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Seen all▲▼
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Rating▲▼
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| Ah! My Goddess (TV) |
Very good |
| Of course, the Ah! My Goddess TV series is a must-see for fans of the OVA and the movie. I have to say though, I was a little disappointed with it. The first half of the series seems focused on recreating the OVA in a slower, less compelling fashion and Keichi's consistent failure to put anything resembling a move on Belldandy starts to get a little old over the course of 26 episodes. But still, the series gives us more of the back mythology on the goddesses and definitely delivers its share of fun and laughter. It would've benefited from a stronger story arc or two throughout, I think - I though the arc involving Urd's half-demon side was excellent and would have liked to see more. Overall, it's a series not to be missed - solid, just not as gripping as the already existing pieces. The two DVD special episodes (numbered 25 and 26) were surprisingly compelling. I look forward to Season 2. Started December 9, 2005. Completed January 22, 2006. |
| Ah! My Goddess: Flights of Fancy (TV) |
Excellent |
| This series was everything I've been waiting for "Ah! My Goddess" to be. Finally, after the truncated nature of the OVA and the slow pace of the first season, the second season gives us a taste of the substance behind these characters. I loved the story arcs and the character development - at last, Keichi and Belldandy have ceased to be unidimensional characters. I laughed out loud plenty of times - great social commentary. And I loved the Urd storylines. Great stuff, highly recommended for all AMG fans and for people looking for a light, fun series to watch. Started 5/31/2007. Finished 6/2007. |
| Ah! My Goddess: The Movie |
Masterpiece |
| One of my favorites. Some of the most beautiful animation I've ever seen. An essentially flawless movie. |
| Air (TV) |
Good |
| After coming across some of the artwork online and in Newtype, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this series. I thought the first half was superb, with some great moments in the latter half as well. The basic plot is incredibly intriguing and many of the twists draw you in more and more. But in the end, the series dropped from possible "masterpiece" to "good" because I didn't think it tied the storylines together very well. Besides that, I find it inexcusable to have two clip shows in a 13-episode series. The first one was justifiable because it involved a change in perspective and some new information, but the second was totally superfluous, particularly as the "last" episode. Anyway, I recommend Air to those looking for a short, interesting series with interesting plot and character design. I just wish it could have maintained its early promise. November 19, 2005. |
| Akira (movie) |
Good |
| A classic, but not something that really appealed to me on its own merit. It's definitely a challenging, intellectually-driven work. Worth seeing, but not something I'd want to watch over and over. |
| Angel Sanctuary (OAV) |
Good |
| I wish they had made more, which is perhaps the greatest compliment I can give this OVA. The plot ends right at the point where the story really begins - my initial fervor for it was nearly enough to compel me to buy an entire set of the original Japanese manga series from an overpriced ebay seller. Since then my enthusiasm for it has cooled a bit, but I would still recommend it as one of the more enjoyable OVAs I've seen (albeit definitely not your feel-good hit of the summer, by any means) |
| Aquarian Age - Sign for Evolution (TV) |
Good |
| Aquarian Age struck me as incredibly promising right from the start - a feeling that stayed with me for most of the series. It had great characters, interesting plots, lots of suspense... A lot of its best features seemed to result from the fact that it's based on a trading card game (which I only later found out). Unfortunately, the ending wrapped it all up too quickly and ended up disappointing me. Still worth a look - it's only 13 episodes long. |
| (The) Big O (TV) |
Good |
| I have to say, I liked The Big O. I like the general feel of this series - it reminds me of the Batman cartoons I used to watch when I was a kid. I like the music, the characters, the brooding but dramatic nature of the plot. I like the layers of metaphor that you could get from an anime centered on a place called "Paradigm City". I also like the fact that you could ignore all of that and watch the show because it has big robots in it. The end is admittedly Evangelion-esque, but it's still a fun ride while it lasts. |
| Cat Soup (OAV) |
Good |
| Strange, but a necessary experience for those seeking some of the more serious, artsy pieces of anime out there. |
| Chobits (TV) |
Good |
| I almost gave up on this series a number of times due to its excessive and generally vapid cuteness, but persevered due to 1) the beautiful manga artwork I'd seen from it, which seemed to imply a greater level of depth and 2) the number of respect-worthy people I knew who considered it a valid piece of anime. Interestingly enough, you could actually mark the point in the series where it suddenly got serious - the music style changed, the characters instantly became more complex, and from then on, it was quality. In the end, I really admired the plot (which brought me very near to tears a couple of times), but still maintain that they spent *way* too long being hyper-cute. I would've liked to see the real story developed a lot more - even after the turnaround, there wasn't quite enough development to really make it as superb as it could've been. |
| Cowboy Bebop (TV) |
Excellent |
| One of my favorites. A must-see. I sometimes found myself frustrated with the number of episodes that don't really do anything to develop the main plot. In the end, only five episodes actually substantively contribute to the backstory, but they're worth waiting for. I know that some people consider the episodes themselves and the supreme stylishness of the Bebop crew to be rewards in of themselves, but the backstory is what makes me love this anime so much. It also contains one of my favorite anime characters ever: Julia. |
| Cowboy Bebop: The Movie |
Very good |
| Good, as far as movies spun off of series go. Not a letdown for Cowboy Bebop fans. |
| Dragon Half (OAV) |
Bad |
| A knight ends up falling in love with a dragon he's been sent to kill and they have a half-dragon child together - sounds like it could be an interesting plot, right? Unfortunately, the implementation left a *lot* to be desired. Too silly to bear. Didn't like the animation style. |
| Escaflowne: The Movie |
Good |
| A great stand-alone movie, which is something one doesn't find every day. Nice animation. |
| FLCL (OAV) |
Very good |
| The most bizarre anime series I've ever seen and a must-see for that reason. A classic example of the kind of profound nonsense Gainax is notorious for. |
| Fruits Basket (TV 1/2001) |
Excellent |
| One of my favorites. A must-see. Beautiful plot, beautiful artwork., and characters that compel you to tears every few episodes. I was hooked right from the start. I would rate it "Masterpiece" if I didn't feel that the plot stagnates a little toward the end. |
| Fushigi Yugi (TV) |
Excellent |
| One of my favorites and one of the must-sees of anime, in my humble opinion. Outstanding characters, plot, and animation. I would rate it "Masterpiece" if not for the fact that the first half of the second season lags. The rest is superb, however. |
| Fushigi Yugi Eikoden (OAV) |
Decent |
| Probably not a good piece of work on its own, but it was enough to get me to watch the TV series, which I consider one of the best pieces of anime I've ever seen. |
| Ghiblies (special) |
Good |
| I found this set of short animated stories about the people who worked at the famed Studio Ghibli to be rather charming and very Japanese (for example, the stories about the super-hot curry shop and a childhood romance between two of the staff members). The animation style varies from crude to more polished, but the effect is still potent, as one would expect from this animation studio. If you're a fan of Ghibli films, you'll probably get a kick out of these shorts. November 20, 2005. |
| Ghost in the Shell (movie) |
Good |
| A classic, but not a personal favorite of mine. Similar to Akira, I consider Ghost in the Shell a very important and intellectually thoughtful work that every anime enthusiast should see, but it's not something I'd want to watch more than once. It struck me that the themes this anime addresses were profound at the time, but that subsequent works have addressed them in ways that I find more compelling. I also found the plot and action to move rather slowly at times. |
| Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (movie) |
Excellent |
| This has got to be one of the most visually breathtaking pieces of anime I have ever seen - I tend to be wary of CGI in anime, but this film really made it work. I enjoyed it *much* more than its predecessor - I thought it flowed better, looked better, and was just plain more interesting than the first movie, which I have to confess I found rather boring at times. An all-round classic that should be in everyone's anime collection. The only drawback? A DVD release that uses closed captions instead of real English subtitles - when something is this visually appealing, you don't want to be distracted by the words "[singing in Japanese]" flashing across the screen. But still, it's not a flaw of the actual film. I highly recommend seeing this one - and on the biggest screen possible to get the full effect of the visuals. June 2, 2005. |
| Haibane Renmei (TV) |
Very good |
| Beautiful artwork drawn in a very distinct style, combined with haunting music and a mysterious plot. Only 13 episodes long, this is a truly unique anime that every enthusiast should see. |
| Hellsing (TV) |
Decent |
| I wish this anime had been better. It contains a very cool concept and very stylish artwork, but in the end the plot just didn't cut it. Hellsing also has the interesting position of simultaneously containing both one of the most bad-ass characters ever (Alucard) and one of the most annoying (Victoria). |
| Howl's Moving Castle (movie) |
Very good |
| I really enjoyed this movie, the latest in a stream of successes by Hayao Miyazaki. It wasn't as exotic as his other recent works, and for this reason I think it was less popular, but it was still very charming and moving, with great animation and storyline on the whole. You shouldn't miss it, particularly if you're a Miyazaki fan. July 10, 2005. |
| Kiki's Delivery Service (movie) |
Excellent |
| One of the first anime I ever watched. A Miyazaki classic about a young witch who goes to find her way in the world. There's not much in the way of dialogue, but it's heart-warming. A good flick for the family. |
| Kimi wa Pet (live-action TV) |
Excellent |
| I love this drama! A story about a career woman who adopts a male dance prodigy as her "pet", this show has all the crazy antics characteristic of the genre and compelling characters that you can become really attached to. Highly recommended for an action-packed good time! Started December 10, 2005. Finished December 20, 2005. |
| Kite (OAV) |
Decent |
| Probably one of the most blatant example of the "girls with guns" genre, Kite follows the activities of a talented assasin who also happens to be a female high school student. Despite the obvious attempt to appeal to a male audience with the sex and violence, I was still intrigued by the plot and moved by the conclusion. An interesting piece. |
| Koi Kaze (TV) |
Good |
| Many hailed "Koi Kaze" as the best-written anime series of 2005. And I can see why. This 13-episode series deals with tough issues of adolescence, relationships, and most controversially, incest. Despite their age differences, a working man and a high school girl find themselves drawn to one another one day, only to later discover that they're siblings who haven't seen each other in over a decade. The rest of the plot deals with their search to find their true relationship to one another. The series does an excellent job portraying the anguish and inner conflict of the main characters; I found myself cringing at times as a result of the sheer frankness of the writing. In the end, this was one of the most serious, moving anime series I have seen. Recommended for the not-faint-of-heart and the true anime connoisseurs. Finished 4/2006. |
| Lady Death (U.S. movie) |
Worst ever |
| Absolute crap and a total waste of time. Never watch this. It shouldn't even be classified as "anime". |
| Love Hina (TV) |
Very good |
| Perhaps the most vivid memory I have of this anime is that I was never sad while watching it. The characters and plot managed to draw me out of my world and into theirs without fail. Of course, Love Hina is an anime very much based in the "harem" genre, so it is often criticized for being formulaic and unoriginal. However, I consider it a worthwhile viewing experience. The main plot is intriguing and keeps you guessing until the very end. |
| Loveless (TV) |
Very good |
| I started watching this series somewhat expecting to see a half-hearted excuse for shonen-ai, but I was instead presented with a really compelling and intriguing piece of animation. The episodes flow incredibly well and keep the viewers engaged, although the arc does lose some momentum in the 11th episode. The 12th episode dives right back in again though, totally shaking up all of what we thought we knew. It's too bad there isn't anymore of this series. Started January 27, 2006. Completed January 27, 2006. |
| Maria Watches Over Us (TV) |
Excellent |
| I found this 13-episode to be enchanting from start to finish. It's simple and elegant - the relationships between the characters drive the series forward with a nice flow that never becomes episodic. The shoujo-ai element is definitely present, but in an understated way that's easy on the general viewer. I can't wait to see what happens to these girls in the second season. Started 11/20/2005. Completed 11/29/2005. |
| Maria Watches Over Us Season 2: Printemps (TV) |
Excellent |
| The second season of this series lives up to the promise of the first. Highly recommended. I can't wait until they release the third season in 2006. Completed 12/6/2005. |
| Metropolis (movie) |
Good |
| A really nice piece of animation - very stylistically distinct. Probably something that every enthusiast has to see at some point, but I didn't see it as making a ton of contibutions beyond its stylistic ones. |
| Millennium Actress (movie) |
Good |
| In typical Satoshi Kon style, Millenium Actress weaves together an interesting set of perspectives and plot developments to keep the viewer entranced. In Millenium Actress, the tone is an interesting mix of seriousness and humor - whereas Perfect Blue and Tokyo Godfathers tend to dwell more on the outskirts of those emotions. The piece comes off almost as a documentary, and the plot keep you guessing until the end. |
| Miyuki-chan in Wonderland (OAV) |
Not really good |
| Clamp Studio at perhaps it's most concentrated level of shoujo girly-ness, with a large dose of sexual innuendo. The plot is interesting in as much as it's a rather straightforward adaptation of Alice in Wonderland that takes on a very specific tone. The homoeroticism will hit you over the head, but it's an interesting cultural sample. |
| My Neighbor Totoro (movie) |
Excellent |
| My favorite Miyazaki film. |
| Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV) |
Excellent |
| A must-see, although in the end, every viewer must come to terms with the question of whether this series is one of the more profound things ever to be created or whether it simply doesn't make sense. Studio Gainax draws a very thin line between the two at times. Evangelion possesses some of the most memorable characters of anime. |
| Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth (movie) |
Not really good |
| Rehashes the important parts of the TV series. Not essential viewing, unless you feel like you need a "refresher". |
| Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (movie) |
Excellent |
| A must-see - this is the alternate ending to the Evangelion series, which most people feel makes more sense. Or at least has the potential to. |
| Ninja Resurrection (OAV) |
Decent |
| A gripping start to what probably would have been an excellent anime - only problem is, they never finished it. Leaves you hanging at the very beginning of what should have been a series. Lots of violence and gore. |
| Ninja Scroll (movie) |
Good |
| Violence and gore galore, but the vast majority of it worked to further the plot, which I enjoyed. |
| Oh My Goddess! (OAV) |
Excellent |
| A must-see. This was one of my very first experiences with anime, when my high school Japanese teacher showed it to our class back in the day. And it's really a classic - a good mix of the funny and the emotional. It's also a very good introduction to those who might be inclined towards the shoujo end of things. |
| Outlaw Star (TV) |
Good |
| I always like to compare Outlaw Star and Cowboy Bebop to one another in order to best illustrate the qualities of both series, since they're both very much in the spirit of "bounty hunter" anime. I think that in many ways, I found Outlaw Star to be much more gripping from the very start, while Bebop took a while to grow on me. Outlaw Star had a lot more momentum, plot-wise, but Bebop is infinitely "cooler" in style - not so based in traditional anime drawing techniques. But the endings are what make or break you in this business - and Outlaw Star fell flat, while Cowboy Bebop left viewers with one of the most memorable final scenes in all of anime. Outlaw Star falls under that most unfortunate category of anime series that could have been amazing but fell flat at the very end. It was a good ride til then, though. |
| Perfect Blue (movie) |
Excellent |
| Freaky but well done, in what has come to be the "typical" Satoshi Kon style of shifting plots and rising suspense. Some of the scenes actually gave me chills, and the whole thing left me guessing until the end. I highly recommend. |
| Pokémon 3 - The Movie (movie 3) |
Very good |
| Painfully cute, so much so that I can't help but respect it. I recommend it as the cutest piece of animation I have ever seen - the short with Pikachu and the Pichu brothers is a must-see. |
| Princess Mononoke (movie) |
Good |
| A Miyazaki classic that addresses environmental issues in a blatant way that readers can't help but ignore. I'm a little befuddled as to the popularity of this work in the United States, but it does seem to have been a big hit. Personally, I like Miyazaki better when his themes are played out in a more subtle way - as in My Neighbor Totoro and even Spirited Away. However, there are some very powerful moments in this movie, and all of Miyazaki's works are considered essential viewing for the enthusiast. |
| RahXephon (TV) |
Very good |
| A worthy series, independent of its associations with Neon Genesis Evangelion. It also makes a lot more sense (not to knock Eva, but it really is quite cryptic at key moments). I really enjoyed the complex mythology behind this anime, particularly the themes of music and time. The artwork is beautiful and the plot is a great mix of action, fantasy, and interpersonal interactions. I recommend. |
| RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio (movie) |
Very good |
| I really enjoyed this movie and recommend it as an essential companion to the Rahxephon series. Despite the fact that it's largely a retelling of the series, it provides a really compelling "alternate" angle to all of the events. It sews things up nicely, if you want it to. |
| Revolutionary Girl Utena (TV) |
Excellent |
| A must-see. Utena contains a mix of solid animation (I particularly like the color schemes), compelling plot, and complex characters. It's the story of a young girl who meets a prince during one of the darkest times in her childhood, and he comforts her, giving her a ring to remember him by - but so impressed was she by him that she decided she too wanted to be a prince when she grew up, to save young princesses. Utena contains a lot of interesting statements on gender roles but weaves them seamlessly into a gripping plot that never loses momentum. I highly recommend. |
| Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie |
Excellent |
| The Utena Movie contains some of the most beautiful animation I've ever seen, much more stunning than that of the TV series. I would rate it as a "Masterpiece" if I didn't feel that the ending did it a total injustice. |
| Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal (OAV) |
Excellent |
| Some of the most beautiful animation I've seen. I watched the Director's Cut of this and really enjoyed it - Rurouni Kenshin is probably the definitive samurai series in anime, and I look forward to seeing more of it in the future. |
| Sailor Moon R (TV) |
Excellent |
| The majority of this season followsa disappointing "Monster of the Day" pattern, but the last 10 episodes or so are classic - the latter are actually almost totally responsible for getting me hooked to anime in the first place. Sailor Moon is a classic that any anime lover has to watch at least a little of sometime - this season is a good place to start (that way you actually understand what's happening in Sailor Moon S, my personal favorite). But make sure you make it to the end, otherwise it won't be worth it. |
| Sailor Moon S (TV) |
Excellent |
| The best season of Sailor Moon, in my opinion. The plot and characters of Sailor Moon finally seem to ripen during the S season, driven largely by the presence of the Outer Scouts (Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, and Pluto). All I can say is that if you like shoujo, you can't miss this. |
| Sakura Wars (OAV) |
So-so |
| This OAV has some pretty nice animation but lacks in depth of plot, much like many OAVs. I haven't seen the anime series so I can't totally judge the Sakura Wars, but as a stand alone, this OAV is probably something you could pass on. |
| Samurai Champloo (TV) |
Excellent |
| One of the most consistently excellent series I've had the pleasure to watch. Stylistic thrills in the vein of Cowboy Bebop, but without any of the uneven episodic lulls that we had to sit through in the latter. Great action, good plot development, great use of historical context and little known social issues (oppression of early Christians in Japan, hardships faced by the Ainu and Ryuukyuu peoples, changing societal pleasures and ways of life, etc.) I'm very close to rating it a "Masterpiece", but I'll have to let things stew a little more. In any case, an extremely excellent series in its own right - a must see! Finished 08/20/2006. |
| Samurai Deeper Kyo (TV) |
Good |
| Samurai Deeper Kyo could have been one of my favorite anime series of all time, up until the very last episode, which I found to be a real letdown. It's a shame - I really loved the plot, characters, animation, general atmosphere... all was good. A Tokugawa-era samurai story with some fantasy woven in and a real badass of a main character who turns out to be much more complex than the viewers could have imagined. But alas, it all fell about 20 minutes short of glory. |
| Serial Experiments Lain (TV) |
Decent |
| This unique anime that delves into the complex relationship between reality and technology, consciousness and meaning - it felt unlike any other series I've seen. That being said, I was a little disappointed after hearing all the hype. The pace was slow and contemplative, perhaps necessarily, but I still feel like it could have been taken up a notch. An ok performance all around - distinct but not necessarily masterful. Recommended for the hardcore enthusiast but not necessarily for those just looking for a fun watch. Started 4/24/2005. Completed 8/1/2007. |
| Spirited Away (movie) |
Excellent |
| Well, what can I say about Spirited Away? If an American has seen any piece of Japanese animation, the chanced are pretty good that it was this one. It's a Miyazaki classic. I liked it. You should see it. |
| Steamboy (movie) |
Excellent |
| Despite the less-than-gushing reviews about this film, I really liked it - even more than Akira, the widely-recognized classic. It seemed much more nuanced than a lot of the anime features I've watched. I appreciated how it kept me guessing the whole way through - I really wasn't sure how the story would unfold. The interplay between the members of the Steam family was really great, and while the storyline does tend toward the apocalyptic, the film creates a truly fascinating world to destroy. January 21, 2006. |
| Tamala 2010 (movie) |
Not really good |
| I saw this piece of animation at the 2004 Seattle International Film Festival. It's definitely one of the artsier pieces of anime - must along the same lines as Cat Soup, it can be nicely summed up as "Hello Kitty on acid". Overall though, I found Cat Soup much more compelling. Tamala seemed to really bank on the shock value, and though it was often effective, I found myself increasingly less amused by the deadpan delivery of "Fuck" delived by a cute feline main character. |
| Tenchi the Movie - Tenchi Muyo in Love |
Decent |
| To be honest, I don't remember a whole lot about this particular movie, but I remember enjoying it without feeling particularly moved. It's a fun watch if you like the Tenchi series. If not, it's probably something you could live without. |
| Tokyo Godfathers (movie) |
Good |
| Satoshi Kon's latest film takes on a different, more outright comic tone than its two predecessors, but still incorporates a number of very Kon-like aspects (quick shifts in time/place/point of view). I might have enjoyed it more than the other two (Perfect Blue and Millenium Actress) but also found it less memorable. Still, it's a fun flick, particularly if you're looking for something family-friendly but not too dull. |
| Trinity Blood (TV) |
Good |
| I loved the mythology of this anime, an interesting blend of science fiction, fantasy, and the occult. My only complaint is that we didn't really get to explore the backstory as much as I would've liked; the last episode seemed a little bit abrupt. Started 03/10/2007. Completed 04/2007. |
| (The) Twelve Kingdoms (TV) |
|
| The Twelve Kingdoms draws viewers into one of the most complex and compelling fantasy worlds that I've come across in my anime viewing. Despite the fact that it's about a schoolgirl who gets drawn into an alternate world, it's completely different from the others in its genre. The plot is based on a series of novels by Fuyumi Ono - unfortunately, the novels aren't finished yet, so neither is the anime. This actually doesn't impair the existing series too badly, since most of it is divided up into fairly independent story arcs. However, that also leads to a lack of buildup to the end, which leaves the viewer resolved but like there should be another disc to pop in the player. My favorite arc came in the middle of the series and was actually left wide-open - I hope they finish it in the not-too-distant future. |
| Vampire Princess Miyu (OAV) |
Excellent |
| A classic. This 1988 OAV was one of my very first introductions to anime. I also watched it without subtitles, so I really had no idea what was going on (a fact that was remedied by later viewing, don't worry). Anyway, it's understated but compelling and shouldn't be missed. It also has a much more serious and spooky tone than the TV series, for those of you who aren't shoujo fans. |
| Vampire Princess Miyu (TV) |
Very good |
| This 1997 TV series explains a lot about what the heck was going on in the 1988 OAV but also changes the feel of the show a little (and the plot, somewhat), in the process of making it more accessible. I liked this show - it was one of the ones that solidified my interest in anime. It's spooky and has an incredibly backstory and one of the most amazing endings I can remember, but it does lapse into the "Monster/Victim of the Day" syndrome occasionally. Still, it combines shoujo and horror in a compelling way, and that's something in of itself. |
| Voices of a Distant Star (OAV) |
Good |
| Unique. Seems to condense an astonishing number of Japanese anime staples (schoolgirls, robots, space, love, cell phones) into one piece of 30-minute animation about the ultimate long-distance relationship. It's particularly admirable when you consider that the whole thing was made by one person in his garage. I recommend. |
