Watching anime has been a past time for me since my teen years but it is rare to come across ones that are worthy of a mention. However, I have been quite lucky this year as some that I have watched are probably the most critically acclaimed pieces that I must mention in this post. Initially, it was my intention to write an in-depth review of one of the anime that I will be mentioning later on but due to circumstances that won't be due in a few weeks time.
Genre
It is safe to say that I prefer watching animes that lean towards either thriller, science fiction, dystopian, historical fiction, action or fantasy, although some animes are known to fuse certain genres due to its story lines and storytelling elements. I like my anime to have some sort of drama and conflict and my characters to have their own stories to tell. But I can say for sure that an anime would win my vote if they incorporate thriller elements without making it seem pretentious. Lots of anime make their stories seem mysterious, but in the end there is no true mystery or problem to be solved. Often times, I would give up these types of anime upon watching the first or second episodes.
Top picks of 2019: Ray's version
I tried recalling animes that I have watched for the past eleven months and surprisingly I was able to summon a few names in my head. There are multiple good ones released every year since the Japanese releases their animes in seasons. Yes, they do that. But somehow the ones I end up watching are animes usually released in the Fall season category, typically on October 7th and unsurprisingly my birthday every year. It's like receiving birthday presents from strangers LOL.
1. Violet Evergarden
This one's a surprise even for me. Despite its popularity among the locals and foreigners I almost didn't pick this one up as it is labelled as "coming of age" type of anime. I usually skip watching animes that are sure to touch heartstrings. One, because they might "feel fake" . Two, they really touch your hearts and you find yourself reeling from the emotions and tears. This falls into category two.
With its stunning artwork that no one can find fault with, Violet Evergarden tells the story of a machine with female features who has just returned from the front lines of war. In order to allow our protagonist to reintegrate back into society, she is adopted into a family and eventually works at a local post office with a writing post. This is the premise of the story and the journey continues with this as the background. Violet Evergarden is a 12 episode anime with a standard length of approximately 20 to 24 minutes each.
Despite the curt volume contained in each episode, it isn't difficult to sink into the stories of men observed from the perspective of our lovely and fragile protagonist. Somewhere after the first few episodes, I found myself silently sobbing and crying along with the characters in the story, personalities I've grown attached to as though they are friends and comrades that I've learned to love and ache for.
This isn't the place for a full-fledged discussion so I'll quickly skim through some details but this is the anime to look out for if you are looking for something that will make you realize just how beautiful human relationships are, even when you are not looking for them.
2. Erased ( Boku dake ga Inai Machi)
Aptly translated as "The Town Where Only I am Missing", this one centers around a male adult, who after getting framed for the murder of his mother, gets transported eighteen years back into his childhood era, where he has to stop a ruthless killer from getting to his young preys before the killings become unsolvable cases for the following years.
What makes Erased an anime worth watching and separates it from its other similar themed counterparts is the atmosphere constructed, which I must say is some good directing from the production team. While the anime isn't all doom and gloom, it has its moments where you forget to suck air into your lungs. Audiences of the show will be glued to the screen to watch the protagonist's next course of action following his failed attempts at preventing the same scenes which had already happened in the past from reoccurring.
The production team factored in other minor details which, even before the release of this anime, promised a faithful audience till the screening of its final episode. The darker and more muted tones utilized in the telling of its story, background, and characters; the chilling music that makes you grip the handle of your chair or the sheets of your bed; as well as the abundance of emotions coming from our protagonist, even as a child, expounds on the anime's ability to retain and attract more viewers and successfully deliver a solid and promising story, with an ending that satisfies the hunger generated after episodes of mystery. With a firm 8.5 rating on the IMdb website, Erased has already established its position in the hearts of many thriller/mystery anime fanatics.
3. Pycho-Pass (Season 1)
After watching the latest episode of a currently airing anime, I became intrigued by its antagonist and googled its name, hoping to catch some discussion on the net. Unsurprisingly, I was brought to some anime fans' forum page where they were discussing the aforementioned antagonist. By chance, someone mentioned an unfamiliar name " Makishima Shougo" which wasn't from the anime I was watching. The person who wrote this said that he was reminded of this personality, which was from another anime. Curiosity aroused, I then proceeded to google this name and was reintroduced to Psycho-Pass. I mentioned reintroduced because it was an anime I watched and abandoned a few episodes later because I wasn't quite interested in the story then.
Now, I took my time watching this anime for real this time around and wondered how I managed to skip this one.
For starters, Psycho Pass has a storyline set in the dystopian future of Japan, where the system of machines is not so much a stranger in the lives of men. This anime has cyberpunk and crime fiction labels so it may attract younger viewers. However, I personally think that this anime is better suited for audiences aged 20 and above, whose minds have reached a certain maturity. Despite its descriptions as a cyberpunk crime fiction anime, I feel as if this show isn't just that.
The show naturally opens with brief introductions to our characters and protagonists and we are then carried over to the story. What's interesting is that under normal circumstances, an anime would just focus on the background of its primary and secondary protagonist, opting to not confuse viewers with too much detail exposure and whatnot. This anime does the opposite of that. We get glimpses into the past of almost all our characters, protagonists as well as the antagonist. I really like how the producers don't skimp on details like these and proceed to elaborate their stories whilst injecting themes like familial relationships, the fight against evil as well as incorporating conflicts of Man vs. Man and Man vs. Society. I seldom see animes deconstruct on such conflicts whilst maintaining its rhythm as a cyberpunk anime and without it ever seem like a philosophical review of literature work. Granted, for me, it leans towards philosophy, and why I said earlier that it isn't just a simple cyberpunk crime fiction anime, at least for me.
The biggest selling point of this anime is the growth of its characters. My favourite character of this anime is none other than the heroine, whose progress as a fictional character in the story grows more prominent. Her initial presence in the show in the earlier episodes could be depicted as " wide-eyed", "naive", " optimistic" and " an ever hopeful justice upholder". yet, through the progression of the later episodes and subsequent plot, we see her shed her artificial skin and beneath those innocent beliefs, she grew to be one of the most respected heroines I have encountered with an unshakeable sense of justice and wit, even after what she has gone through.
Of course, there are lots more to talk about when it comes to this anime. It is pointless trying to talk further without one having watched it. Psycho-Pass garnered an 8.4 on the IMdb website, and with its ensemble of peculiar characters, intensifying mystery behind its justice system in the show as well as its cunningly evil antagonist, it is no surprise how many are still discussing the show even after the curtains fall for its first season.
4. Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)
We have arrived at the anime most deserving of a breakthrough award for the year 2019. Demon Slayer came as a surprise for many anime fans, and for me as well. I still vividly remember its first episode and while the details may have slipped me, I remember feeling awed and sore after its episode one ending, because my attention was glued to the screen for the entire 20 minutes and I didn't remember to move my body.
The story revolves around a young teenage boy whose family was massacred one chilly winter day when he was in town to sell wood. He returns to find the bloodshed in his family home with his younger sister being the sole survivor of the carnage. However, he is horrified when he discovers that the sister has been turned into a demon, which is an existence scorned in the society then, as demons kill humans for food and fun. The story truly sets off as our hero journeys on to become a demon slayer in order to hunt down the strongest and most ancient demon king whose whereabouts are a mystery even for veteran demon slayers.
There are numerous points for discussion when it comes to Demon Slayer. One particular detail that came to me easily was the artwork. Many manga adapted anime opted to stay true to its artwork. This is true for Demon Slayer as well. But I noticed the use of thicker outlines in the animation of its characters in this anime, which to me made this anime stood out from the rest. The use of colourful but solid hues accentuated the thick black outlines of its characters, making them stand out from the anime's background, and maybe appeal to viewers more. Also, I must applaud the selection of its opening and ending tracks because they sound amazing! I usually skip the opening tracks of animes because they either sound horrible, or downright loud , like rock music loud. But I got hooked onto its opening song and could easily replay it for hours.
Demon Slayer runs on the premise of having fantasy and action as its genre. This in itself is already a major point of attraction for many hot-blooded fans. The production team could have easily invested in that aspect only. However, I noticed the emphasis on sibling love and human connection as its primary theme of the show. It doesn't focus on the revenge aspect nor does it emphasize destruction. We get to see our hero having sympathy for his enemies despite what he has suffered and lost; we get a glimpse into the human lives of the demons slain before they were turned into demons themselves. This is why Demon Slayer appeals to the majority of anime fans. It doesn't just factor in action and gore, it explores the fragility of humanity, our flaws as humans, the precious connections made between humans and ultimately, what separates humans from beasts. Every demon story/background depicted in the show is actually a reflection of humans and our stories in reality.
With a whopping 26 episodes in Season One, many fans are already expecting the next part of the story which will be dropped next year. Demon Slayer is rated an excellent 8.9 out of 10, which is no surprise at all. Online netizens are still hotly discussing the legendary episode 19, which blew my mind, to be honest.
EPILOGUE:
I just talked in an elaborate length four animes which have entered my list of favourite and will-rewatch animes. What shows have you enjoyed and which of the four will you probably watch?
With its stunning artwork that no one can find fault with, Violet Evergarden tells the story of a machine with female features who has just returned from the front lines of war. In order to allow our protagonist to reintegrate back into society, she is adopted into a family and eventually works at a local post office with a writing post. This is the premise of the story and the journey continues with this as the background. Violet Evergarden is a 12 episode anime with a standard length of approximately 20 to 24 minutes each.
Despite the curt volume contained in each episode, it isn't difficult to sink into the stories of men observed from the perspective of our lovely and fragile protagonist. Somewhere after the first few episodes, I found myself silently sobbing and crying along with the characters in the story, personalities I've grown attached to as though they are friends and comrades that I've learned to love and ache for.
This isn't the place for a full-fledged discussion so I'll quickly skim through some details but this is the anime to look out for if you are looking for something that will make you realize just how beautiful human relationships are, even when you are not looking for them.
2. Erased ( Boku dake ga Inai Machi)
Aptly translated as "The Town Where Only I am Missing", this one centers around a male adult, who after getting framed for the murder of his mother, gets transported eighteen years back into his childhood era, where he has to stop a ruthless killer from getting to his young preys before the killings become unsolvable cases for the following years.
What makes Erased an anime worth watching and separates it from its other similar themed counterparts is the atmosphere constructed, which I must say is some good directing from the production team. While the anime isn't all doom and gloom, it has its moments where you forget to suck air into your lungs. Audiences of the show will be glued to the screen to watch the protagonist's next course of action following his failed attempts at preventing the same scenes which had already happened in the past from reoccurring.
The production team factored in other minor details which, even before the release of this anime, promised a faithful audience till the screening of its final episode. The darker and more muted tones utilized in the telling of its story, background, and characters; the chilling music that makes you grip the handle of your chair or the sheets of your bed; as well as the abundance of emotions coming from our protagonist, even as a child, expounds on the anime's ability to retain and attract more viewers and successfully deliver a solid and promising story, with an ending that satisfies the hunger generated after episodes of mystery. With a firm 8.5 rating on the IMdb website, Erased has already established its position in the hearts of many thriller/mystery anime fanatics.
3. Pycho-Pass (Season 1)
After watching the latest episode of a currently airing anime, I became intrigued by its antagonist and googled its name, hoping to catch some discussion on the net. Unsurprisingly, I was brought to some anime fans' forum page where they were discussing the aforementioned antagonist. By chance, someone mentioned an unfamiliar name " Makishima Shougo" which wasn't from the anime I was watching. The person who wrote this said that he was reminded of this personality, which was from another anime. Curiosity aroused, I then proceeded to google this name and was reintroduced to Psycho-Pass. I mentioned reintroduced because it was an anime I watched and abandoned a few episodes later because I wasn't quite interested in the story then.
Now, I took my time watching this anime for real this time around and wondered how I managed to skip this one.
For starters, Psycho Pass has a storyline set in the dystopian future of Japan, where the system of machines is not so much a stranger in the lives of men. This anime has cyberpunk and crime fiction labels so it may attract younger viewers. However, I personally think that this anime is better suited for audiences aged 20 and above, whose minds have reached a certain maturity. Despite its descriptions as a cyberpunk crime fiction anime, I feel as if this show isn't just that.
The show naturally opens with brief introductions to our characters and protagonists and we are then carried over to the story. What's interesting is that under normal circumstances, an anime would just focus on the background of its primary and secondary protagonist, opting to not confuse viewers with too much detail exposure and whatnot. This anime does the opposite of that. We get glimpses into the past of almost all our characters, protagonists as well as the antagonist. I really like how the producers don't skimp on details like these and proceed to elaborate their stories whilst injecting themes like familial relationships, the fight against evil as well as incorporating conflicts of Man vs. Man and Man vs. Society. I seldom see animes deconstruct on such conflicts whilst maintaining its rhythm as a cyberpunk anime and without it ever seem like a philosophical review of literature work. Granted, for me, it leans towards philosophy, and why I said earlier that it isn't just a simple cyberpunk crime fiction anime, at least for me.
The biggest selling point of this anime is the growth of its characters. My favourite character of this anime is none other than the heroine, whose progress as a fictional character in the story grows more prominent. Her initial presence in the show in the earlier episodes could be depicted as " wide-eyed", "naive", " optimistic" and " an ever hopeful justice upholder". yet, through the progression of the later episodes and subsequent plot, we see her shed her artificial skin and beneath those innocent beliefs, she grew to be one of the most respected heroines I have encountered with an unshakeable sense of justice and wit, even after what she has gone through.
Of course, there are lots more to talk about when it comes to this anime. It is pointless trying to talk further without one having watched it. Psycho-Pass garnered an 8.4 on the IMdb website, and with its ensemble of peculiar characters, intensifying mystery behind its justice system in the show as well as its cunningly evil antagonist, it is no surprise how many are still discussing the show even after the curtains fall for its first season.
4. Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)
We have arrived at the anime most deserving of a breakthrough award for the year 2019. Demon Slayer came as a surprise for many anime fans, and for me as well. I still vividly remember its first episode and while the details may have slipped me, I remember feeling awed and sore after its episode one ending, because my attention was glued to the screen for the entire 20 minutes and I didn't remember to move my body.
The story revolves around a young teenage boy whose family was massacred one chilly winter day when he was in town to sell wood. He returns to find the bloodshed in his family home with his younger sister being the sole survivor of the carnage. However, he is horrified when he discovers that the sister has been turned into a demon, which is an existence scorned in the society then, as demons kill humans for food and fun. The story truly sets off as our hero journeys on to become a demon slayer in order to hunt down the strongest and most ancient demon king whose whereabouts are a mystery even for veteran demon slayers.
There are numerous points for discussion when it comes to Demon Slayer. One particular detail that came to me easily was the artwork. Many manga adapted anime opted to stay true to its artwork. This is true for Demon Slayer as well. But I noticed the use of thicker outlines in the animation of its characters in this anime, which to me made this anime stood out from the rest. The use of colourful but solid hues accentuated the thick black outlines of its characters, making them stand out from the anime's background, and maybe appeal to viewers more. Also, I must applaud the selection of its opening and ending tracks because they sound amazing! I usually skip the opening tracks of animes because they either sound horrible, or downright loud , like rock music loud. But I got hooked onto its opening song and could easily replay it for hours.
Demon Slayer runs on the premise of having fantasy and action as its genre. This in itself is already a major point of attraction for many hot-blooded fans. The production team could have easily invested in that aspect only. However, I noticed the emphasis on sibling love and human connection as its primary theme of the show. It doesn't focus on the revenge aspect nor does it emphasize destruction. We get to see our hero having sympathy for his enemies despite what he has suffered and lost; we get a glimpse into the human lives of the demons slain before they were turned into demons themselves. This is why Demon Slayer appeals to the majority of anime fans. It doesn't just factor in action and gore, it explores the fragility of humanity, our flaws as humans, the precious connections made between humans and ultimately, what separates humans from beasts. Every demon story/background depicted in the show is actually a reflection of humans and our stories in reality.
With a whopping 26 episodes in Season One, many fans are already expecting the next part of the story which will be dropped next year. Demon Slayer is rated an excellent 8.9 out of 10, which is no surprise at all. Online netizens are still hotly discussing the legendary episode 19, which blew my mind, to be honest.
EPILOGUE:
I just talked in an elaborate length four animes which have entered my list of favourite and will-rewatch animes. What shows have you enjoyed and which of the four will you probably watch?
heyyyyyy I watched Demon Slayer, really can't wait for the next season! Not very much an anime person though but if I got time I'll be sure to check out these.
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