English
#OVA(16)
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Ninety
Key the Metal Idol
(Story: Tokiko Mima, nicknamed "Key," is a 17-year-old girl living in the Japanese countryside who, despite her human-like appearance, is a robot. When Key's grandfather Dr. Murao Mima passes away, he leaves her a dying message, telling her that she can become a real girl if she is able to make thirty thousand friends. Thus, Key moves from the quiet Mamio Valley to the busy streets of Tokyo, where she soon runs into her childhood friend Sakura Kuriyagawa.
Key quickly becomes enamored with idol singer Miho Utsuse and wonders if becoming a singer will allow her to make the amount of friends needed for her to become human. But Miho carries a ominous secret: she is connected to Jinsaku Ajou, an old rival of Dr. Mima trying to make new a breakthrough in robotic weaponry. As Key works to become a real girl, Ajou sets a dangerous plan into action, and it turns out there's much more to Key than meets the eye. Source: MyAnimeList)
(Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Psychological)
(Released 1994; OVA; 15 episodes: TV-MA)
(Notes: Rated TV-MA for a reason. But i think this is a solid one. Key is an endearing character. And if you know me, i have a bias towards older anime and their art and animation and nusic. It's just incomparable. There's some strangeness in this one but it's cool overall. The studio behind this one is Studio Pierrot. They're the same animation studio behind Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, Bleach, Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War, Black Clover, Tokyo Ghoul, Yona of the Dawn, Great Teacher Onizuka, Yu Yu Hakusho, Boruto, Beelzebub, Twin Star Exorcists, etc. You can find Key the Metal Idol on RetroCrush, Freevee, Amazon Prime Video, and Crunchyroll's premium subscription as far as i can tell.) Read Note
(Story: Tokiko Mima, nicknamed "Key," is a 17-year-old girl living in the Japanese countryside who, despite her human-like appearance, is a robot. When Key's grandfather Dr. Murao Mima passes away, he leaves her a dying message, telling her that she can become a real girl if she is able to make thirty thousand friends. Thus, Key moves from the quiet Mamio Valley to the busy streets of Tokyo, where she soon runs into her childhood friend Sakura Kuriyagawa.
Key quickly becomes enamored with idol singer Miho Utsuse and wonders if becoming a singer will allow her to make the amount of friends needed for her to become human. But Miho carries a ominous secret: she is connected to Jinsaku Ajou, an old rival of Dr. Mima trying to make new a breakthrough in robotic weaponry. As Key works to become a real girl, Ajou sets a dangerous plan into action, and it turns out there's much more to Key than meets the eye. Source: MyAnimeList)
(Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Psychological)
(Released 1994; OVA; 15 episodes: TV-MA)
(Notes: Rated TV-MA for a reason. But i think this is a solid one. Key is an endearing character. And if you know me, i have a bias towards older anime and their art and animation and nusic. It's just incomparable. There's some strangeness in this one but it's cool overall. The studio behind this one is Studio Pierrot. They're the same animation studio behind Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, Bleach, Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War, Black Clover, Tokyo Ghoul, Yona of the Dawn, Great Teacher Onizuka, Yu Yu Hakusho, Boruto, Beelzebub, Twin Star Exorcists, etc. You can find Key the Metal Idol on RetroCrush, Freevee, Amazon Prime Video, and Crunchyroll's premium subscription as far as i can tell.) Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Eighty-Nine
Robot Carnival
(Story: 9 of Japan's leading animators were asked to create a short segment that followed the theme of "Robots," for their inclusion in this film. Essentially, this "movie" is 9 short films, all independant of one another. The common element is human interaction with robots, namely the consequences of creating life with one's own hands, played in nine very different ways.)
(Source: ANN; MyAnimeList)
1: Opening (Atsuko Fukushima and Katsuhiro Otomo)
2: Franken's Gears (Koji Morimoto)
3: Deprive (Hidetoshi Omori)
4: Presence (Yasuomi Umetsu)
5: Star Light Angel (Hiroyuki Kitazume)
6: Cloud (Mao Lamdo)
7: A Tale of Two Robots (Hiroyuki Kitakubo)
8: Nightmare (Takashi Nakamura)
9: Ending (Atsuko Fukushima and Katsuhiro Otomo)
(Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mecha, Drama, Comedy,etc)
(Released 1987; OVA; Movie; 91 MIN; PG-13)
(Notes: Well. This was a trip. Uh. I dont wanna spoil too much but this was pretty interesting. Of course, the animation, detail and designs were amazing. Because yes. Retro anime art style is still the best. Fight me. I wish there were more projects like this still being made. It's just so creative. You may like some segments more than others but that's a given. They're all so wildly unique. You can find this film for free on RetroCrush, the full English sub on RetroCrush's YouTube channel, Tubi, Freevee, PlutoTV, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Peacock, SlingTV but for Crunchyroll i think you may need a premium subscription.) Read Note
(Story: 9 of Japan's leading animators were asked to create a short segment that followed the theme of "Robots," for their inclusion in this film. Essentially, this "movie" is 9 short films, all independant of one another. The common element is human interaction with robots, namely the consequences of creating life with one's own hands, played in nine very different ways.)
(Source: ANN; MyAnimeList)
1: Opening (Atsuko Fukushima and Katsuhiro Otomo)
2: Franken's Gears (Koji Morimoto)
3: Deprive (Hidetoshi Omori)
4: Presence (Yasuomi Umetsu)
5: Star Light Angel (Hiroyuki Kitazume)
6: Cloud (Mao Lamdo)
7: A Tale of Two Robots (Hiroyuki Kitakubo)
8: Nightmare (Takashi Nakamura)
9: Ending (Atsuko Fukushima and Katsuhiro Otomo)
(Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mecha, Drama, Comedy,etc)
(Released 1987; OVA; Movie; 91 MIN; PG-13)
(Notes: Well. This was a trip. Uh. I dont wanna spoil too much but this was pretty interesting. Of course, the animation, detail and designs were amazing. Because yes. Retro anime art style is still the best. Fight me. I wish there were more projects like this still being made. It's just so creative. You may like some segments more than others but that's a given. They're all so wildly unique. You can find this film for free on RetroCrush, the full English sub on RetroCrush's YouTube channel, Tubi, Freevee, PlutoTV, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Peacock, SlingTV but for Crunchyroll i think you may need a premium subscription.) Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Eighty-Eight
Voices of a Distant Star (Hoshi no Koe)
(Story: It is the year 2046, Noboru Terao and Mikako Nagamine are close friends who will soon be graduating junior high school. But after an alien attack on humanity, Mikako is selected for the UN military space expedition set to retaliate against the aliens. Separated, Noboru and Mikako attempt to keep in touch by sending emails to each other with their cell phones. Yet as the expedition journeys farther from Earth, the time it takes for them to transmit and receive each other's messages increases substantially.
Hoshi no Koe revolves around the relationship between this couple as they try to stay connected despite the growing distance between them.
Source: MyAnimeList)
(Genre: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Mecha)
(Released 2002; OVA; 24 min; PG-13)
(Notes: Well, this is a short film. Not too long but i don't think it wastes the short time it's given. For how short it is, it is a little heartbreaker. Some CGI is outdated but other than that, it's not bad. The dub..isnt the best for this one. And I'm not even a person who hates English Dubs at all. But this one ...yeah...Music's great too. And this short film was created and animated by Makoto Shinkai. Yes, THAT Makoto Shinkai. The same Makoto Shinkai behind the anime films 5 Centimeters per Second, The Garden of Words, Your Name, Weathering with You and Suzume. So, check this one out. It's just 24 minutes so if you're looking for something sweet to pass the time, here ya go. Voices of a Distant Star was written, directed and produced by Makoto Shinkai on his Power Mac G4 using LightWave, Adobe Photoshop 5.0, Adobe After Effects 4.1 and Commotion 3.1 DV software. I am not joking. He made this on his laptop which explains a few more janky visuals but overall, it's impressive for..you know...being made on a LAPTOP. You can find it on Crunchyroll.) Read Note
(Story: It is the year 2046, Noboru Terao and Mikako Nagamine are close friends who will soon be graduating junior high school. But after an alien attack on humanity, Mikako is selected for the UN military space expedition set to retaliate against the aliens. Separated, Noboru and Mikako attempt to keep in touch by sending emails to each other with their cell phones. Yet as the expedition journeys farther from Earth, the time it takes for them to transmit and receive each other's messages increases substantially.
Hoshi no Koe revolves around the relationship between this couple as they try to stay connected despite the growing distance between them.
Source: MyAnimeList)
(Genre: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Mecha)
(Released 2002; OVA; 24 min; PG-13)
(Notes: Well, this is a short film. Not too long but i don't think it wastes the short time it's given. For how short it is, it is a little heartbreaker. Some CGI is outdated but other than that, it's not bad. The dub..isnt the best for this one. And I'm not even a person who hates English Dubs at all. But this one ...yeah...Music's great too. And this short film was created and animated by Makoto Shinkai. Yes, THAT Makoto Shinkai. The same Makoto Shinkai behind the anime films 5 Centimeters per Second, The Garden of Words, Your Name, Weathering with You and Suzume. So, check this one out. It's just 24 minutes so if you're looking for something sweet to pass the time, here ya go. Voices of a Distant Star was written, directed and produced by Makoto Shinkai on his Power Mac G4 using LightWave, Adobe Photoshop 5.0, Adobe After Effects 4.1 and Commotion 3.1 DV software. I am not joking. He made this on his laptop which explains a few more janky visuals but overall, it's impressive for..you know...being made on a LAPTOP. You can find it on Crunchyroll.) Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Fifty-Nine
3x3 eyes [Original 90s OVA,and there's alot of graphic imagery in this, viewer discretion is advised]
(Story: 3X3 Eyes is the story of a young man named Yakumo Fuuji, who through a strange series of events becomes the immortal slave of the last of a race of 3 Eyed demons. The demon absorbs his soul to save his life, making him immortal in the process. Now, he begins a journey with the female demon in an attempt to find a way of becoming human.)
(Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy, Horror, Romance)
(Released in 1991; OVA; 4 episodes; TV-MA)
(Notes: Pai is adorable tbh and this is another Toei Animation Production. This one feels like it doesnt get enough love so here it is! Warning: Violence and graphic stuff and dark themes and all that in this one. And yay more retro anime art) Read Note
(Story: 3X3 Eyes is the story of a young man named Yakumo Fuuji, who through a strange series of events becomes the immortal slave of the last of a race of 3 Eyed demons. The demon absorbs his soul to save his life, making him immortal in the process. Now, he begins a journey with the female demon in an attempt to find a way of becoming human.)
(Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy, Horror, Romance)
(Released in 1991; OVA; 4 episodes; TV-MA)
(Notes: Pai is adorable tbh and this is another Toei Animation Production. This one feels like it doesnt get enough love so here it is! Warning: Violence and graphic stuff and dark themes and all that in this one. And yay more retro anime art) Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Fifty-Four
Iria: Zeiram the Animation
(Story: Iria is the story of a girl and the Alien being she loves to hate. The series begins with her brother, Gren, taking a job. He is a bounty hunter, and one well known for his incredible skill. Iria, being a skilled apprentice bounty hunter herself, tags along. What is the job, one might ask. It is to find out what has happened to the crew and cargo of a Space Station. Needless to say, nothing is as it seems, and the war between Iria and Zeiram begins in earnest.)
(Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi, Space)
(Released 1994; OVA; 6 episodes; TV-MA)
(Notes: Iria is best girl. 10/10 bounty hunter. Also, again, love the art style because retro anime art style is best art style. Sorry, i dont make the rules. The anime studio behind this one is Ashi Productions; the same studio that has worked on Eureka Seven, the infamous Minky Momo, Macross, Vampire Hunter D, etc. They've also been involved with the production of Death Note.) Read Note
(Story: Iria is the story of a girl and the Alien being she loves to hate. The series begins with her brother, Gren, taking a job. He is a bounty hunter, and one well known for his incredible skill. Iria, being a skilled apprentice bounty hunter herself, tags along. What is the job, one might ask. It is to find out what has happened to the crew and cargo of a Space Station. Needless to say, nothing is as it seems, and the war between Iria and Zeiram begins in earnest.)
(Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi, Space)
(Released 1994; OVA; 6 episodes; TV-MA)
(Notes: Iria is best girl. 10/10 bounty hunter. Also, again, love the art style because retro anime art style is best art style. Sorry, i dont make the rules. The anime studio behind this one is Ashi Productions; the same studio that has worked on Eureka Seven, the infamous Minky Momo, Macross, Vampire Hunter D, etc. They've also been involved with the production of Death Note.) Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Fifty-Two
Bubblegum Crisis [Some flashing lights/colors warning]
(Story: The series involves the adventures of the Knight Sabers, an all-female group of mercenaries who don powered exoskeletons and fight numerous problems, most frequently rogue robots.)
(Genre: Cyberpunk, Girls with Guns, Adventure, Sci-fi)
(Released 1987; OVA; 8 episodes; TV-MA)
(Notes: I know this one may not be super underrated if you get deeper into the anime community but this one is mainly for those who dont watch or know older anime or maybe newer fans. I love the aesthetic and art style. the art style of 80s anime is unmatched. i want it back tbh also bop alert. and an adult cast?? rare. Compared to other shows, I'd say it counts as underrated) Read Note
(Story: The series involves the adventures of the Knight Sabers, an all-female group of mercenaries who don powered exoskeletons and fight numerous problems, most frequently rogue robots.)
(Genre: Cyberpunk, Girls with Guns, Adventure, Sci-fi)
(Released 1987; OVA; 8 episodes; TV-MA)
(Notes: I know this one may not be super underrated if you get deeper into the anime community but this one is mainly for those who dont watch or know older anime or maybe newer fans. I love the aesthetic and art style. the art style of 80s anime is unmatched. i want it back tbh also bop alert. and an adult cast?? rare. Compared to other shows, I'd say it counts as underrated) Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Forty-Five
Top wo Nerae! Gunbuster
(Story: The daughter of a famous dead space captain is enlisted to pilot a colossal robot key to the defense of Earth from invasion by giant aliens.)
(Genre: Mecha, Action, Comedy, Drama, Sci-fi, Award Winning, Military, Space)
(Released 1988, OVA; 6 episodes, TV-MA/Rated R for..uhm...suggestive imagery if you catch my drift. Not too much but still)
(Notes: This one's pretty interesting and doesn't get talked about enough or isn't super well-known so yeah. And again, love love LOVE the retro anime art style and character designs and animation. Gunbuster was the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno, best known as the creator and director of Neon Genesis Evangelion. And the anime studio behind Gunbuster? Gainax. You know, the same studio behind Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gurren Lagann, FLCL(Fooly Cooly; btw just watch the first season of FLCL the others aren't worth it), Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, Ebichu, Re: Cutey Honey, etc..Also, there may be some flashing colors and lights in the actual show, just as a warning. Also, i love the OP and ED songs they're just so sweet somehow) Read Note
(Story: The daughter of a famous dead space captain is enlisted to pilot a colossal robot key to the defense of Earth from invasion by giant aliens.)
(Genre: Mecha, Action, Comedy, Drama, Sci-fi, Award Winning, Military, Space)
(Released 1988, OVA; 6 episodes, TV-MA/Rated R for..uhm...suggestive imagery if you catch my drift. Not too much but still)
(Notes: This one's pretty interesting and doesn't get talked about enough or isn't super well-known so yeah. And again, love love LOVE the retro anime art style and character designs and animation. Gunbuster was the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno, best known as the creator and director of Neon Genesis Evangelion. And the anime studio behind Gunbuster? Gainax. You know, the same studio behind Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gurren Lagann, FLCL(Fooly Cooly; btw just watch the first season of FLCL the others aren't worth it), Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, Ebichu, Re: Cutey Honey, etc..Also, there may be some flashing colors and lights in the actual show, just as a warning. Also, i love the OP and ED songs they're just so sweet somehow) Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Forty-Four
Murder Princess [WARNING: This one is especially violent and graphic; viewer discretion is advised]
(Story: The story begins with Dr. Akamashi, introduced as a scientist formerly in the employ of the government, launching a coup d'état in the Forland Kingdom. Dying, the mortally wounded king sends his daughter Alita to find Prince Kaito, who is leading a diplomatic mission and its military escort abroad. She flees from the castle and reaches a forest on the country's border.
While running, the princess falls off of a cliff and onto Falis, an infamous female bounty hunter. Due to the nature of the near-death experience (referred to as a spiritual commutation, or spiritual transmigration in the anime dub) the souls of Alita and Falis are switched. After Falis dispatches the forest's guardian beast, Alita pleads with the bounty hunter to protect the Forland kingdom, offering herself, body and soul, as collateral. Falis agrees and acts as the princess of the Forland Kingdom with her bounty hunter friends.)
(Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure)
(Released 2007; OVA; 6 episodes; TV-MA)
(Notes: I saw a trailer for this on a Tsubasa Chronicles DVD and immediately sought it out when i was younger lmao i think it's cool. i remember liking it.) Read Note
(Story: The story begins with Dr. Akamashi, introduced as a scientist formerly in the employ of the government, launching a coup d'état in the Forland Kingdom. Dying, the mortally wounded king sends his daughter Alita to find Prince Kaito, who is leading a diplomatic mission and its military escort abroad. She flees from the castle and reaches a forest on the country's border.
While running, the princess falls off of a cliff and onto Falis, an infamous female bounty hunter. Due to the nature of the near-death experience (referred to as a spiritual commutation, or spiritual transmigration in the anime dub) the souls of Alita and Falis are switched. After Falis dispatches the forest's guardian beast, Alita pleads with the bounty hunter to protect the Forland kingdom, offering herself, body and soul, as collateral. Falis agrees and acts as the princess of the Forland Kingdom with her bounty hunter friends.)
(Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure)
(Released 2007; OVA; 6 episodes; TV-MA)
(Notes: I saw a trailer for this on a Tsubasa Chronicles DVD and immediately sought it out when i was younger lmao i think it's cool. i remember liking it.) Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Thirty-Seven
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō
(Story: Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō is set in a peaceful, post-cataclysmic world where mankind is in decline after an environmental disaster. Sea levels have risen significantly, inundating coastal cities such as Yokohama, Mount Fuji erupted in living memory, and climate change has occurred. With the seasons being less pronounced, the winters are milder and the summer isn't scorching anymore. The reduced human population has reverted to a simpler life, and this is the twilight of the human age. Instead of raging against their fate, humans have quietly accepted it.
Alpha Hatsuseno is an android who runs an out-of-the-way coffee shop, Café Alpha, on the lonely coast of the Miura Peninsula of Japan, while her human "owner" is on a trip of indefinite length. Though she spends much of her time alone, Alpha is cheerful, gregarious, and—unlike the slowly declining humans—immortal.)
(Genre: Science Fiction, Iyashikei, Slice of Life)
(Released 1998; OVA; 2 episodes)
(Notes: This is both the most sad and depressing yet peaceful and hopeful anime I've ever watched. I believe there was like..another version of this one in the 2000s but we're focusing on the 90s one. i know this anime is pretty underrated, if not obscure to a lot of you. I watched it on YouTube actually and I'm pretty sure its actually okay to watch for all ages. Rare, right? The animation studio behind it, Ajia-do, also animated Ascendence of a Bookworm and How Not to Summon a Demon Lord. And guess what? they also made an anime movie about the Magic Tree House. Yep. The same American children's book The Magic Treehouse. I bet alot of people didnt even know that existed. Based directly on The Magic Tree House series, award winning series of children books written by American author Mary Pope Osborne. Cool, right ?)
Read Note
(Story: Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō is set in a peaceful, post-cataclysmic world where mankind is in decline after an environmental disaster. Sea levels have risen significantly, inundating coastal cities such as Yokohama, Mount Fuji erupted in living memory, and climate change has occurred. With the seasons being less pronounced, the winters are milder and the summer isn't scorching anymore. The reduced human population has reverted to a simpler life, and this is the twilight of the human age. Instead of raging against their fate, humans have quietly accepted it.
Alpha Hatsuseno is an android who runs an out-of-the-way coffee shop, Café Alpha, on the lonely coast of the Miura Peninsula of Japan, while her human "owner" is on a trip of indefinite length. Though she spends much of her time alone, Alpha is cheerful, gregarious, and—unlike the slowly declining humans—immortal.)
(Genre: Science Fiction, Iyashikei, Slice of Life)
(Released 1998; OVA; 2 episodes)
(Notes: This is both the most sad and depressing yet peaceful and hopeful anime I've ever watched. I believe there was like..another version of this one in the 2000s but we're focusing on the 90s one. i know this anime is pretty underrated, if not obscure to a lot of you. I watched it on YouTube actually and I'm pretty sure its actually okay to watch for all ages. Rare, right? The animation studio behind it, Ajia-do, also animated Ascendence of a Bookworm and How Not to Summon a Demon Lord. And guess what? they also made an anime movie about the Magic Tree House. Yep. The same American children's book The Magic Treehouse. I bet alot of people didnt even know that existed. Based directly on The Magic Tree House series, award winning series of children books written by American author Mary Pope Osborne. Cool, right ?)
Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Thirty-five
Queen Emeraldas
(Story: The story revolves around a race that seeks to dominate the galaxy. A lone mysterious female warrior, known to others as Emeraldas sails the endless planets of the universe- in her Seas of Star ship- fighting the tyranny of that merciless race. She is tormented by the memory of her lost love.)
(Genre: Space Opera, Space Western, Action, Adventure, Sci-fi)
(Released 1998; OVA; 4 episodes)
(Notes: Another cool one i found on a trailer in that old Sailor Moon DVD i used to watch all the dang time. This one is based off of a manga created by the legendary Leiji Matsumoto, may he rest in piece. Matsumoto was famous for his space operas such as Space Battleship Yamato and Galaxy Express 999. His style was characterized by mythological and often tragic storylines with strong moral themes, noble heroes, feminine heroines, and a love of strange worlds and melancholic atmosphere. You may have seen his art style at least; emulated by shows like Steven Universe. Blue Diamond's design is obviously heavily influenced by his art style and i remember it being confirmed as well. The widow of Matsumoto, Miyako Maki, is also a Japanese manga artist, and one of the earliest female manga artists. During the 1960s, Maki contributed significantly to the development of shōjo manga (manga for girls), and became one of the most popular shōjo authors of her generation. She later became a pioneer in manga for adults so theres a lot of history here too. Also, i really love this art style. Lets goooo retro anime art) Read Note
(Story: The story revolves around a race that seeks to dominate the galaxy. A lone mysterious female warrior, known to others as Emeraldas sails the endless planets of the universe- in her Seas of Star ship- fighting the tyranny of that merciless race. She is tormented by the memory of her lost love.)
(Genre: Space Opera, Space Western, Action, Adventure, Sci-fi)
(Released 1998; OVA; 4 episodes)
(Notes: Another cool one i found on a trailer in that old Sailor Moon DVD i used to watch all the dang time. This one is based off of a manga created by the legendary Leiji Matsumoto, may he rest in piece. Matsumoto was famous for his space operas such as Space Battleship Yamato and Galaxy Express 999. His style was characterized by mythological and often tragic storylines with strong moral themes, noble heroes, feminine heroines, and a love of strange worlds and melancholic atmosphere. You may have seen his art style at least; emulated by shows like Steven Universe. Blue Diamond's design is obviously heavily influenced by his art style and i remember it being confirmed as well. The widow of Matsumoto, Miyako Maki, is also a Japanese manga artist, and one of the earliest female manga artists. During the 1960s, Maki contributed significantly to the development of shōjo manga (manga for girls), and became one of the most popular shōjo authors of her generation. She later became a pioneer in manga for adults so theres a lot of history here too. Also, i really love this art style. Lets goooo retro anime art) Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Twenty-Six
Mobile Police Patlabor (The Original Series OVA)
(Story: As the human race evolves, so does its technology. Engineers have successfully created robots dubbed "Labors" for mass distribution, utilized by society for a number of everyday tasks. However, there are criminals who manage to get their hands on these Labors, using them for their own nefarious means.
To combat this new form of delinquency, police around the world begin using "Patrol Labors" or "Patlabors" to put a stop to Labor-related crimes. Rookie police officer Noa Izumi is drafted into a special Patlabor unit, getting her own mechanical suit to fight crime. Naming this machine Alphonse, Izumi works tirelessly alongside her peers to keep civilization safe from those who would use this advanced technology to harm others.)
(Genre: Mecha, Science Fiction, Comedy, Detective, Action)
(Released 1988; OVA; 7 episodes; PG-13)
(Notes: Again i gotta rave about the art style and designs old anime have and also, this show is fun; solid and it has like..so many movies and series but still pretty slept on) Read Note
(Story: As the human race evolves, so does its technology. Engineers have successfully created robots dubbed "Labors" for mass distribution, utilized by society for a number of everyday tasks. However, there are criminals who manage to get their hands on these Labors, using them for their own nefarious means.
To combat this new form of delinquency, police around the world begin using "Patrol Labors" or "Patlabors" to put a stop to Labor-related crimes. Rookie police officer Noa Izumi is drafted into a special Patlabor unit, getting her own mechanical suit to fight crime. Naming this machine Alphonse, Izumi works tirelessly alongside her peers to keep civilization safe from those who would use this advanced technology to harm others.)
(Genre: Mecha, Science Fiction, Comedy, Detective, Action)
(Released 1988; OVA; 7 episodes; PG-13)
(Notes: Again i gotta rave about the art style and designs old anime have and also, this show is fun; solid and it has like..so many movies and series but still pretty slept on) Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Twenty-Five
Shamanic Princess
(Story: From the Guardian World, home of mages, Tiara has been sent on a mission: recover the stolen Throne of Yord, the most powerful magic artifact of all. But Tiara finds herself in a dilemma—the Throne has been taken by her former lover, and there is more to the situation than meets the eye...)
(Genre: Drama, Action, Romance, Fantasy, Magical Girl)
(Released 1996; OVA; 6 episodes)
(Notes: The only real thing to worry about here is fanservice and violence and some disturbing imagery? yes, dark magical girl anime existed before madoka magica, i think people forget how dark even Sailor Moon could be at times. Like, it got real dark at times but i digress. I love this retro anime art style and i love just..the overall aesthetic of this show tbh. I'd say this is okay for...16 and older? idk..) Read Note
(Story: From the Guardian World, home of mages, Tiara has been sent on a mission: recover the stolen Throne of Yord, the most powerful magic artifact of all. But Tiara finds herself in a dilemma—the Throne has been taken by her former lover, and there is more to the situation than meets the eye...)
(Genre: Drama, Action, Romance, Fantasy, Magical Girl)
(Released 1996; OVA; 6 episodes)
(Notes: The only real thing to worry about here is fanservice and violence and some disturbing imagery? yes, dark magical girl anime existed before madoka magica, i think people forget how dark even Sailor Moon could be at times. Like, it got real dark at times but i digress. I love this retro anime art style and i love just..the overall aesthetic of this show tbh. I'd say this is okay for...16 and older? idk..) Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Twenty
Blue Submarine No. 6 [Ignore the CGI, it was 1998 lol]
(Story:The once famous and well respected scientist Zorndyke has bred a new genre of living being, one that thrives on the oceans and lives to destroy humans. Zorndyke believes it is time that the humans were relieved of their rule of the earth. It is up to Blue Submarine No. 6 and the rest of the Blue fleet to put an end to Zorndyke's madness and creations.)
(Genre: Action, Adventure, Award-winning, Science Fiction, Mecha, Military)
(Released 1998; OVA; 4 episodes)
(Notes: Ayo another anime from Studio Gonzo they feel like such an underrated anime studio. They made one of my favorites Last Exile and its sequel series which I've already recommended, Afro Samurai, the original Hellsing, Rosario to Vampire(which i dont like but to each their own), Welcome to the N.H.K.,Red Garden which I've also recommended,etc. Id say Blue Submarine is okay for older audiences. Don't let the CGI put you off, it was good for the time lmao everything else aside from it is cool) Read Note
(Story:The once famous and well respected scientist Zorndyke has bred a new genre of living being, one that thrives on the oceans and lives to destroy humans. Zorndyke believes it is time that the humans were relieved of their rule of the earth. It is up to Blue Submarine No. 6 and the rest of the Blue fleet to put an end to Zorndyke's madness and creations.)
(Genre: Action, Adventure, Award-winning, Science Fiction, Mecha, Military)
(Released 1998; OVA; 4 episodes)
(Notes: Ayo another anime from Studio Gonzo they feel like such an underrated anime studio. They made one of my favorites Last Exile and its sequel series which I've already recommended, Afro Samurai, the original Hellsing, Rosario to Vampire(which i dont like but to each their own), Welcome to the N.H.K.,Red Garden which I've also recommended,etc. Id say Blue Submarine is okay for older audiences. Don't let the CGI put you off, it was good for the time lmao everything else aside from it is cool) Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Eleven
Birdy the Mighty (Tetsuwan Birdy) OVA
(Story: Tsutomu, an average middle school kid busy studying for the final exams to enter high school runs into a man running from someone and gets caught up in the chase. In all the confusion he is accidentally killed. Luckily Birdy (an interplanetary agent) knows a way to save him, unfortunately that means joining bodies to become one. So now he is stuck with this officer and along for the ride capturing criminals and saving lives.)
(Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Comedy)
(Released 1996; 4 episodes, TV-14; for older audiences)
(Notes: Again, love the art style. Old anime had great style. Great action and animation. Also, can i say i love Birdy's facial expressions and animation? This is a weird tangent but her expressions aren't overly cutesy? like, i'm not knocking on making anime girls remain cute when they emote but hers feel more..uh..real? Unique? if that makes sense. I'm bad at explaining. I'm glad they give her shots where she smiles like a maniac is what i'm saying. And not in the cutesy yandere kind of way most shows do now if that makes sense. It feels more natural. Fun fact: this OVA was animated by Madhouse. The same animation studio responsible for animating the first season of One Punch Man, the original Trigun, Hunter x Hunter 2011, Perfect Blue, Black Lagoon, Parasyte, Wolf Children, Death Note, the first Beyblade anime, etc. Also, Birdy's japanese voice actress is Kotono Mitsuishi: voice of Sailor Moon/Usagi in the original Sailor Moon series as well as Sailor Moon Crystal, Boa Hancock from One Piece, Misato from Evangelion, and Tae Yamada from Zombie Land Saga. Also there is a reboot of Birdy the Mighty called Birdy the Mighty: Decode but I'd say that one is for much older audiences too but it's also pretty underrated.) Read Note
(Story: Tsutomu, an average middle school kid busy studying for the final exams to enter high school runs into a man running from someone and gets caught up in the chase. In all the confusion he is accidentally killed. Luckily Birdy (an interplanetary agent) knows a way to save him, unfortunately that means joining bodies to become one. So now he is stuck with this officer and along for the ride capturing criminals and saving lives.)
(Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Comedy)
(Released 1996; 4 episodes, TV-14; for older audiences)
(Notes: Again, love the art style. Old anime had great style. Great action and animation. Also, can i say i love Birdy's facial expressions and animation? This is a weird tangent but her expressions aren't overly cutesy? like, i'm not knocking on making anime girls remain cute when they emote but hers feel more..uh..real? Unique? if that makes sense. I'm bad at explaining. I'm glad they give her shots where she smiles like a maniac is what i'm saying. And not in the cutesy yandere kind of way most shows do now if that makes sense. It feels more natural. Fun fact: this OVA was animated by Madhouse. The same animation studio responsible for animating the first season of One Punch Man, the original Trigun, Hunter x Hunter 2011, Perfect Blue, Black Lagoon, Parasyte, Wolf Children, Death Note, the first Beyblade anime, etc. Also, Birdy's japanese voice actress is Kotono Mitsuishi: voice of Sailor Moon/Usagi in the original Sailor Moon series as well as Sailor Moon Crystal, Boa Hancock from One Piece, Misato from Evangelion, and Tae Yamada from Zombie Land Saga. Also there is a reboot of Birdy the Mighty called Birdy the Mighty: Decode but I'd say that one is for much older audiences too but it's also pretty underrated.) Read Note
lol no
Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Two
Here is Greenwood (OVA)
(Story: Hasukawa Kazuya is in a terrible bind. His brother's new wife is also the woman that Kazuya secretly loves. Determined to avoid them both, Kazuya leaves home to live in the student dorm called Greenwood. There, he hopes to find peace of mind. Unfortunately for Kazuya, stability and peace are the last things one might find at Greenwood - home of the weirdest characters on campus.)
(Genre: Slice of Life, Comedy, Supernatural)
(Released in 1991; 6 episodes)
(Notes: I watched this when i was still in middle school, i remember it being wholesome but it's from the 90s so there could be some outdated or questionable things that flew over my head. Just letting y'all know beforehand. From what I personally remember , it was wholesome and nice.) Read Note
(Story: Hasukawa Kazuya is in a terrible bind. His brother's new wife is also the woman that Kazuya secretly loves. Determined to avoid them both, Kazuya leaves home to live in the student dorm called Greenwood. There, he hopes to find peace of mind. Unfortunately for Kazuya, stability and peace are the last things one might find at Greenwood - home of the weirdest characters on campus.)
(Genre: Slice of Life, Comedy, Supernatural)
(Released in 1991; 6 episodes)
(Notes: I watched this when i was still in middle school, i remember it being wholesome but it's from the 90s so there could be some outdated or questionable things that flew over my head. Just letting y'all know beforehand. From what I personally remember , it was wholesome and nice.) Read Note