Anime lovers all have their own variation of what they think are the ten best anime series of all time. One of the reasons is that animes comes in all different flavors, so it appeals to all kinds of tastes. These are the animes that have made me think about my life, the world, and the future. When the series finished, I felt a sense of loss when these characters who I had let into my life were leaving. Below are my top-ten favorite anime series of all time:
10. Noir
Noir is about two female assassins trying to find the secrets of their past. I will admit that the beginning of the series is a little slow, and I had to force myself to continue watching after the first few episodes. However, after that, I was mesmerized. The series was full of action and drama, and you were rooting for the characters when they battled others or themselves. This series makes you think about what inner demons you have within yourself, and how you should fight them. Everyone has things in the past that they want to forget about, and this anime makes you realize that unless you face them, you will never truly be free.
9. Captain Tsubasa
My sister and I were in Panama when we first heard about Captain Tsubasa (in Spanish, it's called "SuperCampeones"). We love soccer, so we were really into this anime series. The great thing about this anime series is that key players, regardless of their team, had their lives, good and the bad, highlighted. There are things going on in a person's life that you don't think about when watching a game. It gives a dimension to sports that people usually don't think about.
8. Candy Candy
Noir is about two female assassins trying to find the secrets of their past. I will admit that the beginning of the series is a little slow, and I had to force myself to continue watching after the first few episodes. However, after that, I was mesmerized. The series was full of action and drama, and you were rooting for the characters when they battled others or themselves. This series makes you think about what inner demons you have within yourself, and how you should fight them. Everyone has things in the past that they want to forget about, and this anime makes you realize that unless you face them, you will never truly be free.
9. Captain Tsubasa
My sister and I were in Panama when we first heard about Captain Tsubasa (in Spanish, it's called "SuperCampeones"). We love soccer, so we were really into this anime series. The great thing about this anime series is that key players, regardless of their team, had their lives, good and the bad, highlighted. There are things going on in a person's life that you don't think about when watching a game. It gives a dimension to sports that people usually don't think about.
8. Candy Candy
Whenever Candy Candy would come on, all the kids in the neighborhood would stop playing and run inside. It was a melodrama about a girl named Candy, and her quest from a little girl to a woman. When I was a little, I loved the anime, but I didn't fully appreciate the message it was conveying until my sister got it from Ebay when we were older, and we watched it. The experiences that Candy went through are the usual ones that all women have gone through - laughter, love, pain, and loss. It was so successful that Italy created a sequel to it where Candy and her true love Terry were reunited. Even with the obstacles that Candy went through, she always did it with a smile on her face. It showed me that you should always remain positive, even when you feel you have hit rock bottom.
7. Wolf's Rain
Wolf's rain, originally uploaded by vanhelsingrrr.
The last werewolves trying to find paradise against all odds. The kids and I loved this anime series from the start. It had one of the best beginnings I have ever seen before, and even til this day, it is practically unmatched. This anime made me feel hope that in the end, these four werewolves would find what they were looking for. Even with all the trials and tribulations that they faced, the four werewolves had an unwavering loyalty that was extremely noble. I realized that hope and loyalty are two of the best traits that a person can have. Do they reach paradise? Or are their attempts foiled? You will have to watch it to find out.
6. Gunslinger Girl
Gunslinger Girl, originally uploaded by Lara ੴ Lopes.
Little girls, who have been orphaned and had a horrific experience happen to them, have their bodies turned into cyborgs and their minds altered. They become the ultimate killing machines. It asks the question if human emotion is something that cannot be eliminated, even if a person's body is not human flesh. I was in awe with this anime, and I was not the only one. They have created a part II, but it hasn't ben translated into English yet. When it is, I am going to be the first one to watch it. I want to continue exploring, besides this girls, these questions.
5. Hellsing
Alucard (Hellsing), originally uploaded by Nahuel31.
This anime had all the qualities to be one of the bests: vampires, secret societies, and battles. The series is about the secret society that the vampire Alucard protects, and the fight against others who try to destroy their society and way of life. Alucard has this mysterious presence that makes you wonder who he is and how he became a vampire. It is really gory and bloody, but even if you are not into that, you should overlook it to see why it deserves to be in the top ten.
4. Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion (anime), originally uploaded by misiontokyo.
"Neon Genesis Evangelion" delves into religion and what it actually means to the individual. It is about three children who control the only machines that are able to defeat the "Angels" who are coming to Earth to kill the rest of the human race. The way the children maneuver them is by their minds. They have all gone through traumatizing experience, and their machine has a way of bringing out their internal struggles. One of my favorite characters of all times, Rei, is in this anime. She is a fascinating character that had different issues surrounding her presence. I just love her! This anime is unique in that it's the only one that combines religion, the psyche, and human connectivity.
3. Death Note
Death Note, originally uploaded by Lara ੴ Lopes.
What would you do if you were given the power to kill? Would you use it? It's something that everyone has always pondered, and this anime explores. The anime series has become so popular that there have been three real-life action films created from it. PunchyCritic went with me to see the last one, "How L Changed the Word." The plot is very intricate, and the mental battle between L and Light Yagami, and who is going to win. It's one of the reasons it is one of my top three.
2. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Ghost in the Shell, originally uploaded by snowbirdkxt.
I could talk for hours about "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex." I was hooked after seeing the first film. After that, I watched everything that had to do with the anime. It's a future that I think that we are headed towards. One where human beings have robotic parts the enhances their abilities. The main character Major Motoko is the perfect anime character: beautiful, deadly, mysterious, complex, and unique. She has a complete robotic body after losing hers in a plane crash as a child. It makes you question if our souls can remain intact, even if our bodies don't. "The Matrix" copied a lot of ideas from this anime, so it shows that it was ahead of its time to have this influence on such an amazing movie. It's definitely a mind-boggling anime that you can watch over and over and over...
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1. Blood+
Saya13, originally uploaded by yokokurama66.
My number one favorite anime has to involve vampires and an ancient love story. I love this anime so much that I named my cat after the male main character Haji. It is based off of a short anime film called "Blood: The Last Vampire." Sidenote: A real-life action film has been created based off of the short anime. The anime series kind of ventures off on its own and makes Saya have more human qualities than in the movie. From the beginning that I watched this anime series, I was enthralled. The characters make you feel so much for them, even the bad ones, that you can't help but keep watching. There were some episodes that were so powerful that I actually shed tears. It was a great anime that made you wonder what would you do if you had to fight these vicious vampires. Even now, I re-watch it when I can because I can't get enough of the 52-episode anime series.
Honorable Mentions: Tenchi Muyo, Inuyasha, Dragonball Z, Paranoia Agent, Ninja Resurrection
