Five Anime To Watch in September
September can be a busy month. Schools are back in session, and depending on where you live, pushing to enjoy the last of summer can drive a Snowbelt denizen insane. I’m all for summer warmth and all the fun it brings, but when priorities take the president, and my mind is about to explode, I need something to take me away. Now that doesn’t mean my mind goes blank? The Nightboss is always thinking about something, and I’m okay with that.
I’m thinking about five anime worth your time or not worth your time that will take your mind off the daily grind. A few caveats, these are in no particular order, nor are they from any specific year, genre, studio, etc. These are just five anime that I think are worth a spin. I grew up on anime, and it is unfortunate that, like many things, it's becoming increasingly disposable. So much material is released that it's easy to forget what came out in, say, 2017 unless you’re doing the research or staying on top of your MAL or Anilist watchlists. So I’m going to help you out, and don’t worry if you don’t like my lists; I’ll be making more. So let's get started.
First off, let’s start with Nana. The Madhouse animated anime based on the manga of the same name was released in 2006. It follows the stories of Nana Osaki, the leader of a rock band known as the Black Stones, and Nana Komatsu, a fickle hopeless romantic looking for love. By chance, the two ladies meet on a train to Tokyo and again while searching for an apartment. The two ladies from different backgrounds move in together, and this 47-episode anime explores the lives of the two, their hopes, and their struggles.
Nana might seem a little long in the tooth at forty-seven episodes if not for competent direction, animation, and script writing. Morio Asaka directs Nana, has an extensive anime pedigree, and was very deeply involved with handling multiple duties of this project. The scriptwriting talents of Kazuyuki Fudeyasu (17 episodes), Tatsuhiko Urahata (12 episodes), and Tomoko Konparu (19 episodes) bolster his work as well as Tomoko Konparu (Series Composer).
Now obviously, Nana exudes all the excellent writing and emotional qualities of a superb Shojo and is one of the reasons Shojo anime should receive a first, second, and third look! Dynamic side characters additionally flank the two protagonists making for a well-rounded anime. Give Nana a spin for superb voice acting, soundtrack, and storytelling. You can find Nana currently airing on HIDIVE. It's Rated R+, and its content may not be for everyone.
Now I’ll probably piss some of you off when I say you can’t bootleg everything you watch. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no saint and have my nefarious viewing outlets that I use to obtain unlicensed anime. I’m also not above telling you that if necessary; however, for this list, I’m only choosing anime that be accessed via legal streaming services.
Another Madhouse Studios animated product is Claymore, rated R. Claymore is a personal favorite and the second recommendation on this list. Released in 2007, Claymore follows protagonist Clare, a silver-eyed woman known as a Claymore who works for a secret organization tasked with destroying demonic creatures known as youma. These youma are Hell-bent on satisfying their thirst for human flesh. Claymore is a dynamic and beautifully animated series topping out at around twenty-six episodes. It is a dark, gritty story with plenty of action and carnage.
A great action anime, Claymore is more the story of social outcasts living amongst a world of humans. Let me elaborate. Claymore, as they are called, is made up of women who are part human and part youma. They possess superior strength and are presented as true knights in shining armor. Often victorious, one would think that Claymore would be praised instead of shunned; however, due to their duel nature, they must suppress the evil that lurks within.
Claymore is a well-written anime that will immediately pull your heartstrings. You’ll be emotionally invested and pissed at the same time, mainly because it covers many social woes prevalent in modern society but also because there isn’t a season two. This means you’ll have to delve into the manga, which isn’t bad. Thank god for manga! Claymore currently airs on Funimation and Crunchyroll, so you have options. One last thing I know you want to watch the dub, which isn’t bad but go sub. Todd Haberkorn voices Raki, the second protagonist. Todd is a good English VA, but I could only stomach his voice for so long.
Third on this list is an anime I discovered by accident. I’m only a few episodes in, and I am hoping it breaks the five-episode rule. Orient is a Winter 2022 anime that aired from January to March 2022. It is an A.C.G.T. Studio animation. A.C.G.T. is best known for the 2003 classic Kino’s Journey and Initial D Fourth Stage. For those unfamiliar with this studio, it doesn’t fall off the lips as, say, MAPPA, Bones, or Perriot. Orient is currently airing on Crunchyroll.
Orient takes place in Hinomoto. The citizens living in Hinomoto live blind blissful, peaceful lives but at a cost. Their young are forced to mine stones for what the citizens consider to be their liberators. In reality, these liberators are mere demons who subjugate the people of Hinomoto. The samurai that once fought against these beasts are now viewed as outcasts, and their descendants are ostracised. The series protagonists, Musashi and Kojirou, know the truth.
What I have enjoyed about this anime thus far is how the people have gone to great lengths to make the Samauri the enemy, even going as far as to teach it in school. I feel a bit of nostalgia watching Orient as it reminds me of my childhood belief that despite how oppressed we become, there will rise a hero to rescue humanity. Naive of me, isn’t it? I guess that was one perk about being a child.
For these last two, I decided to drop a two-for-one from the same franchise, and since I’m feeling like a kid, I could care less if you shrug your shoulders. Coming in at fourth and fifth respectively, The Irregular at Magic High School and The Honor at Magic High School. Watch them in that order. So, imagine, if you will, a world in which, instead of taking Auto CAD or electrical engineering, you could say, major in magic. Yes, the thing of childhood birthday parties, Disney movies, and David Copperfield specials. Anyway, “The Irregular” follows protagonists and siblings, Tatsuya and Miyuki.
The duo has managed to enter the prestigious Institute of Magic. This institute is where future master magicians are trained before joining the National University of Magic. Like all good schools and the movie Starship Troopers, students are separated based on test scores. Blooms and Weeds designation and a bit of class segregation should explain everything.
So why is “The Honor” included in this list? I have an addiction to underdog stories, however, Tatsuya, as it were, is OP, and unfortunately, OP characters tend to overshadow everything, including character development. The Honor at Magic High School adds a bit of a course correction by giving us more Miyuki and slightly less Tatsuya, which is a good thing. It also provides us with the story from Miyuki’s point of view.
Additionally, it adds in other characters and takes a more humanizing approach instead of being a complete retelling. Viewers can expect to munch through two bags of popcorn or roughly 39 episodes. That’s twenty-six for The Irregular and thirteen for The Honor, both of which can be watched on multiple streaming platforms.
So there you have it, my five recommendations of anime to watch before Chainsaw Man and Spy x Family Second Cour kick back into high gear. Personally, I am a trained rat, so I’ll have to wait until they complete so I can binge them at once. I lack the patience to wait a week. So until we read again, stay sane, stay safe, and thank you for allowing me to be a part of your anime day.
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