What is a road anime? It is an anime about characters who travel along the road. Not useful, huh? OK, it is an anime where the main character(s) are on a journey, and that’s the plot or main plot device. There aren’t too many of these which come to mind, so let me broaden the definition to include any anime where a journey supports the main plot. Better? Let me give you some of my favorites and you can get the idea.
Kino’s Journey is the perfect example of a road anime, but it is not one of my favorites. Actually, I didn’t like it. But if you liked it, let us know why.
So my favorites:
Michiko & Hatchin. A hardened criminal is forced under circumstances to team up with a runaway, abused orphan. They really don’t like each other, so naturally a bond forms as they go in search of a man from both their paths.
Spice and Wolf. Unfortunately, I have only seen season 1, but I liked what I saw. Lawrence is a traveling merchant who teams up with a god known as Holo the Wise Wolf. The wise wolf part seems to be her idea. She is a wolf, but can take the form of a human female – and not always clothed. They travel together and experience one adventure after another.
Inuyasha. Most of you know this one. Kagome falls down a well, finds herself in the Warring States era, whatever that is, and teams up with a female demon hunter, a horny priest, and the half-dog demon Inuyasha. Oh, and that little fox demon Shippo. (The rejected Marx Brother?) Off they go seeking the shards of the Shikon jewell, a journey which quite frankly goes on a bit too long. After episode 70, it admittedly does get redundant.
Monster. Japanese doctor Kenzo Temna gets a tour of Europe like nobody else will have. Traveling all over the central and eastern portions of the continent, Temna gets to see the dark underbelly of Europe as he searches for the psychotic mass murderer Johan, while trying to evade the police.
Tokyo Sinks 2020. I may be stretching it a bit here. A series of earthquakes causes Japan to start sinking into the ocean, so this one family hits the road.
Master Keaton. This is another stretch, but the main character, as a result of his multiple jobs as an archeologist, professor, lecturer, and detective, is constantly on the move throughout the world.
OK. Your turn. What are your favorite road anime series or movies, and tell us about them. Or comment on one of the ones I posted.
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