"I'm the strongest man alive!"

Rokka no Yuusha (or Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers) was an anime that was recommended to me by a friend who knows me well enough to know what I like in an anime and that's characters, characters, characters.

When the Majin awakes from the depths of darkness, the deity of fate selects six heroes and bequeaths them with the power to save the world. Adlet, a boy who proclaims himself the strongest man in the world, has been selected among "The Heroes of the Six Flowers". However, as the heroes gather, they soon begin to suspect that someone amongst them is an imposter. (source)

Early on in the series, I was unsure as to what the actual genre of the anime was going to be. I couldn't tell if it was an adventure series, a shounen, etc. Surprisingly, it began to lean toward being a fantasy based mystery series which made the entire week I spent binge watching it an utter joy. I love shows that make you think alongside the characters, trying to figure out the solution to a problem or figuring out 'whodunnit' (it's why I liked Danganronpa so much). While the entire season was primarily focused on, "Who is the seventh, and therefore fake, brave?" and not at all on the ultimate problem of the Demon God, the intrigue of the mystery and the wonderfully diverse cast of characters  made that unimportant.

The characters in this show are the best part of this show. It's fairly difficult to ensure characters in a fantasy anime don't fall into the same overused tropes but Rokka no Yuusha manages to create interesting and colorful characters that keep you invested in the story. Not to mention the designs of these characters (pictured above) are the best I've seen in quite some time. They're just nice to look at.  They each have they're own individual powers and specialties as well which made them even more complex. Nachetania's ability in particular was something I always looked forward to seeing since her ability to use and direct blades was pretty cool looking.

There were a couple of times toward the beginning where I noticed animation errors but nothing too crazy and the CGI was a little jarring in comparison the the rest of the animation. For me, the art itself was visually pleasing enough (and the story interesting enough) to compensate for such little things.

All in all, it's been a long while since I've watched an anime that had me as hyped as Death Parade back in January and while this particular anime doesn't quite live up to the masterpiece that is Death Parade, it is certainly high on my list and I recommend that you give it a watch if you're ever looking for something enjoyable.

xx Anna

"Welcome to Quindecim."

I need to tell someone about this anime. I need to shout about it from the rooftops. I need you all to understand how I feel about this show. Death Parade is nothing short of a masterpiece as you can see by the awesome dancing.

Death Parade was a show that I started watching with no real understanding of the story. I had seen Funimation promoting it on their website and on their YouTube channel so I added it to MyAnimeList under 'Plan to Watch' and started it up after finishing Amagi Brilliant Park (which I rated a 6/10 btdubs).

Let me start by saying that Death Parade walks the line of being a slow starter. You have to watch at least 5 episodes to truly get a feel for whether or not you're going to be interested in the over-arching story and characters since it's borderline episodic in the beginning. Don't be fooled by it's initial repetitious format; it gets way better. The story itself is one that isn't totally new but it is a fresh new take on some tropes and principles that have been around not only in anime but in mainstream media too. The synopsis is as follows:

After death, humans are either sent to the void or reincarnated. But for some, at the instant of their death, they arrive at Quindecim, a bar attended by the mysterious white-haired Decim. He challenges them to the Death Game, wherein they wager their lives and reveal their true natures. Decim himself is the ultimate arbitrator of who wins and who loses, who will go to the void, and who will be reincarnated. (source)

The characters have super interesting design and the kind of personalities that you start to like right away, Decim being the exception. Something about his apathetic tone of voice and cold demeanor put me off at first but fear not: he became my favorite character as the story progressed.

I never felt bored watching this series and I finished it in the span of two days. You can be as involved in the story as you want to be, judging for yourself whether certain characters deserve the void or not. Death Parade also poses some very poignant questions about human nature which I found to be incredibly thought provoking. There is a little dry humor thrown in every now and then as well to balance the dark subject matter (the OP may be the most upbeat part of the show). 

In conclusion, Death Parade is one of my new favorites. It was a series that made me feel every emotion. I laughed, cried, got angry. That's the kind of experience I want to have when I invest my time into an anime. I want to be entertained but not mindlessly (well, sometimes). I'm literally waiting with bated breath for the blu-ray and I think I've suggested this show to everyone I know.

W A T C H  I T ! ! ! !

"Yuki!"

Mirai Nikki, or 'Future Diary' for those of us more English than others, was a show that I started watching based on the amount of show merch that was available through Hot Topic. After reading the synopsis on myanimelist.com, I decided to give it a shot.

It was an experience.

It started of really strong with an intriguing plot and an art style that hooked me and made me want to keep watching. Deus' character design, in particular, grabbed my attention. After the introduction of Yuno Gasai, one of the most infamous anime characters of all time, I knew that this was a story that would hold my attention. And I was right... until the beginning of the second season. 

Around the start of season 2, I could feel my attention span waning under the pressure of repeated plot points ("Is Yuno really crazy or is she just a little off?") and heaping shovelfuls of side-character development. I understand that the main plot of the show is that the characters are competing in a survival game but I didn't feel like I needed to know the entire backstory of each competitor. Especially since most of them died immediately thereafter. Perhaps it was just the way that this character development was accomplished that irked me but it began to drag long. 

There was also the issue of the two main characters, Yuki and Yuno. I found myself almost annoyed by each of them and their respective personalities, particularly Yuki. Yuki was a coward who constantly second guessed himself and Yuno was batshit crazy and became the most frequently used character model for 'yandere'. I was much more captivated by Akise Aru and Uryuu Minene "Ninth" who seemed to be the only characters with half a brain.

"A half moon, it has a dark half and a bright half, just like me…" - Yuno Gasai

However, all of this mattered not towards the end. With about six episodes left in the series, the show turns you on your head and becomes a total mind fuck. I was so caught off guard with the direction the show took that I wondered if I had missed an episode or two. For Mirai Nikki, the twist was just what it needed to redeem it's slow pacing. Suddenly I was completely enthralled by it's story. I wanted to know more and more and more. Yes, it was all a bit convoluted but somehow all the madness really contributed to the Future Diaries appeal.

All in all, it was a fine show. Not my favorite by any means but it had enough 'umph' to really push it over the edge of average. Not to mention, the first season's OP and accompanying song was fantastic. If you like the idea of cell phones that tell you the future or you're looking for something to watch with a dark edge to it, I'd suggest Mirai Nikki wholeheartedly.

My Top 3: Anime

So I've been thinking that a good way for you to get to know me is by reading about some of my favorite things. It's as Fall Out Boy said, "you are what you love and not who loves you". This couldn't be any more true. The things we love definitely make up who we are and how we think (at least to a certain degree).

Anyway, today I thought I'd kick this 'My Top 3' thing off by telling you about my * current * favorite anime in no particular order.

1. Tokyo Ghoul

Alright, so I only recently watched the first season of Tokyo Ghoul so I was able to sit down a plow through all 12 episodes over the course of two days. It's hands-down one of the best anime I've ever seen.

The suspense horror/dark fantasy story is set in Tokyo, which is haunted by mysterious "ghouls" who are devouring humans. People are gripped by the fear of these ghouls whose identities are masked in mystery. An ordinary college student named Kaneki encounters Rize, a girl who is an avid reader like him, at the café he frequents. Little does he realize that his fate will change overnight. (source)

The story is so intriguing that you don't ever want it to end and you never want to take a break from watching. You find yourself genuinely invested in the conflict, searching yourself for answers as Kaneki does. You're forced to assess your own opinion on whether you think that these ghouls have humanity or not. You, yourself, have to decide whose side you're on.

Like I said, I watched the entire series in one sitting and I never once got tired of seeing these characters struggle and interact. Kaneki is one of the most interesting main characters I've encountered so far. His character development and progression are so well done and his genuine struggle to come to terms with what happens to him is endearing and tragic to say the least. You really feel for him.

Bottom line, the first season of Tokyo Ghoul is near about perfect and, if you don't mind a little blood and gore, you should absolutely give it a shot.

2. Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan)

Ok, so I know Attack on Titan is all the rage right now and that might lead you to believe that the show is overrated. It's not. I promise you. In my opinion, it's one of the few shows that actually lives up to it's hype.

Several hundred years ago, humans were nearly exterminated by titans. Titans are typically several stories tall, seem to have no intelligence, devour human beings and, worst of all, seem to do it for the pleasure rather than as a food source. A small percentage of humanity survived by walling themselves in a city protected by extremely high walls, even taller than the biggest of titans.

Flash forward to the present and the city has not seen a titan in over 100 years. Teenage boy Eren and his foster sister Mikasa witness something horrific as the city walls are destroyed by a colossal titan that appears out of thin air. As the smaller titans flood the city, the two of them watch in horror as their mother is eaten alive. Eren vows that he will murder every single titan and take revenge for all of mankind. (source)

Despite some obvious plot holes and slow pacing, I find the premise, the characters, and the art to be more than enough to hold my attention and keep me interested. The execution of the story may be a little rough around the edges but overall, it's a winner. 

With 25 episodes in the first (and only???) season, it manages to make you care about even the smallest of side-characters. The tone of this show is dark, there is very little hope to speak of, but Eren Jaeger's fiery spirit and determination will make you root for humanity's victory until the very end.

All in all, a great show with a great story and great characters. What more could you want? (other than a second season)

3. Noragami

I didn't think that I was going to enjoy this show when I first started it. In fact, I turned it off within the first two minutes. I returned to it later, looking for an anime on Netflix that I hadn't already seen. What was I thinking when I had turned it off?! Seriously, this series had me in a slump after I finished it because I was convinced there was nothing that could top it.

Yato is a minor deity who lacks even a single shrine. In order to build his own shrine and gain recognition as a god, he scrawls his cell number on the wall of a downtown bathroom telling people he will help them in exchange for a 5-yen offering, becoming a self-styled "delivery god." Hiyori, the daughter of a respectable family, is almost killed in a traffic accident, but is rescued by Yato. This causes her to become a "hanyou," a person who can exit her body in soul form. She chases Yato down, and they begin to work together to help Yato be recognized. Yato also finds a boy named Yukine who becomes a Regalia, a "sacred treasure" that can be used by a god as a weapon to fight. The three of them battle phantoms who bring harm to humans as Yato's dark hidden history is gradually revealed. (source)

Like the other shows I've mentioned, Noragami has a captivating story. The idea of these goofy looking phantoms whispering things and causing people to commit terrible acts was so disturbing. That along with the concept of using innocent spirits as weapons by gods? Like, the show is so creative. I can't deal.

Character-wise, Noragami hits the nail on the head. Every single character is likable and I think that's what makes a show. You can have a mediocre story with great characters but the reverse is seldom a good watch. Noragami happens to have both a great story and great characters.

Watch this show. It's a great concept and Yato might be one of my favorite characters of all time. Do yourself a favor and watch this show.

Honorable mentions: Hunter x Hunter, Nanatsu no Taizai (Seven Deadly Sins)