[Anime - Commentary] Anime Rec List: Part 1: Fantasy

ANIME CLASSICS (as it were)

Part 1: FANTASY MUST SEES

Title: Blood+
Fantasy Elements: Vampirism
Summary: Saya, as she regains her memory, is torn between duty and identity. Will her brothers, Kai and Riku, and her Chevalier, Haji, be able to help or be destroyed in the process?
Why you may not like it: Long. Takes time getting into the story.
Why I think you must see it: Of all the anime shows that I have seen, I think this one is the most cosmopolitan. Often times, anime is so set in Japan it almost becomes claustrophobic. This one isn't afraid to break boundaries of time and space. Settings in Russia, France, Britain and America, besides Japan, give a great feel for world-wide struggles.

Title: Fullmetal Alchemist
Fantasy Elements: Alchemy, Alternate Dimensions
Summary: Two brothers, Ed and Al, are on a quest to regain what they have lost - Ed's body and Al's limbs. Al will do anything to regain Ed's body - will it be at the cost of his own life?
Why you may not like it: Long. Takes time getting into the story.
Why I think you must see it: There is something about the whole feel of the show that is very original. Music and animation style are quite interesting - and the use of alchemy is very complex and well-thought out in this story. The moral - "there is always an exchange" - is very deep and explores something that few shows will go into.

Title: Hellsing
Fantasy Elements: Demons, Vampires, Werewolves and Religion
Summary: The Protestants have the ultimate defense, Alucard. The Catholics have an amazing warrior priest. And Nazis are building a Fourth Reich... How is the newly undead Victoria going to fit into this?
Why you may not like it: Excessive gore.
Why I think you must see it: If you have nothing against excessive gore, this is the show for you. Alucard (who is Dracula, in reality) is just too amazing. After seeing him do battle, any other vampire show will lose its pizzazz. There is something about the way he tears arms off... and reconstitutes his body... It makes you wonder if he will ever bite the bullet in the end.

Title: Kyo Kara Maoh
Fantasy Elements: Alternate Dimensions, Demons, Strange Creatures, Magic Swords, Magic, Anything that could be fantasy cliched material
Summary: A boy is flushed down the toilet to another world, where he is informed that he is the new Demon King. How is he to cope with living between two worlds? And what happens when both worlds threaten to collide?
Why you may not like it: Corny. Mildly shounen-ai... >>;;; (ie. He gets a boy fiancee by accident.)
Why I think you must see it: This show is the ultimate in corny magic saga. The sword, for example, is a rip off of Vampire Hunter D's sword - and incredibly noisy. But setting aside the corniness, this saga is almost artistic in its corniness... and is sure to make you laugh...

Title: Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro
Fantasy Elements: Demons, Weird Mutations and permutations...
Summary: A young girl, Yako, teams up (rather unwillingly) with a demon called Neuro who feeds on the negative energies that come from solved mysteries.
Why you may not like it: Twisted, macabre.
Why I think you must see it: Koyasu Takehito as Neuro - is at his best. There is something about the manically cheerful Neuro (in front of customers) and the vicious Neuro (alone with Yako) which is charming. The mysteries are also very twisted and come with interesting side characters that make you quirk your brow. Combined with crazy artwork, this show is designed for twisted people who like to watch twisted stuff.

Title: Petshop of Horrors
Fantasy Elements: Fantasy Creatures, Vampirism(?), Mermaids, Man-eating Rabbits, Shapeshifting (?)
Summary: A detective in L.A., Leon, is investigating a string of murders that he thinks are linked to a petshop in Chinatown. Thing is, this petshop is run by a peculiarly beautiful man called D - who fascinates and intrigues the detective... and the viewer...
Why you may not like it: Disturbing.
Why I think you must see it: If you are into horror and are into pro-environment morals, this is a great show to root for the downtrodden nature around us. Count D is an amazing advocate for right living - at the cost of his own customer's lives! We, like Leon, are drawn to the mesmerizing evil and beauty of D.

Title: Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpucho
Fantasy Elements: Demons, Spirit World, Super Hero-type powers, Apocalypse
Summary: A bunch of messed up teens end up getting superpowers from the spirit world - and try to save the world by bringing back balance to various spiritual places etc.
Why you may not like it: Complicated. One episode was animated badly...
Why I think you must see it: The animation - action and artwork - is really amazing (despite that one episode that made us all puzzled over). There is a detailed complex world in this show - and the endnotes on some of the better subs are extremely helpful for understanding the Buddhist and Shinto parts of it.

Title: Vision of Escaflowne
Fantasy Elements: Magic, Alternate Dimensions
Summary: A girl is taken to another dimension where she aids various people to find freedom and gain victory over a common, evil foe.
Why you may not like it: Vintage style of animation which caused weird noses.
Why I think you must see it: It's really the starter for most anime fantasy. The whole 'girl travels to another world' hadn't gotten old yet, and there are alot of interesting characters along the way. It is really quite epic in scope.

Title: Witch Hunter Robin
Fantasy Elements: Witches, Magic
Summary: Robin is a Witch Hunter - and develops her own witch powers. Will Amon and her coworkers hunt her down - or recognize her to be what she really is...
Why you may not like it: Takes its time building up...
Why I think you must see it: If you let it, this show will grow on you. Great animation and seiyuu make for an awesome production - along with a rather complex discussion on "othering"... The ending is... interesting... but there is an interesting development between Amon and Robin that keeps us guessing...

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Next up: Science Fiction!!!