I tried this method of searching and it worked

If I could travel back in time and whisper one word to my younger self, what would it be? Anime! I was drastically late in boarding the anime train. However, better late than never—this saying doesn’t universally apply to every situation in life so practice at your own risk. In my youth I did occasionally dabble in: Dragon Ball Z, Pokémon, and Digimon. Sadly, such shows are merely crumbs of what makes up the anime world.

Then came the 90’s

Let us travel to 1999. As a lovely smell of popcorn dances in the air surrounding an eight year old version of myself. My hands were engulfed inside the only place my hands called home during this time, a bowl of popcorn. If you paid close attention, you might see a popcorn kernel take flight from my fingers only to come crashing down upon my sibling’s head. Before you ask, it was most definitely thrown with love—all popcorn was thrown under the supervision of professionals by professionals I encourage you not to try this at home. At this age I spent most my time viewing the usual: Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and Disney Channel. Why 1999? Well, that’s when my father decided to purchase our first DVD player. You know, that rectangular block of old technology that is most likely collecting dust in a home near you or landfill. The movie he paired it with was Bloodsport 4: The Dark Kumite. A film in the series of Bloodsport movies. This purchase eventually lead to my father purchasing the entire series shortly after—most had to be bought in a VHS format due to not being available in DVD yet. I recall utilizing the edge of my nail to meticulously puncture the plastic film enwrapping Bloodsport; the first film in the series. It made its debut in 1988 and was the only film in the series to star Jean-Claude Van Damme. I instantly fell in love with it. From the mesmerizing performance showcased by Jean-Claude Van Damme to the action-packed fight scenes that kept you at the edge of your seat. Yet, this movie had more value to me later in life than what appeared on the surface. It was not until later in life that I realized how this was the only movie my father and I constantly viewed together and equally enjoyed while I was growing up. This Bloodsport movie was the foundation to me not only entering the world of anime, but also completely changing my decision process in choosing what show or movie to watch.

If you enjoy Bloodsport, then?

I recall this day like it was yesterday, I was on the 32nd floor of a condo complex halfway across the world, somewhere in Metro Manila, endlessly scrolling through Netflix movie titles like there’s no tomorrow. My thumb was at the verge of exhaustion. Unable to bear my thirst for water, I set the remote control down to grab a glass. As I poured water Netflix proceeded to preview the title in which I had stopped on. I returned to captivating, drama-filled fight scenes being displayed on the screen. Nostalgia hit. I was instantly reminded of my old love for the film Bloodsport. Images of me watching it with my father flooded my mind. The title of the preview being displayed on the screen was Baki. What followed: was unfathomable, extremely uncharacteristic, and fueled by nostalgia; yet, it paved the road into the world that is anime.

If you enjoy Bloodsport, then you will love Baki

Baki is a Netflix original martial-arts anime series. In this series you have the protagonist, Baki Hanma, attempting to surpass his father to become the strongest fighter in the world. In pursuit of this goal is where things get juicy. The series is topped with fight scenes ranging from backyard street brawls to tournament style fights. Fights in within the series are out of this world entertaining! As you progress through the episodes you are introduced to different fighters with their own unique fighting style, personality, and vibe. Keep in mind all fighters have one goal in mind—to become the best at what they do. Amidst all the chaotic fighting was enough room for romance too. When combined into one pot and stirred all these elements make for a Netflix series where you irresistibly continue clicking the “next episode” tab after each episode. Did I mention a legendary American boxer gets intertwined into the storyline? You better believe it!

The Aftermath

I was oblivious to anime for most of my existence. 2018 was the year I plunged into the anime world, thanks to Baki, and haven’t quit since. Through Baki I branched out to anime movies too. Nonetheless, unknowingly, I had discovered a method of choosing movies or shows when faced with indecisiveness or simply searching for something outside of the ordinary. Initially, I began with picking films I enjoyed watching with family as a kid. Growing up, my sister and I watched The Aristocats countless times. This led to my discovery one of my favorite anime movies A Whisker Away; after attempting to search for anime movies with cats in their story line. A Whisker Away is a heart warming tale with a message to find comfort with who and what you are in life. Discovering new content based on what I would watch with family growing up isn’t the only method I use. This particular way of deciding what to watch is what opened the door to a variety of methods I now use when picking new content. Today, I will share a two of those methods with you, in hopes that it will get the ball rolling in discovering your own method in deciding what movies or shows to watch next. Remember, embrace your creativity.

When attempting to discover what show or movie to watch:

• Ask Siri or any particular assistant your mobile phone offers. You’ll be surprised at some of the recommendations you receive. The best part about it is, they’re surprisingly solid movie or tv show picks and they pop up on your screen instantly. This is how I discovered the film Judas and the Black Messiah.

• Use your social media platform. Ask others for recommendations while you sit back and scroll through options being suggested. Are you familiar with Tik Tok? Incase you are unaware, some users on this platform make videos suggesting TV shows and movies for viewers. Some of these picks are gold mines waiting to be discovered at the comfort of your couch—or wherever you find yourself watching them. This is how I recently came across the film, The One I Love. It debuted in 2014 and for the life of me I cannot explain how I did not come across this film all these years.