Today I'm going to talk about my favorite shows. These are at the top of my list, the ones I can watch over and over again with out getting board. They stand out above the rest for many reasons, but I'll remind you, these choices are my opinion. Feel free to like what you want, but don't diss my preferences. Right?
;-)
TOP 3 ANIME SHOWS:
1.) Full Metal Alchemist
Two boys, punished for impeading on the territory of God by trying to bring thier mother back from death by using Alchemy. One loses his body, only his soul is saved and bound to a suit of armor. The other loses a leg and arm. Now, on a mission to regrain their orginal bodies, Ed and Al set out to find the seceret of the Philosipher's Stone, but end up uncovering more than they bargined for.
Okay, I've talked about this show a lot in the past. And for good reason too. IT'S EXCELLENT! I adore the characters, especially Ed and Al, but the minor players aren't easily overlooked either. Everyone has a role in this series, everyone is important. That makes things more interesting. Even better, is the nice mixture of emotions going on during each episode. FMA is funny, I mean, Edwards face is priceless when he decides to freak out, and the jokes are well played, but the show never really lets you forget the regret and sadness laying just benieth the surface. Edward broods over his bad decisions and feels responsible for his younger brothers armored body. Al tries to cope with being a 14 year old boy who will never feel warmth, taste food, get tired, etc. Both brothers want to help the other become "normal" again, and both are willing to sacrifice themselves to achieve their goals. However, I think Edwards pain is much deeper than Al's, he blames himself for leading the younger boy down the wrong path, he blames himself for not being strong enough to deal with life's hardships. His grief is so deep he borders on the self destructive, and with out his younger brother to hold him up, I think Edward would be lost. Honestly, I can't picture this series having a happy ending, and if that's the case, I know I'll be bawling like a baby at the end. I still hope for the best though, I'd like to see Ed and Al achieve their goals and regrain their original bodies.
52 episodes long, this show is about half way over in Japan. Episode 28 aired Saturday in Japan, and should be availible for download soon.
2.) Naruto
In the world of ninja's a young boy struggles to gain a place in society. Shunned by his peers, his townsfolk, his country for a curse that was beyond his control, 12 year old Naruto fights to "be the best ninja in Konoha so everyone will have to notice him."
Naruto's life hasn't ever been easy. Orphaned at birth, a evil demon fox sealed inside him, living alone at the age of 12 with no family and friends to support him, one would think Naruto would be a bitter, angry little boy. However, instead of dwelling on the poor hand he's been dealt, Naruto turns around his bad luck and uses it to motivate and drive him to his goals.
Like all achievements, Naruto makes his in small steps. He's a poor student, the brunt of his classes jokes. Everyone hates him and he has no idea why (he has no clue about the demon inside him at the time). One by one, through his strong desire to succeed, will to live without being hindered by his circumstances, people start to be drawn to him. He proves himself again and again, that despite being a goofball, he's a noble, strong, and willful young boy with a huge heart. He finds himself surrouned by people, many people, who have come to respect him.
Naruto is a touching show about growing up and overcoming obsticals in life. It's action packed, with lots of nailbiting fights. Some have akin it to DBZ (a personal fav or mine), but I say "pshaw". Naruto is plot driven and deeper than DBZ, there's substance with in the show.
Personally, I enjoy watching the characters grown, especially Naruto. He moves forward by leaps and bounds, changing those around him as he goes. However, it's not all peaches and cream. Life is hard, and Naruto doesn't glass over that fact. People die, people become consumed by their own demons, some people are just evil to the core, and somtimes, life isn't about choices...
This is a fantastic show. Episode 80 aired on Wednesday in Japan, ending one of the most invigorating arcs in the story to date. There is no word on how many episodes this anime will be, but I imagine it will follow suit of Inu Yasha or One Piece and go on well into the 100's...or more...who knows!
3.) Prince of Tennis
Echizen Ryoma is 12 and he's a tennis prodigy. His father was a world pro, undefeated before he mysteriously retired. Ryoma is following in his fathers footsteps, winning four jr. championships in a row in America before the family decides to return to Japan. Now Ryoma finds himself enrolled in a prestigious tennis school, Seigaku and up against some of the best jr. high tennis players in Japan.
A show about tennis? How is that exciting?
Is that what you're thinking? Me too, until I watched the show and became a PoT junkie(that's Prince of Tennis for short, not pot as in ganja, okay folks). I couldn't stop watching this show, I couldn't get enough...and I think I'm having withdrawls waiting for the newest episodes.
I'm all about characters when it comes to anime. Good, interesting characters are what make or break a show...that's just common sense. PoT is full of them, starting with the snarky, cheeky little Ryoma. I adore him and his "I know I'm good" attitude. Most of the time, people who are as confindent as he is get on my nerves, but Ryoma rarely boasts outright, and if he does, he backs up his words. There's also his team mates, the hyperactive, childlike Kikumaru and his doubles partner Oishi, the anyalitical and nerdy Inui who concots the most horrible health drinks for the team, the ever smiling, sweet talking tennis genius Fuji who is a malicious deviant inside (my favorite quote: "I like to watch other people suffer" and he says it with a genuine smile...LOL). Also, there's Momo, a powerhouse hitter and an all round nice guy, Tezuka, the quiet captain who sees a bottomless potential inside Ryoma, and Kawamura shy quiet guy who turns into an english speaking, raving maniac the minute a racket touches his hand, and Kaidoh, the grouchy, frighteningly scary team member who is a lover of fuzzy animals...And that's the just the Seigaku Team. The characters on the other teams are interesting and fun to watch as well. Some you love, other's you just purely hate...it's great!
Of course, with out the matches the show would be nothing. What I like the best is that it's hard to guess who's going to win. Oh, sometimes you can call it, just for the sake of cliche, but more often than not, I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, chewing my nails, yelling at the tv, etc...LOL I think what really gets the watcher going it the interaction the leads up to the matches, like when Fuji fought against his brother's captain, and refused to shake his hand before the match...It wasn't about tennis then, it was personal...Or Ryoma going up against Jin. God, I was so pumped for that match...I HATED Jin...and at one point in the match I actually threw my hands in the air and yelled for Ryoma! That match was incredibly personal...
This show is a lot of fun to watch. It's not incredibly deep, but extreamly entertaining. It's great to watch Ryoma taunt his opponants, who usually think he's going to be an easy win because he's so young. It's a blast to watch the characters interact with one another, play against one another, and win and lose with each other. The characters grow, expand their (sometimes absurd techniques), and become better players, especially Ryoma.
I highly recommend this show to everyone. I know nothing about tennis, but PoT sucked me right in! I'm not certain when the show will wrap up, but I believe it's up to episode 130 or so in Japan...alas, I've only seen 115 episodes to date and I'm dying to watch the finals (I hope they air Seigaku going to the Nationals...assuming they win).
Well, that's it for today...I'm done rambling on and on...take care.
Posted by Zoso at May 16, 2004 12:45 AM