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Best Korean and Japanese dramas
I have excluded Goblin (hated the main female) and It's Okay to Not Be Okay (too unrealistic, and the plot was too simple). Both Goblin and It's... are still very good (but not in the same bracket as the ones I have put here). Goblin has amazing OSTs. I have also excluded DOTS, Doctor Stranger, Pinocchio, W, and a whole bunch of other dramas that didn't make the cut (I still need to see the Reply series, though!).
Enjoy.
Top Asian movies
Let me know if I missed any good ones. Enjoy.
Best Movies Ever
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Reviews
1 rittoru no namida(2005)
"One litre of tears" is an understatement, I cried buckets...
Phenomenal stuff! I am speechless. This heart-rending story grapples with some of live's most difficult questions and themes. Why are certain people afflicted with cruel illnesses, misfortune or tragedy whilst others live a comparatively easier life? Diseases are indifferent to those who get affected. Even if you are kind, intelligent, gifted, etc., dreams, hopes, and a future can be snatched from you in an instant. We often take life and good health in general for granted. We all aspire to fulfil our dreams and aspirations. We are often not happy with what we have and continue to strive to improve the quality of our lives. However, we often forget that there are people out there who are less fortunate than us, and who are pouring every ounce of their energy to just stay alive (getting by is an enormous challenge for some). The afflicted too have dreams; yet these dreams are often well outside of their reach. I cannot even begin to fathom what it must feel like to be diagnosed with an incurable disease, to see your movement and speech deteriorate gradually, to see dreams spiral into a void.
This story extraordinarily captures the progression of an incurable, debilitating disease that affects the life of a young girl (Aya). We see how her illness and worsening health critically affects those around her, namely her family, friends, doctors and school members.
The opening narrative sets the drama in context by showing us a seemingly healthy, capable, kind and happy young school girl enjoying her life. Unfortunately, she's oblivious to the incurable disease that is about to strike. The disease is a time-bomb, a sudden shift in tectonic plates just waiting to shatter the lives of those around an emotional epicenter.
Aya is 15 years old, talented in basketball, intelligent and full of life. After a few unusual incidences, it becomes clear to her mother that something is odd. Her mother's suspicion is confirmed with the heart-shattering news dropped by the neurologist who diagnoses Aya. The neurologist's words send shivers down everyone's spines: SCD, an incurable, degenerative disease that affects the peripheral nervous.
At first, Aya's mother refuses to accept the diagnosis. However, after the news sinks in, she wants Aya to be sheltered from the truth (at all cost). The father who is generally upbeat and fully supportive of his children gets overwhelmed with anger and grief, for his daughter has been burdened to carry such a heavy and crushing fate. "The doctor must have made a mistake!" he vents.
One cannot hide the truth for too long... Aya realises that something is very odd about her illnesses. Using the internet, she finds out about her disease. When her findings get confirmed at the doctor's in the presence of her parents, we begin to understand that this is going to be one hell of an emotional roller coaster. When Aya asks the doctor, with tears in her eyes, why the disease had to choose her despite her only being 15 years old, the doctor gets stumped. Her piercing and desperate glance searches for an impossible answer... This was painful to watch. I cried.
The doctor is dedicating his life and energy to help patients who are are afflicted with this horrible disease. He realises the limits of scientific research and progress. It pains him to see that often his patients are the ones who have to console him and provide him with energy and motivation to keep persevering in his research to find a cure. His patients have such large resolve and desire to live, albeit their daily struggle, that one cannot help but feel moved and inspired.
This drama was incredibly realistic. The parents of Aya acted so well. I really liked her father and mother. They were genuinely compassionate and loved Aya and her siblings unconditionally. The amount of sacrifice the parents were willing to make to ease the suffering of their precious daughter was ineffable. Parents are truly great.
The scenes with Ayas's friends were also interesting, especially the one were the girl with the glasses admitted to the class (in the absence of Aya) that she was tired of having to look after Aya daily, and that it was affecting her studies. She loved Aya but she could not keep helping her indefinitely. When Aya was listening to how the class viewed her disability, it was harrowing. I cried again.
Aya inevitably understood that her friends had dreams and ambitions, that it would be unreasonable to expect their help and indefinite presence. She must have felt like an obstacle to those around her. Whilst everyone was moving ahead, Aya was stuck in time, unable to accomplish her dreams. A sense of loneliness crept in.
Even with her would-be boyfriend, things became complicated. Aya believed that a relationship in her state would be unfair on her boyfriend. It would be inconceivable. When she thanked him for his kindness and time in a letter that she wrote to terminate her relationship, I cried.
The acting was incredible throughout. Human thoughts and actions were portrayed realistically. The parents, Aya, the doctor, Aya's boyfriend, the boyfriend's father, etc., acted incredibly well. The script was superb. Cinematography, soundtrack... Bravo!
We must learn to appreciate life and find ways to play with the cards that we are dealt. Life is not fair, but we can look around us for inspiration to do whatever we can. Treasure every moment you can, because we may never know when it is too late, when it is time for us or someone else to go. Cherish your family and parents in particular, for they have raised you and are willing to stake so much for your health, happiness and wellbeing.
10/10! A must watch.
One Punch Man: Wanpanman(2015)
One Punch Man (OPM) will knock your socks off!
Let me start by saying that I never skipped the opening song of OPM. The opening (albeit somewhat cheesy) fitted this over-the-top and outrageously cool anime really well. My scouter was reading hype levels of over 9000 when the "Hero" opening kicked in (or punched in?).
Studio Madhouse pulled out all their stops when animating this 12-episode wonder.
Protagonist Saitama is a hero for fun, an ordinary human who managed to acquire extraordinary strength. Hero Saitama's strength corresponds to the titular "One Punch Man" as he effortlessly beats monstrous opponents to pulp with a single punch. This anime is a satire of superheroes and the whole idea of heroes beating stronger villains effortlessly each time (it takes this premise to an absurd level). Saitama is already (presumably) at the pinnacle of his strength. He gets disappointed each time that no opponent lives up to his power. Normally, formulaic battle anime focus on a protagonist who trains religiously to obtain new powers and skills in order to keep up with a rival while beating powerful enemies. However, OPM does not follow the norm.
Surprisingly this anime stills grabs our attention despite us knowing that the protagonist is absurdly strong from the very beginning and that he will probably never lose a fight. This anime manages to captivate us with this rather plain hero (he is bald and possesses no fancy attacks). With the arrival of Genos (a cyborg hero who is very flashy), the simplicity of hero Saitama becomes apparent. Genos's repertoire of attacks, masculine appearance and seriousness can be juxtaposed to Saitama's plain combat skills, low-key appearance and nonchalant attitude. Interestingly, while Saitama's physical hero feats are commendable and absolutely insane, it is his virtues that makes him a hero in every sense. Saitama does not care that he is being labelled as a fake (lambasted by society); he is also prepared to relinquish his own worth to preserve the value of other heroes. The relationship between Saitama, Genos and the Hero Association is also very interesting.
Give this 12-episode anime a watch. Watch at least 3 episodes before writing this off as this: "Oh... This egg-headed guy just beat an alien with one punch. Where is the climax? This is stupid. Does this show even have a premise?"
The anime stays true to the manga and is full of vibrant colours, explosions, sonic booms, etc. The animation is eye candy. The whole concept is just fresh.
OPM has already spawned debates like Saitama versus Goku or Superman, and it has engaged the interest of superhero lovers. The final fight in OPM was fantastic. Saitama will be talked about for a very long time. And as I am writing this, I am listening to OPM's intro.
7-beon-bang-ui seon-mul(2013)
There will be times when you laugh;there will be times when you cry. If this one does not move you, nothing will.
Rarely will you see a movie that shakes your soul to the core and this movie manages to do that. For a long time I remained adamant that I will never experience another movie as lachrymose as The Green Mile but I was wrong. My tears just would not stop. The father daughter relationship in this movie is simply beautiful, in some ways ineffable. You have got to watch this movie in order to understand how pure, innocent and affectionate their bond is. Their acting was incredible. The child in particularly was extremely convincing and deserves praise for expressing believable emotions at such a young age. Some might criticise the movie for a few illogical/unrealistic events but I can assure you that this does not diminish the greatness of this movie. What matters in this movie is character development and character interaction which are executed flawlessly. The supporting cast also do an excellent job. Hope, justice, mercy, innocence, sacrifice and affection are some of the themes that are explored in this harrowing and satisfying movie. This movie is right up there with The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile for great prison movies. Please...please do not miss this one.
Ôkami kodomo no Ame to Yuki(2012)
Easily one of the best animated movies to have graced the screen. Director Hosoda's magnum opus is an ineffable joy to watch.
First let me address those who thought this movie was trying too hard or are writing it off as a cheap attempt to imitate the works of director Hayao Miyazaki.
For those who worship Miyazaki, it is unfair to always compare other great Japanese directors with him because their work is different but also praiseworthy.
Wolf Children was a heartfelt experience that made you feel as if you were part of the movie. The narration was executed beautifully and you could really relate to the characters and empathise with them.
The conscious desire to live one's life to the fullest is shared by all intelligent beings that posses free will. Sometimes we have to make decisions - some which are immensely difficult - in order to set on the path that we chose to travel. This movie captures this message beautifully as we witness the werewolf children grow up and explore the life of wolf and man. It is fascinating to see the development of the child protagonists and the difficulty the mother encounters in raising them up safely in a critical human world.
There is a lot of depth to many of the characters in this animation and the main characters are developed with great emotional complexity. Furthermore, the level of artistic detail in the animation is exceptional. In addition to this,enchanting music is used in various scenes (appropriately) to emphasise the feelings of characters or to accompany great visuals. I must say, the music was superb and evoked lachrymose or happy feelings.
You can find as much depth and intricacy behind the motives of each character as you want. Some critics seem to say this movie is a mishmash of various movies that the director wanted to copy but I must disagree. Each of the outcomes that happened in this movie were just as likely as any other reasonable outcome. It was not clichéd. Think about it logically. For instance (SPOILER STARTS) Ame's decision to become the new Master of the forest was noble in the absence of the previous "Master wolf". He was always fascinated by wolves as was evident when he constantly read children stories about them. He wondered why humans seemed to dislike wolves and felt compassionate towards his animal counterpart. Ame's answer to adopt his animal side was probably because he felt a greater purpose and universal acceptance in the wild - something which was amiss in the human world where prejudice was the norm. In the wild he could coexist in harmony with other animals. He made a decision and for this he had to leave his mother and sister behind. It was a heartbreaking decision but his mother acknowledged his wish and was able to experience vicarious happiness by seeing her child grow up and live a fulfilled life. (SPOILER END)
Animation, characters, plot, music, story novelty, emotional engagement... you name it, it is there. Rarely have I seen any animation or movie in general, to have delicately combined these elements to deliver a powerful message. I am certain that I will view this movie a few times again in the future. Well done to the director. I am sure he will create many great animations and hopefully people will stop comparing directors to Miyazaki and labelling them as copies. Everyone deserves a chance for recognition. Everyone has their own touch of creativeness. This movie was immensely enjoyable.
(500) Days of Summer(2009)
The female lead repeatedly said that she was not interested...did the dude listen? No... plain stupid and unbelievable.
This movie must be one of THE most awful movies that I have seen. Sometimes I wonder, are critics delusional and try to find depth and complexity in a shallow plot accompanied with equally irritating characters.
The female lead was an obnoxious and stupid character in all rights. She was a parasite who gave the wrong signals to the thick brained protagonist, subduing him to gratify her body... He made the mistake of thinking there was more to his petty superficial relationship than meets the eye. However, on numerous occasions, she warned him that she desired NOTHING more than a casual relationship. Was the guy just stupid on an astronomical level? It was plain obvious that the female protagonist was incompatible. What is more irritating is the fact that the she in the end breaks up with her new ( "proper" ) partner which goes to show that she will always remain an incompatible person unable to maintain any "proper" affectionate relationship. She was seriously irritating and obnoxious till the very end.
It would have made greater intuitive sense if the girl was not portrayed as a licentious airhead (sorry for the slang) but as a normal average person. If the relationship between the two main characters were developed normally and later incompatibilities in tastes were revealed leading to disputes, it would have made more sense. If for example the male protagonist or female lead attempted to salvage a relationship that was transparent and clear in beginning but was beginning to crumble, the movie would have been better.However, this movie has this theme completely jumbled up as there is an incompatible "relationship" from the very start which was emphasised throughout the movie. The protagonist must have had a defect cerebral cortex... Had the female protagonist never warned him about her intended relationship, we could have forgiven the man for falling for her false signals... this was not the case.
On a positive note, the editing of this movie was really good. The calendar style progression of their lives. The expectation and reality dichotomy scene was also done fairly well.
I digress with my rant...
Did we even care for the female lead? No... shallow shallow shallow... I wish I could have unwatched this horrid movie that aimed to tell us "sometimes it's not meant to be" and there will "always be someone for you"... This message fails because the guy was told, time and again "it was not meant to be" and that she was not the "one". Big actors in a terribly confused story.
Kudos for stirring up my hatred towards the female protagonist. If that was the intention, the movie executed it flawlessly.
To sum this movie up: thick brained man falls in love with shallow woman who warns him that she desires no real relationship on several occasions, but silly man dismisses it and gets disappointed...and wonders why... he tries to salvage the illusory relationship and remains optimistic unbeknownst to him that his "partner" does frankly not care and in the end... you guessed it... becomes disappointed.
The critics read too much into this superficial movie. It was not even worth denigration. Mind numbingly stupid.
The Exorcist(1973)
A classic should not age with time... this one did...in a bad way, not like wine.
In all honesty, this movie probably deserves something lower than a generous 5, but I do not want to completely ridicule it and label it as a nonentity in my forthcoming polemic. After all, this movie must have been horrifying and excellent with its effects for its TIME... A true classic, e.g., 'The Shawshank Redemption' ( not a horror movie) still maintains a place amongst the greats. The Exorcist fails to do this. People seem to appreciate it (only) in the context of its time but do not dare to compare it to modern horror movies, because the very elements that it depends on can not possibly compete with contemporary rivals.
So why is this movie so bad?
The movie is about a young girl who gets possessed by a demon. She starts throwing tantrums and uses vulgar language as a result of being possessed. Furthermore, her body is able to undergo contortions that should leave her for dead... But let's assume that the demon provided her with vitality to cope with the neck-breaking contortions. Apart from breaching the laws of human anatomy, which can be forgiven in these types of movies, the vulgar language fails to add to the horror. Sure, a little girl spouting obscene language is shocking but... BUT.... the movie fails to develop the girl's character and likability before her possession. In a twisted way, her foul language becomes somewhat amusing and laughable. We can hardly relate or care for her. Her putting on a silly grimace and vomiting green pea soup hardly qualifies as authentic horror. Sadly, this movie would have made a decent comedy (Scary Movie comes to mind).
Having said this, some religious people may be horrified at the concept of demons and possessions. I am a theist, but I am not sure about the existence of demons. Even if demons exist, I doubt it would have changed my views about this movie. This movie attempts to "frighten" the audience with cheap shocks.
The crucifix mas********* scene was uncalled for, but it did develop a sickening atmosphere. I can only think of one scene that was scary in some respect: It was the scene where they flashed the pale face of a demon. However, even this momentary flash fails to qualify as genuine horror, for it preys on our inability to be consciously aware of an image that flashes too quickly.
Perhaps Scary Movie's parody of The Exorcist has warped my perception of this movie. If you think about it logically, this movie is simply not scary - I said it folks. It is just a vulgar movie, riddled with obscene language and logic-defying contortions and green vomit...
I only liked the priests who were called to perform the exorcism. I did not care for the daughter ONE BIT. She was dislikeable pre-, current- and post-possession. If the daughter-mother relationship was developed properly and presented as heart warming and affectionate, the possession would have made us empathise with the girl and her family.
If you found this movie terrifying, it means that you have been sheltered from great horror movies and/or are just riding the bandwagon that has propelled this movie to undeserved acclaim. There is a reason why this movie is slipping down the charts: it sucks. This movie has become obsolete and fails to deliver genuine horror. Obscene language in my dictionary does not qualify as horror. Not in a single scene did I feel this: "Holy cow... what is going to happen? I don't want to look."
On a good note, the demonic girl's spider walk was fairly cool. But what was the point?
Watch this movie for cultural purposes and to learn about how far we have come. A true classic should be timeless. Effect-dependent movies that lack good characters are forgettable. If only they had got the characters right... Sigh. It would have saved them from this unfortunate polemic.
Koto no ha no niwa(2013)
Ethereal Spectacle, watch in high definition and be blown away. Visually stunning. No artistic compromises. A stroke of genius.
This movie is extremely commendable for its mastery of visual aesthetics. Lush green surroundings and great idyllic views are depicted in this animation which leaves the viewer in awe. The colours are so vibrant and conspicuous that one can simply not afford to lose attention, because momentarily, we transcend reality and become immersed in dreamlike beauty.
Even the tiniest of details such as ripples in the pond during rainfall are rendered gorgeously!
The rain season evokes a somewhat poignant feeling but at the same time, the viewer will find serenity in the park, even during a storm.
The protagonist is a 15 year old school boy who aspires to become a professional shoemaker. Whenever it rains, he skips out on school and retires to a park where he draws sketches for shoe designs. This is where he encounters a beautiful but troubled lady (for the first time) who oddly drinks beer and eats chocolate.
The premise for this story is quite primitive and somewhat trite but the delivery is refreshing and has a great artistic stroke backing it up.Furthermore, the delicate romance, poetry and messages in this movie are handled well without becoming too cheesy.The relationship that ensues between the two main characters may be perceived as clichéd. However, this should not put you off this animation. This movie is art in motion. Each frame is divine and rarely has this medium been used to such magical extent. Please give this movie a go and watch it, if possible, in 1080p. By the way, the musical score also adds to the elegance of this lollapalooza.
Final verdict: the story is not complex and a little trite but there is enough visuals and some poetry to keep you fully engaged. For under an hour, this movie will take you to a different world and you begin to wish it lasted a little more...
Mejâ(2004)
A great baseball anime with a mesmerising protagonist (Goro) who is an incredible pitcher with a great personality.
Please note,the anime has 154 episodes ( 6 seasons) and 3 OVA. Two different studios completed the series.
Unfortunately, this baseball anime is severely underrated in the anime realm and lacks viewer-ship. Casual anime viewers probably stick to mainstream Shonen anime such as Naruto, One Piece, Bleach etc and recognise critically acclaimed anime such as Death Note and the recent Attack on Titan but are unlikely to have ventured into the seemingly less popular sports category. Within the anime sports genre, Kuroko no Basket (a basketball anime) has been receiving a lot of attention recently- it seems to have popularised the sports genre and proselytised anime viewers into seeking out other sports anime, most which are older and overshadowed by current anime.
As a whole, all the seasons in this anime are above average. Some, in particular Season 2 and 3 were excellent. I was completely sold in season two (Dream Island arc) and mesmerised by the growth of the protagonist Goro. Goro is a Pollyanna and his passion for baseball is unrivalled amongst his peers. Even in moments of despair, his attitude and resolution to win becomes contagious, to the point of providing vicarious optimism and hope to his team mates. The way he manages to conquer the heart of the pessimist is admirable and it does not leave a cheesy impression.
This anime showcases some of the technicalities of baseball and boasts interesting psychological plays. The psychological showdown between batter vs pitcher and catcher at some points becomes really captivating and makes you sit at the edge of your seat. Above all, this anime conveys an ulterior message that one should not give up on their dreams despite setbacks and if you are passionate about something you should go for it - as long as there is hope and the possibility for a comeback a team should remain indomitable. The opening tracks are good and the animation quality has improved over the seasons as one would expect. What I like about this sports anime is that it is realistic. Unlike say Kurko no Basket, the physical laws are not breached and sporting feats are not stylised. This anime is mature in this sense and feels realistic. There are many great characters that you encounter in this anime.
Overall, I highly recommend this anime. I would have given this anime an 8 were it not for some of the relatively weaker seasons.
Hajime no Ippo(2000)
Adrenaline rushing, bone cracking, jaw dropping masterpiece. Knocks all other sports anime out of the ring. 10/10!
Where do I begin? I have seen the first season twice already and its still stupendous. Within the anime sports genre, this one takes the biscuit. Admittedly, I have not seen many sports anime and have missed out on some anime such as Slam Dunk and Prince of Tennis but I can assure you, based on my judgement and combining this with other people's opinions ( it is a very popular anime and widely discussed), this anime transcends the competitors. However, I have seen sports anime such as Cross Game (baseball) and Kurko no Basket (basketball). The latter is current and much talked about in the anime World. Regardless, Hajime no Ippo has greater characters, more technical insight and more credible sporting feats than Kuroko no Basket. Cross Game was a work of art and is the only sports type anime that comes close to this beauty.
So why is this anime so great and deserves my praise and on top of that 10/10? The answer is somewhat complex but bare with me.
Firstly,all great sports anime should sell the sport it represents and make it somewhat appealing even to somebody who has not invested much interest into the sport. I was not into bo xing but after watching Hajime no Ippo, I felt energised and ready for action. I threw jabs in the air and was shadow-bo xing. On top of that,this anime taught me about the rules of bo xing and provided me with some technical knowledge. Bravo to this anime for getting me hooked on something I never previously considered.
Furthermore, the bo xing matches in this anime always bring novelty to the table and are mostly technically sound. The mangaka (manga artist) is a passionate bo xing fan and does rigorous research about bo xing and bases some of his characters on real life boxers such as Mike Tyson. Real life technical ( not basic) bo xing techniques are also mentioned and shown.
Secondly, a great anime should have elements to it that go beyond its main genre to keep other niche audiences satisfied. This anime has great comedy. Kamogawa gym members, Aoki, Kimura and Takamura bring so much life and humour to this incredible action packed show. The interaction of Takamura and Aoki is beyond funny. It is the execution of these extra elements that separates the great from the mediocre.
Thirdly, a great anime, in particular a masterpiece, should have MANY characters that are well developed, have great depth and add an extra dimension to the anime. After all, what is the point in watching anime with great visuals, sound tracks etc when there is poor dialogue or plain, predictable and annoying characters. Anime that lack great characters do not stimulate the brain. This anime nails it. The protagonist Ippo is naive and not blessed with genius fighting skills. Regardless, he learns from his peers and through perseverance, his indomitable fighting spirit and unwavering concentration, is able to progress as a boxer and more importantly a human being.
This anime has many great boxers and great dialogue. Eiji Datte's reference to Ippo's "light" fists, Takamura's great bo xing advice and feats as well as Ippo's venerable coach's perspicacious bo xing advice, are some of the elements this anime presents, that inspire and guide Ippo. The great dialogues and character interactions allow Ippo to mature and blossom into the wonderful boxer he is to become.
I am going to stop with the numbering now. In short, a great anime, not just a sports anime, should have: characters with depth; interesting dialogue; good voice actors; fun and/or intricate plot; good art style; extra elements such as comedy and so forth. The only criticism that I can immediately think of about this anime is the slightly dated art style. It is an old anime and therefore lacks the visual clarity and definition. However, some episodes such as episode 74 have so much detail and perfection, despite the dated animation screen quality, that one still gets totally drawn in and absorbed by the unfolding high level brawl that is presented.
Episode 74's dialogue, pacing, music, fighting choreography etc is otherworldly. Given that there are 76 episodes in the first season, this anime ends on a positive note and packs a punch. The other episodes are vital for character development and are also incredibly fun to watch. The bo xing is captivating. The training and normal life of Ippo and the others are also refreshing and makes us hunger for the next big fight.
Having seen many renown anime I can safely say that this anime deserves to be ranked with the best and deserves the praise and attention it has and is been receiving.
On top of all this, this anime has great soundtracks and offers above average opening songs/credits. There is not much more one can ask for. It was an exhilarating watch. Please give this anime a go. For an anime lover, it should be a must. Oh and by the way, watch this, and any anime, with your native subtitles whenever possible (avoid dubbed versions). I find English dubbing horrendous. Japan's voice artists are usually on point and are PROPERLY trained in the arts of speaking. The voice intonation in Japanese suits the characters and is more natural.
GTO(1999)
I rarely give 10s for anything, have seen 30+ anime, this one gets 10/10... epic
Before you judge me on this flawless score and think that I have little taste in anime, let me tell you this. I have seen: FMA Brotherhood, Monster, Death Note, Code Geass (both seasons), Clannad, Clannad After Story, Psycho-Pass, Attack on Titan, Hajime no Ippo (all three seasons), Ergo Proxy, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Elfen Lied.... etc you name it. I would give Attack on Titan a 7/10, Death Note around 8/10, Psycho Pass 9/10 and yet I would give this 10/10. Why?
Just look at the character development, the humour, the great journey that unfolds. The opening song is great and catchy. The only let down is the animation quality. The drawings are a bit dated but GTO is a classic and we can forgive this minor flaw given that it is an old anime and one cannot expect the budget of Akira to be spent on every GTO episode.
Just because I gave this 10, doesn't mean its perfect. It just means its amongst the best I have seen. I will give away more 10s if a medium of entertainment deserves it. Perhaps I have a greater inclination towards the slice of life genre and being a little bit biased here.
Regardless, the protagonist of the show is one of the most memorable and fantastic characters to have graced the screen. There is something very likable about him although I can not pinpoint what it is. It is a multitude of things such as his empathy, humour, loyalty, nonchalant attitude etc. MOST of the characters in this anime are unique and have depth which is a rare accomplishment in the anime realm, even highly acclaimed anime fail to do this. Anko, Aizawa, Tomoko, Murai, Kikuchi, Kanzaki etc are all fascinating characters that have great depth and complexity, thereby adding to the awesomeness of the show. Look at how many names I have mentioned and there are more. It is an uncommon feat to have developed this many characters to a good level. Pound for pound in terms of character depth/development, GTO blows shows like Attack on Titan out of the water, this planet and the Solar System. If you have a keen eye and great appreciation for characters, you will know what I mean. On top of that, most of the characters are interlinked and we learn about their difficulties and how they cope and mature.
I am very objective when dissecting an anime or any creative piece of medium/work when finding its flaws. Apart from the GTO's drawings, I could not see any conspicuous flaws that could detract from the quality of the show.
Some of the most interesting characters in anime in general that have caught my eye are L from Death Note, Holo from Spice and Wolf, Son Goku from DB, Takamura from Hajime no Ippo etc. Onizuka easily ascends to the ranks of anime's greatest pantheon. This show is old and still packs a great punch. Such an enjoyable watch. I wish I had such a fun school teacher back in the days.
Do yourself a favour, give this one a go. I cannot guarantee that you will enjoy it as much as myself. However, I can guarantee that the characters are just on point, well developed and a major contributing factor for the success of this vintage anime. I can not eulogise this anime any more. It is a paragon within the slice of life genre. Final Verdict: 10/10.
Psycho-Pass(2012)
A dystopian masterpiece
This anime deserves a standing ovation for its compelling story telling and its mastery of plot twists. The story has a similar premise to Blockbuster movie Minority Report and also has a resemblance to iRobot. Psycho-Pass is set in a dystopian future where crime deterrence and crime punishment is very severe. The Sibyl system - an artificial intelligence network - is a supposedly impartial law enforcing "entity" that is able to discern the mental state of a human, enabling it to judge the criminal activity of their mind. A person with a very cloudy Psycho-Pass - an undesirable murky discolouration manifested on an electronic device - is deemed mentally unstable and needs to be dealt with immediately. Victims and criminals alike may be judged, all at the mercy of the Sibyl system.
The police force consists of intellectuals who work with a select few criminals, known as enforcers, who are responsible for the tracking of other criminals. The notion of working alongside criminals because criminals have a greater intuition when needing to anticipate the actions of another criminal is intriguing. Akane is the female protagonist in the show. She is very clever but lacks the killer- instinct to track down criminals. Her main role is to supervise the enforcers and she has the discretion to kill an enforcer who deviates from their line of duty. Each police force member and enforcer that are on missions, carry a weapon called a dominator which can read the crime coefficient of a target. If the target is judged to be very dangerous, a lethal mode status is declared which primes the dominator for a life ending shot.
Akanae throughout the story is troubled by moral decisions. Her main enforcer partner Kogami is difficult to read. He has his own agenda on his mind and is hell bent on solving an old case that matters a lot to him. What is his dark and sad past? Be prepared to see the development of Akane as she deals with challenging situations and faces predicaments that push her to the very limits. What future awaits Kogami? Will he solve his case?
The anime has many literary and philosophical references e.g. The Most dangerous game, a book by Richard Connell. These references add an extra intellectual dimension to this great anime.
Several crime are committed and there is a mastermind who pulls the strings and orchestrates most of the crimes. The villain is fascinating. He reminded me of Light from Death Note and Johann from Monster. Easily one of the greatest villains conceived.
Furthermore, the Sybil system is very mysterious. What is it? How does it function? These are questions you might ponder and there will be an answer.
The opening theme is very unique. It might take time to get used to it but it fits the dystopian theme really well. Additionally, the animation quality is great which should not be surprising considering that it is a relatively new anime in the grand scheme of things. This anime has great pacing and does not peak early like for example Death Note which suffered from a premature peak after a certain character died.
Overall, if you like dystopian anime, suspense, action and like being intellectually engaged, this anime will grant you immense joy. The plot is just awe-inspiring. What are you waiting for? Go watch it! Oh... and by the way, a second season is already being worked on. Can not wait for it.
Shingeki no Kyojin(2013)
Good but not a masterpiece, final verdict: 7/10
Spoiler Alert:
If you have not read the synopsis for this anime, I shall attempt to summarise the premise for this anime. Mankind has almost been exterminated by titans (savage humanoid beings that prey on humans). The few humans that have survived sought refuge behind 50 meter tall concentric walls which span an impressive area. The concentric walls that confine the various habitants provide a mechanism of isolation. If one of the 'walls' were to be breached by titans, only a portion of humanity will be lost. Subsequent walls provide an extra layer of safeguard for the innermost residents. Genres that fit this anime are apocalyptic, action and suspense.
The viewer will be hooked due to the plot potential for this anime. Some of the questions that may crop up are: where did the titans come from?; do they have a motive?; how did humanity manage to erect these colossal walls; What future awaits mankind... etc
The protagonist of the story is a teenager named Eren Jaeger. He is tired of cowering behind the walls and draws the analogy of living the life of a prisoner. He wants to go out there and see the vast expanse of the World for himself. Furthermore, he admires the Survey Corps - a military division that goes on dangerous expeditions outside the walls to learn about titans. However, the life of the Survey Corps is full of misery and hardship. They suffer great casualties and are unable to learn much, if anything about the savage titans. Despite this, Eren strongly believes that it is a noble cause to join the Survey Corps and live a purposeful life rather than being enshrouded in fear and living inside an illusory haven.
Eren's two friends are Armin Arlert and Mikasa Ackerman who form the main trio in Attack on Titan (AoT). Armin is the strategist brain of the three "musketeers" and Mikasa (the main female lead) is a prodigy fighter. Based on circumstance ( after the walls are breached one day by a mysterious 50 m class titan and an armoured titan), I do not want to spoil too much... the three protagonists join a military division.
The story is novel and the action is enticing. Battle soundtracks compliment the jaw dropping fight sequences really well and the opening song is also good ( for some it may time to get used to the opening theme). The art style is interesting, in particular the way the titans are drawn. They are drawn in a sketch-like manner and stand out from the humans.
However, although the plot, visuals and soundtrack are above average, the main characters are nothing special, dare I say a bit boring. Eren is a bit deranged, constantly expressing desire for inflicting great pain to titans. Mikasa is a bit of a Mary Sue, i.e. flawless to the point of annoyance. She is portrayed as beautiful, possesses genius fighting prowess and on top of that is intelligent. Her flawless existence is an insult to characters such as Armin and Annie who pride themselves in intelligence and combat respectively. The only potential flaw with her is that she is over protective of Eren since she harbours great emotions for him. This overprotection may cloud her judgement during warfare and risk the lives of others and her own. However, this is not so much of a flaw either because it gives her strength and only shows that she cares a lot for her brother-like/boyfriend. I have seen many anime with more interesting female leads such as Holo from Spice and Wolf. Armin is the most realistic out of the three characters. He is a coward but intelligent and does not ramble violent nonsense like Eren.
Overall, the character development of at least 2/3 of the main characters is poor. Other characters such as Commander Erwin from the Survey Corps, Levi and Annie are very interesting for various reasons and we want to learn more about them. This does not apply to the protagonists. If Levi were to die, it would be more tragic than Eren's death. Eren's death would only be silly due to his pivotal role in the anime later on but apart from that he fails to grab attention. His father is far more interesting...
The anime finishes with a lot of things unanswered. There will be a sequel given the success of the anime and manga (the anime is largely responsible for manga sales going up). However, it seems unlikely that all the mysterious aspects of the storyline will be answered. The plot can potentially be as intricate as FMA Brotherhood or Neon Genesis Evangelion but we will have to wait and see. Overall, due to lack of character development and many things being left unanswered, this anime deserves a 7/10. I do not see why it should deserve a 9 point average when there are greater anime out there which scored less. Perhaps it is the hype of seeing well animated action and a novel plot that has clouded people's visions. Imagine how much better AoT would have been with more interesting/realistic main characters (Eren-Mikasa duo is weak). I have seen many highly acclaimed anime and most of them had amazing characters. Most of the characters were refreshing. FMA Brotherhood, GTO, Psycho Pass, Clannad, Clannad After story, Hajime no Ippo (all 3 seasons), Monster, Death Note, Elfen Lied, Madoka, Code Geass etc. GTO for example has much more interesting characters.
Final score 7/10. Once the hype has died down, any anime fan/critic will see that AoT was great, but not out of the World. Regardless, the mangaka of AoT, Hajime Isayama is enjoying the spotlight and the sudden rise to fame.