If there’s one thing that not many people know about me, or at the very least, have slowly come to the realisation is that I’m sort of a huge fan of anime. In fact, from the very first time I came across shows like La Corda d’Oro (LOVED this) to Alice Academy, I’ve been warped in a different genre of entertainment I didn’t know I would love. It’s been well over a decade since I grew a deep interest in anime and I’ve seen some of the most amazing shows that I’m glad I didn’t miss out on.
I’m not entirely sure why I didn’t think of this sooner but I realise, you know, it’s better now then never that I make a special list of my favourite anime that I absolutely love love love and would recommend you to try and watch.
Attack on Titans
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| Credits photo IMDb |
As far as anime goes, I have to say Attack on Titans is easily one of the best there is out there. This story centres on Erin Yeager who resides in one of the three walls that is built to protect humanity against titans, freakishly deformed giants who eat humans for pleasure. It’s gory, yes, and very few moments for humour but this story is about more than that. It really focuses on the debate on how much people would fight just so that humanity would survive. Catch this series on Netflix! You won’t regret!
The Rising of the Shield Hero
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| Credits photo to Shallow Dives in Anime |
This series has also been recently included on Netflix! Shield Hero is about Naofumi (main character) and three other modern-day Japanese guys from different dimensions who are summoned to Melromarc as the Four Cardinal Heroes. They are tasked to gain power and strength to stop and save the kingdom from the catastrophes that are the result of Waves of Catastrophe, where monsters appear and destroy anything in their way. These four heroes are given a sword, spear, bow and shield respectively. Unfortunately, Naofumi is fated with the shield and thus, makes him viewed as the “weaker” and perhaps most useful out of all the heroes (he was also not liked, belittled by the kingdom that summoned him).
He grows to be one of the strongest heroes (I think THE strongest, if I have to be completely honest) in the anime and I like that he gains that strength from the friends that he meet along the way, such as Raphtalia, a super cute Demi-human who does the actual fighting and Filo, a small girl who turns into a huge bird called Filolial. I think Season 2 will be ready soon, so be sure to catch the first season!
The Promised Neverland
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| Credits photo to AnimeList |
Yikes, this anime gave me the CHILLS when I first watched it. Don’t mistaken it for a cute, completely innocent show to help you pass the time. It’s an amazing suspenseful horror story of a group of orphans, namely, Emma, Norman and Ray who live happily together with other children and their Mama, Isabella. Their joyful life takes a horrible turn when they find out that they are actually raised up to be devoured as delicacies for demons who live beyond their orphanage. With the next harvest day around the corner, these children attempts to devise a plan to escape together. Like my first few fave animes, you can also find The Promised Neverland on Netflix!
Tokyo Ghoul
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| Credits photo to IMDb |
Another dark anime on my list (I’m starting to see a pattern here). This story involves Ken Kaneki, a shy college student who is transformed into a half-ghoul, half-human after meeting his deadly date who turned out to be a ghoul and almost killing him. Kaneki is saved by a group of “good” ghouls who also manage a coffee shop “Anteiku” together. He is introduced the ways of the ghouls by surviving on human flesh and abstinence (not blindly attacking humans just because he’s hungry). The first season is mostly about his struggles to come to terms with what he has become and keeping his new secret identity from his best friend, Hideyoshi Nagachika. I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve watched this show. It’s still good no matter times I come back to it. Sure, it’s a little gory but I love to see how Kaneki’s character development goes through the series.
Violet Evergarden
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| Credit photo to IMDb |
Seriously, I can’t even begin to explain why everyone should watch this show. Not only is this anime so beautiful (it’s by far one of the prettiest that I’ve seen), but this story really moves you. If you have a cold dead heart like mine, well, just be ready with a box of tissues or anything else to hold up the dam of tears that will come later. This story begins with Violet Evergarden, a child soldier who just managed to survive a bloody war and heavily injured. With the war over, she realises she doesn’t have any other purpose other than being in the battle field and that she has lost the one person who cared for her. Most importantly, she is left alone to wonder what “I love you”, the last words that was said to her during the final battle. You’ll follow through her journey as an “Auto Memory Doll,”, special individuals who help to write letters for others and meet others who would one day build her understanding of what love is.
Lovely Complex
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WOW, where do I begin?! This show will have you bursting with laughter. Careful, you might lose a lung or two after watching Lovely Complex. I know I almost did. There are two main characters in this story, Koizumi a super tall-ish girl standing at a staggering 172 cm who is understandably self-conscious of her height that could put off guys who could be her love, and Otani, a cheerful 156 cm who dreams of joining the basketball team. They bicker all the time (it’s the best) but support each other to achieve their dreams and find love.
Asobi Asobase: Workshop of Fun
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I have a hugeeee soft spot for this anime. I’ve recently discovered it on YouTube (not sure if the complete episodes are still there) but this anime just cracks me up. It’s purely hilarious and so if you need some cheering up, you can follow the life of three mid-schoolers, Olivia, the new pretty-blond haired student who pretends she doesn’t understand Japanese to tease her classmates, Hanako Honda an athlete at the school, and a shy but sometimes scary bookworm called Kasumi Nomura. This show does not hold back at showing how bratty and dumb these girls can be but it’s just so comically funny you just love them for it anyway. Watch it and you won’t regret!
Maid-Sama!
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No list is complete without mentioning Maid Sama! It’s a romance-comedy anime centering on Misaki Ayuzawa, the first female student council president of what was once an all-boys school. Crowned with the title, “Demon President” by the boys, she reforms Seika High School with an iron first, not afraid to practice her Aikido skills on any pesky boys who get in her way and protect the few girls in the school. However, she keeps a big secret after school, one that could get her suspended or expelled. She works a part-time job at a maid cafe to support her small family but was found out by Takumi Usui, a popular boy from her school. It’s such a good show, never fails to make me laugh!
Ouran High School Host Club
![Image - 821521] | Ouran High School Host Club | Know Your Meme](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/821/521/42e.gif) |
This show is GOLD. It’s a little old, sure but Ouran High School Host Club is one of those shows that does not fail to make you love each and every character in the story and laugh! Haruhi Fujioka, the main character, is recently admitted to Ouran Academy, a prestigious school for the rich as an honour student. While she searches for a quiet place to study, she finds what is supposed to be an unused music room but is soon mistaken. She meets six members of the Host Club, good-looking and extremely wealthy guys who entertain the bored and rich girls in the school. She accidentally breaks an extremely expensive vase owned by the club and is made to become a member of the Host Club to pay for the damage. And this all happened when she is mistaken as a male student.
And many, many others to name (I’ll be here all year if the list goes on).
What I’m currently watching?
Bungo Stray Dogs (Season 1)
wanywhiskers.com 
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