Howl’s Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城)
Really, anything by Studio Ghibli is a masterpiece and must watch anime, but I really feel Howl’s Moving Castle is quite possibly the best animated film to be directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Based on a novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones, Howl’s Moving Castle introduces us to a girl named Sophie who is considered to be quite ordinary. Sophie works as a hatter and one day finds herself confronted by the Wicked Witch of the Waste. After trying to evict the Witch from her shop after hours, Sophie gets cursed and turns into an old woman. Angry at the Wicked Witch, Sophie heads out into the countryside to find the Witch and a way to break the spell. Along the way she encounters a moving castle owned by a Wizard and heart-stealer called Howl. During her journey with the moving castle she befriends Howl’s apprentice Markl and a fire spirit, who is the source of the moving castle’s magic and energy, called Calcifer. Sophie’s country gets caught up in a war with a neighbouring country and gets involved with Howl. Romance, magic, adorable characters and stunning music pervade this classic film, resulting in a treat you can watch over and over again.
Bleach (ブリーチ)
An Anime series packed with over three-hundred episodes, Bleach provided an exciting and engaging story that didn’t go overboard and knew when to stop. Fans are still hoping the day will come when episode 367 is released! However it doesn’t seem too likely in the near future. Ichigo Kurosaki is the hero in this story as he becomes a substitute Shinigami when Rukia Kuchiki cannot fulfill her duties after engaging in battle with a powerful monster known as a Hollow. Ichigo later finds out that a few of his school mates are also in possession of spiritual powers that allow them to contend with Hollows. Bleach follows the journey of Ichigo, his friends and other Shinigami as they fight to stave off Hollows and other evil beings. Bleach is packed with heaps of action, funny moments, awesome transformations and a cast of characters you’ll come to know and love. If you’re looking for a new series to watch that’s long, but not too long, Bleach is the way to go!
Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee (テガミバチ)
A relatively short and sweet Anime, Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee follows a young boy named Lag Seeing as he does his job of delivering letters as a Letter Bee. Being a Letter Bee isn’t that easy though, as it’s also part of Lag’s job to avoid or defeat heavily armoured giant insects known as Gaichuu who feed off the “heart” that resides withing the letters. Armed with a gun called a Shidanjuu, Lag can take down these monstrosities and protect the letters. As a child, Lag was sent as a delivery to his aunt by another Letter Bee named Gauche Suede. Lag comes to idolise Gauche, who is the inspiration of him becoming a Letter Bee. But one day Lag comes to learn that Gauche has disappeared at the same time a resistance movement know as Reverse begins stealing letters from Letter Bees. Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee is a good Anime to watch if you’re looking for something with monsters, a good story and cute characters. A good Anime to watch over a rainy weekend.
Mushi-Shi (蟲師)
Mushi are the most basic forms of life. Mushi exist in countless forms and are capable of mimicking things like plants, diseases or even rainbows. The majority of humans are unaware of their existence, but there are some people who can see them such as Ginko the Mushi-shi. A Mushi-shi helps people who are affected by strange occurrences caused by Mushi. Negative outcomes can often be the aftermath of encounters with Mushi, so Ginko travels the land searching for information about Mushi and ridding people or villages of Mushi for a fee. Each episode has it’s own little story but everything relates to the main story of Ginko trying to find an answer that lies behind the Mushi. Some episodes will make you laugh, and some will literally make you cry. The overall melancholy in Mushi-Shi is surprisingly relaxing and also has you coming back for more.