He Slid Across the Room As If It Was Ice Physics

[Dedicated to ArgonMatrix.*]

“Friction is gone,” he said,

“And force resisting motion is gone.”
Yet I could not help but wonder
why?

Was it some esoteric motivation,
or did his motion continue in the same direction

unimpeded.

He slid across the room like it was ice physics,
as if I was playing Snowhorn Wastes
and watching Fox slide helplessly everywhereundeterred.

“Friction is gone,” he said.

“Scales will destroy Dinosaur Planet”, I stated matter-of-factly,
“And ice physics has doomed benevolence.”
“But how can a fire dungeon have ice physics”, he asked.

He slid across the room like it was ice physics,
and damned us all to domination by the Sharpclaws,

As if he close to ignore any realistic physics.

“Perpetual motion is a lie,” I said;
“Friction is gone,” he reiterated.

“It and human error always stop sliding motion,” I insisted.

“No, I am sliding onward along firm ground,” he retorted.

“My motion is unchanged,”

He said as he slid across the room like it was ice physics,

Forever dooming video games to unrealistic motion.

*ArgonMatrix is an LPer on YouTube. His LP of The Wind Waker featured a moment where one of the enemies – a Bokoblin – slid across solid ground in a display of unrealistic fire dungeon physics. The title is a quote by him. In this same video he dared the viewer to make a song built around that line.

The Video That Inspired This Poem/Song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=79QMsl9YyOM

10:23 to 10:30

An Update of Sorts

Since, Fire's blog pretty much appeals to the same audience, I'll link to it in this post.

Obviously I"m doing this to my destructive end, because doing something for someone else reflects selfishness to the highest degree. His writing's pretty good, so go read it. One of you amorphous internet people also read the prologue to his mystery, as well.

FragMentalGaming

For my personal blog I showcase my thoughts on music while also showing song picks and such. I also show off my own writing, remixes and music.

Nighttrail

Lantern Marsh

I finally arise. The town lies outstretched in its wake the utter stillness I was part of. My memory faintly recalls life beyond this town, but nothing concrete, as if it were a desert devoid of water.

I look around.

The nearest building has a broken lantern hanging solemnly in the darkness of the dying sun; its purpose had wavered over time, leaving shadow. I see…that this building is an old house. Someone used to live here, perhaps me.

A winding trail moving across the former town square leads me onwards. What lies beyond?

Memory failing me, I follow it to a building whose rooftop was partially caved in, revealing books. The old library – but no memories return, just the usual meandering. A lingering fear hangs in the air, never able to fade; it holds inertial mass, even against the fabric of time. From here hangs another broken lantern, likewise fixated in its situation. Along its perimeter I move, seeking something to catch my eye.

I feel a chill. The wind gently sweeps in, a breeze that gives the slightest nudge amidst stifling. The debris is in place, not swayed by any interaction. This place once had life – this aspect was the most gripping.

My expectations fail. The library sits silently, barring the tattered curtains fluttering on the barely shifting air. Scarcely they move yet still they remain the only other source of action. Entranced I watch them. I force my gaze downwards and manage to walk past it.

Many buildings bear similar signs of desecration, of aging, as if they had simply grown old and withered in resentment and inaction. The death present in the air is continuous yet memory quietly protests; it’s locked in something barely describable due to lack of realization. The path leads to the answer…the only one within reach.

Past the sea I move; towards the creek that feeds into it, towards what lay beyond. The town falls behind as a new panorama stretches out. Wind physically remarks upon the shadowed realm. Nearly silent water ripples calmly, the marsh water otherwise hidden by thick grass. At its edge I sit, struggling to remember. The waters keep swirling.

What Music Is Scary Pt II

Part I: The Contribution of Atmosphere

In my efforts to elucidate “what is unnerving music” I remixed the Silent Realm Guardian theme from the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword with the express goal of altering its atmosphere. The original song is adrenaline-inducing and quite unnerving in context and reflects a chase, which is actually what it accompanies. Music that can be described as pounding often has an unnerving effect to it, especially in a video game where music impacts how a person plays. The Space Pirates theme from Metroid Prime has a similar feel to it where the atmosphere of the piece creates anxiousness in the player. Music being unnerving is highly subjective, but from my experiences a pounding sound is unnerving. To many Penderecki’s Kanon for Orchestra and Tape is extremely unnerving, but I find it beautiful. All three of these tracks have a dark, even rough feel to them that makes them ominous. It is interesting what music unnerves me and what doesn’t. The contribution of atmosphere is, simply put, the unnerving nature of a piece due to its overall feel, regardless of how it is written. (At the same time, composition goes hand-in-hand with atmosphere.)

[Silent Realm Guardian Theme]

It starts off slow but it builds to the main part of the theme:

[Space Pirates Theme]

[Kanon]

Now that you have heard the original, hear the remix:

[Silent Realm Guardian Theme Remix]

At first the remix seems to be just a slower version – as one of my friends noted – but through this change it attains a more ethereal and even more eerie atmosphere. The music becomes less solid and more dreamlike, taking away the concrete sound that many listeners expect; wet reverb was also used. The tempo of the original made it pounding but when I slowed the theme down I noticed how the same feel was still present, suggesting the role of composition. Speed/tempo alone does not make music creepy. I’ve heard upbeat songs that aren’t unnerving and slow songs that are a bit scary. As previously stated the components of a song merge to make eerie music; the parts cannot be totally isolated.

I added another subtle touch that perhaps changes the atmosphere as much as the reverb and change in tempo. This change draws upon the listener’s expectation of tonality or at least some form of structure. I added a flute, an instrument associated with the Western classical tradition, and essentially placed random notes. At the same time I mixed the flute low into the remix so that the listener can barely pick it out; the effect likely psyches him or out a bit. At the same time, he flute sounds clean. If the flute were more audible it would not be as perturbing. Its soft sound also creates an odd contradiction with the ominous piece. It adds to the atmosphere and makes it odder, while adding a new timbre.

Part II: The Contribution of Composition

This part was veritably an accident. A while back I showed my friend the raw recording of a song I named “Gangster,” obviously inspired by the Godfather. This piece was at that time focused on the piano, so the effect of other instruments is trivial. He likes piano and he plays but he found the dissonance and complete atonality (there is a structured form of atonality pioneered by Schoenberg and others) to be distasteful, even slightly unnerving. The simple yet violent piano playing was “random” to him and chaotic, so clearly the issue was based upon composition. To some people at least the lack of melody is offensive and makes the music hard to follow. Dissonance and lack of melody often make music perturbing to listeners of differing backgrounds. “Gangster” was in fact a minimalist piece dominated by lower pitches, which aided in a jarring sound. As I noted in Part I, listeners tend to be more unnerved by lower pitches (which the body feels more than hears). These elements converged and ultimately created that darker tone, thus fulfilling my objective for the song.

I realized that though I had reached my goal perhaps I was being too harsh upon the listener. I realized that my friend had a valid point which led to another: perhaps this song is indeed too demanding. To counteract the song’s unnerving nature I created a high-pitched synthesizer that modeled strings so that the sound would become fuller and therefore less disturbing. Admittedly my friend enjoys music where multiple instruments play against each other. The widening of the sonic arrangements make the song more accessible but retain the dark edge I want. In terms of the synthesizer’s composition I went for a drone approach; in other words, I used mostly sustained notes.

Since “Gangster” will be going on my as-of-yet-unfinished album, I’m not going to show people it. Instead, I’ll show my song “Statues” where the lack of structure did not necessarily create a harsh sound; the piano solo focused on high pitched instruments and created an icy sound, rather than an unnerving one.

[Statues]

Part III: The Contribution of Production
In some cases the production may make music unnerving, especially in the case of lo-fi music. Black metal – which tends to be low-fidelity – for example is harsher and has that increased capacity to unnerve. At the same time indie rock, which has a similar trend to a lo-fi sound, is usually not unnerving on any level; this observation lends strength to the importance of atmosphere and composition over production. Screamo for example, which tends to have a cleaner sound, can be as unnerving due to similarities in how they play. In some cases production can have a role but it has to be in the way instruments are mixed. The perceived volume of music does not have a great impact, at least not for the track as a whole. One case where production could be useful is in taking an instrument and distorting its sound to create creepy music. Honestly, production has a greater capacity to aggravate the listener, even though a rough sound can unnerve.

For example, Bathory’s music is very lo-fi but the weak production values result in an annoying, forgettable sound dominated by mediocre vocals and generic black metal guitar. The music itself is not unnerving and in fact is fairly boring and predictable. Low fidelity is not the absolute way to create a creepy sound and can only be a small help.

Two of the songs I listed, Silent Realm Guardians Theme and Space Pirates theme, are both fairly clean-sounding (at least compared to Bathory) and do not get a creepy sound from production; at the same time, the instruments mesh well and nothing is particularly louder. These two songs quite frankly throw a wrench into the impact of lo-fi production upon the scariness of music.

Scary Places and Games: Introduction

Someone who plays games a lot –even a more casual gamer – has probably noted that scary places are in a lot of games. “Scary” does not necessarily mean a place is inherently frightful: context plays a huge role as well. This “area” appears in many games ranging from Mt Pyre in Pokemon to the composers’ crypt in Ocarina of Time and even Dry Bones from the Mario universe. Discussions of death are found – since these truly are the “scary places” of art – are found in even the franchises considered more juvenile. Some franchises explore death fully, such as Fatal Frame and Resident Evil, both of which focus on survival horror style games.

This gothic exploration in many games does not seem to be merely aesthetic due to its prevalence. Gaming allows for a more personal exploration of death as well, which gives the medium a particular strength in this area. You play a character, and then you die – rather, the character dies but you feel some connection to him. Controlling a character whether through motion control, buttons , or some mixture, gives a sense of intimacy and interactivity. In Resident Evil 4, for example, the game over screen reads “You Are Dead.” Playing such a game lets you see “yourself” die and possibly consider the ramifications. In a platformer game where lives are plentiful you die many times. This experience with death is “shallow and transient yet gaming still lets you explore death to some capacity more than in a play or a movie. (In these mediums you more or less see the death, though of course death can still be impactful upon the audience.) Of course all mediums can be effective in portraying a medium.

Games mix visuals, music, video, interactivity, and text to tell a story and speak across the screen. The ability of this medium to feature its own approach to discussing death makes it stand up as a true medium of art. Conveying messages – no matter how shallow – is a hallmark of art, so clearly video games’ ability to do this means that they are inherently a form of art. So clearly this discussion of death happens to some capacity. Why it happens stems directly from humanity’s fascination with death and to a degree the fascination has been re-wired back into modern society so that death becomes something cool to reference.

Death, however, is fascinating for a variety of reasons, so it only makes sense to analyze several different cases across several franchises:
1. Shadow of the Colossus

2. Metroid Prime 2

3. Resident Evil 4

4. Super Paper Mario

5. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Updates-wise, I’ll post each subsequent part marked with the post name (Scary Places and Games) with an esoteric upload schedule.

My Top 30 Favorite Anime | 10 ~ 6

10) Honey and Clover (both seasons)

Honey and Clover surpasses the anime medium. Honey and Clover is life. An adaptation brought to life thanks to the brilliant writing of Chika Umino, the notorious juggernaut of a josei encompasses two seasons of sheer realism. The characters all reside in college life (an art college at that), something atypical for the medium - especially at the time the show aired. The story shifts between the various perspectives of the three guys and two girls as they learn their way through life and romance. H&C is extremely amazing at profound messages delivered through the introspection of its characters. The entire cast has differing personalities and themes that are evoked from said personalities, but the true strength of the show is its astounding ability to juggle all of these themes into a continuity that accurately depicts the trials of life and the conflicts that humanity shares in common. Even the pacing is that of the rolling, unrelenting flow of life, never ceasing or waiting on its players. Oh, and did I mention the animation is especially vibrant? Not to mention the music is heavily piano-based and tugs at your heartstrings in response to the problems each characters tackles. Conflicts cannot be resolved in one episode for H&C. They will always stare back at the character, engulfing them for life and the entirety of the series. The characters simply cannot escape from who they are and what challenges them.

Why I Chose It: Brilliant characters. Astounding romance. The true meaning of the "slice of life" genre. Touching music. Heartwarming animation. It touched my heart when I watched this, and I wasn't even in college yet. Now that I'm at the age of wandering, wondering what to do with my life and how to improve myself as a person, I can only look back at this experience with warm regard for what it taught me and what it prepared me for. I understand how to approach life now because of this show. I know that no matter how bad it gets, I have to keep pedaling on my worn-out, tattered shell of a bicycle. I know my direction in life, but how to get there is the toughest lesson of all. I want to meet the people that can change me as much as this show did. After watching this, who can simply give up? As a college student, there is no other show that can compare to how much I've wracked my brain around understanding the world and myself like H&C.

9) The Tatami Galaxy

The essential Groundhog Day of the anime medium, The Tatami Galaxy is about a young college student who decides to live out his youthful days in search of the perfect rose-colored life. However, he becomes trapped in an endless loop of time for each different choice or path he makes, sending him back to the beginning when he fails to learn or realize anything about himself. The Tatami Galaxy is a great analysis on weighing the consequences and decisions of one's life with one another. The characters and setup of each episode are all the same but occur in different circumstances, giving the viewer multiple perspectives from which to judge to main character in his journey to discover the perfect days of youth. The animation is unique and abstract, as if the characters themselves are paper cutouts. The series is framed in a predominantly episodic approach where one "loop" of time is played out for each episode, only eventually culminating into the finale at the end. By the way, the OP was done by Asian Kung-Fu Generation. AKFG, MAYUNS. Otherwise, The Tatami Galaxy provides stellar characterization and a style unlike any other; the snark-witted exploits of the protagonist and his fellow acquaintances are refreshing regardless of how many times you've seen his miserable college life play out.

Why I Chose It: I'm a real sucker for endless or infinite time loop stories. Okay, so Endless Eight isn't the best example, but I love the concept of repeating time until one comes to a realization of either their own self or the world around them as a result. I actually had the pleasure of watching this one while it aired, and boy was the wait each week cruel. I enjoy the pathetic and sardonic nature of the protagonist as he tries to change external circumstances, only to have to reset each time without knowing that the true root of the problem lies within his own internal heart. The character cast as a whole is very memorable for their own various wicked natures and their interactions with one another as the main character observes his life unfold multiple times. Oh, and despite how serious I make the show out to be, it also strikes comedy gold with the ridiculous scenarios and paths that Protagman takes. By the way, I only use that label because since he's the narrator, he never explicitly states his name. Go figure.

8) Serial Experiments Lain

Lain Iwakura is just a normal middle school girl. However, this simple fact changes when one of her fellow schoolmates suddenly commits suicide. Soon after, a string of bizarre incidents occurs all around her, eventually leading her to acquire her own computer and enter the world of the Wired. The Wired is the sentient manifestation of the current Internet, breaking down the barriers between illusion and reality. Among the merits of Serial Experiments Lain, atmosphere outranks any other show by far. The utter confusion and surrealism of the experiences Lain endures in the show is demonstrated in a nonchalant wave of sheer insanity. Even after the show, the viewer still does not understand the mystery of the Wired and the strange occurrences around Lain; as such, multiple viewings may be needed to truly understand the queries that the show provides. Excellent music and pretty incredible 90s animation mesh well to accentuate the subdued environment. In addition, the concept of human identity and the advent of the Internet is questioned heavily in Lain. What constitutes a human? Is the alternate reality better or worse than the actual reality? Regardless, Lain is not just a show. It's a tangled web of an experience.

Why I Chose It: As stated previously, computer science is my major. Spending most of my free time on the Internet, I had developed a strong interest in what provides communication between two people who are thousands of miles away. The question remains: If the Internet ever develops to the point of another distinct reality, will it stand as its own identity against the actual, "obsolete" reality? I still have many questions about the show to this day; I ponder a lot about the future of humanity and how technology will alter our course. Lain merely provides one of several possible futures, but it does so with an amazing atmosphere of quiet ambiance. I can't help but think of the positive and negative consequences technology hands us once we begin to evolve past humanity in its current form, much like Lain does throughout the entire show.

7) Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket & Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

I might as well call this my top 32 favorite anime, huh? I just couldn't choose between the two of these shows, especially since one of them only has 5 of its 7 episodes completed at the time of this post. However, both shows bring out the brilliance of what Mobile Suit Gundam has to offer in vastly differing approaches, yet they accomplish the same goal. This is why both shows deserve the same spot. With that said...

War in the Pocket is a unique offering to the Gundam franchise in that barely any mobile suit action takes place throughout the course of its six episodes, leaving it up to the characters to fill in the gap left by the lack of action.  The story is told through the eyes of a 10-year old named Al. He's merely just a part of normal society. Unfortunately for him, the One Year War between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon is going on in the midst of his normal life (see: the original Mobile Suit Gundam for more details on the OYW itself). A Zeon special forces unit is dispatched to Al's colony in order to unearth information about a supposed new Gundam unit being created by the Feddies. Among these forces is a young officer by the name of Bernie, whom Al quickly befriends. Al also encounters his former babysitter and neighbor, Christina, who happens to be the test pilot of the new Gundam unit. See where this is leading yet? 0080 executes a touching divide from the perspective of the normal commoner between the identities of "commoners" in opposite camps of one another. Childhood innocence can no longer be maintained as Al realizes the unnatural effects of war and how it destroys his normal life completely. All of this leads to a climax that I wish not to spoil, but it truly depicts the harsh reality of the battlefield.

Gundam Unicorn is the long-awaited adaptation of the light novels meant to conclude the cursed time period known as the Universal Century, the main timeline for the Gundam franchise. As such, Unicorn is best watched under the premise of knowing the previous tragedies and wars in its preceding shows (MSG 0079, 0080, 0083, IGLOO, Zeta, ZZ, Char's Counterattack, etc.). The year is U.C. 0096 with the show beginning at a developing colony known as Industrial 7. Banagher Links, a young college student who went through life without knowing of his father, encounters a mysterious girl by the name of Audrey Burne who has stowed away on the colony. By meeting her, he's propelled into a conflict involving a secret known as Laplace's Box, an item said to be able to change the course of history. Unicorn provides absolutely amazing action and conflict between mobile suits with fluid animation, harking back to the old days of the Universal Century. The show also successfully captures the course of history and its impact on the fallen Principality of Zeon, who now only exists as a faction known as Neo Zeon. More than anything, Unicorn manages to combine all of the promising elements of the Gundam series, successfully fusing the action of the UC shows with the desire for peace in the newer AU shows without compromising characterization. Overall, Unicorn has been a thrilling conclusion to the UC saga. I can only hope that it will continue its amazing trek for the final two episodes.

Why I Choose These Shows: I first fell in love with the Gundam franchise after watching the original Mobile Suit Gundam. I felt compelled by the great action provided from over 30 years ago of all things and the themes of war it tackled in the process. Before that, I had previous viewings with the SEED and 00 shows, but they never managed to capture me as much as the UC shows. Watching Gundam reminds me of my childhood - I watched a lot of American shows like Transformers and Power Rangers. I've always enjoyed that type of action, and Gundam manages to satisfy that need for me. I also enjoy its themes and lessons about war despite the fact that I hate the way newer Gundams "evangelize" from the cockpit. Gundam has been creating the same story over and over again for the past few decades, but one day I hope that they will nail it perfectly. And as far as I'm concerned, 0080 and Unicorn are by far the closest to hit that point.

6) Cowboy Bebop

Many others have covered why Cowboy Bebop is one of the most essential shows in the anime medium to watch. Bounty hunters in space that only roll through each day of their lives to obtain the money they want to survive, Spike Spiegel and Jet Black start off alone. Then a dog named Ein, a striking and loudmouthed dame by the name of Faye Valentine, and a young computer genius called Ed join the ranks of their bounty hunting gang one by one to form one of the most memorable crews in all of anime history. Bebop is focused primarily on style, beating out any other show in this category with its upbeat jazz score by Yoko Kanno and the sheer brilliance of its direction under director Shinichiro Watanabe. I cannot add much to what has already been said about Bebop, but I will highlight that it's a great gateway into anime that has withstood the test of time as one of the greatest stories ever made.

Why I Chose It: Great mix of action, characterization, themes, and style. It's an experience and feeling I'll never get from anything else. I remember renting the movie a few years back after watching the show, deciding to skip school in favor of laying low for a day of relaxation. I think I learned a lot more from those few hours than I ever had in the entirety of high school. Sure, I got in trouble with my mom for staying home... But can you blame a guy? This show taught me to appreciate the directionless course of life for what it is.

What is music?

 *Same note as last time.

[This is the Rainforest video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGEHYY8c8VM&feature=related%20 ]

The idea of music being something strictly human is a pretty popular notion and in general I find that many people do not consider recordings not explicitly MADE by a human to be music. I would argue that the Rainforest video is in fact music, even though it does not easily pertain to the order we like. I believe that the theory of musique concrete is very important as far as what is music: music isn't built upon traditional instrumentation necessarily, and its direct corollary is that music can be composed of sounds, not necessarily just instruments. For example you can make a beat using a sample, and that's not necessarily an instrument but it becomes more along the lines of an instrument you manipulate.

Here's a direct example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTfj57FP4f4

The song mixes synthesizer with sounds of nature, as well as other instruments of course. Whether the overall piece is music is a bit less subjective, but I consider each component of the music to be music; music is the confluence of sounds and each component is music. I consider the ducks quacking to be music as much as the synthesizer or the bass. This statement makes sense to me: you should not immediately have music without the components not being music.

When is music world music?

*Note: this is my unedited blog post that I did for a class, so excuse me when I refer to the class.

To ponder this question I will first post some links.

This piece begins with a soundscape:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg3VhG8Vw5M&feature=relmfu

This piece samples a shakuhachi (Japanese flute, essentially):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-I_pZZ100E

This piece samples bagpipes but in general has a "other-worldly" sound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kfkUUkEGtc

This piece - created by me - is about a specific region and conveys a particular sound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X3ewAW45r4
http://soundcloud.com/zru/swordsmen-on-ice

The latter is a remix of the former.

The astute reader will realize I essentially asked if four different "categories" constitute world music.

Personally I think we say world music depends on coming from non-Western nations, but blues and country are noted by Titon was "world" music, so the country of origin may not be the only consideration. Yes, Blues was developed by people of African descent and even has ties to Islam but it was created in the United States. Personally, I consider all of these sounds to be "world music" because they come from different parts of the world. Some of Dr. _______'s examples of soundscape come from Westerns, including Schafer. I have previously said what I believe about soundscapes and was wondering if anyone had anything new to note.

As far as the Linkin Park song, I would consider the shakuhachi sample to be an integral part of the song and reflects a world music influence; it even constitutes the music being called to an extent world music. The use of bass-frequencies-heavy guitar for percussion also reflects an unusual approach; does that make the song world music?

What constitutes world music is simply based on what we are unfamiliar with.  For example, bands such as Joy Division and Godspeed You! Black Emperor are seen as otherworldly. For example, Pitchfork writer Joshua Klein said this about Joy Division's debut album: "Simply put, the group's debut full-length Unknown Pleasures, released in 1979, sounds like little that came before it.." (http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11624-unknown-pleasurescloserstill/?utm_campaign=search&utm_medium=site&utm_source=search-ac) The band's music, in particular songs such as "Disorder", are considered to be very unique. Would this music constitute world music? I to a degree believe that such music would be music; world music in part relies upon what we are unfamiliar with. To someone unfamiliar with Joy Division perhaps their music is world music. I'm not sure whether the band can be called world music, though. Simply being from an English-speaking country does not discount music from being world music.

I believe that underlying world music is the idea of geographic location and the culture present playing a part in the creation. In other words, music carries a sense of regionalism. Montreal may have a fairly standard indie rock scene in some regards, there are bands that use French lyrics such as Malajube and Arcade Fire, which separates them from similar indie rock scenes in Toronto and Chicago. My song Statues carries a sense of regionalism in that it carries a sound likely reminiscent of mountains; I based the song off of the higher end notes of the piano for that reason. This song was written about the Mt. St. Helen's eruption of 1980; there is a very important influence from regionalism present in this song. Does this song count as world music? (For those of you who listened to the Wolves in the Throne Room song I linked, I consider these songs to both contain influences from the geographic region.)

My remix, though likewise inspired by a mountain, features a sample of a Brian Eno song inspired by sounds of nature; in particular breathing or sounds like it can be heard. Where "Statues" was about the aftermath of an eruption, "Swordsmen on Ice" is simply about events happening on a mountain. Region does play a role here too: the latter track was made to represent a scene from Batman Begins where Bruce Wayne spars on ice. This mountain - at least to me - seems lively, hence the breathing. Where the inspiration is drawn can impact music. Does the remix constitute world music as well?

My Top 30 Favorite Anime | 15 ~ 11

15) Nodame Cantabile & Steins;gate

I'm totally not cheating by putting two shows together in the same entry. Not at all! Okay, let me explain: I forgot an anime I really enjoyed -- something I wanted on this list. The reasons I have for these two shows being on here is synonymous anyway, so it makes sense to have them here together despite being very different shows.

With that taken care of...

Nodame Cantabile is about Shinichi Chiaki, a musician and composer that desires to aim for the top among the most elite musicians in Europe. However, he first has to get over his fear of flying and build up an orchestra worthy of recognition. That's only half the story though; a girl known as Nodame (Megumi Noda) that plays piano manages to catch his attention with her eccentric style, yet it turns out she loves the hell out of Chiaki and proclaims her love for him outright. The show solely focuses on classical music and its arena in the modern world, an element that distinguishes the show from other music-oriented efforts and other anime in general. Because of the focus, the music is obviously top notch. The characterization takes center stage with a broad focus on music and aiming for the top among the highest of competitions. Nodame also tends to be a pretty lighthearted show with both romantic and comedic elements; in other words, it's a great pick-me-up show that's sure to impress even those without musical inclination and introduce them to the world of awesome classical music and endearing characters.

Steins;gate is a show centered around the eccentric and self-proclaimed "Mad Scientist" known as Rintarou Okabe and his own laboratory. The premise is that one day, he and his friends/colleagues discover how to send text messages into the past using their microwave, which alters the state of time and allow them to manipulate time travel indirectly. However, the organization CERN has been researching time travel as well, pursuing Okabe and company relentlessly. While time travel is commonly tampered with, Steins;gate pushes the envelope by messing around more with indirect alterations and their consequences. The show provides thought-provoking themes about the acceptance of one's actions and their consequences and the gravity of playing God with humanity's trek. Additionally, the characters are charming and memorable with their special quirks and attitudes that even parody the current "otaku" culture to some extent. Steins;gate is definitely a must for fans of sci-fi with romance and comedy elements. The show does have slow pacing in the first half with more of a lighthearted comedic approach, but the second half picks up quickly as an engaging and unforgettable thriller.

Why I Chose Them: These two shows are quite the unlikely duo to be putting together; in fact, the next show on this list probably fits with Steins;gate more than Nodame. However, they have something that draws me in all the same -- chemistry between the two main characters of both shows. Chiaki and Nodame have this lovable, goofy relationship that sends me into a smile every time I see Chiaki deny her advances and effort. Nodame never gives up though, which is why I admire her character's perseverance to the max. Likewise, Okabe has a similarly awesome chemistry with fellow mad scientist Kurisu Makise. Okabe himself is an excellent character, yet Kurisu manages to compliment him extremely well; they're a scientist duo that I can't get enough of. The backdrops of both shows are awesome enough as is, but the character chemistry is what ultimately sold me.

14) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Have you ever thought about obtaining the power to turn back time? Have you ever wanted to reverse the consequences of your actions in order to obtain what you consider the "perfect" life? The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a movie that centers around a simple high school girl who similarly stumbles upon such an ability, forever altering the perspective of her own life and the choices she makes from then on. While at first she uses the power on very trivial and miniscule things, the consequences of playing God's hand stack up and culminate in tragedy. Much like Steins;gate, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time tackles the same questions of controlling the idea of time in a much more simplistic and straight forward narrative. However, the charm of the film comes from its focus on underestimating daily life and the little actions and behaviors you fail to pay heed to. In addition, the scoring of the movie is eloquent and upbeat or somber and melancholic as need be, providing nice melodies of piano and violin all around. And of course, the characters are extremely likeable to the point where you really do feel for them in every single way. There is also a romantic backdrop within the context of the film which is superbly executed. All in all, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a timeless classic in and of itself.

Why I Chose It: I'm fascinated by the human concept of time. A lot of my choices on this list are actually centered around the consequences of manipulating it selfishly. I compare this movie to unwavering adolescent innocence. As we grow, we believe we've found the true nature of the world, that there is nothing left to learn and that we must choose what we will do with what we've been handed. So what if you're given the chance to change all of your mistakes that you previously had to live with? What if with a simple change in response or behavior, you can wipe away all your problems? But that simply isn't true... We can't escape those consequences. That's the biggest lesson this movie has taught me -- make as best of a decision as you can and accept the consequences of your actions. Most of all, keep what's important to you close to your heart and never take for granted the supposed predictability of our path in the world. And need I even mention the stellar characterization and romance going on at the same time? It's no question that this one is a modern classic and deserves to be in this list. All of us can learn from even the hypothetical.

13) Beck

I was made to hit in America! These lyrics echo in the opening of Beck, a show about a young adolescent boy who is struggling to find his identity in life when he comes across a musician that forever changes his life and his goals. The two of them then create a band with other musicians and try to aim for fame, tackling the conflicts and problems that arise along the way. Realistic characters and conflicts play center stage in an otherwise music-oriented show. There are far more ups than downs in the journey of Beck. There's the struggle for identity, the fight for fame among fun, the need for money, the constantly sinking ship of romance, and the important of unity and friendship among those who love the same thing. Every character is important in some way and contributes their own problems and resolutions to a story that echos the inner possibility of humans to achieve something meaningful within their lives. The music is a nice blend of rocking riffs and ballads despite the weird Engrish. Overall, Beck establishes a foundation of youth and adolescence with great music and a fun ride. After watching this one, you're sure that even you can make a hit in America despite the setbacks and turmoil of a slightly dysfunctional band.

Why I Chose It: I love music. Until high school, I never really listened to it much though. Sure, I played trumpet in middle school, but that was merely a hobby. With the advent of trying to find my own identity, I can heavily relate to Beck's themes of finding one's self amidst the problems that may arise. I kindled a love for music my freshman year in high school. Within that discovery, I had also found this show. It was part of what inspired me to pick up and learn bass guitar for myself. If I ever had a dream back then, it was to someday play with a band. And I still feel that to an extent these days despite losing my drive and motivation to practice daily. But hey, maybe with another rewatch, Beck will keep me coming back to one of the things I love most. Music is amazing. I don't want to waste my effort. Because playing bass was what helped me the most when I didn't know what to do. Music is an entirely different world in and of itself, one that improves me as a person. Beck always shows me why I should never forget that.

12) Usagi Drop

Parents. They are the ones who birth us into existence and sacrifice their lives for our sake. Usagi Drop is about a bachelor of sorts who stumbles upon a young girl who was the product of an illegitimate relationship between his grandfather and an unknown woman. With his entire family not wanting to shoulder the embarrassment of an illegitimate offspring,  Daikichi takes it upon himself to adopt and raise Rin as his own despite being single and clearly having no experience whatsoever with children. Thus begins the heartwarming tale of the two as Daikichi learns how to be a good parent through hard work and sacrifice. The characters are simply fun and elicit emotional responses from the viewer with even the smallest of situations. The animation is very good and the music provides an absolutely fantastic backdrop to the whole experience. The anime is among my favorite stories, but pass on the manga -- the second half completely ruins the magic of Rin's childhood and Daikichi's trials of becoming a suitable parent. Regardless, Usagi Drop is one show that should make one think about the meaning of parenthood and what it takes to fulfill the role.

Why I Chose It: My own mother means the most to me. She essentially raised me of her own accord through the midst of my parents' divorce and gave me all the love and support I ever needed. She continues to do so until this day, and I never quite grasped the gravity of her actions and compassion until I watched this show for myself. Parenthood is something I cannot hope to understand at this point in my life, but the amount of daunting effort it takes makes me admire my own mom even more. Despite not being her blood-born father, Daikichi does what it takes in his journey to become a dad. Rin is a very sweet and cute kid. Watching both of them together has got to be one of the best feelings I've ever had while viewing anime. Parents are awesome when they give it their best. This one really made me think of my own circumstances. Maybe one day I can forgive my dad. Maybe one day I'll be able to pay back my mom for all she's done for me. I hope that I can become the adult they wanted me to be. That's the least I can do for all the work it must take.

11) The Disappearance Of Haruhi Suzumiya

Aliens, time travelers, and espers are only allowed from this point onward! Originally, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was a light novel series about a girl named Haruhi Suzumiya that believes in these supernatural entities and makes a club to discover them. The main character by the name of Kyon gets dragged into her grand scheme and actually makes contact with the other members who happen to be those entities themselves! At the crux of it all is the revelation that Haruhi may actually be considered God and that various factions are out to determine her true nature. Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to be aware of her own abilities, so the club has to tread lightly and deal with the consequences of her inner turmoil as they affect the external world. While the original first season of the anime is pretty great and the second season has the infamous and ballsy Endless Eight to its name, the true masterpiece in the Haruhi saga is the movie adaptation of the fourth volume, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya.

In The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, the SOS Brigade decides to hold a Christmas party. While preparing for it, Kyon arrives at school days later to find out that everything around him has changed. Haruhi is nowhere to be found and the other club members do not recognize him. The entire world has changed its face, and the only one who remembers the original world is Kyon himself! Stunning animation and music aside, the plot and characters are absolutely phenomenal even if they're a bit inferior to their light novel counterparts. Kyon's revelation about his times with the SOS Brigade and his true identity and desires as he analyzes the situation with himself has to be one of the most emotionally gripping scenes in all of anime. While Haruhi is known far and wide, Disappearance is the real masterpiece of the bunch, blending together the elements of the series itself with absolute perfection to create a unique ride that will leave you wanting to delve into more of the series. And don't worry -- it only gets better from here!

Why I Chose It: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was one of the first shows that displayed the promise of the medium to me. It was different. It was daring. The series itself has become my favorite light novel series by far, spanning 11 different volumes to date. Kyon is one of my favorite protagonists due to his snarky and sarcastic attitude towards the weird and unnatural events in his life as he tries to temper the bustling and exciting Haruhi. The entire main cast of characters have interesting quirks and personalities beyond their supernatural personas as well, making the show highly enjoyable in seeing all of them mix and match with each other in dialogue as Kyon comments on all of his observations and inferences. Haruhi is just an innocent search for something beyond the normal, and for that I salute it. Disappearance is by far the best anime adaptation of my favorite novel of the series.

My Top 30 Favorite Anime | 20 ~ 16

20) Welcome to the NHK!

All of my problems and the plagues of society -- they are caused by the NHK! Welcome to the NHK is about a hikikomori (a shut-in for those illiterate in terms of moonspeak) and his perception of the world. He gets selected for a project that aims to slowly integrate him back into society. In the meantime, lots of hijinks occur involving the otaku lifestyle and the disturbed psyche of the main character. The absurdity of the main character in his thought process highlights a thoroughly engaging show that manages to balance both the hilarious and serious aspects of the situations he encounters. The cast itself is likeable, but they obviously take a backseat to the protagonist's development and clearly serve as tools to provide a commentary on one of the modern issues that affects the Japanese youth to this day. While other shows often treat serious topics with disrespect or melodrama, NHK provides a thought-provoking analysis in a ride that's sure to be unforgettable to anyone who takes the journey as a challenge and rides with the absurdity of it all.

Why I Chose It: Anime is often underestimated. The medium CAN tackle these types of issues with respect and dignity. NHK does not pull back on the punches -- it clearly illustrates how pathetic the lifestyle of a NEET/hikikomori is. However, at the same time, it never belittles the humanity of those who engage in the lifestyle. NHK is one-of-a-kind in that respect, which makes it quite the memorable show for me. Also, while it is tackling a very serious issue, that doesn't mean it can't provide all sorts of comedic opportunities. I mean seriously, how is a conspiracy organization involved in all of the world's problems not an opportunity for comedic gold when it's clearly only a product of the protagonist's delusional state of mind? In addition, it also provides a somewhat smaller commentary on the nature of otaku and how the mindset feeds into the shut-in lifestyle. NHK is just the type of show all fans of the medium need to see -- it's very applicable and practical and an extremely fun ride to boot.

19) 5 Centimeters Per Second

Perhaps the most critically acclaimed of the movies produced by the brilliant mind of Makoto Shinkai, 5 Centimeters Per Second is about the separation of two very close friends from one another, Takaki Tohno and Akari Shinohara. Before Akari moves, Takaki meets with her one last time to discover that both of them hold a deep love for one another... Alas, the two must part, but they continue to keep communication with one another as both the physical and emotional distances between one another grows as the years go by. The movie itself is separated into three distinct arcs that chronicle the different parts of their lives and how they cope with the distance. These arcs are done in a different type of perspective each time, so the style of the movie is unique and sets itself apart from all other romances. Besides the breathtaking animation that still astounds and amazes to this day, 5 cm/s masterfully conveys a story with brilliant characterization and depicts the realistic consequences of distance and its profound effect on the characters involved. While the pacing is extremely fast-paced to the point of rushing, the movie otherwise excels in all categories; it possesses a (ironically) real magic that helps set itself apart as a staple of romance in the entire medium.

Why I Chose It: 5 cm/s is a real enigma to me. The first time I watched it, I was deeply moved by its accurate portrayal of the effects of distance on relationships. The movie hits home for me because I've been in a numerous amount of relationships where I could not physically interact with the person I loved. However, upon re-watching it, I don't really feel much of anything. It's definitely a masterpiece in romance anime and storytelling, but for some reason I just feel nothing with each rewatch. It really began to hit me why after my last viewing though -- the outcome of my ventures was the same as one of the characters in the movie, something I didn't quite desire to register. I actually wanted to watch it with the first person I ever loved, but our time was up before I could ever ask her to watch it with me. There's a lot of personal and sentimental value in this one for me. I suppose regret is a big part of why I feel so defeated whenever I decide to watch it again. The reason why I keep coming back to 5 cm/s is simple -- I want to hope again like the characters do.

18) Hotarubi no Mori e

Hotarubi is a short movie about a young girl that visits an enchanted forest on her summer vacation only to find a spirit in the form of a young man in a mask. However, she cannot touch him; he will instantly vanish and disappear for good upon physical contact with anyone else. As the years pass, the girl continues to visit him and spend her summer vacations conversing with the young lad. Hotarubi is an excellent title involving a myriad of supernatural elements that serve as a backdrop to the engaging and heartwarming relationship between the two main characters. Despite the short length of the film, Hotarubi conveys the warmth of their sparse but meaningful times together with excellent pacing and superb characterization. The movie itself plays out very much akin to a fairy tale or a story passed down through generations, giving Hotarubi a nostalgic feel as the relationship between the two is examined. A small yet infinitely satisfying package, Hotarubi left me pondering and craving for more.

Why I Chose It: Hotarubi is a film I only recently had the chance of watching thanks to the recommendation of a close friend. The combination of her recommendation and the original author of the story propelled me to finally checking it out, and I was most assuredly satisfied. The relationship of the two main characters and their seemingly trivial yet meaningful conversations filled me with a fuzzy feeling of happiness and nostalgia; I found myself desiring a connection as deep as theirs with someone else. I was also astounded that even though the movie is really short (around 45ish minutes, give or take a few), it had amazing pacing and covered a lot of ground without sacrificing storytelling or optimal characterization. Overall, Hotarubi's charming characters and touching tale is something I'll never forget; the movie gave me hope in the midst of hard times, and for that I thank such a wonderful story.

17) Baccano!

I could never hope to summarize even a tenth of the plot of Baccano in even a short paragraph, so I'll try to keep this to relevant information: Trains. Mafias. Immortality. Survival. Mother'uckin' Ladd Russo! Baccano involves the tale of a transcontinental train and its passengers as they all fight either for their own agendas or merely just to survive. Baccano has incredibly satisfying action with elaborate gunfights and badassery all around. The show's method of storytelling involves multiple stories that span across years (even centuries), yet they're conveyed in separate chunks alongside one another in each episode. The atmosphere of the time periods is expertly shown in the music and interactions between the characters. Baccano excels purely in an incredibly diverse and effective cast with dozens of separate and unique identities. All in all, the show is an incredibly fun tale of debauchery and mayhem with characters that exude the show's awesomeness in general. I can't really sum it up in anything other than these words: Watch now!

Why I Chose It: All of the characters in Baccano are the definition of badass, pure and simple. Some of my favorite characters in anime period are in this show. I always have this goofy grin on when I get to see the one and only Ladd Russo wrecking the shit out of some goons merely for his own amusement. I also really dig the parallel stories going on within the overall show; it's not a new method by any means, but it works extremely well for the show. The immortality bit may be a bit tough for some people to chew, but anyone can overlook it after seeing the amounts of kickass action that rivals the upbeat flow of jazz in the show's musical score. It's the type of show one can turn their brain off to and simply enjoy for the fun it provides -- something that's often neglected in the medium. You don't need to be deep by any means to provide quality entertainment; I get the message loud and clear, Baccano!

16) Kanon (2006)

Once upon a time, there was an upstart company that decided to make its first visual novel and pretty much revolutionize the entire genre from that point on. The company's name is the infamous Key and their first work is known as Kanon. A few years later in the year of 2002, the visual novel garnered enough recognition for an anime adaptation. Too bad it sucked the big one; from what I gather, the 2002 adaptation has too few episodes and focused on all the wrong bits. Fast forward to the year 2006, a little studio by the name of Kyoto Animation decides to pick up Key's first work for a second run after their previous work with an adaptation of Key's Air, another visual novel that came after Kanon. And what do you know, KyoAni manages to work magic on their adaptation of Kanon and create something masterful.

Kanon is about a guy named Yuuichi Aizawa who is moving back to his cousin's house in an indiscreet city to attend school there. The last time he ventured there was seven years ago, and apparently he caught an amnesia of sorts -- he can't remember what happened back then before he came back home, but he gets the feel it was something important. In the meantime, he begins to encounter all sorts of girls "coincidentally" that may or may not be connected with his past. Okay, so the premise of memory loss and convenient plot armor may be a bit dated, but Kanon has a very heart-wrenching story with interesting characters and the right balance of comedy and drama. It also involves quite a bit of romance and has animation that's more beautiful than even some current shows. The adaptation itself follows the novel incredibly closely, so it's no wonder KyoAni and Key managed to create names for themselves respectively with the original and the adaptation together. The wintery atmosphere provides just the right touch for an emotional story.

Why I Chose It: Oh Kanon, we've been through a lot together, haven't we? I swear I've watched this show about six or seven times. Kanon is a great gateway romance/drama that encapsulated me from the get-go, so it's no surprise I find myself rewatching it the most; it was pretty much the first romance anime I ever watched extensively. I'm certain that I first watched it back near the end of middle school near the time it first started airing, so there's a lot of history with it. It's definitely a tearjerker though... I swear Key stuffs onions in their plots or something, because the waterworks occur involuntarily no matter how connected you are to the characters. While it may not stand up as much as I remember it to after gaining more experience on the medium in general, I still highly recommend the show for its devotion to the source material and the interesting characters. Also, it's pretty funny for a moeblob that prides itself on drama and stuff.