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Recommended Titles - Anime:
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
- Ah My Goddess - Movie See: Oh My Goddess
- Akira - Movie
- Famous for its historical importance in introducing anime to many in the English speaking world in the early 1990s when it played art house theaters. Many non-fans think of Akira as an example of the best in anime, which it was when it was released, it is now usually considered as an example of middle of the road animation which is an indication of how much anime has developed since it first came out. Akira is still a fun piece of work and likely to be popular in any collection with it's stunning graphics and highly innovative music track.
- There is also an Akira manga translation available.
- Cautions: One scene with upper torso nudity.
- Out of Print in both DVD and Blu-Ray in the U.S. Second hand copies are not hard to find.
- Order AKIRA with English Subtitles on Blu-ray from CD Japan
- Banner of the Stars see: Crest of the Stars
- Blood the Last Vampire - Movie
- 1960s Japan. Something nasty, rather several somethings, are draining people of their blood. At the same time someone is hunting them, and using a sword to do so. A Japanese student transfers into the school of a US base and before long things get unpleasant when the school nurse is attacked.
- Cautions: Violence
- Out of print in the U.S.
- Order Blood the Last Vampire on region 2 DVD from CD Japan
- Order Blood the Last Vampire on Blu-Ray from CD Japan
- Blue Seed - TV series - 26 episodes
- Momiji is a typical 14 year old, except that since she was a small child she has undergone regular Shintō ritual purifications and training by her grandmother. Other than that she is a little clumsy, weak in school, thinks she is an only child and in many ways still just a kid. But then she is threatened one morning on her way to school by a young man who mentions a twin sister and her school is attacked by something very nasty and very old that wants her dead.
- Cultural Details: Many historical localities, landmarks, folklore, religion, relationships.
- Cautions: Violence and some panty humor.
- Order Blue Seed DVD Complete Collection (Hyb) (Thinpak) from The Right Stuf
- Order Blue Seed Mitama DVD Collection (Thinpak from The Right Stuf
- Blue Submarine No.6 - OVA series - 4 episodes
- A four part OVA series mixing computer generated animation with digitally painted cell animation. The animation is rough where the two are joined but this is quickly forgotten as the story draws you in. As the series progresses so does the ability of the studio to better blend the painted and computer generated elements. This is the tale of a future war between genetically modified creatures and the remnant of humanity struggling to survive. Caught in this was are characters on both sides who form an uneasy relationship.
- Cautions: Violence and some slight nudity.
- Currentlly out of print in the US. However Discotek Media has acquired the title and will likely release it in late 2013.
- BubbleGum Crisis - OVA series - 8 episodes
- A series that has been popular with English speaking fans for many years. This is a series of stories about the Knight Sabers a mercenary group often fighting against an unscrupulous multi-national corporation and its partially biological Boomers. Strongly influenced by the US movies Bladerunner and Streets of Fire.
Note: There is also a Bubblegum Crisis 2040 TV series which is different from what I am recommending.- Cautions: Violence and mild nudity.
- Order BubbleGum Crisis OVA DVD set from The Right Stuf
- Castle in the Sky - Movie
- Directed by Miyazaki Hayao. Sheeta has a gem that pirates and government agents are after. Pazu is an orphan living in a mining town with big dreams. Together they discover a common bond as they help each other and have an adventure the rest of us can enjoy watching.
- Order Castle in the Sky DVD from The Right Stuf
- Order Castle in the Sky DVD/Blu-Ray combo from The Right Stuf
- Castle of Cagliostro - Movie
- The Castle of Cagliostro is one of the most popular anime directed by Miyazaki Hayao before he went on to found the famous Studio Ghibli. The quality of this anime is so good it is hard to believe this is a title from 1979. The script was coauthored by Miyazaki and Yamazaki Haruya. Miyazaki also did the storyboards. And his touch shows with his trademark beautiful cloudscapes and flight sequences.
- While not intended for small kids they seem to enjoy the slapstick humor of this title.
- Out of print in the U.S.
- Chobits - TV series - 26 episodes
- Based on a manga by CLAMP. Hideki failed his college entrance exams and has moved to Tokyo to attend a special school to prepare him for another try. Raised on a farm he had no one to talk to as he worked but the animals and has a habit of talking to himself, much to our amusement. In Tokyo he is amazed how humanoid common persocoms (personal computers) are, and disappointed how expensive they are. One night while heading to his apartment he spots one in a trash pile and takes it home. Can this technically inept young man cope with a persocom in the form of a very cute girl, a persocom that is an unusual model unlike any on the market?
- There is also a Chobits manga.
- Cultural details: Everyday life in Tokyo.
- Cautions: Incredibly cute, includes humorous sexual situations and nudity.
- Order Chobits DVD Complete Series from The Right Stuf
- Order Chobits Blu-ray Complete Series from The Right Stuf
- Cowboy Bebop - TV series - 26 episodes
- Bounty hunters near Mars in a future gone a little seedy, but then bounty hunters often are not in the best parts of town. As the story goes on you discover more about why the future is not all bright and shiny. Excellent jazz music by Yoko Kanno and well done choreography for the fight scenes. Aimed at an adult TV viewing audience this show is popular with teens.
- The Cowboy Bebop TV series is out of print in the U.S.
- Cowboy Bebop The Movie - Movie
- Set between episodes in the TV series the characters of the show are on the trail of a fugitive. A fugitive who has a very deadly weapon that already has killed hundreds, a fugitive who all reports indicate died years ago.
- Cautions: Violence and cleavage.
- Order Cowboy Bebop The Movie DVD from The Right Stuf
- Order Cowboy Bebop The Movie Blu-ray from The Right Stuf
- Crest of the Stars - TV Series - 13 episodes
- Jinto's home world has been invaded by the Abh, a beautiful blue haired people who live for centuries with little sign of aging. His father makes a choice against overwhelming odds to prevent a war that is sure to be lost and Jinto has to live with the consequences. Then the story moves to seven years later when Jinto enters military training and meets Lafiel, an Abh trainee who is to be important in his life. Then war breaks out.
- A great piece of science fiction dealing with the contact between two very different cultures.
- Continued in Banner of the Stars
- Order Crest of the Stars Complete Collection DVD set from The Right Stuf. Scroll to bottom of the page displayed for individual volumes in the series.
- Continued in Banner of the Stars (TV 13 episodes) and Banner of the Stars II (TV 10 episodes), Banner of the Stars III has yet to be licensed in the US.
- Order Banner of the Stars Complete Collection DVD from The Right Stuf
- Order Banner of the Stars II Complete Collection DVD from The Right Stuf
- The Dagger of Kamui - Movie
- The story of Jiro, a foundling whose adopted family is murdered and his quest for revenge. With the assistance of a ninja master Jiro learns to be a skilled fighter. But not all is as it seems and he has to determine who is in fact his ally and who is his enemy. Set in the late Edo Period as the government of the shōgun is collapsing with locations ranging from Hokkaido to the United States.
- Cautions: Violence and mild nudity.
- Cultural Details: Late Edo culture and politics.
- Order The Dagger of Kamui - subtitled DVD from The Right Stuf
- Dirty Pair TV series - 24 episodes, OVA series - 10 epiasodes, 3 feature movies
- What can I say about a tongue in cheek science fiction series involving two attractive, underdressed female agents who always succeed in their missions with lots of collateral damage? Well I can say it's fun, action oriented and has some great lines.
- Cautions: Violence and exposed female flesh.
- Order Dirty Pair TV Series DVD Collection 1 from The Right Stuf
- Order Dirty Pair TV Series DVD Collection 2 from The Right Stuf
- Order Dirty Pair OVA Series DVD Collection from The Right Stuf
- Order Dirty Pair: Features DVD Collection from The Right Stuf
- El Hazard: Magnificent World - OVA series - 7 episodes
- Partially inspired by the pulp science fiction of Edmund Hamilton and the old Prisoner of Zenda movie this is the tale of a young man who finds himself transported to another world.
A world where it turns out he looks very much like a missing princess. A princess who is needed for public appearances.- (The original OVA series is recommended over the later TV and OVA series, The Wanderers: El Hazard, El Hazard 2 and El Hazard: The Alternative World)
- Out of print in the U.S.
- Escaflowne - TV series - 26 episodes
- High school student Hitomi has always been good at predicting the future with tarot cards. One day at school she collapses while at track practice and has a vision. That evening she finds out the boy she is in love with is going to leave Japan suddenly decides to tell him how she feels before he leaves. But the evening when she does part of her vision becomes real and in the end she is transported to another world. That is the first episode, to find what happens to her I suggest getting the whole series.
- Out of print in the U.S.
- Ghost in The Shell
- Ghost in The Shell - Movie
- The critically acclaimed adaptation of Shirow Masamune's manga of the same title remains a visually stunning science fiction tale of political intrigue. Directed by Oshii Mamoru one of Kurosawa's favorite directors. The special edition of the video and the DVD include extras such as a "making of" behind the scenes look at the production.
- Cautions: Violence, some nudity and skin tight body suits.
- Ghost in The Shell 2: Innocence - Movie
- Set several years after the first movie. The major is still missing, Batou and Tosuga are assigned a case which may or may not involve terrorists. A manufacturer of androids has been lending out test models to select clients. When the models break down and murder their new masters Section Nine steps in to investigate.
- Cautions: Violence, some nudity.
- Ghost in The Shell: Stand Alone Complex (TV Series - 26 episodes)
Ghost in The Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig (TV series - 26 episodes)
Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society (movie)- Set either before the movie or in an alternative storyline the TV series shows the major and her comrades carrying out their duty as a special security unit. Fans of the manga will recognise some interesting hardware used by the members of Section Nine.
Warning: There are also two collections which are excerpts from the TV shows set up as single stories Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: The Laughing Man, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig: Individual 11. You may wish to avoid getting these.- There are also Ghost in the Shell manga and novels available
- Order various Ghost in The Shell items from The Right Stuf.
- GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka (TV Series - 43 episodes)
- Ex-juvenile delinquent, ex-biker gone to college Onizuka decides to become a high school teacher, motivated by desires that would upset the parents of any teen aged daughter. But this highly short tempered and violent fellow also has a sincerity and concern for his students that shapes his actions in virtuous, if amusingly unconventional, ways and actually teaches important lessons.
- There are also three manga series available
- Cultural Details: Modern school and urban life.
- Cautions:
Sexual humor, often at Onizuka's expense, and some violence, often at Onizuka's hands. However the manga is stronger and is not recommended for kids.- In October 2012 video distributor Discotek Media announced they would release the GTO anime in 2013. When a link to The Right Stuf is available I shall include it here.
- Gundam See: Mobile Suit Gundam
- Hakkenden OVA series - 13 episodes
- An adaptation of a famous 19th century samurai novel, dense with Buddhist and Confucian symbolism this is the tale of eight men who are somehow connected to eight virtues through separate prayer beads each has had with them since childhood. A tale of vengeance and karma, excellent for fans of Japanese cinema.
- Cultural Details: Traditional settings, clothing, locations, religious and philosophical views.
- Cautions: Violence.
- Out of print in the U.S.
- Here is Greenwood OVA series - 6 episodes
- One of the first shôjo anime released in the US. This is the story of Kazuya who has missed the first month of high school and is assigned to the Greenwood dorm. A dorm with the odder students of his high school, he discovers how odd when he meets is room mate. A great short series of tales taken from the manga which is also available in English.
- Out of print in the U.S.
- Howl's Moving Castle - Movie
- Young Sophie is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and becomes an old woman. She leaves home and ends up in the castle of Howl a famous wizard, the castle is not in one place as it walks across the land.
Order Howl's Moving Castle from The Right Stuf- Order Howl's Moving Castle DVD/Blu-ray Combo from The Right Stuf
- Kiki's Delivery Service - Movie
- Kiki is a young witch, according to tradition she must leave home at the age of thirteen, find a town with no witch and become independent. She doesn't have many skills but her cat Jiji at least can help by offering advice. This is a tale of maturation set in a fictional European style setting with some very stunning animation.
- Order Kiki's Delivery Service DVD from The Right Stuf
- Last Exile - TV series - 26 episodes
- Claus and Lavie are a team, flying their vanship delivering messages to earn a living. Then an unexpected cargo lands in their hands with a request to deliver it, a very dangerous assignment that will involve them in a war that may determine the fate of not only their nation but of their world. Beautifully illustrated with animation by Gonzo, a company that is setting new standards for computer animation.
- Order Last Exile DVD Box Set from The Right Stuf
- Macross Plus OVA series - 4 episodes
- Taking place decades after the events of the original Macross series this is the story of two young test pilots and a young woman who is the manager of the hottest music act in the settled parts of the galaxy. There is trouble in their past and it has come back to them as they find themselves together again after seven years of separation.
- I recommend the 4 episode Macross Plus OVA series over the feature movie which is just a shorter edited version of the OVA with a few minutes of new animation.
- Order Macross Plus from The Right Stuf
- Maison Ikkoku TV series - 96 episodes
- 07-17-2012: Alas this series seems to have gone out of print.
- Maison Ikkoku is the story of Godai, a young man who falls in love and has to deal with how to pursue the woman he wants. Godai is surrounded by a variety of characters, in more than one sense of the word, and has to deal with his own fears and emotional clumsiness, all of which provide an entertaining series.
- Cultural Details: Foods, etiquette, household items, schools, day to day life.
- Millennium Actress - Movie
- Directed by Kon Satoshi. Tachibana Gen'ya is making a documentary and interviews Fujiwara Chiyoko, an actress who retired at the height of her career. This is a lovely homage to 20th century Japanese cinema as in a series of flashbacks tells the story of a young girl who accepted an offer to act and grew into a woman while in pursuit of the man she loved.
As we watch the movie we are exposed to many of the conditions of 20th century Japanese history and the cinema industry from the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the growing imperialism of Japan, the destruction of World War II and the effects those events had on the lives of ordinary people.- Cultural Details: 20th century japanese history and cinema, household items,, day to day life.
- Out of Print in the US.
Available on region 2 DVD with English subtitles from CD-Japan Sennen Joyu (Millennium Actress) [Regular Edition]- Mobile Suit Gundam
- The Mobile Suit Gundam series of anime shows has been a major part of anime since 1979 when the first series was broadcast on TV. The quality of the shows greatly varies but many are excellent highly dramatic works worthy of consideration as among the best in anime.
- Universal Century Gundam:
- The titles listed here are all from the stories using the UC, Universal Century, dating system. These are in my opinion some of the best of the Gundam stories. Other Gundam series such as Gundam Wing, Gundam SEED, the very silly G-Gundam and the juvenile Superior Defender Gundam Force are set in entirely other fictional universes and have almost nothing in common with the Universal Century Gundam shows.
- The Background:
- The story is set in the not too distant future, space programs have advanced far enough to use materials from off the Earth, mainly the moon and asteroids, to provide needed resources. Using resources in space is called In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and is cheaper than lifting large amounts of material off the Earth. Such resources include metals, oxygen bonded to minerals and solar energy.
- On the Earth energy shortages, pollution and environmental problems complicated by a large population leads to an adventuresome program to build space colonies, not colonies on other planets but giant rotating cylinders, each colony large enough to comfortably house millions. These are called O'Neill colonies after the physicist who first proposed them in the 1970s. At the time the story begins the Earth is under the control of a large federation of nations, a government for the entire planet. It is decided that there is a need to save the Earth from further damage and to even allow nature to repair what damage has been done. To do this it is decided to relocate a large portion of the human population into clusters of colonies at Lagrange points, clusters called sides. Each side is composed of dozens colonies, the older smaller colonies holding about 3 million inhabitants the larger ones about 15 million or more. The relocation is not voluntary and many sent to the sides, or the Lunar colonies, are resentful at having to leave Earth.
- A new calendar is in use dating from the settlement of the first colonies. Many of the shows have titles containing references to the year in which they take place. In time the populations settle in and life goes one, some colonies specialize in raising food, some even develop tourism industries, trade develops and political movements adjust to the new conditions. Side 3, which is located opposite the moon from Earth had become the Principality of Zeon espousing grand ideals but in reality becoming an oppressive regime under the rule of the Zabi family. In 0079 Zeon revolts against the rule of the Earth Federation and attacks the Earth Federation with little warning.
- Early in what became known as the One Year War half of humanity is wiped out, 5 billion dead, mainly as a result of the destruction of many of the colonies. A result of this is the Treaty of Antarctica banning nuclear weapons, poison gas and the total destruction of colonies. Long distance combat has been rendered useless by the discovery of Minovsky particles which when scattered block radio and radar effectively eliminating many of the techniques of 20th Century warfare. A major new kind of weapon has come into existence, large, usually anthropomorphic, Mobile Suits designed for close combat and useable in space or on Earth.
- All of these tales have no faster than light drives, no aliens and all of the stories take place within the orbital range of the Moon.
- A major theme in the Gundam series is the effect of warfare on civilian populations. While the shows take place in war time they are not simple action entertainment as an entire environment has been woven into a complex setting for the tales.
- - NOTE: Most of the DVD releases in the US by Bandai Entertainment are out of print. I shall link to the remaining Bandai Entertainment stock at the Right Stuf and where possible to CDJapan and other sources.
- During the One Year War:
- Mobile Suit Gundam TV series
- The original 43 episode TV show ran from 1979-04-07 to 1980-01-26. Gundam was a major departure from the exaggerated combats of the super robots shows of the 1970s. Unlike those earlier shows there were no alien invaders, no special force with a super machine to defend the earth, no dramatic posturing or shouted attack names. It was a war story which took place mainly within the orbit of the moon and on Earth. Grittier with an emphasis on the people in the story as well as a not so far future setting in space, the political situation and the machinery of warfare. It appealed, appeals, to an older audience than the earlier shows.
- Order Mobile Suit Gundam Complete Collection 1 TV series on DVD from The Right Stuf
- Mobile Suit Gundam the Movies
- The TV show reedited into three movies. The fact that they did the story into three movies preserves much of the story that would have been lost if they tried to compress it into one movie. If you want the story encapsulated in a subtitled version this is the one to get.
- Order Mobile Suit Gundam I on Region 2 DVD from The CDJapan
- Order Mobile Suit Gundam II Soldiers of Sorrow on Region 2 DVD from The CDJapan
- Order Mobile Suit Gundam III Encounters in Space on Region 2 DVD from The CDJapan
- Mobile Suit Gundam The 08th MS Team OVA series - 12 episodes
- Set in Asia in UC 0079, this side story deals with the war in a specific area and not only the people on the major sides but the local guerrilla forces. The story focuses on Shiro a young officer straight from the colonies in charge of the 08th MS Team.
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 OVA series - 6 episodes
- The story of a young boy living on a neutral colony who is having to cope with the separation of his parents and trouble in school. He ends up befriending a young Zeon soldier who is actually part of a group investigating a hidden Federation research facility. Then the colony openly sides with the Federation and things get dangerous.
- After the One Year War:
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 OVA series - 13 episodes
- The war is over but some elements of the old Zeon troops feel that they cannot live with the peace treaty and attempt to start a new war by stealing and using a special experimental Gundam unit armed with a nuclear warhead. Among the Federation crew sent to recover it is a young woman engineer who is in charge of the stolen Gundam unit as well as experimental unit and the test pilots who were to have tested the new Gundams.
- Mobile Suit Gundam Zeta TV series - 50 episodes
- Universal Century 0087 again conflict grows, the Earth Federation established the Titans after the events of Mobile Suit Gundam 0083. The arrogance of the Federation and the brutality of the Titans is proving too much and a resistance is growing. A resistance in which former enemies are now allies, many are still determining the group they will support and which gives us more glimpses of the Universal Century settings of the stories.
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation movies
- The story of the Mobile Suit Gundam Zeta TV series in the form of three movies with some new footage.
- Order Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation movie series on DVD from The Right Stuf
- Mobile Suit Gundam Char's Counterattack - Movie
- More than ten years have passed since the One Year war ended. Suddenly Char reappears with a new army and threatens the Earth Federation. Amuro again takes on his old opponent in their final match.
- Order Mobile Suit Gundam Char's Counterattack DVD from The Right Stuf
- Mobile Suit Gundam UC (Unicorn) - OVA series
- Set in Universal Century 0096. An object known as the Laplace Box is desired by Neo Zeon, the Federation and members of the Vist family. Banagher Links, a young man who has a connection he is not aware of with the Vist Foundation, meets Mineva Lao Zabi who has plans of her own for the Laplace Box. Banagher finds himself in the middle of a battle and seated in the Unicorn Gundam, which is also the key to the location of the Laplace Box.
- NOTE: Only a few episodes came out on DVD in the US before Bandai Entertainment ceased distribution of videos. All episodes are available on Blu-Ray.- Order Mobile Suit Gundam UC (Unicorn) part 1, ep.1-2 DVD from The Right Stuf
- Order Mobile Suit Gundam UC (Unicorn) ep.1 Blu-Ray from The Right Stuf
- Mobile Suit Gundam F91 - Movie
- UC 123 after 30 peaceful years a new group, the Crossbones Vanguard, attacks and takes over the Frontier IV colony. A college student, Seabook Arno, finds himself not only in a war but that people he knew have been involved in projects that will reluctantly lead him into battle.
- My Neighbor Totoro - Movie
- A tale of two young girls who move to a country house with their father in the 1950s to be closer to the hospital where there mother is staying. Released in the United States by Fox, the license for this title will soon expire and the distribution rights transfer to Disney at which point it may be unavailable for some time. This is highly popular with parents and children.
- Cultural Details: Household details, country life.
- Order My Neighbor Totoro DVD new multilingual subtitled edition from The Right Stuf
- Order My Neighbor Totoro DVD/Blu-ray Combo new multilingual subtitled edition from The Right Stuf
- Nadia TV series - 39 episodes
- The story is loosely based on Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, perhaps inspired by would be a better term. Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water is a rich and well crafted work about a young inventor, Jean, who meets a young dark skinned circus performer, Nadia, and helps her escape from a woman with two thugs who are trying to get Nadia and the blue gem she is wearing around her neck.
- After their dramatic escape Jean and Nadia end up setting out to find about her past, and so the adventure begins as they are pursued by more than one group after the gem. But I'm getting ahead of the events in the first few episodes.
- Made for NHK, the Japanese public broadcasting system.
- - Out of Print:
The Right Stuf has a few of the second box set available for a good price, you can get each box sets for more at Robert's Anime Corner Store.- Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind - Movie
- The tale of a young princess from a small kingdom who is drawn into a war by a powerful allied state. The setting is a world where there are few places left for people to live, much of the world is covered by large poisonous forests inhabited by large insects, insects who when angered attack and spread deadly spores enlarging the forest.
- Order Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind from The Right Stuf
- Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series - 26 episodes and movies
- The highly acclaimed TV series from Gainax this was aimed at an older audience and is a science fiction extravaganza that is more about human feelings and trust than dealing with some very alien attackers. Many of the staff who worked on Nadia also worked on this title. If you have seen Nadia you will recognize many references to that earlier series.
- There is also a manga series.
- Cultural Details: Foods, etiquette, locations.
- Cautions: Violence and nudity.
- Order Neon Genesis Evangelion items from the Right Stuf
- Oh! My Goddess OVA series - 5 episodes
- A heartwarming and humorous story of Keiichi, a young man who has been granted a wish by a visiting goddess (Belldandy), thinking it is a joke by his dorm mates he makes an honest decision that has very unexpected results. As the story develops we find that the bond between him and Belldandy is deeper than he, or we, thought.
- There is a manga available from the Right Stuf site.
- Cultural Details: Foods, locations, architecture, household items, college life.
- Cautions: A few seconds of sexual humor in the second episode.
- Ah! My Goddess: The Movie - Movie
- Something or someone is causing trouble for Belldandy and Keiichi. And more than just her and her human friends are in great danger. This story takes place long after the OVA and includes characters from the manga. Well animated and worth getting after seeing the OVA or reading the manga.
- Otaku no Video OVA series - 2 episodes
- A classic mokumentary of Japanese fan culture, including it's less savory sides. Otaku no Video is in the form of an animated story of a group of fans who turn pro, just as the makers did, and each chapter is framed by an actual interview with a 'real' fan. I know one teacher who is using this series in a grade school class. The DVD has the option of showing only the animation without the interviews.
- Cautions: Mild nudity, animated except for one scene on a TV screen in the background during one interview.
- Cultural Details: Urban live in contemporary Japan, fan culture.
- Order Otaku no Video on subtitled DVD from The Right Stuf
- Patlabor, a note: the TV series and OVA are out of print.
- In the near future advances in mechanical and computer technology have resulted in the development of a new type of highly efficient construction machines called Labors. As these become more widely used for legitimate purposes there is also a rise in crime involving these machines. The Patlabor series is about a special police unit in Tokyo charged with dealing with Labor crime. Patlabor is a shortened way of saying Patrol Labor. The machines are secondary in the stories, the series revolves around the people involved in the unit.
- Patlabor is also known as Patlabor the Mobile Police and Mobile Police Patlabor. There is also a manga series of which a few volumes were translated into English.
- Cultural Details: Tokyo locations, etiquette, expressions of feelings, foods.
- Sequence:
- The 'Original Series' is a 7 episode OVA series and came first.
It was after the success of this OVA series that the TV show came to be.- Then there was the 'TV Series'
The 47 episode TV series reintroduces the characters in a different manner than the OVA series and takes places them in a variety of situations not in the Original Series OVA. More humor exists in the TV series than in the OVA.- After that came the 16 episode "New Files" OVA series.
This second OVA series continues the TV series finishing some of the story arcs.- Movies.
The first movie seems to fit in late in the TV series and the second movie after the rest of the series. The third movie takes place sometime before the 2nd movie.
Patlabor 1 - Movie
Labors require very complex software, so complex that the machines have to be 'trained' to work with a particular operator's style. What happens when a major upgrade to the operating system contains a virus, and how does the potential harm it can cause be avoided. Directed by Oshii Mamoru.
The numbered limited edition contains two books and an additional DVD for documentary material.
100 minutes.
Patlabor 2 - Movie
Something mysterious is going on, a potential military coup involving elements in the Japanese military with American backing has the country on the brink of disaster. And someone in the Patrol Labor units has a personal history with a major player. Directed by Oshii Mamoru.
The numbered limited edition contains two books and an additional DVD for documentary material.
108 minutes.
Patlabor 3 (WXIII) - Movie
Labors are being attacked in the vicinity of Tokyo Bay. As the death toll mounts two detectives come closer to a conclusion that would have been too fantastic when they began the research. The Patlabor team is called in late in the story to deal with an opponent that so far has eluded not only the police but also the military.
- Order Patlabor items from The Right Stuf
- Perfect Blue - Movie
- Now out of print.
- The story of a singer turned actress who's career decisions are not well liked by her earlier fans, one of whom has become very dangerous. Often compared to the works of Alfred Hitchcock this anime has scenes which some fans find disturbing, something which was intended by the director. This is not an anime for children, they would be bored throughout most of it.
- Cautions: Nudity and graphic violence. Includes a sequence where a rape scene is filmed for the TV show.
- Cultural Details: Urban live in contemporary Japan, entertainment industry.
- Planetes - TV series - 26 episodes
- In the future humanity has built space stations, a colony on the moon and sent several expeditions to Mars. And there is garbage, dangerous garbage flying in orbit at high speed, even a small piece can kill if it hits a space ship the right way. Hence there are garbage collectors. This is the story of Tanabe, Hachimaki and the other teem members of the Debris Section of a particular large company. An underfunded and understaffed section that has been given the nickname half-section.
- Order Planetes from The Right Stuf
- Pom Poko - Movie
- In the 1960s a massive series of planned housing expansions were built in the rural Tama region of Tokyo, yes Tokyo has a rural district. The local tanuki banded together to fight back and protect their environment. What is a tanuki? It is a native East Asian canine that in Japan has a long tradition of using magical powers to create illusions and trick people. For some strange reason, likely the facial markings, tanuki is translated as racoon in this version. Anyone who is familiar with racoons would see that they look very different.
- Cautions: Expect lots of earthy Japanese humor, including male tanuki testicles, and slapstick fun in this one.
- Cultural Details: Rich in references to traditional Japan, from entertainment, legend, art, religion etc.
- Order Pom Poko DVD Multilingual from The Right Stuf.
- Porco Rosso - Movie
- Marco is a decorated ace from WWI, he honed his skills fighting against the Germans. Somehow cuirsed and turned into a pig he is now known as Porco Rosso and earns a living as a bounty hunter in the Adriatic, usually dealing with air pirates. A very funny and touching story with a political subtext of life during the rise of fascism. Great for the entire family.
- Order Porco Rosso DVD Multilingual from The Right Stuf.
- Princess Mononoke - Movie
- One of Miyazaki Hayao's most lavish works available in English. Also one of the most expensive and commercially successful feature Japanese films in history. This is the story of a young man cursed by a boar 'god' gone mad. He travels to find the source of the madness in the hope of locating a cure before he dies.
- Cultural Details: Life in pre-Edo Period Japan, includes commoners, samurai and religious beliefs.
- Cautions: This was not done for children as it is a complex story and has a certain amount of combat and death in it, but Miyazaki came to the conclusion that children are perceptive enough to be able to understand and enjoy it.
- Order Princess Mononoke DVD Multilingual from The Right Stuf.
- Note: Includes English, French and Japanese language tracks.
- Ranma 1/2 (TV series (161 episodes), OVA series (11 episodes) and Movies)
- The third and most successful anime series adaptation of a Takahashi Rumiko manga series. Ranma is a young martial artist who has had an unfortunate accident. Akane is Ranma's fiance due to an arrangement between their fathers, much of the story is about how these two strong willed children deal with the situation they find themselves in.
- I recommend concentrating on the TV series as the movies and OVAs have characters that enter the TV series quite late. One unfortunate example of misleading wording is that the early tape boxes describe the series as a "sex comedy" a better choice of words would have been "gender comedy" since traditional gender roles are poked fun at in the story and there is no sexual activity depicted.
- Order Digital Dojo TV Series (1st TV series) DVD Set from The Right Stuf.
- There is also a translation of the manga series. Order vol. 1 from The Right Stuf.
- Cultural Details: School life, martial arts, relationships, foods, clothing, traditional home and garden.
- Cautions: Some nudity.
- Redline - Movie
- Director Koike Takeshi's first feature film. In the future fools still race cars. But what cars and what fools. The ultimate race is the Redline, a race that happens only every 5 years. Anything goes when trying to win this one, including armaments. However when the place chosen for the race objects and has it's own military things get interesting. Toss in gangsters trying to fix the race, an old unrequited love, disgruntled workers, nitro boosters, and hexagonal worm spaghetti; all of which make things even more interesting.
- Order Redline (DVD) from The Right Stuf
- Order Redline (Blu-ray) from The Right Stuf
- Cautions: Some nudity, just boobs.
- Redline Trailer
- Revolutionary Girl Utena - TV series - 39 episodes
- One of the most shōjo of all anime available in the U.S. Dense with tropes and motifs that have developed over the decades in girls’ manga in Japan the show is a stylish delight. This is the story of Utena, a tomboyish student in a very unusual school. As a small child a prince comforted her after the death of her parents and this inspired her to grow up and become a prince herself. The prince gave her a ring that she wears; a ring, which she finds out, identifies her as a member of a select group who ritually duel for control of Anthy, the very submissive Rose Bride. Utena finds herself protective of Anthy and so continues to duel when she would rather not. Soon she finds herself caught up in the duels and a strange series of events linked in some way to the prince from her childhood. Long out of print Nozomi Entertainment began re-releasing the series in June 2011 as a series of beautifully designed box sets. Each box comes with a booklet of information and graphics previously unavailable in English.
- Cautions: Some 'lesbian' humor between Utena and her best friend.
- Order the Revolutionary Girl Utena TV series DVD set 1 from The Right Stuf
- Revolutionary Girl Utena - Movie
- A very different retelling of the Utena story than the one in the TV show. Utena is haunted by a memory of a boyfriend who has left her alone. While at her new school she gets involved in a duel for the Rose Bride. But the Anthy of the movie is not the passive girl of the TV show, she knows what she wants and is so aggressive as to be a little frightening for those familiar with the TV show. The movie is an allegory of growing up, leaving illusions behind and making decisions even if they go counter to the norms of society.
- Cautions: The lesbian and male homosexual elements are much more open in this than in the TV show. There is also some nudity.
- The forthcoming release of the Utena movie does not have a date set (as of June 25, 2011).
- Roujin Z - Movie
- The Ministry of Health is trying out a new high tech automated bed for elderly patients, but the young nursing student in charge of the elderly man who has been chosen for the experiment has different ideas about what is best in patient care, and so does the bed.
- Cultural Details: Everyday life.
- Order Roujin Z DVD from The Right Stuf
- Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honneamise - Movie
- When this anime was released it was not only a first time production by a group of animators who were largely unknown in the industry it surprised critics and fans with its sophistication and raised the standards for the entire industry. Gainax, the studio that produced this title has gone on to be one of the most innovative and successful companies in Japan. Directed by Yamaga Hiroyuki. This is the story of the first man in space on another world.
- Order the region-free subtitled Blu-Ray Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honneamise from CD Japan
- Rurouni Kenshin Trust and Betrayal
- OVA series - released originally in 4 episodes and later as a directors cut in one part (The original English redub was retitled as Samurai X Trust and Betrayal)- The end of the Tokugawa Era was set in motion as a response to US warships under the command of admiral Perry sailing into Japanese territory and negotiating a treaty under threat of bombardment. This event set into motion a series of violent actions by various elements in Japanese society that led to the downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate. This OVA is the story of one young swordsman who put into action his desire to better his nation by becoming an assassin in this bloody period of Japanese history.
- This actually is a prequel for the earlier TV series, there is also a movie, Samurai X: The Motion Picture, and later OVA series, Samurai X: Reflection, which take place after the TV series, both of which many fans do not care for.
- Cultural Details: Set in mid 19th century Kyōto, many details relating to political forces of the time. I have a special supplement to the Anime Companion devoted to the OVA series.
- Cautions: Not for children, a sophisticated storyline & violence.
- Order Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal Blu-ray Limited Edition from The Right Stuf
- Order Samurai X/Rurouni Kenshin DVD Trust/Betrayal Director's Cut from The Right Stuf
- Rurouni Kenshin - TV series - 95 episodes
- A very long series set 10 years after the events of the OVA series. With a less realistic style and much lighter at first than the OVA series this series grows on fans quickly. But don't expect it to stay light for long, this series takes on some serious tones rather quickly.
- The manga is also available in English.
- Cultural Details: Rich in details about personages and life in the Meiji era.
- Cultural Details: Everyday life.
- Order Rurouni Kenshin DVD Complete Series from The Right Stuf
- Salaryman Kintaro - TV series - 20 episodes
- Kintaro is the new hire at Yamato Construction. He is a mid term hire, unusual in Japan here most new white collar workers start work as a group in the spring. More unusual is he has not gone to college, in fact dropped out of night school as a teen, and once led a motorcycle gang. But he has been hired as a favor given to him by the chairman who expects him to not last long. However his willingness to work, persistence, openness to others and his occasional use of fists pay off and before long he is given other assignments. Workplace stories are not unusual in Japan but titles about white-collar workers, no matter how unconventional, rarely come out in English.
- Note: The chapter breaks are unusual in this one, you cannot skip the opening without being tossed into the middle of the episode.
- Cultural Details: Office work, construction industry, nightlife.
- Cautions: Made for adults, sex and one rape mentioned, both are not shown.
- Order Salaryman Kintaro disc 1 on DVD from The Right Stuf
- Serial Experiments Lain - TV series - 13 episodes
- An award winning TV series about human interaction with technology. Lain is a young girl whose interest in computers is sparked when she receives email from a girl in her school. Email sent after the girl had jumped to her death from a building. As the tale develops Lain discovers that much of her life is not what it seems to be on the surface.
- Cultural Details: School life, relationships, foods.
- Cautions: Slight sexual situation in one episode.
- Order Serial Experiments Lain on DVD/Blu-ray from The Right Stuf
- Spirited Away - Movie
- Winner of the 2002 Japanese Academy Award for Best Picture and the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. The US re-dubbed theatrical release won the Oscar for the Best Animated Feature for 2002.
Chihiro and her parents are moving to a new home when they get lost on a country road. They explore an old building and emerge on the other side thinking they have found an abandoned theme park, in reality they are very much on the 'other side' and have found a place humans are not ment to be. The parents are turned into pigs and Chihiro has to find a job to survive or she too will turn into an animal and be eaten. She find courage and allies as she struggles to survive and rescue her parents.- Order Spirited Away DVD from The Right Stuf
- Summer Wars - Movie
- Kenji almost made it into a major math competition and instead expects to spend his summer break just doing his part time job as a low level administrator for the massive international network OZ. Then Natsuki talks him into working for her during the break at her grandmother's house for a few days. But things get complicated and Kenji is not only caught up in a small scheme of Natsuki's but ends up being suspected of being the hacker who cracked the security of OZ. Now things are really getting messed up and lots of people may end up dying.
- Cultural Details: Contemporary Life, history of the Ueda region, hanafuda.
- Order Summer Wars on DVD from The Right Stuf
- Order Summer Wars on Blu-ray from The Right Stuf
- Tokyo Godfathers - Movie
- On Christmas three homeless people in Tokyo find a baby in a trash heap. Gin the grouchy drunk, Hana a cross dressing queer and Miyuki a teenage runaway have formed a household of sorts and now must decide what to do with the foundling. Hana takes command and they decide to search for the mother. Inspired by the John Ford movie 3 Godfathers this is a study of the relationships between and reasons these three have become homeless.
- Only in Japanese with subtitles.
- Cultural Details: Everyday life, homelessness, Metropolitan Tokyo.
- Cautions: Some strong language.
- Order Tokyo Godfathers subtitled only DVD from The Right Stuf
- U
- Urusei Yatsura TV series (195 episodes), OVA series (11 episodes) and 6 Movies
- NOTE: This series went out of print in September 2011. The episodes generally stand alone so getting them out of sequence is usually fine. Some are available through The Right Stuf site
Very long series 50 DVD discs (100 minutes each), 6 OVA discs and 6 movies. This is a very popular series with fans and is the first anime series based on the works of Takahashi Rumiko.- Ataru is far more than your typical high school sex fiend, when we first see him he is drooling after watching a beautiful woman walk by. The Earth is about to be invaded and the alien's computer has chosen him to be Earth's champion in a competition, he has to grab the horns of the alien princess Lum, who happens to have a great figure and wear a bikini. But no one told him she could fly, to encourage him his girlfriend offers to marry him if he succeeds. when he finally garbs the horns he says that he can finally get married and Lum, thinking he means her, accepts. So the long strange and very funny story begins.
- Part of the manga series is also available in translation.
- Cultural Details: Day to day life, school, foods, locations, folklore, gender relations. Comes with extensive liner notes
- Vampire Princess Miyu - OVA series - 4 episodes
- A sequential series of interconnected stories about a woman who is trying to track down a young female vampire. moody and dramatic. There is also a TV series.
- Cultural Details: Historical locations, architecture, school life. Comes with liner notes.
- Order Vampire Princess Miyu disc 1 from The Right Stuf
- Order Vampire Princess Miyu disc 2 from The Right Stuf
- Vision of Escaflowne see: Escaflowne
- Whisper of the Heart - Movie
- Shizuku is in her last year of middle school, one day she notices a familiar name in the checkout slips for the books she is borrowing for summer reading. She eventualy meets Seiji who has a clear vision of what he wants to do with his life. A tale of growing up and taking risks.
- Cultural Details: Modern urban life, school..
- Order Whisper of the Heart DVD (multilingual) from The Right Stuf
- You're Under Arrest OVA (4 episodes), Three TV series (101 episodes), and a movie
- An up front fun series of tales about traffic police in modern Tokyo. A great combination of humor, action and drama.
- There is a manga available from the Right Stuf site.
- Cultural Details: Locations, foods, day to day life. The OVA series comes with liner notes.
- Cautions Some scantily clad women in one or two episodes and a cross dressing officer.
- Order You're Under Arrest from The Right Stuf
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Created August 13, 1999 | April 7, 2013