Choosing the best anime series may actually be even more difficult than choosing the best movies. There is not only a wide variety of television and straight-to-video series to choose from, there is also a larger number of them than movies.
One series that deserves mention simply because it introduced so many fans to anime is “Sailor Moon.” This series spawned a whole generation of fanboys and began the grand tradition of fighting poses and flashy transformation scenes that would become a staple of anime for many people. Some might say that “Pokemon” has introduced as many people to anime, but it is far more American-ized than “Sailor Moon” and has much less in common with its anime siblings. The Sailor Scouts also have a much broader appeal and far more detailed plots to deal with.
Another trailblazer is “Dragonball,” a series that deserves its place on this list for more reasons than just its massive base of fans. “Dragonball” set the stage for the fighting genre of anime, and its sequel, “Dragonball Z,” went one step further, serving as a blueprint for the successful fighting series formula. It’s easy to see its influence on some of the more recent series.
One such series is “Yu Yu Hakusho,” which could be considered a near clone of “Dragonball Z.” Both series concern a group of fighters who become friends despite having started the show as opponents. They spend their time training and protecting the world from destruction and/or domination by creatures from other worlds. “Yu Yu Hakusho” is unique in that the main character actually starts the series by dying. Also, the plots of each part of the series move along more quickly without sacrificing any of the popular fighting scenes.
At a glance, “Bleach” has much in common with both “Dragonball Z” and “Yu Yu Hakusho.” Certainly, it falls into the fighting category and involves dealing with the dead, but this is deceptive. “Bleach” has a darker tone and storylines that deal with some fairly deep concepts. It is also reminiscent of “lone samurai” stories in that the two main characters spend much of their time keeping other people far away from themselves and their work. Their growth together and their interactions with people who need their help keep the series interesting.
“Rurouni Kenshin” is a “lone samurai” story that quickly morphs into a group fighting series. But it never loses touch with its main protagonist and his struggles to deal with both his own past and the modern world. Part love story, part historical drama, this series maintains a certain level of realism despite the often unbelievable abilities of its characters and asks plenty of serious questions about whether or not human nature can be redeemed and, indeed, whether it is worth the effort.
“Samurai Deeper Kyo” is another historical drama, but this series has more than a touch of un-reality added to it. Much like several anime movies that come to mind, “Kyo” takes a bit of Japan’s distant past and turns it upside-down, forcing the viewer to think on his or her feet and to remember names and dates from the history books. The story can certainly be enjoyed without taxing one’s memory in such a manner, but it adds a whole level of intrigue to the viewing of the series and makes the characters that much more vivid.
Anime often has a preoccupation with history, but sometimes it mixes up its time zones. In “Trigun,” for instance, a world styled after the American West sits on an entirely different planet in the distant future. While most of the series is frenetic and humorous, it spends plenty of time on serious issues and questions like “How do you save the world without sacrificing something?” The main character, and those who die trying to help him, answers that question with the haunting reply that all you can do is try.
Another anime series with an Old West feel to it is “Cowboy Bebop.” This series uses music and rhythm to propel the plots and characters forward. The rather disjointed group that makes up its crew spends most of its time getting into and out of trouble. The most touching episodes reveal something about an individual character, and these stories always have a musical theme that helps to imprint it on the viewer’s mind. In fact, each episode moves at it own pace that can only be fully felt by listening to the music.
“Full Metal Alchemist” is unique mainly because of its main character. Rather than a stoic fighter who works alone, he struggles to maintain a grip on his past and the people he loves and often shows both fear and emotional pain, two things that are often lacking in anime heroes. This makes him seem more human and sympathetic. The series doesn’t skimp on the plot either, constantly forcing conflicts between the protagonists’ codes of ethics and what they are required to do in order to obtain their goals.
“Outlaw Star” seems built less like a series and more like a collection of mini-movies strung together and involving the same characters. Each episode, much like “Cowboy Bebop,” has its own tone. But rather than relying on musical inspiration to set the pace, this series moves ahead in the same way each episode, one piece at a time, until the very end. The characters are interesting, but the most mesmerizing aspect is the way they come together and work towards their common goal.
The common goal isn’t nearly as important as the individual struggles in “Blue Gender.” This series feels like something written by one of the great science fiction authors of the mid-20th century. It even has a post-apocalyptic Earth and a ragtag band of humans trying desperately to survive in it. The connection that the main character discovers between himself and the potential destruction of the human race parallels the connection that humans as a whole often have with their own destruction. It nearly destroys him, but in the end, it proves to be the saving grace of the planet.
“Android Kikaider” feels like it has the same self-destructive tone, but it really focuses on questions that humans are asking themselves even more earnestly now that our robots and A.I. systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Namely, “What makes something alive?” and “What does it mean to be truly human?” This series is the most dramatic and the most haunting of all anime series that focus on robots, cyborgs, or androids, and even though it has an unsatisfying conclusion, it’s well worth watching it through to the end.
For something that doesn’t make you think so hard, “Galaxy Angel” would be the best recommendation. In fact, this series doesn’t require you to think at all. The manic craziness is surpassed only by the bright cheerfulness. The protagonists are a group of women who are sort of like the Sailor Scouts if they were older and had no special powers, explaining the bishoujo appeal of the show, and they get into more mischief than is humanly possible in the real world. The stories and dialogue both move too quickly to make much sense of, and no two episodes are even slightly connected. For pure fun and laughs, “Galaxy Angel” is the way to go.
“Case Closed” is not too dark and not too dumb. Each episode plays out like a miniature Sherlock Holmes story and keeps the viewer thinking. More slowly paced than most anime, it might be considered more appropriate for the kids than anyone else, but it still has a loyal following of older viewers who enjoy its unique nature. More intellectually challenging than “Pokemon,” it might be a good next step for anime fans who aren’t ready for the heavier storylines of most anime series. Never let it be said that anime doesn’t have something for everyone.
