A

Ah My Goddess - Movie See: Oh My Goddess

Ai Yori Aoshi & Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi

In the opening Aoi, very traditionally dressed, has gone to Tokyo to look for someone special she has not seen in years. This sheltered girl has never done anything so bold and is quite confused with all the bustle of the train station. In the midst of all this her shoe strap breaks and she does not know what to do. Kaoru, young man, walks up and offers to fix it. He ends up helping her find her way as she is going to the same station as he is. Aoi has an address he offers to help her find, when they arrive and turn the corner all they see is an empty lot, it begins to rain. At the Kaoru's apartment Aoi does not know how to find the person she was looking for and pulls out a photo of her and him from when they were little. Kaoru looks at it and says "Why do you have a photo of Aoi-chan and me?" Aoi had misswritten the address. So begins a love story of a couple who's families had decided when they were very little that they would marry, a decision that was unmade shortly before the story begins.

Cultural Details: Contemporary urban life.

Cautions: Very slight sexual humor.

Akira - Movie

Famous for its historical importance in introducing anime to many in the English speaking world in the early 1990s when it played art house theaters. Many non-fans think of Akira as an example of the best in anime, which it was when it was released, it is now usually considered as an example of middle of the road animation which is an indication of how much anime has developed since it first came out. Akira is still a fun piece of work and likely to be popular in any collection with it's stunning graphics and highly innovative music track.

There is also an Akira manga translation available.

Cautions: One scene with upper torso nudity.

B

Banner of the Stars see: Crest of the Stars

Blood the Last Vampire (Movie)

Blue Seed - TV series

Momiji is a typical 14 year old, except that since she was a small child she has undergone regular Shintō ritual purifications and training by her grandmother. Other than that she is a little clumsy, weak in school, thinks she is an only child and in many ways still just a kid. But then she is threatened one morning on her way to school by a young man who mentions a twin sister and her school is attacked by something very nasty and very old that wants her dead.

Cultural Details: Many historical localities, landmarks, folklore, religion, relationships.

Cautions: Violence and some panty humor.

Blue Submarine No.6 - OVA series

A four part OVA series mixing computer generated animation with digitally painted cell animation. The animation is rough where the two are joined but this is quickly forgotten as the story draws you in. As the series progresses so does the ability of the studio to better blend the painted and computer generated elements. This is the tale of a future war between genetically modified creatures and the remnant of humanity struggling to survive. Caught in this was are characters on both sides who form an uneasy relationship.

Cautions: Violence and some slight nudity.

BubbleGum Crisis - OVA series

A series that has been popular with English speaking fans for many years. This is a series of stories about the Knight Sabers a mercenary group often fighting against an unscrupulous multi-national corporation and its partially biological Boomers. Strongly influenced by the US movies Bladerunner and Streets of Fire.
Note: There is also a Bubblegum Crisis 2040 TV series which is different from what I am recommending.

Cautions: Violence and mild nudity.

C

Castle in the Sky - Movie

Directed by Miyazaki Hayao. Sheeta has a gem that pirates and government agents are after. Pazu is an orphan living in a mining town with big dreams. Together they discover a common bond as they help each other and have an adventure the rest of us can enjoy watching.

Castle of Cagliostro - Movie

The Castle of Cagliostro is one of the most popular anime directed by Miyazaki Hayao before he went on to found the famous Studio Ghibli. The quality of this anime is so good it is hard to believe this is a title from 1979. The script was coauthored by Miyazaki and Yamazaki Haruya. Miyazaki also did the storyboards. And his touch shows with his trademark beautiful cloudscapes and flight sequences.

While not intended for small kids they seem to enjoy the slapstick humor of this title.

Chobits - TV series

Based on a manga by CLAMP. Hideki failed his college entrance exams and has moved to Tokyo to attend a special school to prepare him for another try. Raised on a farm he had no one to talk to as he worked but the animals and has a habit of talking to himself, much to our amusement. In Tokyo he is amazed how humanoid common persocoms (personal computers) are, and disappointed how expensive they are. One night while heading to his apartment he spots one in a trash pile and takes it home. Can this technically inept young man cope with a persocom in the form of a very cute girl, a persocom that is an unusual model unlike any on the market?

There is also a Chobits manga.

Cultural details: Everyday life in Tokyo.

Cautions: Incredibly cute, includes humorous sexual situations and nudity.

Cowboy Bebop - TV series

Bounty hunters near Mars in a future gone a little seedy, but then bounty hunters often are not in the best parts of town. As the story goes on you discover more about why the future is not all bright and shiny. Excellent jazz music by Yoko Kanno and well done choreography for the fight scenes. Aimed at an adult TV viewing audience this show is popular with teens.

Cowboy Bebop The Movie - movie

Set between episodes in the TV series the characters of the show are on the trail of a fugitive. A fugitive who has a very deadly weapon that already has killed hundreds, a fugitive who all reports indicate died years ago.

Cautions: Violence and cleavage.

Crest of the Stars - TV Series

Jinto's home world has been invaded by the Abh, a beautiful blue haired people who live for centuries with little sign of aging. His father makes a choice against overwhelming odds to prevent a war that is sure to be lost and Jinto has to live with the consequences. Then the story moves to seven years later when Jinto enters military training and meets Lafiel, an Abh trainee who is to be important in his life. Then war breaks out.

A great piece of science fiction dealing with the contact between two very different cultures.

D

The Dagger of Kamui - Movie

The story of Jiro, a foundling whose adopted family is murdered and his quest for revenge. With the assistance of a ninja master Jiro learns to be a skilled fighter. But not all is as it seems and he has to determine who is in fact his ally and who is his enemy. Set in the late Edo Period as the government of the shogun is collapsing with locations ranging from Hokkaido to the United States.

Cautions: Violence and mild nudity.

Cultural Details: Late Edo culture and politics.

Dirty Pair OVA series and movies

What can I say about a tongue in cheek science fiction series involving two attractive, underdressed female agents who always succeed in their missions with lots of collateral damage? Well I can say it's fun, action oriented and has some great lines as when one of our heroines said to a sexist marine "Gee you were good looking until you opened your mouth"

What I am recommending here is the older OVA series not the newer, and still amusing Dirty Pair Flash series.

There is also an excellent Dirty Pair pseudo-manga by Adam Warren as well as translated volumes of the original novels.

Cautions: Violence and mild nudity.

E

El Hazard: Magnificent World - Original OVA series

Partially inspired by the pulp science fiction of Edmund Hamilton and the old Prisoner of Zenda movie this is the tale of a young man who finds himself transported to another world. A world where it turns out he looks very much like a missing princess. A princess who is needed for public appearances.

(The original OVA series is recommended over the later TV and OVA series, The Wanderers: El Hazard, El Hazard 2 and El Hazard: The Alternative World)

Escaflowne ** TV series

High school student Hitomi has always been good at predicting the future with tarot cards. One day at school she collapses while at track practice and has a vision. That evening she finds out the boy she is in love with is going to leave Japan suddenly decides to tell him how she feels before he leaves. But the evening when she does part of her vision becomes real and in the end she is transported to another world. That is the first episode, to find what happens to her I suggest getting the whole series.

F

FLCL - OVA

Jr High student Naota's older brother has gone to America to play pro baseball and now has a blond girl friend. Mamimi, the brother's Japanese high school girlfriend does not know this but is making moves on Naota. Then Hanako shows up on a Vespa with guitar. Oh yes then there are the robots, aliens, government agencies.and a space pirate. Throughout all of this Naota has to deal with the hormonal changes of being an adolescent.

Cultural Details: Life in contemporary Japan. Comes with extensive liner notes

G

Ghost in The Shell

Ghost in The Shell - Movie

The critically acclaimed adaptation of Shirow Masamune's manga of the same title remains a visually stunning science fiction tale of political intrigue. Directed by Oshii Mamoru one of Kurosawa's favorite directors. The special edition of the video and the DVD include extras such as a "making of" behind the scenes look at the production.

Cautions: Violence, some nudity and skin tight body suits.

Ghost in The Shell 2: Innocence - Movie

Set several years after the first movie. The major is still missing, Batou and Tosuga are assigned a case which may or may not involve terrorists. A manufacturer of androids has been lending out test models to select clients. When the models break down and murder their new masters Section Nine steps in to investigate.

Cautions: Violence, some nudity.

Ghost in The Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Ghost in The Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig (TV series), Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society (movie)

Set either before the movie or in an alternative storyline the TV series shows the major and her comrades carrying out their duty as a special security unit. Fans of the manga will recognise some interesting hardware used by the members of Section Nine.
Warning: There are also two collections which are excerpts from the TV shows set up as single stories Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: The Laughing Man, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig: Individual 11. You may wish to avoid getting these.

There are also Ghost in the Shell manga and novels available

GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka - TV series

Ex-biker gone to college Onizuka decides to become a high school teacher, motivated by desires that would upset the parents of any teen aged daughter. But this highly short tempered and violent fellow also has a sincerity and concern for his students that shapes his actions in virtuous, if very unconventional, ways.

Cultural Details: Modern school and urban life.

Cautions:
Sexual humor, often at Onizuka's expense, and some violence, often at Onizuka's hands.
However the manga is stronger and is not recommended for kids.

Gundam See: Mobile Suit Gundam