10. Your Lie in April
Get ready for the cryfest of a lifetime. Bring lots of tissues and comfort food. I originally started watching this because I had never seen an anime about music or musicians. As a music major, I felt obligated to watch. I had no regrets. This is a beautifully put together anime about the struggle of two musicians, a violinist named Kaori, and a pianist Kousei. Kaori has convinced Kousei to pick back up his instrument, which he has quit since his mother died, and encourages him to play concerts with her.
9. Cowboy Bebop
The classic to end all classics. Not my favorite anime in terms of plot development/resolution, but still a great time. There isn't much to say about it, but Cowboy Bebop is definitely unique and a must watch. Be ready for lots of action, chases, gunfire, and explosions.
8. Mushishi
Mushishi is a great anime to watch anytime. You can pick up from anywhere in the show and not be too confused, because each episode is an independent story. Nothing really builds on on the next episode. Ginko, a traveling doctor, travels to different villages helping strange cases of illnesses or phenomena that he believes can only be caused by Mushi-- creatures that are half spirits in a sense. His telltale cigarette keeps the Mushi at bay, seeing as Ginko has a strong affinity for these spirit creatures.
7. Kill la Kill
This anime will hardly give you a chance to breathe, and is probably the most over the top anime I have ever seen. Ryuko Matoi is determined to find her father's killer. This is an anime that is extremely difficult to talk about without spoilers, so I will leave this as short as possible and say no more. Expect lots of action, and huge surprises and a lot of laughs.
6. Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo was the first anime I ever watched in entirety, and holds a special place in my heart. Mugen and Jin narrowly escape their execution thanks to the help of a young girl named Fuu. She insists that they help her find the Samurai who smells like sunflowers, only neither Mugen nor Jin have ever seen or smelled sunflowers before. The two are intent on killing each other no matter what, however their journey brings them closer together than either would care to admit.
5. Naruto
A classic and a must watch by any means, Naruto and his friends will give you new life. An explosion of youth, so to speak. Naruto, who has the spirit of the nine tailed fox demon that once attacked his village sealed inside of him, wishes to become the strongest ninja in his village. The village resents him for the spirit sealed inside of him because of the death it brought to the village. Naruto struggles behind his friends in his skills, but still boasts he will become the strongest ninja and prove everyone wrong. Before he can achieve the training that will make him stronger, great dangers are posed to the village and his friends that he must try to stop.
4. Space Dandy
Stay Dandy, baby.
All aboard the Aloha Oe! Space Dandy brings creativity to an entirely different realm (quite literally). Get ready to hop between different dimensions, be chased by aliens across the galaxy while eating ramen, and be turned into zombies that choose positive lifestyles by substituting words like "rotting" with "fermenting". Space Dandy is a nonstop riot, but somehow simultaneously will launch you headfirst into a terrible existential crisis. A must watch for anyone, anime lovers or not.
3. Hunter X Hunter (2011 remake)
Finishing Hunter X Hunter will probably make you feel (or want to feel) closer to your friends than you ever have. Gon goes on an adventure to become a hunter like his father who left him to pursue the job, and find him. The better story I find lies in the secondary main character, Killua, who comes from a family of professional assassins. He struggles between the self preserving teachings of his upbringing and the kindness and trust that Gon has shown him.
2. FLCL
FLCL (Fooly Cooly) is probably one of the most confusing animes I have ever watched. It is also one of the most interesting, seeing that nothing fully makes sense until the end. With only six episodes, FLCL knocks it out of the park with a tale of coming of age that you will definitely come back to watch for a second time around.
1. Gurren Lagann
My number one anime from now until the end of time. Strap on your seat belt and prepare yourself for the emotional ride of a lifetime that starts underground and works its way through the galaxy. It's hard to talk about this one without major spoilers, because each episode is more outrageous than the next. The most I can warn you of is, expect to be on the edge of your seat until you finish the show. If you thought season one was great, season two has even more surprises in stock (and don't forget the tissues).
