#22 Bakemonogatari!

        If you've been paying attention to any currently airing anime then you might have seen something about Kizumonogatari Part 3 or Owarimonogatari. If you have, then you probably know that they're a part of the Monogatari universe. I'm going to say right now that the universe is a little confusing when it comes to figuring out which order to watch the different shows in. Luckily there are some lists out there to help you. (which are listed at the bottom) This post however, is going to focus on Bakemonogatari, which is the first season in the Monogatari series and came out in 2009. (in airing order)

        Bakemonogatari follows a high school boy named Araragi, and his interactions with the supernatural world. He finds himself in dangerous situations when he tries to help others who are experiencing supernatural problems. Bakemonogatari would fall under the genres of supernatural, comedy, mystery and romance. (Although, it's not romantic in the way you might think.) If you want to read the official description click here!

       Bakemonogatari's art style is unprecedented when it comes to the background art and character movements. Studio Shaft is now known for this style and it's sometimes referred to as the shaft head tilt.


      One of the interesting aspects of Bakemonogatari are the differences between the originally aired version, and the Blue-Ray version. If you've watched Bakemonogatari, and you're not sure which version you watched, it's pretty simple to figure out. If the background looked like the picture to the right, then it was the Blu-Ray version. If you want to see a few more examples, you can click here. If you want to watch a side by side comparison of the TV version V.S the Blue-Ray version, click here. (just so you know, it does include spoilers)


        A few more really great things that make Bakemonogatari unique are the eye fixation, head tilts, body pans, screen flashes, weird color templates, abandoned locations and real footage and or pictures. (If you want to read more about them click here.) Bakemonogatari also has an amazing music score. We get some elevator music like "Date" and some synthesizer songs like "Uzu". We also get some cool percussive music like "Rainy Devil". Most of the tracks include either piano, Xylophone, or marimba as the base with multiple other instruments and electronic mixing. We sometimes get to hear some vocals. There's also a song that's reminiscent of Ghost In The Shell's  "Making of Cyborg" called "Kekkai". If you want to listen to the entire Bakemonogatari soundtrack click here. 

        Bakemonogatari is such a unique anime, visually and story wise. It's story doesn't have a particular end other than helping each person with their problems, but it's definitely entertaining and worth a watch. (Bakemonogatari is also the anime used in one of my favorite AMV's and it's amazing, you should go check it out here.) Just a side note Bakemonogatari does include some violent and unexpected gore, as you can see in this iconic scene. 

If you want to watch Bakemonogatari it's on crunchy roll, hulu, and amazon prime.

(If you're wondering what order to watch the Monogatari series in, here are a couple of choices (here) and (here))
















I do not own any of the pictures, gifs, or videos used in this post or any other post on AnimationNomination they are protected under the fair use policy

#21 A Centaur's Life!

     A Centaur's Life could fall under a few different genres, school life being the most prominent. It could also fall under comedy, slice of life, and monster girls. It focuses on our main character Himeno, or Hime, who's a centaur. We get to meet characters of different races and see how their society functions 'without prejudice.'

     A Centaur's Life has some subtle political undertones that we get to see in the first episode. The politics mostly focus on how the government pushes the equality between races and avoid 'hate crimes.' I'm glad that it's only addressed every once and awhile, otherwise it might alter the fun slice of life feel the show has going for it. (At the same time though, the undertones keep it from being just another monster girl school life anime.) If you want to check out some of the other undertones and or themes that both the manga and anime include, click here. (It's actually pretty cool to look at)

(just a side note I've also seen it translated to Centaur's Worries so if you're looking for that you're in the right place)


     One of the cool things about this show is how they address evolution and why their world ended up the way it is. Just like I said in the Made in Abyss post, I love learning about new worlds that stories introduce. It's awesome when the writers and animators take the time to explain the world the story takes place in. Although, I think A Centaur's Life takes place on an earth that's just evolved differently. (If you're confused this is all explained in the first episode.)

     Another great thing about this anime is that it shows you how the characters, who are different races, live depending on their differing sizes and limitations. For example, there are specific desks and cars made for centaurs. And there's a robot walking device made for mermaids. Usually in a monster girl anime or any anime that includes fantastical characters, it's never addressed how the society has to change in order to accommodate things like extra limbs or tails.

      One of the only problems I have with A Centaur's Life is the mermaids structure. As you can see, the tail starts much lower on the legs than a normal mermaid. I personally think it's disturbing to have a weird slit between the legs and then a tail. All of the other races look the way you would expect them to, except the mermaids. (Coincidence? I think not) 

     Another really great facet about the show is that the mermaids internal structure gets explained. There are a few other times where the structures of the different races are explained and we get to really understand the races themselves, instead of just accepting the characters as being fantastical. For example, in one of the episodes Hime explains why centaurs have to stay at a certain weight. (You're going to have to watch it to find out why)

     

     A Centaur's Life also includes a gay couple, which is fantastic! Especially since they're given actual personalities and aren't just there for extra fluff. When you think about it, on the surface A Centaur's Life looks like any other monster girl, school life anime but when you start watching it you begin to see all these little details that make it so much more interesting.

     If you want to watch A Centaur's Life click here.

     I've actually written a review about this one on anime planet if you want to check it out! (Click here.)

I do not own any of the pictures, gifs, or videos used in this post or any other post on AnimationNomination they are protected under the fair use policy 

#20 Made in Abyss!

When you look into and Abyss, the Abyss also looks into you - Friedrich Nietzsche

     The most important thing to know about the world that this takes place in, is that there's a gigantic hole that goes deep into the earth that everyone refers to as The Abyss. Inside of The Abyss are artifacts of old civilizations, along with incredible and dangerous creatures. The Abyss is split into different levels depending on the depth, dangers, and different flora and fauna found there.




     Decending into The Abyss is dangerous due to the creatures and environment, but ascending is even more of a challenge due to the 'Curse of the Abyss'. When a cave raider ascends they are struck with terrible and fatal effects. The first of which is light dizziness and nausea, which doesn't sound too terrible. But when ascending from, say, the 4th level, the effects are intense Full-body pain, dizziness from pain and varying amounts of internal and external bleeding across the body. (If you want to read more about the Curse of the Abyss click here. )

    One of the main characters of Made in Abyss is Riko, who is a 12 year old girl. She was orphaned after her mother, who was a renowned cave raider, died on one of her expeditions. 

     Riko is a cave raider in training, and during one of her raids she meets Reg, our second main character. He's a robot in the shape of a human boy. He has no memories of who or what he is. Riko take's him back to the orphanage and explains to him that she thinks her mother is alive and waiting for her in the abyss. This is essentially when their adventure begins.

     (The scenery of Made In Abyss is extremely complex and detailed, and I can't wait for season 2 so we can see more. It kind of reminds me of the Studio Ghibli movie Naucicaä of the Valley of the Wind. (which is fantastic and you should totally go watch it)

     The character art style is more childlike, they look more like video came characters or some form of chibi art style. However, don't be fooled by how cute and childish the characters look because there are abrupt and gory scenes. While they're not as extreme as Tokyo Ghoul, they're definitely not subtle.

     Personally, I love it when we get to learn more about the world that a story takes place in and it's history and Made in Abyss definitely delivers. We also get to learn about the creatures that live in the abyss and why, even though it's claimed so many lives, the characters are still fascinated by it.

If you want to read the Made in Abyss Wiki click here. If you want to read the official description click here. If you want to watch it you could go to gogoanime or kissanime.

I do not own any of the pictures, gifs, or videos used in this post or any other post on AnimationNomination they are protected under the fair use policy

#19 Hozuki's Coolheadedness!

Hell. A common theme in anime, but I'll bet that the other anime didn't have a rabbit torturing the deceased.

          Hozuki's Coolheadedness focuses on the different parts of hell and how they, the hell minions, deal with the people that end up there. Since this hell can be a little confusing you might want to click here to learn more. (this link does include some extra information)

          Hozuki, our main character, is the chief of staff for King Enma, and he typically has on a poker face. He's a pretty serious character but he does like to make puns every once and awhile and, since this show includes parody, he's usually the one referencing other anime. 
          Much like Gintama, Hozuki's Coolheadedness has its own story with a sprinkling of references to other shows. Although, as the show goes on we see less and less of other shows and it begins to focus more on its own characters.

          Offsetting Hozuki's serious and cold attitude is King Enma, who is sort of like a fluffy teddy bear. He's kind and happy-go-lucky and is much warmer than Hozuki. He is tough on the deceased but can be lenient towards his staff.

          A few other characters in Hozuki's Coolheadedness are the working demons and animals that help run hell. For example, in animal cruelty hell the deceased are attacked and mauled by animals for having hurt animals while they were alive. Some of these animals may seem soft and cute, but they take their jobs seriously and definitely make the deceased pay.

          Each of the episodes is split into two segments consisting of 10 minutes each. Since the segments are so short there really isn't an underlying plot, and the episodes could technically be watched out of order.    

  
          Speaking of episodes, one of my favorites is episode 5 of season 1 "The Instrumental Duo of the Mighty Rivals / Mental Sports Day". I found it hilarious but I'm not going to tell you about it because you have to see it for your self. 

          Right now there are 2 seasons out with a third season coming out October 7th 2018. I know I'm excited for it!

          Another awesome thing about Hozuki's Coolheadedness is its opening themes. In season ones opening there's a weird mistake or easter egg concerning one of the characters in the lineup at the end (if you know what I'm talking about leave a comment!) Season 2 has an awesome ending song and animation sequence. 

          (Unfortunately the season one opening animation does not exist on youtube but click here if you want to just listen to the song. And I can't find a link to the season 2 ending song so it looks like you'll just have to watch the show!)

          If you have seen the show comment with your favorite character! Mine's definitely Shiro! 

(If you want to read the official description click here)

I do not own any of the pictures, gifs, or videos used in this post or any other post on AnimationNomination they are protected under the fair use policy 

Anime Planet!

          Hey hey hey! You guys have probably noticed that I link to Anime Planet A LOT. That's because it's a great website. If you've only just followed the links I add and haven't taken a look around, I highly suggest you do! (maybe right now) Anime Planet is a great place to keep track of what you've watched, want to watch, are watching, are stalled on, have dropped, and won't watch. It also allows you to make personalized lists like "Best Sports Anime" or "Shows that make me cry my eyes out". You know... whatever.

          Anyway, Anime Planet also allows you to keep track of your manga, and characters. For example, here is a link to the most hated characters. (Number one is definitely correct.)

          It also helps you keep track of what episode you're on, or how many times you've watched an anime.
It also keeps track of how many anime you have in each of the previously listed categories. Here's a screenshot of mine.

          As you can see I've still got a lot to watch and there's no way I'd be able to remember them all without having that list.

          Anime Planet recently added Challenges. (right now there are only three challenges available) Click here to check them out.

          You can also make recommendations for people based on other shows. Kind of like how Netflix has a category called "Recommended for you". Here's a screenshot of some of the recommendations I've written.

(I don't have very many yet but I'm working on it)

          You can also write reviews and score an anime based on the categories of story, animation, sound, characters, and how the anime was overall. I'm not going to link you to mine since, once again, I don't have that many. But if you type an anime into the search bar it'll most likely have at least 1 review.

          Have I mentioned that it seems like they have EVERY anime in their database? Well it's true (even some we can't watch in certain countries. )

          Anime Planet is also a great place to go if you want to keep an eye on what's coming out soon. I definitely recommend checking out the Anime Season Charts under the anime tab at the top.

(sorry if the pictures don't seem super clear I'm just taking screenshots)

          And Finally If you want to see what I'm up to on there click here and it will take you to my profile!

#17 Restaurant to Another World!

     If you love food then you should definitely watch this show! We've all seen animated food before but Restaurant to Another World takes it to a whole different level and will leave you hungry for more.

     The restaurant in question seems ordinary during the week, but on Saturday it connects to a different world. In the other world, multiple doors appear at random locations, inviting the inhabitants to see what's on the other side. We, as viewers, get to meet all different kinds of creatures and people. Each character develops a love for a certain dish which we get to see in each episode. We also get to learn more about the restaurant owner and the world it connects to.
     The high quality of the food is what really makes this anime a gem. I'm use to seeing animated food as simple and uninteresting, but the food in this anime is highly detailed and really holds your attention. From the gloss on a tomato skin to the crispy texture of fried shrimp, it truly is amazing to look at.

     If you want to read the official description click here. And here's a link to the first episode!

I do not own any of the pictures, gifs, or videos used in this post or any other post on AnimationNomination they are protected under the fair use policy 

Updates!

Hello all! I know it's been a while since I've posted anything and I apologize for that! But I am planning on making more posts. Below are a few gifs of the new things I'll be writing about. If you know what they are leave a comment!

#14 Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto?!

          You remember that cool guy from school? The one that everyone wanted to be friends with? And the one that some people hated because he was too cool? Sakamoto is that guy. Even if you were someone who hated that one guy it's pretty funny when you get to watch it from afar.

          Sakamoto is loved by all of his classmates and all of the girls have a crush on him. The only problem is the bullies. They don't see why everyone loves him, no one is that cool. So they come up with a few plans to embarrass him or to make him drop his cool. However, nothing fazes Sakamoto. From a falling eraser, to having his chair pulled out from underneath him, he's always cool. No situation puts him on edge or disrupts his day. Not even a ride through the hall in a mop cart.

         Sakamoto also goes out of his way to help people, even if those people are trying to prank him or get him into trouble. Sakamoto isn't even fazed by a fire or rescuing someone from falling off a balcony. Though when he does help he always adds an extra flair.

          This anime is over the top ridiculous and that's what makes it funny. The silly reactions and responses are worth watching just because of how impossible or perfect they are. It also doesn't skimp on the sparkles. Lots and lots of sparkles. But hey, it's a light anime it's not supposed to be serious. Maybe we should try to be more like Sakamoto, if only to keep life interesting. If you want to read more about Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto? click here. 

         Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto is an anime that you would watch if you've had a bad day or if you just want to watch something funny. Even if you don't usually watch school life anime I would definitely give this one a try.


I do not own any of the pictures, gifs, or videos used in this post or any other post on AnimationNomination they are protected under the fair use policy

#13 Beautiful Bones: Sakurako's Investigation!

          "Even in death the bones remain. Bones symbolize life, and embody death."

          If you love the crime tv show Bones then this is the anime for you! Just like Temperance Brennan, (from Bones) Sakurako isn't the best with people, and throws herself into her work. (Which can involve assisting the police when they find unidentified corpses.)


          The main character in the anime is actually a high school boy named Shotaro, who happens to stumble upon Sakurako and ends up becoming her assistant. They work together to resolve unidentified remains and she teaches him more about bones and death itself.

           Sakurako is an osteologist and likes to spend her time reassembling the bones of animals. While this pastime may seem macabre she does it because she really finds bones to be beautiful. (which is totally understandable)

          Beautiful Bones also includes a lot of good quotes and ideas like "Real death gives people pause." They make you think about how we see the dead, and how we view death in general. How we don't really want to think about our bodies once we're dead even though our bones can still tell our stories. 
          Although this anime does revolve around death, I wouldn't say that its dark or depressing overall it's mostly positive.

          Beautiful Bones includes a reverie for the dead and the willingness to solve how they died. Nothing gets over looked in this animation including scientific facts and figures. Beautiful Bones is not a fast paced anime nor does it have much action, but it holds unique ideals that I haven't seen in other shows.

If you want to read more about Beautiful Bones click here.

       I do not own any of the pictures, gifs, or videos used in this post or any other post on AnimationNomination they are protected under the fair use policy 

       

#12 Drifters!

          Drifters involves A LOT of violence and it also includes a lot of historical figures. Drifters takes place in a world that's in between life and death. Renowned warriors on the brink of death are taken to this world to fight in a war to end all wars. They're called Drifters.

          All of the warriors are well known somewhere, if not everywhere in the world. The three main characters are, Shimazu Toyohisa, Oda Nobunaga, and Nasu no Yoichi. All three are from Japan but there are others from different countries like Joan of Arc, Grigori Rasputin, Hannibal Barca, Butch Cassidy, Sundance Kid, and many others. If you want to look at who all is included click here.

          The animation style isa lot like Hellsing, the faces, teeth, and shading for example are very much alike. The only large difference is that in Drifters the animation style switches back and forth between hyper realistic and cartoonish. 
          The clothing and characters are extremely detailed and engaging thoughout the entire anime. The opening is especially highly detailed and includes a storyboard-like introduction.

          Many of the historical figures you might not recognize. (I know that I had to google some of them.) Even though these characters were once real people some of them are given supernatural powers. An example would be Joan of Arc, who is given the ability to control flames. If you're not familiar with Joan of Arc she was a heroine in the 100 Year War but was then betrayed by the people she was fighting for and was burned at the stake. Her anger at the betrayal sparked her hatred for people, causing her to join the Ends, instead of the Drifters.

          (If you want to read more about the actual Joan of Arc click here. If you want to read more about the character click here.)

          The Ends consist of people who have given up hope in humanity and would rather see them all dead. Rasputin, Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova, Gilles de Rais, and Hijikata Toshizo all joined the Ends. They are led by The Black King and their only goal is to destroy mankind and let the creatures and beast 'inherit the world.'

          The Drifters chose Shimazu Toyohisa as their leader, for his unmatched war expertise. From poisoning the enemies water, to setting death traps, he can come up with ideas whenever they're needed. The Drifters goal is to take back the world from the Orte Empire and free all of the people who have been enslaved, essentially liberating the entire country from the inside out.

          Drifters also included spots of comedy and characters who literally act insane. The comedy helps keep the show from becoming just another war anime and helps break up the dark overtones.

If you want to read the full description click here. If you want to watch the first episode click here.

I do not own any of the pictures, gifs, or videos used in this post or any other post on AnimationNomination they are protected under the fair use policy 

#11 One Punch Man!

          Recently added to Netflix, One Punch Man follows Saitama, who can win any fight with just one punch. Because he's so strong nothing is challenging to him no matter how impossible it seems to us. His strength and power aren't obvious from the outside and he doesn't even look like a hero. His red gloves and yellow body suit are more like a Ronald McDonald outfit. His shiny bald head also doesn't scream super hero. 

         (One of the best things about this anime is that the artist switches between styles easily and effortlessly as shown in the first picture.)

          All of the characters are unique and over the top. They also love to talk about themselves and share their backstories. 
          Because they tend to do this often, Saitama will tell them to shorten their back stories to "20 words or less." 
          
          Saitama chose to be a super hero for the fun of it. He could be considered a casual hero. He isn't really known or recognized by other heroes or by the government . In this show the other heroes try to do everything they can to be recognized and remembered. While Saitama would rather go to the grocery store during a sale.

          Since Saitama's fights end so quickly he often takes the time to listen to his opponents for awhile. One of the best examples is the fight between him and Carnage Kabuto. (Click here to watch it.)

         

One Punch Man does involve gore, blood, and violence. It's abrupt and up front, so if that's not your thing don't be fooled by its ability to seems family friendly. If you want to read more about One Punch Man click here.

I do not own any of the pictures, gifs, or videos used in this post or any other post on AnimationNomination they are protected under the fair use policy 

#9 Black Lagoon!

          From kidnapping to killing the Black Lagoon crew will do anything if they're paid enough. 

          The crew on the Black Lagoon are pirate mercenaries who aren't afraid to shoot anyone who tries to mess with their cargo. The members of Lagoon Company include Revy, our gun crazy, short tempered, foul-mouthed protagonist; Rock, a former salaryman, diplomatic, one time hostage, male protagonist; Dutch, the captain of the Black Lagoon, former marine, and cool character; and Benny, the mechanic, computer specialist and researcher. (If you want to read more about Black Lagoon click here.)

          All of the women in Black Lagoon know their way around weapons. From machine gun toting nuns, to a Thai E-nep knife wielding assassin. The women don't need anyone to protect them, even if it's from each other. While in most anime it's more common to see the guys starting violence, these ladies are willing to pick a fight with anyone.

          
          Rei Hiroe; creator of Black Lagoon, said that the series was inspired by Quinton Tarentino, Stephen King, James Ellroy, John Woo, and actual pirate cases in the 1990's in the East China sea. Some of the gun fights were based on spaghetti westerns and cowboy movies. Black Lagoon first aired in 2006 and was well accepted in the US due to the extreme violence and action.

          Black Lagoon is all about violence and money. It also takes the time to get the viewer invested in the characters. They all have a reason for why they do their job and why they act the way they do. Nothing is as simple as it may appear especially the characters. Black Lagoon is fast paced and bloody and I wouldn't recommend it if you don't like violence. But if you don't mind gun fights, explosions, crime syndicates, and kick-ass women then this is the anime for you.

(If you want to watch Black Lagoon click here.)

I do not own any of the pictures, gifs, or videos used in this post or any other post on AnimationNomination they are protected under the fair use policy