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Seen all▲▼
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Rating▲▼
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Comment▲▼
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| Ah! My Goddess (TV) |
Good |
When I first finished watching this series, I had rated it as 'excellent'. Second time around, I was back to my senses and gave it a generous 'good'. If you want my honest opinion... if you really want my honestest opinion, I'd say "Ah! My Goddess" lacks intimacy. Not enough skinship in my opinion. You might think I'm weird and perverted but please don't get me wrong. I am a big fan of romance (this is one right?) and I know the difference between it and hentai. I was looking for romance in Ah! My Goddess and I never got it, and the main reason, I think, was because nothing much happened with the relationship between Keichi and Belldandy. I guess I initially gave it an 'excellent' simply because there was a sort of romantic redemption at the end. But in retrospect, even that was pretty bland. However, this series is nice... it makes you feel good. |
| Akira (movie) |
Very good |
I think the first hype for this movie was due to the experimentation in the dystopian genre which sparked an unprecedented sensationalism. Violence added to the effect, presenting the movie as something that offered mind-boggling messages and visual elements that promised to remain in our minds for days after watching. I will say this. The movie doesn't reeeaaaaaaally live up to its initial hype. Dystopia, as a genre, usually poses a question which pertains to the human condition. In Akira, the question is this: will technology subjugate humanity? A VERY original theme, huh? As for the violence, which includes limbs being ripped off, I'm just too indifferent to it, especially after watching Elfen Lied and Gantz. The art and animation that enlivens the dystopia is far inferior to the masterpiece that is "Now and Then, Here and There". And this is comparing a movie to a series. I give a 'very good' rating, simply because it remains as one of the milestones of experimental anime works, but it does not quite get the elements of its genre, its themes, and its characterisation to really touch the audience. |
| (The) Animatrix (OAV) |
Very good |
|
| Appleseed (movie) |
Masterpiece |
A year ago, if I were to give a vote to the visually most brilliant anime, "Appleseed" would have gotten it hands down. Now it would be runner-up (second to Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children). Still, "Appleseed" is just stunning. The plot is a bit predictable, the central theme a bit unoriginal, but that's okay, because the female protagonist kicks ass and kind of frameworks everything in a cool aura. |
| Azumanga Daioh (TV) |
Excellent |
One of the cutest, most charming comedies I have seen. I think many will agree that Azumanga Daioh's sweet charm owes to some of its very 'weird' moments. One of the more frequent instances is when a character repeats a single word or phrase twenty times until you cannot help but to break out a storm of laughter. The funniest scenes, I think, were always accompanied with an uncontrollable laughter and an appreciative "what the hell?!" |
| Azumanga Daioh - The Very Short Movie |
Good |
A less funny version of the TV series, but still very much enjoyable. |
| Azumanga Web Daioh (ONA) |
Good |
A bit bland compared to the TV series, but still, it's cute. |
| Berserk (TV 1997) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Bible Black (OAV) |
Very good |
Okay, I'm no hentai4me, but I do appreciate something that can cause arousal through the catalyst of bodily interactive art. "Bible Black" did that for me (at least once or twice). Of course, it is on most part ridiculous and flamboyantly stuffed up. But there are moments, just a handful, when you become consummed in the intensity of the action.
Then again, like most hentai, this one too is full of some hilarious dialogues. |
| Bible Black Only (OAV) |
Very good |
See comment for "Bible Black". |
| Bible Black Origins (OAV) |
Very good |
See comment for "Bible Black". |
| Bible Black: New Testament (OAV) |
Very good |
See comment for "Bible Black". |
| Blood+ (TV) |
Excellent |
So many people have initially praised this series for its unique potential, then the same people expressed their disappointment at what it shriveled into. I too felt frustrated at the various unexplained aspects and faults throughout the series. But I still liked it. Though I have changed my rating from 'masterpiece' to 'excellent', I think my overall sentiments (towards the characters and the plot) remained relatively unchanged. Maybe its the music. The music is one of the best I've chanced to hear in any anime series. Well, the score IS composed by the great Hans Zimmer (who also did Gladiator and the like). Anyway, I was actually quite deeply moved in the final episode. Kind of sad, yet there is a sort of 'positive emptiness'. |
| Blood: The Last Vampire (movie) |
Excellent |
I like, I like. Not the kind of dark milieu you'd see in, say, "Vampire Hunter D", but still, it had a taste of darkness of its own, and it really didn't waste any of its running time on some half-baked plot-explanations. "Blood: The Last Vampire" is about a mysterious girl whose mission is to slay Chiropteras. It paints a world in which people are ignorant of the existence of such creatures and their slayer. I like, I like. |
| Cardcaptor Sakura (TV) |
Decent |
|
| Castle in the Sky (movie) |
Masterpiece |
Hayao Miyazaki has opened my eyes to anime. "Castle in the Sky" has filled my childhood with magic. While I wish to shed some uncharted insight on this undeniable masterpiece, I can only humbly mimic what everybody else have said about it: IT'S A CLASSIC. What else can I say? |
| (The) Cat Returns (movie) |
Excellent |
|
| Claymore (TV) |
Excellent |
Sexy. Just so damn sexy. Female warriors with swords kick ass. Hmm... while I definitely give it a 'masterpiece' rating for its sexiness, it kinda falls short overall. If the series had maintained the level of drama (say, the first fifteen episodes, which were well and truly deserving of the masterpiece rating), then it would have been remembered as one of the greatest drama, shounen series of ALL TIME. However, as the series moved towards the last few story Arcs, it reverted back to the familiar shounen strategy of action, action, one-liners, and more action. However, it does have a satisfying ending that retains the drama. It did pretty well considering its pacing with the Manga, and it remained largely faithful to it. Excellent. 'A-' |
| Cowboy Bebop (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Cowboy Bebop... After watching the whole series in two days, I can say this: it's been real. Largely episodic, the series offers a nifty package of kung-fu action, jazz music, babes and space travel. It packs a punch of a message: live to prove that you once lived. Well, that's the message I got out of it anyway. Contrary to the popular propensity to overanalyse, for me, "Cowboy Bebop" proffers nothing profound; but it does speak to my youthful, exuberant heart. A masterpiece that depicts the life of a man who jazzed. And 'to jazz', after all, means 'to excite'. If you've passed by your years without the essence of 'jazz', then you haven't lived a life at all. Spike Spiegel jazzed, and he led one hot, meaningful life - a life that pursued the requital of love; a life that balanced on the thinnest thread of situations; a life that freely determined its own beginning and end. |
| Cowboy Bebop: The Movie |
Masterpiece |
I disagree with the popular view that "Knocking on Heaven's Door" is a mere movie-length "episode" of the series. I'm sure that it can fit in between the series, but the movie has a powerful plot and characterization that can not be matched by any single episode of the series except as a combined whole. The actions scenes are simply awesome - they're very fast, but not so much that you can't follow the movements and fully appreciate the martial arts. I wouldn't say that either the art or the animation is superior to the series. If anything, I think the frame rate is higher. I think. Well, the animation is more fluid. Anyway, as I said, the plot and characterization wins. A masterpiece that stands alone from the series. |
| Dragon Ball (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Dragon Ball GT (TV) |
Good |
|
| Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku (special) |
Very good |
|
| Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly (movie 11) |
Not really good |
|
| Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming (movie 10) |
So-so |
|
| Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge (movie 5) |
Good |
|
| Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks (special) |
Good |
|
| Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler (movie 6) |
Good |
|
| Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (movie 3) |
Decent |
|
| Elfen Lied (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Okay. This series is violent. Limbs get chopped off. In addition there's a lot of material that border on hentai. There's my disclaimer. Why the hell do I give it a 'masterpiece' rating? Because it is a mighty fine love story. The story's about a driconius (sp?), a beast, a demon, endowed with awesome superpowers ('invisible hands' or 'vectors' as they're called) that can destroy just about anything, let alone... people's limbs. Anyway, this driconius chick has a dual personality--one malicious, the other a cute, Chobits-esque naive little girl. Then there's the 'boy' who meets this girl. He has a past of his own, she has a past of her own, they gradually fall for each other, and the boy reaches the girl within the monster. Man, I know this is a bad summary, but really, you get the gist, right? But this still doesn't jusify my masterpiece rating, you say? Well, yes, it may sound like the familiar, formulaic romance, but there's the heartbreak factor. You watch it and tell me you didn't feel just a bit moved by the heartwrenching reunion between the two lovers near the end! I don't care what anyone says, this love story spoke to me. ;P |
| Emma: A Victorian Romance (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Fate/stay night (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (movie) |
Masterpiece |
While most anime are judged based on the power and complexity of their plots, there are others that are worth watching again purely for the chance to marvel at their visual splendor one more time. "Final Fantasy: Advent Children" is one of them.
The plot? So-so. It really only speaks to those who have played the game. However... The visuals? I wouldn't dare, even if words were of pure gold, taint its brilliance in an undeserved attempt to praise its glory. It's THAT good! And whenever I watch it for the billionth time, I can't help but feel very lucky.
For this visual masterpiece, I don't go on my usual habit of 'skipping to the best scenes'. This one deserves better; it deserves to be appreciated for every speck of its detail, every angle of light and shadow, and everytime the billion strands of Cloud's hair meticulously dance with the wind. To fully appreciate advent children is to appreciate it in its absolute entirety. And THAT takes a second viewing.
This is one time when CG becomes a plot on its own. It's a phantasmogoria of everything beautiful and wonderful in anime and RPG games alike (visually speaking). |
| Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (US CG movie) |
Awful |
What the bloody hell? |
| Fruits Basket (TV 1/2001) |
Masterpiece |
One thing I find difficult when it comes to elucidating on the brilliance of "Fruits Basket" is that there isn't really any individually brilliant aspect. The art is simple, not great, the animation is pretty standard, and the plot/characters are not all that profound. But boy do I love this show for what it is! The protagonist, Tohru Honda, embodies all that resembles what so many of us can barely distinguish as 'hope'. Her selfless, buoyant attitude towards life is the counterpart to all our anxieties, our insecurities, and our blind readiness to surrender ourselves to loneliness. The 'Zodiac' element is hardly important; the most salient message being conveyed is that, in moments when you feel like you don't belong anywhere in this world, 'hope', both in yourself and in significant others, will make happiness a possibility. Everytime I watch this series, everytime I am reminded of this simple but ever so valuable message, I am deeply moved. Call me a pansy or whatever - This is slice of life at its best! Indeed, "Fruits Basket" is not visually stunning. But one must understand that this series attempts to reveal a simple truth about life. I guess just sometimes, less is more. |
| Full Metal Panic! (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Fullmetal Alchemist (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa |
Excellent |
|
| Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (TV) |
Masterpiece |
"Gankutsuou", an anime-adaptation of Alexander Dumas' novel "The Count of Monte Cristo", is twenty-six episodes of riveting experience. In all its aesthetic and sensual pleasures, the series excels most at portraying the art of revenge. Why is it that a passionate, vindictive thirst will never be quenched by a single act of killing? Why must the avenger see to the absolute degradation of all human grace and dignity of his enemies? And why is such brutal, irrational, and blindly impetuous course of action so fascinating, and ultimately understandable?
In terms of the setting, I guess you could call it 'futuristic' (with its Star Wars-esque space ships and giant Knight-mechs), but in all honesty, the general aesthetics are more classical and Victorian than it is metallic. The series does well to capture the sparkly particulars of a Gilded Age--an age when everything is sweet to the senses but rotten in its core. In that sense, the sheer extravagance of the details--the gold-plated walls of palace-like mansions, for instance--serve to insinuate the disguised evil that dwells in the persons of the antagonists.
Characterization could not have been any more engaging. In particular, Edmond Dantes (a.k.a. The Count of Monte Cristo), who is NOT the protagonist in this series, vividly exemplifies the brooding enigma of the avenger through classy mannerisms and chilly dialogues that just hum of mystery and intrigue.
"Gankutsuou" brilliantly depicts the extent to which the steeled will of an avenger will take him: the destruction of all that is precious in one's life. The series touches a need in our consciousness for some human warmth. And in a way, some humanity returns to the avenger in the heart-wrenching finale. A masterpiece in all respects! |
| Genshiken (TV) |
Excellent |
Real people, real otaku. This series is a must-see for that class of people whose passions and commitments are brusquely dismissed as mere 'obsession' of the geeks and the nerds. The characters paint the modern dichotomy between the naive and the silenced.
What in the craphole am I digging all this crap out of?
In short, this series is one funny shit. Watch this, and you'll never look at an otaku in the same way ever again. I give 9/10 for plot(humor), 9/10 for Art, and 10/10 for characterization. |
| Ghost in the Shell (movie) |
Excellent |
|
| Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (movie) |
Excellent |
|
| Grave of the Fireflies (movie) |
Masterpiece |
|
| GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka (TV) |
Masterpiece |
I must acknowledge that GTO has been an inspiration for me to take up the path to being a high school teacher. Onizuka, the crazy, idiotic, by-the-gut-feeling protagonist, shares some of his pearls of wisdom (?) to all the students he chances to come across. In his rather epic career path as a high school teacher, Onizuka enlightens those who are disenfranchised. The ex-ganster/biker proffers a most valuable lesson; the most important knowledge in life comes not from books but from the understanding of people and selves. The art is good, the animation decent, and plot/characterization excellent. Onizuka is indeed a great teacher, who guides his students towards becoming better human beings. A great series, a great lesson! |
| Haibane Renmei (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Hajime no Ippo (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Surpasses all Rocky movies, outclasses Raging Bull. "Fighting Spirit" (a.k.a Hajime no Ippo) takes you by the throat and hammers you with punches - it makes you feel the pain, and makes you think about what it really means to be strong. I feel for you Makunouchi Ippo! |
| Hajime no Ippo - Champion Road (special) |
Excellent |
|
| Hajime no Ippo - Mashiba vs. Kimura (OAV) |
Masterpiece |
You just have to feel for Kimura. I mean, damn! So close! So damn close! On one hand there's Makunouchi Ippo who is a born-winner, and then on the other, there's Kimura, the 'real' fighter, the guy who comes so close to realising his dream but fails. It is that narrowest of margin between win and loss, which "Mashiba vs. Kimura" illustrates so beautifully, so hearwrenchingly. This is what fighting is about; this is what being a man is about! I actually cried watching this. |
| Hell Girl (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Honey and Clover (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Honey and Clover II (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Initial D (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Initial D: Extra Stage (OAV) |
Good |
|
| Initial D: Fourth Stage (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Initial D: Second Stage (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Initial D: Third Stage (movie) |
Very good |
|
| Kai Doh Maru (OAV) |
Good |
|
| Kanon (TV 2/2006) |
Masterpiece |
Kanon evokes a sentiment much akin to the nostalgia found in the likes of Fruits Basket, but with less humour and more sweetness. At times the characters resort to the familiar forms of uber-cuteness and near moe-ism that can be found in Chobits and similar others, but the real depth of the characters lie with their ability to have an immense, emotional impact on all the lives they come across. On the surface this is a story about... 'rediscovering lost memories', but I would personally say that this is more so about learning to confide in each other for getting through the hardships and adversities of life. Whether it be love, family, loneliness or the loss of identity, friendship becomes the redeeming way out for most of us. This message, Kanon presents with heart. |
| Kasimasi - Girl Meets Girl (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Kino's Journey (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Last Exile (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Last Order Final Fantasy VII (OAV) |
Very good |
|
| Love Hina (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Love Hina Again (OAV) |
Good |
|
| Love Hina Spring Special - I Wish Your Dream |
Very good |
|
| Love Hina X'mas Special - Silent Eve |
Excellent |
Of all the "Love Hina" anime adaptations, this one adheres most faithfully to the romantic spirit of the manga. The whole franchise really is, or should've been, what I would call the 'archetype of romantic strategy'. Not the part about a childhood promise being realised years later, not the part about a tomboy bashes the pathetic loser of a protagonist, and certainly not the part about the odd panty-shots and other unruly fanservice. No, by 'romantic strategy' I mean the ability of the male protagonist to break through the wall of 'tsundere-ism' (tough on the outside but warm and affectionate on the inside) of the female protagonist through a rather ancient method: make her feel sorry for ya!
It is the beauty of untimely misunderstandings and spontaneous sympathy that creates a bond so endearing as the one in "Love Hina X'mas Special". Really, we all like Keitaro for all his loser-ish qualities, but we love him even more when his sincerety is inadvertently shunned by Naru, and then Naru feels so sorry and anxious that she might have hurt the pathetic guy's feelings, that idiot who doesn't even know that she loves him to bits! Oh how I love this kind of strategy. When you watch this, see the defeated expression on Keitaro's face when he 'misunderstands' a situation. You'll know exactly what I mean. |
| Madō King Granzort (TV) |
Very good |
|
| (The) Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (TV) |
Masterpiece |
The question that begs to be answered: is this really a rival to, or possibly better than, the "Samurai X" OVAs? Well, in my opinion, this is also a question that shouldn't be asked. The mammoth fandom aside, "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya", I can now say, is truly deserving of the 'masterpiece' rating. |
| Mobile Suit Gundam (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Mushi-Shi (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| My-HiME (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| My-Otome (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| NANA (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel (movie 2) |
Good |
|
| Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow |
Decent |
|
| Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (movie) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth (movie) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (movie) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Ninja Scroll (movie) |
Excellent |
|
| Nodame Cantabile (TV) |
Masterpiece |
My goodness. What a series! This had me growing goose pimples non-stop -- and for what, CLASSICAL MUSIC?!? Why was I so captivated by it? After all, in retrospect, a great majority of the scenes are animated performances in which there are frequent frame skips from the performers on stage to the mesmerized audience. But NEVER did I feel that it was repetitive. NEVER did I feel bored. To the contrary, it was pretty damn riveting! All of the allusions to classical music jargons (both familiar and unfamiliar to me) sound just so cool, classy, and dramatic! Foretissimo! Pianissimo! Doesn't matter if you don't know what the hell that is---it's Italian! It's classical music! And it's cooler and more electrifying than ever! Oh what a glorious way to bring this genre of music to the anime screen! Oh and I should mention that this is a Shoujo with some charming protagonists whose chemistry is weirdly tantalising. WATCH THIS SERIES! |
| Now and Then, Here and There (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Oruchuban Ebichu (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Ouran High School Host Club (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Paradise Kiss (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Paranoia Agent (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Peacemaker (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Perfect Blue (movie) |
Excellent |
|
| Planetes (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Please Teacher! (TV) |
Good |
|
| Pom Poko (movie) |
Excellent |
|
| Porco Rosso (movie) |
Excellent |
|
| Princess Mononoke (movie) |
Masterpiece |
My favourite Ghibli movie. We all know that Hayao Miyasaki frequently delves into the theme of environment and the corollaries of destroying it - such as Nausicaa, Pom Poko... actually, almost all of his works carry that decorous message. In all its resemblances to its predecessors and successors, however, "Princess Mononoke" emerges as the richest and the most capacious, if only because the avenger (Princess Mononoke, the environmentalist figure) and the antagonist (Lady Eboshi&co., the capitalistic figure of modernity) are reconciled through the protagonist Ashitaka (the balancer, the advocate of peace). In other words, this movie isn't just a depressing moral depiction of the victims of the human-enterprise, but rather, it presents a positive possibility of how both humans and the earth can live in harmony.
|
| Princess Princess (TV) |
Very good |
|
| RahXephon (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio (movie) |
Excellent |
|
| Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection (OAV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal (OAV) |
Masterpiece |
This isn't ANN's no.1 for nothing. "Trust and Betrayal" is so powerful, so beautiful, and ever so heartwrenching! Both Art and animation are superb, and the music score never fails to choke my throat with its sad, orchestral melody. This is a story about a warrior whose 'scar' runs deep as the sea of blood that resulted from the war in the era known as "Meiji". The only choice Kenshin ever had in his life was whether to go on or not. He chose to go on fighting, and made the choice knowing that he'd have to carry his scars with him, along with many more that would result from his sword. And to think that the biggest and deepest scar carries the dead soul of his first true love... |
| Saint Tail (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Samurai 7 (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Samurai Champloo (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| School Rumble (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| School Rumble: 2nd Semester (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Scrapped Princess (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Serial Experiments Lain (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Shinzo (TV) |
Good |
I watched the dubbed version. And it was called "Shinzo" I believe. Man, this was pretty awesome back then. In retrospect, however, the female protagonist is pretty damn funny. All she ever said was "Peace... Peace is the way." "Please stop fighting... peace..." Anyway, I just can't stop myself from laughing when I think of the dubbed voice that keeps repeating 'peace is the key'. Apart from that, this show is also quite entertaining. Quite blatantly shounen, "Mushrambo" (a.k.a. "Shinzo") is sort of like a fantasy RPG game with a three-men party, plus the aforementioned advocate of peace. There are cool transformations in this one. The three characters can transform individually or they can combine to transform into one big bad-ass strong guy (sound familiar?). Anyway, yeah a typical shounen work. |
| Spirited Away (movie) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Spriggan (movie) |
Good |
|
| Steamboy (movie) |
Excellent |
|
| Street Fighter Alpha (OAV) |
Very good |
|
| Street Fighter Alpha: Generations (OAV) |
Good |
|
| Suzuka (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Tales from Earthsea (movie) |
Excellent |
|
| (The) Twelve Kingdoms (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Ah... one of the few fantasy-genre anime that has a solid plot and characterization. |
| Vampire Hunter D (OAV) |
Excellent |
|
| Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (movie) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Witch Hunter Robin (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Words Worth (OAV) |
Very good |
|
| Words Worth: Outer Story (OAV) |
Good |
|
