Ask John: What Contemporary Anime are Destined to be Classics?

Question:
We know the Cowboy Bebop, and Full Metal Alchemist are two of them, but what recent anime, within the last decade or so, do you think will come to be considered classics?

Answer:
The exact characteristics that distinguish a classic from a merely good or even a forgotten anime are neither clear nor consistent. The title of “classic” may be bestowed upon an anime because of its quality, the impact and influence it had upon the anime industry, or even just its popularity. When we reflect upon anime titles from twenty, thirty, and more years ago there are revolutionary shows like Mobile Suit Gundam and Princess Knight; influential successes like Astro Boy; popular hits like Lupin the Third, Gatchaman, and Space Battleship Yamato; critical, artistic, and popular successes like Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind; and brilliant obscurities like Angel’s Egg. The only thing all of these titles have in common is the fact that all of them have secured an immobile fame. For some reason, each of the titles that we think of as “classics” is respected and remembered for making a significant, permanent, positive impact in the history of anime. So in order to predict which contemporary anime will be fondly remembered and respected twenty, thirty, or more years from now, it’s necessary to identify the anime which have made an indelible impression on the culture and history of anime. Quality, in fact, isn’t a primary consideration for “classic” status. What’s most important is lasting celebrity.

It should practically go without saying that the majority of Studio Ghibli’s recent films are destined for classic status, particularly Princess Mononoke (1997), Spirited Away (2001), Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), and Ged Senki (2006). Many Americans may question my inclusion of Ged Senki, but I’ll remind them that the picture did receive positive (although not stellar) reviews and was the highest grossing anime movie released in Japan in 2006.

Director Satoshi Kon’s major films also seem destined for posterity. Perfect Blue (1997), Millennium Actress (2001), Tokyo Godfathers (2003), and Paprika (2006) are all acclaimed masterpieces that will be beloved and respected by countless future generations.

Five other motion pictures that I believe are destined for perpetual respect, all for different reasons, are Jin-Roh (2000), Voices of a Distant Star (2002), Mind Game (2004), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), and Tekkon Kinkreet (2006). Jin-Roh is a somber, philosophical, and haunting masterpiece. Voices of a Distant Star is a brilliant work, and also a landmark in the evolution of anime. Similar to the way the Daicon IV opening animation introduced the world to the animators of Gainax, Voices of a Distant Star marked the arrival of the amazingly talented animator Makoto Shinkai, and signified another evolutionary plateau in the development of anime; the ability of a single animator to produce a work on par with top quality studio productions. If Angel’s Egg is the esoteric masterpiece of the 1980s, Mind Game may be its equivalent for the 2000s. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a touching, enthralling film clearly created for otaku and beloved by animation fans worldwide. And Tekkon Kinkreet is a widely acclaimed, visually arresting picture that also signifies the historical landmark of the first time a non-Japanese director has helmed a major anime theatrical production.

The 1998 Cowboy Bebop and 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist television series have already been mentioned. Another half dozen television series which I believe will be remembered and respected for decades are Pocket Monster (1997), One Piece (1999), Pretty Cure (2004), Keroro Gunso (2004), Mushishi (2005), and The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi (2006). Pokemon, One Piece, and Keroro Gunso are simply too successful and popular to become forgotten. These mainstream hits are today’s equivalents to vintage classics like Gatchaman, Space Cruiser Yamato, Speed Racer, Lupin, Moomin, and Ashita no Joe, which have a tremendous amount of nostalgic fame. Pretty Cure is both a popular success and a revolutionary title that will be remembered because of its unique contribution to the history of anime. In the same way that Cutey Honey merged magical girl and shonen anime, Pretty Cure combined Sailor Moon style transforming magical girls with Dragon Ball Z style fighting action. Mushishi is a series of such outstanding quality – both writing and animation – that I think it will always be cited as one of the highlights of television anime quality. And Suzumiya Haruhi has made such a phenomenal impact on the international fan community that I think its perpetual fame has already been firmly solidified.

The 2007 Les Miserables Shoujo Cosette and Kaze no Shoujo Emily television series are doubtlessly destined for perpetuity because they’re direct adaptations of famous world literature. Les Miserables is also part of the long running, celebrated World Masterpiece Theater anime series. I’m also tempted to nominate current television series Gurren Lagann, Oh! Edo Rocket, and possibly also Denno Coil as shows of such unique caliber that they’ll be fondly remembered by history, but in these cases, I think it may be especially premature to memorialize them while they’re still so new and untested.