Story By: Wyatt Smith
MONTEVALLO, Ala. — Hopefully we all have a lot of free time this winter and need a good anime or two to watch while we curl up under a blanket. But when looking through the endless list we are met with an even hard decision, what to watch? After speaking with some long-time anime fans, I have finished what I believe is a great guide for fans of all levels of anime experience to enjoy.
Best short anime
No, not the height of the main character. Starting a new anime can be a daunting task, especially when you look at huge series like “Naruto” or “One Piece” with hundreds of episodes. So, let’s look at some that are less time consuming. When looking for anime with less than 30 episodes, a few front runners emerge.
We can look at classics like “Cowboy Bebop”, new age standouts like “Solo Leveling” and “Chainsaw Man”, or a family comedy like “Silver Spoon.” But one stands out among the rest. Anime fan Edward Lawson says, “Frieren shines, not because of its epic fight scenes or long monologs, but its emphasis on the ordinary as extortionary. That’s what makes Frieren a unique story that sets it against all other anime.”
“Frieren shines, not because of its epic fight scenes or long monologs, but its emphasis on the ordinary as extortionary. That’s what makes Frieren a unique story that sets it against all other anime.” – Edward Lawson
WINNER: “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End”
The long haul
Okay, you want more than a few days watch, you want characters that evolve, longer story lines, we get it. Time for some masterpieces that require a good blanket and a lot of hot chocolate. Here lies some of the best works of the anime genre, “Attack on Titan,” “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood,” even “Dragon Ball”, but if you must sit down and watch one of these, we recommend “One Piece.” Montevallo student Lukas Alexander says, “My favorite part of One Piece is the world building. Without the intricate world building a story that long wouldn’t hold substance. It would get repetitive and it wouldn’t be that interesting.”
WINNER: “One Piece”
Action packed
Anime’s action scenes have become a staple in the industry, from the impressive choreography of “Baki” to the sheer power of a Kame-hame-ha it is easy to see why this is a leading genre in the industry. To pick one almost feels like choosing one box of cereal as a kid. But it must be done! Longtime anime fan Shiree Watts says, “Demon slayer has a quality story line without sacrificing morals or humor.” So, despite my better judgement we decided on one overall winner.
WINNER: “Demon Slayer”
Slice of Life
Too much fighting going on? Need to lay down and watch someone just live life? Whether it’s raising a family, going camping, or settling down in a fantasy cottage there are a few standouts like “Spy x Family,” “The Apothecary Diaries”, or “Kaguya Sama: Love is War.” But one that has stood true in our hearts is…
WINNER: “Touring After the Apocalypse”
Where to watch
Now all you have left to look for is where to watch all of these modern masterpieces. But don’t worry about buying a dozen different streaming services. All of the mentioned anime and over 1,000 more are all streaming on Crunchyroll.
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