THE TOP 5 ANIME THAT I HAVE WATCHED AND REWATCHED THIS 2024.
5. SLAMDUNK
My number one anime before I rekindled my love for anime this past decade. I've thought that no one could match this masterpiece until I have watched the animes that were released from 2010- present.
PLOT:π π π ππ
Slamdunk's plot was one of the most awe- inspiring of all time. The character development of the protagonist and how he was building his love for basketball as he slowly gets closer to Ayako (his romantic interest in the series), was exceptional. Although Ayako had her full attention towards Kaede Rukawa (Sakuragi's archnemesis), the determination he had to become the greatest basketball player through Ayako's eyes was very heartwarming and was just a pleasure to watch.
One of the reasons why I couldn't get enough of this anime was because of the progressive storyflow. Sakuragi just gets better everytime--- he never fails to surprise viewers with his amazing hidden skills.
BEST ARC IMO: The Hisashi Mitsui Comeback
A lot of 90s anime fanatics will agree with me on this one. This was the first time I fell hard π with a fictional character---which is NORMAL may I add. Hahahahah. This was the plot twist that took many by surprise which also featured the ultimate anime love song of all time- WANDS' "Sekai Ga Owaru Made Wa" - a perfect fit as an ending song for an emotional rollercoaster arc.
ANIMATION DYNAMICS: π
Straightforwardly, the animation dynamics of Slamdunk compared to the anime today are archaic. It is flat and you'd feel that these are just patched-up clips of manga panels with added transition. But hey, it's fair to say this, because the anime was made in the early 90s...to expect a 4D dynamics is inconceivable.
GRAPHICS: π π π
What I like about the 90's anime was the animators' respect for human anatomy. There's a big probability that, since Slamdunk is a sports anime, it's just natural to design characters with emphasized muscles and appendices. Although it wasn't just that, even in just a still frame, an illustrator's eye can really tell that the respect for human figure is surely present.
REASON/S FOR REWATCHING- A fufillment of the afternoon-anime nostalgic phase, missing Hisashi Mitsui.
4. DEMON SLAYER
The anime that is fearsome- literally and figuratively.
PLOT and SETTING: π π ππ
A mini ick would immediately crawl-in if I had watched an anime that is based from old Japan. I mean the Japanese-ness ( sorry for the term, I couldn't find a politically correct one for this ) is a double-kill for me. Modern Japan is tolerable, but the ancient ones don't emit any appeal.
Demon Slayer is different. Even though the anime is set in Taisho era, there's a modern feeling that I get from it--- modern, in a sense that, there were super powers involved and the attitudes of characters exude certain freshness and humor that you won't probably see in most anime that are inspired by the old Japan. The story is about a young boy who wants to avenge the death of his family from a gruesome demon attack, but he has to overcome the struggles to kill BOSS DEMON Muzan in able to wipe-out the existence of demons in his world. Typical story, but the process on how Tanjiro does it, is quite interesting and had locked my attention for a longer period of time, unexpectedly.
BEST ARC IMO: Entertainment District Arc
I am a sucker for anything that is "visual-candy". The obssession I have with color, movement, composition, and tiny details is unmatched. Personally, I am a maximalist. A well-coordinated maximalist in real life but when it comes to what I consume, whether it's film, series, or anime, my eyes require orgasm! This arc has everything that I love, burst of colors, magnanimous intricate details all in one frame, lights, glitter, dazzling magical effects, groups of anime characters wearing majestic clothes and make-up-- you get the works. Irregardless of this arc being so visually exhilarating, it has the funniest yet touching and tragic story in all released seasons of this anime as if all those enthralling visuals has to veil a certain darkness. A lot of peole would say that Mugen train is the most touching arc, but it only places second or third for me.
ANIMATION DYNAMICS: π π π
Because this anime has a lot of action and fighting scenes, I somehow expected to have a variety of POVs. But if my memory serves me right, the only arc that had shown me plenty of POVs and camera works was the Tsuzumi Mansion arc... The later arcs, although dynamic enough, had fewer cameraworks despite the number of action scenes these arcs posess. The latest one, the Hashira Training arc, even with BOSS DEMON MUZAN, the cameraworks kinda fell flat to me.
GRAPHICS: π π π
I am actually on the fence with the graphics and character design of this anime series. The characters have a modern take--- with gradient hair, facial marks and other unique features that make each anime character easily distinguishable. But! The GORY-ness of the fight scenes of this anime somehow contradicted the cuteness of the characters. What I also adore in this anime is the detailed background. It gives a lot of Makoto Shinkai feels plus the 3D effects. I almost drooled over the first episode of this anime--- winter, snow-covered backgroud, yet the animators managed to pull-off brilliant 3D effects of snow.
3. THE APOTHECARY DIARIES
This anime reminds me of Fushigi Yuugiβ- just with a protagonist that has no stupidity on display. I was so hooked with this anime for quite some time and now excited for the next season.
PLOT and SETTING: π π π π
Think of Imperial China, meets House MD meets Ron Kamonohashi. Set in Tang dynasty, Maomao- the main character is the adopted daughter of a former eunuch who had extensive knowledge in herbs and apothecary. Maomao learned this skill from him and is able to gain further knowledge in poisonous ingredients by baiting herself as a poison tester for the current emperor's favorite concubine.
This anime totally gained my interest, not just because it is an eye-candy anime, but because of the story as well. It's interesting how Maomao's knowledge in apothecary has unlocked scandals, dark secrets and mysteries that surround the imperial palace. The flow of the story was made in such a way that, if you had missed an episode, you'll find yourself puzzled because each episode is interconected with the rest. That's why this anime would definitely require your full, undivided attention.
The only little thing I could complain about this is, a lot of details and scenes are actually inspired by the real Imperial China. So, if you are going to watch this without some prior knowledge of Chinese history, you'd feel a bit lost because some events depict the culture of the people from the past. This reason alone had made me watch the Chinese period drama entitled "The Double". It was so well-researched, that it would make so curious, youβd do your own research to fully understand the series. It's why despite this anime only having 24 episodes, it took me almost two months to finish it.
ANIMATION DYNAMICS: ππ
Because this is a detective type of anime, with poison as the main culprit of unsolved mysteries, I, of course didn't expect it to be full-packed of action. The transitions and animations are actually so subtle, for the viewers to appreciate other factors in this anime like the graphics and the story. But, cameraworks are still very present, some scenes are shown in variety of camera perspectives.
GRAPHICS: ππ π π π
Another eye-candy anime, the characters and specially the backgrounds are made so exquisitely, its easy to fall in love with every little detail in the series. Every frame is filled with color, composition and texture. Graphic-wise, this is my second most favorite next to Violet Evergarden. Visually, it's too captivating that I couldn't find the words to describe the fascination I felt watching this anime. The visuals are just uhhm, CHEF'S KISS.
2. SPY x FAMILY
I think it is safe to say that this anime is my "comfort anime". I can rewatch this anime for a hundred times and will never get bored. This anime is just very pleasant to watch.
PLOT and SETTING: π π π π π
Any anime series that is well-researched, and is inspired by historical contexts capture my heart in a jiffy. Spy x Family is a great example. Because even with a sprinkle of history, it is shown in a clear and suave way that can easily grasped by the audience. Spy x Family is about an incredible spy who needs to fulfill a mission ASAP in order to dodge an impending war that's going to happen between two countries: Westalis and Ostania. But for the spy to complete this mission, he has to adopt a daughter--- and from then on, Loid's family would face more compelling but funny adventures.
ANIMATION DYNAMICS: π π π
This is a well-balanced anime with regards to its animation dynamics. Since this anime is my "comfort anime", I can attest that every frame is a delight to watch. Diverse animation dynamics are present when it needs to be present, and subtlety is applied if the scene doesn't necessarily need it. However, I have observed that more complex animation dynamics are always obvious in Yor Forger's fight scenes compared to the rest of the charactersβ scenes.
GRAPHICS: π π π π π
The consistency of the characters look in each episode is pretty impressive. Emotions are captured so well. Colors are warm, yet bright. Background setting are so detailed you'd feel that you are in Western Europe in its summer season. I couldn't complain really, the anime is within my standards, but what surpirsed me more with Spy x Family, is the presence of mid-century art pieces in Loid Forger's apartment. This anime had proven that the creators are so knowedgeable with art history and interior design as well.
REASON/S FOR REWATCHING : Like what I said, it is my comfort anime. I will just watch this whenever I feel like it.
1. ATTACK ON TITAN
Do we even need to discuss how GREAT this anime is? The word GREAT is such an understatement for this masterpiece. The very first time I watched this anime, I was in so much awe with the thought that someone could even create a concept or story that has never done before. This anime is the MOST REMARKABLE anime that I have ever watched in my entire life and that's not a hyperbole.
PLOT AND SETTING: π π π π π
Set in a fictional, locked country-PARADIS, which is inspired by a town in Germany, Eren Jaeger had dreamt of liberation and an end to their everyday suffering (the return of the titans). His ultimate dream is to eradicte the titans that consume human beings so he can destroy the walls that serve as a barrier between humans and titans, and eventually gain infinite freedom. There are things that I just want to warn the new viewers of this anime:
First, this anime is too morbid, brutal, and devastating. It's not for people who gag at the first sight of blood and definitely not for audiences who want to end an episode in a cheery note. If you are an anime fan, and you think that Kimetsu no Yaiba is gory and morbid, AOT is 50 x more than that. Genocide is so common in almost all of the episodes.
The other one is, you have to glue yourself on the screen. Eagerly watch so that you can never miss a single detail, because every tiny piece of detail has a significant relevance to the latter seasons. This anime also, is presented in reverse chronological order, and contains plenty of memory linkages, so you should really invest a lot of critical thinking in order to understand it wholly. It's imperative that I schedule an AOT marathon once every six months. I always rewatched from the very beginning whenever there was a new released season. That's how englufed you should be and you would be, because getting hooked and addicted to this anime is inevitable!
ANIMATION DYNAMICS: π π π π π
Because the characters require to fly in order to defeat the titans, let's say that there's 101 and more views and perspectives you'd experience in this anime. It's not just your typical ants-eye view that you generally expect if you are in the sky, riding a hot-air balloon. Its animation dynamics is top-notch. Imagine being in a roller-coaster! That's the feeling you are going to get from the fight scenes of this anime. The animators created the scenes in a way that would make you feel you are included (amazing, isn' it?). If AOT will be in an IMAX theatre, the experience is going to be so surreal. So, so surreal.
GRAPHICS: π π π π
The only complain that I have for this anime is the inconsistency of the character design and the mega- bold lining of characters specially during the first season. This anime is not meant to make you feel light and happy, hence the limited color palette---from neurtral to inferno colors. There's also one thing that I'd like to address...the glow-up of Levi is so discernible as the story progresses, from cutie patootie Levi in season 1, to "my clothes look good on your bedroom floor" Levi in season 4. π
REASON/S FOR REWATCHING: I need to watch my husband (Levi Ackerman) from time to time hahahah, and to look for more easter eggs in the story. Yes, you need to rewatch this anime a lot of times to gain more clues and shocking details.
Now there is my top five. I only presented five for now because I'm trying to renavigate myself in the world of blogging. Blogging should be the MAIN thing for 2025. Social media should hit a reset! We are already entertained and we're tired of it. Now, let's gain more information and knowledge through REAL reading and share information through writing. Not just a single sentence--- but writing in PARAGRAPHS. Let your followers or viewers adore you through your words!
#anime #slamdunk #attackontitan #kimetsunoyaiba #demonslayer #AOT #theapothecarydiaries #spyfamily #topanime #animationdynamics #netflix
