"Ping Pong The Animation" is an exceptional show and of my all-time favorites. You don't have to be a fan of sports anime or Ping-Pong - this series takes you on a ride you weren't ready for. It's a coming of age story for several young aspiring athletes who come to the realization, that they probably never will be the best in the sport they love so dearly. And while that part of shattered dreams is heartbreaking, how you move on and make the best out of your life regardless, is beautiful.
"Ajin" is a dark and thought-provoking anime that explores themes of identity, morality, and the consequences of scientific experimentation. Set in a world where a small percentage of the population are immortal beings known as "Ajin," the series follows the journey of Kei Nagai, a high school student who discovers he is one of these mysterious creatures after surviving a fatal accident.
Aiura is an older short format anime I had big hopes for, but ultimately had to settle for mediocrity, although the character design is really nice. The series follows Kanaka, Saki, and Ayuko as they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence, from mundane school activities to humorous misadventures.
"Air Gear" is a fun, high-energy anime that combines the thrill of extreme sports with a touch of the supernatural. The art style, fashion, and music are all great - even more so in the manga. But as usual, after rewatching the show in 2024 - it has not aged that well. The premise of roller skating gangs sounds pretty cool, but is executed rather blandly. Our male protagonist living with hot sisterly female characters and over the top ecchi scenes almost make you chuckle.
"91 Days" is a gripping anime that takes viewers on a thrilling journey through the dark underbelly of the Prohibition era. Set in the fictional town of Lawless, the story follows Angelo Lagusa, a young man seeking vengeance against the mafia family that brutally murdered his parents and younger brother.
"12-sai." aka "Age 12" is the story of innocent Hanabi, a sixth-grade girl who is neither an adult nor a child. She deals with youth issues, physiological changes, her first love, and all the other adolescent topics you can think of. I was pleasantly surprised how mature the anime ended up being and enjoyed this coming of age seriesa lot.
There were two shoujo anime in the 90's I couldn't get enough of when I was a kid, one was Sailor Moon and the other the more obscure Wedding Peach. While SM is a beloved classic, WP has been forgotten, so I rewatched it to figure out, whether it holds up as well as the OG magical girl anime or whether people were right for ignoring WP.
The anime "Yubisaki to Renren" aka "A Sign of Affection" is well done and sligtly more mature slife of life romance story about hearing-impaired university student Yuki Itose and her love interest Itsuomi Nagi, a multilingual travel enthusiast who takes an interest in Yuki and wants to explore her world.
Did you watch the great fantasy anime Sousou no Frieren already? You can read my review of the anime here.
You will notice that all the names of the characters, and sometimes cities etc., are German words - since I speak German I made a list with translation of those names, which often describe the characteristics of the person well.
Frieren means being cold, freezing
Himmel means heaven
Heiter means cheery
Eisen means iron
Stark means strong
Fern means far away
"Sousou no Frieren" is a breathtaking anime that delves into the profound themes of friendship, mortality, and the passage of time with grace and poignancy. Adapted from the manga series written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe, this anime captures the essence of its source material while adding its own layer of visual and emotional depth.
"Sousou no Frieren" is a breathtaking anime that delves into the profound themes of friendship, mortality, and the passage of tim...