09.14
#10. The Gung-Ho Guns (Trigun)
Creator: Yasuhiro Nightow (series creator), Yousuke Kuroda (writer), Satoshi Nishimura (director)
Originally Aired: 1998
Anime: Episodes #12-26
Studio: Madhouse
North American Distributor: Funimation
Streaming: Funimation, Netflix
In recent years, Trigun has been known as the “obvious lesser” of the fan-dubbed “Space Western Trilogy” which has somehow been given an “obvious” hierarchy. The order would be Cowboy Bebop > Trigun > Outlaw Star, despite none of three even remotely attempting the same thing and all three being great shows well worth your time. But if we want to be objective, it can be argued that Trigun is actually the strongest of the three, and the reason lies in what many consider the series highlight, the appearance of the Gung-Ho Guns. Now the case is not being made that Trigun is objectively superior to either series, but to dispel a strangely prevalent opinion that the quality of all three are objectively tiered. The fact of the matter is that Trigun actually gets better with age and maturity, and is actually superior to the source material it arises from, which is an amazing feat of its own.
Before we reach the main story that begins in episode 12, we are treated with an episodic journey of a wandering gunman who seems to be able to get through any problem without killing and even takes five episodes before he draws his gun, which is only to defend innocents from an attack. This set up is crucial, because without it a lot of the power of the back half of the series is completely lost. The comedic and lighthearted nature of Vash the Stampede is the key to understanding how a world so covered with death and decay is able to laugh and smile and find away to escape their troubles despite facing extinction. While the lightheartedness is the set up, it all changes within a second when an objective evil called Legato Bluesummers arrives to tell Vash he is a target for demons, and the real story of Trigun is kicked off.
Before this arrival, trumpeted with fear and foreboding, the toughest problem Vash had faced in the series was a runaway sand steamer that was solved because of the moral compass of one lost boy and the honor of a murderous thief that Vash saw the good in. In other words, Vash saw the good where no one saw any, and it ended up saving them all from disaster. There is no good left in Legato Bluesummers. A man so consumed with despair, he instead believes the world would be better stamped into dust and that beings like Vash are only hinderances to his goal. He sends a wave of talented mercenaries called the Gung-Ho Guns, all seemingly as dead to the world as he is, in order to crush Vash’s way of life and the remnants of human beings on the desert planet. Vash does reach some of them, others he does not, and still others he never gets the chance to, but they all challenge his worldview and show it for being rather shallow and too idealistic, not complete. He soon finds that you can’t save everyone, no matter how much you want to. Where this becomes more prevalent is with the reappearance of an earlier character in the series, wandering priest, Nicholas D. Wolfwood. A man who could either be Vash’s greatest ally, or worst enemy.
Wolfwood’s character arc is very important to this story as Vash’s polar opposite yet other half, theologically and philosophically. Wolfwood has lived through much sin and despair in his life, and knows the only way through is fighting it, but along the way he lost faith in everything except God and children, as they are the only things man cannot corrupt no matter how hard they try. He loathes the human race and their tendency toward destruction, the exact motives the Gung-Ho Guns have. When Vash falls after learning he can’t save everyone, then believing there is no point in fighting, it is Wolfwood’s words of encouragement that push him along. Time and time again, Wolfwood prevents Vash from falling apart, and it is also Vash that gives Wolfwood his love of life again. The rub off on each other and give each other the side of life they need. It is Vash’s optimism and hope in the human race that allows Wolfwood to move beyond his murderous past and his doubts about the things he has done in order to remember that we always have another chance. Forgiveness always conquers sin. By the end of the tale, both Vash and Wolfwood have grown and become complete in their worldviews and are able to face the road ahead of them. The battle against evil will never fully be won in this life, but you still have to get up and fight, because true evil doesn’t just want you dead, it wants you crushed.
By this point it should be mentioned that the anime staff deserves a lot of credit. While there are a lot of similarities with the manga, including characters and events, it is the anime that ended up the definitive version of the tale. It did this by making everything more subdued and slower, more symbolism and carefully chosen words in dialogue and directed shots. It is no coincidence that with the first mention of God in the story at the end of episode 1 the camera pans up to reveal the planet’s two suns (for the first time) staring down at Vash as if a pair of eyes watching him. The care and craft that went into the show is tremendous, including shaving off the edges of things the manga did that either aren’t very exciting or are too comic-bookish for the overall tale. The fate of the human race given extra punch and the final battle are only two examples, but otherwise are powerful precisely because of the changes the anime staff made. However, credit should be given to the manga for aspects the anime does not cover, as it is a quality piece of work in itself.
Trigun is not a flashy series. It doesn’t have the greatest budget. It’s only 26 episodes long. It didn’t do well in Japan where only the manga was popular. None of this matters one iota. Trigun is a story about the battle for the soul. The soul of the human race, the planet, the drunkard who gave up on life, the murderous mercenary, the orphaned punk, the plant engineer with a vendetta against her supposed murderer, the nihilist who wishes everything no longer existed, and the brother who cannot understand the fundamental principles of living beings. What Trigun lacks in high budget explosion and stylish action sequences, it more than makes up with content and a topnotch story. The story of Trigun is already a classic in the anime world, and has aged remarkably well over the years. If there is anything it lacks is that its presence should be more well known outside of just anime circles.
As you walk into the sunlight after a year alone in the desert, you might see what Vash does when he looks up and the burning pair of suns staring down at him like the eyes of God. Carrying the weight of existence behind him as he walks, he looks ahead to find the enemy waiting for him at the end of his long road. There he raises his weapon and the battle begins.
“Repeated tragedies, repeated pain, the wishes of a man are so strong, and yet so frail and weak. To live. To stay alive. Who would have thought that survival would be this hard, this painful? I must choose, I must make the choice, in the moment that intertwines life and death. Can I choose to remain a human?”
~Spark of Spirit
#09. Sannoh (Slam Dunk)
Creator: Takehiko Inoue
Original Years of Publication: 1995-1996
Manga: Chapters #221-276
Japanese Publisher: Shueisha (Weekly Shonen Jump)
North American Publisher: Gutsoon! Entertainment [Defunct], Viz Media
BOO! Hiss! Sports manga! GETITOFFTHELISTGETITOFFTHELIST! Sports are terrible and you are terrible people for even thinking sullying my untouchable Japanese entertainment with such jock-related filth! What are you guys, sports lovers? Believe it or not, there are still people in this day and age that will not touch anything if it has a sport attached to it. Such people have foolishly missed some great manga and anime, including what is arguably the best one, if not one of the most influential, Slam Dunk. A manga about a punk kid who joins a basketball team to impress a girl and ends up learning much more than he ever expected.
Slam Dunk is partially responsible for the great Basketball explosion in popularity in Japan from back in the mid ’90s. That is how good Slam Dunk is. It inspired people who read the manga or watched the anime to get out there and play the very sport Inoue Takehiko was writing about. You can’t get much more praise than that, but I’ll sure try. One of the reasons Slam Dunk is so popular is because it both tackles the sport realistically and because it has such a heavy emphasis on characters and their drive for the game. But the main reason is because the story ended on what is easily one of the best arcs in manga history, not only one of the most popular, but one of the outright best. A shamble of a basketball team manages to slowly cobble together a team of individuals that work together masterfully, even at different skill levels and strengths. Throughout the entire story of the manga they grow and grow, eventually leading them into the tournament that will finally allow them to show the results of everything they have gone through.
What makes this arc masterful is how at the same time the biggest game of their lives (so far) plays out, all the characters essentially complete their character arcs and in the process become the best players they can be. This happens at the same time the game is literally going back and forth with a constantly rising score at a nailbiting pace, impossible moves are made and countered, while characters (sometimes literally) throw themselves around just to give the edge their team needs to make that final point ahead of their opponents. It’s intense. Shohoku Vs. Sannoh has since gone down as one of the most exciting arcs in sports manga history because of how great this game is. Now if you can explain to me why the anime never covered it and still sound sane, I will be surprised.
The most memorable aspect is not in the results of the match (which is quite incredible) but in what ends up happening after the match ends. Life goes on, paths converge and diverge, and eventually there will be other games to play. The manga ends its excellent run as Hanamichi Sakuragi reflects on how much he loves the sport that gave him his drive and vows to keep going and getting better and better. Its an excellent capper on an excellent game and an excellent series. The Sannoh arc is the culmination of everything this series stood for cranked up to the maximum. If you value good entertainment, and a story that will stick with you, give Slam Dunk (and Inoue Takehiko’s other works) a shot. It might surprise you to learn that there is a reason sports form such a large part of every culture beyond attracting people who like winning. ~Spark of Spirit
#08. Red Ribbon Army (Dragon Ball)
Creator: Akira Toriyama
Original Years of Publication: 1986-1987
Manga: Volumes #5-8, Chapters #55-96
Anime: Episodes #29-67
Studio: Toei Animation
Japanese Publisher: Shueisha (Weekly Shonen Jump)
North American Publisher: Viz Media
North American Distributor: FUNimation Entertainment
Streaming: FUNimation, Hulu
Recommended Version: Manga/Anime
We have plenty of great long-running shounen arcs on this list. Some have great balls-to-the walls fights, while others have great intrigue and mystery. However, only one has pure adventure and heart through and through, and this one is it. The Red Ribbon Army saga is actually really a collection of smaller story arcs that tie together under the premise of our (at the time) young hero Son Goku searching for the seven legendary Dragon Balls (again), all the while fighting off the forces of the oppressive organization, the Red Ribbon Army, as they race to beat him to the same goal. While in our earlier DB entry we got to see Son Goku kick ass as an adult, it’s this child version of the character that’s all about the spirit of a great adventure, and this arc delivers that in spades. In top of being incredibly, genuinely funny with some of the hardest hitting gags and jokes that you’re likely to find in any comic from any country, it is crammed full of every awesome thing that any kid (or adult who isn’t afraid to deny the temptations of their inner child, which should be anyone reading this list in the first place) would ever want to see in an amazing adventure story. Oh, yes, it has plenty of awesome and memorable fights to be sure, but as to actual adventure, let’s just look at what this crazy story arc has in store.
Do you want to see a kid ascend a tower, in a land of snow, that is one big reference to and parody of Game of Death, fighting a Terminator reject, the world’s worst ninja, and a giant blob-thing monster along the way? Done. How about having him and his friends look for buried treasure in an underwater pirate cave full of booby traps, a talking giant octopus, and a deadly robot pirate? Done. Does an in-canon crossover with one of the most popular comedy manga of the time, as Goku hilariously attempts to chase down one of the RRA’s most “elite generals,” sound good to you? Done. Will scaling the world’s largest tower (BY HAND THIS TIME) in pursuit of the mythic sacred water that can make anyone stronger, only to find the anthropomorphic cat version of a Mr. Miyagi-esque teacher waiting at the top, whet your appetite for entertainment? Done. And what about our kid hero single-handedly taking on the entire RRA and beating down all sorts of ass? DONE! AND! FUCKING! DONE! And that’s just the bare-bones outline.
And, aside from humor and being downright hilarious, let us not forget the incredibly heartfelt and genuinely dramatic moments of this arc. And I’m serious. Seeing Goku’s conflict with Mercenary Tao (or Tao Pai Pai for you purists) as the first villain who was ever able to best him, causing him to experience the loss of a life of someone that he failed to protect, will forever be one of the most iconic moments in the DB franchise. Even more iconic is the legendary training he endures to make his comeback as he climbs Korin’s tower (something that One Piece itself would directly reference). Let us also not forget that this was still a time when other characters besides Goku were incredibly useful, from Bulma’s genius gadgetry, to Krillin’s sly deceptiveness and wit to outsmart any enemy, and the fact that Master Roshi was still one of the most bad-ass martial artists in the world. This story arc, or collection of them, was easily the pinnacle of the legendary and iconic Dragon Ball franchise in our eyes, and by extension one of the 10 greatest story arcs of any manga or anime.
Speaking of which this is one unique case in which we can’t recommend one version over the other. Both are worth experiencing, but if you were to choose one, then consider the following. The manga has Akira Toriyama’s slick pacing, spot-on timing with humor, and deliciously cartoony and incredibly lively artwork, which basically just flows off the page. Comparatively, Toei’s budget animation and use of extensive filler obviously can’t capture these qualities, but would you believe that the filler is actually good (for the most part), thoughtful, well-written, and well-directed material that actually enhances the experience? Because, it totally does, and combined with Kikuchi’s excellent score for this portion of the series, the anime is definitely a must-watch, even for those who have already read the manga. Of course, either way, you can’t possibly go wrong with how you choose to view this classic story. ~Dr. Ensatsu-ken
#07. Riah Space Colony (Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket)
Creators: Yoshiyuki Tomino (series creator), Hiroyuki Yamaga (writer), Fumihiko Takayama (director)
Originally Released: 1989
Anime: Episodes #1-6
Studio: Sunrise
North American Distributor: Bandai Visual
So, let’s get one thing clear: yes, this whole 6-episode OVA series is being counted as a story arc. If this may seem to go against our rule of not including an entire series on the list (effectively making any series with only one story arc ineligible for this list), consider that it’s really a story that technically takes place in a larger established fictional Universe, and is officially in-canon with that Universe; in fact taking place during the One Year War of the original MSG….or at least according to Wikipedia, which is never wrong, of course! Putting that matter aside, War in the Pocket, as its title suggests, provides all of the intensity of a galactic war in a smaller scale, more personal story. And, it’s the latter of those two elements that makes it such an endearing arc, both within its own franchise and in general.
You see, even if you are not a Gundam aficionado to any degree (and believe me, I know next to nothing about the franchise outside of this OVA series), this is a very self-contained and easily accessible story. It puts us in the shoes of a child protagonist, Al, who himself is a surrogate character for the audience. Like most kids, he is an enthusiast of extreme violence, and thinks that a war where people in giant robots kill other people with giant robots is the coolest thing ever, no matter which side you’re on. However, also like most kids (and presumably like a fair chunk of the audience), he doesn’t really understand all that much about the war, or at least not as much as he believes. However, eager to be the cool kid in his class, he one day manages to sneak into the woods where a Gundam battle had recently occurred in his colony, and ends up finding the wreckage of a damaged enemy machine, complete with a breathing and very much alive enemy pilot attached to it! But rather than kill the kid to keep him quiet, he decides not to be a heartless bastard and manages to make the kid agree to be quiet as he assumes a fake identity, but in hoping to get rid of a nuisance, our other main protagonist (that same “enemy” pilot), Bernie, ends up having to deal with a kid who is both too annoyingly eager to get involved in things that he shouldn’t, and simultaneously too damn smart for his own good, for it is Al’s own cleverness that proves that he’s far more useful than Bernie or his comrades initially think.
The rest of the story plays out sort of like how one might expect, yet is executed in such a brilliant way that it doesn’t feel the least bit predictable or cliche. There are really two interconnecting parts to this story that progress simultaneously. One part tells the story from Al’s point of view. We get an understanding of his ordinary life at school, and his disappointing family life, where his father is almost never home and his mother doesn’t even seem to really know who he is or understand a thing about him. It’s no wonder then that he takes such an interest in Bernie and his comrades, who to him are like an escape from his everyday mundane life into a world that he has always dreamed of being a part of, or so he thinks.
The other portion of the story focuses on Bernie’s point of view, his growing fondness of Al, yet his need to keep his distance, and his effort with his comrades as they attempt to carry out a downright suicidal mission for their side of the war. The heart of this story is in the unlikely friendship between our two main leads, yet it is a very enriched story that manages to progress to one hell of an intense and climactic ending, with some truly brutal action scenes (for it’s time) taking place toward the conclusion. From beginning to end it is perfectly paced, and the character development is simple but executed admirably. Whether you care about Gundam, giant robots, or neither, you can’t ignore the sheer quality of a story arc as well-written and directed as this one, and being as accessible as it is for either franchise fans or newbies, it truly is a must-watch. ~Dr. Ensatsu-ken
#06. The Golden Age (Berserk)
Creator: Kentaro Miura
Original Years of Publication: 1991-1997
Manga: Volumes #3-14, Chapters #9-110
Anime: Episodes #1-25, Berserk: The Golden Age Arc #1-3
Studio: TV Anime – OLM, Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – Studio 4?C
Japanese Publisher: Hakusensha (Young Animal)
North American Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
North American Distributor: TV-Media Blasters (Formerly/Out of Print), The Golden Age Arc-Viz Media
Streaming: Neon Alley (Berserk: The Golden Age Arc only)
Recommended Version: Manga
Come now, you all knew this was going to be on the list. No list of greatest anime/manga story arcs should be without “The Golden Age” somewhere in the top 10. It’s an arc everyone knows about, from a series everyone knows about, and pretty much everyone who’s read or watched it loves it. It’s lauded as one of the best pieces of storytelling to come out of the medium, and Berserk would not be nearly as popular as it is without it.
But, if you haven’t heard of Berserk or this story before, then allow me to try and explain why this is revered as the classic it is. Of all the arcs on this list, it’s probably the most accessible to get into right off the bat. That’s because, while it’s not the first arc in the series, it’s basically an extended flashback arc. A very, very long flashback arc, but an effective one. Before this, our main protagonist, Guts, wasn’t much of a likable character, swinging his sword around and cutting people up without feeling or remorse, but clearly troubled and haunted by something from his past. This arc serves as an explanation as to how Guts became the skilled, deadly fighter that is reluctant to get close to people that we saw in the first arc. From birth, Guts had been used and abused, thrust into the role of a fighter when he was but a young boy. One day, the man who was essentially his father figure, Gambino, betrays him and when Guts fights back, he accidentally kills him. Emotionally scarred and without a place to call home, Guts is soon forced into the life of a vagabond, a wandering killer for hire, loyal to none, no purpose in life but to keep on living until he one day falls in battle. That is, until a fateful encounter with a mysterious, charismatic man named Griffith, who after beating him in a duel, forces him to join his group of mercenaries, the Band of the Hawk.
There’s really a lot of elements that make this arc as strong as it is. One thing that I think draws a lot of people to it, and the series in general, is the setting; a rich medieval world of violence, blood, and gore, where war is constant, no one is safe, and life is always a struggle. Miura’s artwork breathes life into every scene and background, sculpting out a environment that feels incredibly three-dimensional and believable. There is always a sense of danger, always something mystical, or ominous, which is apt considering the supernatural elements of Berserk that get explored and explained here. Combine this setting with incredible Tolkein-esque battle scenes featuring whole armies of knights and so much going on in every moment, every frame, and you have one gloriously brutal and action-packed manga. Later arcs don’t quite have the scale of the conflicts featured in “The Golden Age,” at least not with as much frequency, and the artwork helps to set the tone of the setting and the arc while providing action scenes you can’t really find in any other manga.
But the setting and artwork are just icing; a tasty extra touch on an already sweet cake. The meat of the arc is it’s story, and the intricate relationships of it’s core characters. Slowly but surely, the emotionally aloof Guts starts to let down his walls and find a home in the Band of the Hawk, growing meaningful friendships with it’s members, and more complicated, developed relationships with Griffith and the Band’s female officer, Casca. In Griffith, Guts finds not only someone he respects and admires, but someone he wants to prove himself too, to be an equal of, worthy of being his friend. More importantly, Griffith’s ambition to become a king makes Guts consider what he wants in life, and what he wants for himself, and this makes him determined to find his own way in life, out from Griffith’s shadow. Casca, holding unrequited love for Griffith, starts out jealous of Guts and his special place in Griffith’s heart, but after an incident that forces the two to work together, she opens up to him, and the two form a special bond of respect, one that eventually turns into something more. As for Griffith, he deigns to become a king, and ruthlessly manipulates, slaughters, betrays, and does whatever he can to further his aim, the Band of the Hawk a means to an end. But in Guts, he finds someone worthy of his respect and attention, and despite himself, grows to care about him as a friend. Ultimately, Guts’ desire to seek his own path in life conflicts with Griffith’s plans and ambitions, and the two come to blows. The outcome forever changes the fate of the Band of the Hawk, Guts, Griffith, Casca, and the world of Berserk in general. Like a Shakespearean tragedy, things completely fall apart for our protagonists, everything that can go wrong goes wrong, and when there comes a brief stint of hope, it is soon dashed in the cruelest, most horrifying way possible, friendships broken, grudges born, and a man losing nearly everything he holds dear, left with nothing but a seething desire for revenge.
It’s a fascinating, multi-layered story; one of trust, ambition, jealousy, love, lust, betrayal, and greed. Miura masterfully develops the relationships between the characters and the political and internal conflicts of them and the world around them, leading to many powerful, riveting moments and a tight story that leaves not a single dull or purposeless moment. “The Golden Age” the arc is named after refers to the high point of Guts’ life, but it’s a fitting descriptor for this entire part of the story as well. By the time this arc ended it was thrice as long as the non-flashback story up until this point. For many, this arc no doubt is Berserk, the highlight of the entire story, and it honestly stands alone incredibly well. It’s no wonder the tv anime adaption exclusively covered it, omitting the Black Swordsman arc that preceded it, while the movie adaptions start off with it yet again. At this point, the arc is only about a fourth of the still ongoing story, yet most fans agree that while the series is still good, nothing since “The Golden Age” has quite lived up to it’s standards of quality and rich storytelling. Admittedly, this is not an easy task, because few things can rival “The Golden Age” in what it does so, so well. It’s a Shakespearean, medieval fantasy tale like no other, with a richly crafted world and fascinatingly developed characters, the arc that earned Berserk it’s rightful popularity and critical acclaim, and indisputably one of the greatest story arcs in any anime or manga, period. ~Cartoon X