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scorpionatori · 1 year

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Top 5 Backstories in Anime/Manga

5. “Cushion of Grass” - Mushishi

“In this world, every person and place has a right to exist. It’s true for you, too. Nature itself allowed you to come back. The entire world as a whole is your home.”

Although Mushishi has a more "monster of the week" structure and isn't focused on developing fleshed out character arcs, the series still gives us two wonderful backstory episodes about our protagonist, Ginko. In "Cushion of Grass", an older mushi-shi comes across a young Ginko who's collapsed in the woods, surrounded by mushi. Ginko stays for a little while, but things take a turn for the worse when Ginko accidentally drops the egg of the unborn mountain lord, killing it.

While adult Ginko is a content and capable traveler and professional, child Ginko is a lonely outcast without a home or any place he can permanently stay, given he attracts mushi. It's even revealed that other mushi-shi would take advantage of him to attract mushi to different areas so he could get them jobs.

Ginko doesn't think someone like him belongs anywhere. And then he causes the death of the new mountain lord. But despite this, he's allowed to return to the world after getting pulled into the world of mushi. The man who had been looking after him tells him that, although he can't forgive him for what he did, he needs to remember that he belongs in this world. That every living thing has a right to exist, including him. The entire world is his home. This sets off Ginko's worldview we see throughout the series. He finds contentment in his lonely life of wandering and truly does seem to feel home wherever he is. He believes that humans and mushi both deserve to exist in the world.

"Cushion of Grass" is a beautifully written backstory, and the anime does an amazing job bringing it to life.

4. “Parent and Child” - Re:Zero

“‘I don’t love you.’ ‘I disown you.’ You are not… my son.’ I wished, you’d just say that to me, and throw me away. I wished, you’d give up on me.” - Natsuki Subaru

How Re:Zero fans watched this and still thought Subaru was just some whiny annoying protagonist who never learns his lessons is beyond me. In this, we truly see how much he has grown as he undergoes the Witch's trial in the Sanctuary.

Even with this series being full of truly tragic backstories, the story of Subaru's normal childhood still made me the most emotional.

Subaru is a very smart and talented kid with skills all around and a charismatic personality. He's good at school and sports and is very popular. His father is the same way, and he grows up constantly being compared to him. His identity ends up becoming wrapped up in the image of his father. Although this may seem harmless and although his father did nothing wrong, the constant comparisons give Subaru a highly idealized view of who he's supposed to be, and he eventually becomes incredibly burnt out by all the expectations placed on him to be as amazing as his father. He starts self-sabotaging, neglecting his studies and getting into trouble with the other kids. Eventually he stops going to school altogether and locks himself in his room all day.

Despite having people who care about him and growing up being praised, Subaru truly hates himself. He even admits he wishes his loving parents would beat him and get rid of him, because he thinks that's what he deserves. It feels devastating to him that someone as low as him would receive any form of love. He intentionally tries to make himself a lazy and worthless human being, hoping it will cause people to resent him the way he resents himself.

In the trial, he finally has to confront this aspect of himself and he does so with success.

3. Twilight’s backstory - Spy x Family

“I didn’t know anything. I never did. I didn’t know the real reason the war had started. I thought there wouldn’t be a war at all. I’d been convinced they’d all died in the bombing. I hated the enemy without knowing why. I picked up a gun without knowing why. I obeyed my country without knowing why. Ignorance isn’t bliss. Ignorance is weakness. Ignorance is a sin.” - Agent Twilight

Despite being a comedy manga, Spy x Family does not shy away from the horrors of war, especially when it gives us Agent Twilight’s backstory. The arc opens up on Twilight and his friends as children playing a game about war, and Twilight is by far the most into it. As we continue and see him talk about the political conflict and clash with his father, we find out he strongly glorifies war and demonizes the enemy, the country of Ostania. He’s been fed propaganda against the enemy, even to the point where he and all the children believe the Ostanians are literal monsters. But then a war completely breaks out and steals everything from him. His town is bombed, and then the town he and his mother escape to. His mother is killed in the second bombing and he becomes a homeless war orphan. When he’s older he joins the military, determined to crush the enemy. He becomes a very capable and destructive soldier.

His life changes after meeting his now friend Frankie, an enemy soldier who thinks the war is stupid and pointless. He’s disillusioned when Frankie tells him that the Ostanian’s were fed the exact same propaganda as the Westalian’s on Twilight’s side, and that both sides are just human beings fighting a pointless war. He realizes he’s been living a life of ignorance. This is how he becomes a spy and vows to prevent another war from every happening again.

Overall, this arc is one of my favorite pieces of anti-war media I’ve seen. It depicts how dangerous and evil propaganda and ignorance is, and how it turns people against each other only to feed a political agenda. The panels depicting the aftermath of the bombings are truly chilling, and Endo doesn’t sanitize how horrible the war is, even if this is normally just supposed to be a funny manga.

2. “A World Unbent” - Natsume Yuujinchou

“If I keep going, I might find out how to get rid of this thing. Without it, I won’t have to feel so irritated. I might be able to be a nicer person. Even to my family…” - Natori

“Maybe things look distorted because you try to see through these useless things.” - Matoba

The episode that solidified Natori Shuuichi as the best character in NatsuYuu for me. This backstory depicts Natori’s introduction to the world of exorcism. The plot itself is simple enough, but it’s such a beautiful character study of the character who's sadly received too much undue hate from the fandom. We see the big contrast between present day Natori and teenage Natori watching this. The former is friendly and charming and the latter is standoffish and irritable. It truly gives us a look into his inner turmoil and psyche that we don’t get to see as often in the present day.

Natori as a teen is shown to be very detached from people and surroundings, and he describes his world as “wavering”. He meets teenage Matoba, who is sure of himself and confident and never wavers. Natori immediately finds himself unable to deal with Matoba despite him being his first peer to share his abilities. He resists his assistance, fearing his accomplishments will mean nothing if they come with the help of someone more capable. We see that Natori is desperate to become strong and good enough by himself.

Contrary to how he acts present day, we see that Natori has a very low and fragile view of himself, even feeling that he’s a bad guy. He's an outcast both at home and at school, and has no one he can lean on. He's enticed to the world of exorcism, especially after meeting Takuma, who treats him with kindness. He wants to become a stronger person who helps people, and he looks for this in the exorcist community. He also hopes to one day find a way to get rid of the ominous lizard youkai that crawls around on his body. If he gets rid of it, he wonders if this will let him become a kinder person.

While present day Natori is someone who does not wear his heart on his sleeve, "A World Unbent" allows us to see deeper into him and his character in complete vulnerability. There's a beautiful aching to the narration of this episode which rivals the rest of a series full of beautiful aching narration. It makes it clear how deeply Natori is hurting, and how much he's longing to find something he can cling to in life and how much he yearns to be a kind person. It's just overall a beautiful backstory episode that provides so much depth to an already well written character.

1. “Dark Era” - Bungo Stray Dogs

“I joined the mafia because of an expectation I had. I thought if I was close to death and violence—close to people giving into their urges and desires, then I would be able to see the inner nature of humankind up close. I thought if I did that… I would be able to find something—a reason to live.” - Dazai

“Be on the side that saves people… if both sides are the same, choose to become a good person. Save the weak, protect the orphaned. You might not see a great difference between right and wrong, but… saving others is something just a bit more wonderful.” - Oda

Are my NatsuYuu followers surprised I ranked something even above "A World Unbent"? Long before I even watched the series my brother told me that this was the best backstory he’d ever seen. He was right. Dark Era follows the last few living days of Osamu Dazai’s friend Oda Sakunosuke, a character not introduced until this arc. Despite being best friends with the violent Port Mafia executive Dazai, Oda is a low ranking member who doesn’t kill people. His reason for not killing is that he wants to become a writer. A person who takes lives has no right to write about them. However, after getting caught in the plot of a foreign ex-military group whose boss desires the perfect person to kill him in battle, he’s driven to violently eradicate the group after they kill the orphans he’s been providing for.

Although he still has his goofy moments, we get to see how terrifying and dark Dazai was as a Port Mafia executive, ordering executions and beating and threatening his then subordinate, Akutagawa. Pointing a gun at Akutagawa’s head, he contrasts himself with Oda, a man who protects orphans and doesn’t kill people, saying the light of righteousness is not on his side. We see him at the very end of his mafia career, as Oda’s death drives him to leave.

Before he leaves to fight the group, Oda hears from Dazai that the reason he joined the mafia was because he wanted to be close to the violence and bloodshed and people giving in to human desires, hoping in it he’d find some meaning in living. While he’s dying, Oda tells Dazai he’ll never find that and he’ll never be able to fill the dark lonely hole inside of him. But he goes on to say that if neither a life of helping or a life of killing will be able to bring meaning to his existence, he should choose to become a better person and live his life saving people. That’s a more beautiful way to live.

Dazai follows his dying friend’s advice and leaves the violent Port Mafia to eventually join the Armed Detective Agency where he works now. Oda’s words were a beautiful way to approach someone as nihilistic as Dazai who saw no meaning in life and abandoned ideas of what’s good or evil. If there’s no meaning in a life of killing or a life of saving, it’s more beautiful to choose the side that saves people. Dazai's nihilistic worldview isn't argued with or challenged. Oda never tries to convince him that there will be meaning in his life if he keeps searching for it. Instead, he reminds him that beauty and good can exist in life, even if it is meaningless. Good and kindhearted Oda deeply cares for Dazai despite his friend's darkness and lack of morality, and in the end he's able to find the right thing to tell him that makes him change his lifestyle to become a better person.

Dark Era, in my opinion, is the masterpiece of Bungo Stray Dogs and is a beautiful story all on its own.

#bsd #natsume yuujinchou #spy x family #re zero #mushishi #bsd dazai #bsd odasaku #natori shuuichi #matoba seiji #loid forger #natsuki subaru #ginko

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kustas · 9 months

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sorry for the more critical requests before.

Top 10 anime that you think went under the radar or are generally unknown

Top 10 anime you like the world building of

It's all good! I'm not gonna know enough anime for all this so I'll do the broad categories.

Anime I like that's unknown or went under the radar

The reason why I spent so many posts shilling Inu-oh is because of how hard it was flopping in american theaters. Many things factored in it but still disappointing. It's a great movie!

Related ish, I had a lot of fun watching Heike Story and saw nobody talk about it.

One of my favorite shows I watched this year was the second season of Megalobox which I had never heard of. The first season is not good though

"what if Ghibli made-" have you seen Ronja yet? If not watch Ronja. I can bet most of you will not have watched Ronja

While I'm at it Castle Cagliostro is by no means recent but it's a delight

One of the best kid's shows I watched was Ōban Star-racers which I've never seen talked about online at all barring french people. It's a cute and clever show with extremely Y2K designs and it's just a fun time. Should be entirely up on YouTube for free, if you're in the mood for jetix type nostalgia go wild, it's pretty short

Speaking of stuff that's free on YT: the little prince and the eight headed dragon! An old movie (1960s) with an amazing art style

Third round of free on YT: the animated Ramayana. It's a long one so prepare for that but I liked it a lot. Got remastered recently too so if you want to buy it in HD

Shows (... and I'm adding manga) who's worldbuilding I like

Mushishi. Mushishi is a lovely, well thought of and touching show in the first place who drifts seamlessly between horror and slice of life. The worldbuilding aspect that rules is the presentation of the mushi at each episode, their variety and creativity and how they are portrayed as beings and as part of an ecosystem.

Letter Bee. I'll give a disclaimer - the worldbuilding is pretty much the only good thing about this series especially if you are watching it. But in terms of casually presented fantasy world, it's original, insanely in-depth and the manga treats you with a bunch of extra information about locations, folk tales and things that are a treat.

Dungeon Meshi manages to take every generic fantasy trope but spin it with an eye for biology and history to make it fresh again. The author also gives via blog posts and bonus pages a whole bunch of details that aren't in the main series yet are interesting to know.

The first half of Castle in the Sky has to be one of, if not my favorite works of fantasy of all times for how magically it depicts a bunch of very normal people living in a land that is rather alien if you squint.

Politics are usually my least favorite worldbuilding topic, but I found myself drawn by the relationship between political drama, science and large scale environmental catastrophes that makes up the backdrop for the story of Number 5

Cowboy Bebop... The chill little human pockets of life in space, their variety and cluttered quaint goodness, the musical backgrounds for them, it's all so good

Dorohedoro's worldbuilding is stupid and it works so damn well. Having God be an asshole with ADHD tendencies explains so much

#ask #I really don't watch a lot of stuff sorry

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mushishiweek · 2 years

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Mushishi Week 2022 prompt list

Our rather cunning turtle mountain lord has finally approved the combination of prompts we'll bring to the Mushishi Week this year! A masterpost with guidelines and faq will soon follow, but for now, let those prompts make some ideas sprout your creative minds!

27th of June, Day 1: healing/kouki

28th of June, Day 2: eyes/solitude

29th of June, Day 3: growth/memory

30th of June, Day 4: darkness/home

1st of July, Day 5: fish/tides

2st of July, Day 6: favourite episode

3st of July, Day 7: doodle day/river!

The "doodle day" represents a special day that we encourage you all to use as a destressing day, making whatever kind of art you create for that day in a leisurely and unpolished manner, maybe while watching your favourite show (like Mushishi, hehe), or otherwise unwinding - see you all there!

#mushishi #mushishiweek #mushishiweek2022 #mod kena

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mnkiss · 1 year

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A quick list of animes I watched and don't want to forget 2:

Spoiler, duh

OG post here:

Corpse party - similar to Another: I watched it and forgot about it…kids being creepy and killing a lot (i think) (2/10)

Yuri on Ice - loved it for the romance and the soundtrack but couldn’t care less about the skating lol Cute anime tho, I recommend it (8/10)

Kimi no nawa - cute, I cried of course, but i really wish we could have learned about their relationships more. I wanted to see them falling in love slowly and helplessly, not just a montage haha. Maybe a 7/10. Wasn’t thaaaaat great.

Dororo - I’m not as a big fan as others, but it was an interesting journey on the historical side with a much less repetitive story than I expected. It’s an old tale, a myth, told by an old man about demons and humans, and two children’s (well, an adult-ish boy and a kid) fate and character development. The show shows war and all it’s gory, terrible reality so be ready for some depressing episodes… The message of the anime is very clear and heavy. This is a remake, there is supposed to be a much older version of the anime with not 12, but 48 demons and missing body parts, but I’m not really sure if I want to watch it again. (7/10)

Citrus - Yuri, cute, well-done, but 1) Yuzu is sooooooo ugh, she is nice and kind but so easy to influence jesus she really is not the sharpest tool in the shed and that got soo annoying around ep7. >< 2) The story is weirdly written, they introduce characters as they go and as it gets comfortable for the plot, which feels like a rookie mistake but ok. Only 12 eps, two sweet girls and lots of sexual tension between them. Btw some people have misconceptions about the manga/anime. There is no incest as they are both teens and strangers when they happen to become step-sisters, and sexual assault does not get romanticized because if somebody is uncomfortable they struggle and voice that they don’t feel comfortable. That being said “You should consider other people’s feelings” is a fucking stupid answer to “Hey I don’t want to have sex with somebody”. Also the silent treatment? AND always coming with the “I had a bad childhood” shit? I’m treating the kindest, dearest person on earth like shit just because I was rejected once? Really? Fucking Mei lol. Yuzu deserves better. Like Harumi. You know, somebody who actually cares about her. 5/10

Baccano! - Gory mafia stories are always amazing but this one is like… dude. Watch it. Sadly it’s short but go and watch it and the ovas too. Oh, and watch it again because first time you miss like 10% of the story especially the first episodes. And then watch it again because it’s beautiful, has an amazing opening, wonderful characters (Naaa Miriyaa!!!! Neee Isaccu!!!!) and weird ties to the supernatural. No tears only happy smiling even during the 13th episode. One of my favourite stories of all time. (Oh and if you're one of those weirdos who love it when animes use weird brand names instead of the real ones [like hollywood becomes woodland, daily mail becomes daily days, hersheys becomes baccano] then you’ll love the small details lol) (11/10)

Tower of God - S1 is only a prologue :/ I usually don’t care about isekai or isekai-like stuff but this story is pretty immersive. I loved that there is only a moderate amount of gore even though people dying is half the anime. All the supporting characters are easy to remember, have enough screen time and we learn their history so we do care about them, the main character has all the characteristics a shounen protagonist needs but the anime itself is not in the shounen category. The soundtrack is phenomenal except the opening (sorry stray kids). Yeah, go watch it and be ready for the webtoon, they say its super long but worth it (8/10)

Wolf’s Rain - i love animals/shapeshifters in animes, but this was boooring. Idk why tho. I was hoping for a crazy adventure with ancient legends and animaguses and stuff instead I got bored. I got to 17 episodes and just stopped watching. It was good tho just not for me. Maybe I'll try watching it again...later...some day (5/10)

Cyberpunk Edgerunners - Found family? Check. Cute girl? Check. Worldbuilding, sexy superpowers, neon lights, awesome action, greedy capitalism? Check. But for 10 episodes you’ll have the feeling that something will happen and yes, that thing indeed will happen (8/10)

Jujutsu Kaisen - S1 only yet. I'm - again - more invested in the adult's story and scheming behind the scenes. Character development? It is there, baby, and it is not just thought-provoking/brooding all the time. Competent enemy? There it is, the menacing, cunning, sexy-sexy enemy. Bro time? There is some healthy, masculine bro time!(9/10)

Chainsaw Man - This is a Jujutsu Kaisen 2.0. Teen boy gets adopted to an organization that uses dark superpowers that come with a price and they kill demons but they also are too crazy for the world and die easily. Also 2 boys 1 girl, the girl is nonconvenional but looks cute, the black haired friend of main character is super cold on the outside but has a heart of butter and is like a strong brother for the MC... I'd also really love if they'd STOP FUCKING KILLING ALL THE CHARACTERS. Seriously what's up with that nowadays?? They show you how friendly and happy they are together, and the next episode is just filled with deaths. However the story is fun, I like the pacing, the artstyle, the enemies and the music sooo S2 when? (8/10)

Spy x Family - Superduper cute, feel good anime with some badass characters. Some second hand embarrassement is in order tho lol (9/10)

Sailor Moon (90's series) - It's. So. Good. Such a comfort show. It has problems (the combat seems very... repetitive), but a) this show is gorgeous b) it has characters that you wish they were your friends c) it's long so the story is well paced. So go and watch it, it has good humour, super powers, a long and immersive story, surprisingly well made character arcs, ammmmaazing opening (and overall the soundtrack is ICONIC), 90's aesthetics and lots of gay vibes. However, it's extremely romance-centered, so probably not the best choice if you are in search for an action anime (9/10)

Soul Eater - 51 episodes of a surprisingly good story with surprisingly bad characters. The ending was disappointing, and the most powerful or intriguing characters just... weren't used? The monologues made no sense? Guy who can't die literally only fought 2 times? Madness wasn't mad? Brave girl wasn't brave? Like what even happened in this show? (5-6/10)

#im making a new post bc i can never find the reblogged one #corpse party #yuri on ice #kimi no nawa #dororo #citrus #baccano #tower of god #wolf's rain #cyberpunk edgerunners #jujutsu kaisen #chainsaw man #spy x family #sailor moon #soul eater #anime

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sorairokakera · 1 year

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癒し系 iyashikei

when thinking about iyashikei there are two that pop up in my mind, they are Natsume Yuujinchou and Mushishi. I need some iyashikei manga and anime from time to time to keep me somewhat sane in between. Here are some iyashikei anime/manga I enjoy (not in particular order)~

夏目友人帳 Natsume Yuujinchou

I wonder whether I can rewatch Natsume Yuujinchou (from beginning) within this year. I talked about it a bit here~ sorairokakera.tumblr.com/post/natsume-yuujinchou

蟲師 Mushishi

slow and beautiful, maybe I will rewatch this when I have some relaxing time, or read the manga.

ばらかもん Barakamon

Though it's been so long I don't really remember, I feel that I had fun watching Barakamon~! I might rewatch it soon or start reading the manga when I need something chill and heartwarming, and maybe, a little push to move forward.

君と僕。Kimi to Boku.

School-setting story of 5 boys that has iyashikei mood~! I like all of them (I like twins yuta-yuki the most) and I remember I enjoyed watching their stories long time ago. Heartwarming, funny, seishun!! I want to read Kimi to Boku manga soon, since this series has ended I want to know how their story continue, also I kind of miss them 🥺

しろくまカフェ Shirokuma Café

when I was about to watch this I thought whoa this series is long, can I keep watching this till the end. But then I watched it everyday and enjoyed it quite much~! Shirokuma Cafe has many characters and some of them are fun to watch. Panda is so adorable~ it caught me off-guard at that one sad episode of panda, I didn't expect there would be sad moment too.

田中くんはいつもけだるげ Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge

I wish I can be like Tanaka-kun 🥲 I enjoyed reading Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge quite a lot. It's calming and fun, likable characters (Tanaka-kun blessed with good friends) and nice moments. I actually wish for Tanaka and Shiraishi to be together as a couple by the end of manga 🥺 I want more of them~

同居人はひざ、時々、頭のうえ。Doukyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue.

I watched this at the beginning of this year, thinking 'let's see some cuteness of cat and human' but what I got was a heartwarming story ; ; I want to read the manga soon (hopefully)~ Subaru's parents are really nice ;__; I got inspired by Subaru's mom ⁠—those plants in their home garden, seeds from various places they visited on holiday, it's really great, I wish I can do that someday.

That's all for now, I guess. There are few iyashikei I want to try watching but haven't yet >< (so many on my list to watch and read) Hope we will have more heartwarming iyashikei works to enjoy, that may become a little healing to get through the day. I hope I can read more watch more this year~ with my own pace.

#sorairokakeraokini #favorite iyashikei #iyashikei anime #iyashikei manga

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silver-and-shadow · 2 years

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THANK YOU SO MUCH for introducing me to Studio Ghibli by the way. (through your reblogs :)) I have watched Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in the Sky and Arrietty so far and they're such gems!!!! Next will be Kiki's Delivery Service. I can't believe I didn't know these movies so far, they are so gorgeously and thoughtfully made...I LOVE THEM!!! Do you have any more recommendations?

Studio Ghibli films are magical, aren't they? I'm so excited I got to introduce them to you!!!

I stumbled across Only Yesterday years ago and it was a revelation! A beautifully animated slice-of-life drama about a 27-year-old woman contemplating her past and her dreams for the future?!? I’d never seen anything like it, quickly fell in love, and then devoured all the Studio Ghibli movies I could get my hands on (and they have been revisited many times since). I hope you enjoy your Ghibli rabbit trail as much as I did!

I’ll try to limit this list to works that evoke a similar feel/themes to Studio Ghibli films—or I’ll start listing every animated title that I’m attached to 😆

Hopefully there’s something new here for you to enjoy!

Cartoon Saloon's Irish Trilogy

THIS. STUDIO. The work this Irish animation studio puts out is always stunning, authentic, and full of heart. And their fantasy-folklore inspired Irish Trilogy (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers) is great place to start for Studio Ghibli lovers. With their unique style and nuanced storytelling, these hand-drawn films will make you feel like you jumped into the pages of an old Celtic fairy tale.

Hilda

This is such a charming show! It feels like Scandinavia folklore by way of Miyazaki—and there's depth beneath it's beautifully wistful aesthetic. 26 episodes + 1 film follow the adventures of Hilda as she reluctantly moves to the city of Trollburg where she encounters new people, mysterious creatures, and magical spirits. Though it feels episodic early on, they weave into the larger story that shines in the final film.

Your Name.

I’m a big fan of Makoto Shinkai’s work—breathtaking animation and emotional storytelling that explores themes of love, loss, separation, and connection. His work always tugs at my heartstrings and Your Name. is one of my favorites (close second: 5 Centimeters Per Second). This modern slice-of-life sci-fi film (about two teenagers who long to meet after suddenly swapping bodies) is definitely worth a watch!

More favorite titles you might like:

Mushishi*

Kubo and the Two Strings

The Iron Giant

Tokyo Godfathers

Kids on the Slope

*Mushishi is one of my absolute favorite anime series—highly evocative and thought-provoking with an entrancing eerie/calm atmosphere. However, the horror elements might not be your cup of tea. If so, but you like this concept/feel, give Natsume’s Book of Friends a try—another favorite "chill" anime that's more on the heart-warming side.

A few Ghibli-esque films worth checking out:

A Letter to Momo

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Mary and the Witch’s Flower

Wolf Children

Summer Wars

(Also, if you don't mind older stuff, I'd definitely recommend doing a deep dive to Miyazaki's and Takahata's early Nippon Animation work like Future Boy Conan and Akage no Anne. They are charming in their own way and it's fascinating to see Studio Ghibli's roots.)

I'm sure there's a bunch I'm forgetting and even more on my to-be-watched list that might fit the bill. ...but that's enough of my rambling for now 😉

Have you already seen any of these? Anything new strike your fancy?

#thanks for asking! :)#i love this topic and will ramble on forever about animation #silverandshadow #my recs

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female-eren · 14 days

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Hi, just wanted to say, from your post "Books i want to write" the part "Woman who loses her mother gives birth to (a clone of?) her mother and raises the child version of her mother as her daughter", that's literally the story from manga Mushishi, volume 5 chapter 21 "The Sea Palace". Of cource, your story will be different, just found the similarity of ideas interesting :)

that episode is my inspiration!

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docholligay · 1 year

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Okay, so I was on a right-ish track and she did die, and so now she is a part of the swamp in a real way, but it’s also not really a swamp, it’s pretending to be a swamp. So, is it a more general “water mushi” type, and that’s why it’s trying to get to the sea? To rejoin the other water mushi? ANd did it feel abd about accidentally killing her and so it brought her back to life, in a way? What will happen to her when it meets the ocean if she is in fact right, and the swamp is the only place she can be?

I mean, i know that the real answer, to some extent, is that Ginko is going to find a solution for her to NOT end up falling into the sea or whatever, but did the mushi have a plan at all?

#Doc watches Mushishi #Mushishi Episode 5

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titantroopers · 1 month

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Top 10 Most Underrated Anime

Top 10 Most Underrated Anime You Need to Watch: Unleash Hidden Gems

The world of anime is vast and ever-expanding, overflowing with popular titles that dominate conversations and streaming queues. But beneath the surface lie hidden treasures – underrated anime gems waiting to be discovered. These shows offer exceptional stories, captivating characters, and stunning animation, yet haven't received the widespread recognition they deserve.

So, if you're a seasoned anime fan looking for something fresh, or a curious newcomer eager to dive deeper, this list is for you! We've compiled 10 phenomenal anime series that deserve a place on your watchlist:

1. Shouwa Rakugo (Showa Era Rakugo): Embark on a historical journey through the captivating world of rakugo, a traditional Japanese form of comedic storytelling. This emotional masterpiece explores themes of mentorship, perseverance, and the power of storytelling across generations. (Keywords: historical, drama, slice-of-life)

2. Yakitate!! Japan: Calling all food lovers! This hilarious anime throws you headfirst into the high-pressure world of competitive bread baking. Expect outrageous scenarios, wacky characters, and a surprising amount of heart as our protagonist strives to become the ultimate baker. (Keywords: comedy, sports, food)

3. Beastars: Dive into a world where carnivores and herbivores coexist in an uneasy truce. Beastars is a visually stunning anime that tackles mature themes of prejudice, identity, and the struggle to find your place in a complex society. (Keywords: drama, mystery, social commentary)

4. Ping Pong the Animation: Don't be fooled by the seemingly simple premise of table tennis. This anime is a masterclass in animation with a unique visual style. It delves into the competitive spirit, the pressure to succeed, and the delicate balance between teamwork and individual drive. (Keywords: sports, coming-of-age, psychological)

5. Yuri!!! on Ice: Get ready to lace up your skates and be swept away by the beauty of figure skating! Yuri!!! on Ice is a heartwarming sports anime that celebrates passion, dedication, and the power of mentorship. It also boasts a vibrant cast of characters and stunning animation sequences. (Keywords: sports, figure skating, LGBTQ+)

6. Mushishi: Take a break from the high-octane action and immerse yourself in the serene world of Mushishi. This atmospheric anime follows a traveling doctor who encounters strange occurrences linked to nature spirits called "mushi." Each episode is a beautifully crafted story filled with wonder and quiet contemplation. (Keywords: fantasy, slice-of-life, mystery)

7. Princess Jellyfish: This heartwarming comedy follows a group of socially awkward otaku women who live together in a quirky boarding house. As they navigate the challenges of daily life and pursue their passions, Princess Jellyfish celebrates friendship, self-acceptance, and the importance of finding your own community. (Keywords: comedy, slice-of-life, josei)

8. Hinamatsuri: Prepare for a laugh riot with Hinamatsuri! This hilarious anime throws together a yakuza boss with a telekinetic alien child. The ensuing chaos is a side-splitting exploration of family, responsibility, and the unexpected bonds that can form between the most unlikely characters. (Keywords: comedy, science fiction, slice-of-life)

9. Silver Spoon: Trade cityscapes for sprawling fields in Silver Spoon! This charming anime follows a city boy who enrolls in an agricultural high school. As he learns the ropes of farm life, Silver Spoon offers a heartwarming and educational look at the world of agriculture and the importance of hard work. (Keywords: slice-of-life, comedy, agriculture)

10. Run with the Wind: Calling all sports anime enthusiasts! Run with the Wind is an inspirational underdog story that follows a ragtag college team striving to qualify for the prestigious Hakone Ekiden relay race. This anime beautifully captures the camaraderie, struggles, and triumphs that come with pushing yourself to the limit. (Keywords: sports, drama, inspirational)

These are just a taste of the incredible anime waiting to be discovered. So, grab your snacks, settle in, and get ready to unlock a world of hidden gems! https://titantroopers.com/top-10-most-underrated-anime-you-need-to-watch/

#anime #anime news #anime review #top 10 list #anime blogs #titantroopers

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dan6085 · 1 month

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Top 20 Anime of all Time:

1. Attack on Titan: A dark fantasy anime about humans who fight giant man-eating creatures called Titans. The story is full of plot twists and suspense, and the characters are well-developed[1].

2. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood: A fantasy anime about two brothers who try to bring their mother back to life using alchemy. The story is full of action, adventure, and humor, and the characters are relatable and likable[1].

3. Death Note: A psychological thriller anime about a high school student who finds a notebook that can kill anyone whose name is written in it. The story is full of suspense and mind games, and the characters are complex and interesting[2].

4. Steins;Gate: A sci-fi anime about a group of friends who accidentally create a time machine. The story is full of twists and turns, and the characters are likable and relatable[2].

5. Code Geass: A mecha anime about a prince who uses his Geass power to lead a rebellion against the Holy Britannian Empire. The story is full of action, political intrigue, and moral dilemmas[1].

6. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: A shonen anime about a young boy who joins the Demon Slayer Corps to avenge the death of his family and cure his sister, who was turned into a demon. The story is full of action, adventure, and humor, and the characters are likable and relatable[1].

7. Mushishi: An episodic anime about a Mushi Master who travels around the world solving problems caused by Mushi, which are mysterious creatures that exist in parallel to humans. The story is full of atmosphere and mystery, and the characters are kind and compassionate[1].

8. The Promised Neverland: A post-apocalyptic anime about a group of children who are raised in isolation and must learn to survive in a world that is both beautiful and dangerous. The story is full of suspense and mystery, and the characters are complex and well-developed[2].

9. Kaguya-sama: Love is War: A romance anime about a manga artist who falls in love with an idol. The story is full of twists and turns, and the characters are complex and relatable[2].

10. Vinland Saga: A historical fiction anime about a young Viking who sets out to avenge his father's death. The story is full of action, adventure, and historical detail, and the characters are well-developed[3].

11. One Piece: A shonen anime about a group of pirates who set out to find the legendary treasure called One Piece and become the Pirate King. The story is full of action, adventure, and humor, and the characters are likable and relatable.

12. My Hero Academia: A shonen anime about a boy who is born without superpowers in a world where everyone else has them. He sets out to become a hero and attend the prestigious U.A. High School. The story is full of action, adventure, and humor, and the characters are likable and relatable.

13. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya: A sci-fi anime about a high school student who is obsessed with the supernatural. She forms a club with her friends to search for aliens, time travelers, and espers. The story is full of humor and mystery, and the characters are quirky and interesting.

14. Haikyuu!!: A sports anime about a high school volleyball team that sets out to become the best in the country. The story is full of action, drama, and humor, and the characters are likable and relatable.

15. Fate/Zero: A fantasy anime about a war between mages who summon legendary heroes to fight for them. The story is full of action, adventure, and mystery, and the characters are complex and well-developed.

16. Neon Genesis Evangelion: A mecha anime about a young boy who is chosen to pilot a giant robot to protect the world from monsters called Angels. The story is full of action, drama, and psychological themes, and the characters are complex and well-developed.

17. The Tatami Galaxy: A surreal anime about a college student who keeps reliving the same year of his life, trying to make different choices to get a better outcome. The story is full of humor and philosophy, and the characters are quirky and interesting.

18. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.: A comedy anime about a high school student with psychic powers who tries to live a normal life. The story is full of humor and absurdity, and the characters are likable and relatable.

19. A Silent Voice: A drama anime about a deaf girl who is bullied by her classmates, and the boy who befriends her and tries to make amends for his past mistakes. The story is full of emotion and drama, and the characters are complex and well-developed.

20. Your Name: A romance anime about two teenagers who switch bodies and try to find each other in the real world. The story is full of drama, humor, and mystery, and the characters are likable and relatable.

These anime series have been praised for their engaging plots, complex characters, and unique storytelling. If you're looking for a good anime to watch, any of these series would be a great place to start.

Sources

[1] Top 10 Anime With The Best Plot - Hindustan Times https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/anime/top-10-anime-with-the-best-plot-101692464955566.html

[2] 20 Anime With The Best Plots (Our Top Picks) - FandomSpot https://www.fandomspot.com/anime-with-best-plots/

[3] 30 Best Anime of All Time - Japan Web Magazine https://jw-webmagazine.com/best-anime/

[4] The 20 Best Anime Stories And Plots Of All Time - Ranker https://www.ranker.com/list/best-anime-stories-and-plots/anna-lindwasser

[5] The 35 Best Anime of All Time - Paste Magazine https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/best-anime-of-all-time

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translationandbetrayals · 5 months

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Mononoke: a surrealistic experience

*As a disclaimer, please don’t confuse this series with Mononoke Hime, the film by Studio Ghibli, since they aren’t related more than in the similarity of their names.

This is my final post and what a better way to close this year with a good (as I believe) anime recommendation. My story with Mononoke began in the pandemic era, when I had a lot of free time and all-day access to internet. While trying to fight boredom, I started looking for anime that were like Mushishi (look, two recommendations in one post, wow), because I felt nostalgic but didn’t want to watch something very long. Then, I stumbled upon Mononoke. It immediately caught my attention, since it had a lot of ukyo-e and sumi-e aesthetics and followed a similar trope as Mushishi.

Formally, Mononoke is an original animated series and the spin-off of another anthological anime named Ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror, which was released a year before. This series was produced by Toei Animation, under the direction of Kenji Nakamura (who also directed Gatchaman Crowds and Karas) and it was broadcasted from July to September in 2007, concluding with 12 episodes in total. Mononoke stands for ‘vengeful spirit’, so we have our protagonist, known as Kusuriuri (which translates to The Medicine Seller) traveling across of what seems to be a feudal Japan, investigating and solving cases related to supernatural creatures and their actions over humanity. To destroy the mononoke, Kusuriuri must figure out their Form (Katachi), Truth (Makoto) and Reason (Kotowari) through the questioning of the people involved in the case.

Watching Mononoke was quite the experience. First, because of how the cases were presented, dividing the stories into ‘arcs’ that usually took 2 or 3 chapters to finish, leaving 5 cases in total and each one more difficult to resolve than the one before. Also, and its more of note aspect was the surrealistic animation that Mononoke had, playing with the patterns, colors and textures in the background, giving an overwhelming sensation of a moving ‘scroll painting’ to the scenery, accompanying the madness that the mononoke created over the people they tormented in the series. This visual surrealism was also enhanced with an esoteric soundtrack, which also added to the building of the creepy atmosphere the creators wanted to transmit to the audience.

To put it simple, Mononoke is complete work of art made anime. And I hope that, whoever reads this post, can do themselves a favor and watch it as soon as possible. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

Last year it was announced that there would be a new movie of Mononoke being released this 2023, but it seems it got delayed due to the scandals in which Kusuriuri’s voice actor, Takahiro Sakurai (who was the seiyuu for Suguru Geto in Jujutsu Kaisen, Suzaku in Code Geass and many other popular anime) was involved. So, we’ll have to wait for news about the releasing of a new story of Mononoke.

(I'll leave the link to the full opening theme so you can enjoy it, it's very catchy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urg-avD8p3Q) - Francisca Rivera C.

#Anime #personalstory #Sci-Fi #submission

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kustas · 11 months

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top 5 anime ost?

5 - Going for the old reliable, Cowboy Bebop's soundtrack is just that good. Songs solid enough to work as standalones, great diversity, and the addition of diegetic elements is the cherry on top.

4 - Red-li-i-ineeee...so energetic and fitting. The character themes are a treat and I just love the tone of it all

3 - I'm not sure it counts as anime but adding it regardless - Muthafukaz! I like it for the same reasons as Bebop's truly, I'm just putting it up the list because it's less known. It automatically gets points in my book for the reggaeton which I like more than jazz

2 - Mushishi! I'll actually listen to that one outside of the show, it's one of the albums I play when I work. The unique tracks per episode and ending are lovely and it all compliments the show's tone and presentation very well.

1 - 90's Hellsing. One of the rare OSTs I not only listen on the regular, but one who's songs I'll play as standalone. It's diverse and original and I just think it rules

#ask

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asphodelical · 2 years

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The Great Anime Rewatch of 2022 - Part VI

Kino’s Journey

First watched: May 2012 Rewatched: June 2022

Original rating: 8 New rating: 4

Holy fuck this was so boring. What an absolute chore. It’s trying to be deep and profound, but the execution is juvenile. You can’t try to be subtle, and then have your talking bike just ask the philosophical question at the end. It’s like a kid’s show where at the end they say, “and the moral of the story is…”

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From the New World

First watched: 2013, original airdate Rewatched: June 2022

Original rating: 8 New rating: 8

It’s still a compelling, story-driven narrative. The two main things holding it back are its inconsistent pacing and lackluster characters. Saki is a really boring heroine, and everyone else is simply uninteresting. The villain? Great. They’re the exception. There are so many great and terrifying ideas here, and From the New World was absolutely worth revisiting. (The insert song in episode 16 was terrible. though.)

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Macross Zero

First watched: October 2011 Rewatched: June 2022

Original rating: 7 New rating: 4

This Macross takes itself so seriously. Too seriously. Its characters are really basic and unmemorable, as is the music. But I do appreciate tht deviation from the franchise’s usual J-Pop idol route. Plus the animation holds up really well. Even the CG is still acceptable.

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Eden of the East

First watched: October 2011 Rewatched: June 2022

Original rating: 8 New rating: 5

I like the story, but don’t give two shits about the characters. I’m also probably the only person who doesn’t like the first episode. Why? Because throwing pennies at a distant fountain at the White House, giving a stranger your clothes and abandoning your luggage is all fucking stupid. And Saki is unlikable. Everyone goes out of their way to do things for her, and she doesn’t ever thank them, or do anything for them in return.

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Samurai Champloo

First watched: June 2011 Rewatched: July 2022

Original rating: 8 New rating: 5

Another rating change that crushes me. The nature of episodic storytelling means that not every episode is going to be great. (The exception is Mushishi.) But when the show is being helmed by Watanabe Shinichiro, it’s painfully obvious when an individual episode is directed by him, and when it isn’t. After a dazzlingly cool first episode, it never really sticks to consistent tones or motifs. Some of the episodes have diegetic hip hop/rap elements, some of them don’t. Sometimes the writers remember Fuu has a cute flying squirrel friend, most of them don’t. Very few of the other directors were able to embody Watanabe’s signature flair. One of them, unsurprisingly, was Yamamoto Sayo.

Aside from the inherent inconsistencies, the main trio doesn’t really do anything for me. It feels like an unbalanced party and something is missing. Jin is surprisingly dull, and I don’t think the writers ever really knew what to do with him most of the time. Mugen and Fuu have fun banter, but on their own, their stories aren’t too compelling. However, Fuu is undoubtedly the heart of the show. It’s her goal that initiates the journey, after all.

However, Samurai Champloo never felt like a journey to me. The comedic episodes are way better than the dark, dramatic ones. But I never felt like I really got to know these characters. In the end, you could pare down the show to about half its length and not lose too much.

#anime

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