====================
Anime & Manga I like
====================
:CreationDate: 2015-11-27 16:19:14
:Id: anime/anime-manga-list
:tags: - anime
- personal
Manga
=====
These are grouped by author.
`TORIYAMA Akira <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_Toriyama>`_
Mostly known as the author of Dragon Ball, the work of his that I
most like is `Dr Slump <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Slump>`_:
humorous and surreal story of an inventor who builds sentient
robots with the most absurd issues. Toriyama's humour still echoes
in recent Japanese works.
`TAKAHASHI Rumiko <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumiko_Takahashi>`_
You probably know her for Inu Yasha and Ranma½, I would suggest
instead reading her short stories (`Mermaid Saga
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mermaid_Saga>`_, `One-pound Gospel
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-pound_Gospel>`_, `Rumic Theater
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumic_Theater>`_) and her first long
series, `Urusei Yatsura
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urusei_Yatsura>`_: probably the
first example of harem story / sudden girlfriend appearance, funny
and sweet.
`YUKINOBU Hoshino <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukinobu_Hoshino>`_
Read everything he's written. `2001 Nights
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Nights>`_ and the sort-of
sequel, 2001+5, are great examples of golden-age hard SF seen from
a different perspective.
`TEZUKA Osamu <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osamu_Tezuka>`_
The god of manga. Japanese popular culture would be very different
without him. Favourites of mine:
- the `Phoenix
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_%28manga%29>`_ saga, an
exploration of life, death, rebirth, across time and space.
- `Message to Adolph
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Message_to_Adolf>`_, story of
three men named Adolph through WW2
- `Princess Knight
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Knight>`_, adventures of
the two-hearted princess who lives as a man (more or less, it's
complicated)
- `MW <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MW_%28manga%29>`_: chemical
weapons, serial killers, gay relationships
- `Ode to Kirihito
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_Kirihito>`_
But seriously, read as much Tezuka as you can get your hands
on. Warning: some characters are depicted in a way that looks quite
racist today, but was "common" at the time. Make of that what you
will.
`OTOMO Katsuhiro <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsuhiro_Otomo>`_
Writer and director, justly famous for `Akira
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_%28manga%29>`_. The movie is
good, but the manga has much more depth and breadth.
`SHIROW Masamune <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masamune_Shirow>`_
- `Ghost in the Shell
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell_(manga)>`_,
obviously: the manga has similar themes to the movie, but it's
filled with jokes
- `Appleseed <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appleseed_(manga)>`_,
slow and complicated story of political manoeuvres and
discrimination
- `Dominion <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion_(manga)>`_,
not-very-competent militarised police
- `Orion <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_(manga)>`_ fantasy /
science fiction inspired by the Japanese myths of creation
In general, Shirow puts plenty of jokes in his works, and his
obsession with guns and tanks &c may be off-putting, but there's
serious thoughts underneath it all.
`MIYAZAKI Hayao <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayao_Miyazaki>`_
Yes, one of the founders of Studio Ghibli also wrote manga. His
masterwork is `Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nausica%C3%A4_of_the_Valley_of_the_Wind_(manga)>`_,
a story of epic proportions about war, friendship,
environmentalism, and the future of humanity. The movie of the
same name is a pale shadow of the manga.
`KEI Toume <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kei_Toume>`_
Her manga are dark and melancholy. `Kurogane
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurogane_(manga)>`_, `Hitsuji no Uta
(Lament of the Lamb)
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lament_of_the_Lamb>`_,
Hatsukanezumi no Jikan (Time of the Mice).
`KITOU Mohiro <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohiro_Kitoh>`_
Raw and bloody. `Narutaro
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_Star>`_, `Bokura No
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokurano:_Ours>`_, `Wings of
Vendemiaire <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wings_of_Vendemiaire>`_
`HAGIO Moto <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moto_Hagio>`_
One of the founders of shoujo manga. Only work of hers I've read so
far is `They Were Eleven
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Were_Eleven>`_, '70 SF at its
best.
`TSUDA Masami <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masami_Tsuda>`_
`His and Her Circumstances
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kare_Kano>`_ is a very nice romance
story: the characters talk to each other! And when the obvious
couple get together, they stay together and work through their
problems!
`TAKAHASHI Shin <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_Takahashi>`_
Author of one of the saddest stories I've ever read, `Saishou Heiki
Kanojo <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saikano>`_ (a.k.a. "she, the
ultimate weapon").
`YAMAGUCHI Takayuki <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takayuki_Yamaguchi_%28artist%29>`_
`Kakugo no Susume <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypse_Zero>`_
half-serious, half-parody post-apocalyptic fighting story: cursed
power armours built by Imperial Japan, mutated insects and
monstrous plants used to frame shoujo-style panels, Buddhist
precepts, and a tremendously queer antagonist.
`IWAAKI Hitoshi <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitoshi_Iwaaki>`_
`Kiseiju <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasyte>`_: the aliens
have invaded, and they look just like us. Is pacific co-existence
possible?
Also `Historie <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historie>`_, but I
haven't read it yet.
CHOUYA Koyama
`Space Brothers
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Brothers_%28manga%29>`_, a love
letter to space exploration and the people who make it possible.
UEO Hisamitsu
`The Qualia of Purple
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualia_the_Purple>`_ mind-bending
story of a girl who sees people as robots, and of her friend who
wants to protect her.
Puyo, inspired by `TANIGAWA Nagaru <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagaru_Tanigawa>`_
Tanigawa wrote the `Haruhi Suzumiya
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haruhi_Suzumiya>`_ series of light
novels, later adapted to manga and anime. I think that the best
manga set in that universe is `The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Disappearance_of_Nagato_Yuki-chan>`_
(warning: spoilers for `The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Disappearance_of_Haruhi_Suzumiya>`_)
`URASAWA Naoki <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naoki_Urasawa>`_
- `Pluto <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto_(manga)>`_ a
re-interpretation of Tezuka's Mighty Atom (Astro Boy) with a more
modern, realistic look
- `Monster <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_(manga)>`_ killer
psychopaths
- `20th Century Boys
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_Century_Boys>`_ can childhood
make-believe spell out the end of the world? can they help prevent
it?
MURAYAMA Kei
`A Centaur's Worries
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Centaur's_Life>`_ starts as a
school comedy with centaurs, angels, sheep-people, mermaids. It then
mixes in SF elements, conspiracy theories, international politics,
and I'm still not sure where it's going.
`Chiho Saito <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiho_Saito>`_ and `Kunihiko Ikuhara <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunihiko_Ikuhara>`_
`Revolutionary Girl Utena
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Girl_Utena>`_ the manga
has a different story than the anime; I still have to watch the anime.
`ASHINANO Hitoshi <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitoshi_Ashinano>`_
`Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yokohama_Kaidashi_Kik%C5%8D>`_ slice
of life of an android running a country café in a world after a
global flood, very slow and poetic, beautifully drawn.
Anime
=====
Series
------
Haibane Renmei
Top wo Nerae - Gunbuster + Daibuster
Cowboy Bebop
FLCL
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Future Boy Conan
Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt
Durarara!!
Madoka Magica
Gatchaman Crowds
Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine
Nadia - Secret of Blue Water
Princess Tutu
Sora no Woto
Dai Mahou Touge
Dennou Coil
Eve no Jikan + movie + Mizu no Kotoba
Macross (the first one!)
Hibike! Euphonium
Shin Seiki Evangelion
Movies
------
Ghibli (more or less all of them)
Avalon (live action)
Ghost in the Shell (the first one)
Wolf Children
Garden of Words
009 re:Cyborg
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
Pale Cocoon
Hoshi no Koe
Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer
Puni Puni Poemi
