Reviews of My First Five Animes

(Disclaimer: These are all just my opinions. You are allowed to agree or disagree as you please, but keep it civil.)

I'm Jenny, I'm 26-years-old, and I am just now getting into anime. I didn't grow up with anime the way some other people my age did. Sure, I watched a few episodes of Pokemon, but that was about the extent that my anime enjoyment went. In middle school and high school, I purposely went out of my way to watch anime because that's what all the other kids were watching, and I thought hating on it would make me cool and unique. (You know how teenagers are.)

Fast forward to when I'm twenty-six, it is late September, and I am in bed sick with a cold. I prop open my laptop and decide out of the blue (no pun intended) to watch Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue. It was a movie that had been on my watchlist for awhile, and intrigued me due to the fact that Darren Aronofsky drew a lot of inspiration from it for Black Swan. It was free on YouTube with English subtitles, so it was easily accessible without a VPN or money.

Well, I watched it. It was very...interesting to say the least. I mentioned that I had watched it to my anime loving friends and they said "You should watch Paprika next!" And began telling me other anime films I needed to watch. I jokingly said "So you're saying I should become a weeb?"

"Yes, Jenny," one friend said, "become a weeb!"

I'm always one for a challenge. So I tongue in cheek said I was starting the #TurnJennyIntoAWeeb challenge. And...well, that's kind of how it started. This was back in September, and I have now made it through five different anime series (six, if you count Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood as two separate series.) Which anime have I watched and what did I think of them? Well, I am here to tell you:

1. Aggrestuko

Okay, so I started watching this actually before I made a conscious decision to try watching more anime. It was suggested to me by a friend, I thought the animation was cute, so I decided to give it a go. I was in denial though. When I would tell people about it I would say "Oh, it's not an anime. It's just a cartoon that happens to be made in Japan!" (Yeah, that's still an anime, dummy.)

While the animation style is not what you would typically see in what we tend to refer to as anime, Aggretsuko is the product of Sanrio, famous for creating characters who have shaped what we now refer to as "kawaii culture" (Think, Hello Kitty and company) The show is about a red panda named Retsuko who is navigating the often misogynistic world of Japanese office culture; trying to balance friendships and love interests in the middle of it all. To release her stress, she confides in the art of death metal. Seeing this sweet, cute character turn into a screeching death metal rocker when she gets angry is both hilarious and awesome.

Apart from the adorable animation, and the funny relatability of the character, one thing that stood out to me about Aggretsuko is how it portrays female friendships. I get tired of the trope that women are all catty behind each other's backs. Close female friendships are something beautiful, and in Aggretsuko, Retsuko and her female friends always support each other 100%.

Overall, I give Aggretsuko a 9/10. It is not a perfect show, but for a lot of female twentysomethings--myself included--I think Retsuko is the most relatable protagonist we have out there--and the one we need the most.

2. Death Note

This was the first anime I watched with the intention of trying to "understand" anime. And boy, I can tell you: I see why it is often recommended as a first anime, because it got me hooked right away! Based on the manga series of the same name, Death Note is about a brilliant, but bored, high school student who comes across a notebook which kills whoever's name is written in it. He begins using his newly found power to kill off criminals, and rid the world of evil--whilst becoming evil and criminal himself.

Death Note could probably best be described as a crime drama with a supernatural twist. It is rather cerebral with its two main characters--the master manipulator, Light, and the eccentric detective, L--having genius level intellects, constantly trying to outwit and stay one step ahead of each other. This definitely isn't one you want to just have playing in the background while you play on your phone: It requires your full attention. But if you're like me, you probably won't even be tempted to play on your phone while watching because it reaches out and grabs your attention from the very first frame.

My favorite aspect of this show is the characters and how they develop over time. Light goes from being a cocky, but well-meaning student who wants to change the world; and by the end of the series, has devolved into a complete psychopath with a God complex. We see him gradually make the change, every way yelling at him. He's loathsome...But at the same time, part of you can't help but feel sympathetic for his plight. (Though that could just be attributed to his good looks, if nothing else.)

I think people who don't tend to enjoy anime can still find entertainment in Death Note. For one, the animation style relies more on realism. What I mean by that, is the facial expressions aren't as over-exaggerated as is often the case with anime. The characters have expressive faces, but they all seem very natural. The only time they are not is to convey madness. Also, I find pitching it to anti-anime people as "a crime drama that just happens to also be a Japanese animation" makes them more receptive to giving it a shot. Because that is pretty much what it is.

Overall, I give this anime a 10/10. There are a lot of layers to the story and the dynamics between the characters. Also the character arcs are some of the most well-written I have seen to date.

3. Fullmetal Alchemist/Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

I was also recommended Fullmetal Alchemist by my friends who are more well-versed in anime than I am. After the nihilistic Death Note, I wanted something a little more cheery. While Fullmetal Alchemist has plenty of sad moments, it is--as a whole--far more uplifting.

The show is a fantasy series about a quest the titular Fullmetal Alchemist--Edward Elric--and his brother, Alphonse, must go on after losing parts of their body after a failed attempt to bring their deceased mother back to life using alchemy. What starts as being a quest with selfish motives, ends with the realization that to receive anything, mankind must first be willing to sacrifice something. Or "Equivalent Exchange."

The animation is a bit more caricature-like of anime than Death Note. However, to the anime naysayers: Don't let that turn you off from the show's touching philosophy of sacrifice and letting go. The protagonist, Edward, is an arrogant, short-tempered lad. But he is also full of heart, and will do absolutely anything to protect those he loves. Characters are definitely this series' strong point; as well as animation that is both stunning, and adorable.

While the fantastical elements of the show may be engaging to many--I found it could be hard to follow at times. But that could be because I often prefer realism, or magical realism, as opposed to full-fledged fantasy. A personal preference, but I did find there were plenty of points in the series where I was staring at my phone a lot. Though when it came to the character based motives and drama, I was all in.

Overall, I give Fullmetal Alchemist a 7.5/10; and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood an 8/10. Neither iteration of the story is without flaws, but the lovable characters make sitting through some of the slower moments worth it.

4. Cells at Work!

Cells at Work! came up as a recommendation for me on Netflix while I was on my way to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion. I decided to take a detour while watching the preview because I thought it was too good of a concept to pass up.

Basically, it is about what goes on in the human body--if cells were anthropomorphized with their own personalities. It follows a red blood cell (named...Red Blood Cell) and her adventures delivering oxygen and nutrients through the human body, while encountering viruses, bacteria, and even cancer, among other things.

I would describe this anime an action anime with an educational twist. The character designs are my favorite aspect of the show--Platelets being presented as cute tiny children, Macrophage being presented as a matron, and white blood cells being presented as a team of aggressive fighters who are always covered in blood from all the germs they're constantly slaying.

I don't have as much to say about this anime, as, to be honest, it has not been one of my favorites. Overall, I give it a 6.5/10. While it was cute, I can't say it's been one of my favorites that I've watched. The idea is definitely creative, but it's not unique to its genre (Osmosis Jones, anyone?) and there wasn't nearly as much focus on character and relationships as I would have liked.

5. Neon Genesis Evangelion

This is another anime I was told is "essential" to anyone wishing to "understand" anime a little better. Created in the mid-90s, NGE is a dystopian view of the year 2015. Fourteen-year-old Shinji Ikari is called upon by his father--a cruel military commander--to pilot a robot (called "Evas" in the series) and protect the world from entities called Angels.

How would I best categorize Neon Genesis Evangelion? It's a coming-of-age story, a cyberpunk science fiction story, and an existential trip through trauma and the human psyche--all rolled into one. And it is awesome! Also, let's not forget that absolute banger of an opening song that is recognized in internet "meme" community as the quintessential anime song.

It's hard to think of what to say about this series that hasn't already been said a million times by anyone more well-versed in anime than myself. I can say though that if I had watched this show as a teenager, I think it would have helped a lot of the anxiety I felt about myself and my place in the world. It reeks of teen angst, but not in a way that adults wouldn't be able to sympathize for and remember "Ah yes, I remember when I felt that way." We see full-fledged an almost Freudian psychoanalytic view into all of the characters' hang-ups and fears--presented in episodes that are almost entirely a set of surreal, jumbled internal monologue. Basically, this show is an armchair psychologist's dream come true.

Without giving away any spoilers, the finale is considered very controversial and sent some fans of the show on such an anger trip that they sent the creator death threats. I thought the finale was great, personally. And I will say this in response to the people who were angered by it: The show is presented from the get-go as a character study of people who are all dealing with their own self-doubts and traumatic pasts--the war is just an allegory for their internal struggles--or at least that was the vibe I got from the get-go. (That didn't give too much away, did it?)

Anyway, overall, I give Neon Genesis Evangelion a 10/10. The animation is brilliant, the soundtrack is brilliant, the story is brilliant, the characters are brilliant--just everything about this show had me amazed from beginning to end. It is indeed an essential anime. Like Death Note, though, it is another anime that you can't turn on just to have playing in the background--you do need to pay attention to it to know what's going on.