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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 Some CGI is outdated but other than that, it's not bad.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
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Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Eighty-Six
Colorful: The Movie (Trigger warning for this one too)
(Story: Upon arriving at the train station of death, an impure soul is granted a second chance at life against his will. Reincarnating into the body of Makoto Kobayashi, a 14-year-old boy who recently ended his own life, the soul is tasked to identify the boy's greatest sin in life within a time limit of six months. Although it remains reluctant toward continuing life as Makoto, the soul soon begins to notice the complexities of people's emotions and actions.
Deconstructing the ideas of fractured families and depression, Colorful explores the intricacies of the daily struggles humans face but are too abashed to confront.)
(Genre: Supernatural, Drama)
(Released 2010; movie; 2hr 7min; PG-13)
(Notes: Bruh. How'd y'all sleep on this?? I'm gonna cry. This one hit hard. My heart. Obvious trigger warning but this movie is something else. And i had to specify the movie since there's an anime called Colorful that's pretty obscure too but that one's a series and it's a raunchy comedy so...Yeah...The movie is pretty profound and depicts the duality of man; humans aren't perfect and that's what makes them human. It's heartwarming and if you can handle the triggering themes, I'd say it's worth a watch. It needs much more love. I'd go as far as to call it beautiful. And I'm pretty sure Sunrise was involved in making this film. Y'know, Sunrise as in the anime studio behind Cowboy Bebop and Code Geass, to name a few.) Read Note
(Story: Upon arriving at the train station of death, an impure soul is granted a second chance at life against his will. Reincarnating into the body of Makoto Kobayashi, a 14-year-old boy who recently ended his own life, the soul is tasked to identify the boy's greatest sin in life within a time limit of six months. Although it remains reluctant toward continuing life as Makoto, the soul soon begins to notice the complexities of people's emotions and actions.
Deconstructing the ideas of fractured families and depression, Colorful explores the intricacies of the daily struggles humans face but are too abashed to confront.)
(Genre: Supernatural, Drama)
(Released 2010; movie; 2hr 7min; PG-13)
(Notes: Bruh. How'd y'all sleep on this?? I'm gonna cry. This one hit hard. My heart. Obvious trigger warning but this movie is something else. And i had to specify the movie since there's an anime called Colorful that's pretty obscure too but that one's a series and it's a raunchy comedy so...Yeah...The movie is pretty profound and depicts the duality of man; humans aren't perfect and that's what makes them human. It's heartwarming and if you can handle the triggering themes, I'd say it's worth a watch. It needs much more love. I'd go as far as to call it beautiful. And I'm pretty sure Sunrise was involved in making this film. Y'know, Sunrise as in the anime studio behind Cowboy Bebop and Code Geass, to name a few.) Read Note
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Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Eighty-Five
Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (Warning: This movie's..dark.)
(Story: I cannot post the story without getting told my text contains sensitive words so...that should tell you something-)
(Genre: Action, Thriller, Drama, Romance)
(Released 1999; Movie; 102 minutes; Rated R)
(Notes: If you wanna be happy and not sad or upset, steer clear of this one. Trigger warning. It's for older audiences and rated R for a VERY good reason. And yes, i do love the character designs and animation. Y'all should know i have a bias for how older anime look at this point. Well, this movie's on Tubi I think if you wanna be sad.) Read Note
(Story: I cannot post the story without getting told my text contains sensitive words so...that should tell you something-)
(Genre: Action, Thriller, Drama, Romance)
(Released 1999; Movie; 102 minutes; Rated R)
(Notes: If you wanna be happy and not sad or upset, steer clear of this one. Trigger warning. It's for older audiences and rated R for a VERY good reason. And yes, i do love the character designs and animation. Y'all should know i have a bias for how older anime look at this point. Well, this movie's on Tubi I think if you wanna be sad.) Read Note
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Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Eighty
Kaiba
(Story: In a world where memories exist in memory chips separate from the body, death of the body no longer means death of the soul. It is possible for memories to be viewed, altered, and transferred between bodies. These memory chips are used by the rich to obtain eternal lives in carefully selected bodies, while for the poor, selling their own bodies and conserving their souls in the chips often become the only way to earn a living. An electrolytic cloud in the sky serves as a barrier between the heavens of the fortunate and the underworld of the destitute, making this social division impregnable.
One day, a man named Kaiba wakes up in an empty room with no memories, a mysterious hole in his chest, and a locket holding the picture of an unknown woman. After escaping an attack and stumbling upon a decrepit village of underworld residents, he begins his adventure across the different planets of this strange universe to find out more about his own identity and the woman he once knew.
Through a journey of self-discovery and acceptance, Kaiba weaves together tales of souls and spirits and explores the importance of memories.)
(Genre: Adventure, Award Winning, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi)
(Released 2008; 12 episodes; TV-MA)
(Notes: Bruh this is trippy but in a good way. a GREAT way actually. This show is actually amazing. A true gem and another banger from MADHOUSE. It was directed by Masaaki Yuasa. You may be familiar with his other work, Masaaki Yuasa is a Japanese director, screenwriter, and animator affiliated with Science SARU, a Japanese animation studio which he co-founded with producer Eunyoung Choi in 2013. Recognized for his idiosyncratic art style and directorial voice, Yuasa began his career as an animator on the landmark television series Chibi Maruko-chan (1990–1992) and Crayon Shin-chan (1992–present), before moving into directing with the feature film Mind Game (2004) and developing a cult appeal following.
Yuasa spent much of the 2000s and early 2010s working in television directing, helming a trio of series, Kemonozume (2006), Kaiba (2008), and The Tatami Galaxy (2010), before releasing the crowdfunded short film Kick-Heart (2013).
At Science SARU, Yuasa focused on directing both television and feature film productions, starting with an episode of the American animated series Adventure Time (2014), and continuing with Ping Pong the Animation (2014), The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl (2017), Lu Over the Wall (2017), Devilman Crybaby (2018), Ride Your Wave (2019), Super Shiro (2019), Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (2020),Japan Sinks: 2020 (2020),[and Inu-Oh (2021). His works, as you can guess, have won plenty of awards and Kaiba is just as imaginative and unique as any of his other works. I implore you to check it out. Not just for the animation but for the characters and the story. It's beautiful in its own way.) Read Note
(Story: In a world where memories exist in memory chips separate from the body, death of the body no longer means death of the soul. It is possible for memories to be viewed, altered, and transferred between bodies. These memory chips are used by the rich to obtain eternal lives in carefully selected bodies, while for the poor, selling their own bodies and conserving their souls in the chips often become the only way to earn a living. An electrolytic cloud in the sky serves as a barrier between the heavens of the fortunate and the underworld of the destitute, making this social division impregnable.
One day, a man named Kaiba wakes up in an empty room with no memories, a mysterious hole in his chest, and a locket holding the picture of an unknown woman. After escaping an attack and stumbling upon a decrepit village of underworld residents, he begins his adventure across the different planets of this strange universe to find out more about his own identity and the woman he once knew.
Through a journey of self-discovery and acceptance, Kaiba weaves together tales of souls and spirits and explores the importance of memories.)
(Genre: Adventure, Award Winning, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi)
(Released 2008; 12 episodes; TV-MA)
(Notes: Bruh this is trippy but in a good way. a GREAT way actually. This show is actually amazing. A true gem and another banger from MADHOUSE. It was directed by Masaaki Yuasa. You may be familiar with his other work, Masaaki Yuasa is a Japanese director, screenwriter, and animator affiliated with Science SARU, a Japanese animation studio which he co-founded with producer Eunyoung Choi in 2013. Recognized for his idiosyncratic art style and directorial voice, Yuasa began his career as an animator on the landmark television series Chibi Maruko-chan (1990–1992) and Crayon Shin-chan (1992–present), before moving into directing with the feature film Mind Game (2004) and developing a cult appeal following.
Yuasa spent much of the 2000s and early 2010s working in television directing, helming a trio of series, Kemonozume (2006), Kaiba (2008), and The Tatami Galaxy (2010), before releasing the crowdfunded short film Kick-Heart (2013).
At Science SARU, Yuasa focused on directing both television and feature film productions, starting with an episode of the American animated series Adventure Time (2014), and continuing with Ping Pong the Animation (2014), The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl (2017), Lu Over the Wall (2017), Devilman Crybaby (2018), Ride Your Wave (2019), Super Shiro (2019), Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (2020),Japan Sinks: 2020 (2020),[and Inu-Oh (2021). His works, as you can guess, have won plenty of awards and Kaiba is just as imaginative and unique as any of his other works. I implore you to check it out. Not just for the animation but for the characters and the story. It's beautiful in its own way.) Read Note
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Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Sixty-Seven
Eden of the East
(Story: On November 22, 2010, Japan was attacked, an act that fortunately did not harm anyone, becoming known as "Careless Monday." Quickly forgotten, society goes on about their lives as normal.
During her graduation trip to America three months later, friendly college student Saki Morimi's life is forever changed when she finds herself saved from unexpected trouble by Akira Takizawa. Takizawa is cheerful, but odd in many ways—he is stark naked and suffers from amnesia, believing himself to be a terrorist. In addition, he possesses a strange cell phone loaded with 8.2 billion yen in digital cash.
Despite Takizawa's suspicious traits, Saki quickly befriends the enigmatic young man. However, unbeknownst to her, this is the beginning of a thrilling death game involving money, cell phones, and the salvation of the world. Higashi no Eden chronicles Saki's struggle to unravel the mysteries behind her savior, while Takizawa himself battles other individuals armed with similar cell phones and returning memories which reveal his possible connection to the event from months ago.)
(Genre: Mystery, Romance, Sci-fi, Suspense)
(Released 2009; 11 episodes; TV-MA)
(Notes: I feel like this one was so beloved when it first came out but it isnt brought up anymore. it's a short watch so check ot out if you can. Not perfect but I'd say it's pretty darn good for what it is. And there are follow-up movies that complete the series completely too. Don't forget those. I think it is a well-written show overall.)
Read Note
(Story: On November 22, 2010, Japan was attacked, an act that fortunately did not harm anyone, becoming known as "Careless Monday." Quickly forgotten, society goes on about their lives as normal.
During her graduation trip to America three months later, friendly college student Saki Morimi's life is forever changed when she finds herself saved from unexpected trouble by Akira Takizawa. Takizawa is cheerful, but odd in many ways—he is stark naked and suffers from amnesia, believing himself to be a terrorist. In addition, he possesses a strange cell phone loaded with 8.2 billion yen in digital cash.
Despite Takizawa's suspicious traits, Saki quickly befriends the enigmatic young man. However, unbeknownst to her, this is the beginning of a thrilling death game involving money, cell phones, and the salvation of the world. Higashi no Eden chronicles Saki's struggle to unravel the mysteries behind her savior, while Takizawa himself battles other individuals armed with similar cell phones and returning memories which reveal his possible connection to the event from months ago.)
(Genre: Mystery, Romance, Sci-fi, Suspense)
(Released 2009; 11 episodes; TV-MA)
(Notes: I feel like this one was so beloved when it first came out but it isnt brought up anymore. it's a short watch so check ot out if you can. Not perfect but I'd say it's pretty darn good for what it is. And there are follow-up movies that complete the series completely too. Don't forget those. I think it is a well-written show overall.)
Read Note
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Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Fifty-Five
Tekkonkinkreet
(Story: The story takes place in the fictional city of Takaramachi (Treasure Town) and centers on a pair of orphaned street kids – the tough, canny, Black, and the childish, innocent, White, together known as the Cats – as they deal with yakuza attempting to take over Treasure Town.)
(Genre: Coming-of-age, Surreal Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Psychological)
(Released 2006; Movie; 1hr 51min; R-Rated)
(This is a unique one. I actually like the way it's animated and it feels like a really underrated movie. Fun fact: This anime was directed by Michael Arias who was the first non-Japanese director of a major anime film. The anime studio behind it is Studio 4°C who are behind the original Berserk anime, Mind Game, and the Animatrix. Also, i dont understand people hating the designs for not being 'cute' or 'kawaii' enough. That is such a limited mindset in terms of character design. You're allowed to like or dislike whatever you want but don't be afraid to keep an open mind. I personally think they're unique but if you don't like it that's cool. I believe this is still a great movie in my opinion.)
Read Note
(Story: The story takes place in the fictional city of Takaramachi (Treasure Town) and centers on a pair of orphaned street kids – the tough, canny, Black, and the childish, innocent, White, together known as the Cats – as they deal with yakuza attempting to take over Treasure Town.)
(Genre: Coming-of-age, Surreal Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Psychological)
(Released 2006; Movie; 1hr 51min; R-Rated)
(This is a unique one. I actually like the way it's animated and it feels like a really underrated movie. Fun fact: This anime was directed by Michael Arias who was the first non-Japanese director of a major anime film. The anime studio behind it is Studio 4°C who are behind the original Berserk anime, Mind Game, and the Animatrix. Also, i dont understand people hating the designs for not being 'cute' or 'kawaii' enough. That is such a limited mindset in terms of character design. You're allowed to like or dislike whatever you want but don't be afraid to keep an open mind. I personally think they're unique but if you don't like it that's cool. I believe this is still a great movie in my opinion.)
Read Note
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Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Twenty-Three
The Sky Crawlers
(Story: In an alternate timeline, the world has seemingly achieved peace. Bereft of international conflicts, wars are now waged between private corporations in place of peaceful nations. Yuuichi Kannami, a recent transfer in Area 262, simply does his job as a contracted fighter pilot. However, the more time he spends at his new base, the more mysteries come to light.)
(Genre: Drama, Philosophy, Military, Award Winning, Science Fiction)
(Released 2008; 2hr 2min movie: PG-13)
(Notes: I know THIS one is definitely underrated; AND it's directed by Mamoru Oshii, the director of the original, classic Ghost in the Shell (1995). For his work, Oshii has received and been nominated for numerous awards, including the Palme d'Or and Leone d'Oro (Golden Lion). He has also attracted praise from many directors, including James Cameron, Steven Spielberg and The Wachowskis, especially for his work on Ghost in the Shell. So, this movie definitely has merit to it and is worth looking into. It may be more slow and introspective than anything but It's great to me just be patient.) Read Note
(Story: In an alternate timeline, the world has seemingly achieved peace. Bereft of international conflicts, wars are now waged between private corporations in place of peaceful nations. Yuuichi Kannami, a recent transfer in Area 262, simply does his job as a contracted fighter pilot. However, the more time he spends at his new base, the more mysteries come to light.)
(Genre: Drama, Philosophy, Military, Award Winning, Science Fiction)
(Released 2008; 2hr 2min movie: PG-13)
(Notes: I know THIS one is definitely underrated; AND it's directed by Mamoru Oshii, the director of the original, classic Ghost in the Shell (1995). For his work, Oshii has received and been nominated for numerous awards, including the Palme d'Or and Leone d'Oro (Golden Lion). He has also attracted praise from many directors, including James Cameron, Steven Spielberg and The Wachowskis, especially for his work on Ghost in the Shell. So, this movie definitely has merit to it and is worth looking into. It may be more slow and introspective than anything but It's great to me just be patient.) Read Note
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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
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Daily Obscure/Underrated Anime Recommendations Number Sixteen
Millennium Actress
(Story: Loosely based on the lives of actresses Setsuko Hara and Hideko Takamine, it tells the story of two documentary filmmakers investigating the life of a retired acting legend. As she tells them the story of her life, the borderline between cinema and reality gradually becomes blurred.)
(Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Action, Romance, Award Winning, Adventure, Historical)
(Released 2001; 1 hr 26 min movie, PG-13)
(Notes: This one isnt exactly super underrated i think? , i just wanna draw more attention to it since it doesn't get talked about as much and it just feels underrated and like not enough people have seen it it's beautiful and Satoshi Kon was a visionary and this movie made me cry like a baby not kidding) Read Note
(Story: Loosely based on the lives of actresses Setsuko Hara and Hideko Takamine, it tells the story of two documentary filmmakers investigating the life of a retired acting legend. As she tells them the story of her life, the borderline between cinema and reality gradually becomes blurred.)
(Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Action, Romance, Award Winning, Adventure, Historical)
(Released 2001; 1 hr 26 min movie, PG-13)
(Notes: This one isnt exactly super underrated i think? , i just wanna draw more attention to it since it doesn't get talked about as much and it just feels underrated and like not enough people have seen it it's beautiful and Satoshi Kon was a visionary and this movie made me cry like a baby not kidding) Read Note