First Impression: Sweetness and Lightning

For a video version of this first impression go here.  (The video came first for once, guys!!)

   Note: This is an anime that aired during the Summer 2016 season.

     Comments on the theme song:
          The theme song revolves around the main characters of the show (as it often does - this show is no different. The main character is a single father trying to raise his 6 year old. How cool is that? You almost never get anime with those kinds of characters! Obviously, his daughter is also a main character. Originally, I thought that she was going to be REALLY annoying. You know, that squeaky voiced character that tries too hard to be cute. The third main character is a student at the school where the main character teaches.
          Overall, the theme song is upbeat and catchy, as well as slightly reminiscent of the theme song for Ouran High School Host Club.

     The basic premise of the show is that the main character is trying to raise his daughter to the best of his ability without his wife, who passed away six months previously. Since he is gone all day at his job he often has to resort to buying food from the convenience store for their meals. He will get home late from work most days, so they rarely eat supper together. Despite these struggles you can really tell how much they love each other.

     His daughter did not actually annoy me as much as I thought she would, which was a pleasant surprise. She is very cute and sweet!

     One weekend they go to a flower viewing together. It is spring and the cherry blossoms are blooming and many families can be seen spending time together. At the flower viewing they meet a girl who is eating her lunch alone under a tree. Her pleasure in eating the food is evident in her facial expressions and the daughter salivates over her description. The girl apologizes that she has nothing left to share, but she offers to give the main character the business card for the restaurant her mother owns (who made the food she was enjoying).

     That night the main character and his daughter are eating supper - food from the convenience store  again. He asks her if it is good and she says that it's okay. The next night he comes home to find her salivating over a cooking show on TV. This prompts him to take her to the restaurant for supper so she can get real food for once.

     However, they arrive at the restaurant to find it empty. The girl they met before apologizes, saying that the restaurant is temporarily closed because her mother is away on a trip. They turn away disappointed, intending to come back another night, when the girl stops them on the way out. She says that she can make rice and convinces them to stay for supper.

     With her mom gone on trips frequently (she hosts a cooking show) the girl is often lonely. She really enjoys getting to eat supper with other people and at the very end of the episode she asks the main character if he and his daughter would be willing to come back and make supper with her again.

     I am expecting this short series (there are only 12 episodes) to be a fun, light-hearted anime that is relaxing and enjoyable to watch!

Note: To read my review for this anime go here. Likewise, for a video version of the previously mentioned review go here.

Top 5 Animated Features to Watch

This is a list that we put together of the 5 animated features we think you should watch (preferably sometime during your lifespan). The items on this list were selected because we believe that everyone can enjoy them, and because of their importance to the animated world. These are by no means the only good things to watch, but we highly recommend them to you in hopes that you will enjoy them as much as we did.

A video version is available:

1. Avatar: The Last Airbender

    Regarding this show, there are only two types of people: those who loved the series and those who have not yet watched it. I have not met a person who watched this show and thought that it was “just ok” or didn’t like it.

Avatar has something for everybody and for every age. While the plot is simple enough to be followed by a child, the characters are complicated enough to keep even the most intellectual person entertained. Also, the characters come from a variety of cultures and have relatable strengths and weaknesses.

The animation, while not flawless, is breath-taking in it’s own right. Fluid for the time, the fight scenes are simultaneously amazing, terrifying and beautiful. The voice acting, even several years after the show aired, makes it one of the best dubs today.

In conclusion, you are guaranteed to love this show no matter what!

2. Fruits Basket

    This anime is a classic. If you are any kind of anime fan you are REQUIRED to watch Fruits Basket. While it is a drama and romance, there are many life lessons that are taught. It gives the viewer a dose of reality, while in a fictional setting. It is appropriate for all people (it only has a little bit of language) and socially relevant. But above all it is a show about relationships: family, friends, acquaintances, strangers, and romantic relationships. It may not be the most exciting and heart-pounding show to watch, but it will win you over on class alone. This is a feel-good anime to watch when you are in the dumps, bored, tired, want to relax, happy, sad, just need to kill some time, whenever! Watch it. (For a review of Fruits Basket go here.)

3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

    Sorry, you 2003 fans out there, but we are ranking Brotherhood over the original anime adaptation. Why? The ending. This is one of the few stories in the world where the ending was everything you were hoping for--and more! Fullmetal Alchemist just didn’t have the ending payout that Brotherhood did. In addition, Brotherhood is much more plot driven, making the sequences of events much more believable. Overall, it is a great show with a wonderful plot, brilliant characters, gorgeous animation, a beautiful soundtrack, and a spectacular ending!

4. Anything Studio Ghibli

    We realize this entry is more general than all the previous ones. Where the others were recommending a series of anime this entry gives you an entire brand! Studio Ghibli is the Disney of Japan, but (I would argue) better. No matter which title you decide to watch, you are guaranteed a complex plot with fleshed-out characters. Quality, every time.  Since there are so many to choose from here are a few suggestions to get you started:

- Howl's Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle is an enjoyable romance that is mainly entertaining, but also heartwarming.)

- Spirited Away (This is Miyuzaki’s most famous work. It is very metaphorical.)

- The Secret Life of Arrietty

- My Neighbor Totoro

5. Trigun/ Your Lie in April

    As you can see, this final recommendation has two titles on the docket. That is because we just could not decide which was better and as they are both extremely good, we thought, "Why not do both?" So here you are; a double feature!

Trigun - Trigun is must-watch if only for the fact that it was the show that brought anime to the western world. Speaking of western, this show seems like it is set in the Wild West. Except, it is not the West we are familiar with. Jump on for a wild and crazy ride with Vash the Stampede as he tries to spread the message of love and peace (I promise you, it is not as cheesy as it sounds)! Bonus: there is a black cat hidden in each episode of the show. See if you can find it. :) (For a review of this anime go here.)

Your Lie in April - Everything about this anime was beautiful! The animation, the plot and the characters. At times it can get a little over-dramatic, but I think this anime will endure to become a classic loved by many. Your Lie in April deals with difficult themes and its characters, while in middle school, are definitely able to deal with that (I found them to be more mature than highschoolers). (For a review of this anime please go here.)