I have been an avid anime watcher and found myself fascinated by them right from age old ones like Flame of Recca and DBZ to more recent ones like Mirai Nikki and what sets them apart for me, is the freedom which the animator has compared to regular movies. There are no limitations in what can happen in an anime unlike in the case of movies which can at best, showcase a mocking attempt at replicating something unnatural.
Case in Point, DragonBall Z (Spoiler Altert), an anime whose craze sent entire generations shouting in joy when Goku went Super Sayian and plunged them into dismay when Vegeta blows himself up in a failed attempt to kill Cell. An attempt to make a movie out of this anime drove the fans into a frenzy at the despicable nature of the result because it is NOT possible to have a realistic representation of the supernatural.
A book definitely has better freedom of expression as thoughts are better explained and elucidated at a pace comfortable to the reader but an anime has its advantage in the entertainment it provides simply because it's an audio-visual platform with an impact quotient that is greater.
To draft a list of anime that has impacted me is to list all the anime that i have ever watched since each once has atleast a subtle impact on me, if not by subject, atleast by delivery. But, to choose, the most impactful, they would be
1. Bakuman
An anime about a pair of students who aim to be established Mangaka ( Manga Writers ) and to release an anime in their name. It appeals to the heart of every Anime Aficionado and writer out there. It describes the state of mind of these budding mangaka through the ups and down of their career, spiced up with a romantic side story and several subplots ( read - manga within a manga - Mangaception ) and delivered in brilliant style. The heart warming story also is a great teacher walking the viewers through the process of manga writing while also showing a dramatized back story to describe the motivation of the various writers.
I am not smoldering and incompletely combusted like those guys over there. Even if it’s just for a moment, I’m gonna Burn so Bright and so Red, I’ll Dazzle Everyone.
(Bakuman)
I prefer to be a humble dreamer, with visions to be realized, rather than the ruler of people with no dreams or desires.
Mashiro Moritaka (Bakuman)
2. Shinkgeki No Kyojin
We’re going to explore the outside world someday, right? Far beyond these walls, there’s flaming water, land made of ice, and fields of sand spread wide. It’s the world my parents wanted to go to.
Armin Arelet (Shingeki no Kyojin)
If you win, you live. If you lose, you die. If you don’t fight, you can’t win!
Eren Yaeger (Shingeki no Kyojin)
3. Hungry Heart
An anime whose protagonist is a simple character with whom any person who has ever had a rival will connect to, more-so someone with a sibling. It drives you to the depths of despair and the heights of euphoria in the span of a few episodes. Watched this way back in 2006 and has been my most nostalgically recollected anime since.
When they call my brother a genius, it's an insult. He was born talented, but they don't know how hard he had to work to be that good.
-Kanou kiasuki, Hungry Heart Wild Striker
4. Full Metal Alchemist, Brotherhood
Questions of philosophy are raised at every juncture and the attempts to answer them only raises more questions. This anime leaves you richer and sadder as it ends.
The fundamental philosophy raised throughout the anime is that
"Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy’s first law of equivalent exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world’s one and only truth."
There’s no such thing as a painless lesson. They just don’t exist. Sacrifices are necessary. You can’t gain anything without losing something first although if you can endure that pain and walk away from it, you’ll find that you now have a heart strong enough to overcome any obstacle. Yeah, a heart made fullmetal.
Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)
The world isn't perfect, and the law is incomplete. Equivalent Exchange doesn't encompass everything that goes on here. But I still choose to believe in its principle: that all things do come at a price. That there's an ebb, and a flow, a cycle. That the pain we went through did have a reward and that anyone who's determined and perseveres will get something of value in return, even if it's not what they expected.
Alphonse Elric, Full Metal Alchemist
5. Stein's Gate
Weaving a tale of horror and humor, this anime takes on the challenging task of narrating a story with no chronology and multiple timelines. Taking the trouble of describing the multiple universe theory and concocting a method of jumping between them, a tale any science fiction buff would love. The story follows a mad scientist in his pursuit of saving his loved ones.No one knows what the future holds. That’s why its potential is infinite.
Okabe Rintarou (Steins;Gate)
Racing. Talent. Evolution.
An interesting story of a racer who initially doesn't want to race but slowly realizes his love for it. Love this anime for the amount of information on cars that it conveys through well thought out races.
It paints a simplistic description of the racing scene in Japan, describing both the difficulties and technicalities of racing while pointing out the varied motivation for racing.
The animation, though poor in the 1st season improves tremendously in the later seasons.
It [Life] is the same as when you're driving...sometimes you go faster by letting go of the accelerator...
-Fumihiro Shuchi, INITIAL D
7. Kuroko No Basuke
The utility of being a nobody.
This basketball anime describes the unique style of basketball played by a Kuroko who is unique in being unnoticeable on field. A tale of turning an established weakness into a ground breaking strength. The anime focuses on proving teamwork as being a more powerful force than have a single insanely talented player.
I am a supporting actor, a shadow. But a shadow will become darker if the light is stronger and it will make the white of the light stand out. As the shadow of the main actor, I will make you, the light, the number one in Japan.
Tetsuya Kuroko (Kuroko No Basket)
8. Code Geass, Death Note
Dystopian future's and supernatural powers characterize these anime.
They seek to reveal the psyche of people as they change from a normal person to people with power and the corruption of their original ideals in the process.
With action sequences and mind games par excellence, these anime, with their mind-twisting dialogues play with the audience's perception of what is right
This world is Rotten. Rotten people should be killed off to cleanse this world.
Yagami Raito (Death Note)
I was well aware that killing people is crime in itself. Yet at that point it was the only way to make things right. I thought to myself that someday people will come to realise this as much, and regard it as an act of justice.
Light Yagami, Death Note
You can't change the world without getting your hands dirty.
Lelouch Lamperouge, Code Geass
9. Psycho Pass
A future where the state of mind and potential for committing crimes of every person is noted at every instance of day to day activities and all actions are directed by a supercomputer. What happens when a flaw is discovered? Who guards the guardians? An anime on a dystopian vision driven by action packed sequences.
The Law doesn’t protect people. People protect the law. People have always detested evil and sought out a righteous way of living. Their feelings… The accumulation of those people’s feelings are the law. They’re neither the provisions nor the system.
Tsunemori Akane (Psycho-Pass)
10. Fate Stay-Night/Zero
A two season anime that forces you to hold your breath in awe. It talks not just about fate but also on the causes for our actions and emotions, the power of kings and the cause of wars. The anime is thought provoking but not any less action filled. Brilliantly played out, this anime can best be described as an animated novel.
... She's scary. People who can put on a serious face while joking are the scariest.
Emia Shirou
Some things are beautiful because they cannot be obtained.
Gilgamesh
In short, a king is someone that kills everyone to protect everyone.
A poem: (Translated from Japanese )
"A battle has been fought, and is now over.
Place your sword upon the ground, and rest in the temporal peace.
After dozing in the warmth of a dream, a new day will begin.
The days keep passing by...
And we still chase the same star we once saw."
11. Tengen Toppa Gurren Laggan, DBZ, Fairy Tail
Action, Action and more Action. These anime exemplify the fiery passion that makes anime so alluring to children. But, above and beyond that, they give valuable insights into questions of morality and its dependence on situation. These are anime that stay with you by sheer intensity of feelings experienced while watching them
Whether it be time, space or alternate realities, they mean nothing to us.
We will pierce the paths and methods you’ve chosen. That is who we are, The Dai-Gurren Brigade!
(Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
It [Life] is the same as when you're driving...sometimes you go faster by letting go of the accelerator...
-Fumihiro Shuchi, INITIAL D
7. Kuroko No Basuke
The utility of being a nobody.
I am a supporting actor, a shadow. But a shadow will become darker if the light is stronger and it will make the white of the light stand out. As the shadow of the main actor, I will make you, the light, the number one in Japan.
Tetsuya Kuroko (Kuroko No Basket)
8. Code Geass, Death Note
Dystopian future's and supernatural powers characterize these anime.
They seek to reveal the psyche of people as they change from a normal person to people with power and the corruption of their original ideals in the process.
With action sequences and mind games par excellence, these anime, with their mind-twisting dialogues play with the audience's perception of what is right
This world is Rotten. Rotten people should be killed off to cleanse this world.
Yagami Raito (Death Note)
I was well aware that killing people is crime in itself. Yet at that point it was the only way to make things right. I thought to myself that someday people will come to realise this as much, and regard it as an act of justice.
Light Yagami, Death Note
You can't change the world without getting your hands dirty.
Lelouch Lamperouge, Code Geass
9. Psycho Pass
The Law doesn’t protect people. People protect the law. People have always detested evil and sought out a righteous way of living. Their feelings… The accumulation of those people’s feelings are the law. They’re neither the provisions nor the system.
Tsunemori Akane (Psycho-Pass)
10. Fate Stay-Night/Zero
A two season anime that forces you to hold your breath in awe. It talks not just about fate but also on the causes for our actions and emotions, the power of kings and the cause of wars. The anime is thought provoking but not any less action filled. Brilliantly played out, this anime can best be described as an animated novel.... She's scary. People who can put on a serious face while joking are the scariest.
Emia Shirou
Some things are beautiful because they cannot be obtained.
Gilgamesh
In short, a king is someone that kills everyone to protect everyone.
A poem: (Translated from Japanese )
"A battle has been fought, and is now over.
Place your sword upon the ground, and rest in the temporal peace.
After dozing in the warmth of a dream, a new day will begin.
The days keep passing by...
And we still chase the same star we once saw."
11. Tengen Toppa Gurren Laggan, DBZ, Fairy Tail
Action, Action and more Action. These anime exemplify the fiery passion that makes anime so alluring to children. But, above and beyond that, they give valuable insights into questions of morality and its dependence on situation. These are anime that stay with you by sheer intensity of feelings experienced while watching them
Whether it be time, space or alternate realities, they mean nothing to us.
We will pierce the paths and methods you’ve chosen. That is who we are, The Dai-Gurren Brigade!
(Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
A true man doesn't die even if he's killed.
Kamina, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
10. Naruto, One Piece, Bleach
The manga of Naruto and Bleach are sadly at an end, though it does mean that it is now possible to finish the epics of the modern age. The anime are diverse in their styles and plots and cover different grounds but together, they can teach a man to live and one lesson they teach above all else is to Never Ever Give Up
Human nature pursues strife. Pain, Naruto
Our motto on our hard days of training. To be stronger than yesterday, If I have to I'll be stronger than a half day ago, even a minute ago.
Rock Lee, Naruto Shippuden
Remember this well. There are two kind of fights. As long as we place ourselves in battle, we must always know the difference: fights to defend life… and fights to defend pride…
Bleach
Those who do not fear the sword they wield have no right to wield a sword at all.
Shuhei Hisagi, Bleach
Kids who have never seen peace and kids who have never seen war have different values!!! Those who stand at the top determine what's wrong and what's right! This very place is neutral ground!!! Justice will prevail, you say!? But of course it will!!! Whoever wins this war becomes justice!!!
Donquixote Doflamingo
Our motto on our hard days of training. To be stronger than yesterday, If I have to I'll be stronger than a half day ago, even a minute ago.
Rock Lee, Naruto Shippuden
Remember this well. There are two kind of fights. As long as we place ourselves in battle, we must always know the difference: fights to defend life… and fights to defend pride…
Bleach
Those who do not fear the sword they wield have no right to wield a sword at all.
Shuhei Hisagi, Bleach
Compared to the 'righteous' greed of the rulers, the criminals of the world seem much more honorable. When scum rules the world, only more scum is born.
Eustass Kid, One Piece
Eustass Kid, One Piece
Donquixote Doflamingo
Even if armed with hundreds of weapons… there are times when you just can’t beat a man with a spear of conviction in his gut.
(One Piece)
(One Piece)
That ends this list, but it covers but a marginal fraction of all the good anime out there. It does make a fairly decent starting point for those who wish to immerse themselves in this unique genre of media. To all those who like these anime, i would strongly urge you to watch "World Of Conflict" videos by Loosecontrol to see a brilliant set of videos on the messages carried by anime
Good Day and thanks for reading! Gotta Watch 'Em All!
