By: Curtis Wong
Animated films and television series are extremely polarizing for a lot of people. Some love the possibilities afforded by a literally blank canvas, while others can dismiss it entirely for lacking realism and, subsequently, immersion. When it comes to anime, chances are you’re either an otaku (borderline-obsessive), or you are baffled as to why it exists in the first place. Time to break down exactly why you need to start watching it.
Why is anime important/relevant to me??
You’d be surprised at how much commonality there is between your favourite Hollywood blockbusters and anime:
- The Wachowskis were heavily influenced by and borrowed sequences from the 1995 anime film Ghost in the Shell for their 1999 hit The Matrix.
- 2010’s wildly popular Inception borrows heavily from Satoshi Kon’s 2006 film Paprikain terms of theme and plot (dream layers and manipulation).
- In the opposite direction, Gonzo Studio’s Gankutsuoutakes Alexandre Dumas’ novel The Count of Monte Cristo and sets it in an alternate time/universe (similarly to what Baz Luhrmann did to Shakespeare, with his 1996 film Romeo and Juliet).
So why is anime so limited in the West?
- For the most part anime is presented in Japanese, or if subbed, in “Engrish.” Thankfully with the rise of the internet this has improved with fansubs, but even that can’t save the catchy but lyrical monstrosity that is Spice and Wolf’s ending theme (don’t look it up, it’s as bad as you can imagine).
- On a related note, language and cultural barriers are often attached, so breaking these barriers requires active watching and context. From this, if something requires extensive context or background knowledge, you lose out on some part of the work.
- Sexposition! I would elaborate, but I want to keep it PG here! Contemporary western shows have excessive fan service too, don’t get me wrong, but public opinion tends to frown upon sexual content in lieu of excessive gore. (Unless it’s Game of Thrones. Then you get both. Thanks HBO!)
So understanding all of this, I’m still intrigued! Where do I start?!
Excellent question – also one that is difficult to answer! There is just so much out there, in terms of genre, art style/visuals, storytelling, and characters that it is largely based on your own preferences! However, I do think that there is a consistent starting point that should be used as a prerequisite into a more-depth foray into anime (to ease the transition, so to speak)!
- Anything/Everything Hayao Miyazaki
So much of what he has produced are considered classics, and rightfully so! His works are accessible to all ages, have consistently amazing soundtracks (thanks Joe Hisaishi!), and most feature strong female leads! If I had to pick an order to watch his films, I would start with Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), then move on to Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2002) before watching everything else that he’s made.
- Cowboy Bebop (1998)
My first completed anime series, and still my favourite series of all time – not just with anime. Premise: space cowboy and crew collecting bounties with a ragtag crew à la Joss Whedon’s Firefly. The English dub is fantastic, its dialogue is on-point, it is emotional from moments of hilarity to intense sadness, and it has some existential crisis-inducing themes.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009-2010)
A story of two brothers caught up in a world of magic and political intrigue, and their attempt to reclaim their physical bodies following a botched attempt to revive their deceased mother. Solid plot and themes that don’t require heavy attention when viewing, but there are A LOT of episodes to watch (which also offers a very rewarding experience to complete).
- Clannad and Clannad Afterstory (2008-2009)
A coming-of-age tale for high-school students Tomoya and Nagisa: the former a sullen teenage boy with familial troubles, the latter an older female classmate that is part of a loving family, but is troubled with an ailing health that has left her behind her schooling a couple of years. The pair navigate family, friendships, love, and being lost in the world following graduation. *Disclaimer: this one’s a tear-jerker.
- Anything/Everything Satoshi Kon
This category’s a doozy. The popular Tokyo Godfathers (2003) is up there among my favourite holiday titles. Fans of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks (1990-91) or Blue Velvet (1986) will love the film Perfect Blue (1997) and absurdists will love Paranoia Agent (2004); all of his works involve regular people leading questionable double-lives out of the spotlight. Aspiring film studies majors, look no further than Kon for his amazing editing and attention to detail.
- HONOURABLE MENTIONS (in no particular order):
- 5 Centimeters per Second
- Ghost in the Shell
- Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (centered around Daft Punk’s album Discovery with absolutely no dialogue, produced in part by Daft Punk themselves!)
- Attack on Titan
- There’s too much to list! #cantstopwontstop
Anyway, get out there and start watching!
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