Hello

This time, the keyword is recommended classic anime, and I wanted to write a little about anime that is well worth putting on while you play games.

MapleStory is especially the kind of game where having some other video or audio on in the background has basically become part of the culture, especially while grinding, and I remember that when I used to run The Seed over and over, I would look for just about anything I could put on, from videos to podcasts.

As for anime, which is the focus of this post, my tastes are fairly narrow, so I usually only seek out things that specifically catch my interest, and I also tend to prefer reading over watching, so there are not many series I know especially well. Still, I picked out two comedy manga that I think are absolutely worth setting aside some time for if you have not seen them yet.

Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto - Author: Nami Sano - Ages 15 and up

[Official manga description]

Stylish walks to school, flashy escapes from being late, smart lunch breaks...... Sakamoto, who brings "edge" to every little thing he does, makes the girls' hearts flutter. The school delinquents who cannot stand him try to make a fool of him, only to find themselves gradually reformed by his "coolness"......

A breakout gag manga that lit up the first half of 2013. It became a frequent topic of conversation among manga readers not only in Japan but in Korea as well, and it is essentially a school-life comedy built around the impossibly cool and wonderfully absurd Sakamoto. A big part of its appeal is the contrast between the serious-looking art style and the completely unexpected comedic impact.

[Rating]

[Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto] is an anime that aired in 2016, based on the manga of the same name.

The story centers on Sakamoto, a mysterious figure who seems perfect in every possible way, and it is the kind of series with so many striking moments that individual scenes circulated widely as clips and reaction images. I remember getting interested in it after seeing those myself. The scenes featuring the protagonist are consistently funny, and even though it is naturally the sort of manga where it is hard for anyone besides the lead to steal the spotlight, I liked that the supporting cast still played their parts well.

The original manga also wraps up in a short, punchy 4 volumes, and the anime fits the full story neatly into 12 episodes, so it is a very satisfying watch. In the anime's case, there is also an additional 13th episode that works as a kind of epilogue.

This was the author's second work, though from what I have heard it was practically a debut in all but name. The fact that it sold hundreds of thousands of copies per volume purely through word of mouth for simply being funny is impressive in itself.

I have heard the manga she serialized after finishing this one was also well received enough to get an anime adaptation, but sadly, she passed away from cancer in her mid-30s. It is deeply unfortunate in every sense.

Hinamatsuri - Author: Masao Ohtake - Ages 15 and up

[Official manga description]

A yakuza and a psychic girl living a dangerous urban life together!

A strange cone-shaped object falls into the home of Nitta, a rising member of the Ashikawa-gumi yakuza organization. What emerges from it is Hina, a blank-faced girl with psychokinetic powers.

When Nitta tries to throw out his uninvited guest, Hina subdues him with psychokinesis and ends up living with him. As she repays him in her own way, the two begin a dangerous life together... dangerous, that is, for Nitta's survival.

[Rating]

Hinamatsuri is an anime that aired in 2018, based on the manga of the same name.

This manga does feature a yakuza and a psychic as its leads, and those elements are certainly used in plenty of scenes, but one of its real strengths is how often it shows the everyday, human side of its many distinct and memorable characters. As a comedy manga, it reliably lands its funniest moments, and on top of that, it also delivers genuinely moving scenes through characters that are easy to grow attached to, without ever feeling forced. It is the kind of anime you can watch comfortably and simply enjoy.

The anime is only 12 episodes long, while the original manga ran for quite a long time from 2010 to 2020 and concluded in 19 volumes. The manga has more raw, rough-edged expressions and episodes, so personally I prefer the original. The ending is also wrapped up nicely, so if you decide to read it instead, you can do so without any real worry.

J, the lonely assassin known as "Untouchable" in the underworld, and
Megumi, a lonely girl with no place to belong either at home or at school.
An unpredictable killer ⇔ elementary schooler switching life begins when the two meet!

The author of this manga is also currently serializing a follow-up work, and that one is worth checking out too. Its anime adaptation has already been confirmed, so if you liked Hinamatsuri, I do not think you will regret giving that one a try either.

Thank you for reading.