An Introduction to some Top Tier Anime, through My Characters

A lot of factors contribute to making a great anime. Pacing, power scaling, the art, and the overall concept are just some of the many factors that push a show from unwatchable to hall of fame status. 

The importance of these aspects differ from person to person. For me, animation is very important. It is nearly impossible for me to start a show if the artwork doesn’t appeal to me, but that doesn’t make it a great show in my opinion.

Great artwork gets your foot in the door, but your writing is what separates you from the pack. 

The concept of the show, the pace at which the show unfolds, and the subtlety in which new information is revealed set a show off for me. Using writing techniques, such as foreshadowing, will go a long way with me when I’m watching.

For this article specifically, character design and development are super important for staying engaged with a show. Nobody watches a show, movie, or even a play all the way through if the characters are dry. It's just not worth our time.

So with that being said, I would like to introduce a few of my favorite shows through some of its most interesting characters!

Buccha from Air Gear (2002)

Issa Mihotoke, a.k.a.  Bussa, is a wild and eccentric character from one of my favorite childhood anime. Air Gear is set in a futuristic world where motorized in-line skating is the most popular sport around. There’s racing, fighting, and a dope storyline centered around Ikki (the protagonist). That’s where Buccha comes in. He’s an inhumanly large middle schooler with a split personality. He’s generally calm and friendly(after he joins up with Ikki), unless placed in high intensity moments. This is when his aggressive nature shows, and his character comes out in full form. Air Gear is an extremely slept-on Shonen, with a great main character, storyline, and overall concept..

Ogun from Fire Force (2015)

Fire Force is one of the most popular anime out right now. The manga was first serialized in 2015 and the animation followed 4 years later in 2019. Since then the fanbase has grown exponentially!  That brings me to Ogun. When I first saw his character I thought he was dope. Ogun is a 3rd generation pyrokinetic, which gives him the ability to freely create fire. Ogun uses this to launch flaming swords and spear-like weapons. He also uses his flames to fly his hoverboard around. Ogun’s aesthetic, fighting style, and overall demeanor make him one of the best characters in the show!

April from Darker than Black (2007)

April plays a British spy for an organization called MI-6. April has one of the dopest abilities in the show; she can manipulate atmospheric pressure. This manifests into a hurricane like weather pattern; from high velocity winds to heavy rain she can manipulate the weather on a big scale or small depending on the type of fight she is in. Darker than Black is definitely right at the top of my slept-on anime list! It's set in a world with contractors who are humans, who have been given abilities after a major cataclysmic event. What’s interesting is these powers come with a remuneration or contract payment. True to their name, each contractor must fulfill a clause for using their powers. And, if they don’t? Well, the show doesn’t specify, but you’ll get an idea if you watch it!