I hope you enjoyed reading Part 1. What is in store for you in Part 2? Well, we've got a couple of ultra-popular, hyper-violent titles, one of the most heartwrenching anime ever made, a sports title, and a mighty fine feat of experimental animation. What are they? Well, you can find out after the jump.
My brother has a funny, yet perfectly valid way of describing Revy (L): "Revy is badass and has a nice ass."
Coming in at #45 is Black Lagoon. This is one of those series that is just pure high-octane, badass, foul-mouthed, violent fun. You also can't ignore the fact that it has one of the greatest opening themes EVER.
What really makes this show stand out for me is the superb English dub, especially Maryke Hendrikse's performance as Revy. The dub is unabashedly filled with profanity (especially the F-word) and you can tell that all of the actors are having the time of their lives.
The story is nothing to write home about in terms of sophistication. The series follows the adventures of Rokuro "Rock" Okajima, a former Japanese business man who gets caught up with the Black Lagoon crew after being kidnapped and held for ransom. Abandoned by his employers, Rock decides to join the pirates. What follows are several story arcs of the crew and their exploits. Still, the series is just so fun to watch. The characters (especially Revy) make you laugh over and over again and the slick action is well-animated. Plus, the background music is kickass too. In short, this series is boatloads upon boatloads of fun.
If vampires were real, then the female ones should all look like Seras Victoria and have a British accent to boot. HAWT!
Speaking of kickass fun, Hellsing Ultimate is next at #44.
Plot summary (from ANN): Vampires exist. It is the duty of Hellsing, a secret organization sponsored by the British government, to hide that frightening fact and protect the blissfully unaware populace. Along with its own personal army, Hellsing has secret weapons. Alucard, an incredibly powerful vampire, has been controlled by Hellsing for years. It is unclear how he feels about being a servant to the Hellsing family, but he certainly enjoys his job as a vampire exterminator. Seras is a fledgling vampire and former police woman. Although reluctant to embrace her new self, she is a valued member of the organization. Integra Hellsing, the current leader, is usually fully capable of fulfilling her duty, but lately, vampire activity has been on the rise. Unfortunately, the cause is more alarming than anything she could have imagined. A group long thought dead has been plotting in secret since their apparent destruction over 50 years ago. Plotting to plunge England, and perhaps the entire world, into war.
Why is it one rung higher than Black Lagoon? Well, for starters, it is even more violent and crazy than Black Lagoon, then when you add supernatural elements, Nazis, and crazy European accents (in the dub) into the mix, and you've got something certifiably insane. Yeah, the plot doesn't really make much sense, but who cares about all that when you've got loads of over-the-top, ultra-gory violence? Hellsing Ultimate is one of those series that leaves you with a goofy grin on your face every time you finish an episode. It really is too bad that the music in Ultimate isn't as good as it is in the original TV series though. Maybe Ultimate's musical shortcomings are intentional, so we Hellsing fans don't forget the forgettable TV series. Now if only more episodes would be released in North America...
Though I have only watched the number #43 anime on this list only once in my life, I am certain that it would drive me to tears just as easily as it did the first time. SaiKano is just so heartbreaking to watch.
Shuji and Chise are high school sweethearts in a budding relationship who seem to have not a care in the world. Then, out of nowhere, a squad of enemy jets from an unknown country attacks the city in which the two of them live. However, when things have become dire, the jets are destroyed by a tiny red light flying across the sky. Shuji soon learns that this very light is Chise -- that she is a cyborg whose sole purpose is mass destruction.
Just by reading the premise you get a sense of just how horrible this series is. Finding out the one you love is a weapon? How's THAT for a wake-up call? That's not even the saddest part about this series, let me tell you. Things just keep getting worse and worse until you run into the saddest part of all: the ending. Oh boy, I couldn't stop crying for several minutes once it was over. It is a beautiful ending, yet at the same time my heart was torn in two.
Now, I know I'm going on and on about how this series made me cry and not saying much else about it, but it has been so long since I first watched this series. Basically all I remember is how it kept tearing my heart out over and over again. How Shuji and Chise's relationship quickly deteriorated and how they were able to patch things up by the end, only to have it all taken away. Man, I'm tearing up a little just writing about this series. Highly recommended if you can handle just how depressing the series is. Of course, one must be able to sympathize with the characters. If you aren't able to do that, then this series will do nothing for you.
My brother actually considered getting into boxing after watching the first series. Just goes to show just how inspiring Fighting Spirit can be.
Fighting Spirit (Hajime no Ippo) is a series that is woefully underappreciated in the States. Why sports anime never seem to do well over here, I don't know, but this is why we can't have nice things like Mitsuru Adachi anime/manga and Major.
The premise of this terrific shonen anime is simple: Ippo is saved from bullies by Takamura, a boxer. Takamura's skills inspire Ippo to become a boxer himself and as they say, the rest is history.
The series is a lengthy one, but it is well worth your time. Even if you're like me and don't consider yourself a fan of the sport of boxing, it is very hard not become engaged in watching this series. Watching Ippo become stronger on his way to becoming the Japanese Featherweight Champion is incredibly addicting, plus all of the fights are well animated. Also, in the first series you've got Tsuneo Imahori providing the music, so you know it has to be good. (The second series, while still great, suffered terribly on the music front since Imahori wasn't involved.)
Perhaps the worst thing about loving this anime is the fact that the boxing isn't realistic. Watching real boxing after watching Fighting Spirit made me want to cry, as it seemed so ungainly compared to the fights in the anime series.
Finally, at #41 we have the fantastic experimental anime: Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor.
Plot summary (from ANN): A hapless country doctor describes with breathless urgency a night-time summons to attend a young patient. Events soon take on a surreal aspect as "unearthly horses" transport him instantaneously to the bedside. The doctor, preoccupied with personal distractions and grievances against those he is employed to care for, fails to find what is revealed to be a vile, fatal wound. He is humiliated by the villagers, who are "always expecting the impossible from the doctor," and doomed to an endless return trip, losing everything.
Koji Yamamura's adaptation of Franz Kafka's short story of the same name may be difficult to get into for many people. This anime is very "weird," so if you don't go into this short film with an open mind, you probably will have a hard time making your way through it. Not to mention many things are shown in a surreal manner rather than said, leaving it up to the viewer to make sense of things (especially if you are not familiar with the original story as I was). Still, being shorter than an average anime episode, this is a short film that won't take much of your time if you do ever watch it, and I highly recommend that you do. Check out other Yamamura shorts in the process, like the Academy Award-nominated Mt. Head for instance.
And that does it for Part 2 of ArizUtaku's "Top 50 Anime of the 2000s" series. Look forward to part 3 next Thursday!
2 comments:
Black Lagoon is so cool and funny! XD Madhouse Studios, ftw. ^_^ Saikano was interesing, but the ending kinda ruined it, imo. I haven't seen Hellsing Ultimate, but I heard it's really good.
Hajime no Ippo & Cross Game are the two series I've chosen to get me into sports anime. A genre I've completely avoided for whatever reason. Just call me one of those short-sighted American fans. The premise of a sports anime just drives me away, but then again I didn't think a series about doctors would be worth anything. But Team Medical Dragon is some of the most riveting stuff I've ever read. So yeah, I'm LONG over due.
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