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In addition to my previous post Music, movies, tv and the web, here is a list of Japanese animation-or anime-series and movies that I love. Although most of these are considered quite mainstream and perhaps even rather western, they’ve definitely kept me glued to my screen for many hours. For the record, I watched the Japanese versions of everything below. In my opinion the English spoken versions just don’t cut it.

Series: Cowboy Bebop

Do not let the odd name fool you, this is one of the finest animation series out there. It takes you on a trip with the space cowboys, or bounty hunters, Spike and Jet. The story is a great mix of serious events and low-key humor. The score is also something that has to be mentioned. Most of it is written by Yoko Kanno and it sets the mood perfectly. I definitely recommend this series of 26 episodes, even to those new to anime.

Movie: Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbour Totoro)

Fantasy is the not the word, maybe mystical. Tonari no Totoro is a story of two sisters and their dad who move to a new house closer to the hospital where their mother is recovering from illness. The girls discover quickly that they share their new home with magical creatures. The two girls will definitely put a smile on your face from the very start and unrestricted drama will keep you wondering what the end will bring. Although from a completely different caliber than Cowboy Bebop, this too is a good start for the anime newbie.

Series: Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (Fullmetal Alchemist)

This series is the fantastic, epic adventure of the Elric brothers. Their alternate world where alchemy is used to transmutate matter into different matter provides a great setting for a heroic adventure. The brotherly love and hate are a vital part of the story, as is the military. The two brothers encounter a variety of alchemy related plots and are caught up in the politics of it all as they unravel the mysteries surrounding the Philosophers Stone. A very accessible series of 51 episodes.

Series: Samurai Sebun (Saumari 7)

Not your typical samurai story in a world where samurai known as bandits have transformed their bodies into huge mechanical samurai robots. To protect their Kanna Village of bandits, three members of the village set out to find seven samurai to help them defend their way of life. A series with interesting and entertaining characters based on the 1954 movie Seven Samurai. It requires a bit of a taste for sci-fi as huge samurai mecha are hard to ignore. The series is 26 episodes long.

Movie: Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke)

Arguably the best movie from Studio Ghibli who also created Tonari no Totoro and Spirited Away. You follow Ashitaka who is infected by a cursed boar demon which he slayed to defend his village. When it comes apparent that a man made piece of metal was the source of the curse, Ashitaka sets out to find himself a cure. In this movie you’ll discover Studio Ghibli’s talents for creature design and mystical settings. It has quite a few elements that you may find weird or uncomfortable, especially if you’re new to anime.

Movie: Kōkaku Kidōtai (Ghost in the Shell)

This cyberpunk thriller is not for kids. It’s a story with a lot of depth and typically one you will need to watch more than once to really get it. It revolves around the concept of the human consciousness, or ghost, and artificial bodies, shells. If you really want to get down and dirty read up on the philosophy. At the very least, watch the movie and the second if you like it. For the record, the Matrix was inspired by this movie, not the other way around.

Series: Wolf’s Rain

This was definitely a series I had to get used to. It is the story of wolves who seek paradise. However, the wolves in the post-apocalyptic world are regarded to be extinct but manage to hide themselves by taking on a human appearance. One of their world’s myths mentions that wolves came to the world from paradise at the dawn of time. The end of the world is marked by the wolves finding their way back to paradise, guided by Flower Maiden a girl created from the essence of lunar flowers. Sounds weird? It is, but I really like this series of 26 episodes.

That’s my list of Japanese animation series and movies. As you can see I quite like the work of Studio Ghibli, although I did not fully mention Spirited Away as it was also published by Disney and maybe even aired on TV in your country. Still, it’s a movie I would recommend, especially if you enjoy Tonari no Totoro. If you have any series or movies you’d like to recommend, please do so. I’ve seen quite a few series, but I am still looking for more movies.