Flame of Recca – Overall Review [9/10]

• Overall Rating: 9 out of 10
• Total Episodes: 42

First of all, compared to the different shounen anime that are out now, this one would probably score an 8 or a 7. But at the time I watched this show, I was very much new to anime and this really impressed and entertained me a lot. I was instantly hooked – to the show and to anime in general (though it was actually Rurouni Kenshin that really made a significant mark). So I decided to keep the sentimental value intact, and thus, the 9 out of 10 rating stays.

The main character, Hanabishi Recca, started off as an annoying character for me, with his loud and rash personality. But he came in second only to Sakoshita Yanagi whose nice-ness and helplessness really pissed me off. Yet, despite having instant dislike for the star of the show and his leading lady, I stayed loyal to the anime because the story, being nothing like the cartoons I knew back then, was very intriguing. A boy that can control fire, the eight dragons in flames, and the story of a great ninja clan in the past was very exciting for the young me (actually, I was already in high school at the time.. guess I got exposed to anime really late).

Warning: Contains Spoilers

Shion no Ou – Overall Review [8/10]

• Overall Rating: 8 out of 10
• Total Episodes: 22

The most captivating thing about this show is the main character, Yasuoka Shion. She is an intelligent adorable mute who is a genius in shougi, the chess-like Japanese board game that this show is centered on. Despite my extreme lack of knowledge and interest in shougi, I continued watching this series until its completion mostly because of her and her tragic past. The uniqueness of her character and the nature of the unsolved murder of her parents were enough to have kept me hooked to this series, even with only very little understanding of the shougi board game often discussed in the anime.

Warning: Contains Spoilers

Blood+ – Overall Review [9/10]

• Overall Rating: 9 out of 10
• Total Episodes: 50

As a fan of dark bloody anime’s, I naturally enjoyed this one. I watched all fifty episodes continuously, momentarily falling asleep at times, during which I’d dream of blood-sucking creatures causing me to wake up… and continue watching. Ahem. I felt like the undead myself. I will not do it again.

Anyway, maybe my high rating was because of my biases but I really did enjoy the anime a lot, especially the twists and turns of the plot. The tragedies involved seemed to appeal to me as much as the eventual character development did in this story. It’s just as well, I guess, considering I didn’t really favor any particular character early in the anime.

Warning: Contains Spoilers

Fullmetal Alchemist – Overall Review [10/10]

• Overall Rating: 10 out of 10
• Total Episodes: 51

I love everything about this anime. From the plot to the background music. It’s unique, funny, full of action and heart-clenching drama. The boys’ past is so sad and their determination and bravery, as well as their wisdom, adds warmth to this one-of-a-kind story. This is not a happy-happy tale, and has a touch of darkness in it, but it’s the kind of story that you’d love to keep and show your children in the future (although they’d have to be mature for it since this contains several bloody scenes not suitable for kids). This anime is what I call a classic and there’s nothing else like it. It’s just downright beautiful.