There exists an ancient evil of unspeakable power. This evil entity, Talpa, was so powerful that his victory over humanity seemed almost inevitable. But, just before Talpa could take over the world the Ancient One showed up. This being of light sealed Talpa away for thousands of years and created an era of peace. However, Talpa has broken out of his imprisonment and threatens to enact revenge on the world. It’s now up to the legendary Ronin Warriors, with their mysterious armor, to fight Talpa and his warlords. Though their combined strength may not be enough since it seems the evil threat has returned more powerful than ever!

This series has a very straightforward narrative. There is group of heroes fighting against a group of villains and their evil master. The show delves into the background and motives of each member of the Ronin Warriors. They undertake a journey to develop their mind, body, and spirit so that they can become the heroes the world needs them to be. This is important because the story is so linear.

The viewer knows there will be fated battles where each hero will face a warlord. The eventual clash of weapons and techniques, though entertaining, is not that important overall. It’s through the moments of struggle and personal growth that this show becomes memorable and a classic.

Ga Rei: Zero is a prequel to the original Ga Rei series. In this story, the main focus is on the two female leads: Yomi Isayama and Kagura Tsuchimiya. Both of them are descendants of exorcist families. They work together with a team of other exorcists to fight against powerful demons.

The great thing about Ga Rei: Zero is that you don’t have to read the original manga to appreciate this show. It stands on its own through the strength of the two main characters. The relationship between Yomi and Kagura is central to the plot. So much time is devoted to those two gradually becoming as close as sisters. They share their burdens and tragedies with one another. At a certain point you question how the events of episode 1 are even possible after the two girls have become so close.

The show is filled with action, suspense, and mystery. Plot twists and emotional moments are abundant. It does an excellent job of separating itself from the rest of the supernatural anime involving demons.

Tetsuya Kuroko is on a mission to find out if his philosophy (on the game of basketball) is capable of taking on the strongest high school players in Japan. He was once a member of the Teikou Middle School basketball team. That team was so strong that it was given the nickname “Generation of Miracles”. Tetsuya was the sixth man for Teikou. Now that those members have moved on high school, they have parted ways and become prominent members for their own high school teams. Kuroko no Basuke is the story of those high school teams facing off against each other to see who is truly strongest.

This one is the most contemporary out of all the shows on this list. It is also the only sports anime on here. It had to be placed here because it is one of the most entertaining and energy inducing series ever created! You would never think that watching someone pass a basketball, dribble past a defender, or shoot a 3-pointer could make your jaw drop. But, Kuroko no Basket manages to make every single detail of a basketball game seem as if it’s the most impressive thing you’ve ever seen.

The rivalries are fierce and characters are unique. They put all of their emotions, energy, and bodies on the line each game. This show has so much bravado and testosterone flowing that you’ll want to pick up a basketball and prove yourself against the local players in your area as well!

Reborn is a unique take on the world of the mafia. A new head of the Vongola family has been chosen. This family is one of the most powerful and well-respected mafia families in the world. So, it comes as quite as a surprise when the newest chosen boss is thirteen-year-old Tsunayoshi “Tsuna” Sawada. How could Vongola family’s new head be a young junior high school student from Japan?

Reborn, a hitman and close friend to the current Vongola boss, is given the task of tutoring Tsuna and preparing him to become the leader he is destined to become. However things look difficult for Reborn as his newest student appears to be helpless and has no plans of becoming a member of the mafia.

Reborn successfully takes the elements of classic shounen anime and utilizes them in a unique way and in a surprising setting. Fighting, power-ups, rescuing people, making friends, and developing bonds are all common points you’d suspect from this genre. They are definitely in this show as well. But, the engaging characters, narrative devices (e.g., time travel and curses), and comedic moments are unique enough to make them feel fresh.

Fourteen year old Yusuke Urameshi a junior high school student who constantly gets into fights. He has a proven reputation for being a troublemaker. So, it comes as a surprise when he suddenly jumps in front of a car to save the life of a little boy. This premature end to his life is noticed by the rulers of the otherworld.

They decide to give him a second chance. But, things are much different the second time around. He can now see the ghosts, demons, and monsters that have been hidden from the vision of normal people. With his heightened senses and new abilities he is appointed the position of Spirit Detective, protector of humanity.

This show is a personal favorite because of the huge amount of character growth Yusuke undergoes. From the beginning you see that he is a lonely person who has the capacity for doing great things. However, his own fear of failure and selfishness prevent him from reaching his potential. The people and events in his life slowly force him to grow up and break through the constraints he has placed on himself.

Anyone who watches this show can sympathize with the pain Yusuke comes across and can draw a parallel between his life and their own.

(My extended review on YYH can be read here:Yu Yu Hakusho Review and Characters )