Art In Motion: Top 5 Shows for Anime Beginners
By Brodie Patrick
In 1917, Japanese viewers sat down in a theatre to watch a silent movie produced by Ōten Shimokawa titled “Dekobō shingachō – Meian no shippai”. Although the film was choppy, drawn in chalk, and narrated by a live storyteller, viewers simply could not get enough of this new entertainment style. A little over a century later, modern anime has swept viewers on an international scale.
“Samurai Champloo”
Photo of “Samurai Champloo” taken from Flickr
Originally airing in 2004, “Samurai Champloo” excels in entertaining new and old anime enthusiasts alike with its notable 90’s hip-hop inspiration. This anime follows three personable and unique main characters in a fictional Edo Period Japan, opening with Mugen, Jin (wandering ronin), and Fuu (teahouse waitress), on Fuu’s quest to find a “certain samurai”. Mugen and Jin slice through the screen with beautiful animation techniques, while Fuu simply never fails to keep them in line (and out of trouble). Not only does this 26 episode series captivate watchers, but also listeners with its tastefully produced soundtrack handcrafted by Lo-Fi veterans Nujabes and Fat Jon.
2. “Inuyasha”
Photo of “Inuyasha” taken from Flickr
Originally airing in 2000, “Inuyasha” transports the viewer into the eyes of a high school student, Kagome Higurashi, as she “falls down the rabbit hole” of ancient Japanese mythology. Following the guidance of her elders, Kagome quickly realizes the dire reality of her situation and begins a pursuit with Inuyasha to restore balance in the world and return home. If you are looking for an anime to binge, “Inuyasha” will suffice with a total of 193 aired episodes.
3. “Initial D”
Photo of “Initial D” from DRx-7 FD
Originally airing in 1998, “Initial D” shifts gears and speeds into the underworld of Japanese street racing. This anime follows a working student named Takumi Fujiwara, who simply delivers tofu for his father in a given time slot. The catch? Takumi’s father, Bunta isn’t just an ordinary businessman; in fact, he was a legendary street racer. Although “Initial D” focuses on racing, it is also a coming-of-age story and chock-full of authentic racing techniques and terminology. This anime takes its time around the track with about 87 episodes.
4. “Sword Art Online”
Photo of “Sword Art Online” from Flickr
Originally airing in 2012, “Sword Art Online” (SAO) plunges viewers into the deep end of futuristic technology and takes place in a virtual world; except for some, this video game becomes excruciatingly realistic. This anime follows multiple characters but focuses mainly on two gamers, Kirito and Asuna, whose quest is to defeat 100 levels of enemies and, of course, the final boss. Unlike most modern anime, SAO packs a punch with 25 episodes plus a special finale episode.
5. “Hunter x Hunter”
Photo of Gon Freecs from “Hunter x Hunter”
Originally airing in 2002, “Hunter x Hunter” jumps into the unknown of licensed workers (Hunters) who seek out the paranormal. This series follows the journey of a veteran Hunter’s son, named Gon Freecss. This show follows young Gon’s expedition to become a Hunter, build a team and seek out his mythical father. This anime is relatively lengthy, with 148 total episodes for viewers to enjoy.