I do not think it is possible to have an opinion of anime in general. As anyone who has watched any anime will know, the genre is too diverse for this treatment. You can dislike the art style I suppose but this is kind of superficial when the stories are often of a stupidly good quality. I shall be critiquing 15 animes that I have seen individually and this article will not be talking about anime in general as this is a pointless act and will just reinforce stereotypes that from what I can tell are greatly exaggerated anyway. Please note, I have seen more then 15 but these are the top 15 most memorable be that for good or bad reasons. These are in alphabetical order and this is just my opinion I encourage you to make your own choices about viewing, I just hope to tell you what’s on offer so you can decide what you want to watch. The dates shown refer to the anime only but I will bring up the manga on occasion if I have read it. So let’s go and kill some titans, or Satan, or the son of Satan or become king of the pirates or simply enjoy and go beyond, PLUS ULTRA!
Assassination Classroom (2015 – 2017)
How much I’ve seen?: The first 5 episodes Subbed + the first two volumes of the manga.
Plot? : So a yellow octopus squid thing from space with a head that can change colour and a manic smile decides to teach a class of bullied and deprived students the normal curriculum while also educating them about trying to kill him or else he will destroy the earth much like he has already done with the moon. If this is too weird for you, maybe anime isn’t the best idea for you as it’s only going to get weirder from here.
Any good? : Pretty decent yes. A lot of heart comes from the fact that students finally thrive under the tutoring of their enigmatic and energetic enemy. Also Koro-Sensei (our friend in the image and the aforementioned octo-squid alien), is hilarious. From the little I have read, this is accurate to the manga.
Attack On Titan (2013 – Present)
How much I’ve seen?: The first 9 episodes dubbed and the first 3 episodes subbed.
Plot?: A boy named Erin and his two friends Mikasa and Armin, have their homes and lives destroyed when a team of giants decides to attack in order to satisfy their craving for human flesh. It’s pretty gory and hard hitting but wonderfully poignant and seems to capture the true hardships of war in an interesting yet bleak fictional setting. Also, when they say nobody is safe, they may actually mean it this time. Expect the unexpected.
Any good?: It took me a couple of watches to get into it properly but yes. The key themes are covered with respect and dignity. As far as apocalypse based media goes, this is one of the best. It kind of jumps the shark in later episodes but certainly the first few are worth a watch at the very least.
Blue Exorcist (2011 – 2017)
How much I’ve seen?: All of series 1 and the first 4 episodes of series 2 both subbed and dubbed. I’ve also seen the movie dubbed and have read the first 3 volumes of the manga.
Plot?: It turns out the son of Satan is a good guy named Rin. He just wants a normal life but he is being hunted by all the priests of the Vatican and it seems his only allies are his brother Yukio and a few of his friends at Exorcism school. That’s right, the son of SATAN, becomes an EXORCIST. I mean, I’m not sure I’ve heard anything that ridiculous since that offensive fan fiction about Hitler having it away with Jesus. Do not look that up. Just don’t. Don’t ask me how I know about it but don’t look it up. Please. This is not perhaps as accurate to the manga as it should be however. For some reason, the end of series one contradicts all of series two and some of it never happened or something. The episode around the demon cat it pretty good though.
Any good?: This is a tough one to call. It is cheesy and it the movie was offensively bad in a lot of different ways but if you are OK with having a religious slap to the face every now and then, I suppose it is kind of cool and most of the characters are either likable or interesting. Just try not to take the whole thing as a linear story. It doesn’t makes sense if you do.
Cased Closed (1996 – Present)
How much I’ve seen?: 1 episode subbed (I think it involved a poisoned cigarette).
Plot?: again, I wont say I know a lot about it but it’s a little kid (who used to be a teenager, it’s complicated), called Detective Conan who solves crimes which somehow, he is always present for despite the fact that he can’t surely know that many people for there to be that many left to kill off after a while.
Any good?: Based off the one episode I’ve seen, I shan’t be watching any others. It feels strangely too pandering for any audience wanting to follow the story for the mysteries but has too adult a content for any child too enjoy. Where is your audience? What are you doing? How have you lasted for 23 years? Maybe I’m too western minded to get it. I will take Scooby Doo any day over this.
The Devil Is A Part-Timer (2013)
How much I’ve seen?: The first 4 Episodes dubbed.
Plot?: Satan and his aide are traversed through a portal to our world where they have been turned into boys in their late teens with reduced powers but their memories and personalities in tact. They then meet Satan’s arch-nemesis who believes herself to still be responsible for stopping whatever plan Satan has, truth is however, he is starting to like creating a life for himself on Earth and is actually good at his job, which is at a fast-food place called MgRonald’s (sigh). I take it back about Blue Exorcist, this is the weird one.
Any good?: Very funny, honestly the funniest anime I have seen. I do have slight concerns that if you are religious (I am not), you may find the idea of Satan being likable, a bit offensive but honestly it’s just for entertainment. And good entertainment at that. I wish it had more then one series.
D-Grey Man (2006 – 2008)
How much I’ve seen?: The first 2 episodes subbed.
Plot?: The guy with the white hair moves to London and fights monsters with a secret organisation. That’s it. I couldn’t watch anymore to find anything further and
I didn’t want to know anything else anyway.
Any good?: For girls who enjoy guys with scars and white hair, maybe this has some level of appeal but I expected more from the one anime I watched set primarily in my country.
Dragon Ball (1986 – Present)
How much I’ve seen?: One episode and one movie both of which were subbed.
Plot?: This transcends the word plot as it makes literally no logical path of thought in it’s execution. Who needs sense? Maybe this is the weirdest one then?
Any good?: No. Or maybe it’s too good for me to get it?. I don’t know. I think this probably appeals more to eastern culture. It must still be going after 33 years because somebody likes it, just not me.
My Hero Academia (2016 – Present)
How much I’ve seen?: The first two series and a couple of episodes of the third series dubbed as well as the first 4 episodes of series one subbed.
Plot?: X-men in reverse. Nearly everyone has super powers but our main character, Izuku Midorya does not, Until he meets his idol, All-Might. Then he is given a new lease of life and sent off to train with other young aspiring heroes. Meanwhile, off to the sides, evil lurks, hellbent on the destruction of all those with super powers.
Any good?: This is tied with another, for best and most emotionally engaging anime I have ever seen. Watching this has actually brought me closer to my girlfriend as we can have debates and conversations about plot elements and characters. For example, we both agree on our hatred of Mineta, (trust me, he has no redeemable qualities) but we cant figure out if Bakugo really is as much of an idiot as he seems. Also, is Ururaka really right for Midorya? And most importantly, will Todoroki find true happiness after such a broken upbringing?
Himouto Umaru-chan (2015)
How much I’ve seen?: One episode subbed, (I really don’t know or care which).
Plot?: DOES NOT COMPUTE! DOES NOT COMPUTE! DOES NOT COMPUTE!
Any good?: AVOID! Like your life depends on it, avoid.
My Love Story (2015)
How much I’ve seen?: One episode subbed.
Plot?: Muscular dude with soft heart wins love of girl after believing his slightly more handsome friend was receiving her affections instead.
Any good?: With a somewhat sickly sweet premise, this may appeal to those with a dreamers disposition or to any boy or girl looking for a reason to believe in love again.
Mob Psycho 100 (2016 – Present)
How much I’ve seen?: The first 5 episodes subbed.
Plot?: A guy with a lot of natural talent for dealing with demons, (what is it with the Japanese and demons?) is under the education of a guy with no real talent in the same area and due to coincidences, some cheating on the untalented guy’s part and a little bit of stupidity on both their parts, they are convinced this is the best way to play it.
Any good?: Even I think the animation is horrible on this one, but the stories are engaging enough, the characters are likable enough and the concept is mysterious enough to earn a recommendation of at least giving it a try from me.
Natsume’s Book of Friends (2008 – 2017)
How much I’ve seen?: The First 8 episodes subbed.
Plot?: A boy name Natsume finds out that his grandmother used to trap demons (again) in a book so as they are in her debt. Her grandson then decides that this was kind of cruel on her part and so makes the choice to release them all. He is aided in this by a greedy, fat cat who is only in it because he is keeping an eye on Natsume in case he dies so the book, and all the demons trapped within can be his to control.
Any good?: I kind of act like Natsume and my cat Purdey looks and acts like the cat in this, so I am biased. No, it is good. It is weird but it does have heart and humour. What more could you want?
One Piece (1999 – Present)
How much I’ve seen?: The first 40 episodes dubbed and 1 girlfriend who talks about it a lot.
Plot: This is Monkey D. Luffy. He is a badass with Mr Fantastic like abilities. He is also a pirate who cannot swim due to a fruit he once ate. He is also fearless and more then a little crazy. This is Roronoa Zoro. He is a swordsman who can use three at a time. He also likes naps and has toothpaste coloured hair. He also lost an eye but wont tell anyone why. This is Nami. She is a navigator and thief. She has seen both her adopted mother and sister shot. She’s not bad, she’s just drawn that way. This is Usopp. He is a compulsive liar and a brilliant sharp shooter. He is also a long nosed African God. He is also still somehow a bit cowardly and clumsy though. This is Vinsmoke Sanji. He is a girl obsessed chef. He also has the best fighting legs ever. He also nearly starved to death once before a man chewed of his own leg. Are you sold yet?
Any good?: YES! This is tied with My Hero Academia for the best anime and probably is the most emotionally provocative thing I have ever seen. Virtually every character is great fun to watch and even some of the more annoying elements have an endearing charm to them that is virtually irresistible.
Pokémon (1997 – Present)
How much I’ve seen?: 80 episodes dubbed (I don’t know which as I was very young at the time and have only just starting re-watching in order now).
Plot?: A boy named Ash (he was 10 in 1997 but doesn’t look 32 now, so I guess he doesn’t age?), along with various companions that change over time and his ever loyal Pikachu go on various adventures in order for Ash to complete his collection of Pokémon and for them to defeat the ever evil team rocket made up of Jesse, James and Meowth (again, when it isn’t demons, I swear it’s cute but evil cats).
Any good?: Much like Blue Exorcist, this suffers from some very cheesy moments. Unlike Blue Exorcist, from what I have seen, it doesn’t become too bad or lazy anywhere else. Maybe there is hope for Ash and Pikachu’s future yet…
Sword Art Online (2012)
How much I’ve seen?: The first 3 episodes subbed.
Plot?: Here’s a Virtual Reality headset. Now, don’t take it off until you beat the game. Why? BECAUSE I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU DO. MWHAHAHAHA!
Any good?: It’s a good premise. It’s just a shame that the premise is all it has. The novelty of this wears off after the first episodes and the characters are just kind of boring. It’s a no from me.
Thank you for reading till the end. Like and comment below if you want too. Bye for now.
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