For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a fan of animation in any form. Looney Toons, Hanna-Barbera, Disney, you name it, I watched it. Bugs Bunny and Huckleberry Hound were my favorites. As far as Disney went, Robin Hood was – and still is – my favorite of their animated films.
However, as I got older, I started to discover new and more interesting cartoons – things labeled anime. There was something about the animation that drew me. It could be both serious and silly in the same instant, something that was new to me. The colors, the styles, and even the stories were different from what I was used to seeing on my TV.
While anime didn’t really hit its stride in the US until the 1990’s, there was a ton of it on television in the 1980’s. Things like Voltron, Robotech, and even Belle and Sebastian that I used to watch religiously on Nickelodeon. Even though science fiction wasn’t a big draw for me, the mech or robot themed anime were always my favorite. Even now, way too many years later, I’m still drawn to ships that can convert into robots.
Anime started to become more accessible in the 1990’s, although it was still hard to find at times. I remember there was one store in the mall – Suncoast – where I could find anime to buy. It was either that or we trekked out to a local record shop that carried imports and hard-to-find music and movies. But I went to whatever lengths I could to find new things to watch. I still have a lot of those original DVDs too – Akira, Grave of the Fireflies, and a few others.
I discovered Hayao Miyazaki quite by accident. Since my late husband’s dad was in the military and his mom was a nurse, they didn’t go all out on Thanksgiving. It was usually just the three of them, so they’d go out to a movie and come home to a normal meal later that night. In 1999, when I was pregnant with our first daughter, we picked a random movie and went to see it on Thanksgiving Day. The movie we ended up seeing was Princess Mononoke.
It isn’t my favorite Miyazaki movie, but it was my first. It was fast-paced and a bit violent at times, but it had us hooked. So, when I spotted Spirited Away in Best Buy a few years later, it was an instant buy. It soon became my young daughter’s favorite movie; all she wanted to watch. So much so that she insisted on taking it with her to stay the night with my in-laws. When I picked her up the next day, my father-in-law says, “What the heck did you send with her last night? That was the weirdest thing I’ve ever watched.” Yeah, I know, sorry.
The funny thing is that both of my girls love Disney, Pixar, and Studio Ghibli movies. However, only my younger one acquired a love for anime like I did. It’s always fun to be watching something and have her notice and say, “Oh, I loved this!” It’s been a great bonding experience for us over the years.
I will say though that as an adult, I’ve mostly migrated to watching happy, low-stakes anime. But there are a few grittier shows that I also enjoy.
If you’re curious or looking to get into anime, I’d suggest anything of Miyazaki’s. My favorites are Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Kiki’s Delivery Service. Or, if you have more time on your hands, Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel, The Legend of Korra are both fabulous anime series. With the bonus that they are family friendly.
Some of my other favorites are:
Gravitation. This is about a 16-year-old rock star who finds and falls in love with a reclusive writer. It is ridiculous and funny and has a great soundtrack as well. One downside is that it’s an older anime, so the animation isn’t the best, but it’s still a ton of fun.
Kino’s Journey and Kino’ Journey: The Beautiful World is about Kino who travels from place to place, exploring the world. It’s beautifully animated and has a lot of great stories. This was another that my older child loved as a kid.
Violet Evergarden. I’m not sure what to say about this other than to bring a box of tissues. You will cry.
Your Name isn’t any better than Violet Evergarden, however, the animation is gorgeous, and the story will suck you in. It’s about a girl who dreams she’s a boy in Tokyo and a boy who dreams he is a girl in the rural countryside. The ending surprised me, but it was oh so good.
Lastly, I’d recommend Spy X Family about a spy, an assassin, and telepathic child coming together to form a fake family. Lots of action and super funny at times.
I could go on about this for days, but I’ll resist the urge and let you get on with your day – or your anime watching.
Is anime or other animation something you enjoy? Do you have any favorites to suggest?
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