Top 20 Modern Anime Series, Part I

Today I bring you a Guest Blogger, the kickass Mike Sheridan! Mike is the Curator of Current.com's US Politics channel and general political junkie- but he has another, nerdier addiction as well- Anime! After watching over 60 series of modern Anime titles, Mike has come up with his list of the Top 20- this is Part I, the first Top 5!

Anime-it’s generally stereotyped as a fad; one that’s childish and dismissible. However, the world of anime is far greater and better than the misconceptions that are attached to it. Anime brings fantastic stories of demons and samurai, of flawed heroes and psychopathic villains, of giant mecha and fascinating characters. Japanese animation constantly pushes the bar for animation standards and creates magnificent works of art. At its best it can produce top-notch action, philosophical dilemmas, epic quests, and strikingly original plots. The below titles are, in my opinion, the crème de le crème of modern anime series. Popularity, originality, graphics, audio, plot, character development, funness and replay value were the major factors in assembling this list.

Rurouni Kenshin
Nobuhiro Watsuki’s epic story of a samurai (Himura Kenshin) seeking to atone for his past deeds has captured the hearts of many an anime fan. Kenshin sets a high bar for period dramas, and it’s one that’s rarely met. The series boasts a strong, coherent plot, a well developed set of characters and some of the best swordplay scenes in the anime world. The soundtrack is good, the first two seasons are faithful to the manga (skip the third season it’s just filler) and the comedy/action/drama balance is perfect. All of the characters have distinct personalities, each with their own code and sense of morality. The historical-fiction based series Rurouni Kenshin is the quintessential samurai anime and deserves a viewing by any fan interested in one man’s journey of conflict, friendship and atonement.

Neon Genesis Evangelion
In 1995 the anime known as Neon Genesis Evangelion made waves. It redefined the mecha genre with its psychologically broken characters, it’s strikingly original mecha designs, its Christian symbolism and it’s shockingly morbid ending. In addition, it utilizes classical/baroque music which is a rare pleasure in the world of anime. Evangelion has developed into a mutli-billion dollar franchise; it’s spawned two movies, an in-development Hollywood live-action adaptation and a re-make of the series. Though considered controversial and often over-hyped Neon Genesis Evangelion is a genre defining anime, and should not be missed by any anime fan.

Cowboy Bebop
Do I really need to tell you why Cowboy Bebop is on this list? Almost every American anime fan knows and respects the series and rightfully so. Bebop has it all, a cool jazzy soundtrack, a cast of kickass characters and a wholly accessible and interesting plot. It was [Adult Swim’s] first anime series and it’s still running. In addition, Bebop is credited for having popularized anime stateside. Simply put, Cowboy Bebop is one damn fine show that anyone can enjoy.

FLCL
From the staff that brought you Evangelion comes one heck of a mini-series. FLCL is many things; wacky, off-beat, in-coherent and most of all, highly original. The series, though only six episodes long is a must see. It has a wacky, yet lovable cast, a great alternative/rock soundtrack and a highly original plot (if you could call it a plot). On top of all of this FLCL has some top notch animation that’s derived from multiple classic animation styles (and you CAN’T forget those manga scenes). FLCL may not have the most intelligible plot but it makes up for that with comedy, great graphics and a zany set of characters.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Ghost in the Shell is one of the most recognizable franchises in anime. The production team adeptly transforms the classic cyber-punk movie into a top-notch series that has a striking amount of originality. GITS: S.A.C. features excellent graphics, a fitting soundtrack by the legendary Yoko Kanno and an excellent plot which has strong literary references to American author J.D. Salinger’s works. The core of the series discusses complex issues including corruption, political power and what makes one human. Though some complain it’s too complex and overly philosophical Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is, quite frankly, a masterpiece.

What do you think about this list? Sound off! And check back here for Mike's next 5, coming soon! You can check out more about Mike Sheridan on his blog, The Rationalist Review. Also, yell your nerd heart out at him by following him on Twitter!