Why 'Yuri on Ice' Was One Of The Best Animes of the 2016 Fall Season

The Fall 2016 anime season has given us many shows that could easily be called favorites, but none has shone more exuberantly than the highly anticipated sports anime Yuri on Ice. From the series initial announcement, fans were excited and anxious to see how an original sports anime that focused on the sport of competitive figure skating would play out and if it would live up to other series of the sports genre. Following the story of two young skaters in competition and their journey to make it to the top, Yuri On Ice provided much more than a glimpse into the figure skating world. A story of rivalry, acceptance, hard work and love, Yuri on Ice blew professional figure skaters, critics and fans alike out of the water and is quite possibly the best anime series of 2016.

WARNING: SPOILERS!

Poster for Yuri On Ice

The Story

Synopsis:
Reeling from his crushing defeat at the Grand Prix Final, Yuri Katsuki, one Japan's most promising figure skating, returns to his family home to asses his options for the future. At age 23, Yuri's window for success in skating is closing rapidly, and his love of pork cutlets and aptitude for gaining weight are not helping either. However, Yuri finds himself in the spotlight when a video of him performing a routine previously executed by five-time world champion, Victor Nikiforov, suddenly goes viral. In fact, Victor himself abruptly appears at Yuri's house and offers to be his mentor. As one of his biggest fans, Yuri eagerly accepts, kicking off his journey to make it back onto the world stage. But the competition is fierce, as the rising start from Russia, Yuri Plisetsky, is relentlessly determined to defeat Yuri and win back Victor's tutelage. (MyAnimeList)

Interestingly, Yuri on Ice is considered to be an anime of the Sports/Comedy genre. It was not until later episodes that elements of romance were introduced into the series, adding another set of obstacles for the series leads to face and eventually overcome. The series initial set of episodes focused on Yuri's skating transformation under Victor's coaching and how Yuri found and felt that he could do anything with Victor's help and support. As the series progressed towards the second half of the season the relationship between the two began to morph into a more personal one, adding a romance aspect to the series already strong student vs coach relationship. It was at this moment that Yuri on Ice almost perfectly blended the genres of sports and romance in ways that left anime audiences stunned, anxious and hungry for more. With the growing relationship between Yuri and Victor now introduced, the series balanced the initial draw of Yuri Katsuki's figure skating career along with his love and admiration for Victor. Both on the ice and in their personal lives, Yuri and Victor remained true to themselves while also pushing one another to be better, allowing Yuri On Ice to stay true to its original sports/comedy label while also turning romantic along the way.

The development of the series story line was near perfection and was captivating through the series twelve episode length. With only twenty-three minutes per episode, Yuri On Ice was able to propel the story at such a pace that both advanced the main leads goals and objectives while not neglecting the series remaining cast or the true nature of the show - figure skating.  

The Cast

(Left to Right: Yuri Plisetski, Victor Nikeforov and Yuri Katsuki)

The cast of Yuri on Ice is one of the most well constructed and lovable casts of any Sports anime I have seen to date. The first and obvious attractions came from the series three male leads: Yuri Katsuki, Victor Nikiforov and Yuri Plisetsky, who each brought an immense amount of originality, personality and joy to the series.

Yuri Katsuki
Age: 23

From his first appearance, Yuri Katsuki is an incredibly reserved and introverted person, reeling from his numerous loses in figure skating competition. That quickly changes however as Victor travels to Japan and exclaims that he will now become Yuri's coach, instilling slight confidence in Yuri to fight his failures. With the help and support of Yuri's idol and now coach, Yuri is ready to take on the competitive figure skating stage with a new air of confidence and responsibility to perform well, as his performances reflect back on Victor. As the series continues Yuri blossoms into an individual who is driven and fully dedicated to his figure skating career, while also becoming more aware of his own feelings towards the sport of figure skating and those towards Victor. Yuri's transformation both from a naive, scared figure skater to a confident undeterred competitor is beautiful, as is his transformation to a young man who has learned the true meaning of love.

Victor Nikeforov
Age: 27

Perhaps more important than Yuri Katsuki and the driving force of the entire series is Russian skater and five time gold medal world champion Victor Nikiforov. Victor's initial introduction is one of extreme beauty and poise as he skates his routine in the Grand Prix Final, inspiring Yuri to copy his routine and eventually bring Victor to Japan. Victor's personality and admiration for Yuri is consistent throughout the series, with only small differences becoming evident as more regarding the duos initial meeting is revealed. Victor on the outside is an unstoppable figure skating legend, but on the inside he is a goofy, honest person who sees Katsuki's talent and becomes determined to foster it due to a few specific chance encounters. Victor throughout the series continuously hints that he has feelings towards Yuri past that of just being his coach, though it takes Yuri quite some time to catch onto this. Even when Victor's reasons for truly taking a season off to coach Yuri are revealed, Victor stays loyal to the job and role he has agreed to play and is true to the figure skater that Yuri has become under his wing. 

Yuri Plisetski
Age: 15

Last but certainly not least is Yuri Plisetsky, Yuri Katsuki's rival in the figure skating world and a former competitor of Victor's. At only fifteen years of age, Plisetsky is set to make his senior debut and compete in the next Grand Prix Final where he vows to crush Yuri Katsuki. While Plisetski's character is more cut and dry than the others, he is portrayed as a tough, hard working skater who will stop at nothing to defeat Katsuki and prove to Victor that he is just as good, if not better than Yuri and even Victor himself. Plisetski's character development is small, but in the flashbacks seen throughout the series we are given insight as to why his attitude is so harsh and why he is so driven so fiercely.

With such strong male leads, Yuri On Ice could have easily thrown the remaining cast aside, but thankfully this was not the case. The series supporting cast is not one of particularly large number but their individualization and relatability to the series subject matter and three male leads made them just as important. This supporting cast stood out from other sports supporting casts, such as that of Free, due to their incredibly detailed and fleshed out characterizations and personalities both showcased on and off the ice. Additionally, all of the figure skaters used in Yuri On Ice are based on real figure skaters who remain active in figure skating, have taken note of their striking resemblances to characters within the series and have praised and endorsed the series for its beauty and portrayal of such a physically demanding sport. 

There are many supporting characters of note, but the group of international figure skating competitors seen throughout the series are the main secondary focus. Covering a range of countries and ages, the figure skaters competing against Katsuki and Plisetski are vastly talented and strong forces that stand between them and a spot on the podium. 

Phichit Chulanont - Country: Thailand

Age: 20

Of all the skaters seen throughout the series, Phichit is most prominent and plays a crucial role in the development of Yuri Katsuki. Yuri's old rink mate from training in Detroit, Phichit is Yuri's greatest friend and supporter and he can always be seen supporting his fellow competitors when not on the ice himself. Additionally, Phichit is the most cute, sincere and kind skater of the group and loves to spend time with his friends while taking as many selfies as he possibly can. 

Christophe Giacometti - Country: Switzerland

Age: 25

One of Victor's biggest fans, Christophe spends much of the series expressing his desire to once again skate against Victor and prove that he himself is worthy of gold. After losing the gold to Victor in the previous Grand Prix Final, Christophe feels he must prove himself to the audience as well as Victor by delving into every performance he gives. Christophe is known for starting his routines slow and gradually building up to showstopping routines usually revolving or involving sexual arousal. Christophe considers Yuri Katsuki to be the one who took Victor away from the skating stage, therefore he must beat him in order to bring his longtime rival Victor back to the ice for another face off.

Jean-Jacques Leroy - Country: Canada

Age: 19

Jean-Jacques Leroy, Canada's most beloved skater with thousands of devoted fans, dances to his own tune. Known to his fans as 'King JJ', JJ thrives on elevating himself on a level and pedestal that is unattainable by anyone other than himself, an attitude that later comes back to hurt him. While his ego is big so is his heart and JJ is determined and driven to the core to obtain the gold, marry his fiancee and take his place among his family of skaters, which include his Olympic champion figure skating parents.

Otabek Altin - Country: Kahzakstan

Age: 18

A skater not as prominently featured in the series, Otabek is a quiet, dark horse that is not to be overlooked. A fierce competitor, Otabek is well loved within his own country though he at times comes off as cold and shy. His claim to fame came in the last Grand Prix Final where he won Bronze alongside Christophe winning silver and Victor taking the gold. Of all the skaters in the group, Otabek is most drawn to Yuri Plisetski, and tells him that ever since they participated in a camp together over the summer he has always striven to be like him though he is three years his senior.

Kenjirō Minami - Country: Japan

Age: 17

A small firecracker also from Japan, Minami is one of Yuri Katsuki's biggest fans and considers him his role model. He aspires to one day be like him and Yuri often compares Minami's skating to that of his former days before Victor became his coach. Never the less, Minami vows to prove himself to Yuri and the skating world while continuing to be humble and grow as one of Japan's number one stars among its young skaters.

Emil Nekola - Country: Czech Republic

Age: 18

Emil is a lovable skater from the Czech Republic who has a dynamic skating style that is all his own. He is incredibly pure hearted and innocent, which allows others to easily pressure, tease and get inside his head.

Leo de la Iglesia - Country: United States

Age: 19

Leo is driven to skate due to one thing: music. Music is his all, and without it he doesn't know if he would have continued in his skating career and journey. He revels in his performances with music that particularly speaks to him and often choreographs his own routines, providing fresh takes and modern strides into the figure skating future.

Seung Gil Lee - Country: Korea

Age: 20 

It's all about calculation. An emotionless person and skater, Seung focuses all of his attention purely on how to improve his skills and fix his mistakes. He takes no interest in the music for his programs or his many fans who support him. 

Michele Crispino (AKA "Mickey" - Country: Italy

Age: 22

Part of a well known brother-sister skating pair, Mickey is well known for his pair skating with his sister Sara in their home country of Italy. When in competition he relies on the presence and support of his sister in order to generate a successful performance, and in everyday life he is overly protective of her from other men. He is good friends with fellow skater Emil and has an incredibly serious and up-tight personality.

Guang-Hong Ji - Country: China

Age: 17

Hailing from China, Guang-Hong is one its youngest aspiring skaters. Good friends with both Phichit and Leo, Guang-Hong is incredibly sweet and impressible and dreams of becoming a Hollywood star in addition to a well known figure skater. 

Georgi Popovich - Country: Russia

Age: 25 

The same age as Christophe from Switzerland and fellow rink mate to Yuri Plisetski, Georgi also hails from Russia and trains under Yuri and Victor's former coach, Yakov. With Victor out of his way Georgi is sure that he is Russia's best skater and he thrives on his artistic ability within his routines. 

The series entire cast is easily one of the most attractive and relatable casts I have seen in anime. With characters who all are distinctly individual, who have specific goals and desires and who you just cannot hate, the cast of Yuri on Ice is truly unforgettable and as the series opening song suggests, is born to make history.

The Music

Equally if not more important to figure skating is the music selected to accompany a skaters routine. How the music reflects a skaters theme and emotionally connects with them specifically parallels to the audiences connection with their performances and can be one of the many make or break elements to a successful performance and high score. As with many other aspects of Yuri on Ice, the music was superb and almost perfectly accompanied each skaters personality, skating goals and themes chosen for competition. While the entire Original Soundtrack is amazing, a few tracks specifically stood out as music that both could be used in real ice skating competition and music that is a beautiful, lingering taste of the entire soundtrack:

1. Yuri on Ice (Yuri Katsuki's Free Skate Program Music/Yuri Katsuki Theme)
2. Stay Close to Me (Aria from Victor Nikiforov's Grand Prix Final skate)
3. Serenade for Two (Michele Crispino's Free Skate Program music for the Rostelecom Cup)
4. Prism (Instrumental - Skaters walking to rink for Champoinchip title)
5. Reunion (Instrumental - Airport scene music from EP 9)

And, of course:

Yuri on Ice Opening: Born to Make History - Performed by: Dean Fujioka
&

Yuri on Ice Ending - You Only Live Once - Performed by: YURI!!! On Ice feat w.hatano

The amount of music used throughout the series is honestly astonishing and for all of it to be of good quality and substance is really quite a triumph and tribute to the series. From music used in each skaters program, to the series main theme to music used in smaller but incredibly significant scenes, Yuri on Ice provides an incredibly stirring, moving and emotional soundtrack that is at least worth a listen if not an immediate buy.

Animation & Art Style

I initially began watching Yuri on Ice was because I had seen the series promotional poster and videos and from an animation standpoint it looked absolutely beautiful. Like many other fans, I had never seen a figure skating series and was curious to see how such a series would be animated and presented. Figure skating is quite tricky to animate, but with the use of special cameras and new live action technology the series animators were able to capture the routines first performed by professional skaters, which were then transformed into animated beauty. I was thrilled to see that the series animation was not only incredibly well done but also greatly tailored to highlight the sports physical difficulty but also the costumes worn in competition. Figure skating costumes are renowned for being over the top and even gaudy, and while the costumes used within Yuri On Ice fit into this stereotype they were just so lovely to look at, both in motion and standstill, that that didn't matter. You will simply be drawn in with animation and an art style that is gorgeous and is truly dedicated to showcasing the sport of ice skating.

Messages

So what is the message of an ice skating, sports anime? Since its sports, shouldn't the series be all about fan service like Free? For Yuri on Ice many messages were left with viewers, with three major statements coming to light by the end of the series first season. 

The first message seen within the series was the fact that you can do anything. Once you set your mind to something anything is possible and any dream is attainable. The second message is somewhat similar to the first, being that you should always do the thing you love regardless of what others say about it or your abilities. In the case of Yuri Katsuki, many saw his skating talent though he did not place in his first attempt at the Grand Prix Final. Additionally. Yuri himself considers giving up at various times, which slowly fades away as Victor comes to his aid. With Victor's help and by overcoming personal obstacles, Yuri is able to focus more on the sport he loves and why he loves it, rather than getting caught up in what other people think of him and their opinions on his choice of career. The final message, perhaps the greatest the series could have given us, was that love can happen to anyone and when all is said and done, love wins. The relationship between Yuri and Victor was beautiful before their relationship turned serious, and even when this occurred halfway through the series Yuri and Victor were the same lovable people they had always been. To make things even better, all those in Yuri On Ice including Yuri Plisetsky supported their relationship, as have all Sports and Yaoi fans. The series message of universal love was quite refreshing for a sports anime and was a wonderful reminder that all love is beautiful, no matter who it happens between.  

"China's On! The Grand Prix Series Opening Event!! The Cup of China Free Skate"
(Episode 7)

"Yuri vs Yuri! The Horror!! Rostelecom Cup, Short Program"
(Episode 9)

"Gotta Supercharge it! Pre-Grand Prix Final Special!"
Episode 10

"Gotta Supercharge it! Pre-Grand Prix Final Special!"
Episode 10

Voice Acting: Japanese and English Dub Performances

As Yuri On Ice has been Simulcast this season, its initial and only available form was Japanese with English subtitles. Halfway through the series however, Funimation Entertainment acquired the rights to the show and began broadcasting it as part of this season Broadcast dubs, with one new episode dubbed in English available once a week. There are those who strictly only watch sub and likewise those who only watch dub, and then there are a select group who watch both, with myself belonging to the last group. I tend to watch anime in its original Japanese first and then watch it again in English in order to see it in its original form before it is edited to fit English. While the sub vs. dub war still runs rampant among fans both sets of performances for Yuri On Ice are incredibly well cast and performed, providing two very different but equally enjoyable versions and languages to enjoy the series.

Why You Should Watch Yuri on Ice

Yuri On Ice is a heart-stopping, tear jerking, thrilling ride from start to finish. It is a true tribute to figure skating and a milestone in the world of anime filled with numerous characters to love, a story that challenges preconceived notions of competitive figure skating, music that is truly moving to experience, voice acting performances that are top notch, animation that is simply stunning and a romance that is sure to leave you wanting more.  

Extra

Yuri On Ice may not be all sunshine and rainbows according to critics. Over the course of the series many have taken particular interest in the mental state of Yuri Katsuki, drawing parallels between him and anxiety and other metal disorders that he may suffer from. This adds yet another unforeseen element to the series and paints Katsuki in a much different light, which in comparison to the series story line and Yuri's personality makes a great deal of sense. While the theory that Yuri suffers from anxiety or other mental disorders has not been confirmed, many critics have pulled the series apart to uncover the meaning underneath the series and are beginning to see it as a series that deals with far more than competitive sports among young men.

How anxiety and mental health shape the story of 'Yuri On Ice'
http://www.dailydot.com/parsec/yuri-on-ice-anxiety-mental-health/

'Moments Life This' - Yuri X Victor (AMV)

Yuri On Ice - Official English HD Trailer

Yuri!!! On Ice - Fall 2016 SimuDub English Trailer

Funimation Entertainment

Available to stream in Japanese with English subtitles at: 

http://www.crunchyroll.com/ (additional fees may be required)

Available to stream in English Dubbed form at:

http://www.funimation.com/home (additional fees may be required)

Original Soundtrack available on iTunes and Spotify

More information about Yuri On Ice can be found at:
https://myanimelist.net/anime/32995/Yuri_on_Ice

DISCLAIMER: 

None of the Videos or Art used are mine - all rights respectively go to their creators and producers

Aishiteru: Live, Love Anime - Part XVI

Sukitte li na yo (Say I Love You) (2012)

Video: Say I Love You Trailer

Mei Tachibana has always isolated herself from everyone due to her belief that all people will eventually betray one another and therefore meaning relationships are not worth the effort, but when she meets Yamato Kurosawa, everything changes. Yamato, the most popular boy in school, has fallen head over heels in love with Mei, but as Mei does not know how to approach others or handle her own feelings, she struggles to accept this fact. Despite it all Yamato continues to pursue Mei in hopes they can form a relationship that both goes beyond friends and will help Mei to understand herself, her feelings and the worth of others.

Why I began this series: I had seen Say I Love You many places for quite some time, and after just finishing Ajin I was looking for something a little more lighthearted - thus I began Say I Love You.

Thoughts on the series:

My feelings on Say I Love You remain jumbled. There were many aspects of the series that I enjoyed quite a lot, while there were also things I felt indifferent towards. While the series followed the standard romance anime formula, I was quickly impressed by how Say I Love You handled its romance elements, setting it apart from many other romance animes I have seen. The connection between Yamato and Mei felt very real from the start it was great to see such a strong relationship between the main characters that was not purely based on the physical aspect. While the relationship between Mei and Yamato felt rushed at the start their feelings for one another were constant and unyielding, showing how it truly feels to fall hard in love. This was a very refreshing take on romance and it made both Mei and Yamato characters that could represent anyone in real life relationships and how in the end we all just want to be loved for who we are. This and many other sentiments like it were some of the series best qualities, as both the main pair and many of the secondary characters dealt with issues that many young people experience today, such as body image. Say I Love You cont continually addressed this and many other issues and in the end sent the message that people who are worth holding onto will love you for who you are and there is no reason to change yourself for anyone. Unsurprisingly, the characters of the series were the driving force of these messages and many made strong impressions from the start. Though Yamato fit the general, adoring male protagonist, I was glad to see the female lead, Mei have a strong , reserved but direct personality. Unlike many other female leads in romance anime Mei always knew what wanted, even if she didn't know how to go about it and she always spoke her mind no matter what anyone else thought about her. Even as the series progressed and Mei came to better understand herself and how it feels to be in love her original spark and personality never faded and she ultimately did not change anything for Yamato, who in the end confessed that he loved her for her. The secondary cast was much the same, its characters eventually coming to the realization that you should not care what others think about you and that people will like you for you, but this said however, some of the secondary characters were very weak. With almost all of the character development of the series focused on Mei and Yamato, the secondary cast was often left to fend for themselves when it came to personal growth or change, even though almost all of the characters were able to do this at one point or another. The only character I particularly was not fond of was Kai Takemura, which saddened me as in the English Dub he was voiced by Andrew Love, the same voice actor who many times made me laugh and drove me to tears as Akio Furukawa in Clannad and Clannad: After Story. Despite Love's performance, Takemura suffered most from little character development in addition to not having substance behind him or a reason for being a part of the series except to shake things up. This said however there was no character in Say I Love You that I hated and I grew to like most of the characters soon after their initial introductions. But the characters were not completely at fault for their development, as there were many times that the plot outside of the romance seemed jumbled. I often felt that some episodes belonged before others, especially the final episode of the series which felt extremely out of place. If the series had had an easier flowing outline along with better pacing, Say I Love You would have been very different. Another element of the series that had me undecided on my opinions was its animation. Much of the series was beautifully done, especially its backgrounds and the immense amount of detail especially shown in the characters expressions. However, many of the character designs, including Yamato, had me constantly flip flopping between approval and disapproval, making me unsure whether to praise or or write off the animation all together. At first glance Say I Love You looks beautiful, but it is definitely an animation style to fit a certain taste. Then came the English Dub, which quite surprisingly, I did not enjoy. The only other anime where I have encountered this was with the newly released English Dub for Your Lie In April, which I did not nearly enjoy as much as I did the series in its original Japanese. Though I did not enjoy the Dub, I plan in the near future to re-watch Say I Love You in its original format to see if there is any drastic changes on my opinions towards the series. 

Within the realm of romance anime, Say I Love You is a good series that is definitely worth your time. Telling a wonderful love story of young love, Say I Love You reminds us all that it is alright to fall in love and it can strike anyone at anytime.

Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou (The Kawai Complex Guide to Manors & Hostile Behavior) (2014)

Video: Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou Opening

Usa Kazunari spends all his free time hidden within his high schools library, but not to read. Only there can he see Ritsu, a young girl and obsessed bookworm who can always be found buried in a book, and the girl whom Usa has had a crush on for quite some time. When Usa later that day moves in a boarding house known as the Kawai Complex and learns that Ritsu not only lives in the complex but is the daughter of the complex' owner, he couldn't be happier. Now living with Ritsu Usa hopes to become closer with her, but between school and their home life along with four unique residents will Usa be able to do so and will Ritsu finally open herself to others and recognize these unknown feelings she has for Usa?

Why I began this series: My first interaction with this series was unexpectedly finding its opening theme online which I discovered just as I was beginning to watch anime and instantly fell in love with. And almost one year later, I finally got around to watching the series that went with this great theme. 

Thoughts on the series:

Bokun wa Minna Kawaisou is simply a beautiful series. As its name implies, Bokun wa Minna Kawaisou is a cute and downright adorable series that between its hilarious and lively characters, its Slice of Life story and its drop dead gorgeous animation is a sight to see. A series only a few years old and centered around young romance, Bokun wa Minna Kawaisou is easily one of the best and well made romance series to date. The first thing that struck me about the series was its characters, a wide and colorful cast of individuals who all functioned as one, big dysfunctional family. While the cast was made up of your typical stereotypical characters - the innocent yet love struck male protagonist, the clueless female love interest, the woman for fan service, the pretty but devilish young girl, the masochist and the adorable old woman taking care of them all, they were such an amusing and intriguing cast that those labels in the long run made no difference whatsoever. All the characters were unique and quirky in their own way, making them not only relatable but also for a hilarious yet truly beautiful slice of life story. Usa may not have been the most impressive or original of protagonists but he still had a great deal of depth in addition to determination, with Ritsu being much the same. The secondary characters additionally were just as strong and fun to watch, all they all had distinct personalities that shower both their tough and soft sides. Even characters who were only in an episode or two were well done and developed so they felt like an equally important part of the story rather than just part of a side story, which can be difficult to execute especially in a romance and slice of life series. Following its strong cast was Bokun wa Minna Kawaisous relaxed plot line which for the main part remained purely focused on the relationship between Usa and Ristu. The plot line of teen romance may seem basic and somewhat overused, but the series extremely cute premise and characters were more than enough to make me want to keep watching until the very end. But of all the beautiful things in Bokun wa Minna Kawaisou its animation is the most notable and downright stunning element of the entire series. Bokun wa Minna Kawaisou is nothing short of a visual wonder, with bright, vivid colors and intricate lighting effects that are simply mesmerizing. The animation alone alone swept me off my feet, as each frame brought a new light and life to the scene at hand. Between the series vivid color palate, its gorgeous character designs and its wonderful lighting effects there was never a time I wanted to look away, purely because I did not want to miss any of its beautiful animation. and Bokun wa Minna Kawaisou it is easily one of the most beautifully animated series I have ever come across, as seen in both its promotional poster the series opening video and the photos below. 

Without a doubt Bokun wa Minna Kawaisou is one of the most stunningly animated, best Romance/Slice of Life anime out there. A coming of age story about love and the power of relationships, Bokun wa Minna Kawaisou is a series that is not to be missed or overlooked by any anime fan and a series that I would recommend to anyone, even if they do not care for a slower, less exciting story.

The Garden of Words (2013)

Video: Garden of Words Trailer

For young high schooler Takao Azizuki, rainy days are an escape from everyday society and the only days he will intentionally skip school to enjoy. Armed only with his umbrella and sketchpad spends these days in a small forest shelter where he can sketch the shoes he one day wishes to make. When he one day meets a a woman occupying the same shelter on a rainy day he at first is reluctant to join her, but eventually sits down with her and learns that she too skips work to enjoy these rainy days. The two agree to meet each other again but only on rainy days and they soon both find themselves longing for rain, not so they can escape the world, but so they can meet and perhaps help each other overcome the struggles that separate them from other and each other.

Why I watched this film: I had been meaning to watch The Garden of Words for quite some time, and as I had just received my Virtual Reality gear from Samsung I spontaneously decided to watch the forty-five minute film.

Thoughts on the film:

The Garden of Words was so simple, yet so beautiful. A story revolving around two people, their meetings, their feelings and how rainy days brought them together, this film was a simple but powerful feature that left me feeling a flood of emotions. I appreciated that the films romance was simple and more focused on the intellectual and emotional, as it detailed two people who had very different lives and issues. Using this as the entire plot line of the film, The Garden of Words seemed a very mature feature that could stand up to many of the full length animated films available today. Focusing completely on the two main characters, The Garden of Words told a very specific and detailed story of two people who found what they were looking for in each other because of the rain. Other elements of the film, including its animation, voice cast and soundtrack were top notch and added greatly to this already great film.

"I realize now, I was learning how to walk as well. I haven't mastered the steps, I fall too. But I'm on my path, my path... and one day that path... will take me to her"
- From The Garden of Words 

Doukyuusei (2016)

Video: Doukyuusei Trailer

Hikaru Kusakabe and Rihito Sajou are both part of their high schools choir club which has been preparing for the upcoming chorus festival. When Kusakabe discovers that Sajou, a young man who is considered a genius, isn't singing in class because he isn't good at it, he offers to coach him privately for the festival performance. Sajou agrees and the two meet regularly to work their chorus pieces but when they discover there is something much more than friendship between them, will they be able to be together despite their same gender?

Why I watched this film: I can remember seeing that Doukyuusei would be broadcast in select theater across the U.S in March, but sadly I was unable to attend any of its screenings. After remembering it suddenly and taking to the internet to see if the film was anywhere, I luckily struck gold and finally watched Doukyuusei.

Thoughts on the film:

Next to Love Stage!, Doukyuusei is the most well done yaoi I have seen thus far. A film only an hour in length Doukyuusei managed to tell its entire story in its run time and leave me absolutely and entirely in love with it. Only the beginning of its triumphs was its story, focusing on the lives and feelings of two young boys both in the choir club. While it seems that every anime, series or film, is set in your average high school and centered around teenagers who come to fall in love with their opposite during their various after school activities, Doukyuusei took this concept and took it to the next level. Unlike the main protagonist being part of such a club just to get close to the female protagonist that he happens to be falling for, Kusakabe offers to coach Sajou out of the goodness of his heart, before he discovers that he has feelings for him. This dynamic made Doukyuusei a joy to watch, and even after the choir festival was held both Kusakabe and Sajou continued to grow as they found themselves having to face their respective futures. The story of Doukyuusei was not only fresh, but incredibly innocent and adorable as it took a few turns that were unexpected and had me screaming at the screen. Alongside its story were its two characters, Kusakabe and Sajou, who fit the mold and mood of the film perfectly. While in the world of yaoi the roles of seme and uke seem cut and dry, they were brought to life in Doukyuusei in incredible ways - first by their voice actors and second by the films unique animation style. Kusakabe, voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya, was a perfect, relaxed and incredibly sensitive foil to the serious and concerned Sajou, voiced by Kenji Nojima. Their chemistry together was incredible and it truly felt as though they loved each other from the first moment they laid eyes of each other to their final kiss. But perhaps the most interesting aspect of the film was its animation, a completely hand-drawn style that I had not come across anywhere. The animation at the start looked amateur, but as the series continued I found it to be one of the films biggest highlights. The drawing additionally was rough and not entirely perfect, perhaps reflecting on the idea that no relationship can be this way and will have its bumps and flaws. It additionally went back and forth between your usual camera shots and panels like something from a comic, as that is what Doukyuusei was originally based on. The entire look of the film is what ultimately impressed me as it showed that it was able to tell a moving, and very applicable story without flashy and over produced animation. 

(Doukyuusei Kiss Scene)

Doukyuusei is a diamond in the rough. A film that is worth seeing even in you are not a Shonen Ai fan, Doukyuusei tells a beautiful love story between two young people who are willing to do anything and defy anyone that stands in their way of being together.

Why Anime? - 7 YouTube AMVs and MADs To Introduce Anime To Your Non-Anime Friends

I've recently gone trolling through YouTube for the perfect AMV or MAD, which can be hard to come by. As most AMVs or MADs are created for competitions at anime conventions or conferences, each video is planned out to the last and tiniest detail to make sure that everything is just right before the video is submitted for judging, and while some succeed more than others, there is a vast variety of AMVs and MADs out there to satisfy your current anime fix. But before you can begin watching AMVs or MADs, you should know the difference between the two.

So what is the difference between an AMV and a MAD? AMVs, or Anime Music Videos, are more common and popular videos purely made on a fan-made basis, usually by Americans. AMVs generally consist of clips from various animes that have been edited together to create one stunning video that is typically set to either a Japanese track or popular American song. The most popular AMVs can include clips from thirty to forty anime series and can even go higher than that if the creator has the time and desire to edit that many clips together. So how is this different than an MAD? MADs are usually made by Japanese fans or sources that can include both anime and non-anime clips. More than AMVs, MADs rely more on matching these clips with the music selected to evoke a certain feeling or make the viewer want to learn more about the media used. MADs are further created to introduce viewers to certain media, rather than a collage of various media spliced together. While MADs are far lesson popular, they still get top views alongside the thousands of AMVs that have been created and the thousands more that are sure to come as more anime is released each season.

Now that you know what an AMV and MAD are, you begin watching and finding those videos that speak to you. But what if you non-anime friend asks or states the following:

• Why do you love anime so much?
• Anime is dumb - its not a good representation of real life
• Anime is all just a bunch of girls with big eyes and really big boobs...
• What does anime have that regular films, cartoons and movies doesn't?
• How can you like something so, weird? Only nerds like anime.
• Anime is just cartoons
• Anime relationships aren't real. It's all fake and made up romance anyway, how can you get so invested in this stuff?

Besides giving them your opinions and feelings on the topic or maybe even introducing them to anime with a series you think they would enjoy, the following seven AMV/MAD videos are the perfect, accessible and quick rebound to show your non-anime friend why your love for anime is steadfast and strong.

DISCLAIMERS:

1. I did not create any of these videos! - All rights go to their creators

2. These seven videos represent what I believe to be the best introduction of anime to a non-anime friend. This list is purely an opinion.

3. These videos are in random order - each was selected for specific and different reasons as described below and they are all favorites

4. These AMVs and MADs were selected as they show a variety of anime series, therefore AMVs or MADs that only use clips from one series were not selected for this list

5. Enjoy!

1. [MAD] Love Is A Beautiful Pain - Endless Tears

MAD Creator: Kaneisvan137 (Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCArfNrV3_9UwL8Yb_p7HQWg)

Song: Endless Tears by Cliff Edge ft. Maiko Nakamura

Anime Used: 40+ (see video for full list)

With over 38 million views on YouTube, this MAD is perfect for showing your inexperienced anime friend why you absolutely love anime. This MAD has everything - different animation styles, a variety of characters, a look at anime special effects, feels and everything in between. Additionally, this MAD covers a wide variety of anime genres showing everything from adventure to romance, and between so much anime being available and almost fifty different series used for this video, there are infinite possibilities. Chances are you and your friend will find at least one series that peaks your interest somewhere in this MAD and you'll begin binge watching it immediately. While this MAD is more geared towards those anime characters in love, there are still plenty of exciting elements throughout the video to keep your interest high from beginning to end. All said and done, this MADs biggest triumph is its editing as its clips are perfectly synced to the music, the video overall is high in energy and it is simply one of the most stunning and well made MADs anywhere on YouTube.

2. We Are Satellites! AMV

AMV Creator: Jupperavo (Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCxzzn0k_NxKUcR1sfc6R4A)

Song: Satellites - Cash Cash

Anime Used: 40+ (see video for full list)

I came across this AMV recently and unexpectedly as YouTube was the first to recommended it to me. From its happy thumbnail photo, I clicked it and it instantly became one of my favorites AMVs to date. With just over 13 thousand views, this AMV is the perfect 2:30 video to show your friend what makes anime so different than regular movies . Unlike live actions films, anime is all about art style - and there are many different art styles used to create different genres and types of anime series and films. While many of these animation styles are related and some are used more than others, each animes particular art and animation style is only one of the elements that makes each series unique and a visual wonder. Like the MAD above, this AMV also shows a wide variety of anime characters from your typical high schoolers to your bad ass hero, is set to a great song and beautifully edited to show just how beautiful anime animation can be and that sometimes you don't need "live action" to enjoy a good story or something so visually stunning.

3. Everybody Deserves Somebody - AMV

AMV Creator: AnimeUnity (Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWqhbN-hHVbfFHT79Oi07dw)

Song: Settle for Less - Before You Exit

Anime Used (in order of appearance): Amagi Brilliant Park, Junjou Romantica, Sword Art Online, Nisekoi, Little Busters!, Akatsuki no Yona, Gugure! Kokkuri-san, Sakura Trick, Naruto, Orenchi no Furo Jijou, Nanatsu no Taizai, Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, Nagi no Asukara, Ao no Exorcist & Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!

Created by AnimeUnity, one of the most prominent and popular AMV channels on YouTube, this AMV focuses more on the "feels" commonly felt by every anime fan. In any anime series, "feels" are abundant and it's hard to get through or find a series that you haven't either ugly cried or teared up at. Nevertheless, this AMV takes a shorter selection of anime that mainly focuses on romance and the budding relationships between the specified characters, and is perfect to show the friend who is convinced that anime romance can't relate to real life romance. When it comes to romance animes in particular many have tragic endings, leaving viewers upset and angry that things had to end the way they did - but this AMV shows more of the positive sides of romance and reinforces the idea that anyone can fall in love at any time and with anyone. A sentiment I strongly believe in, I was thrilled to see that along with its beautiful and heartfelt song this AMV portrayed all kinds of relationships, including Yaoi (boy love) and Yuri (girl x girl) along with your typical heterosexual relationship. A video featuring some beautiful anime couples, intense in its "feels" and set to a song that is sure to have you singing along, this AMV is sure to make a strong impression of how romance can be beautifully portrayed in anime, just like real romance.

4. AMV - Keep Your Eyes Open

AMV Creator: NeverEnoughEpicAMVs5 (Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJl5inqzplQtQ5JdgXCW5ww)

Song: Keep Your Eyes Open - NEEDTOBREATHE

Anime Used: 30+ (see video for full list)

To the simple statement that "anime is dumb", this AMV is the perfect retaliation. A very different AMV, this video is not only made up of various anime clips but also clips from NEEDTOBREATHE's original music video for the song "Keep Your Eyes Open". Showing anime from various generations and of various styles, this AMV is exactly as advertised and perfect to show the friend who isn't willing to give anime a chance because they don't understand it. Non-anime fans are quick to put down anime mainly because they are inexperienced and haven't seen any or enough to have solidified opinions about it. The only way to know if you will like anime is to watch it, and this video not only gives viewers a look at various anime series and films, but also reminds them to always expand their boundaries or they will never discover those new things that could change their lives. Since I began watching anime almost one year ago, my life has changed and I have discovered and new passion and road I would have never traveled if I didn't take the first step in watching Sword Art Online (only second to Pokemon which I grew up on with every other 90's kid). Additionally, it is AMVs like these that are wonderful examples of why you should never be ashamed to enjoy the things you love and that you should be the person you want to be. If nothing else, this AMV is bound to leave you with goosebumps and make your heart a little happier.

5. Anime Mix - Be Somebody AMV

AMV Creator: zetsu1806 (Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkLgecyzadZOl7dDgu43jUw)

Song: Be Somebody - Thousand Foot Krutch

Anime Used: Accel World, Sword Art Online, Guilty Crown, Shingeki no Kyojin, Kakumeiki Valvrave & Karneval

This AMV goes to the friend who is a die hard realist or has a hard time seeing anime as being related to real life. Yes, anime is fiction and most anime has fantasy elements that aren't possible in real life, but many anime deal very heavy and series situations that can easily be related to real life issues and conflicts. There may not be giant robots to fight our battles or Titans that only feed on human flesh, but many animes are dark and portray themes on characters who are usually far too young to endure such horrors. More often than not in these types of series high schoolers and children are the victims of these difficult, life threatening and hard situations that could not only claim the lives of their friends but also their own. Taking six anime with male protagonists who find themselves in worlds of violence, uncertainty and impending death, this AMV takes a more serious route by showing that not all anime is sunshine and rainbows and that, in the end, we all want the same thing - to be known, loved and remembered.

6. Break the Rules - AMV

AMV Creator: AnimeUnity (Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWqhbN-hHVbfFHT79Oi07dw)

Song: Break the Rules (Sava & Razz Remix)

Anime Used (in alphabetical order): A Certain Scientific Railgun, Ao Haru Ride, Beat Angel Escalayer, Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou, Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club, Gj-Bu, Golden Time, Hanasaku Iroha, Hyouka, Jojo's Bizzare Adventure, Kyoukai No Kanata, Kyousougiga, Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions, Macross Frontier MUSIC CLIP Collection, Mawaru Penguin Drum, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Nerawareta Gakuen, Super Sonico The Animation & Your Lie in April

Another AMV that became an instant favorite, this video is perfect to show the friend who easily writes off anime as "cartoons". Anime is a Japanese art form that is both popular in Japan and has rapidly grown in popularity overseas in in the States especially over the past few decades. While anime may look like cartoons, there is much more underneath its delicate appearance. What particularly struck me about this AMV was the amount of female presence found throughout, highlighting several animes that have strong female protagonists who prove that they don't need saving or a man to do great things. A very "girl power" feeling AMV, this video is proof enough that anime is much more than "cartoons" and an exploration in the wonder and joy that is anime girl power.

7. TALK DIRTY TO ME

AMV Creator: xMurasakiii (Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5CWc42tqrX8pGMqDZRomOA)

Song: Talk Dirty to Me - Jason Durulo

Anime Used (in no particular order): Uta No Prince Sama, Kamigami No Asobi, Guilty Crown, Hakkenden Touhou Ibun, Free, Brothers Conflict, Durarara, Kuroku No Basuke, Macross Frontier, Meganebu, Kuroshitsuji, Kill La Kill, Diabolik Lovers, Cuticle Tantei Inaba & Tonari No Kaibutsu-kun)

"All anime is is just a bunch of high school girls with big eyes, big boobs.." - prepare to be proven wrong. This popular over 3 million times viewed AMV needs little in the way of description, taking some of animes sexiest male characters and putting them all in one perfect almost two and a half minute video of pure bliss. No matter your fancy, you and your non-anime friend are sure to fawn over one if not all of the anime boys found in this awesome AMV and based on pure looks alone, you'll both find characters you can fangirl over and find a series that you can get behind (no pun intended).

Sugar, Spice And Everything Not So Nice - Live, Love Anime: Part XV

Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love) (2005)

For AV actors Iwaki and Katou, it is all getting the part. When the two find themselves auditioning for a new film that may be their last big chance at success, they prepare to outdo each other in every way possible. But when they arrive and learn that that director would like them to make love to determine who will get the lead role, will something more than friendship bloom for Iwaki and Katou, and could what follows next possibly mean the end of their careers?

Why I began this series: I honestly don't know how I came to find Embracing Love, I just did.

Thoughts on the series:
For being an older anime Embracing Love had a very positive point to it, being the relationship between Iwaki and Katou. Starting out as a rivalry for a role and quickly turning into something more, watching their relationship change and grow was one of the best things about the series. Iwaki's stern personality was a great foil to Katou's young but devotional attitude towards Iwaki as well as his work, making the series different and somewhat refreshing from other yaois. Aside from this aspect however Embracing Love suffered in many major areas, beginning with elements of its plot. Certain parts of the series felt disjointed while others I did not agree with or find enjoyable, an example of this being the "experimentation" that occurs between Iwaki, Katou one fellow work member and a complete stranger. Things such as this both caught me off guard and made me very uncomfortable, making me question why they had to be done in the first place even if they were done just to prove a point. Embracing Love also suffered heavily in its animation, with its overall look appearing very standard and rough even though it was only made back in 2005. But Embracing Loves biggest misfortune was that there was no spark to it and it was easily a series I could have turned off at any time. I always try to power through a series I have started for reviewing purposes but I had to power through Embracing Love in order to do so.

With all of the other yaoi and shonen ai available today, Embracing Love ranks low on the list. A series that is worth the watch only to add to your collection, Embracing Love is a series that either will make you a fan or leave you wanting something more than what you got.

Gravitation (1999-2000)

Shuichi Shindou wants to become Japans next rock star as the lead singer of the band known as Bad Luck. Alongside his best friend Hiroshi Nakano, Shuichi dreams to becoming famous and following in the footsteps of his idol Ryuichi Sakuma, once famous for being a part of a group known as Nittle Grasper. When Shuichi one night is writing lyrics in the park for Bad Lucks new song and his paper gets swept away, he meets a man who tells him his writing is garbage and he has no talent. Persistent to know more Shuichi seeks the man out and learns that he is the famous novelist Eiri Yuki, known for his many successful romance novels. For Shuichi it soon becomes clear that his feelings for Yuki are much deeper than just a friend - but does he really know Yuki? What dark secrets is he hiding? And what does their relationship truly mean?

Why I began this series: I had stumbled across a two episode series called Gravitation: Lyrics of Lost Love and watched it on an impulsive whim. Little did I know there was a previous series, known as Gravitation, that recounted the events of Lyrics of Lost Love before that part of the story was told.

Thoughts on the series:
Gravitation may look like an average, overly frothy comedy that tries too hard on many occasions, but deep down it deals with some very serious, heavy issues. At the start I didn't care much for the series at all but as it continued I grew to like it a great deal more, with the second half of the series ultimately changing my opinions on it all together. Dealing with issues like trauma, alienation, and even gang rape, Gravitation became a series that was less about delivering laughs and more about its characters dealing with such series issues that impacted their current relationships. While the plot overall in the beginning was bland, these shining moments in the second half made the series excel greatly from its slow start and none of it would have been accomplished if it wasn't for the series characters. I honestly did not care for either of the male protagonist and main pairing of Shuichi and Yuki, though I greatly preferred Yuki by the series end, as I thought that their relationship was never really defined. Nothing became of it, and while it was apparent that they did have feelings for each other, there was never a confession of love or any sign that Yuki truly felt anything more for Shuichi. Because of this I often felt that Shuichi and Yuki were stuck in a rut that they were never really able to pull themselves out of even a tiny bit until the final episode, when parts of Yuki's past were revealed. But while I did not care for the main pair, there were two secondary characters I grew to enjoy quite a lot. The first was fellow Bad Luck band member and guitarist Hiroshi, whose personality and calmer head was a nice foil to the scatterbrained and somewhat annoying Shuichi. Additionally, Hiroshi had some of the greatest character growth throughout the series as he attempted to help Shuichi with his problems in addition to understanding his own feelings while at the same time doing all he could for their band. Though a secondary character, Hiroshi was a genuine guy who proved himself to be a true friend to Shuichi and gained my respect very quickly from the start. The other character I took an immediate liking to was K, Bad Lucks second manager. While he was a much rougher character that Hiroshi, K was often seen as Bad Lucks driving force and the reason for their initial success. His "all business" like personality and comic yet violent sense of humor was also a nice change to the series attempts at various failed comedic devices. In a way, the secondary cast saved the show in many ways and without them Gravitation may not be the beloved manga and series it still is over ten years later. Many other elements of the series seemed average, from its animation, to its overall pacing and especially its comedic timing. With all these struggles, it seemed for a while that Gravitation had no decent qualities about it besides its second half epiphany, but then came the soundtrack. A mix of various Bad Luck songs and minimal instrumental tracks the small but powerful soundtrack from Gravitation added another level of emotion to the series that the plot itself was not able to do, with some of its most simple instrumental tracks taking center stage. Along with both a catchy opening and ending faux 80's sounding theme, the soundtrack of Gravitation was one of its greatest triumphs - as should be the standard for any music anime.

  Gravitation Original Soundtrack - Yuki's Theme

For many anime lovers, Gravitation was the first yaoi they ever watched. A series that while old still has a great deal of love behind it, Gravitation is a yaoi that is much calmer than many of todays yaoi favorites and focuses more on the people themselves and their feelings for one another, rather than the active relationship yaoi fans would expect. 

Dagashi Kashi (2016)

Video: Dagashi Kashi Opening

Kokonotsu Shikada wants to become a manga artist, though his father Yo has other ideas. Wanting him to take over the family dagashi shop, Kokonotsu's father often tricks him into watching it while he runs off on mysterious adventures. Left alone to watch the shop Kokonotsu one day meets a young girl named Hotaru, a strange girl with a passionate love for dagashi and who highly resembles the heroine in Kokonotsu's manga drawings. When Hotaru informs them that she was sent by her father to recruit Yo for his snacking company, Yo blatantly refuses - unless Kokonotsu agrees to take over the shop. From that moment on, Hotaru vows to convince Kokonotsu to both take over his families shop, that dagashi is much more than mere candy and that Kokonotsu is worthy to be her dagashi rival. 

Why I began this series: Dagashi Kashi was another winter anime I was working though as Broadcast Dubs were released week to week alongside many other winter series.

Thoughts on the series:

Though Dagashi Kashi in its entirety is one big Japanese snack food and candy sales pitch, it was still an enjoyable series. With its premise completely surrounding all types of popular Japanese snacks and foods the series had little of your standard typical "anime shonen plot", with each episode simply introducing viewers to all sorts of common treats found in Japan. But while this "plot" did not make for the most consistently entertaining matter, the series characters were a different story. The driving force of the series, the characters of Dagashi Kashi brought the series to life with a wacky and colorful cast of personalities. First was Kokonotsu, voiced by FUNimation English Dub favorite Todd Haberkorn, whose quiet and shy personality quickly made him a secondary character. The series female protagonist was quite the opposite however, as she was always loud, front and center. Hotarus wild, wacky and insane personality and love for dagashi snacks was hard to take at first, but as the series progressed she grew to become a much more lovable character who deeply cared for all things edible. Of the entire cast, only comprising of five characters in total, Hotaru was the most interesting and the only one who had me coming back week to week just to see what she had to say about this weeks snack. The supporting characters were mainly background but added to the series in their own unique ways. Kokonotsu's father more resembled Hotaru in that the two shared big personalities along with a deep love for dagashi, while both Kokonotsu's childhood friend Saya and her older brother were more quiet and reserved like Kokonotsu himself. Having these characters personalities split on two separate sides set up an interesting premise for the romance elements hinted at throughout the series, and I was very curious to see in the end whether Kokonotsu would pick his childhood friend Saya or the big chested Hotaru. With all these one sided and high strung personalities the series comedic timing was generally well done though at times it seemed hokey. The series comedic timing was quite good and helped Dagashi Kashi feel more like your standard anime rather than an anime simply filled with lots of food porn. The series additionally had a distinct and simply animation style, with its hand drawn character designs that might lead viewers to feel like the characters of Dagashi Kashi were in a manga themselves. With the exception of Hotaru, the character designs looked pretty standard, allowing the viewer to completely focus on the weeks specified snack. This was also the case with the series soundtrack and script, as the producers apparent ultimate goal was to make the viewer want and learn about Japanese treats. In the end, it's all about the dagashi.

Dagashi Kashi was enjoyable, but not a series I would necessarily recommend to every anime fan. If you're looking for a mindless, silly anime series about random foods that you could easily multi-task to, Dagashi Kashi is right up your alley.

Ajin: Demi Human (2016 - Netflix Original Series)
Videos: Ajin Opening & Ending Theme

 

OP - Can You Sleep at Night? - Flumpool

ED - How Close You Are - Mamoru Miyano

For thousands of years the worlds has been made up of humans - not anymore. A small percentage of the worlds population are classified at Ajins, immortal humans who are sought after by the government, scientists and other organizations. Additionally, it is said that if you capture an Ajin and hand them over you will be greatly rewarded, thus many of the Ajins remain in hiding. When young school boy Kei Nagai discovers that he is an Ajin after being struck by a truck, he flees his home in Japan for a safe refuge. Aided by his best and only friend Kaito Kei begins his long journey to find a safe haven where he will not be persecuted by humans, but are humans the ones he should truly fear?

Why I began this series: I had seen this series both on Netflix for quite some time and had seen posts from one of its English Dub cast members and the voice of protagonist Kei Nagai, Johhny Yong Bosh. When it seemed that I would not find a fourth series to add to this review and I learned that Ajin was only thirteen episodes, I watched it in its entirety in two days.

Thoughts on the series:

What does it mean to be human? What is considered a monster? Who is really in control? Only a few of the questions and concepts explored, Ajin proved itself to be on par with many other popular animes today. Being a Netflix Original Series I was skeptical at first of its validity and success, though the series itself for only having been English Dubbed and recently released in the United States only for a few months has already gained a huge fan following and high popularity among both anime and non-anime fans alike. Many things about Ajin seemed strange from the start but by the series end those things turned into the elements that made the series enjoyable, and gripping from start to finish. The first and biggest sucess found within Ajin is its uncertainty - many things are left unexplained, and when we finally get some explanation it is never fully complete. This at first greatly bothered me, both as a reviewer and a viewer, as I personally like to know everything from the start and know what I'm getting into in order to determine if I will continue through the entire series or not. This was not the case with Ajin and its uncertainty and constant questioning ended up driving me to continue on, despite its vague plot line. Even by the series end much was left unexplained and out in the open, which not only sets up Polygon Pictures for a second season (which is already in the works) but will hopefully give fans the answers and information they desperately want, even if they haven't read to manga. The series plot was also of great note, as it is one of the most interesting concepts I've ever come across. Humans who are not human, people who are not only immortal and can revive themselves but are also able to summon black ghosts that poses an incredible power of their own. From the series initial episode this concept was exceptional and I was highly interested to see where it would be taken, ultimately going somewhere I never thought it to go. Without spoiling too much of the series, Ajin (more about plot ya ya ya). Then there were Ajins characters - a small, monotone cast that proved forces to be reckoned with. First is Kei Nagai, the series main protagonist voiced by anime fan favorite voice actor Johnny Yong Bosh (Lelouch Lamperouge in Code Geass, Black Power Ranger in Power Rangers, etc.), who portrayed Kei as both incredibly serious and utterly terrified, while still being cold. This said however, Kei ended up being one of my least favorites characters of the series as he never really added anything of his own. Besides becoming Japans third Ajin Kei was merely background for other characters of much more import and interest to come to light. But while Kei may not have been the most appealing of protagonists, much of the supporting cast filled the void with performances that were unbelievable.  Kei's best friend Kaito, voiced by Bryce Papenbrook (Eren in Attack on Titan, Kirito in Sword Art Online, Rin in Blue Exorcist, etc) was far more interesting than Kei, purely because of his mysterious nature. Thrown into the action rather quickly and with much of him still a mystery as he only appeared in the series three to four episodes, I wish that we had seen more of him or some backstory on him and Kei. With so many unanswered questions, I look forward to a second season where we will learn more about Kaito, why he helped Kei and if he has "abilities" of his own. But the true stars of Ajin lie with the performances of the psychotic Sato (aka Man in The Hat) and the emotionless Tosaki, voiced by anime favorite Todd Haberkorn. While the actor who voiced Sato in the English Dubbed version is unknown, his performance is simply chilling. His deep voice accompanied by his bone shaking, cold, ruthless personality easily made Sato one of the best anime villains and one I would never want to come into contact with. Foiling this performance was that of Todd Haberkorn as the mysterious man known as Tosaki. Like Kei and Kaito, much of Tosaki remains a mystery and this is his greatest quality. I gravitated early towards Tosaki not only because of his stoic, haunting and "all business" appearance, but also due to Haberkorns strong performance as a character who is more tamed and reserved. Often playing characters of high energy such as Sgt. Keroro from St. Frog, Natsu from Fairy Tale and many others, I was interested to see Haberkorn tackle a more serious character - and I was blown away. Next to Sato, Tosaki is perhaps the greatest character of the series - hands down. The most interesting part of Ajin however is its animation - completely CGI. Seeing a series made completely with CGI programming at first was a huge turnoff, but as the series progressed further it became something truly special. No other anime series can lay claim to being made completely and well done CGI animation, and Ajin is a true testiment to showing har far CGI has come in the past few years. Finally, the series soundtrack was intense and emotional, from its high action scenes to its mellow and reflecting moments. The greatest parts of this soundtrack however are its opening and ending themes (see above), each overflowing with symbolism, power and emotion that made skipping them seem like a crime.

As a Nerflix Original Series, Ajin: Demi Human is a great success. A somewhat underrated anime that has taken the anime world by storm, Ajin is a differently flavored anime that will leave you with many questions and wanting more and more.