Have you ever avoided watching a show because it was an anime? Anime refers to a style of animation originating in Japan. Many people look down on anime for a variety of reasons whether that be due to high episode counts, cheesiness, or simply just not knowing enough about it. I firmly believe that anime should be regarded as a form of media on the level or even superior to American television and movies. Here are five anime that I urge you to watch if you struggle with getting into the genre.
Jujutsu Kaisen
“Throughout Heaven and Earth, I alone am the honored one.”
Jujutsu Kaisen is an anime about people called “Jujutsu Sorcerers” who must exorcize monstrous creatures called “Cursed Spirits.” The protagonist, Yuji Itadori becomes a Jujutsu Sorcerer after becoming the vessel for the infamous ancient sorcerer, Ryomen Sukuna. The reason why I recommend Jujutsu Kaisen rather than anime such as Naruto or One Piece is due to its shorter episode count and bleaker tones. This anime doesn’t pull its punches: it is infamous for its many character deaths, fast pace, and darker themes. For example, one’s strength as a Jujutsu Sorcerer is mostly determined by innate talent rather than hard work or the power of friendship. The anime is renowned for its iconic characters such as the strongest sorcerer of modern times, Satoru Gojo and the aforementioned strongest sorcerer in history, Ryomen Sukuna. If you like shows with action but get turned off by overly optimistic, childlike shows, I recommend that you watch Jujutsu Kaisen.
Violet Evergarden
“You don’t realize yet, but your body is on fire and burning up because of the things you did.”
Violet Evergarden follows its titular character as she copes from traumatic experiences after fighting in a war. In order to start a new life, Violet goes on a path of self–discovery by becoming an “Auto Memory Doll” – an occupation where she is hired to write letters for other people. This show is adored by fans for both its beautiful animation and the emotional depth of Violet’s journey. According to the official website, it was the first ever Kyoto animation grand prize winner, you can read more about the show on its website; although you’ll need a translator. It is also very sad and will probably make you cry. Despite how depressing it is, this anime is special to me because I can relate to Violet as we both use writing to cope with our hardships (although I only deal with schoolwork, not war trauma). If you like emotional shows that will leave a lasting impact on you, I highly recommend that you give Violet Evergarden a watch.
Takopi’s Original Sin
“Happiness is born through talking-pi.”
Takopi’s Original Sin may appear like a wholesome show about a young girl and her little pink octopus, but don’t let its innocent exterior fool you. This anime follows an alien named Takopi who spreads happiness on earth. Takopi meets young children facing issues such as abuse, divorce, and other traumas all in just the fourth grade. The unfortunate lives of these children serve to illustrate the importance of communication, perspective, and how impactful the abuses of neglectful parents are on their kids. Luckily for me, I binged the whole show in a single night with a friend as a necessary way to soften the blows of the depressing scenes. Despite its short run-time of only six episodes, the show is critically acclaimed: all of its episodes are rated 9.2 or above on IMDB. If you have the mental strength to handle the harsh topics the anime covers, I recommend that you give this show a chance, especially because it will take barely a day to watch.
Your Lie in April
“A spring without you is coming.”
As both a former pianist and cellist, I know how cruel the world of music can be. Your Lie in April follows a young boy named Kousei Arima as he loses the motivation to play piano after the death of his abusive mother. During his gradual spiral away from music, he meets a charismatic violinist who begins to turn his life around. Like Violet Evergarden, this anime is very emotional, not only because of how heartbreaking it is, but also due to how well it conveys stage fright and the mental turmoil faced by musicians. It’s easy to tell that Your Lie in April was made with passion for music. The musical instruments are animated accurately and several pieces from classical composers such as Frédéric Chopin are prominently featured in some of the show’s most beautiful and depressing scenes. In fact, classical music is so prominent that on musescore.com, you can find the sheet music for all the pieces played in the show. If you like emotional shows with lots of drama, Your Lie in April could be the show for you.
Attack on Titan
“My soldiers push forward, my soldiers scream out, my soldiers rage!”
Attack on Titan is set in a dystopian world where the remnants of humanity seek shelter behind giant walls from grotesque, giant, humanoid creatures called titans. However, characters such as Eren Jaeger and the soldiers that make up the Scout Regiment are tired of being confined by big, stupid walls so they fight back against the titans using weapons meticulously built to fight them. As you would expect of a show about titans slaughtering humans and vice versa, this anime is very violent and graphic so avoid it if you dislike gore. But, if you don’t mind the blood, Attack on Titan is not only one of the greatest anime, but it is also one of the greatest shows out there. In fact, on IMDB, Attack on Titan has more episodes rated 9.8 and above then both Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones combined. Even though the anime is quite long at four seasons of around twenty episodes and a few movies and specials, it is totally worth the length as each season takes the story in wildly different directions that you would never see coming. Attack on Titan should be regarded higher by people outside of the anime community but most people will never watch it just because it’s an anime.
“The character development, emotional storytelling, and world-building are top tier compared to any other animated show I’ve ever watched,” East Islip Senior Hasan Luqman said.
Anime has had a rough history in the entertainment industry. However, recent years have unveiled the inevitable rise of anime into the mainstream. Anime movies such as Demon Slayer’s Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man’s Reze Arc are starting to compete with popular movies such as DC’s Superman and Marvel’s Fantastic Four. Why not join the craze? Give any of these anime a chance and I promise you will not be disappointed.
