The other day, another poster mentioned depression. So it got me thinking, why not start a thread on anime which would be good for fighting depression? That is, anime which will take your mind off your troubles and make you happy – for whatever reason. My top 5 from the bottom up:
5. Full Windup. I haven’t watched too many sports anime, but this is one which I highly recommend. Note I can only speak for season one. I have not seen season two. Ren dreams of being a big league pitcher, but after getting hit around the yard, he feels like a loser. It takes a new team, a new catcher, and a new coach to show this young control specialist that he can be, and is, a winner! How’s that for making you feel better? Ren’s wuss act does wear thin, and that costs the series some points. But stay with it until the end, and you will feel much better.
4. Cromartie High School. Takashi is a well behaved high school student who has never been in trouble. He is mistakenly assigned to a school for delinquents and becomes head of one of the gangs. His rival gang leaders are a robot, a gorilla, and the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. Eventually Takashi becomes the head of all gang leaders thanks to his knowledge of yogurt. Sounds dumb, right? Well, it is. But it is also fun to watch. You knew some dumb, but fun anime would be on this list. The only shortcoming is many of the jokes satirize Japanese culture, and if you are not Japanese you might not get those jokes. But there are other jokes which you will find hilarious.
3. Letter to Momo. Now there are some depressing issues with this 2011 film early on. There is a death of a parent and abandonment issues. But stick with it. With the aid of three rather inept goblins, Momo learns to grow past her depression and learns that even from beyond the grave, she is loved. Knowing you are loved should lift anyone’s spirits. Happy tears and lots of smiles from this one.
2. Kill Me Baby. What kind of a title is that for a depression fighting anime? Hint: This is another dumb, but fun. Elementary school student Yasune wants to make friends with classmate Sonya. But Sonya is a highly trained assassin who does not want to be friends. Together they share many exciting, and idiotic, adventures, along with another schoolmate Agiri, who is a ninja looking to make a few bucks selling ninja tricks on the side. Stupid, stupid, stupid. But fun to watch.
1. Stepped Up Love Story. OK, this is one you are really going to have to trust me on. This short series is about two virgins in their late 20’s who marry without knowing much about sex. With the advice of a few friends, they learn. Eventually they become mentors to a younger couple. This series is not totally soft-core hentai, but it comes pretty damn near close. But again, trust me. This anime, while not skimpy on the nudity and sex, does have a nice tender love story to it. It is about two people in love who are willing and eager to do anything to please the other. And watching true love has to make you feel good. The fan service is a free extra.
List yours, and why.
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