Top 10: Cool Swords in Anime

Welcome to our monthly Top 10 anime list.
This month I am going to be looking at some cool and unique swords in anime.  This list isn’t in any particular order I’ve just numbered it for simplicity.

10. Kurikara

A powerful demon slaying sword, Kurikara is said to have had a demon fused inside of it. The sword was originally forged to fend off evil spirits, but later it ended up in the hands of Rin Okumura, the son of Satan. The sword is important to Rin as it holds back his innate demonic power.

(Blue Exorcist)

9. Scissor Blade

One-half of a pair of giant scissors, know as the rending scissors, the red scissor blade is Ryūko Matoi’s weapon of choice when she’s fighting to avenge her father (the scissor’s creator). The second half of the blade wound up in the hands of Nui Harime, Ryūko’s father’s murderer. The scissor blade is almost the only way possible to cut through the life fibres utilized in the Goku uniforms.

(Kill la Kill)

8. Samehada

Shamehada, the shark skin blade, is a very large blade composed of razor-sharp scales. Shamehada is capable of eating the chakra of any who oppose it, not only that but the sword itself is sentient, capable of contorting its body to reach an opponent even if they were to dodge. While normally being wrapped in a cloth lining, Samaehada is eventually unwound to reveal its true power as the strongest of the seven swords of the mist.

(Naruto Shippuden)

7. Yoru

Regarded as one of the strongest swords in the world of One Piece, Yoru stretches over 7 feet in length and the blade is entirely black. In the hands of Dracule Mihawk the sword has the capability of slicing Don Krieg’s flagship in half with just one slash. Mihawk is also capable of deflecting bullets with just the slightest movement.

(One Piece)

6. Archenemy

A traditional looking nodachi, Archenemy, AKA “The Sword of Resentment” is a weapon so fearsome that it is believed that just unsheathing it could cause uncontrollable destruction of a devastating proportion and thus the holder must vow never to break the seal. Kagura Mikazuchi, the sword’s wielder, is able to use Archenemy to defeat her opponents without even unsheathing it. However, she broke her vow during her fight against Erza in the Grand Wizard Games.

(Fairy Tail)

5. Dragon Handle

The dragon handle appears to only by the remnants of a once full sword. While in most cases completely useless as a sword, in the hands of Meliodas the sword becomes a formidable weapon capable of deflecting any attack that comes Meliodas’ way. It is later revealed that the sword is not a sword, but in fact, a piece of the coffin of darkness.

(The Seven Deadly Sins)

4. Claymore

The Claymore it the standardized weapon for all Claymores (an organization of yoma hunters) and has a unique symbol engraved in it that pairs it to its wielder. The sword itself is a quite large, double-edged blade that never seems to ware or dull. Each sword also has a color assigned to its handle, this color describes how the user wields the blade. Red is possessed by offensive users, whereas green is reserved for the more defensive users. However, any claymore ranked 10 and above has a blue handle.

(Claymore)

3. Murasame

Known as the “One Cut Killer”, Murasame is a cursed blade that will kill anyone from even the slightest cut. This is because once the blade cuts the skin, the victim is inflicted with a curse of poison, stopping their heat in a matter of seconds. However, in the hands of Akame, the sword curse in little more than a bonus.

(Akame Ga Kill!)

2. Crow Claw

While not technically being a sword, the crow claw is the manifestation of Senji Kyyomasa’s branch of sin. Being comprised entirely of his blood, Senji is able to pull the claw out from any part of his body and shape it into any size. Senji has spent years mastering his claw and is now capable of slicing through solid steel.

(Deadman Wonderland)

1. Elucidator

The Elucidator is a jet black sword that belongs to the protagonist of Sword Art Online. Along with the “Dark Repulser”, Kirito dual wields the two blades in order to create a devastating combo of quick, hard to counter, barrage of attacks. Kirito received the sword as a reward item for defeating the boss of floor 50, however, he initially did not have enough strength to wield it.

(Sword Art Online)

Thank you for reading my list, I hope you enjoyed it. If you have an idea of something you feel should have been on the list then leave a comment and let me know.

H

Top 10: My Favourite Animes

Welcome to our monthly Top 10 anime list.
This month is the Anime Accords first anniversary and celebration I’m going to be sharing some of my all time favourite animes, either ones that I really, really loved or just ones that have a lot of sentimental value to me.  This list isn’t in any particular order I’ve just numbered it for simplicity.

10. Deadman Wonderland

There is a lot I love about this show, the action, the story, the concepts I love it all (except for Gantas crybaby attitude). So it may come as no real shock when I say that I was instantly hooked on DW from the very second I heard the start of the awesome opening song.

(Deadman Wonderland)

9. Sword Art Online

Ahh, Sword Art Online many love it, many hate, guess which side of the fence I fall on. Way back when the concept was still fresh SAO really grabbed my attention and pulled my right in, never had an anime seemed so magical and brilliant. Since then my eyes can clearly see the gaping holes in this show’s plot, but that hasn’t stopped me from loving it.

(Sword Art Online)

8. Haganai: I don’t have many friends

This show is great, why? I don’t know, I just like it. Haganai is a show about a bunch of people with no friends who form a group with the purpose of making friends. As the story progresses they all become closer as people, yet they don’t recognise each other as friends. It’s all very convoluted but still an entertaining show. Denifitly needs a season 3.

(Haganai: I don’t have many friends)

7. Elfen Lied

The deeply disturbing Elfen Lied was second anime I tucked away under my proverbial belt and it has definitely had a lasting impression. As I said in my review, Elfen Lied is the kind of show that I compare every other show of the like too. Plus, you know you’re hooked when you watch the entire show in just one day.

(Elfen Lied)

6. Naruto

I remember watching Naruto way back when I was just a little kid, and it wasn’t till only a few years ago that I actually went through and watch all the episodes, including the fillers (AKA curry of life arc). And to this day I’ll still sit down and watch a bit of Naruto.

(Naruto Shippuden)

5. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU

This show is one of strange connection for me. For some reason, I strongly associate with the main character and that just make all the drama so much more effective. There is a lot I love about this show but there’s no real way for me to put it into words. If I had to try, I’d say it comes to down right solid character and story writing.

(My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU)

4. Hellsing Ultimate

How could I not put this here, the dark humour and grizzled gore is what makes Hellsing so special. The true meaning of vampire is fear and this show encompasses that perfectly, plus whats more fun than a British vampire butchering waves of zombie nazis.

(Hellsing Ultimate)

3. Samurai Champloo

Hip-hop samurai, you would not be mistaken for thinking that that marriage of ideas would work out too well, but this show is the proof. On top of the brilliant animation, the characters and settings are what really make this show stand out. I personally really love the cohesion of Edo era and modern era elements and the way they create this totally historically inaccurate culture that still works.

(Samurai Champloo)

2. Gantz

Here we have the very first anime I ever watched fully. And the anime that got me hooked into anime to begin with. Not only is Gantz full of gore and death but there is a lot of strong Phycological tension as well. It might not be a masterpiece but it will always be my first anime.

(Gantz)

1. Fairy Tail

If you have seen any of my other blog posts then you may have noticed that Fairy Tail makes its way into my writings fairly often, and there’s a reason for that, I like it. Being the series that I have followed the longest Fairy Tail has really be one of the major animes in my anime career and it will always an important series to me.

(Fairy Tail)

Thank you for reading my list, I hope you enjoyed it. If you have an idea of something I should make a top 10 about list then leave a comment and let me know.

H

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Top 10: Badass Women in Anime

Welcome to our monthly Top 10 anime list.
This month I am going to be discussing some badass women in anime.  This list isn’t in any particular order I’ve just numbered it for simplicity.

10. Shiki Ryougi –  the Garden of sinners

Possessing the “Mystic Eyes of Death Perception“, Shiki Ryougi has the unmatched ability to see the death of something and thusly destroy the source. Shiki was raised to have two personalities, one male and one female. Unfortunately, after a car accident left her trapped in a coma for two years, the male personality has since died, leaving only the female half of Shiki. On top of this Shiki feels disconnected to her life before the accident and has since had an unfriendly manner towards others, in an attempt to resurrect her other half.

(the Garden of Sinners)

9. Haruko Haruhara — Fooly Cooly

Despite her appearance, Haruko Haruhara is actually an intergalactic patrol officer. On the hunt for Atomsk; a notorious galactic pirate, She finds herself on earth. With nothing much to do, she busies herself acting as a housemaid for the Nandaba household. She is first introduced through the act of running over the protagonist “Naota“, with a scooter and then bashing him in the head with a bass guitar. She then acts to fight alongside Naota to defeat the Medical Mechanica but only does so so that she can manipulate Naota to get access to Atomsk’s power.

(Fooly Cooly)

8. Nana Osaki – NANA

One of the titular characters of the Nana series. Nana Osaki is the rebellious lead singer of the Black Stones (Blast). She has always been troubled by her past, due to the fact that she was abandoned by her parents at a young age. As a result, Nana has developed an issue of connection. No matter how hard she tries to pull away from those around her, deep down she can’t stand the thought of losing someone else. So instead she decides she will give everything she has to pursue her dream of becoming a professional singer.

(Nana)

7. Rebecca Lee (Revy) – Black Lagoon

Revy was born in America and grew up in the poverty and violence of a china town in New York. Raised by her abusive and alcoholic father. Then after being arrested, Revy was beaten and raped by a corrupt police officer, soon after returning home, she murdered her father. More recently, Revy has been working as a gun for hire aboard the Black Lagoon, mercilessly and skillfully dispatching anyone who stands in the way of her paycheck. Swiftly earning herself the name “Two Hands” for the way she dual wields two Cutlas pistols.

(Black Lagoon)

6. Akame – Akame Ga Kill!

Know across the land as “Akame of the Demon Sword Murasame” is a gifted swords woman who has joined up with the group of rebel assassins in the plot to bring down the crown. Initially, Akame worked for the crown but not by choice. She and her sister were kidnapped and sold to the kingdom to be trained as assassins but not being able to live with the atrocities she was committing Akame defected and has since sworn to get revenge, meanwhile her sister is still an assassin among the crowns ranks.

(Akame Ga Kill!)

5. Black Lotus – Accel World

Although her real name is not known to any, Black Lotus has gained the rank of the Black King in the reality augmenting program Brain Burst. Unfortunately, after a crushing defeat by the Red King and her minions, Black Lotus was forced to go into hiding to retain any chance of reaching level 10 and defeating all “six kings of pure color“. In the real world, she knows throughout Umesato Junior High School as one of the most popular students and also acts the Student Council Vice-President, giving her quite the high status.

(Accell World)

4. Ryuko Matoi – Kill la Kill

The main protagonist of  Kill la Kill, Ryuko Matoi has a fiery temper and a bone to pick. After the death of her father, she began her quest to hunt out his killer and get revenge. She transfers to Honnōji Academy to hunt for the other half of her scissor blade, the means of her father’s demise. However, after almost immediately starting a fight and getting beaten Ryuko finds herself in a bit of a situation. This leads her to the discovery of Senketsu (a sailor suit made of life fibres) and forever changing the history of the world.

(Kill la Kill)

3. Clare – Claymore

No. 47 in the Claymore ranks, Clare would appear to be nothing more than an average at best Claymore whos shoes could be easily filled. However, Clare is unique in the fact that she is the only claymore to have gained her powers from the flesh and blood of a fellow Claymore, rather than the usual way of taking them from a Yoma. In an unforeseeable twist of fate, Clare turns out to be one of the fastest swords in the whole of the ranks of the Claymores. Leading to unimaginable power and being one of the first to become a partially awakened being.

(Claymore)

2. Yoko Littner- Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Originating from Littner, Yoko is introduced into the show along side the attack of a gunmen on Jeena, Litten’s neighbouring village. It turns out that she has been hunting this particular gunmen with the intent of killing its drivers. She is well recognised for her distinguishing attire along with her impressive arsenal of weaponry. While primarily using a hefty sniper rifle based on the Barrett M82, she has also been known to sport hand guns.

(Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)

1. Erza Scarlet – Fairy Tail

As one of the almighty few S-Class wizards among the Fairytail ranks, Erza Scarlet has built up the reputation of the undaunted, monstrous warrior, capable of annihilating any foe, earning her the name “Titania, Queen of the Faries“. She specialises in Spatial Magic, allowing her to store various armours and weapons in a void, that she can use whenever she wished. She is also known as being the fasted mage in the world when it comes to requiping her gear. Erza also specialises in sword based combat, having the power to slice through concrete with just the air from her swing. But despite her brave facade, she is tortured by the horrors of her childhood.

(Fairytail)

Thank you for reading my list, I hope you enjoyed it. If you have an idea of something you feel should have been on the list then leave a comment and let me know.

H

Top 10: Great Psychological Animes

Welcome to our monthly Top 10 anime list.
This month I am going to be discussing some great psychological animes that I really enjoy.  This list isn’t in any particular order I’ve just numbered it for simplicity.

10. Monster

Dr. Kenzou Tenma, the brilliant brain surgeon with a budding future and renown skills. All of that changes when he is forced to make a choice, either save the life of the town’s mayor or save a young boy, either way, he forfeits the life of the other. However, a series of murders begin occoring and all signs point towards the boy as the killer.

(Monster)

9. When They Cry

The story of a young boy who, when moving to a new town begins attending a school and making friends. However, during the village’s yearly festival for the local god, a mysterious series of murders gets these local villages kids caught up in the disastrous cycle of death. A show wedged deep in the roots of insanity.

(When They Cry)

8. The Future Diary

Yukiteru Amano, a solitary high school student who spends all his time writing everything around him down in his diary in extensive detail. That is until his supposedly imaginary friends offer him the chance to participate in a mysterious game to decide the new king of time and space. Yukiteru will be forced to team up with his Yandere stalker if he is to survive the game.

(The Future Diary)

7. Elfen Lied

The story of a girl named Lucy, a rare breed of humans called Diclonius. Characterised by horns and invisible telekinetic hands the Diclonius are imprisoned and experimented on by cruel scientist. Lucy manages to escape the scientific facility, in the process getting shot in the head and gaining amnesia. After washing up on the shore of a small town, Lucy is taken in by two strangers. Little do they know that the Scientist will do whatever it takes to retrieve Lucy.

(Elfen Lied)

6. Parasyte -the maxim-

When a species of parasitic aliens arrive on earth, the set about world domination by burrowing into the brains of their human victims, claiming them as hosts. It is not long until the aliens have full control of the human race. Unfortunately for them, one parasite failed to infect the brain of Shinichi Izumi, instead inhabiting his hand. He will be the only one able to stand against the invasion.

(Parasyte -the maxim-)

5. Death Parade

Set in a neon-fueled bar caught between life and death, Death Parade shows what lurks behind the mask of the average human. After death, two people must play a “friendly” bar game to see who will be re-born and who will be lost to purgatory, forever.

(Death Parade)

4. Death Note

After the Shinigami – Ryuk – drops a mysterious notebook into the human world, Shining prodigy Light Yagami discovers that it has the power to kill whoever name is written in it. Light then sets out to rid the world of everyone he deems “unworthy” however, it won’t be long until he begins to get a little to power crazy. And thus begins the path of his undoing.

(Death Note)

3. Danganronpa

Hope’s Peak Academy, a school for only the very best individuals who show shining promise in a particular characteristic. Unfortunately for these fifteen students, the only way to graduate is to murder the other students and successfully get away with it.

(Danganronpa)

2. Ergo Proxy

Humanity has fallen and one of the last remnants of civilisation resides in the hopeless city of Romdo. The humans have developed AutoReivs, robotic assistants that aid them in their daily lives. However, it seems that somehow the “Cogito Virus” is giving these AutoReivs self-awarenes.

(Ergo Proxy)

1. Hell Girl

There is a rumour, that if you visit a website called Hell Correspondence at the stroke of midnight, you can enter the name of your tormentor and have their soul ferried to hell by Ai Enma. In exchange, you must sell your own soul and become assigned to an eternity of torment in hell.

(Hell Girl)

Thank you for reading my list, I hope you enjoyed it. If you have an idea of something you feel should have been on the list then leave a comment and let me know.

H

Top 10: Anime Clichés

Welcome to our monthly Top 10 anime list.
This month I am going to be discussing anime Clichés, you know what I’m talking about, the main character sitting at the back of the classroom next to the wind, playing with their bright green and blue hair that sticks up in a vertical line.  This list isn’t in any particular order I’ve just numbered it for simplicity.

10. Back of the classroom

Here an original thought, I’m not sure how many animes I’ve seen where the main character chair is position at the back (or near enough) and/ or next to the window of the classroom. In most cases we see them staring off into space pondering one thing or another. Just of the top of my head, I can think of several animes where this Cliché is present and yet only one where it is not. I’m not saying that this is always the case and I’m sure if I took a moment more to think about it I could come up with a few more that don’t follow this Cliché, but for the most part, this seems to be quite a common seat placement.

(Deathnote)

9. The nose bleed

What comes to your head when you think of someone getting a blood nose in a anime, I bet it isn’t getting hit in the face. No, I bet we’re all thinking of the infamous nose bleed that many characters suffer when they find themselves excited over one bosom or another. Despite this occurrence being completely unfounded in any source of reality, it is still an incredibly common way of expressing when a character is feeling sexually aroused. Still, it always makes for a good laugh to see one of our characters get shot across the room by a jet stream of blood.

(Rosario + Vampire)

8. Bad hair day

Anime seems to have a serious issue with its hair, its either so boring and similar that it’s almost impossible to distinguish characters, or is so ridiculous you can’t take the character seriously. I mean talk about overdoing it, although I suppose it’s better than getting the characters mixed up so I’ll accept it.

(Yu-Gi-Oh!)

7. “YAAAAAAAAAA”

Ever wanted to know how to hit harder, run faster and beat the bad guys better. Simple, try yelling, yes yelling. Every anime character knows that by yelling loud enough you will be able to anyone who opposes you, either that of the power of love. But seriously I don’t know why this became a thing, but it’s cool and silly at the same time.

(Dragon Ball Z)

6. Them be fighting clothes

What’s cooler than an all our brawl filled with furious fighting and super awesome powers, taking 20 minutes before a fight to change into another pair of pants. That’s right I’m talking about the changing scene that happens before every fight. There always way too long and if it’s a feature of a show then it’s in every episode. I just find it to be way to over the top, especially in today’s animes.

(Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt)

5. Cop a feel

We’ve all been there, you’re just walking around minding your own business when all of a sudden you trip over the floor and fall on top of you sweetheart, in the process somehow managing to get a big old handful. Like seriously the amount of time this happens in anime is beyond any mere coincidence. While I can understand the comedy of the situation but when it happens over and over again it makes me that it’s about time to come up with something new to spark the romance.

(Absolute Duo)

4. For my next attack

In a similar vein to changing outfit for a fight, why anime characters feel the need to yell out the name of their attack right before they do it. What are the rules for yelling anyway, sometimes they yell the name and other times they don’t? If you don’t need to say the name then why bother in the first place since all that’s doing is telling the enemy what you’re going to do.

(Fairytail)

3. Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?

What is it with a male character who looks like chicks. Primarily but not limited to the Ecchi genre it is not an uncommon sight to see a questionably male character forced to dress up as a female; usually resulting in some poor unsuspecting poor smuck falling smitten with the character.

(Sword Art Online II)

2. My master plan is as follows

This can be applied past the realm of anime, what’s with bad guys always revealing their evil plan to the hero. I mean no wonder bad guys always loose if the tell the hero how to stop them. I understand that its an easy mechanism to add in exponential information but it quite often just seems like lazy writing.

(Naruto Shippuden)

1. Technically Invincible

You know what I’m talking about when the main character is totally beaten down and the villain is standing perfectly fine, the hero just believes in themselves or one of their friends says they can do it and they just get up all fine and dandy and subsequently overpower the opponent.

(One Piece)

Thank you for reading my list, I hope you enjoyed it. If you have an idea of something you feel should have been on the list then leave a comment and let me know.

H