12 Kingdoms
- This is one of my most favourite anime. Youko is summoned into a world of mystery and magic along with her two friends. Deprived of her protector, Keiki, must survive and find the reason she was brought here and fulfill her destiny so that she can return to her prim and proper life. Along the way, she and her friends learn the true meaning of friendship, life, and a reason to live but most of all, a sense of self-worth. Though the story is mostly from a feminist perspective and the narrative is modern, even whimsical as some stories are left incomplete and up to the viewer's interpretation, this anime is easily one of the breakthrough anime since... whenever.
Prince of Tennis
- This anime chronicles the development of Echizen Ryouma, a freshman in middle school and a tennis prodigy. His father was once at the top of the tennis world but quit suddenly and disappeared from tennis completely. In the anime, we see Ryouma growing up, becoming stronger and opening up to his friends and the world around him. The anime relies a lot on out-of-this-world tennis (almost impossible tennis) but the bromance (and I mean Bro-mance) in this reverse harem anime is just irresistable - and did I say that he upholds justice with his tennis racquet? If that's not enough for the average fangirl, his cold demeanour and arrogance is enough to turn your legs to jelly. Am I turning off the male readers? *laughs sinisterly* It's definitely worth a watch. [Season 2: The New Prince of Tennis is currently airing in Japan]
Spice and Wolf
- This anime chronicles the journey of Horo, a wolf deity (Ookami) who lives in an agricultural village and a nomadic merchant named Kraft Lawrence. If I say anymore, it'll spoil the fun. Sufficient to say that the Church (ever the evil organisation in anime because they're such control freaks and must regulate everybody's lives - gotta say I agree with them that all institutions are bad) has heard of Horo and is out to get her. A very light and inspiring anime with a whole new breadth and depth - it is a breath of fresh air and I would say, one of a kind. Like some really exotic sushi. Yumm! For the boys, you'd enjoy this too. It's got a 'No. 6' feel (minus the shounen-ai) and there's plenty of fanservice to go around.
Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler)
- Kuroshitsuji or Black Butler is a story of the supernatural, fantastical and mystery. It tells the story of a boy named Ciel Phantomhive whose parents were brutally murdered while under the service of the Queen. He himself was used in some sort of cult ritual and he is out to get revenge on the perpetrators of the crime with the help of a devilishly handsome, devilishly talented and devilishly charming demon butler whom he contracted at the cost of his soul. A very interesting anime (and even better, the manga) - it is at heart a grim comedy, full of fanservice for the girls, as the two race against time to solve the supernatural mysteries taking place in the underworld of London. [Season 2 of Black Butler has been released, along with the OVA, and season 2 introduces a new master, a new tap-dancing demon butler and lots of boy-love elements - and my favourite: an unexpected ending]
Towards The Terra
- One of my favourite anime (I realise I seem to be saying that a lot now), the world of this anime lies billions of miles away in a post-apocalyptic world where humans have migrated from earth in search of new worlds while trying to repair the damage done to earth's ecosystem. As usual, these planetary serve as temporary homes to the growing human population (we seem to be the only ones in the universe - no evidence of alien life) and this system is governed by an ultra supercomputer named "Mother". Humans seemed to have evolved in deep space and now seem to possess the mutant "Mu" gene that gives a person telekinesis and some sort of field powers. When Jomy Marcus Shin discovers that he possesses this gene, his life and the lives of the people around him are changed forever. This anime is a non-linear, multiple plot and the narrative is told from multiple POVs. Though the anime itself is simple and the fighting scenes aren't exactly the best, it talks about religion, the environment, friendship, humanity and progress. To some extent, it could be said to comment even on the importance and bureaucracy of education and the exercise of power as well as humanity's dependence on technology. Keith also raises a very interesting question on governance and human nature. As I'm studying politics and international relations at the moments, I find this anime very insightful.
- I realise I'm commenting too much on the discourse in the anime but I really feel that this anime is so powerful in its narrative and comment on the human condition. As a writer and humanist, I do feel greatly for these things. The anime is really really good. It's not so serious, not too action-packed but its over-all well-rounded and well-grounded. The relationship of Jomy and the role he plays as leader is very much the everyday choices we are forced to make, and Keith realises his humanity despite his realist and inhuman approach to his job and destiny. I just can't say enough about this anime. If you like No. 6, 12 Kingdoms and Spice and Wolf or even Ghost in a Shell, you'll like this for sure.
Vision of Escaflowne
- This is one of the earliest anime I've watched and it is also one of the oldest on this list. Nevertheless it is a classic and still somehow relevant and (ugh, I tried so hard to not use this word) a favourite. It talks about Hitomi who is transported onto the magical world that lives on the moon. There is part of a prophecy to help a race of moon-people led by their young boy-king, Van Fanel who is the only one who can pilot the ultra mecha, Escaflowne. Together, Hitomi and Van must thwart the Zaibach empire who seeks to rule over the moon-planet, Gaea. Not your average moe-kanojo x bishounen genre, it talks about lots of other things such as friendship, partnership, trust, revenge and other things. Like T3 or Towards the Terra, it touches on a lot of other aspects of society and its institutions. Not the best anime out there, but it's definitely worth watching.
Kaichou wa Maid-sama
- If you're talking about romantic comedies and you think you're full to the brim with S. A. (Special A) and Seto no Hanayome and but you still want more - the fluff, the romance, the steep doki doki and impossible scenarios (minus the moe, puh-lease), the obvious choice beside Ouran High School Host Club is here! Misaki is the President (or rather demon president) of the student body at her school which recently turned co-ed from ... a boy's school?! As you can imagine, 90% of the student body is made up of horny, violent, testosterone-driven teenagers and Misaki, who hates men just can't stand it. So what is Usui Takumi, the school's male idol, doing following (I'd say stalking but who cares if he's that good-looking?) As the tile suggests, she also works part-time at a maid-cafe. So here is Usui Takumi, making his impact and an entrance into the everyday life of our maid-cosplayer, demon president and man-hater Misaki's daily life. A hilarious comedy with the clash of characters, goals, secrets and genders - Our school president is a maid!
Wolf's Rain
- The world of the anime is post-apocalyptic. Earth is in decay and the world as we know it is broken up into separate city hubs ruled each by a noble lord or lady. Outside each hub lies the vacant desert plains and ruins of its past glory. Legend says that when the earth ends, the wolf deities will search for paradise. In one of the hubs, a young wolf named Kiba starts searching for the promised paradise. He gathers and meets other wolves along the way but they need the help of the moonflower maiden, Cheza. However, the nobles are trying to steal 'Paradise' (rakuen) for themselves. A wonderful anime that touches on hope, humanity, the inevitability of death and roles fate assigns to us all. Warning: character deaths. 
Wolf's rain is easily my most favourite anime. And no, Kiba is not hot and he doesn't have a sexy voice. Most definitely not. Seriously, he doesn't.
Arakawa under the Bridge
- To be perfectly honest, I can't understand why this anime is not well known. But then again, perhaps because this is the most confusing and almost-plotless plot (in a very Kafka kind of way) might be the main reason for it. The story takes place in Arakawa, Tokyo. The heir to an ultra-MNC, Ichinomiya Kou is brought up with all the common sense of Japanese businessmen - to rely on your own strength (usually it's good advice, but the Ichinomiya's take this to greater heights... to the extent of utter idiocity). When he is saved by a self-proclaimed alien from Venus, Nino, he feels compelled to repay her in any way he can. Nino, who doesn't want any of the worldly treasures he offeres her, asks him to be her boyfriend. Kou is then thrust into the world of Nino who lives under the bridge along with its quirky occupants beside the river Arakawa. Funny and compelling, it is has a very simple storyline but with powerful undertones of what it means to be human, and what it means to be happy. This anime rejects materialism, consumerism and capitalism and asks the question: What does it really mean to be human?
Black Cat
- Train Heartnett is a cool and highly-skillful assasin, No. 13 of Chronos but is better known and feared as Black Cat or burakku kyatto. The Chrono Numbers are a string of assasins that protect Chronos, a peace agency that governs the world and own's a third of the world's economy. When one of the Chronos's numbers turns renegade, Train must defeat him and avenge the death of his first friend and the first who made him believe that he was also human, Saya Minatsuki. But there's also something else moving behind the scenes. Who is Eve and who are her pursuers? A well-balanced anime with lots of action, black cat is sure to appeal to everyone of all ages. fanservice is limited, just the way I like it. A touching anime, it has a coming-of-age feel to it, and a must watch if you love action and drama.
Ouran High School Host Club
- When Fujioka Haruhi stumbles into the Ouran High School's Host Club, in an abandoned music room at Ouran Academy, her life is changed forever. Ouran, the pretigious high school for high-society and the super-rich (or ridiculously rich). One by one, Haruhi is confronted with the unique personalities attending the school and she slowly comes to understand and change them one at a time as she learns about friendship and love (and maybe some gender consciousness ;) Lots of fanservice for the girls (duh, it's a host club!), this comedy is not only funny and bittersweet, but also inspiring. Boys, you'll enjoy this too!
xxxHolic
- xxxHolic is a one of a kind anime. As you may have guessed this anime was the inspiration for the name of this blog (^ u^). The story, like many others, has to do with the supernatural world of the yokai and ayakashi (I'm not sure about the difference between the two but I think yokai refers to magical creatures whereas ayakashi refers to spirits and ghosts).Watanuki is one person who can see these creatures who cling to him and disrupt his everyday life. He stumbles unto and unusual shop one fine day, whose owner claims "can grant wishes". The owner Yuko is a witch (and apparently famous in the supernatural worlds, across dimensions and animes) and she agrees to rid Watanuki of his 'problem' for an equal price - he must become her assistant till his price is paid. Our poor and simple Watanuki is now subject to Yuko's whims and the absurdities of her world along with his friends - Himawari and Doumeki. Slowly, Watanuki begins to see the world in a new light and just as slowly he begins to appreciate the people around him and his gift.
Jigoku Shoujo
Blood +
Nodame Cantabile
Fairy Tale
No. 6
Junjou Terrorist + Junjou Egoist
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