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.

The Enlightened?

            Lord Saddler, leader of the Los Illuminados, is a villain, a total bad guy or at least through the perspective of the game Resident Evil 4, in particular Leon S. Kennedy’s perspective – hint, he is the good guy. I put forth two explanations for his being the villain: he has Ashley kidnapped, and Saddler proposes that humans incorporate Las Plagas into their bodies to grow stronger. The first explanation is too simplistic. This second proposal, however, has more important questions and implications. Los Illuminados are a “religious community,” according to Saddler. As a result, their philosophy must be examined seriously. Dropping a moralistic view of “good and evil,” we are left with one question: what are the implications of becoming stronger with the Plagas?

            The best structure for such an analysis roughly follows the game’s plot, while examining multiple characters. Such is preceded by a brief explanation of the Las Plagas, basic biology, and the Los Illuminados. Furthermore this analysis looks mainly at Leon, Ashley – who is kidnapped because she is the president’s daughter – Mendez, Salazar, and Saddler.

Las Plagas – a parasite – lay dormant in a spore-like form in the rocks below the Castle of Salazar, a deputy of sorts to Lord Saddler. Under basic biology, a parasite is a creature that benefits as its host suffers. Las Plagas enter their host and remain there, capable of manipulating their host’s behavior. Luis Sera, formerly a researcher of Las Plagas, notes that they tend to live in groups and adapt to different environments. Finally, they can only be removed through use of special radiation; the Plagas become firmly engrained in the host.

To repeat: Los Illuminados is a religious group; their view – Saddler’s view, to be specific – is a world view, or meant to be. For evidence that they are a group, see Chief Bitores Mendez’s statements. “Hmm. You carry the same blood as us it seems. Nevertheless you’re an outside. Just remember, if you become a nuisance, you’ll face extreme consequences. In short, screwing around is unacceptable, because nothing may stand in their way. Opposition to their views is anathema. That begs the question “what are Saddler’s views?”

In Chapter 1-2, Leon is captured by Ganados – the villagers who follow Los Illuminados – and Saddler has Plagas eggs placed into Leon. The Lord says, “Feeble humans. Let us give you our power.” Mainly he believes that the power is the end goal, and so apparently do his followers. Everyone it follows chooses this power to be stronger. Possibly a longer life may result. Finally he may hold this view simply so he can be a megalomaniac, and control people. Consider that he has conditioned the villagers to gather by the tower in the village when the church bell is rung. At the very least, Saddler’s group benefits his own agenda. Finally he notes that when the Plagas eggs hatch he will have control over Leon. Saddler wonders, “Don’t you think this is a revolutionary way to propagate one’s faith?” Plagas even helps spur the growth of their faith, simultaneously noble and ignoble. Other characters must be analyzed to fully understand the aims of those with Plagas.

Let us turn to Ashley and Leon, both of whom were injected with Plagas eggs. They oppose Saddler on one ground – that being his having Ashley be kidnapped – yet they seem to also contrast him in a more ideological sense. In 3-1, at the castle the two meet Luis Sera, who lost the drug he had brought – “a drug that will stop your convulsions. […] You’ve been coughing up blood, right?” While Mendez, Salazar, and Saddler believe in this Plagas-derived power, Ashley and Leon seem to have doubts. Detrimental physical effects seem to result from living with Plagas. Parasites – in a biological sense – harm the host while benefitting themselves. In this sense, the transformation is not beneficial. The main characters consider life without to be preferable, thus they get the Plagas removed.

Here I present a brief roadmap: from here I shall discuss particular enemies, followed by Salazar, Krausser (briefly), and finally Saddler once again, followed by something in the way of conclusion.

The enemies of which I speak are Garridors and Regenerators. Both are the results of Plagas experiments. Garridor are warriors slightly reminiscent of Wolverine from the X-men, in particular their claws; their eyes are stitched shut. Additionally they have a Plagas growth in their back. At the same time, Regenerators resemble mummies left preserved for a while; they have Plagas embedded in multiple locations, usually 3 or 4; these locations are visible only with thermal imaging. Obviously Regenerators regenerate, specifically lost body parts due to their extremely high metabolism. Naturally in both cases Plagas make a being more powerful, even granting a longer life, in the latter’s case. Both enemies are tougher than regular enemies, and tend to be far more intimidating upon initial encounter. Despite their power and possible longevity, their situation seems to be unfortunate. For example, Leon first meets a Garridor in a prison cell, the first Regenerator in an enclosed hospital-esque room where experimentation occurred. Furthermore the creatures are physically deformed and distasteful archetypally. The Regenerator resembles the living dead, by its mummy-esque appearance; in short, many humans are averse to the dead coming back to life. Garridors represent twisted, corrupted life, especially due to their stitched eyes; they were once-human, but now they represent a more animalistic state. The obvious Plagas growth emitted from their back represents corruption of the body, and further distinguishes them from humans through perversion. Are the Plagas desirable – the question still remains.

Salazar describes the Plagas within him. “I have been honored with the prodigious power from the great Lord.” Like Lord Saddler, Salazar believes in the power. On the other hand, the butler of the family believes his master is being used. Leon notes, “So you’re just like all the others, a puppet of the Parasites.” To this, Salazar distinguishes himself from the mere Ganados; due to his higher status, he has total control over Las Plagas and has nothing to fear. He firmly believes in Saddler’s views. He assisted with the excavating of the Las Plagas by granting Saddler’s men entrance to the stones where the parasite lived. According to Ramon Salazar, the parasite has no drawbacks. There is no issue with accepting the Plagas: they simply make one more powerful. Despite their magnificent power, Leon murders Salazar and both of his bodyguards. Surprisingly the human can still prevail over the Plagas. This victory indicates that perhaps Plagas transformation is even unnecessary and amounts to mere corruption. Or, Plagas are simply not that powerful. Maybe one can see Leon’s victory as that of someone holding his ground against an evil biohazard that in which he does not partake.

One other character provides insight to another why behind the Plagas, by whom I mean Krausser. First: in the Separate Ways extra mission, the player learns that Krausser is interested in the Las Plagas themselves, though he is not working with Los Illuminados directly. Krausser tells Leon after their knife fight that “it’s nto like you can escape your inevitable death, is it?” The Plagas represent power in an existentialist sense; the Power gives meaning to life and lets one survive in such a mad world. Krausser admits that he wants to bring order and balance to “this insane world of our’s.” The power is not the end goal for him, but rather the meaning – the “order and balance,” if you will.

Saddler’s true end goal is not the power, but his political goal, though he desires to cultivate that erroneous impression. When he meets Leon, right as he rescues Ashley again, Saddler notices that Leon prefers death over “an awesome power.” Luis also preferred death over that power, and he did die for the sake of fighting the Plagas, though he concedes initial interest. The Plagas’ power is not worth it to some people. Ashley and Leon, as I have already said, opt to remove the Plagas. The parasites are too corrupting, in their view.

Here I should mention the politics behind Saddler’s goal. He is frustrated about the United States’ role in world affairs, so he wants to use Plagas- controlled henchmen to infiltrate the American government. This a Saddler memo confirms. His desire for awesome power becomes the vehicle for a simple political urge, thus Los Illuminados seems more akin to a terrorist organization than a “religious community.” Saddler seems to be the only one behind this particular plot, however. Salazar seems to be out-of-the-loop and just wants the power. On a side note, Plagas reflect the conscience of their host, and thus Plagas could be used “for good.” Theoretically, at least. Another issue is that Sadler can control Las Plagas with the special radiation already mentioned, which lends less credibility to this “for good” claim. It seems that Saddler has complete control, even if he did trust Salazar. The Lord’s control makes him seem like a manipulative megalomaniac with only one goal in mind, not preserving his religion. At the same time, others view the Plagas as still useful, and even great.

Now I return to the question I asked earlier, to which I answer I would not want the Plagas personally, but to each his own, I suppose. There are benefits, more than one would think, but it is simply too corrupting. Someone would possible want the Plagas, like Salazar or Krausser. Maybe Las Plagas have the most importance in the sense of the existentialist power – they give meaning to the world. Leon’s victory over Los Illuminados suggests that maybe the matter-of-fact strength is not a plus in the case of the Las plagas.

A Tale of Two Comics

My Top 30 Favorite Anime | 25 ~ 21

25) Spice and Wolf (both seasons)

Romance shows tend to gravitate near the bottom of my favorites for some reason. Ah, whatever, most of this isn't in a specific order anyway. Spice and Wolf is about a peddling merchant named Lawrence Craft that discovers a wolf deity that goes by the name of Holo while stopping by a village. The two of them then decide to travel together due to Holo's desire to go up north. There are two facets to the show, and both of them are fantastic and superbly done. The first is obviously romance. The chemistry between Lawrence and Holo is unforgettable; their constant teasing and flirtation with each other to see who gains the upper hand in the midst of their travels is unrivaled by any other duo I've seen. Every conversation and action is full of charm and the desire to understand. There's a bit of supernatural in it because of the nature of Holo's character, but it takes a backseat to their interactions. The other facet of Spice and Wolf involves economics in a medieval-esque setting, which is an extremely unique perspective in the type of time period portrayed. Bartering and merchant wares and deals of all sorts take place in the show as Lawrence hopes to gain the money to open up his own business someday. Economics is made fascinating, making this show even more of a stand-out than it already is.

Why I Chose It: Spice and Wolf is just an endearing show all around. The characterization is so phenomenal and realistic despite the little supernatural elements present in the actual show. A focus on making economics interesting of all things is a fresh perspective, especially in the medium of anime. Holo is one of the strongest, most headstrong female leads I've ever had the pleasure of watching -- no wonder she garners a lot of popularity among the crowd. She's older than she looks, so she's got her own past and lacks the Mary Sue innocence of a lot of other female leads. Lawrence is no pushover either; he's also a very strong male lead and compliments Holo perfectly. I can think of very few character chemistrys I enjoy to this level, much less more... And the majority of them aren't romances like theirs is. They're just fun to watch together, and the fresh spin on setting perspective makes this one of the most memorable experiences I've had the pleasure of watching.

Okay, I went through that without making a tasteless furry joke. Phew, I can relax now.

24) Working!! (both seasons)

A show that's just all about fun... ironically, Working is a comedic slice of life about a restaurant and its rather diverse staff. There's a high school guy obsessed with all things young, adorable, and cute, an androphobic and involuntarily violent girl who punches any male that even enters her line of vision, a cute high school girl mistaken for an elementary student, a funny love triangle (if it can even be called that...) involving the lazy food-crazed manager of the restaurant, her junior waitress who carries a samurai sword and waits on her hand and foot, and a stoic guy that has a crush on said waitress, an even younger girl who lives in the restaurant's attic due to running away from home, and a conniving blackmailer who has information on pretty much anybody. A real mouthful, but the silly scenarios and conversations held by these diverse personalities highlights the pretty funny comedy that ensures in their special workplace. Not really much else to say - it's a fun little romp of a comedic slice of life with unique and eccentric characters and their encounters with one another as they work from day to day.

Why I Chose It: In an arena of shows that take their premise way too seriously or in very dark directions, Working is very parallel to The Daily Lives of High School Boys in that it's a very lighthearted and spirited show. The conflicts involved are small and miniscule, yet they lead to the most hilarious of encounters and situations. Also, I love the entire character cast... There is literally not a single character that doesn't manage to put a smile on my face in this show. While stuff like Spice and Wolf excels in one-on-one character relationships, Working goes above and beyond in all-out free-for-all relationships between the scope of its entire cast. If you want something to cheer you up, this show is a great anti-depressant without any side effects. I guarantee that goofy smiles will occur whether you want them to or not.

23) Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

In an age where cybernetics has taken root and altered society, the government has created a special police unit known as Section 9 to respond to cyber-terrorism and crimes of similar intent. Ghost in the Shell is a fantastic show with science fiction and cyberpunk elements that focuses on the trials of the members of Section 9 as they deal with a top-notch hacker known as "The Laughing Man." Ghost in the Shell has a very intriguing cast of characters with their own quirks and histories, and seeing them aide one another in figuring out the various crimes they endure is quite the entertaining journey. The universe is also fleshed out in a believable manner and happens to tackle the morality of an advanced generation of human and machine and what constitutes a "person." Furthermore, the show has very satisfying and intense action to accompany the journey to solving each crime as the overall narrative continues onward. The show is episodic for the most part (the first season is, anyway) until near the conclusion, where the mass occurrences of crimes all have a connection in one of the most fascinating antagonists in anime history. Overall, Ghost in the Shell is an awesome take on the future of technological innovation and its consequences.

Why I Chose It: I'm a Computer Science major. It's obvious that concepts like the Singularity, the self-aware AI, and technology-oriented innovations fascinate me. Likewise, I also enjoy science fiction and cyberpunk for the same reason I enjoy thinking about how technology will change the scope of humanity in the future. Ghost in the Shell is one of the possible futures we could encounter. The line between machine and human may reach the point of blurred equivalence, and the show handles this subject matter extremely well. The crimes are also fascinating, and The Laughing Man has to be one of my favorite villains ever. The character cast is kickass and does their job well. This show is a good reminder why we must be willing to accept the consequences of innovation and evolving as humans and why morality is such an important thing for us humans in general. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any of the movies OR the second season as of this post, but the first season is awesome. I hope to remedy my situation by watching the second season this summer, but if this is of any sign, anything in the Ghost in the Shell universe is worth watching.

22) Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (all seasons/OVAs)

Itoshiki Nozomu is a high school teacher who DESPAIRS at the blasphemies of society. So much that he wants to commit suicide every time he's brought to despair! Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is about this suicidal teacher and his students as they undergo the analysis of various absurdities in society and the world at large. SZS is pretty much the exact opposite of shows like Working!! and The Daily Lives of High School Boys in that it employs a large amount of dark humor and references the crap out of other anime in its dialogues. SZS is definitely not for most gateway anime viewers, but those who have watched many anime shows will come to appreciate the absurdity of its morbid, non-sequitur pacing and comedy. The characters themselves are also interesting and have emotional problems that are just as bad as Itoshiki's suicidal tendencies, but all of them are pretty much played for laughs. It's a fun show especially recommended for those who like that type of dark and referential humor.

Why I Chose It: Honestly, I like most types of humor, and SZS really excels at what it does. Each episode unfolds similarly, focusing on one type of problem that Itoshiki points out and has its cast play out the entire situation in comical fashion. It's also the kind of show you can watch one episode of and be completely satisfied; it's a nice pick up and watch anime, in other words. I dig the characters, but if you're expecting the show to take itself seriously, than you might wanna look elsewhere. Music for the openings is awesome, by the way. Other than that... It's a fun little comedy that's off-kilter, and that's why it stands out for me, personally.

21) Monster

Tenma is a brain surgeon at the height of his profession, engaged to be married and critically acclaimed in his field. All of this changed one night when in the midst of choosing between operating to save the life of either the mayor of his city or a young child, he picks the latter. Afterwards, he is shunned and despised by all, has his engagement broken off, and suffers for believing that all life is equal in his personal convictions. However, a chain of murders occurs around Tenma from that point onward, and it may be that the one he saved is the murderer. From this point, Tenma vows to find the truth about the child's true identity and to stop the murders from happening. Monster is one of the definitive masterpieces of the medium, exploring the psyches of its entire cast and providing a thrill ride of mystery and suspense that is rivaled by none other. The characters have an unbelievable amount of depth and the plot unfolds at a pace that keeps you hooked despite the gigantic length of the show. Naoki Urasawa is behind this masterpiece, probably better known for his work on the manga 20th Century Boys. He proves himself to be a master of the craft of thriller in Monster, and for that I respect him above most others. Also, Monster's art style is as purposefully ugly as its own title, creating true originality and beauty in an aesthetic sense.

Why I Chose It: Monster is the best thriller I've ever watched. The whole show is extremely dark and paints morality in hundreds of different shades. Is the righteous and just choice necessarily the right choice? Monster understands the human condition inside and out, and I have to applaud it for that and more. Personally, I'm not really keen on shows that are over-the-top dark and without hope, but Monster seems to have the right balance of portraying humanity's helplessness and despair while showing that the small amount of light there is should always be chased after. In addition, Monster's main antagonist is quite possibly my favorite villain in anime (though Char Aznable from Mobile Suit Gundam takes the cake too). I can't say enough good things about the show; the only disheartening factor is the length of around 70ish episodes, but it's definitely an experience I'll never forget.