Musings of a Blerd Presents:
Journey Into Manga and Anime (JIMAA): Mite Kudasai, Yonde Kudasai.
Welcome to the first Mite Kudasai! (Watch!) Yonde Kudasai on the new column! Once a month, I’ll pick one-three anime series or films for fans to watch and give my reasons why. One pick will be a classic anime while the other two will be a series that’s current/popular. I also pick one- two manga series that fans should read and my reasons why.
And here we go!
Mite
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Original Run: April 18, 2000–September 29, 2004
Genre: Action, Adventure, Gambling,Fantasy, Supernatural
Yu-Gi-Oh! tells the tale of Yugi Mutou, a timid young boy who loves all sorts of games, but is often bullied around. One day, he solves an ancient artifact known as the Millennium Puzzle , causing his body to play host to a mysterious spirit with the personality of a gambler. From that moment onwards, whenever Yugi or one of his friends is threatened by those with darkness in their hearts, this other Yugi shows himself and challenges them to dangerous Shadow Games which reveal the true nature of someone’s heart, the losers of these contests often being subjected to a dark punishment called a Penalty Game Whether it be cards, dice or role-playing board games, He will take on challenges from anyone, anywhere. As the series progresses, Yugi and his friends learn that this person inside of his puzzle is actually the spirit of a nameless Pharaoh from Egyptian times who had lost his memories. As Yugi and his companions attempt to help the Pharaoh regain his memories, they find themselves going through many trials as they wager their lives facing off against gamers that wield the mysterious Millennium Items and the dark power of the Shadow Games.
-Wikipedia
Why:
So you’ll understand the heart of the cards of course! Though it has 224 episodes, each one has action, humor, strategy, and adventure. There was a zero season which ran only in Japan in 1998 and had a total of 27 episodes. If you’re able to get your hands on that season you’ll be one of the lucky few.
One Piece
Original Run: October 20, 1999 – ongoing
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy-drama
Seeking to be the greatest pirate in the world, young Monkey D. Luffy, endowed with stretching powers from the legendary gum-gum devil’s fruit, travels toward the Grand Line in search of One Piece, the greatest treasure in the world. Along with comrades in arms Roronoa Zoro (the swordsman), Usopp (the sharp shooter), Nami (the navigator), Sanji (the cook), Chopper (the doctor), Nico Robin (an Archeologist), Franky (a shipwright), and Brook (the musician/skeleton) comic adventures mix with true heroism in the time of great naval battles.
– Written by Andre IMDb.com
Why:
Pirates, treasure, and adventure is what awaits viewers in this anime based off the manga of the same name. This show is very popular worldwide and has received wide critical acclaim for its characterization, humor and story. So far it has 641 episodes-yeah you read that right, but don’t freak out just take it one day at time. You’ll have so much fun watching each episode that you’ll be caught up before you know it!
Yonde
Deathnote
Original Run: December 2003 – May 2006
Genre: Detective fiction, Psychological thriller, Supernatural
Created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and manga artist Takeshi Obata. It centers on Light Yagami, a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook, the titular “Death Note”. This notebook grants its user the ability to kill anyone whose name and face they know. The series centers around Light’s subsequent attempts to create and rule a world “cleansed of evil” as “God” using the notebook, and the efforts of a detective known as L to stop him.
-Wikipedia
Why:
A student who plays god while the gods watch and play him is a very interesting concept. The rules of the Deathnote are very detailed throughout the 12 volume manga, but none the less, this series is definitely worth the read. Great art great concept, you can finish this one in a day.
This concludes my feature. Stayed tuned next Monday when I drop my top list of anime/manga/Japanese related things!
Mata ne!
