In order to remain at the “cutting edge” of popular Japanese animation, I normally check out a couple of my favourite sites like Anime News Network for the latest on Japanese anime news and Animesuki and read the discussions on the latest anime series out. Many of my friends consider me to be an “authority” when it comes to anime/manga and sometimes they ask what anime I like to watch. It is always hard for me to pinpoint exactly what genre I watch and what anime I enjoy…considering I’ve seen A LOT of anime. With that said, I can tell you what I’ve been recently started watching and enjoying. These are my current top 5 favourite anime shows in no particular order:

1) Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann - Like I mentioned in a previous blog post, it’s about the life of Simon the Driller, who starts off as a lowly digger to becoming the leader of an Interstellar Rebellion! I’ve really enjoyed this series because of the amount of action, comedy, drama, fanservice and pure “GAR”-ness it exudes. It also pays hommage to old-school mecha series as well it reminds me of the original Dragonball series.

2) Bleach - Not to be confused with this. Bleach is a show about Kurosaki Ichigo, a typical highschool student who becomes a Shinigami (Death God) that rids the world of evil spirits (Hollows) and guides lost souls to the afterlife (Soul Society). The anime is action-packed, spiritual and is inspired by historical Japanese and suprisingly Spanish culture. As a Shonen anime, I enjoy the fighting sequences and battles between Ichigo and the numerous enemies he faces. The shows a progression in Ichigo’s maturity and how he becomes stronger to not only defeat his opponents, but also the people he cares about.

3) Claymore - Set in a medieval era, the world is infested with evil creatures called Yoma and they feed on human flesh. Only these hunters called Claymores (half human/half yoma) are capable of defeating these monsters. What is unique about the Claymores are that they are all women with the signature blonde hair and silver eyes (also known as silver-eyed witches). The story centres around a Claymore named Clare and how she seeks revenge for the death of her loved one. This show is definitely not for the faint of heart because it is VERY violent. Aside from the blood and gore, the animation is great and you get to learn more about Clare’s past and her motivations to continue living and fighting. Besides what guy doesn’t like girls carrying big swords? lol..

4) School Days - On the surface it looks to be your average Japanese highschool drama, but it actually touches upon some realistic scenarios of love, betrayal, sex and revenge. The show is about a highschool student named Makoto Ito, who starts becoming interested in a beautiful girl named Kotonoha Katsura, but is too shy to confront her of his feelings. Makoto’s classmate, Sekai Saionji, takes it upon herself to get Makoto and Kotonoha together. In the process, Sekai falls in love Makoto and they become intimately involved unbeknownst to Kotonoha. The anime is based on the popular Japanese game and it touches upon a lot of mature themes. What I enjoy about it is that it doesn’t hold anything back and I could see how many people can relate to the actions and feelings portrayed by the characters. I guess it can be the anime equivalent of a “soap opera”. Thank God there are only a few episodes left as opposed to dragging it on for season after season.

5) Naruto - The story of the life of Uzumaki Naruto and how he turns from a complete dropout into the greatest ninja (Hokage) in his village. I have kept up with the series since the beginning and it still grows strong till this day. Naruto is currently the most popular anime in Japan and craze has already been seen in North America. Fans of Naruto (also known as “Narutards”) have steadily grown in numbers and everything from video games, toys, clothings, food etc. bear the images and names of the series. If you want a funny, action-packed series then I suggest you give Naruto a try!