Razor's Column #2: Top 5 Anime from 2011 to Now..... Number 5

[† RazorDan]

So, due to the forum rollback and changes, it seems like my first column is lost. I figure it's pretty pointless re-doing it, so I've decided to go ahead and post number 2.

For this issue, I've decided to produce an article, discussing my top 5 anime that have been made in the past two years. Kinda random I guess, but I was thinking about how not very many recent series have entered my top 20 list. Obviously this only includes ones I have seen, so don't complain if I don't include something like Steins Gate! I'll post one series per issue, and that series will also be the Anime of the Week. Here we go:

5) Ao No Exorcist

This world consists of two dimensions joined as one, like a mirror. The first is the world in which the humans live, Assiah. The other is the world of demons, Gehenna. Ordinarily, travel between the two, and indeed any kind of contact between the two, is impossible. However the demons can pass over into this world by possessing anything that exist within it. Satan the god of demons, but there's one thing that he doesn't have, and that's a substance in the human world that is powerful enough to contain him!! For that purpose he created Rin, his son from a human woman, but will his son agree to his plans? Or will he become something else...? An exorcist?

(Source: MU)

Razor's Rapid Review:

This was a pretty damn awesome series. A fairly unique story helped immediately set it apart from other series and piqued my interest from the very beginning. The music was kick-ass too and this only made me like it more since I pay a LOT of attention to openings and such. Anyway, here's the ratings:

Story: 1/2

I loved the story. It was unique, interesting and made sense! However, there was a feeling that many people expressed and one that I kinda agree on. The story does get bogged down and becomes very stereotypical, in terms of being a shounen, in the middle. Still, the premise is very interesting.

Characters: 2/2

Classic shounen characters. Rin is just great, as is Amaimon. Though a lot of the characters, as well as the series on a whole, are kind of cliches, this doesn't take away from the story at all. You got your badass, dependent female, headstrong protagonist, yet they're still really enjoyable! A complaint could be made that the characters don't develop a lot, but I don't agree with that.

Art: 2/2

Amazing is all I can say. Everything looks so perfect. Kuro in particular is an example of great art. No faults.

Sound: 2/2

Yep, as mentioned before, I loved the music in this series. So much so, that I have both openings on my iPod!

Enjoyment: 2/2

I loved the series and watched it weekly, almost religiously. Though towards the end I did lose a bit of concentration, it kept me hooked enough to watch it weekly.

'Epic' Factor (Final Rating)

This is a funny little category, that's specific to me. In this category, I decide how special an anime feels to me. This factor is what helps me differentiate between the anime that I've rated 10/10. Sometimes, the epic factor makes me bump a series up a couple grades. This series I grade at......... 9/10

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Anime Character of the Week

Akise Aru [Mirai Nikki]

One of the highlights of the series, really interesting character.

Anime Song of the Week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdawMdSL1Y

In keeping with Ao No Exorcist theme, I've picked opening 1, Core Pride by Uverworld as Song of the Week.

That's it for now, next time I'll post number 4!