4

Vampire Knight
Vampire Knight Guilty
ヴァンパイア騎士
ヴァンパイア騎士ギルテイ







Grade: A
Studio: Studio DEEN (Ranma 1/2, Rurouni Kenshin)
Manga author: Matsuri Hino
Genre: Romance, Supernatural
First complete run: 2008
Regular episodes: 26









Vampire Knight is almost like Harry Potter with a twist. The anime is set at a boarding school run by a retired vampire hunter called Cross Academy. At this school, humans and vampires unknowingly coexist; the humans take class during the day and return to their dorms for the evening, while the vampires study during the evening and sleep during the day. The prefects act as guardians for the humans, ensuring that the orderly setup of the school is maintained. Cross Academy becomes an entertaining, politically charged environment as larger conflicts in the vampire and vampire hunter worlds begin to invade the school. The prefects and main characters, two humans whose pasts are scarred by vampires named Yuki and Zero, become increasingly entangled with the mysterious "Night Class" students as the plot erupts. Zero is involved because he hates vampires for what they have done to him, and Yuki because she is falling in love with one.

Admittedly, this anime is a little girly. The show is very dialogue heavy, and a lot of the dialogue hinges on the odd love triangle between Yuki, Zero, and a vampire named Kaname. Vampire Knight falls well within the bounds of shōjo anime. Sometimes it feels more like an episode of The O.C. than a true animated adventure. But make no mistake, Vampire Knight is suspenseful throughout; once you start the anime it really tempts you to just watch all the way through. Many different plot strains often develop at once, between Yuki and Zero's troubled pasts, their current involvement with the vampire students, the larger political manipulations taking place, and the variety of colorful and engaging peripheral characters involved. The characterization in Vampire Knight is phenomenal; each character has a distinctive personality and their interactions are extremely cathartic, tugging on your heart strings when they feel pain and elating you when they are happy. While the manga is still ongoing, the anime is a 26 episode miniseries that will feel like it is over before it has started. Viewers should be prepared for a psychological and romantic journey that takes a few episodes to get off the ground. Then expect to be carried away by Yuki and Zero and never look back.

3

Death Note
デスノート


Grade: A+
Studio: Madhouse (Ninja Scroll, Trigun)
Manga author: Tsugumi Ohba (Bakuman manga)
Genre: Mystery, Psychological Thriller
First complete run: 2006-2007
Regular episodes: 37


Death Note is truly an anime like no other. Even people who are not fans of the genre are likely to love this deeply psychological mystery. Set in contemporary Japan, Death Note follows the life of Light Yagami, a teenage genius with a strong sense of justice. Light finds a notebook called a "Death Note" lying on the ground one day; turns out, the notebook belongs to a shinigami, and if Light writes a person's name in the notebook, they die. After using the notebook to punish criminals and other wrongdoers, some worship Light as a god of justice, others as a cold-blooded murderer. In order to catch the genius killer, a suitably genius detective, named L, is dispatched to the case. The conflict between Light and the authorities forms the majority of this riveting whodunit.

Death Note does an amazing job making the invisible visible. The inner thoughts of the characters are expressed through voice acting which is very high quality in both English and Japanese audio. The viewer is given some insight into the characters' minds, forcing you to simultaneously follow both the subtle plotting taking place and the actual events on the show. No anime pulls you in and makes you feel a part of its world the way Death Note does. Its unique and carefully done visual scheme accentuates the inner conflicts at work, giving it an even more engaging feel. For an anime with a lot of thinking and dialogue, Death Note isn't boring for a second. The show is rife with complex philosophical themes and ceaselessly fascinating mystery. A thrilling experience for all audiences which I highly recommend, even to inexperienced anime viewers.

For those of you who are dissatisfied with the ending or left wanting more, I suggest consulting the manga. It may provide some additional closure.

2

Eureka Seven (Psalms of Planets Eureka Seven)
交響詩篇エウレカセブ




Grade: A+
Studio: Bones (Fullmetal Alchemist, RahXephon)
Manga authors: Jinsei Kataoka & Kazuma Kondou
Genre: Adventure, Mecha, Romance
First complete run: 2005-2006
Regular episodes: 50





Eureka Seven is a classic bildungsroman...with giant surfing robots. The series' most unique feature is the sport called "lifting," an activity in which a person or mecha surfs on invisible waves named "trapars" using a modified surf board. Eureka Seven chronicles the journey of Renton, a teenage boy who is the son of a legendary war hero. As he tries to leave his boring life behind and learn to lift, Renton joins up with a band of idiosyncratic but talented outlaws called Gekkostate. With Gekkostate, Renton learns not only how to lift and pilot a mecha but also uncovers mysteries about his father's past.

The anime is, above all else, really cute. The unusual characters and universe of the show are vibrantly colorful. The action, plot, and score are fun and engaging from the very beginning. But as the show progresses, it becomes increasingly focused on Renton's romantic interest with a mysterious girl named Eureka. Despite the show's very teenage protagonist, its emotional complexity makes it thoroughly different from a typical shōnen anime. Renton is an admirably charming kid, but in some ways he is very much an adult. Few shows can pull off such a complimentary blend of shōnen elements and romantic drama, let alone make it fun to watch every step of the way. Eureka Seven builds to a fantastic and action-packed climax, provided viewers must be ready for a romance that will dominate much of the second half of the show. For the right audience, the result is a captivating and thoroughly enjoyable story about growing up and falling in love, with a little saving the world thrown in for good measure. Highly recommended.

1

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2
コードギアス反逆のルルーシュ
コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュR2


Grade: A+
Studio: Sunrise (Gundam, InuYasha)
Manga author: Ichirō Ōkouchi (Angelic Layer anime)
Genre: Drama, Mecha, Sci Fi
First complete run: 2006-2008
Regular episodes: 50



Code Geass is a dramatic action anime set in an alternative reality that has it all. The series is set after Japan's conquest by the Holy Britannian Empire, a monolithic, colonialist blend of the United States and Nazi Germany. The unique world of Code Geass lends what I think is its best and most appealing quality: its protagonists are all freedom fighters or terrorists. The anime follows Lelouch, an exiled Britannian prince, in his quest to liberate the Japanese and destroy Britannia. Lelouch takes on an alternate identity, named Zero, in order to anonymously lead the rebellion in Japan. Accompanied by his friend C.C., a witch or "Code," Lelouch acquires a power called "Geass," the ability to compel anyone to obey him.

The show's intricate background story and lore are complimented by an enchanting set of characters and gadgets. Each individual character adds something special to the show's colorful, engaging reality. Its cast of well-developed personalities range from the hauntingly compassionate to the eerily evil, each with their own flair. The anime's characterization is complimented by some tell-tale Sci Fi elements, including the ubiquitous presence of mechas, called "Knightmares." The technological interplay between the Britannian government and Lelouch's terrorists is fitting for the most avid Sci Fi fans. But Code Geass's true power lies in the plot, an unbelievable political and psychological thriller at times reminiscent of James Clavell's Shōgun. The show is a suspenseful roller coaster of action and drama that doesn't let up for an instant. Without a doubt my favorite anime I've seen; watch at your own risk, you may be compelled to obey.