The Philippine Online Chronicles

In the previous installment, I discussed the lack of consensus with regard to the best anime series of the previous decade, as well as the surprising absence of a number of very popular shows in the lists I perused. Today we’ll focus on some of the shows which did receive a lot of praise, though they fell short of emerging as “favorites” across the board. Unlike the shows in the top seven, many of those found in this list of ten did not surprise me, especially not—

Death Note: Certainly one of the most popular and also one of the most influential anime to come out in recent years—not just within the medium itself but in the wider realm of popular culture. The key is the simple, yet highly seductive central concept of a notebook that can be used to specify the death, and manner of death, of any person, simply by writing the name of the victim and the circumstances of his/her within its pages. It is a power fantasy that shines a spotlight on dark corners of the human soul—not just in fiction but, sadly, in reality as well.

Twelve Kingdoms: This is an older anime which still made a good showing, likely due to the strong narrative (which begins with ye olde staple plot of “girl transported to another world”) found in the light novel series on which it was based. (The novels are currently being translated into English; the first three of the six books have already been released.)

Black Lagoon: It’s hard to think of many anime that contain, in an entire season, the sheer amount of action and adrenaline that Black Lagoon can squeeze into a single episode (especially if a certain Maid makes an appearance). The fast pace, cinematic violence, and strong characters (especially the women—although Rock is still my favorite) make for an addictive and heady mix.

Gankutsuou: A re-imagining of Alexandre Dumas père's "The Count of Monte Cristo" set in the far future and presented in an unusual, yet captivating, visual style, this series was well received critically when it was first released, and even in its altered (both in aesthetics and in narrative) form, the story of family and vengeance still makes for riveting viewing.

Code Geass: Like Death Note, this is not one of the shows which I was surprised to see mentioned often, because since the first season Lelouch and co. have been ubiquitous across anime fandom. Using character designs more common to shoujo anime in a story rife with mecha, betrayals and over-the-top moments, the show has inspired passion in both its fans and critics (I gave up on it after the end of the first season).

Haibane Renmei: The series, whose title translated into English means the "Charcoal Feather Federation", features characters and a story inspired by the work of avant-garde creator Yoshitoshi ABe (who might be best known for his work on Serial Experiments Lain). The dream-like story focuses on winged girls who live in a seemingly idyllic countryside, bound by rules, mysteries, and dreams.

Baccano!: Only released this year in the United States, I’d hardly heard about this series before I noticed its popularity on the best-of lists. Another light novel adaptation, the story is told from multiple points-of-view that eventually intersect amidst an alternate version of 1930’s Prohibition-era America. It’s an interesting find, one which I’ll be on the look out for in the future--and that’s a reminder of why, regardless of the objective “accuracy” of these lists, browsing them is almost always a rewarding exercise. I hope that this run-down will help you find something new as well.

Azumanga Daioh: Originally a series of comedic four panel comic strips, the girls of Azumanga Daioh transitioned well to the small screen, together with their quirks and situational gags. It's a testament to the charm of the characters and the broad appeal of its humor that the show is able to inspire laughter from viewers unfamiliar with Japanese culture and society; Osaka, it turns out, is simply someone we all need to laugh at, whatever our nationality.

Kino's Journey: Again based on a light novel series, the show focuses on the journeys of Kino and her talking motorcycle as the companions spend no more than three days at each stop on a tour of an alternate world, each destination and episode serving to reinforce the story's theme: "the world is not beautiful, therefore it is."

Full Metal Alchemist: While a second anime series (tying in more closely to the source manga) was recently launched, the original anime adaptation still ranks high in the minds of many anime fans. Adept at mixing humor and action, it is the underlying tragedy of the story that gives both power and forward motion to the narrative, all the more so because the Elric brothers are such sympathetic protagonists. Equivalent exchange is the law that governs the magic system of the setting--but the notion that nothing of great value can be achieved without great sacrifice can also be applied to the plot as a whole.

Well, that’s it for our honorable mentions. In Part 3 we’ll tackle the seven shows which seemed to be the most highly acclaimed across the lists put up by anime fans, blogs, and sites.

(Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gankutsuou)