“There’s an old saying my late grandma taught me.
Haruka Nanase, Free!
When you’re ten, they call you a prodigy.
When you’re fifteen, they call you a genius.
Once you hit twenty, you’re just an ordinary person.”
Anime has been a part of my childhood, ever since a best friend of mine in elementary school recommended a series to me. At first, anime was not my interest until I was introduced to a sports anime series (it was “Free!“) that intrigued me to a point that I finally finished the whole series and kept looking for more. In this post, I’ll be providing 5 anime that I would like you to watch.
Before I begin, though, most of the anime series I watched are Slice of Life. So that explains why most of the series in this list are from that genre.
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku
I started watching this when a senior high school classmate—who was addicted to watching anime—recommended this to me. I told them I’d like a Slice of Life series that consists of Romance, is in a workplace setting, and is realistic. That’s when they showed this series to me. I love this series so much because it accurately depicts a blossoming romance between two people who have never been in a relationship before.
A Silent Voice
I have watched this film for who knows how many times already and it never fails to make me bawl my eyes out. Everything in this film hits me close to home. This film is about mental health, bullying, redemption, a little bit of romance, friendship, and family. I will also include a TRIGGER WARNING since it contains depictions of one’s suicidal tendencies and suicide attempt.
Free!!
This is the series that made me start my long-term interest in anime. I remember the first time I watched this and I was so in awe of how the water was animated. Free! is a coming-of-age series about swimming, friendship, rivalry, and teamwork.
Violet Evergarden
This series was animated by the same studio (Kyoto Animation a.k.a. KyoAni) that produced Free!, and just like A Silent Voice (also produce by KyoAni), every episode of the first season never fails to make me cry. Violet Evergarden relays a message saying that the bonds we share with others, whether fresh and exciting or tinged with grief, are what makes us human, and what allows Violet (the main character) to find hope and meaning in her own, strange world.
The Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited
This series was released during the first days of quarantine in 2020. Filled with uncertainties, anxiety, and boredom, I decided to give MDBU a try. One of my favorite voice actors—Mamoru Miyano—played Haru Kato (the guy wearing a brown jacket in the picture). This series is about heroism, espionage, diplomacy, police politics, camaraderie, and a bank account with an UNLIMITED BALANCE lmao
C H X Z Z 