The Tuesday release of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies brought fans in everywhere to finish off the movie adaptation of the book. I myself took a trip to the local theater and witnessed the pure genius that Peter Jackson produced and was not disappointed in the slightest. But I know not all of us can afford the time to make it to the movies during the week, (really, it’s getting hard to afford the movies at all), so here’s my suggestion for a couple anime to tide you over until you can make it to the movies yourself!
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Official Trailer
Welcome to the NHK
(Japanese: NHK ni Youkoso!)
This is an odd anime, in the sense that the main character is what we could call, well, crazy. Tatsuhiro Satou is a 22 year old hikikomori (people who shut themselves in) who begins to see things that aren’t there, attributing this to the secret organization, the NHK (Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai). Everything is a conspiracy. Nothing is by chance (really he’s rarely wrong) and everything is out to get him or take advantage of him in some way shape or form. Throughout the series his newly acquainted friends work together to attempt to bring him out of the hikikomori culture and back into society.
He is legitimately a NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training), one of the few that wants to break away and go back into society. The issue he has is that these imaginary things he sees are all telling him how everyone around him is staring or laughing at him. He can barely get off of his futon to go find a job without a mental breakdown.
How does this relate to The Hobbit? Well it’s simple. Here’s a SPOILER for you though, so if you don’t want to know anything keep on scrolling. Thorin Oakenshield goes crazy, legitimately crazy. He hears voices, sees things that aren’t there, and becomes an all-around ass to his friends and allies. Eventually (just like Satou), he overcomes this insanity with the help of his friends as well.
Welcome to the NHK Official Trailer
- Episodes: 24
- Aired: Jul, 2006 - Dec, 2006
Lord Marksman and Vanadis
(Japanese: Madan no Ou to Vanadis)
This is an anime that employs tactics, warfare and armies. If you don’t know how that relates to the Hobbit, read the end of the title of the movie, believe me there’s five of them and they’re all amazing (elf-man right here, team elf, whatever the kids are calling it these days I’m all for the elves).
The show itself is set in Western Europe during times of war, with Brune at war with itself, Zhcted at war with itself and small skirmishes happening all throughout. One of the things I adore about this anime is how the tactics and warfare is all explained to the viewer as if we were looking at the map boards with troop overlay. It helps add a sense of reality to the show, making the magic still a factor but less so.
The point of Lord Marksman and Vanadis is more of a harem fantasy/adventure series. The Zhcted are attempting to head into Brune while Brune is busy within itself, and along the way Eleonora Viltaria meets Tigrevurmud Vorn, a young archer from a small territory. Eleonora defeats the army Lord Tigre is accompanying, but due to the skills he possesses with a bow, she decides to spare his life in exchange for his servitude. Eventually his skills with a bow are challenged with magic and dragons, will his skill be enough?
Lord Marksman and Vanadis Official Trailer
- Episodes: 13
- Aired: Oct, 2014 - Dec, 2014
Those would be my choices for a couple anime to tide you over until you can make it to the movies. Warfare, magic and all out insanity aside it’s definitely a movie you want to see in theaters. If not for the movie itself then for the music (it really is some of the best music to fall asleep to!). With that, let me know if you think there’s a different anime that should be added! We’d love to hear from you all on your opinions in the comments section down below!