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Seen all▲▼
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Rating▲▼
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Comment▲▼
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| Afro Samurai (TV) |
So-so |
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| Afro Samurai: Resurrection (movie) |
Not really good |
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| Akira (movie) |
Very good |
An extraordinary anime but one that is a bit hard to stomach, and in the end it is difficult to decide what the point was. Still, everyone remotely interested in anime should watch it once. Disturbing, fantastic, imaginative, dramatic, dark. |
| (The) Ambition of Oda Nobuna (TV) |
Decent |
Fanservice harem anime slightly mitigated by a few good fight scenes and a competent (!) lead character. Unfortunately half of the "harem" are little girls (ugh) and the others don't distinguish themselves well. The main romance is shallow and arbitrary. Historical/legendary remixing is mildly interesting but I would have preferred a straight-up retelling. Overall okay, not recommendable per se. |
| Basilisk (TV) |
So-so |
I was hoping for something like Rurouni Kenshin / Samurai Champloo / Ninja Scroll, but the quality just isn’t there (and it’s even less realistic than those!). Not a total waste though. Blatant Romeo & Juliet plot still works as a frame story. Some good moments. |
| (The) Big O (TV) |
Good |
Stylish art, same studio as Batman: TAS, nice music, intriguing plot, great cast. Unfortunately it makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO SENSE. Seriously, the end of this show is just confusing and somewhat disappointing. It tried to pull of an NGE or similar. |
| Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody |
Decent |
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| Blue Exorcist (TV) |
Good |
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| Castle in the Sky (movie) |
Very good |
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| Claymore (TV) |
Good |
All the female characters look the same as a plot point, the kid you see in the beginning is SUPER annoying, the action is often ugly (albeit deliberately), and the ending is a disappointing filler adaptation. But the middle portion (a flashback) makes it all worth it, with one of the most genuinely heart-rending and shocking moments in all of anime. |
| Cowboy Bebop (TV) |
Excellent |
A classic. Great art, characters, etc. Not much to say, really... I mean, who hasn’t seen Cowboy Bebop??? |
| Darker than Black (TV) |
Very good |
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| Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor (TV) |
So-so |
Still an interesting series with unconventional touches, but sadly rewrites my favorite characters from the first season. Like Alien3 callously undoing the satisfying ending of Aliens, Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor messes with Darker than Black (s1)’s conclusion. Still, as an alternate tale about a side character, it has enjoyable moments. |
| Death Note (TV) |
Excellent |
Despite rating this as “excellent” myself, I have to mention that I consider this series overrated. Don’t get me wrong, the opening is incredibly strong. The focus on logic, deduction, experimentation, intelligence, etc. is a breath of fresh air - and yet the drama stemming from the central horror of the Death Note and its owner is truly fearsome. Unfortunately I feel that the show goes steadily downhill from there, and the characters are just too unrealistic for my taste, but it’s still worth watching. |
| (The) Familiar of Zero (TV) |
Decent |
Harry Potter-style fanservice harem anime for kids… but good!? A genuinely fun plot, sandwiched between the usual gratuitousness. Has some sweet emotional moments, as well as a lot of humor and a nice climax. Recommended, oddly enough. |
| (The) Familiar of Zero: Knight of the Twin Moons (TV) |
So-so |
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| (The) Familiar of Zero: Rondo of Princesses (TV) |
Weak |
With the third season of this series, ZnT devolves completely from its initial surprising entry as an actual viable story, to a purely gratuitous example of lazy fanservice. It even commits the crime of UNDOING some of the plot points that made the previous seasons actually interesting. Avoid. |
| Fate/Zero (TV) |
Very good |
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| Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (movie) |
Good |
Nostalgia trip for FFVII fans, with well-animated fights. More a character gallery than an interesting story. |
| FLCL (OAV) |
Good |
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| Fullmetal Alchemist (TV) |
Excellent |
Beginning is EXCELLENT (based on the manga), latter half is good but falters since it’s not based on the manga. See FMA brotherhood. |
| Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (TV) |
Excellent |
A reboot of FMA, more closely following the manga this time. Sadly the first half doesn’t have quite the same emotional impact this time around, not surprising since who would want to reanimate and redub something all over again? The latter half is great though. In a perfect world, just one FMA anime would have been made, with the beginning of FMA and the end of FMA:brotherhood. |
| Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa |
Decent |
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| Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (TV) |
Good |
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| (The) Garden of Words (movie) |
Decent |
Overrated. The artistry is EXQUISITE, and the atmosphere and sentimentality is nice. However, the plot is nowhere as deep as it would like to be, it's mostly overblown teenage angst. If you want really moving romance or slice-of-life there are many superior works out there, albeit few with such achingly beautiful presentation. |
| Ghost in the Shell (movie) |
Very good |
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| Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (movie) |
Very good |
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| (The) Girl Who Leapt Through Time (movie) |
Excellent |
I normally don’t go for high school anime, girl anime, romance anime, etc. So it is really to this movie’s credit that I truly loved it despite being all those things! The central conceit (hint, look at the title) is fun and drives the plot along well, but the consequences near the end and the tremendous cathartic finale are what sells it in the end. Two thumbs up. |
| Grave of the Fireflies (movie) |
Decent |
I understand why so many people rate this so highly, but I found it more frustrating than heartbreaking. The adults are bizarrely callous; although the main character is admittedly only a child, his failure to take his sister to a doctor (and initial seeming lack of worry about her symptoms) is just confusing; the lack of grief he portrays to the events leading to his situation is un-childlike at best; etc. I get that it’s supposed to be realistic and tragic and that it probably mirrors a lot of real-world horror that WWII caused, but it honestly doesn’t feel that way to me; instead, watching it just seems like an exercise in emotional masochism. |
| Gurren Lagann (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Astonishing. Quite possibly my favorite anime series (as opposed to standalone movie) of all time. Yes, it’s silly, fanservice-filled, hyperkinetic, and nigh-on nonsensical. But it is also the most exciting, emotionally galvanizing thing I have ever seen. The resolve of the characters will catch your breath - over and over again. The pace is so dizzying, the escalation so exponential, that before you know it you will be wondering what the hell happened. The twists and turns are substantial, the art of extremely high quality, the music a tour de force. The “Gainax ending,” the guest-directed (and poorly-animated) fourth episode, and other random quibbles cannot diminish the effect that this show delivers. Watch it. |
| Hellsing (TV) |
Decent |
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| Hellsing Ultimate (OAV) |
Good |
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| Howl's Moving Castle (movie) |
Very good |
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| Katanagatari (TV) |
Good |
Episodes 1-11: B. Episode 12: A/A+. This is a deeply flawed, yet also remarkable series. Based on a light novel series with a gimmick: released every month for 12 months, each episode tells the story of collecting one of 12 swords. The anime unfortunately fails in one painful respect: this show is WORDY. Wordy wordy wordy wordy wordy wordy wordy wordy! Should have been edited down drastically - from 45-minute eps to 30 minutes, with half the dialogue. The series makes an indelible impact, however, when it reaches the climax in episode 12 - WOW! Do I recommend it? With hesitation, yes. |
| Kill la Kill (TV) |
Good |
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| Last Order Final Fantasy VII (OAV) |
Good |
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| Love Hina (TV) |
So-so |
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| Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (movie) |
Decent |
Charming enough in a classic cartoon sort of way. |
| Macross Plus (OAV) |
Good |
At times boring, but with some very cool ship designs and a fun killer-AI plot. The main plot is nicely balanced between a professional rivalry, convincing love triangle, and well-executed scifi setting. |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz Special Edition (movie) |
Good |
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| Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (OAV) |
So-so |
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| Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit (TV) |
Very good |
A lot of the characters are super-annoying (the messenger kid, the main kid, the medicine guy) but the main female lead is SO GOOD, more intelligently and sensitively written than any other Japanese female character I can think of. Other standouts include the old mystic woman, everyone in the imperial household, the assassination squad (love how analytical they are). The show itself drags a lot, and it gets a bit weird at times. I liked how almost nobody was really a “bad guy,” just people with different priorities and beliefs. |
| Mushi-Shi (TV) |
Excellent |
Possibly the most low-key anime of all time. Yet, its quiet beauty, mysterious and compelling environments/inhabitants, and gently melancholy plot are what make it worth experiencing. Buried under its light touch are some shining instants of believable personal dilemmas and tragedy. The main character is kind of difficult to care about initially, but you grow attached to his story. The show remains unpredictable and never condescends or takes the cheap way out; the scenarios are nothing if not creative. Highly recommended, if you want something very different and mellow. |
| My Neighbor Totoro (movie) |
Good |
Probably better for little kids & nostalgic adults than for first-time adult viewers. Imaginative and beautiful as all Miyazaki films are. A sentimental and unassuming story. Many people love it but I merely liked it. |
| Naruto (TV) |
Decent |
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| Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (movie) |
Good |
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| Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV) |
Bad |
Probably better in its context than watching it today. A rushed and unsatisfying ending which feels less deconstructive and more incomplete. Shinji is indeed as annoying as the internet makes him out to be. I can see how some people would love this, but I am not one of those people. |
| Ninja Scroll (movie) |
Very good |
Warning: very graphic, gory, explicit, adult. But the best ninja movie out there, easily. Despite all the impossible magic, comes off as quite mature and there is a palpable sense of danger throughout. A compelling plot too. Classic, albeit not universally recommendable thanks to its extremely adult content. |
| Ouran High School Host Club (TV) |
Decent |
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| Outlaw Star (TV) |
Very good |
Obvious parallels to Cowboy Bebop, but actually it's quite a different show. Entertaining and colorful, great design and setting, very good cast of characters. Doesn't quite make sense in the end but it's a rich and diverse experience nonetheless. |
| Parasyte -the maxim- (TV) |
Good |
A strange mix of The Thing, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, awkward Japanese high school romance subplot, and questions of grief/humanity/predation/pollution. Entertaining albeit often somewhat adult. |
| Princess Mononoke (movie) |
Masterpiece |
Do I really need to explain this one? Miyazaki’s greatest film. Hauntingly beautiful, complex in its storytelling, filled with mysterious and endearing images, and rather adult in tone compared to his other works. Be forewarned, there is some substantial violence; but that isn’t the point here. The underlying themes are varied and well-executed, the music and art exceptional. Will take you to another world, yet keeps its characters very human and believable. |
| Psycho-Pass (TV) |
Decent |
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| Puella Magi Madoka Magica (TV) |
Good |
"The NGE of magical girls," "the Steins Gate of magical girls," etc. Deconstruction turns a moe/magical girl anime into something rather different, exciting, and satisfying — even for a guy who would never watch that genre otherwise. But it is still very moe, which is like… if you don't like carrots, carrot cake may be decent, but it still has carrots in it. |
| Redline (movie) |
Excellent |
Glorious animation and exciting beyond reason. Hollywood loves to throw out hackneyed phrases like “AN ADRENALINE RUSH” or “THRILL RIDE” for movies roughly 1/10th as balls-to-the-wall as this movie. And despite that... it’s actually got a decent plot to it as well. A simple one, but a decent one nonetheless. Basically, if a cross between Speed Racer, Gurren Lagann, Cowboy Bebop, and the video game Wipeout sounds good to you... you won’t be disappointed. |
| Rurouni Kenshin (TV 1996) |
Excellent |
If I was to be truly objective here, I’d rate this as merely “Very Good” or even just “Good.” But I can’t help myself, I fell in love with these characters; all the comedy and tragedy they suffer together, the fights both cliched and surprising; and of course I am a sucker for this genre. In a way, Rurouni Kenshin is probably the ultimate “historical” (and I use that extremely loosely here) samurai anime. The first third (~33 eps) of the show is very good, albeit in a cartoony way; the middle of the series starts out as truly excellent but begins to unravel a bit; and the last third is often-disappointing filler. Ultimately it’s extremely unrealistic and often quite cartoony, for better or for worse. But I strongly recommend it, because like me, many people end up becoming attached to it in ways they never expected. Once you’re hooked, graduate to the Kenshin (“Samurai X”) OVAs, which are extremely different yet also much better. |
| Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection (OAV) |
Good |
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| Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal (OAV) |
Masterpiece |
Truly a masterpiece. Dark, mature, at once brutal and reserved; beautifully sensitive in its art direction and extremely convincing in its violence. If you’ve been turned off by Rurouni Kenshin’s cartoon qualities, do not be fooled - this is so radically different in tone that you should steel yourself for something quite a bit more adult. And if you are a Kenshin fan, you owe it to yourself to see this character portrayed in a far more realistic and dramatic light. Requires zero familiarity with the TV series or manga, and stands alone as one of the greatest OVAs ever. The third act (out of 4) drags a little bit, but that is a necessary part of the psychological mood changes that this plot hinges on. A must-see. |
| Samurai Champloo (TV) |
Very good |
Stylish samurai fantasy. Lots of deliberate anachronisms thrown in for spice. The action scenes are never *brilliantly* animated, but they are consistently high quality and exciting. The characters are one-dimensional (and the girl seems like a third wheel most of the time), but it doesn't hurt too much as this series is more about individual episodes than the overall arc. |
| Spice and Wolf (TV) |
Good |
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| Spice and Wolf II (TV) |
Decent |
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| Spirited Away (movie) |
Very good |
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| Steamboy (movie) |
So-so |
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| Steins;Gate (TV) |
Excellent |
Wow. This one came out of nowhere, especially since I went into it with no real knowledge of its plot or even genre. At first the weirdness of it put me off, but I stuck with it because it seemed to be so extremely well-liked (look at its graph on this site!) and I am VERY glad I did. Steins;Gate (stupid formatting) sneaks up on you in curious ways, letting you really bond with the characters and scenarios in a gradual way before taking a turn towards a completely different mood. In many ways it is a pastiche of previous sources, but it takes the best aspects of those and creates something new and very gripping from them. If this review seems a bit vague, that’s deliberate; just go watch the dang thing! No spoilers here. If one thing holds it back, though, I’d have to say that the pacing is a bit off; the show might have been better at 18 episodes. On the other hand, some of its rawest emotional effects are delivered through merciless repetition. Highly recommended. |
| Sword Art Online (TV) |
Decent |
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| Sword of the Stranger (movie) |
Excellent |
A somewhat weak/simple plot, but superb fights on par with the Samurai X (Kenshin) OVAs and the story works well enough as a vehicle for that purpose. |
| Tenchi Forever!: The Movie |
Good |
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| Tenchi in Tokyo (TV) |
Decent |
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| Tenchi Muyo! (OAV 1/1992) |
Very good |
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| Tenchi Muyo! Ryo Ohki (OAV 3/2003) |
Good |
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| Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OAV 2/1994) |
Good |
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| Tenchi Muyo! The Night Before The Carnival (OAV) |
Good |
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| Tenchi the Movie - Tenchi Muyo in Love |
Decent |
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| Tenchi The Movie 2 - The Daughter of Darkness |
Decent |
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| Tenchi Universe (TV) |
Very good |
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| Trigun (TV) |
Very good |
A classic with heart and humor. The setting, characters, stories, everything feels both familiar yet fresh. Goofy, fun, tragic, emotional, and interesting without being overwrought or ambitious beyond its means. The ending caps the experience with some unexpectedly poignant context. |
| Trigun: Badlands Rumble (movie) |
Good |
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| Vampire Hunter D (OAV) |
Decent |
Classic vampires, monsters, sword fighting, etc., with a dark apocalyptic future-past atmosphere. Unfortunately the voice work and animation are pretty cheap. It's old anime and the standards weren't as cutthroat back then. The story is wandering and long, but eventually ties together. |
| Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (movie) |
Very good |
Extremely stylish, cool, dark, neo-gothic-future-past take on a post-apocalyptic world that is filled with walking nightmares. The titular character has zero complexity or development, but he doesn't need to – he's purely a badass with a job to do and no love of wasted speech. Some side characters make up for this literary void with a bit more dynamic interaction, but watch this for the fantastic visuals and ninja-scroll-style action sequences. |
