The flow of time slows to a normal pace and the cold harsh and gentle embrace of the season brings upon a special time where people bundle up on not just warmth, but savings as well. Which means it's that time again where Black Friday isn't until after Thanksgiving and it's only the beginning of the month. Say, would you like some recommendations on what to get for that special someone? Well, you aren't getting that. However, for the special anime aficionado Rare is here to give you his best recommendations to watch both past and present of this year.
Now, it's pretty simple. Either you like it, or you don't. Watch at your own risk, and if this isn't your bag, then disregard it. That said, here's what I thought was good. I'm going by what I saw this past year. There may have been some I passed, but I'm just going by what I saw. If you want to recommend something, go ahead and leave it in the comments.
Beelzebub - "Long long ago, in a certain place, there was a very very handsome, cool, respected, entirely angelic young man." (lie) This series, possibly shonen, is about the most dangerous high school freshmen delinquent in all of Ishyama High. One day while Oga Tatsumi was washing up at the river, and by that I mean dunking a thug into the river, he comes across a rather large man floating down the slow churning current. Like any civilized Samaritan, Oga lifts up the man and chops his head in half. However, the man splits in two to reveal a portal in which a baby with green hair appears and takes a liking to Oga. This turns sour as the green haired baby is the son of Satan. To put it in simple terms, delinquent becomes demon baby daddy. It's rather crass, but fun humor keeps me going as the story moves along to introduce many wacky characters. Including someone who reminds me of Freddy Mercury. If you don't like shonen drab or the constant dangling wang of Baby Beel, stay away. The rest of me will keep at this show.
Gosick - Basically it's like Encylopedia Brown was a little kuudere loli type girl with some mystical powers to "perceive" a la Apollo Justice. I only got halfway through, but it's pretty good. Bandai is planning to release it stateside.
Mitsudomoe Zoriyuchuu - The short second season to the first Mitsudomoe. If you like toilet humor, and are familiar with all the jokes and misunderstanding cliches that the first season charmingly introduced to you, this is a good after dinner mint to the otherwise crass humor. Oh I'm not talking toilet jokes like, as NintendoCapriSun would say, "IN THE BATHROOM!". It's more Rich Girl's mom likes it kinky with little girls type of crass. Pretty much, if you like toilet humor and everyone should have a balance of that, then this is the show to watch for all 8 episodes worth. Not a bad little screening.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica - The hit series that took the year by surprise. Shaft took a genre, the magical girl genre, and pulled a 180 deconstructing it to the point that it became extremely dark. QB, the main antagonist has become synonymous as the empathy lacking magical furball thing that people hate. A emotionless sociopath that makes "contracts" with the main characters but with a price. If Neon Genesis Evangelion was the hit of the 1990s, then Madoka Magica is this of the 2010, and that is saying something. Aniplex is releasing it in full with a dub, and an overpriced special edition.
Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka? - You ever had one of those discussions of pirates vs ninjas? Well take this, turn the main protagonist who's a boy, into a zombie and magical girl and add a necromancer knight, a chainsaw wielding girl with a kick which is more of a chainsaw slice, and a vampire ninja to it. Then sprinkle some heavy fanservice and some double standard yuri scene, and it's just a cluster phoque of silly and fun. Well, it's a gag manga first and those aren't supposed to be taken seriously. I'm talking about you Panty and Stocking! The last episode will piss you off if you are the kind of person who hates fanservice. Funimation has the rights to the show.
Suite Precure - Musical motif of the ongoing and popular Precure series. It didn't strike my fancy as Heartcatch Precure did with it's art style and action. Suite felt more like the other precures prior to Heartcatch (all shoujo ai). But hey, it's still good if you are into it.
Onii-chan no Koto nanka Zenzen Suki Janain Dakara ne (I Don't Like You at All, Big Brother)- Ochinko (penis) as it's called in some parts is stupid. Basically Nao has this brother who she loves, but that's forbidden, but they are not blood related so it's OK to hound over him. Don't watch it. I suffered through it, but not as much as I thought. It's just stupid.
IS - Infinite Stratos - It's shit. 'Nuff said. Sentai Filmworks has the right to them...may He have mercy on your soul.
Level E - "Currently, hundred of different alien species come and go, living their lives on the Earth. Species that come in peace, aggressive warlike species... Aliens with all kinds of personalities live among us, maintaining a precarious balance." Level E was a very very curved ball that hit me out of nowhere like a sack of potatoes. This show has quite a pedigree for being a bunch of short stories written by Yoshihiro Togashi, the same author who also did Yu Yu Hakusho and Hunter x Hunter. And it didn't disappoint. Level E is like Men in Black without the Men in Black. There is this alien prince known as Prince Baka. He lands on earth to basically play pranks for his own amusement. The unfortunate schmuck is freshmen transfer baseball player Yukitaka who is picked to "observe" the "wrath" of Baka. Think of him as an intergalactic Ashton Kutcher circa Punk'd era. The most color characters would have to be Captain Kraft (voiced by Takehito Koyasu) and his subordinates who also take the lash of Baka's "jokes". Level E sort of stalls a bit in the middle, but it brings an shocking twist in the end that it catches everyone off guard, even Prince Baka himself. So yeah, it's hilariously well written, undeniably clever, even very audacious and well worth checking out. It's on Crunchyroll. Watch it.
Nichijou (Everyday Life) - No words can describe this show. Nichijou is about everyday life. Ever see that cartoon called Regular Show where the most mundane things that happen in that show turn into life threatening epic moments that shatter time and space? Nichijou is like that. From the days when we go to school to see our aristocratic wannabe farm boy crush ride a goat to school, the girl who has a few hundred dozen weapons to load off on said crush just because she can't spit it out; the emotionless girl who likes to play pranks on her friends, the robot girl with a key in her back who yearns to have a normal life built by an 8 year old professor. Yeah, that kind of ordinary life. Nichijou is also freaking goregeous. The way the show used different animation techniques to even the most mundane moments such as Mio chasing down Yuuko because she stole her yaoi doodle of Sasahara. Or
the most epic 3 second rule ever made. Anything mundane in that show can be turned into a off the wall epic moment and turn back to normal. Kinda like Regular Show. It's just leaps and bounds compared to everything else that I've seen animation wise. Some jokes or vignettes are hit and miss, but Azumanga was a love it or hate it show too. In fact, that's what Nichijou has been inspired by: Azumanga Daioh. This show has set the standard for what I call the Nichijou Factor in that the most mundane thing in the world can turn epic and Nichijou does that to it's full season end. In short, I love it. Bandai got the rights to it in the US, both DVD and manga. Bonus.
A Channel - Poor man's K-on. It's another one of those cute girls bonding and doing cute things. Some have fell asleep, but it's not horrible. Maybe Tooru has too much of a fascination to Yuko's breasts because they are huge, but eh. Sentai got it, for some reason.
Yuruyuri - Yet another one of those cute girls doing cute things slice of life show. Some may even call it a guilty pleasure. It's kinda weird though. It's got the yuri part down as a gimmick, but there were a few scenes that were kind of nightmare inducing. I'll give it a second look and give my own opinion about it. Crunchyroll is simulcasting it.
Usagi Drop - Although it is cut short at 11 episodes, Usagi Drop is Perfect. The visual style done by Production I.G of all people (It looks KyoAni good and it is glorious), the story is simplistic yet engaging, the characters are very likable, and it doesn't end on a bad note. Usagi Drop is about this 30 year old named Daikichi. While attending a funeral for his grandfather, he stumbles upon this little girl in the yard. Hearing that she is the daughter of Daikichi's grandfather, (his aunt) the family doesn't know what to do with her. However, Daikichi heads over to the girl and shouts, "Rin! Want to stay with me?" The moment those words are heard, Rin steps into a ray of light to show her true colors. Thus begins life as an adoptive father. Rin is THE most adorable child ever seen in fiction. Seriously, as a notfather who has observed lots of parents and their "quality" parenting which includes the baby brigade, the abusive folks, and the spoiled, Rin is perfect. She has both strengths and weaknesses as a child. As well as Daikichi. For a guy in his 30s, a steady job, and quite a hell of a looker, I'm surprised women wouldn't be going after a guy like him. Yes, I might even dare day she is as pure of heart as Yotsuba Koiwai. How can you say
no to a face like this? Usagi Drop is the best of the year and if Austrailia gets a DVD release, the US is sure to follow. If it doesn't, then we have no souls. Someone, give Usagi Drop a US release, damn it!
Ro Kyu Bu! - Loli Basketball. Take away the loli and it's like any other sports anime. Ok maybe not Bamboo Blade, but you get my point. Sentai got it for simulcatsing, but that's it.
Shinryaku!? Ika Musume - Sequel to the first Ika Musume. If you never seen the show, it's like Sgt. Frog except with an anthropomorphic squid who wants to take over the world. Don't expect much from this. It's all episodic, but it's so charming to see everyone. Squid Girl, a girl from the sea who possesses squid-like tentacles, vows to conquer humanity as revenge for its pollution of the ocean. Her first task is to make the Lemon beach house, owned by the Aizawa sisters, her base of operations. However, when she accidentally breaks a hole in their wall, she is forced to work as a waitress to pay off the damages. It's quite charming really. Sure there's a bit of moe, but it's just there to entertain you. Plus, how can you say no to this? Media Blasters got the first season on DVD with a surprisingly decent dub and on a budget. Give both a shot. I think you can find season 2 on Crunchyroll (like almost everything else online).
Fate/Zero - Prequel to Fate/Stay Night. It's good. If you are a fan of TypeMoon and Fate/Stay Night, you'll enjoy this. Aniplex, Crunchyroll, or NicoNico has the right to it and you can catch it online at either of their sites.
Carnival Phantasm - Sticking with the whole TypeMoon seque, this ova is fun and refreshing. If you have no idea about the in jokes that is in this series, they will fly over your head. For example, Rin Tohsaka, a magus, has trouble setting up a recording using a blu-ray recorder. Magic vs Technology is the punchline, but it's fun seeing her struggle even at the amusement of Archer. There might be more, but I'm not sure and I don't know where you can find it.
Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Kira - Direct to video. It's Higurashi, but the side stories that have nothing to do with the main murder mystery arcs that made it a hit. The first episode of Kira is fanservice, fanservice, fanservice and it is good. The second one has a magical girl theme with Rika as one. I need to watch and slug through it. Give it a shot.
WORKING'!! (The apostophe is important) - You ever see the movie Waiting with Ryan Renolds and Anna Faris? Well Working or Wagnaria is like that mixed with Azumanga Daioh. It's pretty funny for a workcom. Each of the characters are full of life and have different personalities that you can find in any workplace (minus Takanashi who likes little things). You have the slackass former delinquent manager that eats alot of things, the blackmailing sous chef, the chain smoking normal blonde, the short high school senior, the idiot attention whore, the person who is Hiding in plain sight or HIPS or has HIPS, the androphobe who punches men out of habit, and the lesbian wannabe waitress who carries a sword. You know, like in real life. You don't have to watch the first season to enjoy and have a good time. Finally, the opening and ending are so adorable. Where else will you find
the cutest j-disco ending theme ever? Only in Japan, buddy. The first season is available from NIS America and season 2 is on Crunchyroll.
Ben-tou - The premise of this show is weird. A freshman high school student named Yō Satō sees some half-priced pre-packaged bento (lunchbox) in a nearby grocery store, and goes to grab one, only to end up unconscious on the floor of the store a brief moment later. He soon discovers that the half-priced bento are Serious Business in this neighborhood. A group of young punks referred to as "Wolves" fight each other to the death just to get one of the discounted packages, and Sato is warned to stay away from them if he values his life. To put it simply,
this might best describe the show in a nutshell. So why should you be watching it? Because it's crazy, that's why! It has that how I call "Nichijou Factor" in which the most mundane thing such as trying to fight for a half priced lunch box is turned into a great epic war where the victor eats their spoils in sweet sweet savory rice and meat. Sure it's dumb, but it knows it's dumb, so it's fun. It starts from a so bad it's good premise, to all out balls to the wall
maximum wolffist punching fun craziness! The only person that doesn't belong to this "lunch war" is the class rep Ume. She's there as the psycho lesbian who wants Oshiroi to herself and kicks the crap out of Yo for no reason. At least Yo has stride and endurance. Watch this damn show! Turn off your brain, and enjoy a bunch of crazy people in a supermarket
kicking each other's asses over a half priced lunchbox. Get served an asskicking lunchbox with Ben-to, where ever you can find it (That should be the tagline if it ever gets licensed.).
And those are my picks for the year. Pretty damn good lineup. If I missed a few shows, or you have other suggestions. Go ahead and put them in the comments. I'll come back later for my holiday suggestions. You know, a guide you can use to pick out a gift for that special someone.
