Kurozuka

I don't remember how I found Kurozuka, probably browsing on boxtorrents, but I'm glad I did. It covers a lot of ground without burning dozens of episodes in the process. There is a bit of mystery, then some action, then a lot of bloodshed, mystery again, then the story skips to to different places in time to give us the big picture of what's really going on. It's not painful to watch, you just have to keep up and pay attention to each scene to make sure you don't get lost.

It's a bit more complex than the usual guy likes girl, kills to protect. Let me back up: The story centers around this young man and his almost unreal journey that has him fighting in the feudal era, and what appears to be a dystopia centuries later while making sense of this nostalgic feeling of chasing the mysterious woman that he has fallen for. Mysteries pile up and memories are missing in action, how is a young man supposed to keep his head on straight?

There are untimely demises, bloodshed, and some disturbing scenes and characters that had me cringing. The beginning of the anime and the ending hardly resemble each other and by the time the last episode comes around, you will begin to feel just like the main character. Watch three or four episodes before you make up your mind. The first episode is only the beginning.

I believe the beginning theatrics are to pay homage to the noh play of the same name. Each episode has snippet of this with words that add to what's going on in the anime, so don't skip it thinking it's the same blah blah.

Recommendations:

• Basilisk: Kouga Ninpou Chou >>...fights in the forest and other backdrops between warring clans that display their deadly skills to satisfy decades-old rivalries
  
• Ergo Proxy >>...dystopia, darkness and mysterious creatures drive the story that takes the characters to lands, while a mysterious creature looms in the shadows
  
• Toki o Kakeru Kanojo >>...time just drifts happily by for one high schooler until she finds the ability to time travel and her woes amount to more than just stolen pudding
• Mnemosyne >>...living forever can be a curse, especially when those who hunt you are irresistible demons in this not for kids anime
  

Video Sample:



Do you plan to watch Kurozuka?


See the description for Kurozuka on AnimeDB.net >>

Ga-Rei Zero

Ga-Rei Zero - watching its first episode, I thought I knew what was going on and what to expect from the anime. We see a special task force who has some history and during the episode battle some demons with some interesting tactics (holy water and holy chants are practical parts of battle), and I thought this anime was going to be about this group of people and we'd learn about the history as the story continues. After the first episode ends, I realize...wow, I was really wrong.

So if you give this anime a shot, watch more than just the first episode. The second episode made me want to watch more of the anime because we meet completely new characters (Kagura, Yomi, and company) and wonder what the connection is between the first and second episode. Then, the third is really the meat of what the anime's focus: the friendship between two ill-fated friends and the struggles, misfortune and evil that brought them to the unhappy dramatic scene in the second episode.

There are some action scenes where I admit, I've rewatched a few times over, because the action was pretty fast, and even after the dust has settled, I wanted to see that "move" again. Maybe they're not as creative as they get, but they seem slightly different than most of the sword-fighting fare.

There is violence, creative weapons, chopped off limbs, and enough blood to know that someone isn't going to quite make it to tomorrow. Friendship is rooted and grows and grows to set you up for what you already know is coming...(because they already showed you earlier). It's like we're seeing the whole thing in hindsight which adds drama to the whole ordeal, from beginning to end.

After the first episode, I wasn't very interested in this anime, and had others to watch and keep me busy. But now my other anime have finished, I watched a few more episodes of Ga-Rei Zero and want to watch it through until the end. It serves as another reminder to me not to judge anime on just the first episode alone.

This video sample is pretty good. Although the trailer's subs are not in English, you get to see some of the good parts of the anime's action and mood.

Recommendations:

• Rental Magica >>...specialists from different belief systems team up to excorcise anomolies, lighter fare with comical romance
  
• Claymore...heavy swords, severed limbs, and a lot of pale killer ladies >>
• Mouryou no Hako >>...another beautiful friendship that didn't end so prettily, a mystery and crime clues form the story
  
• Nijuu Mensou no Musume...main girl escapes a troubled past only to lead a life struggling to survive and protecting her few friends >>
  
• Majin Tantei Neuro...the main villian isn't the only mystery around town >>
• Umineko no Naku Koro ni...ill-blood between rich family members begins to boil when mysterious and gruesome murders begin one after the other >>

Video Sample:



Do you plan to watch Ga-Rei Zero?



See the description for Ga-Rei Zero on AnimeDB.net >>

Himitsu: The Revelation

Description on AnimeDB.net

Himitsu: The Revelation seems simple enough, and if you can get over the initial believability bump -- Solving crimes using the brains of the deceased. Sounds a bit like Pushing Daisies, but this series uses the brains and refers to their use with more technology and computers, rather than supernatural reason. Just that bit of difference introduces differently types of challenges that the Section Nine team (a special team assembled to deal with this form of research for police investigations) have to deal with.

It's not just "let's look in his brain and we can see who dunnit". The brain has to be intact, retrieved within a certain amount of time, the victim's family has to release the brain, they can only retrieve the visuals (no audio), and there's the obvious weird fact that to solve a victim's mystery, they're basically taking a little something that was otherwise going to go into a coffin/urn with the rest of the body.

This anime doesn't focus too much on how they do it, but more about how they use it to solve these mysteries. It's incredibly interesting how it seems the series could just be the same scenario over and over again, but different scenarios are quickly delved into, skipping parts you are familiar with and really getting down to business. Later on, there is a tad more of the team's members and also the past behind the section leader.

One big draw is being able to see into the minds of victim's last moments, and sometimes seeing into the minds of killers. It can get violent, bloody or graphic quickly, so this one isn't to watch with the kids. Give it a try if you're not afraid to get into some crime-scene-like messy memories, and see how Section Nine can overcome the challenges of the technology and others involved in the cases.

Recommendations:

• Shigofumi...psychological messes can be uncovered in even the simple anime premises of letters from the dead
  
• Antique Bakery...a little more comedy and pastries, but the underlying mystery is there (See Anime Spotlight)
• Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo...less mystery, more action, and some strange cases tackled by a sassy protagonist and her right-hand man (See Anime Spotlight)
• Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro...comedy, otherworldy creatures and finishing moves aid a young pawn and the demon that guides her through juicy mysteries (See Anime Spotlight)
• Umineko no Naku Koro ni...before the sun rises, a rich family at each others' necks over an inheritance must solve a riddling epitaph or become the victims of a mercilous witch (See Anime Spotlight)
  

Video Sample:

Michiko to Hatchin (Michiko and Hatchin)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Michiko to Hatchin is really good. It's a stand-out. From the first episode you get a very good dose of what's the anime is like, so definitely give it a try. A female prisoner makes a break for it, a young girl suffers daily at the hands of a family that takes her in and turns her into their slave. What happens between these great strong characters is a constant draw as the series races through locales, infused with bright and colorful scenery. When the sun sets, ugly underbellies are revealed and even the most festive places expose an inescapable dark side.

Fun points are listening to Michiko's slurred gangsta speech, seeing the pairs' clothes change in each episode, seeing Hatchin solo, seeing Michiko from the past, trying to put together the pieces left behind by man they're tracking down, watching that awesome blue scooter take a beating, and wondering what this pair can't survive. There's a lot to like.

The Opening is catchy and helps amp up the energy level. The ending is wierd for me visually and a tad too artsy so I always skip it.

Recommendations:

• Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage...tropical locations, guns and violence commonplace, the world isn't a friendly place, especially in a city of criminals
  
• El Cazador de la Bruja...gun for hire gets roped into a bad situation when she sides with the target, they make a break to head south and find answers (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Samurai Champloo...if you like swords, samurai, splashes of comedy, and funk in your anime, give this a shot
  

Video Sample:

Kuroshitsuji (Kuro Shitsuji, Dark Butler)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Kuroshitsuji has mystery, silliness, humor and and a dark underlying past that is uncovered in flashback tidbits. The serious times are peppered with the silliness and sometimes you have whole episodes that are just for fun. I think that's a good balance because I can't watch too much serious stuff.

When I turn to Kuroshitsuji, I'm expecting fun and some serious stuff that will move the main characters Ciel Phantomhive (sleepy-eyed blue haired master) and the cool guy that is devilishly good at his job Sebastian (red eyes, long face, gloves and swallowtail suit). And that's usually what I get. There are a few other characters in the house and they do their job when you need some slapstick humor that only a handful of colorful useless servants can provide.When Ciel is on the road, you can count on a certain bespectacled red-head to show up and add a big dose of slapstick and heeby-jeebies. And for those serious times we see Ciel overcome obvious challenges he faces as a young master of a large company, as well as new problems that drum up his past.

Fun times are when Ciel is nearly given whiplash by his fiance, whenever he snubs the local police and when he orders Sebastian around to re-establish who is really the king and who is the knight around here. Serious times involve death, betrayal and mysteries left unanswered and only acknowledged by an eyebrow raised by Sebastian.

It is set in Victorian times, so you'll see dashes of desserts, customs, clothing, scenery and habits inspired from that time (we don't iron our newspapers before our morning read anymore).

Watch the ending that has little chibi versions of the characters as it follows a normal day at the Phantomhive house.

Recommendations:

• Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro...mysterious and dark figure guiding his partner through strange mysteries, demonic tools and foes (See Anime Spotlight)
• Kaibutsu Oujo...more comedy, master and slave rather than a butler (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Emma...Victorian time light romance with a sweet and nice maid (See Anime Spotlight)
  

Video Sample:

Tentai Senshi Sunred (Astro Fighter Sunred)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Tentai Senshi Sunred - I think this is definitely an acquired taste. Before you dismiss this show from your playlist, give it 2 or 3 episodes (as in, watch them), to get a good idea of the what the show is about and its humor. Each episode is bite-sized, like 10-15 minutes, so I think you can spare that much time between your other anime.

You know shows like, the power rangers, any good old fashioned kids show where there are 1) heroes and 2) monsters, and the show is about heroes fighting the monsters? Good. Now you need to take those characters and plop them into real-life Japan and its cultural norms and polite society. When you realize that Astro Fighter Sunred may not be the upstanding model citizen and that monsters, too, have feelings and social rules to follow, you have fallen into the world of Astro Fighter Sunred.

Fun things to do: sing along with the ending theme (which is about cooking a dish), catch a superhero smoking through his helmet, notice how Vamp's head just sort of bobs up and down, notice all those fun little things that happen on those hero shows (calling out all the "special moves" a monster does)

Recommendations:

• Detroit Metal City...unique situation, stomach the language, see the hilarity (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Hetalia: Axis Powers...fast paced parody of world history embodied by characters that celebrate, fight and bicker amongst allies and enemies alike (See Anime Spotlight)
  

I had a really hard time thinking of some recommendations. This anime is really far from other anime in terms of content.

Video Sample:

Soul Eater

Description on AnimeDB.net

Soul Eater - This series likes to keep a wierd juxtaposition of slightly wacky fun and soul-stealing over-the-top power moves that we can expect get better and better. The story builds around the team of Maka and Soul, who are weapon and meister (the wielder of the weapon). They're friends, roomies, classmates and basically inseperable (but not in a mushy way) partners. The pairing is interesting to me because I don't know what else would go with Soul's "cool guy" attitude and anime-yakuza eyes and jagged teeth. Why not throw a pig-tailed over-achiever whose smile turns on the world (just kidding)?

After we get used to them and their way of life, we meet other teams with their own interesting chemistry and quirky habits. You may see a lot of similarities between Black Star and another extremely popular character, Naruto. Luckily, as the story continues, you can easily distinguish between the two (just drop the "Dattebayo" and color the hair blue, haha).

After the dust from introductions settle, we meet some "big bosses" that succeed in bugging our characters out of the peaceful existence, and into battle, inspiring them to "level up" and make the battles personal.

I'm 40 episodes in, and it's worked best for me to hold onto a batch of 3 or 4 and watch them all at once, since there are a lot of things going on and it can be easy to forget how all the characters and some actions are connected. Oh, in case you are into Halloween, this anime is infused with Halloween, and all sorts of witches, pumpkins, candles...it's a bright and shiny Halloweentown. Watchers do get to enjoy changes of scenery in case our eyes are tired of candles and darkly lit rooms and caverns.

Oh, I have to mention that Death the Kid is a favorite character of mine. Bonus points to anyone that can tell me what symmetry-based logic fuels the decision to fire guns upside down.

Recommendations:

• Naruto...ninjas, action, and the scene becomes more complex as our hero grows up
  
• HunterxHunter...development of a few characters that play up individual strengths, strategy and teamwork
  
• Bleach...main guy makes a lot of noise when he gets powers from a passing shinigami, unleashes unknown power and gets mixed into the shinigami's world and the trouble she's in because of him, big swords, powerful fights
  

Video Sample:

Bounen no Xamdou (Xam`d: Lost Memories)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Bounen no Xamdou - If you've watched Eureka Seven, you're going to see a lot of similarities. Luckily, after a few episodes, you might realize that it's not a complete ripoff and this is a good series on its own. You've got a boy protagonist and an "normal everyday" situation that is peaceful until a defining moment that really puts some intrigue and ups the pace for the series.

I'm 20 episodes in while writing this, and there hasn't been an episode that seemed meaningless, a waste of time, or completely dragged on. Akiyuki wakes up and adjusts fairly well which makes him likable. Nakiami's story really drew me in, and I look forward to her growth and how she will affect Akiyuki in the future. I started to miss some of the characters, so that shows that they are likable too (at least memorable. It can be difficult to remember a whole crew if it's been a while since you've seen them.) Take into account a dash of military, mecha, not-quite-mecha, different beliefs warring, and childhood friends drama.

If you wished there was a sequel to Eureka Seven, this series will tide you over. If you are looking for some spring/summertime action to get rid of winter blues, this or the lower recommendations are worth a shot.

Recommendations:

• Eureka Seven...guy + aircraft + character crew + girl
• Nausicaa...strong female character takes flight to save her valley
  
• Heroic Age...from humble beginnings he rewrites flow of the stars while fending off enemies who threaten the existence of multiple clans, spaceship (See Anime Spotlight)
  

Video Sample:



Do you plan to watch Bounen no Xamdou (Xam`d: Lost Memories)?

Nodame Cantabiru: Paris-hen (Nodame Cantabile: Paris Chapter)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Nodame Cantabiru: Paris-hen - I've seen the first season, and quickly became fans of the main two characters Nodame and Chiaki. It's the sort of relationship that is more entertaining than endearing.

If you watched the first season and was wondering what the second season was like, here is what you should expect: Less focus on the everyday life between the two, less animation of performances, more of the characters taking their own paths into their own hands and "growing up", more new faces and new laughs. Thankfully we see some old characters and the chemistry between the two main characters still make for laughs and a few nearly unexpected "awws".

I wasn't let down by this second season. It's not the same as the first, but that's to be expected when the season is stamped as a seperate chapter in a different country.

I preferred the energetic opening and ending themes of Suemitsu to Smith, but the themes for this grow on you and suit the breezy and calmer sense of the second season. :)

Recommendations:

• Piano no Mori - The Perfect World of Kai...music-anime
• SA - Special A...energetic girl and the "ice prince" who falls for her
• Nodame Cantabile...the first season because it's hilarious
• Lovely Complex...relationship more entertaining than endearing (See Anime Complex)
  

Video Sample:

Antique Bakery

Description on AnimeDB.net

Antique Bakery is a nice way to enjoy some uncommon personalites meeting to start a special bakery cafe with the scent of a small mystery driving the main character, and spotlights on french pastries and cake during parts of the episodes. These don't really inspire me to bake, but they inspire me to eat the cakes and drink tea while I watch each episode.

At the end of each episode, there's a picture and title of the cakes that are mentioned in the episode.

Recommendations:

• Emma...a calm maid, with plenty of peeks into victorian life
  
• Kuroshitsuji...specific cakes are shown from that era, short mysteries, comedy (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Himitsu, The Revelation...mysteries solved by serious grown-ups that can stomach a crime scene

Video Sample:

Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo (Yakushiji Ryoko's Strange Case Files)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo has got elements of the unusual case, eccentric boss, political tones driving the drama, chuckling comedy, and action that makes the otherwise docile costar shine in his moments.

If you observe the previous paragraph, it shows a good representation of what each episode seems to have, in order of most to least. The action comes well-timed and wraps up episodes in a satisfying manner. I'll be watching this until the end hopefully.

Recommendations:

• Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro...mystery, less serious, a little wacky (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Himitsu, The Revelation...mysteries only remains can solve, more serious
• Switch...undercover police and the criminals they try to ensnare
  
• Black Lagoon...more gunfights, gritty action and criminals in the spotlight

Video Sample:

Detroit Metal City

Description on AnimeDB.net

Detroit Metal City got me laughing. The dialogue pace, main character's situation and juxtaposition of different music and personalities. I hope to see more of it, although I've seen it labeled as a special episode.

Straight to the action, you're introduced to a mild-mannered young man that sings happy pop jingles as well as metal music, and the complications his alter ego creates. Soon you begin to wonder, which is the true self. Hilarious situations brought to gold status with the hilarious character. Hang on to your acoustic guitars, tambourines and KISS makeup, it's time to "Go To DMC".

This anime is not for the faint of heart. One watch of the opening theme and you'll know what you are in for.

Edit: This is 12 episodes.

Recommendations:

• Gankutsuou...happy boy pulled into a twisted dark world
• Nodame Cantabile...funny music-infused romance
• NANA...music
  

(These were very difficult to pick because this series is very unique.)

Video Sample:

Natsume Yuujinchou (Natsume's Friend Book)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Natsume Yuujinchou is funny, light and has modern and traditional Japanese style to it. Even the "cute mascot" is a transforming youkai with an old man's taste in sweets.

I am glad I can depend on this anime to get through the summer that marks the end of many other animes that I loved.

It reminds me a bit of mushishi except the pace is picked up a bit, and the humor is modern enough to keep you smiling. With all the youkai contact, it reminds me of a little Inu Yasha too--but not as intense or violent or bloody--maybe it's not like Inu Yasha at all.

I like seeing the representations of different types of youkai and semigods, so that's another thing that adds to the charm of this anime.

The story is, his grandmother had abilities like him, able to see youkai and such. His grandmother somewhat bullied youkai into giving them their names, and thus some control over the youkai. The names go into this book and well, watch the first episode to get a fair taste of what this anime is about.

Stay tuned for the ending theme, which is a nice finish to an episode with the same easy-going summer tone.

Recommendations:

• Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou...second season
• Mononoke...youkai and edgy mystery with vivid characters
• Mushishi...similar easygoing tone and feel of wonder for youkai

Video Sample:

The Daughter of Twenty Faces (Nijuu-Mensou no Musume)

Description on AnimeDB.net

I'm 6 episodes into the Daughter of Twenty Faces and I'm surprised to find that I didn't give up after the first episode. Part cinderella story, part robin-hood, and set in groovy time where airships were set the mood for a classy escape, this anime got me hooked after I saw that this main character perservered. She grew on me, and after 6 episodes, the anime grew on me.

The anime offers a good change of pace to the strange mix I'm watching this season. Cool and calm with action where drama is necessary to keep up the pace. I'll be watching in it until the season ends.

Recommendations:

• Steamboy...action movie, steampunk era
• Pumpkin Scissors...post war military unit takes challenges face on, action and slight politics
  
• Skip Beat...comedy, suffered heroine finds friends and laughs where vengeance were (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Glass Mask...actress blossoms but her shining future is filled with challenges and suffering
  

Video Sample:

Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro

Description on AnimeDB.net

Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro has a long title, but its story is simple enough. Normal girl endures shock and tragedy and a being from the demon world approaches her to solve the mystery of her father's death. But Neuro has his own mysteries to whet his appetite. Grotesque transformations, hellish tools, and an appetite for mystery, this anime has some great main-character abuse slapstick and a rough-mouthed ex-yakuza to keep the lineup out of the cute-zone.

Before I noticed, I was watching Neuro instead of watching other animes this season. I guess the lighter fare was appreciated during an otherwise more intense anime season lineup. Why not check out one or two episodes...and keep an eye out for the ponytail (gross!).

Recommendations:

• Kuroshitsuji...Victorian styled, the butler Sebastian reminds me of Neuro, mystery (See Anime Spotlight)
• Himitsu, The Revelation...mysteries only remains can solve, more serious
• xxxHolic...comedy, sprinkling of mystery and otherworldly beings
• Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo...mystery, gun fights, maids, strange creatures (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Rental Magica...hired supernaturals and the mysteries that pay the bills
• Umineko no Naku Koro ni...gruesome closed-box murders galore in this murder mystery that envelops a quibbling rich family (See Anime Spotlight)

Video Sample:

Gunslinger Girl il Teatrino

Description at AnimeDB.net

Gungslinger Girl il Teatrino, compared to the first season doesn't have the calmness, class and sincerity that the first series did. In the first episodes we see more emotion and less reserve from the "main character" Henrietta. Her shyness and seriousness was pretty endearing in the first season. Another favorite of mine was Triela (love the suits, by the way). The episode that featured her going up against Pinocchio (stay with me on this) was unexpected and felt like the series was a bit more back to the feel of the original series' with the complexities that only these girls can experience.

I miss the OP and ED these of the first series, though. I don't really care for the ones used on il Teatrino at all. They haven't grown on me after 6 episodes. oh well. Will still watch because it looks like we'll get back to more gunslinging.

Recommendations:

• Gunslinger Girl...the first season had more action and Henrietta story and sophistication
  
• Gunsmith Cats...gunslinger and explosives duo, funny
• Bokurano...youths shoulder the weight of the world, and prepare to lose everything, pretty serious (See Anime Spotlight)
  

Video Sample:

Kimikiss Pure Rouge

Kimikiss Pure Rouge is a little romantic gem to help me breeze into springtime. It's light anime fare that will get you thinking...man, high school was nothing like that, but it certainly would be nice. Lots of young love, a vague club's activities, a childhood friend, two moves, and even a torn protagonist...and that's not all.

Recommendations:

• Myself; Yourself >>...romance and some drama
• Suzuka >>...school romance with a sprinkle of sports, trying to start a new romance while shaking off the losses of the past
• Bokura Ga Ita...school romance with a sprinkle of dark drama >>
  

Video Sample:



Update: Found this DVD Special of the anime.

See the description for Kimikiss Pure Rouge on AnimeDB.net >>

Shion no Ou ~The Flowers of Hard Blood~

Description on AnimeDB.net

Shion no Ou - The idea of a main character doing absolutely no talking? Hooked me. The light inclusion of Shougi terms, the depth of the characters and the complex instant-respect of the main character all made this anime easy for me to get into. Shion no Ou (Shion's King, referring to the Shougi piece) has a dark side lurking from the beginning of the first episode. But Shion's sunny disposition helps me pick up my spirits a little. I'm eager to watch more!....MORE!

How does she write so fast?

Recommendations:

• Majin Tantei Neuro...tragic beginnings, mystery, perserverance (See Anime Spotlight)
• Card Captor Sakura..little girl protagonist and the big feats she accomplishments
  
• Fushigi Yuugi...young protagonist uprooted and fending for herself in a new world
  
• Nijuu Mensou no Musume...young protagonist and the "criminal" that guides her (See Anime Spotlight)
  

Video Sample:

List of Picks: February 2008 - Anime Movies

Give yourself a break from anime series and watch these anime movies. Just sit back and relax and don't worry about finding the next episode.


Description on AnimeDB.net

Paprika (be warned, there's a naked lady in there somewhere, the movie is really amazing to watch. It's made by the same company that did some of these movie gems that you should also check out.

Recommendations:

• Tokyo Godfathers...unlikely heroes have their own stories to tell, and bumbling situations somehow turn miracle
  
• Milennium Actress...an interviewer is whisked away through the life of an actress as she revisits the many exciting roles she's had
  
• Perfect Blue...suspense, terrifying psychological mess with a screaming-freaky ending
• Toki Wo Kakeru Shoujo...what begins as a refreshing everyday world following a young high schooler, quickly reels out of control once she travels through time and finds a ticking counter
• Tekkon Kinkreet...two young boys band together in a lawless world where gangsters and youngsters mix on the rooftops and in the gutters
• Howl's Moving castle...a hatmaker is swept off her feet by a wizard Howl, and overcomes struggles such as a curse and keeping the moving house from falling apart
  
• Spirited Away...a little girl is whisked away into a spirit world, she works in a witch's bathhouse in hopes of escaping this world and saving her parents
  
• Tales from Earthsea...fantasy adventure following a young lad, sword, villain, and...doppelganger?
  

Video Sample:

School Days

Description on AnimeDB.net

School Days

Here's part of an IM conversation I had with a friend, with their dialogue removed:

Anime Spotlights says:

oh!

Anime Spotlights says:

i GOTTA tell you about this anime that just shocked me

Anime Spotlights says:

it just stains the happy summer anime season with its finale

Anime Spotlights says:

eh, you'd never watch it though

Anime Spotlights says:

the ending is so messed up! sometimes it just pops into my head and i just stand there thinking,"ugh, that was So messed up!"

Anime Spotlights says:

it all started so innocently

Anime Spotlights says:

and then reality started twisting

Anime Spotlights says:

then the breaking point, when you know something horrible is going to happen but you don't know what

Anime Spotlights says:

what, what, WHAT's going to HAPPEN!?

Anime Spotlights says:

KAPOW!!!!!!

Anime Spotlights says:

KABLAMMIE!!!!!

Anime Spotlights says:

and it's over...

Anime Spotlights says:

and you are shocked

Anime Spotlights says:

stunned

Anime Spotlights says:

unable to watch anime for the rest of the day

Anime Spotlights says:

then you watch the ending one more time, to make sure it was for real

Anime Spotlights says:

yep! KAPOW!!!!!! KABLAMMIE!!!!!!

Anime Spotlights says:

for real man

Anime Spotlights says:

that was a crazy ending

Recommendations:

• Bokura ga Ita...high school romance with drama (See Anime Spotlight)
• Myself; Yourself...high school romance with some dark secrets
• Jigoku Shoujo: Mitsuganae...high school and vengeance go hand in hand

Video Sample: