Top 5 Anime

Everyone has a list of a Top 5. Be it top 5 hip-hop artists or top 5 pizza toppings, we all have at least one list of top 5 somethings. Here I’m going to list my Top 5 anime of all time. For me, these are anime I can easily go back and watch the whole series at anytime. I have other lists of anime but this list is specifically for the anime I’ve watched over and over again and will most likely do it again.

1. Cowboy Bebop
   
   My absolute FAVORITE anime of all time. This anime is what happens when Jazz and an action/martial arts movie had a baby. A quick synopsis: “In the year 2071, the Solar System is linked by a network of hyperspace gateways. Police lose their grasp on crime and a bounty hunting system has been implemented. On an old fishing starship called the “Bebop,” a cool as Zen man of mystery, a macho former hard-boiled cop, a brash and fickle woman with a large debt, a whimsical whiz kid hacker and an unsuspecting Welsh Corgi band together to hunt bounty heads for a meager living. Unfortunately, they are some of the unluckiest people in the star system. These are the stories of the adventurous (and misadventures) lives of four struggling people and a dog.” The infusion of jazz throughout the series is what drew me to the series and the obscure progression of episodes is what kept me interested. It only had one season but that one season had everything; character growth, multiple plot lines, action, comedy. Many people say this anime is a “gateway” show for those attempting to find a first anime to watch. I agree. This would be a great show to start your anime journey.
2. Mobile Suit Wing Gundam
   
   “The story of Gundam Wing begins in the year After Colony 195, with the start of “Operation Meteor”: the scientists’ plan for revenge against OZ. The operation involves five teenage boys, who have each been chosen and trained by each of the five scientists, then sent to Earth independently in extremely advanced mobile suits (one designed by each of the scientists) known as “Gundams” (called such because they are constructed from a rare and astonishingly durable material called Gundanium alloy, which can only be created in outer space). Each Gundam is sent from a different colony, and the pilots are initially unaware of each other’s existence.” This series made me love mech anime series and Gundam in particular. This anime presented such a complex story for me at a young age (when I watched this) that it made me think outside of the box. And the fact that young kids (not my age) were the pilots of these massive bipedal machines, made me think that I could be one of those pilots as well. This showed me that anime series were very flexible and able to convey a complex story with great character development and amazing battles. Please add this to your Crunchyroll or Hulu show list, you will not be disappointed.
3. Yu Yu Hakasho
   
   “One fateful day, Yuusuke Urameshi, a 14-year-old delinquent with a dim future, gets a miraculous chance to turn it all around when he throws himself in front of a moving car to save a young boy. His ultimate sacrifice is so out of character that the authorities of the spirit realm are not yet prepared to let him pass on. Koenma, heir to the throne of the spirit realm, offers Yuusuke an opportunity to regain his life through completion of a series of tasks. With the guidance of the death god Botan, he is to thwart evil presences on Earth as a Spirit Detective.” Yu Yu Hakusho had the BEST ANIME INTRO of all time (fight me). It was so good they used it all 4 seasons of the show. Most anime series change the intro when something major happens or is about to happen (see: One Piece, Dragon Ball Super). Aside from the best intro song ever, Yu Yu had some of the most intense fight scenes, amazing character developing and interesting plot lines altogether. This is a fun anime mainly because the main character is an asshole and he accepts it and grows with it. The final season kind of fell apart but overall, the whole series is consistent with characters and action. This is a must to any and every anime lover and first timer.
4. Mobile Suit Gundam: 08th MS Team
   
   “The series is set in Universal Century 0079 in the jungles of Southeast Asia. The Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon are fighting a brutal guerrilla war for control of the area and its resources. Zeon’s best hope for victory in the region rests with an experimental mobile armor and its pilot, Aina Sahalin. Meanwhile, the Earth Federal Army, receive reinforcements in the form of Ensign Shiro Amada, newly named commander of the 08th MS Team. Aina and Shiro know each other from a mutual rescue in space, but when Shiro discovers that Aina is in fact the pilot of the Zeon mobile armor he is arrested for treason. The Federation offers Shiro one chance at redemption: He must take the 08th MS Team deep into Zeon held territory to find Zeon’s hidden base. With the Zeon backed into a corner, and the Federation dependent on Shiro and his team for victory, the star crossed lovers must decide where their true allegiances lie: with each other, or with their respective sides.” I started watching this series after I discovered the world of Gundam and decided to learn about the U.C universe. The 08th MS team told another aspect of the One year War during the time of the very first Gundam series. The artwork was masterful and the story was extremely well done. If you are going to watch this, please watch it after you watch the original Gundam series but before you start Zeta Gundam.
5. Hunter X Hunter
   This is a more recent anime even though the manga has been out for awhile. Hunter x Hunter is set in a world where Hunters exist to perform all manner of dangerous tasks like capturing criminals and bravely searching for lost treasures in uncharted territories. Twelve-year-old Gon Freecss is determined to become the best Hunter possible in hopes of finding his father, who was a Hunter himself and had long ago abandoned his young son. However, Gon soon realizes the path to achieving his goals is far more challenging than he could have ever imagined. This is a fun and action filled anime with some deep storylines. The manga has been on hiatus from time to time due to the writer being sick but I would suggest this anime to everyone who wants to give a newer anime a try.

Well that’s it for my Top 5 (for now). Feel free to leave comments on your top 5 or mine. I would gladly debate and/or acknowledge any differing opinion. Keep nerding out!