ANIME
Dragon Ball Z
As anime began its second return to American TV, anime aficionados would be ridiculed if DBZ was not included. First broadcast in 1996, Goku and company would rock Saturday mornings fighting various villains, gaining new strengths, while protecting the legendary Dragon Balls and Earth. Today, DBZ continues through various spinoffs including DBZ Kai, Dragon Ball Super and its current arc, Dragon Ball Daima through various streaming services.
As anime began its second return to American TV, anime aficionados would be ridiculed if DBZ was not included. First broadcast in 1996, Goku and company would rock Saturday mornings fighting various villains, gaining new strengths, while protecting the legendary Dragon Balls and Earth. Today, DBZ continues through various spinoffs including DBZ Kai, Dragon Ball Super and its current arc, Dragon Ball Daima through various streaming services.
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon focuses on 14-year-old Usagi Tsukino, a naïve Japanese school girl who is destined to save humanity from the forces of evil. Usagi and her fellow soldiers are aligned with the planets of the Milky Way solar system and the Moon Kingdom, in which they resided during their previous life. Throughout the manga and the anime adaptation, Usagi learns of her previous life and the downfall of the Moon Kingdom and her destiny as the Eternal Guardian and future Neo-Queen Serenity of the 30th century. Chances are if you're reading this description, you already know what has happened in the series because everyone who has ever watched anime either knows what Sailor Moon is or has watched the series in syndication in America or one of its many adaptations. It's that beloved and popular, and for good reason: It's Sailor Moon.
Sailor Moon focuses on 14-year-old Usagi Tsukino, a naïve Japanese school girl who is destined to save humanity from the forces of evil. Usagi and her fellow soldiers are aligned with the planets of the Milky Way solar system and the Moon Kingdom, in which they resided during their previous life. Throughout the manga and the anime adaptation, Usagi learns of her previous life and the downfall of the Moon Kingdom and her destiny as the Eternal Guardian and future Neo-Queen Serenity of the 30th century. Chances are if you're reading this description, you already know what has happened in the series because everyone who has ever watched anime either knows what Sailor Moon is or has watched the series in syndication in America or one of its many adaptations. It's that beloved and popular, and for good reason: It's Sailor Moon.
Sword Art Online
As Japanese role-playing games gained popularity worldwide, it was only a matter of time that they would become anime series. Based on a series of light novels, this series follows Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki as they and other MMORPG gamers are trapped in a literal life or death game that could only be defeated by completing all 100 levels of the game.
As Japanese role-playing games gained popularity worldwide, it was only a matter of time that they would become anime series. Based on a series of light novels, this series follows Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki as they and other MMORPG gamers are trapped in a literal life or death game that could only be defeated by completing all 100 levels of the game.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen works on the premise that supernatural elements exist as well as Cursed energy, which normal humans cannot control or use. Highschooler Yuji Itadori swallows a finger of ancient sorcerer Sukuna, which allows Sukuna to possess him. He is then taken to Jujutsu High to learn to control his newfound powers. It's action-packed with a large cast of creative characters and beautiful art.
Jujutsu Kaisen works on the premise that supernatural elements exist as well as Cursed energy, which normal humans cannot control or use. Highschooler Yuji Itadori swallows a finger of ancient sorcerer Sukuna, which allows Sukuna to possess him. He is then taken to Jujutsu High to learn to control his newfound powers. It's action-packed with a large cast of creative characters and beautiful art.
Soul Eater
Soul Eater delves into the machinations of Maka Albarn and Soul Eater, a demon-hunting duo who strive to collect enough evil human souls to transform Soul into a Death Scythe. Death Scythes are the only weapons fit for use by Shinigami, the headmaster of their school, the Death Weapon Meister Academy. While it primarily follows Maka and Soul's journey, there are two other teams that work toward the same goal (Tsubaki and Black Star and Death the Kid and sisters Liz and Patty Thompson) and they become friends while improving their skills along the way. The story and characters are awesome, and Gaming Insurrection has personally cosplayed as Maka and Soul while meeting other series cosplayers in the years since the series was released. It's fun and unique though be warned: There are significant changes between the anime and manga that may be jarring.
Soul Eater delves into the machinations of Maka Albarn and Soul Eater, a demon-hunting duo who strive to collect enough evil human souls to transform Soul into a Death Scythe. Death Scythes are the only weapons fit for use by Shinigami, the headmaster of their school, the Death Weapon Meister Academy. While it primarily follows Maka and Soul's journey, there are two other teams that work toward the same goal (Tsubaki and Black Star and Death the Kid and sisters Liz and Patty Thompson) and they become friends while improving their skills along the way. The story and characters are awesome, and Gaming Insurrection has personally cosplayed as Maka and Soul while meeting other series cosplayers in the years since the series was released. It's fun and unique though be warned: There are significant changes between the anime and manga that may be jarring.
Samurai Pizza Cats
What do you get when you mix medieval/futuristic Little Tokyo, anthropomorphic animals, samurai and pizza delivery? Samurai Pizza Cats. This series has Speedy Ceviche, Polle Esther and Guido Anchovy fighting the attempts of the corrupt prime minister, Seymour "The Big" Cheese, while making sure their pizza business stays afloat.
What do you get when you mix medieval/futuristic Little Tokyo, anthropomorphic animals, samurai and pizza delivery? Samurai Pizza Cats. This series has Speedy Ceviche, Polle Esther and Guido Anchovy fighting the attempts of the corrupt prime minister, Seymour "The Big" Cheese, while making sure their pizza business stays afloat.
MyAnimeList.net
My Anime List, better known as MAL, has been around for a long time. We joined in 2012 and 2024, respectively, but we've been using it for longer than that. MAL is an excellent anime tracking tool. If it's a show that has ever aired, it's probably on MAL. While we mainly use it to catalogue our extensive watch and finished show lists, we also use it for anime and manga recommendations and connections to current anime we're watching. There are also other cool sections like the discussion forums and MAL x Japan, where you can buy merchandise.
Website: www.myanimelist.net
My Anime List, better known as MAL, has been around for a long time. We joined in 2012 and 2024, respectively, but we've been using it for longer than that. MAL is an excellent anime tracking tool. If it's a show that has ever aired, it's probably on MAL. While we mainly use it to catalogue our extensive watch and finished show lists, we also use it for anime and manga recommendations and connections to current anime we're watching. There are also other cool sections like the discussion forums and MAL x Japan, where you can buy merchandise.
Website: www.myanimelist.net
