Anime are part of the “I love” or “I hate” category, there is not really a middle path when it comes to them. Today we are proposing a different kind of top ten, in a field which has probably remained unexplored for most. For all the anime lovers out there, we hope you will find something new to watch. For those who are not as familiar with them, we should mention that anime are Japanese cartoon series based on comic magazines called manga, which aren’t addressed to children. There are a lot of anime types, from action, love, and Sci-Fi to drama, horror and thrillers. The stories are very complex, and most of them are filled with references to the Asian mythology. Here are some of the best anime, in a random order.
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AFRO SAMURAI
Afro Samurai is a manga series created by Takashi Ozazaki, a hip-hop music lover. The story is about Afro Samurai, a samurai whose father was killed by the best fighter of that time. Afro Samurai dedicated his life to finding the killer, and avenge his father. The only problem is that the only way he could face him was if he became the second best samurai. The five episodes were such a success that a sequel soon followed. Afro Samurai also won two Emmy prizes.
Trailer: Afro Samurai
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DEATH NOTE
Death note is probably one of the most complex anime ever created. The series was inspired from a manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. Light Yagami, is an extremely bright student who accidentally finds the “Death Note”, a notebook of doom. This powerful artifact has the power to determine how, when and where a person will die. Of course there are a lot of clauses to the death note, but the important question is: How did it end up in the world of humans? As it turns out, a Shinigami ( a god of death ) was so bored with his life that he decided to let if slip. Light is a genius with a strong sense of justice, and he decides to exterminate all the criminals in the world. However, his judgment is soon clouded by madness, and secret services soon hire a detective to apprehend him. The series has 37 episodes, and two horror movies were made after it.
Trailer: Death Note
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DRAGON BALL Z
If you were born after the 90’s, this, and Sailormoon were probably the anime’s of your childhood. However, as much as people would like to believe that Dragon Ball Z is a children’s movie it is not. Cartoon Network had to censor a lot of parts in order to broadcast it in America. The story is about an unusual boy, Son Goku. He comes from another planet, and he is trained in martial arts, he also has a tail! Although his initial purpose is to become champion in Japan, he ends up fighting alongside the Z warriors and save the planet from an alien invasion.
Trailer: Dragon Ball Z
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BLEACH
Bleach is an anime which follows the adventure of an unusual mortal boy, Ichigo Kurosaki, who obtains an unusual power, that of a „Soul Reaper”. Soul Reapers are protectors of the spirit world, also known as angels of death. Ichigo becomes a temporary angel of death, and his mission is to protect passed away spirits find their peace, and protect people from monsters. The story is very complex, there are a lot of characters, and the plot-line becomes more and more interesting, as the main character fights to become stronger in order to protect his loved ones. The story is sometimes hard to follow, but it is worth it. It is rumored that a movie based on Bleach will soon be released.
Trailer: Bleach
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NARUTO SHIPPUUDEN
Naruto Shippuuden is a series which follows the former Naruto series, and it is mainly about the life of the ninja Naruto who wants to become the next Hokage. Although in the first part he was pushed aside by the inhabitants of Konoha village because of the Nine Tailed Fox which was sealed within his body, he manages to make good friends, and prove to all that he is a hero of the Leaf. In Naruto Shippuuden, his former friend Sasuke, becomes obsessed with the desire for revenge against his brother, and the Hidden Leaf village. Things evolve to a point where war seems eminent, and the two sides ( Sasuke and the Akutski vs Naruto and the Shinobi world ) prepare for the fourth ninja war. The story is so complex, and the characters so powerful, that you actually feel like everything is real. Naruto is one of the most successful anime series in the world.
Preview: Naruto Shippuden
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CODE GEASS – Lelouch of the Rebellion
Code Geass is somehow similar to Death Note, but there are a few things which are different In Death Note and Code Geass, both main characters are similar. They lust for power, they are extremely complex, they are very smart, they both have a special power and they also have the ability to manipulate the others around them. However Code Geass is more human, because Lelouch has feelings, he cries, he struggles and he manages to touch us. Light on the other hand, is more artificial, he could sacrifice his own father without straining a muscle. In my opinion, the story in Code Geass is also better. Not that the story in Death Note isn’t genius but Code Geass will keep you glued to your chair, and the finale is absolutely EPIC! It is without a doubt the best ending to an anime.
Preview: Code Geas – Lelouch of the Rebellion
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VAMPIRE KNIGHT
Vampire Knight is an anime about love, betrayal and vampires. Inspired after the manga written by Masturi Hino, the story is about a seventeen year old girl, Yuuki Cross, the adopted daughter of the vampire hunter Kaien Cross, who is enrolled in a weird academy, where vampires and humans learn together. As the plot develops, Yuuki starts to have feelings for one of the night Students, Kaname, with which she has a special relationship. The third main character is Kiryu Zero, a childhood friend who hates all vampires because they have destroyed everything he has ever hold dear. The anime is about the world of secrets, and dark intentions, where the price of misplaced trust may even lead to death.
Preview: Vampire Knight
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RUROUNI KENSHIN
The story is about a former assassin who tries to wash away his sins by helping people. The plot is situated in the begging of the Meiji Era, in Japan, and it depicts the tragedies of war, situations of humor, love, and struggles. The series is actually a more positive sequel to the Samurai X series, where we learn about Kenshin’s sad life before he becomes sick.
Preview: Samurai X
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FULL METAL ALCHEMIST
Written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa, Full Metal Alchemist is a series with a weak story line but full of humor and funny scenes. It is about the world where alchemy is the superior science and it is based on things like friendship, and equality. The story follows the adventures of two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elrich who want to restore their bodies after a failed attempt to bring their mother back to life. The manga and the anime series have known great success, especially in Japan.
Preview: Full Metal Alchemist
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ONE PIECE
One Piece is one of the longest anime ever created and it is about the life of the young Monkey D. Luffy, a boy with supernatural powers who is in search of a secret treasure. It is inspired after the written and illustrated manga create by Eiichiro Oda. The name of the anime was inspired from the treasure that a pirate king has hidden somewhere in the world. Fluffy makes a lot o friends on the way, and together they take part in many cool adventures.
Preview: One Piece
