To mark the closure of the first year of operation for this website, I'll list my top 3 favourite animes which I watched this year. As for the others I watched, I'll have to wait for a while before I do a recap.
Top 3 of 2005
1) Hachimitsu to Clover (Honey and Clover)
It's been a long time since I felt so deeply for an anime and took time to think about each episode I watched. Most of the time, watching an anime does not require me to do a lot of thinking but this is very different. I can identify with most if not all of the problems faced by the characters so this is probably why this has left such a deep impression on me. Searching for jobs, problems faced when ideals and reality do not converge, apprehension over the future...been there, done that. The relationship aspect was done in a sleek manner and did not go through a lengthy process which is admirable. I simply hate it when stories about love triangles simply beat around the bush until the verdict is delivered. Thankfully, Hachikuro does not go to that extent.The BGM, OP and ED are very suitable and has led me to search for the songs sung by Spitz and Sugashikao which were played extensively within the anime. I even bought the soundtrack for this anime as I was simply obsessed with some of the BGM pieces played during the emotional scenes. With regards to Yuki's Dramatic, her high-pitched voice may be quite hard for me to accept but I still like the lyrics and the slow-motion version of the song played in the anime.
Although the ending is rather vague, I like it this way since this offers more room for imagination instead of attracting criticism for the outcome which may not go down well with everyone.
I like most of the characters but my No.1 will be Morita Shinobu. Well, he may be playing the fool most of the time but there is a hidden side to him which can only be seen when he puts on a serious expression. Morita may be good at being the onlooker for others' affairs but when it comes to his own matters, he tends to fumble by being unable to show his true self frankly. For example, he knows exactly how Mayama and Yamada are in anguish over their unrequited feelings but when it comes to Hagu, Morita is so clumsy in his approach towards her that he causes her to possess complicated feelings towards him. Ueda Yuji managed to show both sides of this complicated character in a distinct manner which enhanced my liking for Morita. Another character I like would be Nomiya Takumi even though he is not one of the main cast members. Well, I feel that he is similar to Morita in one way or another where they have two distinct sides and people tend to take them not so seriously all the time. However, they are deeper than what others think and conceal their real thoughts and feelings. That's quite similar to me where I tend to keep to myself and rarely share my thoughts with others. The way others view me is very different from who I really am. I don't mean this in a bad way like I am hiding some evil thoughts deep down but I just don't feel comfortable sharing my feelings with others. Maybe that's why I feel a sense of familiarity towards Morita and Nomiya as if I'm seeing myself in them.
2) Hagane no Renkin Jutsushi (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Although this is not a current title, I finished watching it this year so I'm including it in my Top 3. It combines humour and issues which invoke thought on brotherly love, moral dilemnas and friendship. There were times when I actually cried like when Nina was transformed into a kimera and subsequently killed by Scar as well as the death of Hughes. The laughter helps to soften the seriousness of the plot so that it is more acceptable to younger audiences. As for me, the appeal of the series lies in the unravelling of the real truth behind the truth on the surface. There were telltale signs here and there but I felt that the outcome didn't make me feel like an idiot though. Well, the ending of the anime did not bring an entire closure to the story since it will be continued in the movie so I'm looking forward to receiving the special edition DVD next month.My favourite characters would be Hughes, Mustang, Greed and Scar. Well, I must say that this is partly due to their seiyuus but I find these 4 guys very interesting. The friendship between Hughes and Mustang really touched me. Besides that, these two guys are somewhat like Morita and Nomiya whom I mentioned above as guys with two facades. I seem to have a soft spot for such people who are like me. As for Greed, no doubt he's a baddie, he is a charismatic villian and Suwabe Junichi's voice makes him more appealing as compared to his peers. Last but not least, Scar may seem like a bad guy but he has a reason for his actions. He died in such a tragic manner that I think he deserves better. If you notice, Suwabe-san and Okiayu-san who plays Scar both appear in Tennis no Oujisama as two of my top 3 favourite characters so it's understandable why I have a soft spot for roles they play.
There are numerous theme songs over the run of 51 episodes but I liked the first OP Melissa by Porno Graffitti, the second OP Ready Steady Go by L'arc en Ciel and the second ED Tobira no Mukou e by Yellow Generation only. As for the rest, all I can say is that they are not my cup of tea.
3) Paradise Kiss
The stylish atmosphere and fast-paced plot was a refreshing change from the usual types of animes I have been exposed to. The catchy OP and ED really got to me and I found myself listening to the songs everytime which is quite rare. I skip the songs since this can get boring over time. Unless I like it so much, I don't bother listening to it more than 5 times. This is the first time I have seen an anime based on the fashion scene so there's the novelty factor which keeps me interested. Besides that, it's as if there's an invisible force drawing me to watch this week after week just like how Paradise Kiss offers Yukari the capacity to dream. Although some of the developments do not really link well, I feel that given the short run of the series, the animators have done reasonably well. If it had another 12 episodes, I think it might be able to offer a better-structured story. Now that I've finished watching this, it's time to buy the manga and find out why people are saying that the anime is inferior to it.
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