Continuing forward from where we left off, here is the second half of the special awards we chose for the AMVs we’ve looked through these last few months. Hope you enjoy!
Let’s get started.
Since we came across multiple AMVs that amplified the shows they showcased, it seemed appropriate to split the awards into two parts: one acknowledging AMVs that made average shows look great and the other taking obviously great shows and highlight what makes them great.
Let me just say, much of this comes down to personal taste.
I had no idea what the anime Brave Story was even about when I watched this AMV. I just thought it would be a great show to watch based on what I saw in this AMV. Knowledge is cruel sometimes because I realized quick this show is not so refined. At best it’s average.
2nd Place: For the Win by DigiCat via TheBestAMVsOfAllTime
I know three groups of people who talked about Sword Art Online. The ones who absolutely love it to death, those who can’t stand the sight of it, and the apathetic watchers who could care less. (That’s me! Sorry to fans.) When I watch this AMV, I don’t think it matters if people think its a good show or not. The editor did a smashing job highlighting what made the show visually interesting for first time viewers.
1st Place: Baba Yetu by Glitzer
Out of the three, I’d say the most people will get the maddest knowing I view Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic as an average show. (I think its okay. . . not ground breaking story wise to say the least.) HOWEVER, this AMV is absolutely beautiful. I didn’t think this song would fit so well to the show’s content but . . . dang. . . was I ever wrong.
Best Amplified Universally Acknowledged Great Shows
I hear the least amount of criticisms for these shows.
Boku no Hero Academia has so many interesting animated scenes to play with. You’d be surprised though how often fans just can’t capture what makes this show so appealing. Its one thing to use great animated scenes from the show and put them to a catchy song. Its another thing to use the show’s content and cohesively portray the character’s, their struggles, and their purpose. Pure White Gold does this and more!
Princess Tutu is the anti-magical girl anime. It’s complicated both in its writing and animation. So, how do you make an AMV that doesn’t bog down its message? Put it to a French song and have almost perfect timing.
Kimetsu no Yaiba or Demon Slayer had SOOOOO many AMVS. I think I found at least thirty of them just looking through YouTube. Some of them were good, but lacked any real direction. Warriors I added to my review list on a whim after I watched the first 30 seconds. I didn’t think it would be that amazing. I was so wrong. Warriors is one of the best AMVs I have ever seen! It made me want to watch the show then and there.
Most Unexpected
These are the AMVs I expected to be average or really. . . really bad. But then they came and POW! Took top spots.
I saved this AMV on a whim because I liked the song. 🙂 That’s it. I didn’t give it much thought and just put it up for review because I figured there must have been a reason I saved it.
The song was weird. Plus I only watched the first 15 seconds before deciding I should give it a try. I was a fool!
1st Place: Say My Name by LightRaider
Story time. . . I didn’t know what the heck the show Kuzu no Honkai was about. I figured it was a story about two people crushing on someone else falling for each other accidently. Boy was I wrong. . . it’s a horrible story. (The English translation for the title is Scum’s Wish. . . yeah.) That aside, I figured this AMV would fall into obscurity within the first two rounds. Honestly though, it is so well crafted despite it cruddy source it made it all the way to the end!
Emotionalism
Emotionalism is completely and utterly subjective! Sorry. . . but these awards are for the AMVs that touched me. (And almost made me cry several times.)
Kindness sort of swooped in and captured our hearts. Mob Psycho 100 deals with a lot of emotional growth and the song really highlighted this. I think it means more for those who have actually seen the show because they understand the depth of each character’s emotions and development.
Wow. . . Ride Your Wave is an emotionally stirring movie. I’ve never personally seen it, but seeing this AMV I felt the impact of the character’s relationship and heartbreak.
These are all emotionally impactful AMVs for Fullmetal Alchemist. My brother and I really love this show and couldn’t decide which of these three should make it into the top spot. So we chose all of them!
Best Atmosphere
Basically, this is award is for those AMV which were able to build a world through imagery and music. It’s not just about tone but also creating an mental link between the song and show.
I don’t think of Fast and Furious listening to this song anymore! All I can picture is Redline with its cool main character strutting his extraordinarily long hairdo.
I get chills everytime I watch Warriors! It draws me so deep into Demon Slayer‘s world with its timing, pacing, and buildup.
Best First 30 Seconds
This is pretty self explanatory. There was a reason so many AMVs made it through to my watch list. Most of them were able to capture my attention in the first 30 seconds. Some of them did it better than others.
Honorable Mentions: Unity by Lightraider, Best AMV you will ever see Part 4 by xxanime_otaku
3rd Place: Kindness by VermillionAMV
What makes this AMV’s first 30 seconds stand out was the pacing and how well the lyrics matched the images.
I wanted this AMV to be great so so bad! The timing in the first 30 seconds is absolutely incredible. Especially, how the editor slowed down and highlighted facial expressions for three characters. I’m a sucker for slowed down animation so it really stood out to me.
Best In Show
The award everyone looks for! These are the AMVs which overall had the greatest showmanship.
When choosing between this and Hold Me Now, we decided the defining difference was how crisp the story and imagery flowed through each sequence. The story was so easy to follow even though the song is in French.
2nd Place: Kindness by VermillionAMV
There is not much more I can say about Kindness. It’s an all around emotional rollercoaster of an AMV!
1st Place: Warriors by yujinedits怠惰な
From the beginning of this showdown I knew Warriors was special. I can imagine how much time the editor dedicated to get every visual moment aligned in tone and pacing to the music. It doesn’t give you great action at first. It BUILDS and savors it.
That is everything! Thank you for following this AMV showdown! Hope you found something new to love and enjoy.
Sometimes with lists I make really great entries get lost in the shuffle called “Personal Preference”. So, to showcase some of the great AMVs I perused with my brother, here is a post dedicated to special awards in various categories.
There will be multiple videos that win several awards. I’ll make sure to include plenty of links to creators and other videos!
Let’s get started!
Best Timing
Timing was one of the major criteria from the first round of this AMV Showdown. In making a music video, it is absolutely crucial to have spot on timing. Or, you lose the audience.
Its a glorious tie for third place! It was really difficult choosing between these two, because they both excelled in different ways.
Of all the bogged AMVs with sound, this one delivered the best. Not only did their crisp timing come across extraordinarily smoothly, they were able to balance fast and smooth movements in an spectacular fashion.
On the other hand, Warriors‘s timing shown best in the way it built up to the action through well choreographed editing. Every motion is SPOT ON and doesn’t detract in any way from the visual storytelling.
??? Mob uses Fallout Boy’s song “Young And Menace” to the maximum capacity! The more interesting sequences are actually in the beginning where each footstep and slip of a jacket blends with the music profoundly. The actions feel like they are meant to happen.
Part of the beauty and majesty of dance and ballet is timing. Everything I’ve mentioned for the 2nd and 3rd place entries applies for Danse De Raven, however it feels more refined. I think this is because of Princess Tutu‘s core nature, which is dance and choreography.
Best Tone
Tone is all about atmosphere and world building. For great tone, you need the right song and the appropriate imagery to fit it. You may be surprised which ones we chose.
Unfortunately, I haven’t seen Made in Abyss yet. However, Vesper set the tone for my upcoming experience masterfully. Set to Son Lux’s eerie song “Ransom”, it builds the story from a lighthearted sun filled beginning to the mysterious and sometimes terrifying adventures which await the main characters.
2nd Place: For the Win by DigiCat
My brother had to convince me with this one. Here is the truth. I’ve never seen Sword Art Online. There it is. Even though I didn’t know the content connected to For the Win, I could tell the editor had done a phenomenal job creating the world for the show. My brother later explained to me how each shot shows highlights from the show and stats for important characters.
If you have never seen Mushishi I envy you. Not because I don’t absolutely love it! Its because you get to experience the wonder of the show through this AMV without previous knowledge of the stories or characters. Take it from a seasoned admirer of this story. Dance With the Mushi captures the ethereal mystery and wonder of this show gorgeously.
Best Music Choice
This category is pretty self explanatory. Pick the right song off the bat, and you have the ground work for a great AMV.
Yes, I do listen to rap sometimes. Given how epic Ride or Die is, it is no wonder I attached to it and its song We Own It (Fast & Furious). If ever someone made a song about car racing, this would be the perfect one to enhance Redline, the podracing car thriller for adults.
To understand this AMV and how impactful it can be, you need to watch Mob Psycho 100, a show dedicated to exploring various human reactions and relationships. Through this AMV, I found a new favorite song and decided to rewatch the show.
Ghost Of You by 5 seconds of Summer fits this emotionally impactful story Ride Your Wave so well. It enhanced the characters’ heartbreak and told the story in a way you could really feel. The more I watch it, the more convinced I become it could become an official promotional video for the movie.
Best Fluidity
Another word I would use to describe fluidity is overall flow. This pertains to the story and how the editor presents it as well as how clearly the images blend into each other. There is such a thing as having great timing but hardly any sense of how to make your product flow.
Honorable Mentions: Kindness, Warriors, Ghost of You
I still remember seeing A Prelude to Dreams for the first time. For the longest time I didn’t even realize it depicted a wide variety of anime! That is the mark of purposeful flow and great fluidity. What is especially remarkable about A Prelude To Dreams is how these seemingly disconnected stories dance together because of the song Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap.
VermillionAMV is a FANTASTIC EDITOR. Out of any creator I’ve come across these last few months, they’ve impressed me the most in how smoothly they use their source material. Swing Box would have to be the culmination of these skills. It flows beautifully and each moment is simply fascinating to watch unfold! This was yet another AMV where I couldn’t readily tell exactly how many anime they used. I thought maybe, 5. In reality they used 10. That’s pretty impressive!
Yet, again Dance With the Mushi comes in for the win! If you pay very close attention to how this AMV unfolds, you’ll notice subtle changes in pacing and timing. For me, it feels like a folkdance set to the imagery of life. Good fluidity isn’t about spectacle. It’s about leading an audience through the story through imagery and sound.
Best Characterization
Best characterization is about how well an AMV can set up not only the world but its characters. Once upon a time, I heard a very intriguing statement concerning animation. The characters ARE the animation. How you treat them makes all the difference for the story and your intended audience.
Ghost of You is another AMV which will come up a lot. I have never seen the movie yet through this video I understand SOOOO much about the characters and their story. It is to the point where I get emotionally involved watching it. Like I said before, this would be the perfect promotional video for this movie.
Here is yet another anime I haven’t seen yet (Sorry! I’ll get to it eventually). However, I think what Pure White Gold truly excels at is showcasing how the various characters fit into their world. Though they couldn’t put the whole show into one AMV, the editor set up their roles in the story splendidly!
How do you find a song built for the characters? This is War based on 30 seconds to Mars’s song is how! The editor used this song to its maximum potential, matching the worlds to a variety of characters seen throughout the show. Not only that, but they set up these characters in their world through stunning timing!
Utilizing Music and Imagery
Utilizing music and imagery is the culmination of great fluidity and emotionality. It isn’t just about flowing the images together but creating a masterful story through words and music.
Honestly, Pure White Gold feels like a a hero montage. It isn’t about just one character but an entire cast of fantastic and interesting people. What this AMV truly excels at is using the imagery and music to express the characters’ true purpose as heroes.
2nd Place: Swing Box by VermillionAMV
Not a second of Swing Box feels wasted. Nothing feels misplaced or simply placed there to take up space. All in all, it is a true spectacle of wonderful imagery!
1st Place: Kindness by Vermillion AMV
(I just realized Vermillion AMV did every single AMV for this slot! That is truly saying something.) Now, when I saw Kindness for the first time, what immediately crossed my mind was how spot on this AMV was! It encapsulated what Mob Psycho 100 is about. How the editor blended the anime and song “I’m Alright” by Mother Mother was nothing short of masterful!
Best Aestheticism
These are the AMVs that are truly a feast for the eyes! Sometimes that means they are beautiful, other times they are truly rich in color and movement.
Children of the Sea (2014) is one of the richest films I’ve ever seen. Thankfully, this editor was able to utilize this imagery wonderfully. There are so many details in the colors and images to catch on to. It’s impossible to get bored watching it.
Everything about Ghost of You seems to glow. The imagery is so beautiful it almost swallows you! It helps that the song completely enhances it throughout every moment.
1st Place: Unity by Lightraider
I feel awe inspired every time I take time to watch Unity. It sheds beautiful light on how glorious human relationships are! I always wish it could be just a little longer so I could drink in even more of its wonder!
I’m so excited to finally finish this list! I’ve been writing it so long. . . I get easily distracted though so it took up a good chunk of my life. I hope you enjoy my favorite manga covers as much as I do! My greatest wish is you are able to find something new to read.
What I like about this particular cover is the lighting. There is a nice balance of pastel colors and movement in the character’s clothing. Miss Sakisaka also has a talent for drawing and coloring eyes.
Murata Yusuke is an extraordinary artist. I actually talked about his profound attention to detail in my post Best Artwork From Manga I’ve Read. As fans know, he isn’t the original artist for One Punch Man but he tries his best to really enhance the original author ONE’s artwork.
I love, love, love, the coloring in this cover. Its RED and awesome. I also like Metal Bat from the series. Therefore, its a win win situation for me. What REALLY sold me on this cover though was Saitama in the background with his ugly wig on. 🙂
A Sign of Affection is one of my favorite recent finds. The manga is great, but I’m not going to talk about that right now. I’m a sucker for beautiful covers outlined with flowers and with watercoloring. What I also appreciate about this cover is the hand gesture the girl is making. In Japanese sign language it means “That’s okay”. Very fitting for a title like A Sign of Affection.
49. One Punch Man, Volume 23
Word of warning, because I like the artist Murata for One Punch Man, his covers are going to come up A LOT. This cover encompasses my feelings concerning this series. I just want Saitama to come and punch the villain already. I like the lighting and spotlight effect Murata did over Saitama. It’s almost like he’s saying, “Thank the Lord! Saitama is here to punch them!”
Tite Kubo’s covers for Bleach are going to be all over the place! Though I am not happy with how drawn out the story became, I am definitely a fan of Kubo’s artwork. He’s a great artist! One of the highlights for this series is the large variety of manga covers he finished. He has a way of posing his characters uniquely.
Case point 1 is his first cover featuring Ulquiorra. Its like a still shot someone made right when he moved to stand in the frame. I really like Ulquiorra as a character too, which also adds to my admiration for this cover.
I featured this cover in one of my earliest manga posts Beautiful covers for aspiring art collectors. The artist, Mikanagi, makes his covers feel like a circus with their wide variety of colors, shapes and unique lighting. For this particular cover, I love how he incorporated BLUE. It’s been too long since I read this series so I couldn’t say if this has some significance. For me, it just pops aesthetically!
46. Karneval, Volume 4
Another fun fact about all of these manga covers for Karneval is Mikanagi always includes a butterfly somewhere in the background. What I especially like about this cover is the posing. I feel like I mentally need to look up to the character’s eyes.
I love this manga series, especially for its heartwarming variety of manga covers. This particular cover is for the series’ finale, bringing together the four characters I came to love so much. It feels like a family picture and it makes me smile. 🙂
44. Bleach, Volume 60
I said Kubo’s art would persist on this list. I keep my promises. I appreciated Kubo including a homage to Ichigo’s mother, who he lost at a very young age. This cover feels like a precious, captured memory right before she died.
You have no idea how hard it was to narrow down my favorite covers for Tsubasa. I truly admire CLAMP’s artists and how well they stage their inter chapter artwork and manga covers. The theme for this particular cover is GREEN tropics and I eat it up. There are so many details to look over and it evokes a needed sense of mystery and apprehension.
I found Skip to Loafer while browsing online blogs and was surprised how much I liked it. What especially impressed me was how the artist Takamatsu staged her characters on the cover. It fits the more upbeat flow for the series and alludes to the hope filled future ahead of them.
Good gravy (Don’t know where that came from) I love almost all the covers Kiyohiko does for Yotsuba&!. Much like the series, they have such a warm energy to them. What I especially like in this cover is Yotsuba’s enthusiasm as she runs from/with sheep. I’m pretty sure this is the volume where she goes to a farm for the first time. All in all, it just makes me smile.
Seeing this cover for Pandora Hearts makes me want to read it again. Mochizuki balances her covers by having a blank white canvas and crisply inserting well posed characters. By doing this, the facial expressions and color stick out more.
Though I love the first two covers for the series, I’ve always had a soft spot for this third volume. There is something about Break’s pose that draws me in.
39. Yotsuba to!, Volume 9
Volume 7 from Yotsuba&! isn’t so much about posing as it is about creating a beautiful atmosphere. Though the place Yotsuba lives seems ordinary, Kiyohino makes it feel so warm. This cover is very inviting, like its gently pushing a reader to opening its pages.
I’m super surprised I liked this cover so much. I’m not really into science fiction. However, what intrigues me about this volume is the atmosphere. For those who have read the series, its darker coloring and more oppressive atmosphere match the tone present in the story. I appreciate the attention to details CLAMP had in their character presentation and how they set the reader for the crazy plot changes coming up.
37. Strobe Edge, Volume 8
Andou, from Strobe Edge, is not my favorite character. But I like this cover featuring him. I didn’t think that would happen. What I liked most was his hair and eyes. I also like the angle Sakisaka used for the character.
Being the nerdy fan I am of Arakawa’s artwork, I’m not surprised this volume popped up. As I’ve said before, I am always on the lookout for great lighting and posing in manga covers. Luckily, this volume has both. I’m also a HUGE fan of Edward’s character design so I’m always for seeing him on covers.
35. Pandora Hearts, Volume 10
Wow. The theme for this volume cover is PURPLE. Since the series is a a much darker place in this volume, this color is very fitting. If I’m not mistaken, it features Jack, who originally they thought was a hero. Anyway, I won’t spoil anything. Needless to say this cover is fantastic!
Ah, Rurouni Kenshin. How I love you. Here is the simple reason I love this cover. Kenshin looks at peace. I love his expression and how the cover eludes to his happy future.
I. LOVE. THIS. SERIES. I wish I owned all the volumes but I don’t have the money to spend $800 for certain volumes. So, so sad. All the volumes feature the two main characters. Volume 13 is one of my favorites. Hikawa has such good taste in coloring and clothing design.
Hoshino is one of the best artists I’ve come across in manga. No joke. She is great at drawing hands and clothing. What I like about his cover in particular is the coloring and posing. It feels ALIVE. It also has a more Halloweeny feel to it, which I am always down for.
31. Bleach, Volume 49
I think this is the best cover featuring Ichigo. It has more defined shading, almost like Film Noir or Romantic paintings.
30. Kanata Kara, Volume 11
Be prepared because this isn’t the last cover from this series. Much like volume 13, I mostly like the colors and clothing design. In particular, I like Noriko’s hair color and dress.
If you haven’t read this series yet, I would recommend it simply for its humor. And Kuzumi. His dead pan expressions make me laugh. Anyway, this cover is just super sweet. I’m always a fan of these type of stories where “loser” characters get with those they love. In this case I’d say Erika, the girl, is in the loser category.
28. Bleach, Volume 54
I don’t remember who this character is but I love how Kubo portrays him on this cover! I especially admire the gray shading on the dark uniform as well as the watercolored platform they’re standing on.
27. Love so Life, Volume 14
Compared to volume 17, I think 14 has a little more life breathed into it! I also like how it portrays Shiharu’s relationship with the twins with such positive, bright colors.
26. Yotsuba to!, Volume 15
What I love most about this cover is how it portrays Yotsuba’s relationship with her dad. It’s just sweet to see it shown in such a positive, cute setting like the beach.
I don’t like the other covers for Dawn of Arcana as much as I do this one. The Turquoise and red silhouetted against each other is simply beautiful. What really catches me is her GREEN eyes.
24. D. Grayman, Volume 4
Levi is one of my favorite characters in D.Gray Man, besides Allen. The black surrounding him in this cover feels like a curtain parting.
23. Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, Volume 24
Dang. I just. . . man I just love Syaoran. This is one of the few covers with just him. He looks cool on this cover. This is one of the few times where I like the brown tones used.
22. Bleach, 18
I forgot this character’s name too (Sorry!) but I have always like this cover’s energy! It feels like a still frame for an animated scene. I say that because of the smear effect Kubo used for her foot. In animation, action scenes often are smeared to give an illusion of fast motion.
21. Fullmetal Alchemist, 25
This cover has depth. I also like where Arakawa put the focal point. Because Alphonse in the suit is so big, your eyes naturally go from him back to his body and the gateway of truth.
20. Yubisaki to Renren, Volume 4
Sigh, this cover is so pretty. It reminds me of Art Nouveu paintings done by Alphonse Mucha, with its brighter colors and floral/ nature themed outlines. I especially like how Morishita used baby blue on her characters.
I feel bad for saying this, but I don’t like Yoshihiro’s artwork. The anime is great, but the manga’s art lacks. . . things. That said, I still love this cover! It’s just fun and encompasses Gon’s lighthearted nature.
18. Love So Life, Volume 15
Love so Life is one of my favorite love stories. Matsunaga handled his relationship with Shiharu very well. I like how happy and content they look together. Matsunaga especially looks at peace with the future they had awaiting them.
If there is one good thing about D.N.Angel its the manga covers. Even here in volume 1 Sugisaki was able to catch readers’ attention with captivating colors and designs. The reason why I even wanted to read this series was because I was drawn to this cover.
16. Bleach, Volume 3
Orihime is one of my favorite characters, and not because she is pretty. I like her modesty and how her feelings and motivations develop. What I like about this cover is how it plays on her personality. This is also a really clever pose. I’ve never seen anything else like it.
15. Bleach, Volume 13
Details, details, details. I like the coloring, Kenpachi’s facial expression, and how he is angled toward the where the reader will open the volume.
14. One Punch Man, Volume 2
This cover is freaking cool, like Genos, who tries so hard to succeed but hardly ever does. I think this cover portrays the roles Genos and Saitama play in the series. Genos gives readers something cool and pretty to look and Saitama looks like a dork in the background, until he starts fighting. (Note, I love how Murata makes it seem like Genos’ arms are shining.)
13. D.N.Angel, Volume 13
Looking back at this cover, I marvel at this character’s angle. It’s like he’s twisting towards the reader mid flight. All in all, it’s a captivating shot of Dark from D.N.Angel.
All my friends know I love Natsume’s Book of Friends. I perused all the manga covers and decided volume 5 is my favorite of the bunch. It’s like a wind is passing through the scene, lifting the papers up around the characters. I also like how this volume has a brush of calligraphy to its style.
11. D. Grayman, Volume 7
I’ve said before Hoshino draws spectacular covers. This one feels as though its falling apart or unable to fully come together, which is fitting since the featured character isn’t exactly human. I love how this artwork feels, and the sense of mystery behind it.
Ah, the infamous volume for Takane and Hana where things finally click for both characters. It doesn’t show it right here, but the full artwork has their full figures falling together. It’s quite beautiful. Most of the covers for this series are funny but at the right times they have a more serious undertone.
9. Rurouni Kenshin, 3-in-1 4
Kenshin how I love you! On a whim I decided to go through all the 3-in-1 volume covers for Rurouni Kenshin. In-so-doing, I found this hidden gem. I’ve never seen him in blue before, but its suits him wonderfully. Kenshin is a very lighthearted character so this cover fits him very well. (If you couldn’t tell, I basically love this cover because of how it portrays Kenshin.)
8. Yubisaki to Renren, Volume 2
Such a pretty cover! Morishika has such a talent for blending colors! I especially like how the characters are looking at each other.
7. Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 27
Yes, yes, yes! This cover encompasses everything I love about this series’ finale. It’s almost like Edward says with his eyes, “I’ve found the right answer. I’m here for my brother now.” Ah! so good.
6. Kanata Kara, Volume 3
This is my favorite cover for From Far Away because of how gentle it feels. It almost feels airbrushed, with soft hues of blue and pink. It’s almost like Hikawa blended two different people through color and imagery.
Yes, I love Mushishi. Sorry there is only one cover! Thinking back on it though, I realized this is the cover I admire the most because of Urushibara’s choice of colors and posing. It reminds me of one of the more haunting stories from the series about a young woman hundreds of years old, connected to an old Cherry Tree. I’m a huge fan of watercolors in general so it’s no wonder I feel so drawn to this cover.
4. One Punch Man, Volume 17
Hot dang! This cover has such presence and energy! Besides Saitama and Genos, Zombie man is probably my favorite. (I wonder why that is? Maybe I like strong silent types) Looking closely at this cover, the focal point is his EYES at the end of his gun. I understand this character without even having to read about him just by looking at this image.
3. Takane to Hana, Volume 7
Such. Beautiful. Colors! I didn’t realize how much I love soft coloring in artwork until I did this post. This volume from Takane and Hana takes place right at a serious moment in the story. Character development comes like a storm! Shiwasu chose just the right colors for Takane and Hana for this volume. I also like how she posed the characters. Like most volume covers, they don’t feel at war with each other. It’s like they are finally connecting.
I’m surprised myself how far this cover has come! Fruits Basket is my favorite manga of all time. I have quite a bit of emotional attachment to it. When I searched through all the volumes, this 2nd ultimate edition popped out at me! This was at a time where Takaya’s artwork flourished. I love how I feel when I look at it and that is what really matters when picking artworks for ourselves.
Hmmm hmm hmmm. I’m sorry more volumes for this series didn’t make it. However, in light of all the volumes this has always been the cover I’ve been most drawn to. Its partially because I love Mamura as a character. It’s also how Yamamori chose to use to use pastels on black. I’ve also always been a fan with how the artist draws her characters.
Thank you for brushing through my long list! Maybe you found something new to read. I hope so.
We finally made it to what I call the penultimate ten! These are the AMVs with perfect scores that happened to also become some of me and my brother’s favorites. There are no rules for this list. In fact, they are listed based only on a tally we made of which ones we like better than the others. For Best in Show and other awards, I will make a different post.
Somehow, a remix of Fall Out Boy’s “Young And Menace” works so well with Mob Psycho 100. Many of the previous AMVs struggled balancing fast paced imagery with slower, or still moments. “???” uses the pacing of the song to illustrate the ebb and flow from the show.
The biggest highlights are the opening, especially when Reigen stealthily slips on his coat, and the first chorus run.
“The Asking Price” packs an emotional punch, especially for those familiar with the show. It focuses on various characters from Fullmetal Alchemist and their sacrifices. It matches music and visuals so well! It feels like a beautiful collaboration between different artists.
That said, this is definately one of my favorite AMVs. I tend to lean more toward emotional storytelling than spectacle. At the end of the day, I didn’t watch Fullmetal Alchemist for its action scenes alone. It opened me to so much of the world, the good and ugly. I love to be reminded of that.
Over the coarse of the last few weeks, I’ve come to really appreciate “Swing Box”. Why? Because so many collaboration AMVs don’t know how to, well, collaborate. Good AMVs don’t just need a large list of anime to fit into the right moments of a song. An AMV will not flow well unless the editor finds ways to blend them together cohesively.
“Swing Box” does just that! It’s timing is crisp, and its imagery is fascinating to witness. It doesn’t even feel like a hodge-podge of different works. They FEEL like they belong in the same space. Behold! The power of great editing.
I love this AMV’s energy, coloring, and the fun song choice!
Funny story. I saved this AMV on a whim about two years ago without really watching it. I had a habit of saving AMVs so I wouldn’t forget songs I liked while casually scrolling through YouTube. So, as I perused the various AMVs I’ve saved over the last few years, I saw “Pure White Gold” and thought, “What the heck. It must be here for a reason. Let’s include it in the top 100 list for kicks.”
I’m so glad I did! Looking more closely at this AMV’s content, pacing, and flow, it floored me over and over again. I get chills watching it every time and I haven’t even SEEN this show. The song and anime enhance each other so so beautifully!
I don’t have a favorite moment because I love watching it unfold!
6. Singular Strike Gentleman [OPM AMV – Anime Expo Best Fun] by Glitzer
Are you a fan of One Punch Man? Think about it, what is the perfect song for this show? Usually, people would say an action song because Saitama is a freak of nature and the animation for the action sequences are fantastic in the first season.
What if I told you “Singular Strike Gentleman” set to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen is the best AMV I have EVVVVVER seen for this show? No joke. I laugh so hard seeing it! As a good friend of mine once said, One Punch Man at its heart is a satiric comedy about Saitama, his egg head and his titular one punch.
The timing is perfect and the lyrics coupled with Saitama’s hilarious face keep me coming back for more.
5. Princess Tutu AMV – Hold Me Now (Warning: Spoilerific) by Komichi
“Hold Me Now” is the AMV that tricks viewers into watching and loving Princess Tutu. In fact, if you are watching it now, you might very well be thinking, “Dang, why have I never seen this show?”. Good. You should feel that way because its a fantastic, multi-layered philosophical drama of epic proportions!
That aside, this editor did so well sculpting a visual story, even with a foreign language song. It makes this story altogether epic! In fact, it captures the amazing dance sequences showcased throughout the show and showcases them as a brilliant spectacle. Kind of like a ballet. 😉
4. Dance with the Mushi || Mushishi AMV by Rainhowls2
I saw multiple AMVs for Mushishi and concluded its extraordinarily difficult to find the right song for it. Mushishi is not an action anime. Most of its time is open for gentle observation rather than thorough engagement. It doesn’t rely on action scenes or loud noise. Its a story which invites its viewer to go on a journey, seeing the extraordinary world and witnessing human beings living.
This AMV, like the show, does all these things. There are no lyrics but it draws you in because at its heart it speaks to us on a personal, almost primal way. By its end, the music becomes faster and BAM! you’re hooked.
Yep. There are not one but TWO Princess Tutu AMVs in the top ten. Maybe its a subtle message I think you should watch the show. In all seriousness, “Danse De Raven” captures the darker underbelly of this show. Even more than “Hold Me Now” it has a way of drawing you in.
The editor was able to do this partly because of their amazing timing and wise song choice. Look up the lyrics for the song, “”Le Bien Qui Fait Mal” from Mozart L’Opera Rock and you’ll understand a little more why this is. Though it’s in French, the editor made sure to match the lyrics with the images and stay true to the song’s message and tone.
(Special shoutout to VermillionAMV for having three AMVs on this list.) “Kindness” is my new personal favorite AMV. If “Cradles” showcased the stirring animated moments from Mob Psycho 100, “Kindness” captured the show’s beautiful emotional moments. Personally, Mob Psycho 100 is one of my favorites not because of its action scenes but because of its touching relationships, character growth, and how it asks hard questions on the nature of power.
I get emotional watching “Kindness” because it reminds me of the many wonderful lessons I learned and continue to learn from ONE’s titular story.
Like “Kindness”, “Warriors” made me stop and be there in the moment. I forgot I was being a critic. I didn’t look for things to knitpick. I let its magic WASH OVER ME. I drank it in and savored every moment of runtime. THIS is how you construct a well-balanced action-based AMV. Make it so the viewer doesn’t have to question what they are watching or how long they will be watching.
Make it so they KNOW and BELIEVE its magic. “Warriors” definitely highlighted one of the most beautiful shows I’ve witnessed these last few weeks. I take my hat off to you!
That is the last of the many, many AMVs for this list! Stay tuned for a list of my and my brother’s favorites, as well as a special post for specific shoutouts I wanted to give.
The list everyone has been waiting for! So, funny story. I couldn’t come up with 20 favorite anime. I was surprised because I’ve seen A LOT of anime. Perhaps after I peruse a whole bunch of them this next year, I can redo the list.
As for this particular list, they are split mostly into three categories: one’s that make me laugh, one’s that made me cry, and the other’s that make me think.
To the average person, psychic abilities might seem a blessing; for Kusuo Saiki, however, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Gifted with a wide assortment of supernatural abilities ranging from telepathy to x-ray vision, he finds this so-called blessing to be nothing but a curse. As all the inconveniences his powers cause constantly pile up, all Kusuo aims for is an ordinary, hassle-free life—a life where ignorance is bliss.
Unfortunately, the life of a psychic is far from quiet. Though Kusuo tries to stay out of the spotlight by keeping his powers a secret from his classmates, he ends up inadvertently attracting the attention of many odd characters, such as the empty-headed Riki Nendou and the delusional Shun Kaidou. Forced to deal with the craziness of the people around him, Kusuo comes to learn that the ordinary life he has been striving for is a lot more difficult to achieve than expected.
Myanimelist Overview
Saiki K will make its way onto another list I’m working on for anime I never expected to like.
What do I like? The humor, especially the English cast from Funimation in season 1. The humor in this particular show is multidimensional, not depending on only one medium to deliver jokes or the story. It also makes fun of itself all the time and breaks the fourth wall on multiple occasions.
Do I like every season (if applicable)? Not necessarily. I prefer the first season because I like the English dub but will binge watch the show all the way through if I’m going through a stressful time.
Who is my favorite character? Probably Saiki for his sarcasm and moral code or Kaido for his naivety.
Would I like another season? Yes. I want to know what happens once he got his powers back.
What language do I prefer? English. the jokes land better for me.
The seemingly ordinary and unimpressive Saitama has a rather unique hobby: being a hero. In order to pursue his childhood dream, he trained relentlessly for three years—and lost all of his hair in the process. Now, Saitama is incredibly powerful, so much so that no enemy is able to defeat him in battle. In fact, all it takes to defeat evildoers with just one punch has led to an unexpected problem—he is no longer able to enjoy the thrill of battling and has become quite bored.
This all changes with the arrival of Genos, a 19-year-old cyborg, who wishes to be Saitama’s disciple after seeing what he is capable of. Genos proposes that the two join the Hero Association in order to become certified heroes that will be recognized for their positive contributions to society, and Saitama, shocked that no one knows who he is, quickly agrees. And thus begins the story of One Punch Man, an action-comedy that follows an eccentric individual who longs to fight strong enemies that can hopefully give him the excitement he once felt, and just maybe, he’ll become popular in the process.
Myanimelist Overview
I keep re-watching this 12-episode show. One Punch Man is also not an anime I normally would look out for. (I don’t look out for Shonen, or super hero shows. They don’t interest me usually.) However, the idea of a super hero subverting the usually tropes in Shonen anime had me reeling on the floor laughing when I first saw it.
What do I like about it? The fact it’s a satire for superhero shows. Every character and situation is subverted, displaying illogical ways of thinking people have created concerning the genre.
The animation is incredible. I enjoy looking for AMVs for One Punch Man because the animation is so clean and multidimensional.
Saitama is one of my favorite characters of all time.
Do I like every season? Noooooo. The second season is one of the biggest let downs I’ve had for a long time. Such a shame.
Who is my favorite character? Saitama for his bland egg head, rare cool scenes, and quest for stimulation. I also like Genos. He gives fans cool-looking scenes to make up for the fact Saitama usually just comes along and punches someone once.
Would I like another season? Yes, but Bones should do the animation. In fact, I want them to redo the second season to match the great pacing and animation from the first.
What Language do I Prefer? Japanese. The voice actor for Saitama specifically is irreplaceable.
In a fairy tale come to life, the clumsy, sweet, and gentle Ahiru (Japanese for “duck”) seems like an unlikely protagonist. In reality, Ahiru is just as magical as the talking cats and crocodiles that inhabit her town—for Ahiru really is a duck! Transformed by the mysterious Drosselmeyer into a human girl, Ahiru soon learns the reason for her existence. Using her magical egg-shaped pendant, Ahiru can transform into Princess Tutu—a beautiful and talented ballet dancer whose dances relieve people of the turmoil in their hearts. With her newfound ability, Ahiru accepts the challenge of collecting the lost shards of her prince’s heart, for long ago he had shattered it in order to seal an evil raven away for all eternity.
Princess Tutu is a tale of heroes and their struggle against fate. Their beliefs, their feelings, and ultimately their actions will determine whether this fairy tale can reach its “happily ever after.”
Myanimelist Overview
In my life, I never thought I would ever fall in love with a magical girl anime. (Yes, I’ve seen quite a few.) Thankfully, Princess Tutu features classical music, interwoven philosophical ideas, and beautiful dancing. It caught my eye maybe ten or more years ago while I was flipping through anime review videos.
What do I like about it? I grew up playing and listening to classical music, so its soundtrack felt like coming home. I loved thinking about what it means to be in charge of one’s destiny. For the characters in Princess Tutu, it meant fighting against their fates as characters in a story.
The animation itself is fascinating to me because of the choreography for the dances. In fact, every episode felt like a setting on a stage, rather than real life.
Who is your favorite character? Mr. Cat, the dance instructor. All he wants is to find someone to marry him! He’s so lonely. (In other words, he’s hilarious). He also gives very sound advice at times.
Would I like another season? No, it ended very nicely.
Which Language do I Prefer? English. The Japanese voices are obnoxious.
Energy-conservative high school student Houtarou Oreki ends up with more than he bargained for when he signs up for the Classics Club at his sister’s behest—especially when he realizes how deep-rooted the club’s history really is. Begrudgingly, Oreki is dragged into an investigation concerning the 45-year-old mystery that surrounds the club room.
Accompanied by his fellow club members, the knowledgeable Satoshi Fukube, the stern but benign Mayaka Ibara, and the ever-curious Eru Chitanda, Oreki must combat deadlines and lack of information with resourcefulness and hidden talent, in order to not only find the truth buried beneath the dust of works created years before them, but of other small side cases as well.
Based on the award-winning Koten-bu light novel series, and directed by Yasuhiro Takemoto of Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu, Hyouka shows that normal life can be full of small mysteries, be it family history, a student film, or even the withered flowers that make up a ghost story.
Myanimelist Overview
Recently, I went back and re-watched Hyouka with my brother. It exceeded my expectations. I thought I would just have fond memories of watching it in my early twenties. However, it was the exact show I needed for the upcoming changes and challenges I was facing.
What do I like about it? I love detective stories like Sherlock Holmes, Columbo, and Agatha Christie’s mysteries. Hyouka takes different mystery writing formulas and applies them to everyday life. It also plays with the idea of what makes each person special and what it’s like to compete with real, natural talent.
The animation is very balanced. The shots never felt disjointed or overstimulated like in many Shoujo anime I’ve seen. The characters also have crisp, lifelike motions which never look clunky.
Who is your favorite character? Probably Houtaro the main character. I love seeing into the minds of left-brained individuals who are good at doing puzzles.
Would I like another season? Yes and no. If the same studio handled the story I wouldn’t mind. However, I’m kind of afraid someone will butcher it.
What Language Do I Prefer? Both? I do admire the English Dub a little more.
Eighth-grader Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama has tapped into his inner wellspring of psychic prowess at a young age. But the power quickly proves to be a liability when he realizes the potential danger in his skills. Choosing to suppress his power, Mob’s only present use for his ability is to impress his longtime crush, Tsubomi, who soon grows bored of the same tricks.
In order to effectuate control on his skills, Mob enlists himself under the wing of Arataka Reigen, a con artist claiming to be a psychic, who exploits Mob’s powers for pocket change. Now, exorcising evil spirits on command has become a part of Mob’s daily, monotonous life. However, the psychic energy he exerts is barely the tip of the iceberg; if his vast potential and unrestrained emotions run berserk, a cataclysmic event that would render him completely unrecognizable will be triggered. The progression toward Mob’s explosion is rising and attempting to stop it is futile.
Myanimelist Overview
Both seasons of Mob Psycho 100 BLEW ME AWAY when I watched it about two years ago. I didn’t think the creator ONE could write another truly fabulous story but he managed to convince me within the first 10 minutes of the first episode.
What do I like about it? First off, the animation. Bones Animators outdid themselves in animating multiple perspectives through unique camera angles. I also love how often they slip in ONE’s original drawings into the character animation. The action scenes are clean and riddled with layered details.
Second, this show is even funnier than One Punch Man!
Mob’s journey to learning to use and live with his emotions, despite his powers, was one part funny, two parts epic, and altogether beautiful to witness.
Do I like Every Season? Yes! Both seasons are equally excellent!
Who is my Favorite Character? All of them? Just kidding. Mob is my favorite. Reigen is a close second.
Would I like another season? Yes! Bones animators continue doing your magic.
What Language do I Prefer? Japanese. All the voice actors really click for me, especially Reigen.
Kino, a 15-year-old traveler, forms a bond with Hermes, a talking motorcycle. Together, they wander the lands and venture through various countries and places, despite having no clear idea of what to expect. After all, life is a journey filled with the unknown.
Throughout their journeys, they encounter different kinds of customs, from the morally gray to tragic and fascinating. They also meet many people: some who live to work, some who live to make others happy, and some who live to chase their dreams. Thus, in every country they visit, there is always something to learn from the way people carry out their lives.
It is not up to Kino or Hermes to decide whether these asserted values are wrong or right, as they merely assume the roles of observers within this small world. They do not attempt to change or influence the places they visit, despite how absurd these values would appear. That’s because in one way or another, they believe things are fine as they are, and that “the world is not beautiful; therefore, it is.”
Myanimelist Overview
Like Princess Tutu, I found this particular anime while looking through YouTube reviews. What struck me from the get go was how it invited me to think deeper on what could be and what could happen in different societies. It displays varying perspectives on life and let’s the audience experience them through the main character Kino’s unclouded viewpoint as a traveler and unbiased onlooker.
What do I like about it? It challenges what I know and displays clearly the consequences of fallen people, who refuse to deviate from their worldview. Whenever I watch, I feel like it invites me through varying questions to see the world is still beautiful, even if tragic things happen.
Do I like every Season? Well, three years ago Lerche reanimated the shows with more episodes, but it lacked the flow and magic of the original.
What is my favorite story? (Since the only reoccurring characters are Kino and Hermes, her bike.) “A Tale of Feeding Off Others —I Want to Live.—”, I always ask myself when I see this episode “How do I value human life?”
Would I like another season? No. Animators tried to redo it rather than expounding on it and it fell flat.
While most fifteen-year-old boys, in one way or another, harbor secrets that are related to girls, Takashi Natsume has a peculiar and terrifying secret involving youkai: for as long as he can remember, he has been constantly chased by these spirits. Natsume soon discovers that his deceased grandmother Reiko had passed on to him the Yuujinchou, or “Book of Friends,” which contains the names of the spirits whom she brought under her control. Now in Natsume’s possession, the book gives Reiko’s grandson this power as well, which is why these enraged beings now haunt him in hopes of somehow attaining their freedom.
Without parents and a loving home, and constantly being hunted by hostile, merciless youkai, Natsume is looking for solace—a place where he belongs. However, his only companion is a self-proclaimed bodyguard named Madara. Fondly referred to as Nyanko-sensei, Madara is a mysterious, pint-sized feline spirit who has his own reasons for sticking with the boy.
Based on the critically acclaimed manga by Yuki Midorikawa, Natsume Yuujinchou is an unconventional and supernatural slice-of-life series that follows Natsume as he, with his infamous protector Madara, endeavors to free the spirits bound by his grandmother’s contract.
Myanimelist Overview
I have a soft spot in my heart for any stories involving the spirit world. Natsume’s Book of Friends is equally mysterious as it is enlightening. At its heart, its about a young man who learns kindness and develops needed relationships with people and spirits.
What do I like about it? It presents Japanese culture so vividly, emphasizing the growing disconnection between spirits and people. I like how Natsume becomes a bridge between both worlds.
Do I like every season? Yes! I also love watching the OVA’s and movies.
Who is my favorite character? Takashi Natsume is definitely my favorite character. The more I grew to know him, the more I realized how loving he still was despite how deeply abused he’d been throughout his life.
Would I like another season? Always! I’m all for the studio animating every volume.
What language do I prefer? Japanese. In fact, no one has translated it into English.
The self-proclaimed mad scientist Rintarou Okabe rents out a room in a rickety old building in Akihabara, where he indulges himself in his hobby of inventing prospective “future gadgets” with fellow lab members: Mayuri Shiina, his air-headed childhood friend, and Hashida Itaru, a perverted hacker nicknamed “Daru.” The three pass the time by tinkering with their most promising contraption yet, a machine dubbed the “Phone Microwave,” which performs the strange function of morphing bananas into piles of green gel.
Though miraculous in itself, the phenomenon doesn’t provide anything concrete in Okabe’s search for a scientific breakthrough; that is, until the lab members are spurred into action by a string of mysterious happenings before stumbling upon an unexpected success—the Phone Microwave can send emails to the past, altering the flow of history.
Adapted from the critically acclaimed visual novel by 5pb. and Nitroplus, Steins;Gate takes Okabe through the depths of scientific theory and practicality. Forced across the diverging threads of past and present, Okabe must shoulder the burdens that come with holding the key to the realm of time.
Myanimelist Overview
If there is any series that challenges my brain, it’s Steins Gate. Its’ so well paced, and the characters’ relationships are multi-dimensional.
What do I like about it? Where do I start? The animation, though faded, comes to life the farther into the story one goes. The characters have layers! They aren’t just caricatures of bygone character tropes. The story is as intriguing as it is mind-boggling! I learned so much about String Theory and the Butterfly Effect. Also, it has one of my favorite love stories.
Who is my favorite character? The main character Okabe, Kurisu, or his childhood friend Mayuri. Honesty though, I like them all. Except Itaru. As I’ve said before, I don’t like pervy characters.
Would I like another season? There is another season, actually. I’ve never seen it. After the way the movie Steins;Gate: The Movie − Load Region of Déjà Vu ended so wonderfully, I don’t really want to continue.
What language do I prefer? I’ve seen it all the way through in English and Japanese. I like them both but prefer English.
Perceived as strange and feared by man, over time the misshapen ones came to be known as Mushi. Although they harbor no ill intentions towards humans, many suffer from the side effects of their existence and strange nature; exploiting the Mushi without understanding them, even unintentionally, can lead to disaster and strife for any involved. Mushishi Zoku Shou continues the story of Mushishi Ginko on his journey to help the visible world to coexist with the Mushi.
During his travels, Ginko discovers various gifted individuals—those cursed by circumstance and those maintaining a fragile symbiosis with the Mushi—inevitably confronting the question of whether humanity, talented and tortured alike, can manage the responsibility of the unseen. Moreover, as a Mushishi, Ginko must learn more about these strange beings and decide if he has the right to interfere with the complex relationships between Mushi and mankind.
Myanimelsit Overview
Mushishi is episodic, but almost all the stories are connected only by Ginko, who travels through Japan offering remedies and advice concerning Mushi. Somewhat like Kino’s Journey and Natsume’s Book of Friends, it presents multiple viewpoints through human and Mushi interactions.
What do I like about it? Everything. Again. The animation, especially in the backgrounds, is GORGEOUS. The stories are ethereal. I ate every one up, pondering for days the possible meanings and messages there. I also liked how the stories, like real life, varied in feel. Some were tragic, while others full of hope. Most of them in one way or another were bitter sweet.
Do I like all the seasons? Yes. Bones continued, after ten years, the story where it left off. Not deviating from the original manga or their previous season. If anything, the animation was more beautiful than the first season.
What is my favorite story? (I have several). “The Hand That Caresses the Night”, “Soft Horns”, “To Sleep in the Mountains”, “Beneath the Snow”. Thinking about it though, I love them all. I could barely pick.
Would I like another season? No. The anime finished the original manga.
Which language do I prefer? Both. I watch it interchangeably in English and Japanese.
Alchemy is bound by this Law of Equivalent Exchange—something the young brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric only realize after attempting human transmutation: the one forbidden act of alchemy. They pay a terrible price for their transgression—Edward loses his left leg, Alphonse his physical body. It is only by the desperate sacrifice of Edward’s right arm that he is able to affix Alphonse’s soul to a suit of armor. Devastated and alone, it is the hope that they would both eventually return to their original bodies that gives Edward the inspiration to obtain metal limbs called “automail” and become a state alchemist, the Fullmetal Alchemist.
Three years of searching later, the brothers seek the Philosopher’s Stone, a mythical relic that allows an alchemist to overcome the Law of Equivalent Exchange. Even with military allies Colonel Roy Mustang, Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, and Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes on their side, the brothers find themselves caught up in a nationwide conspiracy that leads them not only to the true nature of the elusive Philosopher’s Stone, but their country’s murky history as well. In between finding a serial killer and racing against time, Edward and Alphonse must ask themselves if what they are doing will make them human again… or take away their humanity.
Myanimelist Overview
I did not watch this anime first. I had a friend who recommended I watch the first series based on Hiromi Arakawa’s manga. I really liked it till the end. I wondered, through my anger and sadness, “Is this really how it ends?” Thankfully, it was not! I read and bought all the manga and watched Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. The quality of the story and animation was astounding!
What do I like about it? Let me count the ways: the thoroughly engaging action scenes with animation that blew me away, the fully rounded characters. (There are no obsolete characters in this story.), the symbolism, how well rooted it is in historic practices and historical events, the idea of alchemy and automail, THE PERFECT ENDING! I could go on forever. I love it that much.
Do I like every season? Yes! No question about it.
Who is my favorite character? I have a list: Edward, for his emotional growth and grit. Alphonse, for his sensitivity and open-mindedness. Honenheim, for sacrificing everything he loved to save the world. Scar, for breaking through his hatred to build a better world. Olivia Armstrong, for being immovable in what she stood for. Ling, for desiring to be a righteous king.
Would I like another season? NO.
What language do I prefer? ENGLISH. Funimation did such a good job dubbing this anime. Since it takes place in an English-type society, it just makes more sense to see it in English.
For clarification, this list exclusively lists manga I have personally read. Therefore, I won’t be listing anything like Berserk or Vinland Saga. I love art and exploring different mediums within comics and manga. Those featured in this list are listed in alphabetical order. I don’t have the heart to pit them against each other in a competition.
No matter what anyone says against Bleach, Kubo did an phenominal job drawing this manga. Each chapter heading, even from the first volume, is cool. Characters are the gears of any story and he had a way of bringing them to life with his art.
Would I buy an artbook for this series? Definitely yes. Do they exist? Yes!
Those who have gone through my other posts know this manga has come up A LOT. It will pop up in the future as well. I guarantee it. I’m not sorry. Now, why did I include it here on an art list? Yamamori is one of the most consistent character artists I’ve come across. She is especially gifted in how she draws hands and eyes. Aesthetically, this series pops because of her character designs and how she carries through with them till the end of the series.
D.Grayman ALMOST made it onto my underrated manga list. If not for its anime series and bigger following I would say it definitely deserves more attention. As for the art, it is GORGEOUS. From the amazing manga covers and character designs as the series progressed, her art just pops for me. Hoshino is also great at sequencing action scenes. From the get-go, her manga has maintained a higher quality.
Also, her art books are phenomenal. They are on my to buy list.
People gush about Fullmetal Alchemist often. It’s for good reason. For me, one of this series’ highlights is the artwork. Specifically, Arakawa’s fluid designs and knowledge of human anatomy fascinates me. Of all the manga artists, Arakawa is the most similar to me in personality, especially in how much research she did for this series.
I also want to own the art books for this series. (You see the pattern. I need to buy these art books but don’t have the heart because of MONEY. So sad).
Kaori Ozaki draws amazing character profiles. Even outside this series, her works consistently feature well-balanced designs. As for Immortal Rain, her artwork blossomed throughout the story, featuring beautiful human caricatures and striking details in the backgrounds and sequencing. I did not mention this in my Underrated Manga Post, but her talent as a story writer and artist is underappreciated.
Because Mushishi is recognizably one of the most beautiful anime, specifically in its backgrounds, the manga is a little undervalued. This is rather foolhardy because Urushibara has a very distinct, earthy quality to her artwork. Throughout her ten volumes, she created such a vibrant view of Old Japan, disconnected from the modern world.
Much like Mushishi,Natsume’s Book of Friends has an ethereal feel to it. Yuki Midorikawa’s brush strokes feel like Japanese calligraphy, and her chapter headings have a beautiful watercolor feel.
One of the reasons Miyazaki’s movies are appreciated worldwide is because of their artistic quality. Miyazaki, though viewed primarily as a director, is really at heart an artist. Over twelve years, he drew an extended manga covering his first film from 1984. truly, Miyazaki is an incredible artist. It is hard to convey the depth of his talent through the few pictures I could find. To truly experience it, it is best to read the manga in full.
One Punch Man
I love the first season for One Punch Man. Its’ animation and comedy are great. The manga is definitely undervalued in light of the anime. The original story is by ONE, who has great ideas but limited artistic ability. Therefore, for the manga, Eyeshield 21‘s Yusuke Mirata stepped up as the primary artist.
Dang. His drawings have DEPTH and amazing shadowing. He was the right choice as this iconic story’s artist. Of all the artist’s I searched for, his art pieces were the easiest to find.
I am a sucker for Alice in Wonderland parodies. Pandora Hearts‘ artwork, much like D.Grayman, is definitely a major highlight of the series. Of all the manga on this list, Mochizuki’s artwork is probably the most likely to find its way into an Anglophile’s personal library. (Much like Black Butler). Basically, lovers of Tim Burton-esque Hot Topic fans.
Personally, I simply admire Mochizuki’s coloring for her art book features, designs, and manga backgrounds.
Psyren, artist Toshiaki Iwashiro
Psyren was the hardest to find the right feature artworks. (Another sign it is underrated). Iwashiro is one of the best worldbuilders I’ve seen, especially in his backgrounds. He puts such amazing detail into the setting, it comes to life. Another highlight is his character designs. He is best at drawing hands and teeth.
Magical. CLAMP’s artwork throughout Tsubasa, and their other works, is simply magical. I feel like I can drink in the manga like an exquisite three-course meal. I love how they do hair, clothing, and staging. Literally, any piece from their artbook could go on the wall.
Nagabe’s artwork for The Girl From the Other Side shines differently than any manga I’ve listed. It reminds me somewhat of the artwork featured in Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls, with its heavy shadowing. It could be mistaken for artwork commissioned for Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories. It’s Gothic and beautiful.
I have conflicting feelings about Vampire Knight. Its story and the odd ending really threw me for a loop when I finally got the courage to read it. Honestly, it’s not a great story. But its artwork is breathtaking. When I found its artbook in Barnes and Noble, its beautiful colored pictures surprised me. I expected to hate it. Now, I admire her visual artistry despite her struggles writing good stories.
Hot dang Oono is a great artist! Not only does he draw amazingly accurate character designs, but his staging and use of light and shadowing also enhance the series’ comedic effect. The first time I read it, I was in awe of his drawings and surprised it was his first released manga.
This is a rather fickle list to make because popularity shifts like the wind and people’s tastes are subjective to their interests. I thought long and hard on the underrated titles I wanted to highlight. At least half of them made it onto this list because no one talks about them anymore, and they have a very specified fan base. All in all, I think they deserve more love and attention.
For this tag, I’ll be listing a variety of manga I feel are underrated. Feel free to use this tag yourself and be sure to tag me into your post so I know it’s going around!
If you’ve been following my posts for the last few days, yes, this manga has come up A LOT. It’s one of my favorites and is a well-rounded mature romance. Yamamori treats her characters well and doesn’t create “villain” like rivals. Instead she built up the eventual relationship for her main character Suzumi in a way that honored her feelings and experiences.
Yamamori’s art style and consistent quality artwork should be praised more.
Fans probably rate D.N.Angel‘s manga so low because of the anime. (It’s not good.) The original publisher, Tokyopop, of the English translation also went out of business about ten or so years ago so access to the manga volumes plummeted. This is unfortunate because Sugisaki’s artwork is hauntingly beautiful at times and her story is thought-provoking. She hasn’t released any new chapters in a long time, so the story is on hiatus for an indefinite time period.
From Far Away is another manga that has popped up a few times the last few days. With how popular Isekai style manga and anime are nowadays, I think more people should know about Hikawa’s Fantasy adventure with its optimistic and compassionate character Noriko from Japan. It’s a very romantic story and it also teaches pivotal truths on individual worth, power, and choice and accountability.
Immortal Rain was fairly popular about fifteen years ago while Tokopop was publishing its volumes. However, once it went out of business access to the new volumes became impossible. Ozaki has a crisp, unique art style which is easily recognizable. She also has a knack for creating relatable, deep characters with identifiable motivations and problems. I hope VIZ media or another company chooses to re-translate it sooner than later. It is a really beautiful story. (Warning though! It has some mature content I wouldn’t recommend for younger readers.)
Much like Yamamori’s other work Daytime Shooting Star, I admire this story for its mature, more relatable take on relationships and communicating as a couple. I also really admired how she set specific boundaries in their relationship, giving them time to grow and eventually marry one another once Fumi was older. (The main characters havea big-ish age difference so it is important the author did this.)
Unlike Daytime Shooting Star, there is no English release for the manga volumes yet. There is also no anime. So sad. My hope is after Yamamori’s other series is completely released in English, VIZ media will also release Lonely Planet.
(Yes, it is here again.) As far as Shoujo romances go, this is yet another more realistic take on relationships with bigger age gaps. I loved how Kouchi set up the romance between Shiharu and Matsunaga. There were not huge passionate scenes, however, they grew towards each other.
I am truly surprised more people don’t talk about this series. I am equally surprised it is no translated into English yet.
Some may argue this series is not underrated. However, looking over a lot of different blogs and lists these past few months I have barely ever seen anyone talk about this series. Perhaps its because its so difficult to buy the English translation for the manga. It also may be because it has a completely different appeal to it then big Shonen anime and manga like One Piece and Bleach.
Regardless, more people should know about and read this series. It has beautiful artwork, compelling mysteries, and it is utterly therapeutic to read. It will also make you think deeper about different aspects of human nature, especially with its relationship with nature and the spiritual world.
Miyazaki’s manga for his infamous animated film by the same name is the epitome of an underrated cult classic among manga fans. I only found it because, at 17, I was still working my way through all of Miyazaki’s films. When I watched the film I had this strange feeling something was missing from its story. So, I looked it up and found out he wrote a manga to better portray what had originally wanted for the story.
Its artwork and story are incredible. Miyazaki drew and wrote it himself and every page is a visual and literary delight for me. It suffers from the same problem Beserk does. It’s not a main stream genre so its looked over by general fans.
During the 2000’s a lot of people talked about Psyren. Since Iwashiro finished the manga though, no one talks about it anymore. I can for the life of me fathom it. It has great pacing, dynamic characters, and incredible artwork (especially how he drew teeth).
Don’t get me wrong. I love Arakawa’s Fullmetal Alchemist more. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t think this manga is both hilarious and incredible. If anyone could get me interested in farming, its Arakawa. Silver Spoon draws a lot from her roots as a farming child. It might even be a small tribute to the world she grew up in.
Though it has an anime and a fairly large fan base, I think most readers skip over it because it is nothing like Fullmetal Alchemist. When they see Arakawa as the author, they must expect another great Shonen, action thriller. Instead, they get a well-rounded slice of life growing up story. Though it’s not for everyone, I still think the fan base needs to grow.
Here we are again. It should probably be obvious Yotsuba&! is one of my favorite manga. The story is so down to earth and it’s so funny! Not as many people know about it though because it has no anime and not that much identifiable merchandise. (Shrug.) That’s the way it goes sometimes. Thankfully, at the very least there is an English translation for this manga readily available.
There you have it! I did treat this post as a possible tag other blog writers could use. Feel free to use it and be sure to tag me in there somewhere as the original creator.
I love manga covers. I’ll do another list showing my favorite manga covers, but for today I found a few covers which I would be tempted to put on my wall.
Greetings! Even though October is officially done I wanted to list some of my favorite movie, short and show binges I’ve had during the month! Some are new, while others I’ve made a tradition to watch every year. So let’s get started.
For today I have cartoon shorts I have found/ continue to watch to this day!
Childhood Shorts:
“Where the Wild Things Are” (1975)
This is one of the shorts my siblings and I watched as kids! It is creepy yet wonderfully nostalgic.
“Teeny Tiny and the Witch Woman” (1980)
So so creepy! It’s a wonder my siblings and I didn’t have problems as we grew older. We quote this short all the time and periodically look back at it for laughs. We can all quote it ver batim.
“In The Night Kitchen” (1987)
This one is creepy for different reasons. Honestly, it probably wasn’t intended to be freaky for kids. For my family we were all more concerned with the fact the boy Mickey falls out of his cloths and is almost baked into an oven.
“The Three Robbers” (1972)
Oh so cute but oh so wonderful!
Cartoon Shorts:
“The Old Man of the Mountain” (1933)
Old cartoons are a wonderful combination of funny and creepy. This one in particular is very odd but a good example of old Betty Boop cartoons from Fleischer studios.
“The Skeleton Dance” (1929)
This is one of my absolute favorite shorts! Urb Iwerks was such a talented animator! I can’t get enough of it!
“The Tale Tell Heart” (1953)
UPA released so many great shorts in their time but this one is my favorite. It honestly reminded me of German Expressionist Films I studied in college. It was twisted and utterly haunting!
“The Hedgehog and the Fog” (1975)
This short is truly charming and visually stunning! It is so amazing what it’s creator was able to do with stop motion paper figures.
Short Films/Film Sequences:
Disney’s “Ichabod Crane” (1949)
This sequence is so vibrant! The headless horsemen is still one of my favorite animated characters to watch.
“Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria” (1940)
I have loved the epic ending of Disney’s “Fantasia” (1940) for a very long time. I love seeing how Satan in all his power cannot withstand faithful people and the coming dawn.
“It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” (1966)
I love The Peanuts cartoons! This is one of my favorite movies. I still have a dream to spend Halloween night in a pumpkin patch.
German Expressionist Films (And those made by their directors):
“The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1920)
I LOVE THIS MOVIE! If you ever wondered where Time Burton got most of his designs and ideas this would be it!
“Nosferatu” (1922)
The grandfather of vampire movies! It isn’t scary just really really haunting especially the more one knows about its symbolism.
“The Lodger” (1927)
I’ve seen most of Alfred Hitchcock’s Films but this is the one which more closely shows his admiration and use of German Expressionist film techniques. Love over dramatized shadows and expressions.
“Metropolis” (1927)
May the heart bring together the head and the hands! This movie is bigger than life at visually fascinating.
“The Man Who Laughs” (1928)
This is one of my all time favorite movies! Its creepy but not because of Conrad Veidt’s face. It is more in answering the question “What makes a monster and what makes a man?”
“Waxworks” (1924)
It’s scary because it could be real! Not the sets necessarily but the people and situations.
“M” (1931)
One of the first sound films in Germany but also a very stark warning from director Fritz Lang about fascism. It is haunting.
TV Shows:
“The Twilight Zone” (1959-1964)
All of them. I like watching all of them.
“Over the Garden Wall” (2014)
One of my absolute favorite series! Creepy, mysterious, gorgeous and insightful.
“Adventure Time” (2010-2018)
I’m not quite sure why I watch this show. But it is plenty creepy!
“Gravity Falls” (2012-2016)
“Mushishi” (2005-2006, 2014)
Some episodes are super creepy, others are simply contemplative. Overall, a great show and perfect for October.
Movies:
“Coraline” (2009)
Must see for lovers of stop motion animation!
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)
Of course I love this movie! I see this every Halloween!
“Metropolis” (2001)
I love this one as much as the original silent film. Great music and visuals
So Many Thoughts 