Ask John: Are There No Interesting Anime Series Left?

Question:
Are anime writers losing their golden touch or something? The last anime I’ve seen that I find the least bit interesting was Death Note and Monster, but now its run is over. Everything just seems so monotonous and mundane. After watching countless anime, don’t you feel the same? Can you recommend me a good one?

Answer:
I mean no personal offense, but I must admit to being shocked any and every time I encounter sentiments like this one. Considering the tremendous variety of anime available to viewers, I find it difficult to believe that any anime fan could possibly run out of interesting titles to watch. I suspect that fans who claim to have exhausted every high quality, unique, or interesting anime title haven’t extensively explored the breadth and depth that anime has to offer.

I can’t deny the accusation that anime is often shallow, stereotypical, or obviously designed to sell merchandise. After all, anime is a commercial art and the vast majority of Japan’s animators work for hire, producing the anime that corporate sponsors are willing to pay for. Just like America’s film and television industry, much of what’s produced is designed to appeal to average consumers, but unusual and exceptional productions do appear regularly as well. I will concede that the fall 2007 season of Japanese television anime is a bit weak, but there are still some intriguing surprises available to astute viewers.

The current Mobile Suit Gundam OO television series satisfies in every aspect of its production: story and dialogue, action, character design, visual design, pacing, animation quality, music. The argument may be made that Gundam OO is little more than Gundam Wing with a fresh coat of paint, but originality is over rated. A work doesn’t need to be totally unique and refreshing to be enjoyable, entertaining, and intelligent.

Likewise, Shion no Ou combines elements of traditional Japanese strategy game anime Hikaru no Go with the suspense/murder mystery elements of Monster and Perfect Blue and manages to feel independent and interesting without feeling indebted to any earlier influence. Beyond just being attractive looking, Shion no Ou has an unusual (by contemporary standards) concentration on character development, believable character relationships, and slowly building tension.

Viewers that do insist upon uniqueness and originality can try watching Moyashimon. I can’t think of any other title in the history of anime that comes remotely close to matching Moyashimon’s combination of science, academics, agriculture, and “cuteness.”

I recently published a short list of “unique & original” anime from the past twenty years, which may offer some useful recommendations. In addition to the titles discussed in that article, there are a number of other anime worthy of recommendation, especially ones easily available to American fans.

The first DVD volume of Ryosuke Takahashi’s war drama series Flag has just premiered in America. This unique series employs a constant cinematic technique that I’ve never seen used so predominantly in any animated or live action film before. In addition to its cinematic style, Flag develops a provocative, morally challenging narrative by developing believable characters and a believable setting, then enhancing both by extensively examining the cultures, religions, and lives of the people involved in, and affected by Middle Eastern war.

Although copies will eventually become scarce due to Geneon USA’s closure, right now consumers can still easily acquire the entire Zipang television series. This absorbing and fascinating military sci-fi drama features empathetic, believable characters and a morally complex narrative that forces viewers to confront their own predispositions.

American consumers can also investigate interesting, complex, and commonly available titles like Evangelion, Noein, Fullmetal Alchemist, Yugo the Negotiator, Fushigi Yuugi, Berserk, Twelve Kingdoms, Gankutsuou, and anticipate upcoming American releases of Satoshi Kon’s magnificent feature film Paprika, and popular anime TV series Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Darker Than Black, and Code Geass. Viewers that have largely exhausted their American options can search for Japanese exclusive titles like Akagi, Bokurano, Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto, and the Violinst of Hameln television series that offer darker, more serious, complex, and intelligent dramatic stories.

I can’t guess what every, or even any particular anime fan will or won’t respect and enjoy, but I do know that there are enough engaging and intelligent anime series to satisfy any viewer. The titles I’ve suggested are just a representative sampling that may appeal to a viewer whose favorite series include Death Note and Monster. There’s more anime available than any single person can watch in a lifetime, and I can assure you from personal experience that you never know for certain how you’ll react to any particular anime until you actually watch it for yourself. Adopting the narrow minded presumption that there’s no interesting anime left can easily become a pair of blinders that prevent you from noticing shows which you may enjoy. I firmly believe that if you presume that there are always interesting anime titles available that you haven’t watched yet, you’ll eventually find those titles.