Neon Genesis Evangelion

i can hardly find a word to describe my experience with this NGE. its like going deep down into a rabbit hole that leads to a darker tunnel by every layer i went through. dont get me wrong, this series has a really exciting stand point that incorporates a lot of elements like sophisticated robots, aesthetically pleasing imagery (which remains exquisite although the series came out over 20 years ago), divine music scores, and a plot that distinguished it from any other mecha anime. these components seem like a pack of good deal, but honestly it goes way beyond that. NGE explores human psyche down to its instability and fragility, which makes it a memorable journey for people who can emotionally resonate with it.

it also probably had to do with the director's state at that time. NGE was aired in 1995, when Japan's anime industry was not in a good shape. the director, Hideaki Anno, was then forced to finish producing this series despite of the lacking budget and incredibly tight deadline. the level of pressure he was dealing with then got reflected into the series' tone. NGE itself is so dark, violent, and can be disturbing at certain points. it highlights various characters and their ways in dealing with horrible past, self loathing, confusion, hatred, and so on, while at the same time pointing out mankind's unhealthy obsession with experimenting the evolution of humanity. take a look at the main character, shinji ikari. at the age of 14, he's mandated to pilot a cyborg which core function connects to his nerves then fights unknown beings with it, yet the bigger problem lies at his own continuous self battle. shinji always does what others told him (implicit imagery of robot-like trait) even though that doesnt guarantee happiness. moreover he also has a complex issue with his authoritative father who runs NERV, a special organization that creates evangelions. another character that caught my attention was asuka, who appears as a quick-tempered and colourful person with a heavily troubled past that it doesnt make her inner monologue less hollow than shinji. the entire narrative slowly unfolds into a mentally unstable ride that is comprised of surprising flicks like nudity, sex, and religion based symbolism (christianity, judaism, kabbalah).

other than the plot, ive got to applaud the seiyuus because they surely did a good job voicing out the characters that they seem very lively and emotional on the screen. i'd also like to point out that characterization is NGE's strongest point for many reasons it holds. their language hits with violence which is why the series successfully left us questioning our own psychological nature in the end. its a shame though that the last two episodes were conducted poorly because of budgeting issue. the sequences are filled with written text on the screen, still images, and repeated footage. thankfully it was done with so much precision and skill so the haunting effect that left us feeling uneasy remains effective. it might not offer the best closure but it does provide a lingering impression. NGE is an anime that will always be interesting to be subjected into discussion until whenever. it's complex yet relatable, and it's mind bending yet engaging in a way.

last but not least the music that accompanies NGE is also impressive, though it does pull a reference from certain classic sources; for example 'decisive battle' that sounds like a reminiscence of old james bond movie with heavy tensions from the strings, and of course, 'fly me to the moon' with various cover versions and i do adore each one of them. therefore i will leave my favorite (rei's ver.) and with that i just want to say the final word:

congratulations!

Death Note

Death Note is another popular title that obtained massive success ever since it got released. no wonder, Tsugumi Ohba (author) successfully came up with a fresh yet intriguing story that caters to broad audience around the world. it centers around Light Yagami, an ordinary high school student who experienced a sudden turn of fate when he found a mysterious notebook one day. the book, which is called Death Note, apparently belongs to a shinigami (god of death) that accidentally fell into the human world. it has a deadly power in which it can kill anyone whose name is written on it. gradually becoming obsessed, Light then aimed to execute any bad guy or criminal by using Death Note in order to attain a new and 'better' world with zero criminal rate. the main question lies here; does wiping out people who have done bad things considered as a commendable act of justice? will that action turn someone into a God? these premises are what being presented on the table throughout the show.

the plot grows more complex as a bunch of other characters got introduced. Light Yagami then is forced to 'battle' L, a highly intelligent detective who aims to reveal this case. the strength of Death Note mainly lies on the war of nerves between Light and L. Both characters are presented as genius, so it's very interesting to see what plans and assumptions they come up with in order to defend their points. as an antihero, Light is still capable to draw our sympathy to him despite of the menacing things he has done. it psychologically tested us until we got dragged into his ambition and eventually wished his plan would run in success even though we realize that it is not right. meanwhile L also appears as a likable character for his unique attitude and bold methods in catching the main subject. because of that as well it was a bitter experience to witness L's downfall despite of the amount of work he has put into solving this chain of events. he got replaced with his successors later on, namely Near and Mello, but ever since that it feels like the plot gets rather stale. if L has the ability to deduce problems through analytical theories, his successors mostly pull out baseless assumptions that are miraculously proven to be right. my conclusion, in the end Light was defeated not because he's outsmarted, but out lucked by Near (and also Mello). thats also the reason why the plot feels rushed from episode 25 onwards, though a bunch of intense mind games that fish out our curiosity are still conducted decently nonetheless.

maybe im not the biggest fan of this series but i definitely can see why a large group of viewers has grown emotional attachment to it. the complexity of the plot isnt something easy to pull, for it offers surprises at every corner that will blow everyone's mind. the characters are no less interesting and its such a worthwhile experience to watch their efforts in battling their own hearts and minds to reveal the truth. hell, not to mention there are many symbolism being thrown into this (Christianity for example) which makes it even more intriguing to dig. Death Note is a pleasant pick for those who want to get into anime, and it certainly remains memorable even for those who already consumed a handful of titles.

Yu Yu Hakusho

sometimes i wonder what makes a certain series a so-called 'masterpiece'? is it because of the well written plot, sophisticated animation, genius soundtracks, or must it be the combination of all of them? as the thoughts sink in, i recently happened to finish rewatching one of 90s classics, Yu Yu Hakusho (YYH). as a legendary trope in shounen category, i find YYH as an anime that's always entertaining to watch at any given time and not only that, there's also a new value to grasp every time i go through it all over again. 

the theme embodies mythical element in it, as it follows the story of yusuke urameshi, a punch-drunk punk who got revived to life after getting into a car accident. then he got assigned as a spirit detective to investigate suspicious demon activities in human realm that might endanger humankind. as the journey goes, yusuke made a bunch of friends along the way whom eventually ganged up with him together as a team. with non stop packed fighting scenes and continuous plot that's easy to follow, YYH offers a fun experience from start to finish. well, i wouldn't doubt that since it came from yoshihiro togashi, the man who holds the golden shounen formula in the palm of his hands. he successfully explores a whole new world beyond our realm and invites us to experience the magic in it. for me, the most memorable sequence is dark tournament arc, because it genuinely focuses on the main concept this show is trying to offer: a search for unbeatable strength. another favorite of mine is chapter black arc, which is like a blueprint of hunter x hunter's chimera ants arc since the underlying theme is similar; it questions whether or not mankind still deserves to live albeit their rotten behavior. it is more thoughtful than the dark tournament because it requires the viewers to dig more about the villain's mission that battles ego and morality.

the overall story is very engaging especially for shounen fans. despite of the old school animation style, i've got to say that intensity still lives up to this day. it would be nice if YYH also gets a reboot just like hxh (HEAR MY PRAYER, MADHOUSE) because there are tons of potential fighting scenes that can be developed with current technology. the character developments went pretty smooth, and even though there are bits of plot holes it remains genuinely delightful to watch. YYH is a raw gem at that time and the series still deserves its trophy till now. i cant help but to throw it in comparison with hxh because YYH stands as togashi's playground in developing ideas and stories before they get more polished afterwards. nevertheless it's a classic anime that fights its own flaws with authenticity and sincerity to charm its viewers. so does YYH deserve to be classified into a masterpiece while it stands on its own ground? absolutely.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

every time i go through various anime related discussions, there has got to be one predominant title that is always mentioned, especially when it comes to listing out highly acclaimed series. yeah i bet you already guessed it, it's none other than fullmetal alchemist: brotherhood (fma:b)! the series immediately holds its own throne of mass popularity ever since it got released. at first i was a bit apprehensive that i'd get overhyped while going through it, but the series proved that all the massive talks surrounding it aren't simply blurted out of the blue. so does fma:b deserve the position it holds as one of the, if not, highest rated anime of all time?

it feels like there's a universal law in shounen class that requires notorious titles to pull a plot where the main protags are born from legendary and powerful fathers that are either gone or missing (e.g hunter x hunter, attack on titan). this time around, fma:b is also one that carries the notion. it follows a journey of the Elric brothers to gain back their original bodies after carrying out the ultimate taboo in alchemy: human transmutation. ever since their mother died from a plague, they've been struggling to bring her back to life using various prescriptions yet it backfired in the end, causing the elder brother, Ed, to lose his limbs and Al, the younger one, to lose his entire physical figure. their adventure to find the mythical 'philosopher's stone' which is rumored to be so powerful it can bring 'the dead' back into life eventually leads to a riveting trip that involves a lot of people and conflicts along the way. this is the vital element that makes fma:b standout, it introduces a handful of characters throughout the course, but each of them appears with remarkable strength and personality that make them exceptionally noteworthy. it varies from an arrogant colonel who also serves as a talented tactician, a young prince who appears to be silly yet holds a strong devotion for his clan, a vengeful macabre survivor, up to a highly combative "ice queen" soldier. literally no one that's ever introduced is left out because they all carry important roles to complete the progress of the story, even the minor characters.

speaking of story, fma:b breaks the dogma of action series with lack of deep plots. out of all 64 episodes, not a single one of them roles as a filler. they're heavily packed yet not draggy, and they're perfectly paced with proper intensity measures. the only drawback is i was slightly bugged by the slapstick-styled jokes at the beginning, it felt too much and didn't fit into some serious sequences, but thankfully as the story progresses it goes more balanced throughout. fma:b portrays a really dark theme with hefty political nuances, yet at the same time it offers interesting twists in every corner that easily hook the viewers' attentions. as an author, Hiromu Arakawa clearly put a profound research to bring up the theme of alchemy and historical views that are often taken from literature works. the idea is then supported with great animation, especially the fighting scenes that are choreographed extremely well they surely will take you to the grip of your seat.

fma:b indeed excels in extensive factors such as plot quality, story telling, and even voice acting. it doesn't only provide entertainment to its viewers but also numerous lessons about love, compassion, humanity, and of course life itself. it's definitely not the kind of series that will be easily forgotten after many years have passed, hell, not even when it eventually comes in term as being an old school classic. i believe it's nearly impossible to classify a single title as the best anime since every viewer's taste is relative and is comprised of varied interests, but good thing about fma:b is it has genuine appeal to broad audiences, for it holds a complete package of not only an enjoyable show but also another step to explore favorable values in real life. as a magnificent work, this one is too good to be missed.

Cowboy Bebop

i think it’s safe to say that 90s anime series always have their own ways in being true classic. i grew up with bucket tons of titles that used to live up my sunday morning, like sailor moon, doraemon, magic knight rayearth, and the list goes on. after years went by, i finally finished another title that might be considered legendary for so many elements it embodies. it’s none other than cowboy bebop.

the first thing that hooked me up with this series is the soundtrack, which is composed by the genius and super talented yoko kanno! yes, i literally shrieked on my seat when i found out that she did the entire scores for bebop, I MEAN IT’S THE ALMIGHTY YOKO KANNO who’s able to magnify any anime episode into gold with just a touch of her pinky finger. the versatile composer successfully combined dynamic jazz with country music as the major theme that enveloped the entire series in general, as well as giving it a standout characteristic on its own. guaranteed, i wasn’t let down the least bit by the atmospheric tunes that flow really smoothly with all the scenes that follow.

story wise, cowboy bebop offers a tale of bounty hunters and their course in hunting down potential 'fish in the sea' for a living. sounds pretty cliche, but the value is apparently more than it seems. despite of pulling an episodic framework that's singular in nature, each episode gradually digs the major characters’ traits, personalities and emotions very well. it flows with a really nice dynamic which eventually develops a unique bond that i barely thought i would fall for. also most of their dialogues are crafted in realistic manner which fits the mood even better. last but not least it's all entwined with a journey to reveal one's identity and their struggle to embrace the past and present. this concept is also symbolized through the eyes of spike siegel, the major protagonist. he lost one of them to an accident, and since then he's been seeing the past with one eye and the present with another. at the end of the series you will be served with a vague query; if living life feels like watching a bad dream then would it be better to end it right away or continue trailing down the road that might lead to somewhere unpredictable? tough question, yet cowboy bebop answers it perfectly, with an episode finale so magnificent it's almost unbeatable to be replaced even with any other alternate idea. it's haunting, dreamy, yet satisfying.

despite of the limited 90s animation, cowboy bebop is capable to defy all of its generic flaws. the action motions are rich and crisp, with incredible details that fit into the space theme necessities. it's like hopping into a thrilling spaceship journey with some touch of john woo's movie elements in one go. some episodes have kinda tacky names though ('boogie woogie feng shui', anyone?) and felt a lot like fillers (who would have thought an expired lobster in the fridge could create full 20 minutes of deadly trouble?) but strangely they're what made each of them feels remarkable. cowboy bebop surely stands tall above the littlest defects it has, and that fact alone simply sums up why it is a staple classic. see you space cowboy, thank your the memorable adventure that you have brought us into.