Hiya everyone! Been a bit since I made a post? Well I meant to make my write up on this past years anime challenge but…. I didn’t actually get to complete it. But well- what does complete mean? Technically, the rules I set for myself were: to complete 5 anime per decade from 1970-2010. By that definition, no I wasn’t able to fulfill this challenge, but I did WATCH 5 anime per decade! As the year went on I dropped some stuff and planned to pick up others to complete, but just couldn’t get around to it. Additionally, I started some at the end of 2020 but finished them the past month. But even if I didn’t get to fully meet the standards of my 2020’s challenge- I really took a nose dive into older anime thanks to it! I ended up getting a bit too invested in the 90s which came at a detriment to some other decades. But discovering more things I like- is that really a bad thing? I think that means this challenge did its job- which was to get me watching some older anime I may have put on the back burner otherwise.
And so with all that, I’m going to review my sort of 5 anime per decade for 2020!
1970’s:
Belladonna of Sadness (1973)(Film)
My Score: 7/10
To say this film isn’t for the faint of heart is an understatement. This is a film about a woman who upon being unable to provide an offering to the towns lord for her marriage, is forcibly raped as an alternative. Afterwards she returns to her husband who can no longer look at her the same. He becomes an alcoholic and fully neglects her, even bordering abuse. One night a spirit approaches her and convinces her to enact retribution upon the world for her suffering. The film handles a lot of themes dealing with the patriarchy, psychosexuality, and religion. It also presented in the form of mainly still water-color paintings. I found myself quite entranced the whole movie both by the plot, music, and art. my only complaint would be the presentation can lose your interest at times. Also if you plan to watch this, it is extremely R rated.
Chirin no Suzu (1978)(Film)
My Score: 5/10
This was the first film I watched for this challenge, so at this point it has been almost a year. It is a simple 45 minute film about a lamb whose mother is slaughtered by a wolf. He decides that in order to avenge his mother he will become a wolf himself- no longer weak. He trains under the wolf who killed his mother and is eventually faced with doing the exact thing it did to his mother: murder other lambs. It’s a simple piece that is supposed to make you think about the philosophy of weak vs strong. It was a little interesting but overall I just felt it was ‘alright’
Future Boy Conan (1978)(26 Episodes)
My Score: 7/10
From one of Studio Ghibli’s most popular directors; Hayao Miyazaki, this series is an adventure series very similar to that of his later film Laputa: Castle in the Sky. It follows our protagonist Conan as he travels from different islands trying to find Lana, a girl he saved. Conan was raised by his grandfather on a remote island after a worldwide catastrophe that left them believing they were the only two left on Earth. That is, until Lana appears at their island- and she’s being chased too! This series carried Miyazaki’s sense of adventure and fun. I really enjoyed it overall, my only complaint being that I felt it drug on at times- but maybe that’s because I have seen all the works he created after this series was made.
Galaxy Express 999 (1979)(Dropped)
My Score: N/A
So here’s where we get to things that I sort of flubbed for this challenge- Galaxy Express is 100+ episode series. However, I was really excited to start it as it is indeed a classic. I watched about 12 episodes of it but… eh? I thought it was a fine series, but the thought of having to watch 100 episodes of it for a challenge felt a bit difficult. The art was quite lovely, and some of the episodes had great messages. It follows a young boy from a society where if you land a ticket on the Galaxy Express you obtain a robotic body and live forever. Most of their society is poor and suffering and many will do anything to get on that train. He is escorted by Maetal and they land on various planets across the galaxy learning of what it means to live. It is very episodic- which is fine. Some episodes had hit harder than others and I think one day I would like to give this show a proper watching. But for now- it wasn’t my cup of tea.
Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro (1979)(Film)
My Score: 7/10
This one was another slight flub- but still counts! I originally planned to watch the Lupin III series but as you can see- I wasn’t able to get around to that. But, this was one of the last Ghibli films I needed to see so hey it still works. I’ve seen bits and pieces of the Lupin franchise and this was quite a fun entry. If I’m being honest- what really makes this movie great is the regular Lupin crew and the atmosphere. It’s just a really fun film following our group of hooligans saving a princess while doing what they do best- thieving.
1980’s:
Gundam Film Trilogy (1981)(Films)
My Score: 6/10
Gundam has always been an intimating series to me- especially the original. I had decided when I started this challenge I didn’t want to pile on too many longer series and so I chose to do these films instead to get a little taste of what Gundam is about. Overall I felt it was alright. I didn’t really enjoy the first film but the rest are very entertaining. I don’t really care much for the cast, except for maybe Char as he’s an interesting guy. The different themes about war are engaging enough but I have a feeling I’ll enjoy other Gundam entries better. What these movies did prove to me is that- there is much to look forward too with this franchise.
Macross (1982)(36 Episodes)
My Score: 8.5/10
Now here’s one that came as a surprise to me. After seeing enough clips from the series I became interested and decided to give it a try. I almost immediately fell in love after they began introducing Lynn Minmay as an idol. Macross is a mecha anime with a twist- they genuinely fight using music! Those aboard the Macross are fighting an alien species that is devoid of all culture- they only know war. In order to beat them, they are slowly introduced to human culture through music. The cast I felt was really fun and very well fleshed out- my favorite character being Hayase. It delves into themes of love and war very differently from Gundam and I really appreciated it. Not to mention- Minmay’s songs are amazing. I couldn’t recommend this series enough to people looking for older anime to watch.
Kaze to Ki no Uta (1987)(Film)
My Score: 7/10
This film is based on the manga of the same name and is one of the first well-known mlm manga series. Many mangaka’s have cited inspiration from it’s original source material. The film is very short and shows a small part of the manga. Overall, its really well done the art is lovely and the atmosphere provides the same somber feeling of the manga. Of course, it is lower budget and very short so that’s why I can’t give it higher like I did the manga, but it is a lovely short film.
Maison Ikkoku (1986)(96 Episodes)
My Score: 7.5/10
A romcom written by the author of Inuyasha, Ranma 1/2, and Urusei Yatsura, Takahashi brings you on another long story. This one follows Godai a guy who can’t seem to get into or stay in University living in a run-down apartment and Kyouko the woman who is now his new landlord. I really loved the art and aesthetics of this series as well as the cast. It is definitely a coming of age story- especially for Godai, and it is really a pleasure to watch as these two grow closer with each other and learn more about themselves. I felt some of the jokes were a bit dated, and the ‘misunderstandings’ became frustrating at times, but it was overall a very sweet experience.
Gunbuster (1988)(6 Episodes)
My Score: 7.5/10
From Hideaki Anno the director of Neon Genesis Evangelion, this short mecha OVA takes on a different approach from that of Eva. Gunbuster is a sort of guns blazing anime about Noriko, a girl training to be a pilot and living in the footsteps of her deceased pilot father. Its honestly just a super fun turn your brain off series that leaves you smiling every episode. The last episode is especially cool as well, since its entirely in black and white! The art and music were stellar as well!
1990’s:
Otaku no Video (1991)(2 Episodes)
My Score: 7.5/10
An in-depth look into the life of Otaku during the 90s and also how the amazing studio Gainax got its start. The OVA switches back and forth from an animated portion with a guy who slowly gets sucked into Otaku culture and discovers his passion for anime, and real-life interviews with current or ex-otakus. It was really interesting to watch how otaku culture has changed over the past few decades and how- its sort of stayed the same.
Oniisama E… (1991)(39 Episodes)
My Score: 7.5/10
Oniisama E is an amazing LGBT story by the author of Rose of Versailles. The story follows Nanako Misonoo as she enters an all-girls high school. Innocent, unassuming, and just trying to fit in Nanako gets accepted into the school’s sorority, which looms with many dark secrets. It is a female coming of age story involving lots of mature topics like drug addiction, abuse, and sexuality. I found the cast to be the most impressive part of the series as every character is amazingly written and they all have such different experiences. The art is gorgeous and each frame feels like one of a kind. When I finished the series I just felt like I had never seen anything like it. It’s a truly unique approach to adolescence and female sexuality. My only complaint was I felt it dragged a bit in the middle.
Sailor Moon (1992)(46 Episodes) Sailor Moon R (1993)(43 Episodes) Sailor Moon S (1994)(38 Episodes):
My Score: 8.5/10
I originally had only planned to watch Season 1 of Sailor Moon for this challenge but as you can see… I very much wanted to watch more. Yes I somehow made it this far as an anime fan and had never seen Sailor Moon, and man am I upset that I didn’t. Sailor Moon is a timeless classic with a fantastic cast, gorgeous art, and consistently interesting storylines. I loved the slice of life episodes mixed between where we really got to know the cast and I equally loved the exhilarating climax of each arc. The series feels so empowering for myself as a woman, not only is each character strong in her own way but they are packed full of personality and style. This is a series I will carry with me forever (literally because I loved it so much I got a tattoo!)
The Vision of Escaflowne (1996)(26 Episodes)
My Score: 6/10
Where to begin with this one… Escaflowne is sort of an isekai mecha mix. Our protagonist Hitomi is taken to another world that she is unknowingly connected too after Van Fanel accidentally appears in a quick flash. We are then introduced to the different politics and wars occurring in this world. She helps Van who must pilot the Escaflowne in order to fight the Zaibach empire. This series is one that was obviously rushed and crammed into a shorter run time than the story intended. I felt it was off to a great start with lovely art and designs, great music and a pretty decent cast. But as the series progressed the story became more confusing and convoluted, the antagonist and his goals felt flat without getting to experience enough of the cast and the world and it just overall ended up feeling ‘meh’. But yet I still have some love for it- as I said the art and music were wonderful and the cast was fairly good, just too rushed.
Cardcaptor Sakura (1998)(70 Episodes)
My Score: 10/10
Shows like this are the reasons I keep doing these challenges. On my journey down the road of 90s anime I found what is now, my favorite anime of all time. Cardcaptor Sakura is a series about the different types of love you can feel for one another. Through her adventures of capturing the magical clow cards with Keroberos, Sakura learns about the differences between familial, platonic, and romantic love, and how sometimes those look different for all kinds of people. Every episode left me feeling happy or bitter sweet, and the cast is absolutely one of the best there is. The art and music is also top notch- rounding this out to be the perfect series for me!
2000’s:
Tokyo Godfathers (2003)(Film)
My Score: 8/10
The last film by Satoshi Kon I had yet to see, Tokyo Godfathers is a riveting movie about a group of homeless people who find an abandoned baby on Christmas. We follow the oddball group through their trials and tribulations to find the baby’s parents and it takes you on lots of twists and turns! I love everything by Kon, he is my favorite film director and this was no exception. It’s a super fun and entertaining movie that I think anyone could enjoy!
Monster (2004)(74 Episodes)
My Score: 8/10
Monster is one of the darkest and most thrilling anime I have gotten to experience. Dr. Tenma decides to save a young boy instead of the VIP guest his hospital had in the ER. This young boy grows up to be Johan Liebert a serial killer whose killings are being pinned on Dr. Tenma. In order to take down Johan, Tenma goes on the run learning more about this mysterious boy, his twin sister, and the atrocities that had occurred in Germany after WWII. It has some of the darkest episodes of a show I’ve ever seen and there was never a moment when my eyes weren’t glued to the screen.
Honey and Clover (2005)(24 Episodes)
My Score: 8/10
Honey and Clover is a breath of fresh air in the anime world. A coming-of-age series based on university students! Our main cast all attend an arts college and we watch as each one slowly discovers themselves through heartbreak and passion. I loved the entire cast but especially Ayumi and Yuta. The series is comedic and always gave me a good laugh while being very relatable as I am currently in my last semester of college. Seeing the characters try to figure out their futures and who they are gave me inspiration of my own.
Welcome to the NHK (2006)(24 Episodes)
My Score: 8.5/10
This is a series I didn’t expect to love as much as I did considering I really didn’t enjoy the first few episodes. The series follows a hikikomori named Satou and the mysterious girl Misaki who is trying to help him. Oh and also his nerdy ecchi addicted neighbor Yamazaki. I found some parts of the show hard to swallow when it came to the talk of porn and gal games and all that but once I got a feel for what the true heart of this story is- I couldn’t help but cry by its ending. Welcome to the NHK is a story about trying to free yourself from trauma and depression through the help of others, but it shows all the ugly and grittiness of doing so. Things will never be perfect because life isn’t- but sometimes with small steps we can work towards being a little happier.
Ef: A Tale of Memories (2007)(12 Episodes)
My Score: 5.5/10
This review is going to be short because honestly this was a really forgettable series. The directing and art were really good but the story felt fairly bland. We follow different high school students through their problems, and I wouldn’t say they weren’t interesting or well written by any means but it just felt like something I had already seen before. I would say this series is probably a first of its kind or one of for the time period- but I just didn’t really like it all that much.
2010’s:
So for this section- I’m going to leave a disclaimer- I chose what 2010’s anime I wanted to do for this challenge ahead of time as well, but the changed a little bit throughout the year. However I still chose series that had been on my list for a long time that I never got around to!
Kids on the Slope (2012)(12 Episodes)
My Score: 8/10
This series is an excellent coming-of-age story using jazz music. Kaoru is an introverted classical pianist who is stuck moving to another new town. Sentarou is a simple-minded jazz drummer and Ritsuko is the girl next door. These three together create a family within each other they never expected to make- and jazz is the bridge to all of that. I loved how this series displayed youth and the importance that music can have in one’s ability to understand themselves and the world around them, and it also quite a bit of LGBT undertone.
Kyousougiga (2013)(10 Episodes)
My Score: 9/10
I already wrote about this one in my end of year post so I’ll try to keep it short. This series is about what it means to build a family. We follow Koto as she breaks into looking glass city- a alternate universe created by her father. She finds her siblings there who are also not all blood related and we watch as they all try to bring back their parents- a god and a rabbit. It is so artistically presented with such an emotional storyline about found family. This series is now forever special to me and one of my all-time favorites.
Log Horizon (2013)(25 Episodes)
My Score: 6.5/10
This series was my attempt at maybe finding an isekai-type show I actually enjoyed. Although I can’t say it sold me on anything, it was much more enjoyable than anything else from the genre I’ve seen. The cast was pretty fun and mostly likable and the story itself was interesting. That being said, I found myself weaving in and out of interest each episode and I feel as though this was no fault of the show but just the fact that I’m not all that into MMORPG’s. I’m very picky with what games I like to play and I usually only enjoy them if I’m playing with others. So with stories centered around them, it’s a lot harder for me to get into as the worlds aren’t really that interesting to me- nor the actions you play in them. If you’re not like me though- and you love MMORPG’s I couldn’t recommend this series enough to you!
Ping Pong the Animation (2014)(11 Episodes)
My Score: 9/10
I had put off watching this series for probably almost 5 years because for some reason the art turned me off. I really wish I hadn’t done that because it is now one of my favorite anime. Ping Pong shows perfectly how passion and competition work together and how these two concepts can grow inside a person – positively or negatively. Each character is just so fleshed out and the directing from Masaaki Yuasa is some of his best.
Flip Flappers (2016)(13 Episodes)
My Score: 6/10
Another series I was highly anticipating but instead sort of let me down. The art and animation are drop dead gorgeous but unfortunately the story just didn’t really do it for me. By the time I finally understood sort of what the show was about it sort takes another turn and I end up confused once again. I also thought the main pair were quite cute- but they didn’t have much personality-wise that interested me. All in all its a sort of fun watch for the art and action but didn’t become anything special to me.
And that’s my 2020 anime year challenge! I know it’s a bit late to post about… but hey better late than never! Now I usually announce my next challenge so my anime challenge for 2021 is… Precure, OVA’s and Rewatches! It’s a hodgepodge I know… so I will probably make 3 separate posts at the end of the year. I plan to watch 4 different Precure installments: Futari Wa Precure!, Go Princess! Precure, Kirakira Precure, and Heartcatch Precure!. Additionally, I have a short list of around 10 OVA’s from various decades I’m working on watching and a long list of anime I’m going to re-watch for the first time 🙂 It should be a fun year!
Kuroonuma 