As part of studying Japanese, I've gathered a collection of anime. Most american DVDs carry the original Japanese soundtrack. And with most programs, the dialog is pretty simple and easy to follow.
But one of the things that led to my epiphany was the realization that I was gravitating over into the more girl-oriented titles, or the ones that featured strong female characters. So, here's a list of stuff I've enjoyed, in the hopes that you may find something you like.
Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind This is the one that started me on learning Japanese, as I just had to read the manga (comic book) in it's original language. Nausicaa is the 18-year-old princess of a small pastoral valley in the far future, who rallies far-flung support to save her world. Beware, it has a strong ecological message, but Nausicaa the heroine kicks @$! I found myself wishing I were Nausicaa.
Whisper of the Heart Events in 13-year-old Shizuku's life prompt her to write her first book as a self test. This movie accurately shows everyday life in a Tokyo suburb, and is very character-driven. Many of the settings are based on real places in Tama New Town -- I've actually been there and taken pictures of the locations. When you see Shizuku get off the train to go to the library -- Karen was there! One downside, Disney hasn't yet released this one due to the need to license the John Denver song Country Roads, and Olivia Newton John's performance of it.
Only Yesterday On a visit to relatives in the country, 27-year-old Taeko looks back on herself in 5th grade and how those moments led her to where she is, and what choices she has about her future. We see a typical Tokyo family in 1966 in the 5th-grade sequences. Not to be missed -- One sequence where the girls are segregated in the gym (while the boys play baseball) and indoctrinated in the female mysteries (menstruation, of course.) Then the boys find out and react accordingly...
Kiki's Delivery Service Kiki's mother is a witch who makes medicine with her magic powers. Kiki has (barely) mastered broom flying and, at 13, if she wants to become a witch herself, must set out alone to find a town with no witch already operating a business, and spend a year there supporting herself using her magic powers. Somewhere in this tale Miyazaki weged in an essay on the nature of creativity (look for it
)
Really, anything from the Studio Ghibli catalog is (IMHO) great!
Azumanga Daioh Like 'Seinfeld,' this is a show about nothing at all. It focuses on a group of gils and some of their teachers at a Tokyo high school, and does little vignettes on different aspects of (girl)friendship and growing up. Not to be missed -- the interaction between the two teachers Yukari and Nyamo (a bad nickname) who are in many ways no more mature than their students (Yukari especially,) and Osaka (Ayumu Kasuga, but no one remembers her real name,) -- I can't describe Osaka!! You''ll just have to watch! Be warned -- she grows on you! Personally, I found while watching the show the first time that I very much wanted to be Sakaki-san (the tall, reserved one...)
R.O.D and R.O.D the TV Yumiko Readman has the power to turn paper into any object she can imagine, including shields against gunfire. It's a wacky premise, and the 3-episode original video and the 26-episode anime series have a STRONG lesbian undercurrent (called 'yuri' (lily) in Japanese,) but it's very chararacter driven. I especially enjoyed the early episodes that focus on domestic life and Anita struggling to fit in in junior high. BTW, IMHO, Anitas' school has the cutest school uniforms in any anime I've watched.
Noir Not just another girls-with-guns series. This one concentrates on character development -- at least for the main characters, assassins Mirielle and Kirika and the other main female characters. Male characters are pretty much drawn as disposable stereotypes, as they probably won't make it through the episode anyway. I felt the ending was a let-down, but I've watched all but the last disk in the set repeatedly.
Angelic Layer It's the near future, and the hottest new toy around is a barbi-sized doll that dances/runs/jumps when places on a special platform (the 'layer') and controlled by its owner via a visor worn by the player that picks up the players' thoughts. But that's just the plot motor for a character-driven story that focuses on finding friendship and personal achievement. One of only a few shows that brought me to the edge of tears.
Haibane Renmei THIS program grabbed ahold of me and wouldn't let me go for six months! At least three times during my first viewing I was closer than I'd ever been since (male) puberty to breaking down and bawling my eyes out. Search it out -- rent at least the first disc and give it a try. If you're not hooked by the end of the first episode, then it's perhaps not for you, and I thank you for giving it a try. It's a story about finding salvation and redemption, and is very character driven. I see bits of myself in Reki and Nemu. Right now I'm avoiding it and waiting for the 8-month mark of HRT, when I plan on formally re-watching it (with a couple of boxes of Kleenex handy (I'm told I'll need at least one...))
Please, give these a try. They're available through Netflix or Greencine.
I look forward to seeing your entertainment recommendations
Karen
[edit]EDIT: spello extermination... [/edit]
