Thursday, July 7, 2011

Love is in the air

When most people think of anime, they come up with images of extreme violence, lots of giant robots battling, and a few girls with giant boobs.  To say that all of that isn't part of anime would be untrue, but those features don't surface in all series'.  Some series have absolutely nothing to do with the content above.  As a matter of fact, there are some anime that focus in on one simple story element...love.

I know that in the states, most guys hate to see so-called 'chick flicks'.  I'm thinking that Twilight falls into the realm of a chick flick.  While I have nothing against those that enjoy that film or the book series, I can say that it's not for me.  I just can't do away with the cheesy nature of these features, and it takes me right out of the story the movie is trying to tell.  With anime, I find my attention span completely different.


I'm not ashamed to admit that I actually like love stories a lot when it comes to anime!  I might actually find more pleasure in these anime than the ones that focus in on action!  I really love to see the interaction between characters, and there may be no better way to build up moments like that than with a love story.  Taking us on an emotional journey between two characters is one way to really grab the viewer's attention.

5 Centimeters Per Second is definitely a love story, and the tale it tells is going to stay with me forever.  It really tugs at the heart strings and makes you think about love and life in general.  The same thing goes for the series Spice and Wolf.  While there is some action in that series, the core of the story is all about a forbidden love, and it helps to really make the feature feel alive.  I just can't help myself when it comes to love stories, and I'm not ashamed to admit it!

What anime love stories make you weak in the knees?  How do you feel about relationship anime in general?

5 comments:

  1. Yeah I like love stories too. That's why I love The World God Only Knows.

    And I always hate it when the couple don't make it :P Or two people like each other, and nothing materializes.

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  2. Oh my Goddess and Video Girl Ai were my 2 fave "love" anime for a while and I couldn't choose between them.

    Then I saw Midori no Hibi, and it blew my mind. The concept sounds so ridiculous that you're ready to dismiss it, but it suddenly proves that a great story, with true feeling, can be told through any medium.

    I haven't seen Spice and Wolf or 5 centimetres per second yet, but they're definitely on my list since they come so highly recommended :).

    P.S. Special mention to the Kenshin OVAs, although I can't quite recommend it as "best love anime", it's filled with so much emotion that I can't NOT recommend it in some way. BTW, it would also be my answer to your post about anime that makes you cry, but I didn't quite get round to posting there yet!

    P.P.S. I''s is an excellent romance manga.

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  3. "Onegai Teacher" and "Onegai Twins" are the two anime romance stories that I will always point to as my favorites. <3

    I enjoyed "Kanon" and "Clannad," but I liked the visual novel versions more because I could actually choose which girl was the one that the main character ended with. That is always fun.

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  4. Clannad! and Clannad The After Story are the greatest Anime shows of all time! WATCH THEM! BUY THE DVD!!!!

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  5. I'm totally guilty of this.

    The World God Only Knows, Saikano, Midori Days, Love Hina (manga), 8th MS Team, Ouran, Nadesico, etc.

    Chances are I'm totally going to fall for it. Even if it's dumb.

    Seems ridiculous, but I am such a sucker for love stories in anime and I have no idea what the hell that's about.

    And I cry when characters die (not going to spoil any names, but some certain awesome characters in Fullmetal Alchemist, Cowboy Bebop and Trigun to name a few).

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