3 most underrated anime

Underrated: underestimate the extent, value, or importance of (someone or something)

For this list, I am talking about anime that I feel is very good but not talked about or as popular as I think it should be. Think of them as diamonds in the rough.


3. Speed Grapher

I found this anime while browsing Netflix about a year ago, and thinking it would be another mediocre anime, because netflix pretty much only has mediocre anime. But after watching it, it became one of my favorites. After going to myanimelist.net and  looking at the popularity ranking (639), I was shocked. Speed Grapher is one of the most unique anime I've seen to date. When I say that, I mean it's not a bunch of cute highschoolers or any other generic and overused plot/setting. What I really like about Speed Grapher is how it's a very character driven, gritty, and dark show that shows what the ugly side of people is, sometimes literally. Oh, and the main character, Saiga, has a power that let's him blow anything up with a camera. Pretty cool right? Has an amazing opening song, cheesy but fitting music, and has one of the most exciting battles towards the end. A must watch. 

2. Kanon 2006

This anime never seems to be brought up when talking about great romance/drama anime. Clannad (my favorite anime) is usually brought but never this, even though Kanon is a great anime as well. Much like Clannad, you end up loving almost all of the characters, which can then turn into sadness, because this anime is quite a tearjerker. The animation and music in this are also top notch, with the music being what really makes every scene memorable. The storyline for this seems simple: the main character goes around helping other girls with their problems. But I see it as such a good anime BECAUSE it's simple, yet it is so entertaining and beautiful. A definite must watch for fans of Clannad, or drama/romance anime in general.

1. Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom

This is another anime that liked because of the very unique setting and characters. The main character wakes up not remembering anything about his past life, or even his name, and given 2 choices. He can either become an assassin for a gang called Inferno, or he can refuse, and be killed. He decides he wants to live, and is partnered up with an emotionless girl who also doesn't remember anything about her past. We watch them live their dangerous lives as assassins, becoming immersed in their world. This is another anime driven by the characters, as such, you'll end up rooting for the 2 to somehow escape their cruel situation, and crying in pain along with them. This is one of my top 5 anime, yet it seems like a lot of people have never even heard of it. That needs to change, because this deserves more recognition for being a brilliant anime.

Top 5 Anime Characters

We all have our favorite characters in anime. Some we like because they are fearless badasses. Some we like because they have  back stories that we can empathize with. Some we like because they have big boobs. No matter the reason, some characters just hold a special place in our hearts. Now, here are my top 5 anime characters.

1. Lelouch Vi Britannia; Code Geass

The most popular anime character of all time according to myanimelist.net, is a character that I initially didn't like. He is a self absorbed, egotistical, lying, genius, traits that I wouldn't think I would like in a character. But by midway through the first season, he was already one of my favorites, and after the second season, he was firmly planted at my number one character spot. You really want him to succeed, and the way he goes about trying to change the world is nothing less than really entertaining. Despite all the morally questionable things he does to change the world for his sister, you can't help but love this very complex and interesting character.

2. Mugen; Samurai Champloo

This puffy haired badass is one of my favorites mainly because he's exactly that, a badass. His style of sword fighting is a blend of traditional sword fighting mixed in with what seems break dancing. He's rude, vulgar, and a massive womanizer, yet he's such a funny character also. Not much is known about his back story, only that he used to be a pirate and that he never knew his parents. But there is some sympathy to be had for his harsh life as well, but he doesn't let that get in the way of being a very funny, cool, and lovable character.

3. Tatsumi Saiga; Speed Grapher

A character AND anime that are very underrated. Saiga, an ex war photographer who now lives in Tokyo, is an odd, but great character. I say he's odd because his love for photography turned into a sexual fetishism. He ends up receiving the ability to explode anything he aims his camera at due to his secret fetish. Now tell me that isn't one of the most unique powers you've ever heard! Besides his power, he's a very protective character towards people  that are important to him, as most of the show is about him trying to protect
someone. Cool, calm, collected, and having awesome hair, also helps.

4. Zwei; Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom

This character is very different from the rest on my list, mainly because you know almost nothing about him for almost half the show, yet still ended up being one of my favorites even before you found out about his history. The amount of hopelessness and depression he feels throughout the anime was thrust on to me as well, which is why I rooted so hard for him to escape his terrifying situation. He's also an assassin, which made watching him very entertaining and suspenseful. Couple that with him, despite being an assassin, being one of the most caring and kind characters towards the people he loves, and you got one hell of a guy.

5. Tomoya Okazaki; Clannad

One of the most developed characters of any anime I've seen, Tomoya starts as a student in high school who regularly skips school, sleeps in class, and is regarded as a delinquent. This alone caught my attention, as the main character is usually your average high school student. As the show goes on, he goes through the struggles of growing up and the struggles of adulthood, which is something that you don't see too often in anime. Watching his struggles through his life made me cry along with him at times, that's how powerful this character, and this anime in general are.