2014
09.11

#25. Ending Day by Day (Full Metal Panic!)

Creator: Shoji Gatoh
Original Years of Publication: 2000-2001
Light Novel: Volumes #4-5
Manga: (Full Metal Panic! Sigma) Volumes #1-3, Chapters #1-12
Anime: (Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid) Episodes #1-13
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Japanese Publisher: Fujimi Shobo (Fujimi Fantasia Bunko/Light Novel, Monthly Dragon Magazine/Manga)
North American Publisher: Tokyopop [Defunct] (Light Novel)
North American Distributor: FUNimation Entertainment
Streaming: FUNimation
Recommended Version: Anime

Full Metal Panic! was a series of light novels that ran from 1998-2010 (and is still ongoing via a spin-off series by a different author). It was fairly popular with Japanese readers and had its first 3 main-story volumes adapted into an anime by Studio Gonzo. It was well-done and entertaining, but ultimately not that memorable, much like the source material was up to this point. However, all great stories will hit their stride eventually, if not right away, and with this franchise it was definitely with the EDBD light novels. To be clear, this is a series with an insanely complex and convoluted publication history….ESPECIALLY when it comes to international licensers and the various formats that it has been adapted to (including multiple manga series). And this isn’t even taking into account the numerous short-story compilation novels that make up a bulk of the series’ content past the main story-line.

The point of this little history lesson being that with so many different hands passing this property around, it is simply amazing that it didn’t become an utter incoherent mess in translation. What’s even more amazing is that Kyoto Animation, with the assistance of Shoji Gatoh himself in the scripting department, managed to take the series’ first great story arc and make it even better, albeit taking some healthy liberties with the story and characters while remaining mostly faithful to the source material. In this 13-episode story, the series’ main protagonist, Souske Sagara, finds himself finally starting to adjust to the life of a normal, modern, everyday Japanese high school student. Naturally, that wouldn’t make for a very interesting story, so shit goes seriously wrong for his “esteemed colleagues” at the mercenary group, MITHRIL, pretty quick. The ensuing conflict forces Souske to part with his close friend and developing love interest, Kaname, and puts both characters down a dark and foreboding path that takes them out of their comfort zone into dangerous territory where each has to step up fast to survive, or die in the process.

What makes this such a great story arc is that it does precisely what the middle portion of any long-running series should. If the beginning was a light-hearted introduction of the characters and the set-up of future events to come, then the middle is the start of these future events unfolding, and it takes these characters into substantially less light-hearted territory. Not just our main leads, but the entire cast is forced to evolve to deal with a rapidly worsening situation, where the specifics of the plot are loaded with nuanced details and plenty of twists and turns. Yet, in all of this, the real emphasis is always on the characters, and it’s as a character piece that this arc will keep you watching through all 13-episodes without a break. That, and it doesn’t hurt that there is a ton of bad-ass giant robot action to go around. Yeah….this is a mecha anime….which says a lot about how invested I was in everything else great about it to momentarily forget that. As a continuation of the series, it elevates the stakes to new heights for the fans. As a stand-alone piece, it’s just undeniably good entertainment. Either way, it’s one of the greatest anime story arcs ever told, at least in our collective opinion. ~Dr. Ensatsu-ken

#24. Magnostadt (Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic)

Creator: Shinobu Ohtaka
Original Years of Publication: 2012-2013
Manga: Volumes #16-20, Chapters #149-198
Anime: (Magi: The Kingdom of Magic) Episodes #38-50
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Japanese Publisher: Shogakukan (Weekly Shonen Sunday)
North American Publisher: Viz Media
North American Distributor: Aniplex of America
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Neon Alley
Recommended Version: Manga

So, imagine if you took a series like Harry Potter, mixed it with elements of middle-eastern folklore and fairy-tales, and then blended it with certain elements and the grand scale of fantasy epics such as The Lord of the Rings and A a Song of Ice and Fire. That’s pretty much the Magnostadt arc in a nutshell, and yes, it’s every bit as amazing as it sounds. The arc plays out in two distinct halves: the first portion deals with our main protagonist Aladdin attending a magic school (with its own ass-hole version of Dumbledore, to boot!) in the kingdom of magic, Magnostadt. What initially seems like a utopia for mages quickly turns into a dark mystery for Aladdin and his friends to uncover, which they do in finding out just how this kingdom treats its lower-class, non-magic citizens. However, whereas most generic shounen would treat this as a 1-dimensional conflict, no clear answer is presented hear. The people may be hidden underground and stripped of freedom as life energy is slowly drawn from them throughout their lives to power the great city, but they are also cared for and are mostly none-the-wiser to their predicament since most have never known the outside world. Is it right to keep a people contained if most are content with their status only by being oblivious to any other way of life?

Well, let our heroes be damned if they have any time to think about it. As stated, the world of Magi is as grandiose as many great fantasy epics, and the turmoil and long historical conflict between Magnostadt and the mighty Liam Empire looms dreadfully over the horizon. The outbreak of war between the two nations which was built up throughout the arc finally forces them to clash, with Aladdin and his friends stuck in the middle of a struggle in which they don’t ideologically support either side, yet must work to defend their people. This alone is enough for greatness, but the story only ratchets up its intensity to world-shattering levels (literally), and while this easily could have become a convoluted mess in lesser hands, the strong narrative manages to flow seamlessly from beginning to end. This makes for what is easily one of the most unique and unforgettable arcs to ever come out of a shounen manga. Admittedly, its one weakness may be that it relies heavily on build-up from previous story-lines, making it poor viewing as a stand-alone arc, but as a general piece of entertainment, it is arguably unrivaled by most contemporaries in its genre. ~Dr. Ensatsu-ken

#23. Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise (Black Lagoon)

Creator: Rei Hiroe
Original Years of Publication: 2005-2006
Manga: Chapters #22-37
Anime: (Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage) Episodes #19-24
Studio: Madhouse
Japanese Publisher: Shogakukan (Monthly Sunday Gene-X)
North American Publisher: Viz Media
North American Distributor: Geneon [Defunct], FUNimation Entertainment
Streaming: FUNimation
Recommended Version: Anime

Pop Quiz: What do you get when you combine the stylistic gun-toting action of a John Woo movie (An actual Cantonese John Woo film, that is) with the dark humor of a Tarantino film, top it off with the thoughtfulness and character depth of a(n) [insert whichever non-pretentious director that you want to, here] film, and present it all in glorious animated form? Well, naturally it’s something awesome, but more specifically, it’s this very arc. In this story we see our two main characters, from the Lagoon Company, travel to Rock’s own homeland of Japan (on “business,” of course). From there the story takes dark turns into the depths of our lead character Rock, as well as our main female lead Revy (albeit to a lesser extent).

In the case of Rock, he is presented with an immediate contrast to the life he has grown accustomed to living as an outlaw in the town of Roanapur in China. Having lived most of his life in his comfort zone as an everyday, ordinary salaryman, he had been utterly tempted to go back to that lifestyle in previous arcs, almost regretting his decision to become an outlaw in the vein of being distressed with his corrupt higher-ups and basically having to be their bitch everyday of his life. Yet, he remembers how much simpler and less life-threatening (in terms of the “oh my god, I could die any day living among these crazy fuckers!” sort of way that he’s become accustomed to as part of the Lagoon Company), and is finally presented with an opportunity to go back to it. Interestingly enough, this is such a contrast for him because it is only now that he realizes how alien it all feels to him, and this is where both him and the viewer really get a feel for how much he has changed as a character in a relatively short amount of time.

What enhances this conflict even further is the character of Yukio, the leader of a lowly Yakuza group in Japan who happens to be the “business” that Rock is being used for in the first place (albeit as a measly translator). She is in many ways an analogue of his character, having once been stuck between pursuing a normal life or sinking into the depths of the criminal underworld. Her whole character is a representation of the latter path, and she even brings it up to Rock that he is at a pivotal point in his life and needs to decisively make his own decision on the matter. It’s particularly interesting and simultaneously tragic as the two characters have so much in common, yet Rock can clearly see that Yukio genuinely loathes the life that she chose, even if she won’t openly admit it, but he also acknowledges that going back to his or her former lives would not necessarily make them feel any better (and is nigh impossible for Yukio at this point, anyways). Basically, it’s a shit situation either way….kind of like real life (actually….eerily way too much like real life).

But hey! This is an action show, remember? And having demonstrated that it clearly has way more thoughtful plotting and characterization going into it than you’re ever likely to find in any Michael Bay film (or most big-budget blockbusters to come out of Hollywood these days, really), it can devote the rest of its time to well-animated and balls-to-the walls action, of the aforementioned John Woo-style shoot-out variety, for the most part. Of course, It’s worth mentioning that Revy, the actual cause of 90% of the awesome action scenes in this entire series, gets some good development in this arc as well, but this is firmly Rock’s story, and she is mostly delegated as a side character outside of the action sequences. Also, I kind of don’t want to turn this whole write-up into an essay explaining every little detail about the characters, so perhaps you should just go watch the arc instead (along with everything else on our list that you haven’t seen, while you’re at it). ~Dr. Ensatsu-ken

#22. L (Death Note)

Creator: Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata
Original Years of Publication: 2003-2005
Manga: Chapters #1-59
Anime: Episodes #1-26
Studio: Madhouse
Japanese Publisher: Shueisha (Weekly Shonen Jump)
North American Publisher: Viz Media
North American Distributor: Viz Media
Streaming: Netflix, Neon Alley, Hulu
Recommended Version: Manga

Everybody knows about manga and anime knows about Death Note. But if you’ve been hiding under a rock or avoiding it because of the obsessive fans, you can come out now and enjoy one of the best thrillers to come out of Japan in a long, long time. The manga super-team of Ohba and Obata (the team behind the superb Bakuman) have created an interesting take on the typical detective story. They did this by throwing in supernatural beings, a battle of good and evil, a winding storyline, and a strange sense of self-deprecating humor, all while centering on Absolute Power Absolutely Corrupting one young man and following the devastating effects it has on the world.

Death Note is not a particularly long series, only 12 volumes in manga form and 37 episodes in anime format, and it is separated into two halves the second of which being more of an extended epilogue and denouement to the first. The second arc basically closes off themes in the first arc by following everything to its logical conclusion. But what really hooks people into Death Note is the thunderous battle centering on the first part which takes up the majority of the story.

Death Note is the battle of the villainous protagonist named Light Yagami who has taken it upon himself to become judge, jury, and executioner, to the world, and the exploits of a ragtag band of police officers who are sent to stop him. The team is lead by the super-detective known only as L who takes it upon himself to find the killer, not because it is the right thing to do, but to prove that he can. Nonetheless, this battle of wills is what drives most of Death Note and its clever twists and turns. This is mostly what drives part one, but is also crucial for what is to come in the second part and is by far the most important part of the story.

The character of L is not much like Light who is handsome, smart, logical, and charismatic. L runs off paranoia, eccentricity, cleverness, and inclinations, to forward his means which puts him at odds with the serial killer known only as “Kira”. The two clash, even as they meet in the strangest of circumstances. L is unaware of who Light really is (or maybe he doesn’t want to believe he is), and it is fairly clear that in another life they might have been good friends. But Light is a perfectly corrupt person, his evil is focused and sharp, and the beaten down and weary L can only push himself to think like a killer for so long before even he starts to slip and Kira gains ground on him. Their contrasting personalities and drives leads to one of the most memorable face-offs in manga or anime.

You can’t really explain Death Note’s appeal without ruining the surprises, so this is where the explanation will have to end. Suffice to say, there are few thrillers out there as big in execution and ideas as Death Note, and few as sharp. You won’t find profound discussions on good and evil or what leads a man to fall, but you don’t need them. What you ill want to see is how far it can go, and if it can be stopped. ~Spark of Spirit

#21 Ketil Farm (Vinland Saga)

Creator: Makoto Yukimura
Original Years of Publication: 2009-2014
Manga: Chapters #55-100
Japanese Publisher: Kodansha (Weekly Shonen Magazine/2005, Monthly Afternoon/2005-present)
North American Publisher: Kodansha Comics USA

Makoto Yukimura must be the secret best mangaka in Japan. First he created the surprisingly weighty Planetes and then began his currently running epic Vinland Saga which is a mythological version of the story of a Dane named Thorfinn as he wanders through the ancient world. It’s not historical record, or all that realistic, but it doesn’t claim to be. It is more of a mythological account. The story is an action adventure tale about a boy growing into a man, and what happens to those who never grow into one. What started out as a better paced version of Berserk in its early chapters– a tale of war, deceit, dread, and emptiness, soon became something entirely different by the time the first part of the story (called “The Prologue”) ends. Vinland Saga soon becomes something much different (and better) once the first part of the story begins on Ketil Farm.

Our two slave main characters soon make a life on the farm and live their days as common workers. They plow fields, cut down trees, and talk about what they do when they buy their freedom. That’s all that happens for most of the arc. And yet it’s excellent for every moment of it.

On this farm we meet a small group of characters, slaves, workers, mercenaries, even the land owners, and they are all fully fleshed out and shown their human qualities both bad and good. You want the pair to eventually gain enough money to no longer be slaves and buy their freedom, but at the same time, you don’t want to leave these characters behind. Some have traveled dark paths, but long for a brighter future, just as some have had a good life and yet long to grow to be stronger people. There is not much action for most of this arc, but there doesn’t need to be. Compared to the hyper-violence of the first part, this deals with the desensitization that war and mindless carnage can cause to the soul and what must be done to become human once more, and as such, includes more soul-searching and lighthearted conversations and less mindless bloodshed and disregard for human life that the fist part was full of. The characters come to discover a world living under them that has what they’ve always been looking for, something that was in front of them the whole time and yet they are just beginning to see it. However, the outside world eventually comes in to remind them all both of the bloody past that refuses to be left behind and the uncertain future that might lead to their downfall.

What ends up disrupting everything is quite interesting on its own, tying in to events from “The Prologue” and cannot be gotten into without spoiling the whole thing, but you’ll be on pins and needles through the entire climax, wondering if your favorite character will make it through okay. Then they all must face the future ahead, taking with them everything they had learned since arc’s start. Vinland Saga is the best manga currently running right now and the best action adventure manga in years. If you aren’t reading it, well, I can’t imagine why. ~Spark of Spirit

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