My Top Three Nostalgia-Inducing Manga Series

I've always been a sucker for a good story, so it's no surprise that I adore manga, which are not only pieces of art but fabulous stories that weave complicated plots and introduce interesting characters. If you're hesitant to read manga, for whatever reason, I encourage you to try it at least once.  

Below, I've listed my top three favorite manga series I read growing up and why you should check them out.

1) Sailor Moon by  Naoko Takeuchi

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Sailor Moon was my very first manga. I was 11 when a friend handed me a dazzlingly beautiful Sailor Moon manga. Sure, I was already familiar with the anime since I grew up watching it, but I had no idea there was a book about it.

I tore upon the volumes like some kind of vicious vulture. I asked for them for my birthday and spent all my allowance on the collection because of how completely different the manga was from the Sailor Moon anime.

The Artwork

Ah! Just look at it!! 

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I couldn’t get enough of Sailor Moon, so the manga only furthered my obsession. I started drawing people in the Sailor Moon manga style, with long spindly legs, large eyes, and interesting hairstyles. Seriously, the fashion (at least for the time) was cutting edge. Plus, the gowns and sailor suits were timeless. The scouts aren’t called pretty sailor soldiers for nothing. 

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The Story 

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I’ve always been fascinated with space, so I was very excited to learn that the manga introduced more information that related to the universe (and more information on gems, which I was also interested in). I researched and studied the planets, the stones, and the mythology hidden within these precious pages.

Besides the educational aspect, the story was energizing. A team of strong, independent women, each with their own elemental affinity, is tasked with saving the world. It’s a space opera that is both romantically intriguing and extremely exciting. 

The Characters 

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There is a character for everyone. Seriously, if you’re studious and dedicated, Ami is your girl. If you’re clumsy and loyal, you may relate with Usagi. If you’re tomboyish and strong, you may liken to Haruka.

The characters solidified the importance of friendship and love. There was even a progressive (at least for America) notion of a woman loving another woman. Plus, the love between Usagi and Mamo-chan was just too sweet. I couldn’t help squealing every time I read about their relationship. The characters give you someone to relate to, no matter where you are in life, and that was a large part of the appeal. Even the villains were interesting (especially in the anime).

2) D.N.Angel by Yukiru Sugisaki

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I’m obsessed with thieves and I think it’s because of this series. If you love anti-heroes and moments of romance and close calls, you must pick up this series (Dark says so).

The Artwork

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Again, not sure why, but many manga artists could totally be fashion designers. Trust me, D.N.Angel does not skimp on the epic fashion sense. Plus, the artist must have sold her soul because man are these drawings gorgeous, especially later on in the series. Just look at the hair! I mean, look at it! Plus, the facial features are perfect.

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The Story

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Do you like art? Do you like thieves? Do you like a good romance and action all rolled into one? Oh! Well then, let me introduce you to D.N.Angel, a story about Daisuke, a kid in a long line of men who can transform into the legendary phantom thief Dark (that is, when they're experiencing romantic feelings towards their crush).

To top it off, the series is hilarious. One can’t help but chuckle at Dark’s insistence that Daisuke “man up” and make the first move.

The Characters

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DARK IS AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT!! But if you look past Dark, which he would protest against, you’d see Daisuke, who at first you think is just a normal fourteen year old boy, until you realize he has a genetic condition that transforms him into the thief Dark. As the series goes on, you learn that Daisuke is much more than an epic thief. He’s loving and caring and sacrificial. He cares deeply for everyone.

You also see a collection of heartwarming characters, each as complicated and interesting as the next. (Satoshi for example. Poor Satoshi.) But Dark truly does steal (hehe) the show with not only his charms and wiles but his friendship with Daisuke. He learns to care for Daisuke and everyone that comes into his life.

3) Chrono Crusade by Daisuke Moriyama

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Do NOT watch the anime. I repeat, do NOT watch the anime. It lacks the emotion and perfect plot line that the manga possess. Besides, the manga for Chrono Crusade is only eight volumes long, so it won't take you long to read.

Th Artwork

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Another beautifully drawn series!! Oh goodness, and the art gets even better in later volumes. So much detail and emotion are drawn into the characters that I forget they’re fictional sometimes. When you see someone cry or bleed or smile, your heart can't help but melt. Plus, who doesn't want to see manga stylized angels and demons in the 1920s?

Again, the fashion is wonderful, and it's historically interesting too!

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The Story

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Warning! This series is a tearjerker. I mean, the entire premise of the story is about a nun who makes a contract with a demon, who in turn feeds off her life force. This, of course, greatly shortens the main character's life, but what's truly sad is that they become FRIENDS!!! They care about each other.

I was surprised by how emotionally attached I'd become to the characters in such a short time. I mean, 8 volumes and this story still whittles away my soul.

The Characters

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As mentioned, the main character, named Rosette, is a nun but not your typical nun. Oh, no! She, along with her comrades, tote holy weapons that combat the forces of hell. She’s a whirlwind, loud and brash and all-consuming. Oddly enough, Chrono (her demon companion) is mild and levelheaded. He keeps her grounded. Think on that. These two make an exceptional team and it becomes even more intriguing when the other characters, all as equally fascinating, are introduced.

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What do you think of these manga? What are your favorite manga?

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Evangelion Day: 10 Reasons Why Neon Genesis Evangelion is Epic

One of the most critically acclaimed anime and manga series in existence is Neon Genesis Evangelion. A mecha, post-apocalyptic story, Evangelion only aired in Japan from 1995-96, but it became a game-changer for the anime world. It not only re-imagined the mecha genre, but it essentially revived the anime industry both artistically and technologically.

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Neon Genesis Evangelion begins fifteen years after the Second Impact, a global cataclysmic event, and follows the journey of Shiji Ikari, a boy who has been chosen to pilot one of the giant Evangelion bio-machines, as he tries to save the world from the "Angels," a race of giant monsters foretold by the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The events of Neon Genesis Evangelion take place during the year 2015, which as we know was last year. The first anime episode takes place on June 22--Evangelion Day. Today is the anniversary of the day Shinji Ikari first entered the Evangelion bio-machine to fight off the Third Angel.

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Despite the events of the anime and manga taking place in what is now the past, Neon Genesis Evangelion still has a lot to offer as a series. Like I said, it was a game-changer for the anime industry, and today it still is. Here are ten reasons why Neon Genesis Evangelion is epic.

1. The concept

The only way I can describe Neon Genesis Evangelion is that it's basically Pacific Rim mixed with Attack on Titan. It has the giant robot machines like Pacific Rim, and they are fighting against mysterious monsters to free the world just like in Attack on Titan. (Plus Shinji Ikari is very similar to Eren Jaeger at times.) However, Evangelion came out seventeen years before either of those. The entire concept is pretty cool and way ahead of its time apparently.

2. It's sad

Evangelion might be a mecha, post-apocalyptic series, but it's also a tragedy. It's very sad. It's so freaking sad, I'll probably be crying about it for the next fifteen years. There are wonderful moments--even hilarious moments--but a lot of what Shinji and the other Evangelion pilots go through to save the world (and at such young ages) is terrible. A lot of characters die. And it's just really sad, which makes it a better story.

3. Robots

Giant robots fighting other giant monster-type things? Hello--how is this not epic?

4. Rei Ayanami

The character of Rei Ayanmi is so cool. She's mysterious at times, and while Shinji is the main character, Rei is what holds everything together. She comes across kind of sad and apathetic since she's been training to be a pilot her whole entire existence, buut there's much more to her. It's so amazing to watch all of that unfold along with the story line. Plus, she's an epic pilot!

5. Mecha Genre Influence

As I mentioned before, Evangelion re-imagined the mecha genre for the anime industry. It revamped how mecha works, and it became a cultural icon. It has influenced a lot of anime since its release in 1995. It also revived the anime industry at the time and impacted its popularity across the globe. (Basically, we can say America and other countries have high interest in anime today because of Evangelion.) While it may be older and more classic in style, it's still popular today with over $1.3 billion in gross revenue.

6. DID I MENTION ROBOTS?

Seriously, there are giant robot machines that kick butt in this anime/manga series. Epic.

7. The characters

There are a lot of characters in this anime/manga series, yet they are all important and have deep back stories that integrates them with the events of the main plot. The deaths of minor characters are still heart-wrenching because of how well-developed every single character is. There is so much depth throughout the series. Everybody has a role, and everybody impacts Shinji's journey.

Yes, that's a penguin eating noodles. He's important too.

8. The plot development

Along with the characters, the plot is deeply explored. Everything that happens comes together in a nice way to push Shinji through his journey. There are no filler episodes or scenes. Everything has been carefully written for a specific purpose to tell this story. Bits and pieces intertwine to give a rich, deep story line that you can't find anywhere else. (No, not even in Pacific Rim or Attack on Titan. Evangelion may have similar elements, but the story is uniquely its own.)

9. Religious Overtones

Part of what makes Evangelion so rich are the religious overtones woven throughout the story. The writers integrated a number of religious references from at least six religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Kabbalah, Gnosticism, and Shinto. They used the references to create their own mythology, but they also kept a connection with the original texts and beliefs. It makes the entire story line more interesting and compelling to understand.

10. ROOOOBOOOOOTSSSS

Have you ever read or watched Neon Genesis Evangelion? If not, what are you waiting for?

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Rurouni Kenshin: A Soft-Spoken Hero

I’ll be honest; I was having a hard time thinking up a subject for today’s post. JuNoWriMo has sucked all the creative juice from my life and funneled it into a single novel, which means that when it comes to brainstorming out of left field…eh, I’m not as adept as I usually am. Fortunately, my sister walked in and said, “Why don’t you talk about Rurouni Kenshin?” Seeing as how we’re currently re-watching movies (and I just ordered the first one on DVD because obviously I need to own all three of them in time) I thought hey, why not? More people need to know about them, and there are many reasons. Let’s get started.

 

Rurouni Kenshin began as a manga and evolved into an animated series, video games, and a live-action trilogy starring Takeru Satoh (Kamen Rider-O) as Himura Kenshin himself. The story follows the former assassin known as ‘Battousai the Manslayer,’ a swordsman who worked for the state. At the end of the war he stops killing, choosing a way of peace as a wanderer. While swords were outlawed during the Meiji era at the beginning of Japan’s westernization (think ‘The Last Samurai’), Kenshin carries a reverse-blade sword. The cutting edge is on the inside, making it virtually impossible to do anything but wound.

Himura Kenshin is not your average action hero – peaceable, soft-spoken, often mistaken for a girl, and averse to killing, he’s more of an anti-action hero, someone who would much rather settle down somewhere and live peacefully than engage in fighting. Of course, as is so often the way of it, his life doesn’t take this turn; and when he decides to help Kaoru, a girl fighting to keep her dojo, he’s dragged into a series of events which threaten the entire empire.

A long-time lover of Japanese and Korean history, I particularly love this story because this time period is close to my heart (heroic and tragic tales of samurai and ronin have always been close to me) and because Himura Kenshin is based on Kawakami Gensai, one of the four most famed Samurai assassins of the late Edo period.

They both specialize in using Shiranui-yu, or the ‘Flying Heaven’ style of fighting, which is based on speed. These movies are incredible to watch. The actors do their own stunts and the directors were firm on wanting to use little to no CGI at all, which means that what you see on screen is the actors working hard to perfect every movement. Takeru perfected moving with an incredible quickness, and the rest of the actors – notably Munataka Aoki (Sanosuke) and Gou Ayano (Gein) – also show a great deal of impressive learning and skill.

These movies have a very pure and honorable quality that I value. Kenshin has a tragic past, but he isn’t a ‘bad boy’. He doesn’t blame others for what he did. He’s honorable, sweet, kind, and gentle – qualities you don’t often find in American screen heroes. The editing, music, acting, and dialogue is top quality, and the best adaption of manga-to-screen I’ve ever seen. The villains of the movies are dark – Shishio especially – but are shown in a light that continues to keep them human. The movies are heartbreaking and funny, entertaining and thought-provoking, and I would heartily recommend them to anyone wanting a top-notch action/romantic/historical movie that involves intensely choreographed fight scenes, tight-knit friendships, and a hero who really is a hero in every sense of the word.

 

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