Favorite Anime
This is not an exhaustive list of all the anime I've ever seen, but I tried to think of anime which have stuck with me for a long time.
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002)
- A relationship between two high school students becomes long distance when one is sent to space to be a mech pilot and fight aliens. This anime left a big impression on me. A 30 minute OVA that Makoto Shinkai spent 7 months making at home.
- She and Her Cat (1999)
- This is a 5-minute animated short by Makoto Shinkai I saw on the Voices of a Distant Star DVD. A story from the point of view of a woman's pet cat who watches her day to day life.
- Castlevania Netflix (2017-2021)
- It has been awhile since I binge watched a show. Castlevania Netflix is inspired by the Castlevania games and features some amazing western animation inspired by anime to the point where I consider it anime.
- Gunbuster (1988-1989)
- A 6-episode OVA series which I put here because of the final episode, the build up is worth it. This was a GAINAX project before Evangelion and you can see many of the same visual trends here too.
- Ghost in the Shell (1995)
- GITS explores identity, memories, and cyberfugitives in a world where many have cybernetic parts and some more than others. Major Kusanagi, looking for answers, tracks down a criminal who does not seem to have a real body. Beautiful animation, haunting music.
- Rose of Versailles (1979-1980)
- Lady Oscar becomes royal guard to Lady Antoinette in the lead up to the French Revolution. The show gets most interesting after episode 10. This anime has friendship, love, politics, betrayal, complex characters, and an engaging story.
- Digimon Tamers (2001-2002)
- A childhood favorite that will not leave my brain. Digimon Tamers is the best Digimon season of them all in my opinion, written by Chiaki Konaka who wrote Serial Experiments Lain. Some good character arcs and interesting concepts for a show made to sell Digimon Cards.
- Pokemon Heroes (2002)
- The Pokemon movie I have watched the most. The idea that a Pokemon could turn into a human captured my imagination as a child. The story is set in Alto-Mare, inspired by Venice, so beautiful backgrounds abound. Best watched in Japanese as the Dub butchered the story.
