Top 10 Anime TV SeriesJul 09 '00 Write an essay on this topic.I'm writing this list because there are so many good anime series that aren't listed at Epinions and many that aren't available commercially in the US. This is kind of like a list of things to look for in the future or from fansubs. This is a list of TV series, I haven't included any movies and only included one Original Video Animation. This doesn't mean that I don't like movies, I just view them as separate categories, maybe I'll make a separate list in the future. Oh, by the way, I'm a sucker for romantic comedies so this might not be your cup of tea. 10. Kaito Saint Tail (Mysterious Thief Saint Tail) This is a cute series about Haneoka Meimi, a girl who can transform into Saint Tail. Saint Tail is a Robin Hood type character, she steals to help people out. Asuka Jr, one of Meimi's classmates, is determined to find out St. Tail's true identity and send her to jail. This is a pretty light hearted series and many of St. Tail's tricks are learned from her father who is a magician. Lots of her means of escape involve balloons, flowers, and other pretty things. It's also fun to see how Meimi and Asuka Jr interact in class since Asuka doesn't know that Meimi is St. Tail, his nemesis. This is a 43 episode series and currently about the first half has been fansubbed. 9. You're Under Arrest You're Under Arrest, by the creators of Ah! My Goddess, is a story about two traffic cops, Miyuki and Natsumi. While the conflicts they deal with are relatively mundane, they are pleasantly interesting. The TV series also introduces some interesting characters to spice up the series. One of the strong points of this series is the good contrast between Miyuki and Natsumi. Miyuki is a shy, nice, well organized person, while Natsumi is loud and quick thinking. They make a good team working together. This was originally a 4 episode OVA but it's popularity led to a TV series. About 6 episodes of the TV series are fansubbed and the 4 episode OVA is available commercially. My Review of the OVA: http://www.epinions.com/mvie-review-4E67-6893F28-395A2C28-prod1 8. Vision of Escaflowne This is a standard 26 episode TV series about a high school girl, Hitomi, who gets drawn into an alternate world, Gaea. While unsure of how to return home, Hitomi gets drawn into the wars on Gaea. This series deals with sword fighting mecha which I found to be pretty neat. I just find sword fighting much more interesting than laser or missiles. It also has pretty complicated love triangles. This is a serious series with little comedy, but the drama is gripping. The series will be airing on Fox Kids in the Fall of 2000. (actually, I didn't think it would really interest kids, it's probably better suited for a teen audience). 7. To Heart This is a short TV series based on a dating simulation video game. It is a tale centered on Hiroyuki Fujita, a high school boy who is pretty quiet and lazy, but seems to always lend a hand when anyone is in need. This is also a pretty mundane series that deal with issues as simple as picking class seats and studying for exams. However, at the end of each episode, it just gives you that warm fuzzy feeling. There are also small bits of humor in the series, but the characters are what make the series fun and enjoyable. This is a 13 episode series that has been completely fansubbed. 6. Kodomo No Omocha (Child's Toy) Sana-chan is the super hyper main character of this TV series. She is a junior high TV star on a show called "Zenjiro's Kodomo no Omocha" (Zenjiro is the host of the show). This is a very silly show with and even silly cast of characters. e.g. Sana's mother has a squirrel living in her hair and drives around a small car inside the house, and Sana thinks her agent is her boyfriend and pimp. It's pretty much just a tale of a girl growing up in very complex situations. I just love how silly the series is, it's sure to give you a laugh. This is a 102 episode TV series, I think about 28 episodes have been fansubbed so far (it's a hard series to sub because of the fast talking). 5. Nadesico Well, this series isn't romantic comedy, it's about a crazy crew of a space ship called Nadesico that fights aliens. The characters seems so mismatched on the ship, but they really pull together well. Yurika, the captain of the ship, is a valley girl but is an amazing captain of the ship. Ruri is the quiet computer genius that comedically calls everyone "baka" (idiot). Gai is the anime obsessed fighter pilot. And Akito is the hero fighter pilot that also falls in love with Gekiganger, the anime series that transcends war. This is a 26 episode TV series that is currently being produced commercially (the first few tapes are available now, I'm waiting for DVDs). 4. Mahou Tsukai Tai (The Magic User's Club) Ok, this isn't a TV series, I slipped it in because it's just so funny. Mahou Tsukai Tai is a 6 episode Original Video Animation about a high school magic users club that tries to use its powers against aliens that are in the same town. Their lack of real magical power and the strange love triangles make this series hilarious. This OVA has been fansubbed. 3. Fushigi Yuugi (Mysterious Play) FY is about a high school girl, Miaka, who gets sucked into a magical book and enters an alternate world like ancient China. She must gather the 7 guardians of Suzaku to return to her home. The series becomes more involved when her best friend, Yui, also gets sucked into the book and becomes her rival because they both love the same man. This is a very funny and touching love story with a fantasy setting. It's so moving at times that I got teary eyed at one point. The friendships that Miaka makes with her guardians are wonderful. This is a 52 episode TV series, the first half is available in a DVD box set with a second box set being released soon. Also, most of the series is already available on VHS (14 out of 16 volumes, I think). My review of the DVD box set: http://www.epinions.com/mvie-review-5D3F-4E0B655-389DBA19-prod2 2. Kareshi Kanojo no Jijoo KareKano is a romantic comedy by the creators of Evangelion. It follows the relationship between Miyazawa Yukino and Arima Souichiroo. Yukino is the main character who starts off as a rival of Arima, but eventually falls for him. Yukino is so funny because of how two faced she is. She plays the perfect student while at school, but at home, she's a completely different person. She has just learned how to play the perfect student so well. It is great watching her mature throughout the series. This is a standard 26 episode series and about the first 12 episodes have been fansubbed. It has also been purchased for commercial release in the US already (but I'm not sure when the first tape is set to be released). 1. Marmalade Boy This is my favorite anime series. Marmalade Boy is a romantic comedy centered around Koishikawa Miki and Matsuura Yuu, two high school students. Miki's and Yuu's parents decide to swap partner and remarry leading to both families living together. The series starts with three main guys and three main girls that seem to be involved in many, many love triangles. As if it isn't complicated enough, each new season seems to introduce a few characters which just add to the complexity of the love triangles. This is a very silly and touching series. Miki's and Yuu's love for each other do well in binding together the series and even with all the love triangles, it's easy to keep track of them all. Marmalade Boy is a 76 episode TV series with one short 30 minute movie. It has all been fansubbed and I would highly recommend it. Ok, so that's it! There are many other series that could have been on this list (Magic Knights, Kimagure Orange Road, Card Captor Sakura, Sailor Moon, Hime-chan's Ribbon) that I like, but these are my top ten. Also, I haven't seen all the anime out there, so I may have missed some other good series (I'm planning on watching Fancy La La, Akazukin Chacha, Blue-Green Years, Hana Yori Dango). Anyway, I'm off to re-watch some more Marmalade Boy and see a couple more episodes of Card Captor Sakura, feel free to post comments.  |
| Read all comments (10)|Write your own comment |
|
Ads by Google
|
