Hi everyone, I hope you had a chance to watch something on last week’s recommended list! If last week’s genre wasn’t your cup of tea, fret not, I have something completely different in store for you this week. Although anime technically refers to all animation, anime is still largely regarded as mainly japanese animated films and series. When I think of anime, I think of long-running series such as Naruto or One Piece which can be hard to get into. This series of recommendations are easy to enjoy, bite sized shows that act as a great stepping stone for anyone who might be interested in anime.
- Spirited Away
It would be a crime to not start a list of anime recommendations with one of Hayao Miyazaki’s works. Spirited Away is arguably one of the most iconic anime movies and it has seen much success worldwide. It’s set in a wonderous other dimension and filled with mystery and magic. The film follows a young girl as she finds herself in a strange, unfamiliar world and finds a way to escape and save the people important to her. I highly recommend Spirited Away for anyone who wants to escape reality for a bit. Spirited Away is also great for lifting your spirits as I think the essence of the film is one of hope.
- Howl’s Moving Castle
Another masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki is Howl’s Moving Castle. The movie follows the adventure of Howl, a wizard who lives in a moving castle. The adventure begins when a young girl, Sophie is cursed by an evil witch and is transformed into an old woman . Sophie turns to Howl for help to undo the curse and together, they embark on a mystical journey! I highly recommend Howl’s Moving Castle, the movie is just so well-written and the graphics are gorgeous!
- Your Name
In this 2016 animation, 2 teenagers discover that they have a magical connection unlike any other – they are swapping bodies. They come to this realisation as both wake up in unfamiliar places and have missing memories from their own lives. They begin communicating with each other by leaving one another notes. Although this movie starts out confusing, the climax when the 2 main characters try to meet one another is absolutely mid-blowing!
- 5 Centimetres Per Second
The film begins with an image of cherry blossoms falling at 5cm per second and is a metaphor of fleeting young romance and bittersweet loss – the main themes of the movie. It follows the development of relationships throughout different time periods of the protagonist’s life. This isn’t your typical romance film with a happy ending. If anything, it’s a mirror of reality; a reflection of experiences we can all relate to!
- To The Forest of Firefly Lights
This follows the unlikely friendship of a young human girl and a forest spirit that will disappear if touched by a human. As the years go by their bond grows and ultimately develops into a romance. The lack of bells and whistles makes the film an extremely easy watch. This is bound to take you on an emotional journey, just make sure you have some tissues by your side for the heart-breaking ending.
- Violet Evergarden
Violet Evergarden is a story that highlights the tenacity of mankind. We follow the life of a young woman, Violet Evergarden who knows nothing besides war and violence from her time serving in the Leidenschaftlich army where we was treated as a war machine. Violet is unable to process or even understand emotions and the series sees her reconnecting with her feelings as she gains employment as a ghost-writer in an attempt to understand the meaning of the words “I love you”. This is such a compelling watch as the emotional storyline is so well-balanced with pockets of humour throughout the series.
- The Disastrous Life of Saiki k.
The series follows the life of Saiki K., a high school student with amazing psychic abilities. Chaos ensues when all Saiki wants is to blend in and live life as an average teenager but gets pulled into adventures by people in his life. While being a light-hearted, easy watch, the show still manages to have you anticipating the next episode with it’s unique plot and eccentric characters.
- Aggretsuko
Aggretsuko is a show I’m sure many of us can relate to. It follows the life of Retsuko, an average office worker who tries her best to adapt to the corporate world. In a largely hierarchical environment, she struggles to assert herself and is often taken advantage of by other co-workers and is often undermined. She takes out her frustrations in a healthy, but unique manner – singing death metal at karaoke. Aggretsuko is a timely reminder for us to be our own advocates and to find healthy coping mechanisms for the stresses we face on a daily basis.
- The Seven Deadly Sins
When a kingdom is overrun by tyrants, a deposed princess resorts to urban legend for help. She begins a quest to locate a group of warriors who were wrongly accused of a crime for help. As the group as disbanded an have been vindicated, finding them and convincing them proves to be a challenge. Fans of myths, lore and fight scenes – this one’s for you!
With the list covering a wide range of genres, I hope you found something to add to your watch list! Let me know what you think of the above shows and if there’s anything you think I missed!