Alright, this is about the best individual episodes. Including 2 parters and individual shorts within animatrix or others.. No movies. Because I think a truly inspired work can really shine for 25 minutes or so if the team puts their effort into it. Sometimes you could just feel it and those episodes excel above the series norm. Anyway, my library is not too vast but here's some of my favorites in no particular order (PS - don't read reviews if you havent seen episodes, may contain spoilers)
Cowboy Bebop - Pierrot Le Fou
Just watched this one again today, sparked the thread. I just think this is 25 minutes of brilliance. Everything about it has a film noir feel to it. A beautifully woven tale within the Cowboy Bebop universe. Had a very cool villain, dark colors overall, haunting music, great fights. I really liked the first fight Spike has with Mad Pierrot. The far shot where his kicks are blocked by the cane. Also, the insane animation. A lot of exaggerated stylistic movement. The flashback was awesome, as no voices spoke over it, just a techno backround sound. And the whole creativeness of the fight in the amusement park. Like I said, 25 minutes of brilliance. There's just so much to like.
Cowboy Bebop - Real Folk Blues part I and II
This 2 part episode still leaves me gripped, shocked, and satisfied everytime. It's rare for something still to have that impact a second or third viewing. Music was wonderful throughout. The mysterious past of Spike and the whole backround story of Cowboy Bebop didn't dissapoint. It still kept the mysterious intrigue as always, leaving that to the imagination, and finished the series with likely the best of the run. The sequence that plays an altered real folk blues as Spike storms the buidling is also superb. Not much more I can say except "Bang".
Cowboy Bebop - Ballad of the Fallen Angels
Last episode on the list from this amazing series, though I could probably throw a few more in if need be. But this episode was the first episode that just left me in awe. I heard a lot about the series while looking into anime year's back, and when I saw the best of set at Blockbuster, I grabbed it. This was the last episode on the disc, and it just floored me. I immediately ordered the series off Amazon.com following this rental. Just tons of style all through the episode, leading to some of the best music, fight choreography, and moments in the series. Getting thrown from the church with the flashback and slow motion is among the best things I've seen in anime.
Berserk - episodes 15 & 16 (The Decisive Battle & The Conqueror)
Hard to pick an episode when an anime has a storyline across the whole series. But this episode really had so much happening. Griffith's dreams seemed brightest here, and so achievable. It was almost like a mini movie about a single war. Tons of ups and downs, and just pure bad ass fighting. I also loved how smart and strong the opposing army was. After the idiotic commander character of before that the anime expanded on, it was nice to see a level headed opposing officer. And to see the battle strategy unfold was very cool.
Berserk - The Eclipse & Perpetual Time (final 2 eps)
Simply for the ammount of emotion these episodes took out of me. With the manga not a thought in my head at that time, I have to admit I wanted to kill whoever did this. But in the whole world of Berserk, they pulled this off with amazing accuracy to Miura's chapters. This is what the whole series lead up to, and they delivered even with their low budget. You could just see the work put into this. You just felt everything, Guts' heroic efforts, hatred for Griffith. It definetly accomplished something
Samurai Champloo - episode 1 (Temperstuous Temperaments)
This episode is all about experimentation. I think Wantanabe just went off with it, showing his love for animation. There's tons of style, like any good Wantanbe episode. Character designs just shine. Some individual shots are awe inspiring, like the guy's eyes while talking to Mugen right before he gets his arm chopped off, Mugen's entrance into the tea house with the light shining through, The hat shielding Jin from the blood he just drew, the shine of the blade when they go to chop Mugen and Jin's heads off at the beginning. There's so much to admire. Especially the fights. Wow, the fights. Maybe the best sword fighting in animation. The shaky cam giving it a "I'm there" feeling is cool too. And the fluid animation, awesome staging. I love it all
Samurai Champloo - episode 13 & 14 (Misguided Miscreants - part 1 & 2)
This was all about the story. Number one, you got Mugen's backstory and the episode just puts you right into a somber feel. All the stuff Mugen put up with. Then it begins to move into a great plot. There's a feeling a fear lingering too, because the enemy just seems capable of manipulating and hurting Mugen. A real Vicious/Spike feel. But as the plot thickens, that brings a lot to the story as well. The unlikely become manipulators, everyone trades on everyone in brilliant fashion. Episode 14 particularly is what's so amazing. The music and backstory was so touching. And the moment Jin meets Mukuro.. Wow. The line "I was supposed to kill him" and the proceeding fight. I may have jumped out of my seat and cheered, I don't really remember. But it was so quick, so real, and so brutal/deadly. Then things being set right in the end by a hobbled Mugen. The movement on his slices here was awesome.
Cowboy Bebop - Pierrot Le Fou
Just watched this one again today, sparked the thread. I just think this is 25 minutes of brilliance. Everything about it has a film noir feel to it. A beautifully woven tale within the Cowboy Bebop universe. Had a very cool villain, dark colors overall, haunting music, great fights. I really liked the first fight Spike has with Mad Pierrot. The far shot where his kicks are blocked by the cane. Also, the insane animation. A lot of exaggerated stylistic movement. The flashback was awesome, as no voices spoke over it, just a techno backround sound. And the whole creativeness of the fight in the amusement park. Like I said, 25 minutes of brilliance. There's just so much to like.
Cowboy Bebop - Real Folk Blues part I and II
This 2 part episode still leaves me gripped, shocked, and satisfied everytime. It's rare for something still to have that impact a second or third viewing. Music was wonderful throughout. The mysterious past of Spike and the whole backround story of Cowboy Bebop didn't dissapoint. It still kept the mysterious intrigue as always, leaving that to the imagination, and finished the series with likely the best of the run. The sequence that plays an altered real folk blues as Spike storms the buidling is also superb. Not much more I can say except "Bang".
Cowboy Bebop - Ballad of the Fallen Angels
Last episode on the list from this amazing series, though I could probably throw a few more in if need be. But this episode was the first episode that just left me in awe. I heard a lot about the series while looking into anime year's back, and when I saw the best of set at Blockbuster, I grabbed it. This was the last episode on the disc, and it just floored me. I immediately ordered the series off Amazon.com following this rental. Just tons of style all through the episode, leading to some of the best music, fight choreography, and moments in the series. Getting thrown from the church with the flashback and slow motion is among the best things I've seen in anime.
Berserk - episodes 15 & 16 (The Decisive Battle & The Conqueror)
Hard to pick an episode when an anime has a storyline across the whole series. But this episode really had so much happening. Griffith's dreams seemed brightest here, and so achievable. It was almost like a mini movie about a single war. Tons of ups and downs, and just pure bad ass fighting. I also loved how smart and strong the opposing army was. After the idiotic commander character of before that the anime expanded on, it was nice to see a level headed opposing officer. And to see the battle strategy unfold was very cool.
Berserk - The Eclipse & Perpetual Time (final 2 eps)
Simply for the ammount of emotion these episodes took out of me. With the manga not a thought in my head at that time, I have to admit I wanted to kill whoever did this. But in the whole world of Berserk, they pulled this off with amazing accuracy to Miura's chapters. This is what the whole series lead up to, and they delivered even with their low budget. You could just see the work put into this. You just felt everything, Guts' heroic efforts, hatred for Griffith. It definetly accomplished something
Samurai Champloo - episode 1 (Temperstuous Temperaments)
This episode is all about experimentation. I think Wantanabe just went off with it, showing his love for animation. There's tons of style, like any good Wantanbe episode. Character designs just shine. Some individual shots are awe inspiring, like the guy's eyes while talking to Mugen right before he gets his arm chopped off, Mugen's entrance into the tea house with the light shining through, The hat shielding Jin from the blood he just drew, the shine of the blade when they go to chop Mugen and Jin's heads off at the beginning. There's so much to admire. Especially the fights. Wow, the fights. Maybe the best sword fighting in animation. The shaky cam giving it a "I'm there" feeling is cool too. And the fluid animation, awesome staging. I love it all
Samurai Champloo - episode 13 & 14 (Misguided Miscreants - part 1 & 2)
This was all about the story. Number one, you got Mugen's backstory and the episode just puts you right into a somber feel. All the stuff Mugen put up with. Then it begins to move into a great plot. There's a feeling a fear lingering too, because the enemy just seems capable of manipulating and hurting Mugen. A real Vicious/Spike feel. But as the plot thickens, that brings a lot to the story as well. The unlikely become manipulators, everyone trades on everyone in brilliant fashion. Episode 14 particularly is what's so amazing. The music and backstory was so touching. And the moment Jin meets Mukuro.. Wow. The line "I was supposed to kill him" and the proceeding fight. I may have jumped out of my seat and cheered, I don't really remember. But it was so quick, so real, and so brutal/deadly. Then things being set right in the end by a hobbled Mugen. The movement on his slices here was awesome.
