This will be a list of some of Japanese animations, movies, OVAs, and TV series that I happen to like and what little I know about them.. Spoilers ahead.

• Here are some descriptions of animated films I had some interest in

• Abenobashi Magical Shopping District (Abenobashi Mahou Shotengai). The guys from GAINAX go completely out of control in a 13 episode series (released by ADV) that will never be shown on American broadcast TV. A run down shopping district turns out to be the hitherto sealed gateway to parallel dimensions. Early teen boy and girl are get lost among the dimensions and try to find their way home. The first episode looks relatively safe but after that good taste is thrown to the winds and there is sure to be something to offend everyone. Recurring characters among the dimensions are a mysterious hooded man, a trouble-making goblin, and a Kenji Tsuruta girl with half frame glasses and an extremely large bosom who seems to be a little opportunistic (No Spirit of Wonder here.) This is one case, though, where the out of control style actually works and this series is highly recommended. It does have a heart and a dramatic center. It is being released in the US on DVD. (11-28-2003)
• Agent Aika 7 OAV episodes released by Central Park Media. In spite of all the panty shots, there is a plot and there is some backstory we'd like to learn somre more about. Aika's untransformed character design is actually pretty good, without any exagerationm, if you know what I mean, and it's too bad it hasn't been reused somewhere. (9-17-2006)
• Air TV (13 episodes, 2005, not released in the US) This was a definite surprise. I thought it was going to be another harem fantasy. It's really more like Otogi Zoshi in reverse (the story in the current era is told before the Heian era prelude) except with no happy ending for the reincarnated souls. Characters look like they stepped over from Kanon since both share studios. In the Heian era winged creatures are captured to make use of their power to control the winds. A lady in waiting and a soldier help one of these being in a futile attempt to escape. There is also a movie version that retells the story with a different interpretation of the characters. Watch the TV series, but have your hankies ready. (9-17-2006)
• Air the Movie. Doesn't look too good at first, but if you stick with it, gives another view of the story that is legitimate in its own way. Go watch it. (6-29-2007)
• Alien 9. This is a very disturbing 4 episode story that is sort of incomplete in its anime version, and can be bought bundled with the 3 volume manga, which you really need to read to understand the story. Aliens have landed and their various clans vie for humans to use as symbiotic hosts. Think of Heinlein's The Puppet Masters, except that the hosts are allowed to retain some of their identity. Grade schools are used by the aliens to select humans who are suitable to become hosts, using school teachers who have already been assimilated. In the story entire schools are slaughtered and two of the main characters are fully assimilated, one getting butchered up along the way. I'm still wondering about this one.
• Ann of Green Gables (Akage no An) is a 50 episode TV series form the heyday of World Masterpiece Theater. Miyazaki and Takahata were involved in som of the episodes. After the first 9 episodes, I'm hooked. (11-29-2003)
• All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku-Nuku Another combination of military robotics and and a cat. Middle story has some fan service, although at least it's related to the plot. In general, however, Nuku Nuku is an idealized older sister, except for the bicycle incident. There is a later different treatment of this story that is sort of sick (Flash) in which N-N becomes a lust object for an older version of the little boy. I think it's called Nuku-Nuku Dash. There is also a TV series that seems to have been cleaned up, but is still pretty insane. I especially enjoyed learning who played Super Karen. The TV series is supposed to be the story told from Nuku-Nuku's point of view. They are all out on DVD and has aged well. (11-9-2004)
• Angel's Egg. This is very Artsy Stuff. Almost no dialog. Worth a watch. From the same guy who brought you Beautiful Dreamer. I remember seeing this on channel 13 (or was it 28) in LA when I was little. (5-11-2003)
• Angel Links. I avoided this one after seeing the first episode at a Con. The design of the heroine, Li Meifon, was too over the top and it looked like another stupid shoot-em-up with minimal plot. After reading a review I bought the DVDs and watched it. It's not the greatest anime, but it's better than I thought with a very noir atmosphere after a certain point, and a downbeat ending. Also, the design of Meifon's killer android alter ego is much better than her normal one. I wouldn't buy the DVDs if I had to do it again, but it would be worth borrowing to watch. (11-9-2004)
• Animated Classics of Japanese Literature. Some of these are really good, although the complaint has been made that the animation is rather basic. Some of these are finally coming out on DVD. (2-28-2003)
  • A Roadside Story
  • Asunaro Story, The Story of Koyasu Dog
  • Botchan
  • Tale of Shunkin, Friendship, I read the book and it's pretty intense.
  • Harp of Burma , Parts 1 and 2; I also have the book and there is a live action movie . One of my favorites.
  • The Wind Rises; The Fruit of Olympus
  • The Martyr; The Priest of Mt. Kouya
  • The Incident in the Bedroom Suburb; Voice from Heaven
• Animation Runner Kuromi (1 episode released by Central Park Media) is a cute little tale of a newbie animation studio who's put in charge of flogging the creators to put out. Painless and cheap, it's worth getting. There is a Kuromi 2 out now. (9-15-2006)
• Animatrix. I saw the first three episodes at the LA Shrine Comic Book Show before the movie came out. Some of the sequences look very European, although they are Japanese. I have the DVD. What I have seen looks spectacular, especially kabuki influenced sequence. The Last Flight of the Osiris is the direct prequel to the Matrix seques. Not everything on the DVD is a winner, but the good stuff is really good. (11-9-2004)
• Appleseed was recently remade as theatrical release. In the US it was doomed by a horrible dub. Interesting since it was done in an ultra-realistic style, sort of like that Final Fantasy, the Spirits Within. Of course, based on the classic Shirow manga. (9-15-2006)
• Area 88, four episodes. I don't know why I'm addicted to this. Can't Viz finish translating the Manga? The first tape recently was released as a DVD. A young Japanese pilot with a promising future as an airline pilot is press-ganged into becoming a mercenary fighter pilot in the Midlle East. In the anime Shin decides he likes the manly life of combat and like his American buddy realizes that he can't exist in the civilian world anymore, abandoning his long suffering girlfriend. The manga has a different ending. Although a gritty war story, the character designs are very shoujo. There is a new version of the series out in Japan.(11-29-2003)
• Area 88, new version. (12 epeisode TV series) This is a remake of the classic story of a young Japanese pilot who is betrayed by his best friend and press-ganged into becoming a mercenary in the Middle East. Updated animation courtesy of digital technology and much more shonen art style. Shin looks like a man now. A new character was created for this series, Kitri, a female pilot who belongs to the royal family. She a classic anime long black haired female character. She's able to hold her own and keep the men at bay, but at first regards aerial combat as a sort of game. It is to be hoped that second season is created. (2-17-2006)
• Argento Soma TV series This is kind of the like that Star Trek episode/movie where the deep space probe meets an alien power and comes back much more powerful and way ticked off. Like everything else, also kind of like Evangelion since the mecha are really tamed versions of the adversary. The art has a different look from generic anime. (6-29-2007)
• Aria The Animation is a 13 episode TV series based on the manga that was partially translated (3 volumes) by ADV before their first manga attempt imploded. The anime captures some of the feel of Bradbury's Martian Chronicles as Akari trips in time to meet the first settlers of her mars before the oceans were accidentally created. A beautiful extended dream. Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou fans use Aria as a placebo. A second season, Aria the Natural continues the tale of female tour guide gondoliers. (9-15-2006)
• Asatte no Houkou 12 episode TV series An anime version of Trading Places. Little or no fanservice, slice of life in spite of the supernatural premise. An unhappy little girl and an unhappy young woman trade places and find that there is no escape from the challenges of life. (5-29-2007)
• Ashita no Nadja. I saw the first two episodes at a con and liked it. It looks like an old World Masterpiece TV series, but it actually came out in 2002-2004. Kind of the same idea as Secret of the Cerulean sand- retro Victorian young girl on a quest, in this case to find her mother. For what appears to be a children's show, there are some rather adult touches. Sylvie, a member of the Dandelion troupe that Nadja joins, appears to be rather realistically hooking on the side. A bullfight sequence protrays the death of the bull rather graphically. There are also some episodes that are plain stupid and out of character, such as the pirate one. Sort of like the musical episode of Nadia. The character Carmen reminds one of a young Grandis. I've seen 26 of 50 episodes. (12-29-2004)
• Ashiteruze Baby. I've seen two episodes of this rather strange and sentimental series about a teen age boy having to take care of a preschooler. (12-29-2004)
• Assemble Insert is now available on DVD and is of interest for historical reasons. Many characters in the 2 episode OVA are caricatures of Japanese animators. (11-29-2003)
• Azusa Will Help movie. With the current Japanese bithrate, the Japanese as we currently know them, will eventually disappear. Before that point, they will have trouble making up high school baseball teams, so robots and even girls will be recruited to make up a team. One teams is too poor to buy baseball robot, so they pitch in to purchase a domestic robot who will have to do. Besides behaving like Steel Angel Kurumi on downers, this particular robot has a hidden past that will save the day, at the cost of her waning battery life. (6-29-2007)
• Azumanga Daioh is as good as they say. However, you have to wonder if Chiyo is going to suffer from brain damage after all the times she has been hit on the head. About half way through the series it looks as if they decided they needed more than 4 panel gags and started adding in some really beautiful art work and lyrical scenes. This is a show for people who love dogs and hate cats. There is also a Spirited Away theme with a young girl who has her name stolen. Sakaki is probably a descendant of Tsukikage Ran. If you don't believe that, check out the elephant sequence in the that TV series. This has been released in the US(11-9-2004)
• Bakuretsu Hunter out on DVD. They say if you watch enough episodes it has a plot. Series is redeemed by Carrot occasionally acting in a gallant fashion. The last 5 or so episodes get very serious and there is little to laugh about. Sort of like Fushigi Yugi at a similar stage. Everyone dies in the end, for at least a while. Big Momma in a business suit? The Special, which consists of three additional episodes, out on DVD, but doesn't add that much to what we know about the Spooner Continent and its mythology. (11-9-2004)
• Baoh. Again, this one is on the bloody side, although the alliance between the doomed teenage boy and the clairvoyant preteen is touching. The fate of Shumire makes it watchable. The boy sacrifices himself to rescue her and destroy the government biological warfare research organization that has victimized them. This organization is supposed to be the same as the notorious WWII unit 731 and connects the Americans with it. This anime demonstrates that not all of the Japanese have suppressed their memories of this war atrocity. DVD now available
• Barefoot Gen. Too intense, but a classic. The aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima as experienced by a little boy. Based on the autobiographical manga.
• Battle Angel Alita (Gunmu)was much more focused than the manga. There were two episodes that told a self-standing story. This Anime is no longer in distribution as far as I know.(11-9-2004)
• Beck TV series seems to be about a schoolboy who meets some expatriate Americans in Japan and joins them to start a rock band. Seems interesting, but a lot of four letter words in the English dialogue. Seems to be worth following. Beck is the name of a dog.
• Betterman TV series This is pretty dark and cosmic, with some very lovable and altruistic characters getting offed in the last episode. The two main protragonists do survive, but I'd trade the wimpy male lead for the heroic meganeko bioengineer. A kid controlled mecha show taking on the essence of life. (6-29-2007)
• Birdy the Mighty (Tetsuwan Birdy) was a 4 episode OVA that looks like it was never finished. Space Police officer accidentally kills a human and has to timeshare her body with his soul as penance. Nice designs. Now available on domestic DVD.(11-9-2004)
• Black Magic M-66. Never figured out the manga, but the anime has a plot. Killer androids run amok, ironically pursuing their creator's daughter. Not great, but interesting for historical purposes. Released again on domestic DVD (11-9-2004)

Bleach is one of the more interesting interesting TV series. A highschooler with a tragic past is recruited to help send the dead to the next life, but not quite as in the live action movie Afterlife. Some of the dead become unwilling to go and are downright nasty. The hook for the show is Rukia. The fights in the Soul Society start to get a little boring in the second half of the show since Rukia is no longer the focus. (3-3-2006)

Blue Gender (2 season TV series and movie) One of the most unrelentingly intense shows, in the same class as Now and Then, Here and There. I've seen the movie and the first few episodes of the TV series. Big bugs have taken over the world and are eating everyone. From where did these bugs come?(3-3-2006)

Blue Seed (TV series) Considering this came from the same guy who created Nuku Nuku and 3X3 Eyes, it was a disappointment for me. Most of the story and characters weren't very engaging, except for the CIA esper. Ancient spirits are ripping up Japan. (3-3-2006)

Blue Sonnet, Two VHS tapes if you can find them. From the earlier days of anime, another doomed psionic cyborg tale with evil Americans. The story ends on an uncertain note with Blue Sonnet starting to really doubt her mission. The heroine is a brutalized victim of the slums who is transformed into a killing machine by an evil American corporation.

Blood, the Last Vampire is a really short movie that doesn't have much backstory, or plot for that matter, but is fantastic to watch. I wouldn't buy the DVD, but you should watch it in a theater if you get the chance, just like the new version of Vampire Hunter D. See it with Jin-roh and you'll never be happy again.

Blue Submarine No. 6 was meant for DVD. I've seen all six episodes and this story is a must, combining CG with cel animation of the characters, a pioneering work of its time. The creators claim they wanted to create a simple minded boys' action adventure story, but the themes seem to be much more complex and richer than that, and there is an intense talking heads scene with Zorndyke in the last episode. The combined CG/cel technique works well here and in Sol Bianca, but didn't come off in Titan AE. I propose that this is the prelude to Yokohama Shopping Trip. (3-3-06)

Bubblegum Crisis 2040. The Knight Sabers return, challenged by a boomer who aspires to godhead. Fortunately for them, the plot is similar to an episode of the Outer Limits and the boomer evolves quickly enough to drop the idea of wiping out mankind. There's even another homage to Eva at the end where Linna and Nene end up naked in each others' arms on the beach after their suits miraculously get them back to earth. The design for Sylia Stingray this time around is pretty much Ifurita from the OVA El Hazard. (11-28-2003)

Burn Up Scramble. (1 season TV series) I saw the first two episodes at a con and noted that the designs have changed from the previous Burn Up series. Rio now looks like Marelene form Blue Gender, especially in her combat suit, except with really big... The cast has been cut down to 3 and is more manageable. This time they're up against a government conspiracy with big business to create ruthless super cops. Rio isn't so angular and is a little more vulnerable. Her side kick starts off as the old gun crazy pschotic, but during the series she becomes more like Rio's Jiminy Cricket. Lilica is a semi-tragic character. She's been imprisoned since she was a child because she was an incredibly powerful, but uncontrollable esper. Although, forced into the police force, she still maintains her moal compass. She also has a bigger bust than even Rio. One episode features one of Keith Laumer's Bolos, the sentient tanks. This one, of course, develops a crush on Rio. (3-3-2006)

Cheeky Angel (Tenshi na Konamaiki) is one of the funnier anime TV series out today. It looks at gender identity with a twist of magic thrown in. Although full of belly laughs, it does look at the question on gender identity, and adolescent identity from every possible angle. Megumi is the hottest girl in high school, but she thinks like a nine year boy because she was one once, and wants to be one again ( or so she believes). The anime hasn't made it to the States, yet, but the manga is being released by Viz. Megumi's sidekick Miki at first seems to be the obligatory short-haired female buddy, but in the latter 2/3 of the series she turns out to be the plot kingpin. If you 're going to be beaten up, choose Megumi since if Miki gets mad enough to fight, she plays to cripple or kill.(12-27-2004)

Chobits Finally a story from Clamp where the guy looks and acts like a guy. Boy picks robot (persocon) out of the trash and adopts her. I've seen the first 4 episodes, but the design for Chii is very original. Tokyopop has finished releasing their version of the manga. If the anime ends as the manga does, it'll be another case of Clamp taking a good idea and then fumbling it. Takes place in the same world as Angelic Layer, but a few years later. (11-28-2002)

Chrno Crusade (Chrono Crusade) This TV series is initially deceiving. It looks pretty much like a fairly juvenile story, but if you can read about the backstory, it suddenly takes on enough depth to be interesting. The story is an alternate history one very similar to that of Sakura Wars or could very nearly be part of that universe, except set in the U.S. During the 1920s. Demons are invading the human world, and the Catholic Church is in the forefront of the battle.Chrno Crusade also brings the warrior nun genre to anime and manga. Sister Rosette is a teenager who somehow has become a nun, even though she doesn't have the vocation. She's a rice Christian in the sense that she's a nun only to access the Church's anti-demon firepower. She brings to the table her own special capability. She has entered into a compact with a renegade demon, the titualr Chrno, that commits her to a symbiotic relationship. The demon can steal Rosette's life force in return for granting her some of his power in fights against other demons. Everytime this happens Rosette dies a little. Her guess is that she'll be dead by the time she's 30. In the meantime she has some very un-nunnish tendencies. When she goes undercover she relishes the chance to gamble and wear tight sleazy outfits and wave her butt in the face of her partner Chrno. Chrno, on the other hand is rather uptight and moralistic, often lecturing Rosette. Rosette's private war is to somehow redeem her brother who was one of group with special gifts from God, but who has been co-opted by one group of demons. Rosette and Chrno die in the end from what I understand. (11-9-2004)

City Hunter (Many, many episode TV series, plus movies) Contrary to what some people claim, Kaori does kiss her partner in one of the TV episodes. This series has a strange charm after a while. The mokori tendencies of Saeba are balanced by Kaori's prudishness. The series bounces back and forth between very serious cops and robbers and slapstick with extreme animation styles. Although some people didn't like it, I appreciated the device in the movie of rendering Ryo in different styles depending on his mood (total jerk vs. cool operator.) After the main TV series Kaori is killed. (3-3-2006)

Clover and Honey (1 season TV series) This is sort of an anime La Boheme. A group of art students struggle with life and finding work. (3-3-2006)

Comic Party. (1 season TV series). The story is about Doujinshi artists, centering on a young man who is press ganged into becoming an artist by his friend. The manga To Heart exists in this world, and frequent references are made to Multi. (3-3-2006)

Cowboy Bebop I sprung for all six DVDs in one expensive shot. Episode 5 is the best, as everyone says. The story is more straightforward than expected. I was waiting for some big plot twist or revelation at the end, but there aren't any cosmic implications in this story. The ending is tragic and very noir. At least the kid and the dog leave and don't see what happens to Spike. Jet and Fay have their characters develop and they learn something about themselves, but Spike never changes. In that sense he is more like a Hemingway character. Any insights he may have gained happened before the story started. He's a man following an obsession and everything else along the way is incidental. We do get to see Edward in a smock in one episode and she is darn cute. Actually, although I haven't done an A/B comparison. I think they started rendering Edward cuter towards the end. Okay, where's that Bebop movie? I almost got to see it at the UCLA anime club, but I had to attend a reception that night!! I tried again at the Egyptian in LA and it was sold out. It was released in art theaters in LA after that, but I couldn't find time to see it. Finally got the DVD! The movie isn't a reprieve for Spike since it takes place somewhere in the middle of the TV series in the same continuity. The movie is definitely a must see. (11-28-2003)

Crest of the Stars. This space opera has more fan service than I expected, since I had heard that it was so serious. I'm hoping that Jinto hasn't totally bought into being a Janissary and that someday he rises up against the Abh. (12-29-2004)

I finally decided to make a list of shows I've seen and either disliked or felt weren't worth a mention.

Last Update: 15 September 2006
Web Author: Doug Ikemi