Oscar and Yemi, from the Anime Society Exec, recommend two animes to a wide audience.
Neon Genesis Evangalion
The action of this mecha anime (mecha meaning an anime involving giant robots, just like in Power Rangers) takes place in a post-apocalyptic era. Humanity is under threat from extra-terrestrial beings called “Angels” which come to the Earth after finding out their “ancestor”, Adam, has been hidden here.
Angels want to combine with Adam (as they have been separated eons ago) but that will cause an explosion strong enough to destroy the planet. Therefore, the Japanese military has created Evangelions – giant robots that can only (for a reason explained later on) be operated by teenagers. Evangelions (also called Eva units) are humanity’s last hope in the survival against Angels, as conventional weapons are useless.
Enter Shinji Ikari. As the son of the mastermind behind Evangelion creation, Gendo Ikari, he struggles to accept the role of an Evangelion pilot that has been imposed on him by his father. The series explores the complicated relationship he has with his father, as he befriends other Eva unit pilots, Rei Ayanami and Asuka Soryu. The three fight against the Angels in an increasingly tense atmosphere – politics in the shadows concerning the “Human Instrumentality Project”, difficulties in teamwork and personal dramas all contribute to the slow erosion of Shinji’s sanity...
I highly recommend anyone to watch it, but beware – it will impress you, but not in the ways you’d expect.
Oscar Stepien (President)
Erased
Now that the Winter 2016 season (January – April) of anime is fully underway, we can watch artistic, wonderfully presented shows like Hai to Gensou no Grimgar (Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash) to the alternate future, sci-fi wonderland of Dimension W. However, what I’ll be looking at in this article is a show that many would have considered to be a middle-of-the-pack show, but has definitely become the number one contender for AotS (anime of the season).
Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (ERASED) follows the story of 27-year-old Satoru Fujinuma, a struggling manga artist who also works part-time as a pizza delivery man. He is afflicted with a strange ability, known as “Revival”, where he is involutarily sent back in time 5 – 10 minutes whenever an accident near him occurs, as if he is meant to prevent it. However, when he is sent back 17 years to his days as an elementary school child, a bigger, much darker story begins to unfold. With its cinematic style and movie like production, ERASED tackles themes such as loneliness, child abduction and love, whilst managing to have a few well placed funny moments.
If there is any show that you should definitely make time to watch, it’s ERASED!
Yemi Oladimeji (Secretary)
