero-to-hero story, plenty of big fights and flashy action scenes, and a whole host of unique and creative powers. There’s a speedster with literal jet engines in his legs, a Spider-Man that uses tape instead of webs, and one of the first heroes you see in action is practically a walking bonsai. Even if superhero shows are falling out of fashion these days, My Hero Academia is still worth a watch, and with six seasons at the time of writing this, you’ve got some catching up to do.
Cowboy Bebop, Premiered September 2, 2001
Yes, I know there’s a live-action version of this show now, and no, we’re not going to talk about it. A gaggle of misfits wandering around the Milky Way, living bounty to bounty as they try to make their way in a lonely universe. Widely regarded as one of the best anime of all time, it comes complete with the flashy action scenes typical of its era but also no small amount of drama and the occasional moral quandary, to say nothing of the legendary soundtrack.
Of course, we can’t forget the iconic cast of characters: Spike Spiegel, the lazy yet surprisingly motivatable and occasionally philosophical lead. Jet Black, a former cop turned wizened old tough guy, Faye Valentine, the legendary femme fatale. Radical Edward, the crazy computer wiz, and of course, the most important one of them all, Ein the Corgi.
The excellent writing also gives us, among other things, a host of iconic lines such as “I’m not going there to die. I’m going there to find out if I’m really alive.” And the often memed, “I love the kind of woman that can kick my ass.” That second one is from the movie, but I digress. The best way I’ve heard this show and its characters described is that they’re all lonely, but they’re lonely together. Yeah, this is one anime I don’t think I’m allowed to not recommend.
Record of Lodoss War, Premiered June 30, 1990
With Dungeons and Dragons enjoying mainstream popularity in the modern day, I think I can safely and easily recommend this gem from the early 90s. 90s anime tend to fall into one of three categories: space adventure, cyberpunk dystopia, or high fantasy. Record of Lodoss War falls squarely under the third banner. Based on a collection of fantasy novels inspired by what can be summarized as an old-school TTRPG campaign, it really is D&D: the Anime. I’ve heard many things said about this anime over the years, my favorite being that it’s the Lord of the Rings of anime. A statement that is certainly true enough, considering that many of the tropes that exist in fantasy anime today originated with Record of Lodoss War. As an avid fan of Tolkien’s works myself, I can think of no better endorsement. I don’t know if I’d recommend this one for people just getting into anime, but it’s a classic nonetheless. If I were to choose a favorite among this list, then I think I’ll have to pick Record of Lodoss War. Is it dated? Yes. But it’s exactly what I would expect from a classic high fantasy story, and I love it for that, and I especially love that hand-drawn aesthetic that comes with older anime.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Premiered April 9, 2009
One of the most highly-rated anime of all time and well deserving of it. I almost can’t recommend it to newcomers simply because it’s too good. This show was the introduction for a friend of mine to the world of anime, and now I can barely recommend anything to him because his standards are too high. Another show with a live adaptation which we will not speak of, it follows the story of the Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse, as they search for a way to get their bodies back after a failed attempt to revive their deceased mother, only to find themselves caught up in matters way over their heads, forbidden secrets, grand conspiracies, and more besides.
One thing that every alchemist knows is the Law of Equivalent Exchange. It is this principle that makes up the foundation of what we know as alchemy, that in order to receive something, something of equal value must be given. Knowing something and understanding it are two very different things, however, and when greater powers work from the shadows to achieve their grand design, everyone has to give up something if they’re going to survive.
One of my favorite scenes in the show is when Alphonse and one of the villains stop fighting briefly to debate philosophy and the ramifications of using the near almighty power of the Philosopher’s Stone. Great story, well written and iconic characters, and a few surprises to keep fans guessing what will happen next.
Gosick, Premiered January 7, 2011
If you like mystery shows, then Gosick will serve well. A fairly unique premise, as I’ve yet to encounter anything else quite like it. The story is set in the 1920s and focuses on a Japanese student going to school in a fictional European country. One day, he visits the school’s old library, where he meets a girl, surrounded by books and sweets, who could be mistaken for a porcelain doll and, though ignorant of the ways of the world, carries with her a remarkable intelligence. The two end up involved in a new mystery with every episode, and a larger conspiracy reveals itself as the show unfolds. I’ve rewatched this one I think three times now, and the ending is one of my favorites in all of anime.
Honorable Mentions
There’s a lot to watch out there, to the point where I daresay it’s impossible to watch everything. Since you’ve already heard my favorite picks, here’s a few unofficial recommendations from the good people at the CCSU anime club:
- Death Note
A show about a student who develops a god complex after finding a book that lets him kill people as long as he knows their name and face.
- Jujutsu Kaisen
The happy-go-lucky protagonist ends up in over his head after accidentally stumbling across an ancient, evil artifact, and now he has to contend with curses, demons, and other sorcerers.
- Tokyo Ghoul
In this show, our main character becomes a half-ghoul after almost getting killed by one and fights to retain his humanity while navigating the worlds of humans and ghouls alike.
- Vinland Saga
Best way I can think to describe what I’ve heard about this show is Game of Thrones with Vikings, and if that doesn’t sound awesome, I don’t know what does.
- Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
Depending on which part you’re watching, you get to see a different protagonist deal with, among other things, a British vampire and his minions, a trio of Aztec gods, a serial killer with a thing for hands, or the Italian mafia, and to top it all off, nearly everything is some kind of musical reference. Move over, Bill and Ted, it might be bizarre, but the real excellent adventure is right here.
So there you have it. Whether you’re a longtime fan, have never heard of anime before, or anywhere in between, now you’ve got a list of new (and some old) shows to check out. So take a dive and prepare to get lost at sea in an ocean of animation. Like I said before, we’ve got something for everyone here, so if none of these are doing it for you, fear not because this isn’t even a drop in a bucket compared to what’s out there. Oh, and for those interested, at time of writing, the CCSU Anime Club meets on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. in Ebenezer Bassett Hall room 211, so if you attend class at Central and have even a bit of interest in anime, do yourself and them a favor and stop by.
Jacob Topliff is a staff writer for Blue Muse Magazine.
Header image courtesy of: https://isimagewallpapercollection.blogspot.com/2016/12/anime-wallpaper-characters.html
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