When I first saw the X feature film at a convention, I didn't think much of it. The character designs and voice acting were phenomenal, but the story was severely lacking beyond the point of recovery. For this reason, I was skeptical about the TV series. However, that fear very quickly turned out to have no basis in reality, when I viewed the teaser Episode 0 for the series. Here was a feature that had in my mind surpassed the movie's excellent character designs, had smooth and graceful animation, and a story introduction so elegant that it was oh so tempting to see through to the end. See it to the end, I did, and I don't regret it for a second. X is one of the more "artsy" productions out there. There is a sophisticated aura about it that does not waver throughout the show. Though the voice acting, character designs, music, and animation are all excellent, the real star of this show is its story. It's paced (I dare say) perfectly, across its 24 episodes. The story isn't very complicated; actually it's rather simple. It deals with the governing of life and death by fate, and the opposing desires of those who protect human life and those who see it as a plague that must be cured. The thing that interests me to no end about this story is that the characters rarely show angst toward each other. This "conflict between friends" idea gives the show a very unique feel. The simplicity of the story, combined with the great atmosphere set by the visuals and music, are what makes the series wonderful.

In one word, FLCL is wacky-out-there-mind-munching-fun. At the time, it was by far the most outrageous series I had seen. The chief strength of the show is that it's impossible to be bored by it. So much happens in so little time that your mind will not be able to follow. By the end of the first episode, I stopped trying to understand and just enjoyed the insanity for the remaining five episodes. The series pokes fun at itself, and at just about every other anime great, including the other Gainax works. The other "best thing" about FLCL is it's awesome soundtrack, including several songs by The Pillows. The song One Life which plays in the first episode, is one of my favorite J-Pop tunes.

Stories centering around two characters, one being male and another being female, tend to fall victim to cliché, but this one was so wonderfully different. It's a "worlds collide" type of story, set atop a space drama. The two main characters each belong to separate humanoid races, which have little contact with each other. The vast differences between the two are what make their relationship so intriguing. They continue to make discoveries about each other as the show continues, and their progress reflects positively upon the dire political situation. One of the great things about Crest of the Stars is that it has something for members of both sexes. It has heated political drama, spaceships, and action, which men like. It also has romance and a theme of togetherness, which women like. This is a show which will seem to be a bore at first, but will quickly take you by surprise with how deep an understanding of the human spirit it displays. Very highly recommended.

At first glance, Love Hina is merely a digital marvel containing a mountain of fan service. Though the fan service is potent, attraction to this show turns out to not be purely superficial. The story of Love Hina is fairly simple: cram school student comes to live at all-female dorm and falls in love with the girl who shows up the most in the show's opening sequence. However, the particular accents to this show gives it an unusual spin, and the cast are wildly entertaining. It's a rollercoaster of emotion, being hilarious at times and depressing at others. The experiences of the characters are those that normal people have, so it's easy to relate to. It's a combination of the wacky comedy, the never-boring story, and the great characters that make Love Hina a real gem.

You might say it's nostalgia, that one of the first anime I'd seen remains my favorite, even after viewing so many excellent series and movies, and you wouldn't be totally wrong (though it's difficult to be nostalgic about something you first experienced only two years ago). Escaflowne marks a point of discovery for me, that not only was there animated shows out there which appeal to others besides children, but also that there were stories in these animated features which rivaled the best that Hollywood could produce. Also, it was my first experience with Yoko Kanno's and Hajime Mizoguchi's brilliant music compositions.

Setting the talk about discoveries aside, the show just spoke to me. It was a highly personal experience, one which I treasure. In some ways, the story is simplistic. A girl getting whisked away to another world is a fairly common story in anime. What makes this one fairly unique is the connection between the two worlds, and what makes the girl so special. Hitomi is what you would call a normal girl, but she has a large influence on those around her without realizing it. Seeing her develop from a fairly carefree high school girl to a strong voice of reason in a barbaric world is a treat. The entire cast of characters is special in this story. The depth of character displayed in each of them throughout the show is indicative of a well-planned story. Also supporting this view is the fact that there's almost no filler material in the whole show.

Perhaps the greatest thing about the story is that there's so many things to like about it. The mental growth of Hitomi, the love triangle, the duality between brothers, the challenging of fate, the friendships and relationships (blood or otherwise), the loyalty and betrayal, and the general motives of the characters all spin the intricate web that makes up the story. Add to that the entertainment value (superb action scenes, humor, and drama), incredible music, and excellent visuals, and you end up with a work that is truly one of a kind.