Ranking The Students of Class E in Assassination Classroom From Worst to Best

Posted on by Karandi
Class E Ranking from Worst to Best
https://blackandyellowotakugamers.com/

Alright, the title is probably a slight over-statement because lets be honest, Class E in Assassination Classroom has a lot of students and we’d be here all day if I actually wanted to talk about each and every one of them. With that in mind, the rankings are entirely my own opinion based on how much I enjoyed the character and watching their growth throughout the series.

As this is a list of the students though, Koro-Sensei, Irina and Karasuma will not be included. Which is a shame because Karasuma could top the list if he was included really (I think its his voice).

Assassination Classroom - the teachers and students of Class E

So how many characters have we met that have been remembered for me to rank? Well way too many to do them all individually. So a few characters will be grouped together to make life a bit easier in the earlier stages of the list.

That said there will be spoilers below for some of the members of Class E and their arcs within Assassination classroom so you have been warned.

The characters of class e

The Worst Character from Class E – Seat 28, Itona Horibe

Maybe this isn’t fair to poor Itona as he joined the group late and was originally a fairly antagonistic character but honestly I just never clicked with him.

It was kind of cool having another character burst into the story with tentacles that could kind of fight on level with Koro-Sensei (kind of). However his flat personality and with him being easily manipulated, Itona never really made much impression other than being a plot device or tool of other forces.

Even after he officially joined the class, he more or less fit in with a pre-existing group and then more or less blended into the background making anything interesting about his character quickly fade away.

Of course, some people would disagree so be sure to judge for yourself.

The Most Forgettable Characters From Class E – Let’s List Them

As I said before, there’s too many characters in Assassination Classroom to really give them all much time and attention. So once the anime is done, which characters in Class E leave little impression and may even leave you scratching your head and wondering who they were or what they did in the story?

  • Seat 3, Taiga Okajima
  • Seat 4, Hinata Okano
  • Seat 6, Meg Kataoka
  • Seat 8, Yukiko Kanzaki
  • Seat 9, Justice Kimura
  • Seat 10, Hinano Kurahashi
  • Seat 12, Sugaya Sosuke
  • Seat 14, Kotao Takebayashi
  • Seat 15, Ryunosuke Chiba
  • Seat 18, Kirara Hazama
  • Seat 19, Rinka Hayami
  • Seat 20, Sumire Hara
  • Seat 21, Yuzuki Fawa
  • Seat 22, Hiroto Maehara
  • Seat 23, Koki Mimura
  • Seat 24, Takuya Murumatsu
  • Seat 25, Toka Yada
  • Seat 26, Taisei Yoshida
The students of Class E in Assassination Classroom.

Sorry guys, some of you had a great moment or two but with such a huge cast ultimately unless I’m looking at a picture of you, I probably couldn’t confidently remember you.

A couple of these characters I’m struggling to remember even with the picture.

As a cast you work and Class E is highly entertaining to spend time with; however, individually you just aren’t that memorable.

Ultimately Pretty Bland Character in Class E- Seat 2, Yuma Isogai

Yuma Class E Assassination Classroom

As the male class rep and a character who actually gets some backstory and more than one episode where he features as more or less the lead character, Isogai doesn’t leave much of an impression.

Sure he’s nice and hardworking and one of the more reasonable characters in the cast, but that kind of works against him as he ends up just being overwhelmed by the bigger personalities.

That said, if you were going to assemble a team to take on a giant yellow octopus, you could do worse than including an Isogai in your group. He’s good at reading the mood and doesn’t insist on having things his way. A natural peace maker and someone focused on results.

Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with this character except he doesn’t really leave a huge impression.

Good Support Character From Class E With A Not So Great Twist – Seat 7, Kaede Kayano

Kaede Class E Assassination Classroom

I really loved Kaede early on. She was a great support character for Nagisa and just kind of cute and bubbly. Her Pudding Assassination Plot does need to go down as one of the more bonkers anime plans I’ve ever scene and really if they’d left her character there she may have even ended up in my top 3 for characters in Class E.

Unfortunately, Kaede ends up being a victim of one of the worst plot twists Assassination Classroom pulls out and essentially ret-cons our entire impression of Kaede and her motives from before the series even began in order to pull out another fight sequence and stretch the story.

It seriously soured my impression of Kaede and that’s a shame because season 1 Kaede is pretty cool and if you ignore that particular character development she could have been one of the best in the cast.

Character from Class E We Love To Hate – Seat 16, Ryoma Terasaka

Terasaka Class E Assassination Classroom

Every class has to have a character who thinks they are all that, a leader that others should follow, and in honesty they are just kind of lame. Class E has Terasaka who is the king of his own little mind and looked down upon by pretty much everyone in the class. Even his own little group of friends mock him, even if it is more good-humoured.

As the story progresses, Terasaka is responsible for a number of incidents that largely push the audience to dislike him. His manipulation of Nagisa to risk himself, his betrayal of the class to work with Itona, coupled with his generally brash and loud personality all position him as a character the audience are not supposed to like.

However, there are also more than enough moments where Terasaka somehow or another pulls through or does something pretty decent making him more of a lovable oaf than an irredeemable bully and by and large, the Class E dynamic wouldn’t work without a Terasaka so we have to celebrate that he’s a part of the group.

Great Moments Early on But Soon Overshadowed Character From Class E – Seat 13, Tomohito Sugino

Tomohito Class E Assassination Classroom

As the heading says, Sugino had a few early moments of brilliance. The baseball kid from Class E comes up with a number of plans to take on Koro-Sensei and also gets to be the focus of the episode on a number of occasions as we see him dealing with his old team-mates from the baseball team he is no longer a part of.

That said, Sugino quickly vanishes from the limelight and remains an active participant in a range of assassination attempts and a voice in the crowd but his own character growth is more or less ended by the mid-point of season 1.

Still, he’s a fun guy and despite so little presence in later episodes he isn’t forgotten once Assassination Classroom draws to a close.

Not Just a Pretty Face Character From Class E – Seat 17, Rio Nakamura

Rio Class E Assassination Classroom

A character like Rio could have just been used as fan-service by Assassination Classroom. Or the foreign blonde student cliché. Or any number of other tropes that we’ve seen before.

Instead, Rio is a member of Class E who is rarely the central character but has ongoing regular contributions to the story and a strong enough personality to stand out.

She’s got some confidence and sass but she’s also aware of her own limitations and weaknesses. She’s one of the few in the class who we see early on has some genuine ambition but Rio is also pretty playful and at times pushes other characters well out of their comfort zone.

By the end of Assassination Classroom, Rio stands out from the crowd even if her specific contributions have blended in with the rest of Class E.

The Great Behind The Scenes Contributor in Class E – Seat 27, Ritsu

Ritsu Class E Assassination Classroom

Another character introduced to the class late, Ritsu is actually an AI but she most definitely has her own personality. While at first it is pretty much entirely built around killing Koro-Sensei, after he gives her a bit of a tune-up she becomes very much a team player.

The other students of Class E also take to Ritsu as she adds herself as a mobile-app on their phones and assists with planning and communications during most of their missions.

With her cheery personality, her ability to learn from prior attempts, as well as her overall contributions to each mission, Ritsu is an invaluable cast member and one I kind of loved getting to know by the end of the series.

Any Moment Featuring This Character in Class E is Pretty Solid – Seat 5, Manami Okuda

assassination43

This chemistry loving, glasses wearing cutie is a quiet gem in the class and responsible for some great visual gags throughout Assassination Classroom as she attempts to kill the teacher with various concoctions.

While Okuda’s character rarely gets the spot-light, she’s actually got an interesting personality and I loved her single-minded focus on science. But it was her growth in realising she needed to work with others and learn some people skills to succeed that really elevated her in amongst the students of Class E.

That said, the idea of Okuda and Karma ending up together was pretty terrifying given the damage Karma could cause with Okuda’s chemistry to back him up.

Appearances of Okuda may not be frequent but when she does get centre-stage expect great (or explosive) results.

Almost the Best Character in Class E – Seat 11, Nagisa Shiota

nagisa

Nagisa is as close to a main protagonist as Assassination Classroom is going to get with a lot of the episodes related through his perspective or with added narration by his character. He’s also central in most plots either being part of carrying them out or being grilled by the other members of Class E for his list of Koro-Sensei facts and weaknesses that they might exploit.

However, as much as Nagisa originally comes off as a pretty bland, nice protagonist, his character has been written with some surprising depth and there are some interesting personality traits and traumas that come out as the story progresses.

What makes Nagisa such a fantastic character, and the character who probably would have been my pick for best character were it not for a certain red-head, is the growth he undertakes throughout the series as he comes to learn about himself, overcome some of his weaknesses, and accepts those parts of himself he cannot change.

That and his seriously scary abilities as an assassin have definitely earned him the second top spot for me.

Best Character in Class E – Seat 1, Karma Akabane

karma3

Okay, anyone who has followed my blog for any length of time, or read my review of Assassination Classroom, is not surprised by this pick. Karma is the undisputed legend of Class E having brains, a cool personality, some impressive abilities as an assassin, and generally having enough charisma to pull off the bad-boy routine most of the time.

That he also gets knocked down a peg early on in the series after a series of failed attempts to solo-kill Koro-Sensei helps a lot as honestly he really did have a pretty huge ego. Further set-backs in season one force Karma to re-evaluate and he ends up a much stronger person and perhaps a ‘nicer’ character for it.

Though nicer or not, he’ll still tell you straight to your face what he thinks of you and he doesn’t mince words.

Yep, Karma is undoubtably my pick for best character from Class E in Assassination classroom.

Do you agree with my rankings?

That’s my ranking of the students of Class E after rewatching Assassination Classroom on more than one occasion. That said, it is entirely based on my own opinion and I’d love to know who you would have picked as the best or the worst character so leave me a comment below and get the conversation started.

Images from: Assassination Classroom. Dir. S Kishi. Lerche. 2015

Help Support 100 Word Anime This Spring Season 2000 ×
Donate to the blog.

Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James

Top 5 Anime Beach Episodes That Didn’t Feel Like A Colossal Waste Of Time

Posted on by Karandi
Anime Beach Episode - Top 5 List

I’ve never really hidden the fact that I’m not a big fan of the beach. Whether it is the gritty sand, the salty/fishy smell, or just the sun and heat, there’s not a lot of appeal for me.

Likewise, I find beach episodes in anime largely pretty pointless so it is always pleasant to come across an episode set on the beach that doesn’t feel like complete filler. Here are my top 5 anime beach episodes that don’t feel like a colossal waste of time.

Anime Beach Episode No. 5 – Ouran High School Host Club

Ouran High School Host Club - Anime Beach Episode with some bite.

When the members of the Ouran High School Host Club goes to the beach, Haruhi mistakenly thinks she’s going to get a bit of a break. Sadly, it ends up being a working holiday with the hosts entertaining their guests on the beach.

However, when some petty thugs start harassing a couple of the female students, rather than seeking help, Haruhi steps in and ends up getting tossed from a rock before being rescued by Tamaki.

This is one of the few times Tamaki actually gets made at Haruhi for real and the episode ends up being a pretty solid episode in terms of character growth as well as in establishing various boundaries and relationships between cast members.

Sure there’s some questionable messaging about gender roles and victim blaming in this episode if you are really wanting to dissect it, but at its core Haruhi got in over her head, scared Tamaki half-to-death, and then gave them both a chance to air their grievances before finding a mutual understanding. The method, like most things in Ouran, probably shouldn’t be tried in real life.

From what could have been just a filler episode of pretty boys doing standard beach things to impress the mass of girls that hang around the host club we actually ended up getting an anime beach episode that felt essential for the ongoing plot.

Haiku Kotaro Bokuto

Affiliate Link

Haikyu Kotaro Bokuto (Re-Run)

Anime Beach Episode No. 4 – Kamisama Kiss

Nanami from Kamisama Kiss - In Karandi's top 5 anime beach episode's.

In Kamisama Kiss, Nanami decides she wants to go to the beach with friends but Tomoe pretty much tells her she can’t go. Being a stubborn and young goddess, Nanami decides she’s going anyway.

Turns out, Tomoe had a fairly good reason to say no. Given his job is to protect Nanami and for reasons that become fairly clear as the episode progresses, he shouldn’t go in the water, Nanami in the ocean is pretty much his worst nightmare.

However, like most episodes of Kamisama Kiss, while this anime beach episode did have some usual filler moments we associate with anime characters at the beach, we actually got some pretty important backstory on one of the main characters who was usually pretty closed off to the audience. it also leads to a pretty dramatic follow-up episode where Nanami and the others try to save Tomoe.

All things considered, this one ends up being a solid character moment and sets up an interesting plot while still being a pretty laid back anime beach episode including high schoolers wearing swim suits on the beach.

Anime Beach Episode No. 3 – My Love Story

Takeo and Yamato enjoying the beach - Anime Beach Episodes worth watching.

I’d be lying if I said that My Love Story did anything particularly revolutionary with the beach episode. In fact, ‘My Ocean’, episode 11 of My Love Story, seems to double down on most of the going to the bleach cliches with a beach volleyball game that goes for a monumentally exhausting length of time, playing in the water, swim suits, cold drinks, sand castles, and a sun-set that lasts an eternity.

However, as far as anime beach episodes go, My Love Story managed to keep theirs firmly integrated with the plot of the story (such as it was). Yamato wants Takeo to move faster with her and is trying her hardest to look adorable in her swim suit while Takeo is trying hard not to ogle the girl he likes in order to not make her feel uncomfortable.

It should also be noted we get some incredibly funny moments in this episode as Takeo, our tower of insecurities, wins the attention and interest of most of women at the beach, entertains various children in the water, and generally has a great time with his friends, and yet still freezes at the mere sight of his girlfriend in a swimsuit.

If an anime is going to do a beach episode, then they should at the very least be as entertaining as this one was.

Advertisements

Anime Beach Episode No. 2 – Another

Characters from Another think they are getting some down time in this anime beach episode. Poor them.

For me, horror and the beach are actually kind of a perfect mix. Movies like Jaws have already proven that the vast ocean and the dangers that lurk as soon as you step off the beach can be wonderfully put together. When I throw in my own issues with the ocean and drowning, as soon as the characters from Another went to the beach I had fairly solid expectations that we’d get more than just another anime beach episode.

What followed in episode 8 was a strange kind of viewing experience as the characters did go through most of the usual filler beach tropes and yet the whole episode had a strained and subdued feeling. The whole way through you were waiting for something to happen and when it finally did it was almost a relief even though it was kind of horrific.

Now you might ask why school kids being picked off by a curse would even think to go and play at the beach, except that the story had already established that the curse didn’t work outside of the region. Once they got far enough away from the town they all breathed a sigh of relief (though it seems a bit prematurely).

When the curse does catch up with them, they do provide some solid reasoning as to why and how that happened and it also reinforces the sense that these characters are indeed trapped and are not going to get a happily ever after.

Anime Beach Episode No. 1 – Assassination Classroom

Assassination Classroom knows how to integrate its anime beach episode fan-service and plot into one fun bundle.

Assassination Classroom certainly knew how to have fun even with its somewhat morbid premise of a group of students having to ultimately assassinate their super-powered teacher. However after studying ridiculously hard and beating the top class at their own game in test scores, the class get to travel to Okinawa for some much deserved down time. Only they don’t.

They’ve also made a deal with their teacher and due to their top scores, he’s going to give them a one off chance to damage him which may just make an assassination possible. Include the fact that they are at a beach and they already know that water is a weakness for him and what we have is a festive holiday for a class that is all merely cover for a masterfully put together assassination attempt.

What makes this anime beach episode work is we get to see all the characters playing at various leisure activities as well as seeing the cooperation, teamwork and determination they’ve gained in the classroom all coming together.

The actual assassination attempt is a truly brilliant and well choreographed attempt that in a fair world would have succeeded and ended the series, but instead at the very least show-cases how far these kids have come.

It is a fantastic episode and really does show us how an anime beach episode can have its fun and still drive forward a compelling plot and character arc.

Anime Beach Episode - Top 5 List

And there you have my Top 5 anime beach episodes that don’t feel like a colossal waste of time. As always, I’d love to hear from my readers. What are some of your favourite anime beach episodes?

Help Support 100 Word Anime This Spring Season 2000 ×
Donate to the blog.

Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James

Tuesday’s Top 5: Top 5 Red-Heads (Male)

Posted on by Karandi
Tuesday's Top 5

Previously I’ve covered the female red-heads of the anime world but there are definitely some red-haired guys who deserve some love. Going to be honest, for those of you who have been following my blog you probably already have a pretty good idea who the number one is going to be on this list.

As this is a conversation starter and not a definitive list with scored attributes, please share your views on who should have been on the list below.

Please Note – There are spoilers below. You have been warned.

Honourable mentions this week go to Ginti from Death Parade and Mikoto Mikoshiba from Gekkan Shojo Nozaki Kun. These two definitely were considered but ultimately fell short of the top 5.

Who are my top 5 male red-heads in anime?

Advertisements

Number 5: Abarai Renji from Bleach

  • renji
  • renji
  • Renji - Red-head

I really struggled with number 5. Mostly because what we mostly remember about Renji is he get’s beaten, a lot. Usually by Ichigo but by nearly every other wannabe villain going around (and sometimes even by his own captain).

That’s kind of what happens when you are a typical shonen hero character but not the protagonist of the story. I always really felt for Renji. He works really hard and he is talented. If Ichigo wasn’t in the show Renji would be pretty damn amazing. Unfortunately, anime narrative tropes have not been kind to Renji.

Next time, save Rukia first and then you can be the hero.

That said, you’ll always be one of my favourite red-heads in anime.

Number 4: Lavi from D Gray Man

  • lavi 2
  • lavi
  • Lavi - best of the red-heads

In an anime full of brooding characters and dark back stories, Lavi is still a brooding character with a dark back story but mostly manages to bring a smile to the party. Lavi’s job is to record history and at times seems to have a duplicitous nature but this all just adds to the interesting character he brings into the mix of D Gray Man. Though, girls should note, he probably won’t be sticking around town for too long, and he falls in love at the drop of a hat.

Either way though, this is one red-head with a lot on his mind and he really manages to bring it when push comes to shove.

Levi

Affiliate Link

Attack on Titan – Levi (Re-run)

Number 3: Mikoto Suoh from K

  • mikoto 2
  • mikoto
  • mikoto

Alright, so Mikoto is not going to get any leader of the year awards even if he is going to get my shout out for being a red-head worth paying attention to.

However, what he should get is recognised for his absolute loyalty to his clan members. He pushes himself to self-destruction after one of them is killed. While his methods may be violent and not entirely efficient, the passion of his actions is certainly clear. Besides, his power is amazing to watch.

Number 2: Claire Stanfield from Baccano

  • claire 2
  • claire
  • claire

Claire is a really impossible character to explain without recounting his entire character arc. I will suggest that if you haven’t watched Baccano you do so, if for no other reason than to follow Claire’s story. He’s direct, blunt and you do not want to get on his bad side, which can apparently happen by trying to ride on a train without a ticket, threatening to kill another passenger, or killing another train conductor. Or threatening the woman he falls in love with a first sight.

Still, despite being a psycho he’s definitely one of the cool (or cruel) red-heads.

Advertisements

Number 1: Karma Akabane from Assassination Classroom

  • karma
  • karma 2
  • karma

Come on, it had to be Karma topping this list of awesome red-heads.

He isn’t a mindless thug or violent for the sake of it. He is manipulative, clever, cold as ice, and totally focussed on his goals (no matter how unpleasant that current goal may seem to you). He can turn up the charm or lay on the intimidation and everything he does is done with style. The first student in Assassination Classroom to even injure their super-powered teacher, Karma stole the show from the moment he walked into the classroom. What sets him further apart, is you can see him more or less succeeding in any situation, not just in the school yard. Karma has big dreams and he has everything he needs to achieve them.

Is your favourite red-headed character on the list? Feel free to tell us below or to offer suggestions for who should have been on the list.

Help Support 100 Word Anime This Spring Season 2000 ×
Donate to the blog.

Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James

Assassination Classroom Season 1 and 2 Series Review: Every Experience Can Teach Us Something

Posted on by Karandi
karma

Assassination Classroom is an experience all on its own.

Despite my usual dislike for anime that are completely absurd and have a heavy comedy focus, Assassination Classroom is one of those odd anime that is both absurd and heavy on comedy and yet for whatever reason I still ended up really enjoying it.

Some spoilers below – you’ve been warned.

Season 1 isn’t without it’s issues as the basic formula of focus on a student with a problem, have something really weird happen usually during an attempt to assassinate the teacher, and then have the teacher sit down and help the student learn something ends up getting a little bit repetitive. That said, there’s a vibrant energy and enthusiasm here that kind of takes this basic model and makes it engaging.

Very much in the way that the first season of My Hero Academia used the basic shonen model but injected so much hype and enthusiasm into it that it just ends up being great fun.

Click here for more anime reviews.

Karma from Assassination Classroom. He's full of surprises.

The basic set-up is pretty ordinary with the students of class E are the lowest in their school and essentially banished to an off-campus building for their lessons as an example to the rest of the students. Enter the new teacher who has decided not to give up on these students who have all but given up on themselves.

Where Assassination Classroom gets less ordinary is who the teacher is. The soon to be named Kuro-Sensei is a yellow octopus looking thing who is also responsible for blowing up the moon. That and the government have also offered the students a lot of money if they succeed at killing him. With the teacher having promised not to hurt the students and the students out for blood, zaniness kind of ensures.

And it works. It works so incredibly well.

The plot never becomes overly complicated. We learn more about the teacher and why the moon blew up and why he needs to be assassinated, but there are no random twists or cluttering up of the core plot. The students need to assassinate the essentially unkillable teacher. It almost never feels the need to bite off more than it can chew and keep the premise and plot really that simple.

Okay, there’s couple of moments where an antagonist appears seemingly just so the kids can be saved by their target and Assassination Classroom can dole out a few more life lessons for them all. However these moments don’t seem to break the overall momentum as this story caries us through two seasons to a final conclusion.

Nagisa from Assassination Classroom - Looks innocent but you should watch out.

If the first season of Assassination Classroom is a little formulaic in the teacher heals students approach, the second season looks more at the motivation and reasons and gives us the necessary back story for this plot to make sense, but by then we are ready for it and even though the pace slows down a bit during this part, it ultimately feel very rewarding.

Horizon

Affiliate Link

Horizon Forbidden West T-Shirt Black

Okay, I will admit the going into space sequence for some of the students was a little bit of a reach, but this plot was always larger than life in how it approached things so while it might seem ridiculous, it just kind of fits with the rest of the story at that point.

Ultimately though the plot isn’t the focus of Assassination Classroom. This is a story about the characters.

Yes, the cast is huge with the entirety of class E at various points getting a focus, but the core cast are incredibly strong and enjoyable (I’m not going to say actually likeable because some of them are not supposed to be liked). They also grow in real and believable ways through the two seasons in response to what they have experienced. It makes watching what might feel like a fairly repetitive series of events actually feel purposeful as each time the students learn more about themselves and get closer to success.

Karma from Assassination Classroom - even playing baseball can be deadly.

Of course, one of the highlights of the cast for me was Karma.

If I could change anything about Assassination Classroom it would be more Karma (and yes I know that would stuff up their pacing and the characterisation of the other class members but I would deal with that for more Karma). I’m totally standing by this even now. More Karma. He makes everything better.

However, such a cold and calculating character on his own wouldn’t have had such an impact. It is through his deliberate contrast with Nagisa that both of these characters are able to shine and their strengths and weaknesses become apparent.

Assassination Classroom - Karma and Nagisa

While the second season of Assassination Classroom brings their dual approaches to a head with the class split on who’s plan to follow, ultimately both of these characters are essential to the success of this story.

And while Nagisa takes on a more ‘nice guy’ role he’s a bit deeper than just wanting to be nice to people. He as an inferiority complex and early in the series we see he has little concern for his own well being. I love how Assassination Classroom takes the time to really flesh out a character that could have just been another bland lead character.

I still love Karma though.

But I would be remiss not to discuss the elephant octopus in the room, Kuro-Sensei. While season one leaves him a bit of an enigma his personality drives so much of the story. Whether he’s taunting and mocking, challenging the students to rise above their weaknesses or providing solid guidance and care he’s an impressive manipulator as well as a genuinely fun character to watch in action.

I love that Assassination Classroom allows him some retaliation against assassination attempts given he isn’t allowed to ‘harm’ the children. Some of his retaliations are pretty childish but they have a humanising effect on this character who seems so inhumanly superior in so many ways.

Assassination Classroom - Kurosensei

Assassination Classroom also just transitions from laugh out loud humour to incredible action sequences to decent dramatic tension and it does it fairly effortlessly (or at least it looks that way). What might have ended up a bit of a mess of opposing ideas and tones ends up integrating into a whole that is just a unique and fun experience.

This show gave me some of the best laughs I’ve ever had (which given I’m not normally into comedy is surprising and yet even on rewatches this show still makes me laugh out loud).

Ritsu showering the class with flowers, Professor Bitch’s first attempt at killing Kuro Sensei and then getting dressed in a sports uniform, Nagisa getting dressed up like a girl to be the girl’s protection (even though they didn’t need it and even he knows that it was entirely pointless), the pudding assassination attempt, and toward the end the Valentine confessions.

Assassination Classroom - A Classic Fail

Plus there are some great one-liners in Assassination Classroom between the students or teachers that just make you laugh.

Oh, and I almost forgot Nagisa’s notebook of Kuro Sensei’s flaws. Some of these weak points are hilarious and seeing these weaknesses being exploited during the students’ assassination attempts is hilarious.

Okay, the show also reduced me to tears with one of the most powerful and emotional endings I’ve seen in anime and while it was a deliberate attempt to tug at my heart strings it absolutely worked.

Assassination Classroom - Playing with tasers in fun?

Basically the story hits most of its emotional notes.

Assassination Classroom isn’t just making you laugh. When the characters get injured I found myself leaning forward and waiting for them to get back up. When Kuro Sensei was preaching I wanted to whack him one. When they nearly succeeded at the assassination at the end of season 1 I was just as devastated as they were that they failed. And when the second last episode aired I was completely blown away.

Very few anime hit me like that.

That isn’t to say that Assassination Classroom isn’t without it’s flaws.

The number of characters means that only a few are developed and that is a little disappointing. The first season falls into a bit of a teacher helps student of the week pattern, however this is kind of needed for us to develop an understanding of the class, but it is a little repetitive until they move on to planning their assassination.

Advertisements

The government allowing this set up to occur is questionable but we can suspend disbelief on that one. And the weapons don’t hurt people? Seriously. Anything can hurt someone if you hit them hard enough with it.

However, ultimately what set this anime as one of my all time favourites is that it didn’t blink at the end. The plot is resolved in the way it needs to be and while it might be heart breaking and slow and incredibly melodramatic it is exactly what this show needed to finish off with.

I give it a million points for commitment to concept with that ending (and right there is great evidence that I should not use numerical scoring systems).

Assassination Classroom OP

And I completely missed the fact that the music is fantastic. The OP’s for Assassination Classroom set the tone perfectly getting you fired up for the episode. They also really help in the early episodes with learning the students’ names. Definitely not to be skipped.

Not to mention visually this one is a bright and colourful affair with some solid character designs and decent animation despite the large cast.

If you haven’t watched Assassination Classroom, I fully recommend giving it a try. It might not work for you, but it is certainly a bit whacky, a bit different, and at least you know it does definitely end.

Help Support 100 Word Anime This Spring Season 2000 ×
Donate to the blog.

Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James

Tuesday’s Top 5: Ordinary Anime Characters Who Inspire

Posted on by Karandi
Tuesday's Top 5

While many an anime character has inspired me, it is worth noting that a lot of anime characters have super powers, or magic, or destiny, or some other force working for them, which makes their actions a little less applicable to the everyday life that most of us lead. This list is to the heroes (and ordinary people) who have moved me to action or have given me strength when I have needed it. That makes is a fairly personal list so I’d love to know who would end up on your list of inspiring anime characters. While it hurts that I can’t add Maka to the list this time round, the characters below are all exceptional and yet completely human.

Please note, there will be spoilers below.

Honourable Mentions: Akito from Bakuman for standing by his friend from start to finish no matter how rough things got.

Number 5: Nagisa (Assassination Classroom)

Nagisa.png

One might argue that none of the students in Assassination Classroom are particularly ordinary, but that is their most compelling trait. They are ordinary. They are the ones who are overlooked and cast aside, who have been down so long that they have forgotten that they even have the right to stand up. Watching Nagisa move from someone who accepts this role to someone who has a clear presence about him and is comfortable in his own skin is something that is greatly inspiring. Okay, most of us don’t have a yellow octopus for a teacher who we get to learn to assassinate, but most of the lessons Nagisa takes on board are strictly of the ordinary kind of valuing who you are.

Number 4: Kurumi (Kimi ni Todoke)

25395-620x-kimi-ni-todoke-02

Season One of Kimi ni Todoke introduced us to Kurumi and she was a nasty piece of work determined to get Kazehaya to look at her and to get Sawako out of the picture. After being rejected she undergoes an incredible character transformation that reminds us all that just because we don’t get what we want doesn’t mean it is the end of the world. Kurumi becomes a truly great character and by the time the end of season 2 rolls around you really want her to find her own happiness.

Number 3: Kousei (Your Lie in April)

Kousei.png

This one might be cheating given the kid is definitely a genius. Yet, much like with Nagisa, the lessons Kousei takes on board during the heart breaking journey that is Your Lie in April are strictly the ordinary everyday ones that we all could learn from. Learning to grieve and mourn, to accept what has happened, to find a purpose, and just to find who you are. These are the things Kousei discovers throughout the course of his journey and they make him incredibly relatable and when he takes the stage in the final episode you cannot help but feel moved by him.

Number 2: Oreki (Hyouka)

Oreki.jpg

While this might seem an odd choice for number 2 on the list, there’s something truly remarkable about how this character lives his life. He has his own ideal of energy conservation and yet at the same time he doesn’t want his ideals to harm the experiences of others. He doesn’t want to let his sister down and later Chitanda and so acts contrary to his own nature on more than one occasion. This is also inspiring because while some people might see that as giving in or compromising, what it really demonstrates is an acceptance of a need for community and that it can’t always be about you. Oreki is inspiring because he finds a balance where he does have moments where he refused to do things or to get involved and other moments where he acts for the benefit of others. While I’m still not sure I like the anime, I quite like Oreki’s character and he reminds me that sometimes it isn’t all about me.

Number 1: Yuri (Yuri on Ice)

yuri7d

Did we really think anyone else was going to take this spot? I almost disqualified him because being a world champion (even if he’s only in the top 6) kind of makes him somewhat extraordinary, but the only superpower he has is persistence and determination and so I let him take the top spot. His journey is fantastic and watching him stand up again and again and try to overcome his weaknesses never ceases to inspire.

And there they all are. Who would you have put on your list?

Tuesday’s Top 5: Smart Anime Characters

Posted on by Karandi
Tuesday's Top 5

Before getting into this list, I will point out that one of the most annoying things in stories than an anime character who the audience is told is smart who then acts like a complete air-head for the entire run-time. I get that some characters are smart in one specific skill and therefore have issues at other things, but some supposedly smart characters just act really dumb. Therefore, my list is focusing on consistency. Characters who are smart and who consistently seem to think through their actions, even if they don’t always draw the right conclusions.

That said, I’d love to know who you would have included on your list of smart anime characters so please leave a comment below.

Please note, there will be spoilers below.

Honourable Mentions: Light (Death Note), Uruhara (Bleach), and Ami (Sailor Moon).

Affiliate Product Link

death-note-the-complete-series-season-1-449907-1

DEATH NOTE: THE COMPLETE SERIES – SEASON 1

Number 5: Lelouch (Code Geass)

Lelouche

Realistically I understand the Lelouch made a lot of mistakes. Still, given he was a high school student who was presented with a sudden opportunity to take what he wanted, he actually thought through quite a few things and had a lot more success than he might have if he wasn’t such a quick thinker. Ultimately, for all the mistakes Lelouch made, he found a way back and some of his plans were pretty brilliant. Probably Lelouch’s biggest problem early on was over-confidence but after the end of season 1 he seemed to overcome that and from then on he was pretty good at what he was doing.

Affiliate Product Link

ochatomo-series-code-geass-lelouch-of-the-rebellion-all-right-i-540531-1

OCHATOMO SERIES CODE GEASS LELOUCH OF THE REBELLION ALL RIGHT! I WILL GET ON! THAT CUP! 

Number 4: Rei (March Comes in Like a Lion)

March43d

Rei is a genius Shogi player. He doesn’t get much about life and what he does get, he overthinks horribly, but considering his age and experience, the boy is pretty smart. Even though he puts himself down all the time and, particularly in season one, he paints himself in a negative light, he’s someone who is managing to live on his own, study his craft, and attempt to finish school mostly on his own. He’s one smart cookie and one who deserves to give himself a bit of praise every now and then for what he has achieved and he shouldn’t worry so much about his failures.

Number 3: Kurisu (Steins;Gate)

Steins - Microphone

I had a hard time deciding between Okabe and Kurisu, but ultimately Kurisu is the more logical and the one more likely to put the hard work in to figure out what makes things tick. Okabe’s more manic approach may stumble upon a success every now and again, but Kurisu is the one who can begin to understand the how and the why and the limitations. Almost all of the adaptations to the phone-microwave as the series went on were because of Kurisu’s testing and meticulous work and so she well and truly deserves her place on this list. That and she managed to not kill Okabe for calling her Christina.

Affiliate Product Link

steinsgate-17-scale-prepainted-figure-makise-kurisu-560203-1

STEINS;GATE 1/7 SCALE PRE-PAINTED FIGURE: MAKISE KURISU

Number 2: Tatsuya Shiba (The Irregular at Magic High School)

Irregular5

For someone who can’t perform well on the standardised tests of his world, Tatsuya Shiba more than makes up for it everywhere else. Brilliant at magical theory, manipulating magical devices, and generally figuring out ways around his limitations, he’s more or less unstoppable (which would kind of be why so many people throw the overpowered label at him). Be that as it may, he’s a very smart character and one I would not want to be up against in any battle of wits – though that’s probably true of every character on this list.

Number 1: Korosensei (Assassination Classroom)

assassination-classroom

For all that he ended up an experiment that went a bit wrong, Korosensei proves over and over again that he knows his stuff as a teacher. He delivers the curriculum across a range of subjects and also expands the students’ knowledge into a whole range of fields.  If it wasn’t for the whole blow up the world thing, he’d be the perfect teacher and he certainly deserves his place as number one on my list.

And that’s my list but I’d love to know what would make your list.

Thanks for reading.

Karandi James

avatar

Consider supporting the blog by:

Patreon2           Thoughts on Anime            74iz

Tuesday’s Top 5: Anime That Make Me Cry

Posted on by Karandi
Tuesday's Top 5

I’m sure all anime fans have a favourite series out there that they enjoy just because it hits them hard every time they watch it. That show, and that moment, that has you breaking down into tears. It isn’t a feeling I seek out all that often but every now and then it is exactly what I need. If it was finished, I know that March Comes in Like a Lion would have topped this list, but given it hasn’t, here are some of my other favourite shows that are sure to make me cry every time I watch them.

As always, I’d love to know what would be on your list.

Please Note – There are absolutely spoilers below.

Honourable mentions to Clannad After Story, Your Lie in April and Yuri on Ice.

Number 5: Code Geass

Code.jpg

Code Geass is action filled and exciting. It also has some thought provoking moments and some interesting commentary on the human condition. But what sticks with me long after I’m finished watching the show for the whatever number time I am up to is how many times it felt like the show had grabbed my heart in a fist and squeezed. Shirley’s death, Lelouch accidentally setting Euphemia off on her massacre, the final sequence, so many moments where it just punches you hard in the gut. And yes, Shirley’s death is the one that makes me cry each and every time.

Number 4: Steins;Gate

Steins;Gate

For an apparently mad scientist, Rintaro really takes the events of Steins;Gate hard and what we see is a fairly quick break down as this guy gets hit time and time again by more than he can really deal with. As the weight of his failures start to crush him, we see Kurisu reach out to him unknowing that she’s also part of the weight that he can’t actually deal with. While eventually all is righted, this show can pack a mean emotional punch as you wonder what decision you could make in the situation particularly when it looks like saving Mayuri will lead to someone else’s death.

Number 3: Heaven’s Memo Pad

Heaven's memo pad

Heaven’s Memo Pad starts out fairly innocuously and to be honest there’s a lot of silliness throughout the series. But underlying all of that there are always some fairly dark themes and ideas and the final story arc brings things right to the surface. With the attempted suicide of his friend at school and drugs being sold in the area, Narumi is left feeling utterly helpless and useless and ends up making a fairly rash decision in an effort to do something. I always forget just how serious this show ends up getting because I start it and get kind of fooled by the early episodes which means the ending hits hard every single time.

Number 2: Assassination Classroom

assassination-classroom2

You don’t get a prize for knowing the affect this show had on me when we finally got to that scene. Yes, the one where the students all stand around and say goodbye before Nagisa finally assassinates their teacher. And yes, it is designed to pull at your heart strings and it is overly long and all the other things people might say about it. But that doesn’t stop it from being highly affective and leaving me in a complete mess of tears absolutely every time.

Number 1: Angel Beats

Angel

My go to anime for when I feel like having a cry. Whether it is Otonashi recalling his life, Hinata promising to marry Yui no matter what her condition was, the graduation sequence or the final farewell between Kanade  and Otonashi this show gets me. What I love is that I don’t feel bad while watching it. I laugh, I get excited in the action sequences, roll my eyes at the classroom antics, and get to go through a whole range of emotions before the show tears my heart out and stomps on it a few times. Plus, if you watch after the credits, after you’ve had your release of tears, the show does just enough to put a smile on your face and leave you feeling like the world isn’t such a bad place after all.

So there’s my list. What have you got on yours?

Thanks for reading.

If you enjoyed this post and like the blog, consider becoming a patron to support further growth and future content.

Patreon2

Thanks,

Karandi James.

avatar

Top 5: Must-Watch Anime Sequels

Posted on by Karandi
Tuesday's Top 5

I tend to run sequels down a lot (see Feature Discussing Anime Sequels and Prequels), which is sometimes justified, but occasionally there are anime sequels, part 2’s, and follow ups that actually do add something to a series and are fairly enjoyable to watch.

So I decided to think about all the good anime sequels out there for a top 5 list. This is my opinion and I’ve chosen sequels that I felt added something actually necessary to a story but were entertaining in their own right. I’d love to know what some of your favourite anime sequels are.

I did however disqualify long running shows without clear divisions between seasons (Bleach etc).

Please Note – There will be spoilers below.

Anime Sequel Honourable Mentions

Sailor Moon, Natsume Yuujinchou (not sure if this counts as long running without clear division so left it off the list, but every season is amazing), Full Metal Panic (Second Raid is fantastic), and Noragami (Second season was amazing, but where’s the third as this story still isn’t finished). There are plenty of other amazing anime sequels I could have gone with but we don’t want to be here all day.

Best Anime Sequel Number 5: Clannad After Story

Don't tell me Clannad season 2 didn't make you cry - this is one anime sequel that knocks it out of the park.

I’d be the first to say that Clannad wasn’t really my thing as an anime. It is a beautiful story and there are some really great elements to it, but it just isn’t my type of show. That said, I watched through all of it and even cried so it works well enough and for people who like the genre it is probably an even more moving experience. After Story is a perfect follow up to the original series.

It narrows the focus to the main characters, though all the other characters are still there, and it legitimately adds to their characters. Not to mention, it finally reveals what was going on during some of the stranger moments in season one. As a sequel or follow up it does everything a show needs to and is perfectly entertaining on its own (though you’ll probably miss some of the character moments if you haven’t sat through season 1).

Horizon

Affiliate Link

Horizon Forbidden West T-Shirt Black

Best Anime Sequel Number 4: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai

Higurashi is simply a question without season 2. A necessary anime sequel.

Follow up to Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (or When They Cry, When the Cicadas Cry, or whatever other title you’d like to give it), this is a fantastic sequel. I actually watched this first, not knowing it was the second part, and while the first loop was a bit confusing due to me not having a clue who anyone was, I soon figured out what was going on and this is the part of this series that actually solves the mystery of who is behind the tragedy. 

While the first season is fine, by itself it is unsatisfying. Lots of loops, lots of violence, there are clues and character moments, but it doesn’t end. Season 2 builds on all those clues and character moments and gives us a very dramatic final confrontation. It legitimately works by itself as a story and is highly entertaining (you know, if you are in to horror).

Best Anime Sequel Number 3: Kimi ni Todoke

While season one is a frustrating slow burn, you need season two to really get to the happy end of this romance. Anime sequels worth watching.

Now this is more just an ongoing story. Season 1 has our main character, Sawako, slowly coming out of her shell and making friends. Yes, there’s a guy involved and there’s romantic insinuations, but the romantic aspect decidedly takes a back seat to building confidence and friendships. Having already established that in season 1, season 2 squarely turns the focus on Sawako’s ongoing relationship with Kazehaya and whether it is respect or love she feels.

For someone who has only just learned about friendship, there’s a lot that can go wrong as she treads her way into romance and season 2 takes us through all the ups and downs until we finally get to the moment we’ve all been waiting for. An excellent follow up on a very cute romance.

Advertisements

Best Anime Sequel Number 2: Snow White With the Red Hair

Seriously - who didn't want more of Zen and Shirayuki. Anime sequel so worth waiting for and please give us more.

Possibly this is a theme given how many relationship heavy shows have ended up on this list, but I really felt Shirayuki and Zen had more story to tell after season 1, and season 2 proved that right though not as I expected. Rather than focussing fully on their relationship, season 2 kind of scattered the focus giving lots of other relationships time to develop and be revealed.

It was deeply satisfying seeing various characters have their moment, while an overall narrative involving Shirayuki’s kidnapping played out, but it did kind of leave the show with little time at the end to address the main question of Shirayuki and Zen. Which of course means we’re left with a sweet but not final ending and why is there no season 3?

Still, this sequel does the job of advancing the characters and the plot logically and adding to what we know about them and the world, so it succeeds even if it still felt unfinished.

Best Anime Sequel Number 1: Assassination Classroom

The ending of Assassination Classroom - this is the way to end an anime sequel.

Much like Kimi ni Todoke, season 1 of this focussed very much on building the characters up. They were learning skills, facing themselves, overcoming past difficulties, before they had the final test when the class was put in legitimate danger. Season 2 shifts the focus dramatically to the motive for the assassination and trying to find a way around it, dividing opinions and characters.

While there’s definitely some filler in season 2, the sheer number of excellent character moments, before we get to the very final and necessary conclusion, makes this a sequel that was needed and it delivered on the promise way back in season 1. Thoroughly enjoyable watch though one could argue the end was dragged out just a little too long. Despite that, it was unforgettable.

Be sure to share your favourite anime sequels in the comments.

Help Support 100 Word Anime This Spring Season 2000 ×
Donate to the blog.

Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James

Tuesday’s Top 5: Opening Themes in 2016

Posted on by Karandi
Tuesday's Top 5

One of the things most of us remember about an anime series is the opening theme. Whether we loved it or hated it, listened to it every time, or reached for the remote (mouse) to hit the skip. Opening themes set the tone for the entire viewing experience and yet it is another element I seldom take into consideration when ranking my favourite anime on my weekly lists. This week’s top 5 gave me a chance to reflect on some of the themes of 2016 and to realise it was not one of my favourite years for opening songs.

My criteria for top 5 opening theme is mostly that the song could be listened to as a song by itself and still sound good without the visuals, though also had good visuals to go with it, that it matched the tone of the show, and that it got me ready to watch the episode. Also, it had to be an opening I didn’t want to skip because listening to the song was part of the experience. They also had to be in an anime that aired at some point during 2016 (either continuing on from 2015, completely in 2016, or at least started before the end of 2016).

For patrons there is a list of the 5 openings of 2016 that didn’t particularly impress over on patreon.

Please Note – There probably won’t be any spoilers in this list.

Honourable mentions this week go to: Cheer Boys (because it was fun) and 91 Days (because it set the tone of the show so well). Also, special honourable mention to Raise Your Flag from Iron Blooded Orphans because if that had been the theme the whole way through the show it would have been absolutely perfect.

Number 5: Coolest from Sakamoto Desu Ga

Sakamoto.png

This is the weirdest choice on this list because this is an anime I didn’t even finish watching. However, this opening gives you more or less the entire concept and is fun, bright and over the top which is everything the show itself is trying to be. I probably would have ditched the show and kept watching the opening if that was a viable option really.

Number 4: Bye Bye Yesterday from Assassination Classroom Second Season

Assassination.jpg

Assassination Classroom has continued to have excellent openings that nail the tone of the show and manage to convey the overall emotion the characters are feeling at that point in time. From that point of veiw, Bye Bye Yesterday is the perfect opening during the second season because our characters have moved on from who they were and they are at a critical transitional point. The visuals throughout the song are pretty awesome to with a lot of looking back on where the characters have come from and the events that have shaped them in the series. The fact that the song is still upbeat and energizes you in preparation for the episode is perfect because Assassination Classroom still has that weird back and forth between comedy and real drama so a song that makes you feel sad and nostalgic while getting you energised is exactly what was needed.

Number 3: Lay Your Hands on Me from Kiznaiver

Kiznaiver.png

I know I didn’t end up thinking much of the show but this song was amazing. Actually the entire opening sequence is just an overload on the senses. The song is full of energy and drama and yet you aren’t sure whether it is trying to be optimistic or poignant and overall it just makes you feel like something is coming. Unfortunately for me, most episodes went downhill after the opening but at least I never skipped the song.

Number 2: Re:Re from Erased

Erased.jpg

During the first few episodes, while I enjoyed this opening, I couldn’t figure out why this show had such an up-beat and happy little opening. The visuals hinted at darker ideas but the song itself felt like it belonged on some coming-of-age high school romp rather than a mystery with potential supernatural elements. Turns out the song wasn’t lying as the mystery part of the show falls short and it is the coming-of-age and the finding out who you are that dominates the show thematically in the second half. So great song in and of itself and once you’ve watched the show through you realise just how apt it actually is.

Number 1: History Maker from Yuri On Ice

Yuri2.png

That was probably obvious from the get-go given the theme to Yuri on Ice was probably the only one I commented on (more than once) during my weekly reviews of a show. I couldn’t help it, the song just swept me away each and every time I listened to it. It is one of the few themes that I actively looked up and played just by itself without any intention of watching an episode of the show. And please, hit repeat. Then of course we have the beautiful animation that accompanies it. I also liked that it didn’t really sound like an anime opening. That kind of made it stand out. All and all, this was the perfect opening song for this particular story.

Alright, over to you. What opening themes made you pay attention in 2016?

Are you a fan of 100WordAnime.blog?

If you like this site and you like what I do, please consider becoming a patron.

patreon

Thanks,

Karandi James.

avatar

Tuesday’s Top 5: Visually Interesting Anime in 2016

Posted on by Karandi
Tuesday's Top 5

When I made my judgements about best and worst series I make that judgement based mostly on entertainment, characters and plot. Visuals (whether good or bad) play little part in that judgement. So this week I want to look at the top 5 anime in 2016 that I found visually interesting. As always I’d invite you to add you favourites to the comments below.

How did I narrow down this list? I actually remembered something about the visuals other than character designs. Seriously, I don’t usually pay that much attention to backgrounds and the like because I’m all about story and characters so if I actually remember after watching something that it was beautiful or interesting, that usually means it was noteworthy. They also had to be in an anime that aired at some point during 2016 (either continuing on from 2015, completely in 2016, or at least started before the end of 2016).

And then for patrons, I’ve put up a post called Tuesday’s Lesser 5 where I share some of the least visually interesting anime of 2016. I’m still working on providing patrons with extra content and I’ll probably be a bit hit and miss with this until it becomes a routine (I am very open to suggestions from patrons and would be patrons about what content you would like to see). If the post hasn’t come out as scheduled I will fix it – just let me know.

Please Note – There will be spoilers below – massive spoilers for number 5.

Honourable mentions this week go to: Ajin, Mob Psycho 100 (Yes, I hated the look of this but it was interesting), and Erased.

Number 5: Assassination Classroom Season 2

assassination classroom.jpg

Say what you will about this show as a show, you have to admit visually it is very interesting. We have a large cast of characters who each have a distinct look and a main character who by himself is intriguing and then we have the settings which are at times highly detailed and also use a large range of colours nad tones to convey moods. Honestly, the show is a feast for the eyes regardless of how you take to the plot of students trying to kill their teacher.

assassination classroom2.gif

Number 4: Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash

Grimgar.png

I know a lot of people didn’t like the look of this show but I loved it. The water colour look about the scenes that just made everything feel kind of like a children’s story book while this incredibly grim tale was being woven really worked for me and it stood out from the strong colours and character designs we usually come across in this sort of fantasy world. I also liked how they contrasted each of the settings. We had the town, the forest, the ruins and then the caverns and each area had their own look and feel even while the art style was consistent. I also liked that the character designs blended with this environment rather than standing out sharply from it.

grimgar.gif

Number 3: Yuri on Ice

Yuri on Ice.png

I know, obvious choice, but this anime swept me away with its animation and presentation from the very first opening. The storyline and characters took longer to win me over but I could have watched this series through just on the looks of it. I’ve never seen characters move like that and I honestly don’t care if they were reusing animation, it was amazing. I also liked that the costumes were all beautifully designed and moved with the skaters, the backgrounds, the way they gave us the feel of being in different countries even though we spent most of our time at skating rinks, and so on. The visuals were extremely well done and this show had instant appeal because of it.

Yuri on Ice 1.gif

Number 2: Flip Flappers

flip flappers.png

It’s probably good this show was so visually interesting given the story really struggled to come through sometimes. That said, regardless of what the characters were doing or whether you had a clue what the plot was about, there was always something appealing to look at on the screen. The rich detail, the symbolism, the abstract design at times, the various art styles, all of it demanded your attention and you kept thinking that you’d missed something and sure enough when reading the blogs of others there was a detail you’d completely missed amongst the many things clamouring for your attention while watching this show. No matter your thoughts on the story, this is a visually appealing anime to watch.

Flip flappers2.gif

Number 1: March Comes in Like a Lion

March.jpg

This one may not be as frantic to fight for every minute of your attention as Flip Flappers but overall the visuals are far more cohesive (and more importantly are more suited to my tastes). The sharp contrasts between light and dark and the simplicity of some scenes compared with the rich detail in others will keep you watching and watching closely. Throw in the contrast between the very ‘realistic’ view of the world against the more ‘cartoonish’ view that is sometimes given and there’s always something to look for. Then again, even the opening of this one is mesmerizing and rich in symbolism so well worth checking out. That and it’s just beautiful.

march

Those are my picks for top 5 visually interesting anime in 2016. I know three of them came from the end of the year but when I looked back at the other anime I loved, they just didn’t visually stand out. What are your favourites from the year?

Are you a fan of 100WordAnime.blog?

If you like this site and you like what I do, please consider becoming a patron.

patreon

Thanks,

Karandi James.

avatar