Do you need something to watch after watching Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba? If that’s the case, you should watch these anime.
In recent years, Demon Slayer has been one of the most popular anime series. In this series, a young man named Tanjiro must deal with the death of his family and the transformation of his sister into a demon in the process. Tanjiro refuses to accept his sister’s fate and insists on saving her life and turning her into a human again.
Intensely enraged and filled with hatred, Tanjirou vows to avenge his family and stay by his only remaining sibling. Tanjirou, along with the mysterious Demon Slayer Corps, will do whatever it takes to slay the demons and protect the human remnants of his sister.
Between seasons of Demon Slayer, anime fans can find plenty of other shows that explore supernatural themes, epic battles, and compelling plots.
With all things anime in the late 2010s and early 2020s, Demon Slayer has proven to be a popular and iconic series. There is no doubt that Demon Slayer is one of the new “big three” of shounen action, but there is plenty of other action shows worth watching as well. While waiting for the fourth season of Demon Slayer, fans can immerse themselves in more than a few similarly high-caliber shows.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Yuuji Itadori, a high schooler who indulges in baseless paranormal activities with the Occult Club, spends his days in either the clubroom or the hospital, visiting his bedridden grandfather. When he unknowingly comes across a cursed item, this leisurely lifestyle takes a sudden turn for the strange.
A chain of supernatural events ensues after Yuuji swallows the said object, which turns out to be a finger belonging to the demon Sukuna Ryoumen, the “King of Curses.” As a result, he finds himself thrust into the world of Curses, dreadful creatures fashioned from human malice and negativity.
When Yuuji discovers his own newfound powers, he experiences the threat these Curses pose to society firsthand. Introduced to the Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical High School, he begins to walk down a path from which he cannot return—the path of a Jujutsu sorcerer.
Jujutsu Kaisen quickly gained popularity after its inception. If you’re a fan of shounen or not, you’ll enjoy this show. There’s more to it than shounen.
The plot of Jujutsu Kaisen is not lacking. Throughout the story, the main character isn’t interested in becoming the leader of the village, group, etc. Throughout the story, the boy wants to die peacefully, he wants to make others happy, and he wants to be remembered as a good person. Having a connection with a character can make watching a show even more enjoyable, and this is another great aspect of this anime.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s world-building and power system are unique and have an interesting concept. The power system is based on cursed energy. This energy is derived from negative emotions or spiteful intentions. It is these negative emotions that produce negative energy that can be used for attacking. There’s more to come from this anime, and it will leave you satisfied overall.
Dororo
The land of samurai lord Daigo Kagemitsu is dying, and he is willing to do anything for power, even renounce Buddha and pact with demons. In response to his prayers, 12 demons who assist his prefecture’s growth, but at a price. When Kagemitsu’s first son is born, the child lacks any limbs, no nose, no eyes, no ears, or even skin-and yet, he lives.
In a river, a child is abandoned and forgotten. However, he is saved by a medicine man who provides him with prosthetics and weapons, enabling him to survive and fend for himself. He lives and grows, and despite not being able to see, hear, or feel anything, he must defeat the demons who took him as a sacrifice.
As each one dies, he regains a part of himself that was rightfully his. He wanders alone for many years until one day, an orphan boy, Dororo, befriends him. In an unforgiving, demon-infested world, the castaways now struggle to survive and remain human.
As the show’s heart, Dororo is known for its moody and dark tones. The theme of revenge runs throughout the series. The episodic structure is a typical style of storytelling for this show. However, Dororo’s intriguing content comes from character development.
This is especially true for Hyakkimaru as he begins to develop human characteristics and feelings and become more of himself. Being accompanied by Dororo, they begin to understand each more and more with each progressing episode.
As a show about survival in a dark and grim world, the duo relies on each other every step of the way. If you’re looking for a show that is serious, without being cringe and has stellar characters, you’ve come to the right place.
Bleach
High school student Ichigo Kurosaki is an ordinary young man until his family is attacked by a Hollow, a spirit that seeks to devour human souls. Then, he encounters a Soul Reaper named Rukia Kuchiki, who is injured while defending Ichigo’s family. When Rukia offers him her power, Ichigo takes it in order to save his family and becomes a Soul Reaper.
As Rukia has not been able to regain her powers, it is left to Ichigo to hunt down the Hollows and save their town. However, he is not alone in his fight since his classmates Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, and Uryuu Ishida also join in, each with their own special abilities.
The young Soul Reaper soon learns that the Hollows are not the only threat to the human world as he and his comrades get used to their new duties and support each other on and off the battlefield.
The anime series Bleach is among the best. From the moment you watch it, you’re left wondering what will happen next. The action and humor are both excellent. The storyline is gripping. There are many plot twists. There are amazing characters in this anime.
Because they are all so lovable, it is impossible to hate them all. Additionally, unlike some other anime, the characters don’t all look the same. They all have unique looks and personalities.
Many anime watchers think of Bleach when they think of shounen anime, and it’s not hard to see why. Watching this anime is a great combination of action, adventure, and comedy. It is a must-see for fans of anime. The anime Bleach is probably one of the greatest anime series today.
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
In the world of Hunter x Hunter, the hunters perform all manner of dangerous tasks, like capturing criminals and searching for lost treasures in dangerous locations. It is the dream of twelve-year-old Gon Freecss to become the best Hunter he can be in the hopes of finding his father, who was a Hunter himself and abandoned his son long before. The path to achieving Gon’s goals is, however, more challenging than he could have ever imagined.
While earning his Hunter title, Gon is befriended by the vivacious doctor-in-training Leorio, vengeful Kurapika, and rebellious ex-assassin Killua. To reach their goals and desires, the four of them take the Hunter Exam, which is notorious for its low success rate and high death rates.
In the course of their journey, Gon and his friends face many hardships and struggles. They will meet a plethora of monsters, creatures, and characters—all while learning what being a Hunter truly means.
Although a story about finding one’s father may sound simple, it’s the journey taken to achieve this goal that makes this series so special. There are several distinct arcs in HxH that are all incredibly well-written. This is one of the best scripts in the shounen genre. The story flow, characters, and world-building create a captivating tale that can captivate the audience for hours on end.
The diversity of HxH’s story is very impressive. HxH straddles several genres in six story arcs. In addition, the series is also able to undergo significant tonal shifts with ease. The series is excellent at keeping its viewers interested. You’ll find yourself breezing through most episodes by the time you finish watching them.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Suddenly, Edward and Alphonse face a harrowing new reality after a horrible alchemy experiment went wrong in the Elric household. Although human transmutation is forbidden by alchemy, the boys attempted to bring back to life their recently deceased mother. Rather than succeed, they suffered crushing personal losses: Alphonse’s body disintegrated, while Edward lost his leg and sacrificed his arm in an attempt to bind Alphonse’s spirit to an armor suit to keep his soul in the physical realm.
The brothers are then saved by their neighbor Pinako Rockbell and her granddaughter Winry. Winry is a biomechanical engineering prodigy who creates prosthetic limbs for Edward by using “automail,” a durable, versatile material used in robots and battle armor. Having spent years training, the Elric brothers set out on a quest to locate the Philosopher’s Stone-a gem that allows alchemists to break the rules of Equivalent Exchange.
As Edward becomes an infamous alchemist and gains the nickname “Fullmetal,” the boys’ journey embroils them in a growing conspiracy that threatens the fate of the world.
In this series, there has been no filler, so the story never loses momentum. Every episode of this enormous story is concise, and every scene is significant. The dialogue is straightforward, and there is no unnecessary exposition.
A variety of characters are explored as side stories, but they all perfectly intertwine with the Elric brothers’ story and, more often than not, directly affect their journey as well. As with most anime series, there are moments from the manga that are omitted, but these tend to be just comical.
The way the episodes feel short is a testament to how much the story and characters draw you in.
Boku no Hero Academia
In recent years, “quirks,” new superpowers discovered, have become more common as 80 percent of humanity possesses various powers, such as manipulating elements and shapeshifting. As a result, the rest of the world is completely powerless, and Izuku Midoriya is one of them.
The ambitious middle schooler has dreamed of becoming a hero since he was a child. Izuku’s misfortunes push him to admire heroes and take notes on them whenever he has the opportunity. But it appears that Izuku’s perseverance has paid off: he encounters All Might, the world’s greatest hero and his personal idol. All Might’s quirk is a one-of-a-kind ability that can be passed down through the generations, and he has picked Izuku to be his successor!
Izuku is accepted into UA High School, a prestigious high school known for its excellent hero training program, after months of grueling training, and this year’s freshman look especially promising. Izuku will soon discover what it means to be a hero, thanks to his strange but gifted classmates and the rising danger of a villainous organization.
We focus on Izuku’s dreams throughout Boku no Hero Academia, a young boy who aspires to become the greatest hero in a world filled with heroes. The task is not menial, considering that every man and woman in the world has a quirk that gives them a distinct advantage over Izuku, who was born without one.
Obviously, the story has been told a multitude of times before, but this show takes that story and makes it unique. The show will be able to grab your full attention and really immerse you in the world it was meant to depict. With the protagonist’s die-hard attitude, you will grow very fond of him by the end of the series.
All the characters have different personalities, quirks, and traits that make them unique.
Ao no Exorcist
Humans and demons are the two faces of the same coin, as are Assiah and Gehenna, their respective worlds. Possession is the sole way to move between the realms, just like in ghost stories. However, when Satan, the king of Gehenna, is unable to acquire a suitable host, he stays imprisoned in his world.
In a last-ditch effort to conquer Assiah, he sends his son instead, hoping for him to grow into a vessel that the demon king can control.
Ao no Exorcist follows Rin Okumura, who seems to be a typical yet troubled teenager until he is ambushed by demons one day. When he gets to know that he is Satan’s son and that his demon father wants him to return so they can conquer Assiah together, his life is flipped entirely upside down.
Instead of joining the ruler of Gehenna, Rin decides to train as an exorcist so that he can fight alongside his brother Yukio to defend Assiah together.
The storyline with respect to the characters and their motivations is actually believable. This isn’t some far-fetched idea with characters who have no relation to the plot. As a result, the way Ao no Exorcist’s story is intertwined with and through the characters is very realistic, and this makes the story very enjoyable to watch.
Rin has a well-developed character who stays true to his motivations and personality. His character supports his actions and vice versa. He wants to become stronger and deny his demon self because he was not brought up in a demon-like way, and the demons have harmed his family. He provides comic relief with his slacker attitude. The story is extremely compelling, and the characters are funny and genuine.
InuYasha
A demon drags Kagome Higurashi down a cursed well on the grounds of her family’s Shinto shrine, turning her life upside down. Rather than reaching the bottom of the well, Kagome goes 500 years back in time to Japan’s brutal Sengoku era, where the demon’s actual goal, the Shikon Jewel, a wish-granting diamond, is reborn inside her.
After a struggle with a revived demon shatters the sacred jewel, Kagome enlists the help of Inuyasha, a young hybrid dog-demon/human, to collect the shards and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.
The intelligent monk Miroku, the orphan fox-demon Shippo, and the lethal demon slayer Sango joins Kagome and Inuyasha on their quest. They put their differences aside and cooperate to locate the power-granting shards scattered around feudal Japan, as well as deal with the threats that arise.
Throughout the story, Inuyasha, Kagome, and their companions are explored in a methodical way to deepen our understanding of them. Furthermore, despite the show’s enormous length, it is full of plot twists, so even after figuring out the outcome, the story remains interesting.
The anime includes both heartbreaking emotional scenes and action-packed battle sequences. The legacy of Inuyasha has remained strong over time. Thanks to its incredible soundtrack, visuals, plot, and detailed character development, it will remain a favorite anime around the world.
What makes anime so popular is the great character drama and development that occurs between the characters. There are a number of emotions you can feel when watching Inuyasha. It’s an amazing story. There are a variety of genres in this story, resulting in a fantastic story anyone can enjoy and admire.
Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo has evolved into a terrible and brutal city, where vicious creatures known as “ghouls” coexist with humans. These bloodthirsty savages and their hunger for human flesh keep the people of this once great metropolis in continuous terror. The greatest threat posed by these ghouls, however, is their dangerous ability to pass for humans and blend in with society.
Ken Kaneki, a quiet, bookish college student, is drawn to Rize Kamishiro, an avid reader like himself, in Tokyo Ghoul. Rize, however, is not who she appears to be, and Kaneki is thrown into the horrible world of the ghouls as a result of this tragic encounter. Kaneki is saved by Touka Kirishima, an enigmatic waitress, and thus begins his new, secret life as a half-ghoul/half-human who must find a way to fit into both societies.
Have you ever expected to root for man-eaters in an anime? If you say no, Tokyo Ghoul is here to prove you wrong. Tokyo Ghoul is an excellent anime that will keep you on your toes. It is most likely to appeal to gore enthusiasts because of its darkness and gore, but it can be enjoyed by anyone.
Although the premise of gaining new powers and meeting new people is not new to anime, Tokyo Ghoul does so in an extremely effective manner. It emphasizes that there is no clear line between good and evil and that it all depends on one’s perspective. In a broader sense, it encourages us not to jump to judgments without first considering the situations and hardships that others are facing.
In addition to action-packed scenes, the show is filled with touching scenes in which people cry, scream, and talk to each other in a meaningful moral dialogue.
Yakusoku no Neverland
The Grace Field House, which is surrounded by a forest and has a gated entrance, is home to a large family of orphans who are cared for by Isabella, their “Mama,” Although they must take daily tests, the children are free to spend their time as they like. Usually, they play outside, as long as they don’t leave the orphanage—a requirement that they must adhere to at all times.
However, all good things must come to an end, as a child is adopted and sent to live with their new family every few months, never to be heard from again.
The three oldest siblings, however, have their suspicions about what is going on at the orphanage, and they are about to learn the cruel fate that awaits the children at Grace Field, including Mama’s twisted nature.
Horror is a genre that generally does not work very well in anime for the simple reason that it’s very difficult to make animations straight-up scary. However, they can still be creepy and eerie, and that’s one of the areas in which Neverland excels.
It has one of those truly great opening episodes that immediately hook you, starting off showcasing the wonderful and cheerful orphanage of Grace Field filled with children who spend their youths in complete happiness, until the rather shocking truth of the whole situation is revealed at the end of the first episode and at that point, it’s almost impossible to not be immediately captivated by what the story has to offer.
The direction is quite simply superb, both in terms of making the viewers feel engaged in the main characters’ situation and to be wanting to cheer for them.
Claymore
When “youma,” a shapeshifting demon with a hunger for human flesh, appears in Raki’s village, a lone woman with silver eyes and a sword on her back wanders into town. She is a “Claymore,” a half-human, half-youma being created for the sole goal of eradicating these monsters.
The Claymore saves Raki’s life after his family is slaughtered, but he is then exiled from his village. When there’s nowhere else to go, Raki finds Clare, the Claymore, and decides to accompany her on her adventures.
Clare’s organization and her fellow warriors are unveiled as the two journey from town to town, defeating youma along the way. They get closer to the youma on which Clare has sought vengeance since she chose to become a Claymore as each village is cleansed and every demon destroyed.
Claymore is a shounen show with its classic plots – revenge, skilling up/powering up, mentors who train, and someone that comes out and help during the most desperate-to-the-urgency-of-death situation. The most obvious twist is that all of the strong characters are women; all of the roles that would normally be occupied by men in traditional shounen are filled by women in this scenario.
It differs from much other shounen in that it does not drag on and on, giving out pointless battles and tournaments. That means everyone the main character has to fight has a good reason to be there, and some of them do return later, as in many shounen shows, but not because they just do, or because they simply want to come back for another round, but these characters all have reasons, some forced, some by choice, and some by both.
Enen no Shouboutai
Spontaneous Human Combustion is a chaotic phenomenon that has afflicted humanity for years, changing regular individuals into flaming, ferocious creatures known as Infernals at random.
While infernals make up the first-generation records of Human Combustion, pyrokinetic—people gifted with the ability to harness and control their flames while staying human—made up the second and third generations. Fire Defense Agency, The Tokyo Armed Forces, and Holy Church of Sol created the Special Fire Force to battle the Infernal threat and discover the cause.
Shinra Kusakabe, a young and eager third-generation pyrokinetic known as Devil’s Footprints due to his explosive ability to fire his feet at will, joins the lively Special Fire Force Company 8. Shinra is hell-bent on becoming a hero who will save the lives of those threatened by the flame terror, upholding the brigade’s duty to extinguish the blazing Infernals and lay their souls to rest.
Shinra had imagined a hero’s game, but this isn’t it. The Fire Force is a confusing mess of fighting brigades, bizarre Infernal sightings are becoming more common across Tokyo, and a shadowy organization claims to have answers to the mysterious fire that killed Shinra’s family 12 years ago. Shinra tries to find the truth behind the burning mysteries that have kept him in the dark, despite several obstacles both within and outside the Fire Force.
Characters and the world are well-developed, and as the series progresses, you grow to care about the main characters and get immersed in their particular journeys. The fight sequences are the series’ biggest selling point.
If you want fast-paced action with slow intervals of nice and funny character interactions in between, then give this anime a watch.
JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken
Dario Brando saves the life of George Joestar, an English nobleman, in 1868. George hopes to return the debt he owes to his savior by taking in Dario’s kid Dio when he becomes fatherless. However, Dio, dissatisfied with his current situation, wishes to take over the Joestar mansion. He sets out to destroy George and his son, Jonathan “JoJo” Joestar, with an Aztec stone mask with magical properties and sets off a chain of events that will echo for years to come.
Jonathan’s grandson Joseph Joestar discovers the legacy his grandfather left for him half a century later in New York City. When an archeological dig reveals the reality behind the stone mask, he understands that he is the only one capable of defeating the Pillar Men, mystical beings of immense power who inadvertently started it all.
JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken follows JoJo and his descendants on their many exciting adventures. There are always bizarre adventures in store, whether it’s going off against the evil Dio or fighting the sinister Pillar Men.
Unlike many shounen anime currently out there, this show combines dark comedy with a wacky and serious tone to viewing, and the thing about this show is that it can switch in and out of those two very well.
In this anime, the story and characters are well developed to the point that it feels so natural with a lot of the characters who have strengths and weaknesses throughout the show. An anime full of style, charisma, and self-awareness, this title proves that you don’t need complexity to create an engaging story, so long as you’re committed and there’s passion behind it.
D.Gray-man
The pain of losing loved ones can be so devastating that it’s natural to hope for the ability to resurrect them—a weakness that the enigmatic Millennium Earl takes advantage of. He uses the souls of the dead who are called back to create his mechanical weapons known as “Akuma.” Once a soul is trapped in an Akuma, it cannot be exorcised, and the only way to save them is to use the Anti-Akuma weapon “Innocence” to exorcise them from their vessel.
Allen Walker is assigned to the Black Order to become an official Exorcist after three years as a disciple of General Cross. The Black Order is an organization made up of those willing to battle Akuma and the Millennium Earl. Allen and his fellow Exorcists must stop the Millennium Earl’s ultimate plot, which could lead to the world’s destruction, with an arm as his Innocence and a cursed eye that can see the suffering souls within an Akuma.
On the surface, D. Gray-Man sounds like just another shounen anime with an organization of good guys with special weapons fighting evil monsters. Yeah, that’s the base of it, but it turns into something more, something deeper than much other shounen anime series.
While the setting is standard shounen all the way, you’ll find yourself surprised when watching this show. It starts off a bit slow, with many fights, small arcs, and nothing special to it. However, it quickly picks up and starts to show its qualities. The story soon blends in action, emotions, and, last but not least, realistic power-ups.
The characters are, without a doubt, the strongest point of this anime. The characters here aren’t all about brawling against the evil guys. They have emotions. Emotions which they have to face. And that’s what makes this anime a bit more character-driven and not so much plot-driven.
Black Clover
On the same day, Asta and Yuno were abandoned at the same church. They were raised together as children and learned about the “Wizard King”—a title awarded to the kingdom’s strongest mage—and pledged to compete for the position of the future Wizard King.
As they grew older, though, the obvious difference between them became apparent. While Yuno can wield magic with incredible power and control, Asta is unable to do so and must rely on physical training to try to awaken his powers.
Yuno receives a magnificent Grimoire with a four-leaf clover when they reach the age of 15, while Asta receives nothing. Soon later, Yuno is attacked by a person named Lebuty, who is only interested in Yuno’s Grimoire. Asta makes an attempt to attack Lebuty, but he is outmatched.
When he hears Yuno’s voice, he finds the strength to persevere even though he is hopeless and on the verge of defeat. Asta receives a five-leaf clover Grimoire, a “Black Clover,” which gives him the power to defeat Lebuty after releasing his inner emotions in a rage. After a few days, the two companions go out into the world with the same objective in mind: to become the Wizard King!
The story of Asta’s journey is well written and extremely satisfying. We feel like we have been on this journey with Asta all along. Everyone enjoys a feel-good underdog story. There has never been a bigger underdog than Black Clover.
The no power vs. all power dynamic is evident, but their interactions with one another are smooth and unique to Black Clover. There is a refreshing blend of personalities and traits among the Magic Knights and their squads.
Nanatsu no Taizai
The revered but feared Holy Knights of Britannia utilize extremely strong magic to safeguard the region of Britannia and its kingdoms in a setting comparable to the European Middle Ages. A small faction of Knights, however, is said to have betrayed their homeland and turned their blades against their companions in an attempt to overthrow Liones’ ruler.
The Holy Knights defeated them, but whispers persisted that the fabled knights known as the “Seven Deadly Sins” were still alive. The Holy Knights conducted their own coup d’état ten years later and so became the new, tyrannical rulers of the Kingdom of Liones.
The adventures of Elizabeth, the third princess of the Kingdom of Liones, and her search for the Seven Deadly Sins are chronicled in Nanatsu no Taizai. She enlists their assistance not only to reclaim her kingdom from the Holy Knights but also to seek justice in an unjust world.
The story is excellently paced in that it adheres to the typical format of battle after battle while gradually introducing each of the main characters and forwarding the plot. This story moves beyond the commonplace good-guy-vs-bad-guy cliche beautifully. In a beautiful way, it asserts that there is no ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ As the series progresses, it becomes increasingly evident that each character is flawed and selfish in their own way.
Taizai has a plethora of characters, and many of them see some interesting characterization and development. Both the personalities of the characters and their interactions make this show so entertaining to watch.
This is a story about journeying, with constantly unique scenarios, purposeful character exploration, a complete narrative, and themes of sin and atonement. There is a good amount of hilarity, as well as clashes between characters.
Noragami
If you look in the right place in a crisis, you might find a strange phone number scrawled in red. You will hear a young man announce himself as the Yato God if you dial this number.
Yato is a minor god who calls himself the “Delivery God,” who aspires to be worshipped by millions of people. Without a single shrine devoted to his name, his dreams are unlikely to be realized. His days are spent doing odd chores for five yen each until his weapon partner tires of his useless master and abandons him.
Just as things appear to be going poorly for the god, Hiyori Iki, a middle school girl, supposedly saves Yato from a car accident by absorbing the hit for him. Even though she survives, the incident has caused her soul to loosen and therefore be able to escape her body.
Hiyori demands that Yato restore her to normalcy, but when she learns that he’ll need a new partner to do it, she reluctantly agrees to assist him in his search. And, with Hiyori’s support, Yato’s luck may be changing for the better.
The plotlines in Noragami flow seamlessly with each other both in terms of pacing and execution. It moves the story forward very quickly, save for some comic relief and character introductions here and there. It even has a few really dark undertones.
It makes you realize how lonely living can be, how painful it is to be forgotten and how you want to be remembered.
Every character in this series is well fleshed out, well developed, and is not one-dimensional at all. Noragami offers something for everybody. You will find action, drama, comedy, and fantasy in this series. Because the show is more character-driven, its small cast of characters portrays human behaviors in a relatable manner.
Mononoke Hime
When a fierce demon boar attacks an Emishi village, the young prince Ashitaka puts his life on the line to defend his tribe. The beast curses the prince’s arm with its dying breath, bestowing demonic powers on him while slowly draining his life.
Ashitaka is sent west by the village elders in search of a cure, and when he arrives in Tatara, the Iron Town, he finds himself in the middle of a fierce conflict: Lady Eboshi of Tatara, who promotes constant deforestation, is pitted against Princess San, as well as the forest’s sacred spirits, who are enraged by the human destruction.
As the conflicting forces of nature and humanity conflict in a desperate struggle for survival, Ashitaka tries to bring the two together while battling the latent demon within him. Mononoke Hime is a tale depicting the connection of technology and nature while showing the path to harmony that could be achieved by mutual acceptance.
Animation-wise, this is a Studio Ghibli film, so you should at least get an amazing visual experience. In this film, the animation captures the essence of nature. Miyazaki created a wide range of beasts and mystical characters that achieve this. This movie even includes gods, which contributes to the feeling that nature is alive.
This film features fascinating characters—especially Ashitaka and Princess Mononoke. Ashitaka’s experience with the different warring groups in the story is the focus of the story. It is always he who points out the irrationalities of the other characters and tries to correct them. Through him, the overall story is communicated, as well as the meaninglessness of conflict.
As with Princess Mononoke, this character is full of mystery and intricately created. Her hatred for fellow humans is rooted in their selfish egotism and hostility towards the earth and its inhabitants.
Natsume Yuujinchou
While most fifteen-year-old boys have secrets regarding girls in one way or another, Takashi Natsume has a unique and terrifying secret about youkai: he has been chased by these spirits for as long as he can remember.
Natsume soon learns that his late grandmother Reiko had left him the Yuujinchou, or “Book of Friends,” which includes the names of the spirits she was able to control. The book, now in Natsume’s possession, bestows this power on Reiko’s grandson as well, which is why these enraged beings now pursue him in the hopes of regaining their freedom.
Natsume is yearning for solace—a place where he belongs—without parents or a loving home and continuously being pursued by aggressive, merciless youkai. His only friend, however, is Madara, affectionately known as Nyanko-sensei, who is a self-proclaimed bodyguard. Madara is a tiny, mysterious feline spirit that has his own reasons for remaining with the boy.
Natsume Yuujinchou is an unusual and supernatural slice-of-life series that follows Natsume as he attempts to free the spirits bound by his grandmother’s contract with the help of his notorious protector Madara.
Natsume encounters a different youkai in each episode. Sometimes it’s a youkai who wants his or her name returned, and other times it’s a youkai who needs Natsume’s help in some other way, which he can never refuse.
Natsume Yuujinchou is fundamentally about humans, despite the fact that the storylines revolve around youkai. It focuses on human-human relationships as well as human-youkai relationships. Each narrative is well-crafted and contains a profound message that Natsume garners from his encounters. Why can’t Natsume let go of his youkai bond, and why do youkai fall in love with humans?
Kill la Kill
Ryuuko Matoi has been wandering the land in search of her father’s killer since his murder. She arrives at the famous Honnouji Academy, a high school unlike any other, following her lone lead—the missing half of his invention, the Scissor Blade.
Satsuki Kiryuuin, the imposing and cold-hearted student council president, and her powerful underlings, the Elite Four, rule the academy. Satsuki bestows “Goku Uniforms” on individuals at the top of the school’s brutally competitive hierarchy, which provide the wearer with extraordinary superhuman abilities.
Ryuuko returns to her razed home after being beaten by one of the students in uniform, where she finds Senketsu, a rare and sentient “Kamui,” or God Clothes.
Senketsu awakens when it comes into contact with Ryuuko’s blood, latching onto her and bestowing enormous strength upon her. Ryuuko now takes on the Elite Four, armed with Senketsu and the Scissor Blade, in the hopes of reaching Satsuki and finding the culprit to avenge her father’s murder once and for all.
Anime tropes and clichés are amplified and inverted in Kill la Kill in order to deliver something exciting and fresh. Ryuuko’s revenge tale may be predictable, but it’s how the plot points are executed that sets it apart.
From the school setting, characters, and concepts to the absolutely epic action that takes place, everything is exaggerated. Throughout every episode, the show attempts to keep the ante high and never dwells on any single event for too long. This show doesn’t have much filler, and it plays with the viewer’s expectations by completely altering the outcome.
Similar to the explosive theatrics that is displayed all over the screen, the characters are outstanding in their ability to inject themselves into the plot and show.