Posted on January 18, 2019
Admittedly, I watch mostly anime since it's relatively short, self-contained, and I can fit an episode in while I'm eating breakfast or lunch. XD Here are my picks for 2018:
- Violet Evergarden- [Netflix, complete]
Violet is an orphan of war, trained to be a soldier, but has no concept of her own feelings. At the end of the war, she's left in limbo and must learn to carry on in this new world. She takes a job as a "Auto Memory Doll." a glorified letter-writer, and learns to connect with her clients.
This series just -glows- with beauty, inside and out. Each story is more-or-less self-contained and should be savored. In fact, I think marathoning a series like this could potentially hazardous to your health. LOL
- Liz & the Blue Bird- [theatrical release]
This is a stand-alone story in the Sound! Euphonium series by Kyoto Animation. Instead of the usual cast, this story focuses on the quiet and withdrawn Misore and her best friend, the effervescent Nozomi. They have an important duet for their final competition, but a lot of difficult feelings arise as their senior year draws to a close. At it's core, it's a tale of love and loss, uncertainty and hope.
- Run with the Wind- [Crunchyroll, on-going]
Gathering the most unlikely group of dudes to run the Hakone Ekiden - a grueling winter marathon relay race from Tokyo to Hakone, and actually getting them to train is quite a feat, but Haiji, after 3 years is finally able to do it with the introduction of the 10th member, Kakeru.
I love this cast of quirky characters, all of whom are so relatable. It's been a joy to see how Haiji wins them all over with his persistence and optimism. The series continues into the Winter season and it only gets better. :D
- After the Rain- [Amazon Video]
If I told you the premise of the story was a reserved high school student falls in love with a dopey middle-aged family restaurant manager... with a son, would this series even make your list? Well, yes, that is the basis of the series... BUT! It's actually more than that - but I encourage you to watch the series to find out.
Maybe I like this series because I'm older and can appreciate the characters and their follies more. Age makes one more empathetic to their awkward moments and sympathetic to their misunderstandings. it's a sweet story and I look forward to picking up the manga as well.
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There were a lot of great series, but these were my stand-out favorites! Totally worth watching if you have a chance!
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