Anime has been popular in America for a long time. Japanese animation gives some folks access to stories that aren’t usually produced in the West or unique perspectives on well-established topics. These unique suggestions can help spice up a thriving anime collection or serve as the bedrock for developing your library collection.
Cowboy Bebop (1998)
In the background of its opening credits, this show makes a bold claim: "The work, which becomes a genre itself, will be called ... COWBOY BEBOP." While many debates the legitimacy of this claim, most overlook the groundbreaking stylings (both musical and animation), intriguing cast, and brilliantly diverse culture that exists in the solar system depicted in Cowboy Bebop.
Spike Spiegel and Jet Black are a bounty hunting duo, scouring the system for lowlives, criminals, and killers trying to make a living. They are quickly joined by the mysterious con artist Faye Valentine and the young but unmatched hacker Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivruski IV.
Their adventures are zany, unpredictable, and often revolve around putting food in the refrigerator. Cowboy Bebop is one of those anime that makes people who often hate the genre reconsider and should be first among considerations for library shelves.
Read our review of Cowboy Bebop
Samurai Champloo (2004-2005)
Fuu, a waitress at a teahouse, has her life turned upside down when a wanted killer and master swordsman Mugen starts a brawl. Ronin Jin steps in to break up the brawl, but the fight continues when this second master realizes Mugen is a match for his own skill. The two are captured by the authorities after the teahouse burns down but quickly rescued by the quick-thinking Fuu who, impressed with their skill, conscripts the duo as bodyguards in a trek to the southernmost islands of Japan.
A rambling journey from one city to the next, Samurai Champloo makes clear its anachronistic stylings from the beginning, inserting hip-hop culture into Edo period Japan with the help of artists like Fat John and Nujabes. The main characters all have intriguing backstories and ghosts of their pasts come to haunt them, sometimes with a sword.
This anime makes apparent the value of stylistic difference in animation and thrives on it. When considering anime series for developing your library collection, turn to Samurai Champloo.
Read our review of Samurai Champloo
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (2007)
While it takes a few episodes to get through the worldbuilding and exposition necessary to understand the fantasy world we’re tossed into, Moribitio takes off and must be binged. Critical to this is Balsa, a spear-wielding warrior who has promised to never end another life. Her story, conviction, and strength carry the story to its ultimate conclusion.
Often overlooked because of its slow opening episodes and female lead, Moribito contains an excellent fantasy world that uses elements of Shinto to explain spiritual and supernatural happenings. I would say more, but if I did I would be here all day. While it should be considered for anime collections on library shelves, Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit should also be considered for fantasy shelves and programming.
Read our review of Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
Mushishi (2014)
Though movies and other series by the same name exist, the 2014 series holds the most value for library shelves. Mushishi follows spiritual expert Ginko as he traverses the land studying and dispelling or sometimes helping spirits of all types known as Mushi.
Ginko himself is a Mushishi, one who studies Mushi, hence the title. Some stories are heartwarming while others are laden with despair. Ginko’s presence and meddling bind the different stories together into a saga.
While his actions seem kindhearted and pure, we are often reminded that he has unstated ulterior motives making him a complex and compelling character. This meditative and artful anime has a powerful draw for those who love ghost stories and should be considered as a part of Halloween or another spirit-themed programming.
Dennou Coil (2007)
Teenager Yuuko moves with her family to be closer to her grandmother after the death of Yuuko's grandfather. She starts at a new school and has trouble making friends. This would be a pretty typical slice-of-life drama if it weren’t for the augmented reality glasses most people wear.
Yuuko falls in with the wrong crowd, playing a part in juvenile hacking and tagging activities which eventually drive too deep to warrant ignoring; she and her friends stumble upon information about the physical and mental health effects of constant use of augmented reality.
They continue their stumbling right into a corporate conspiracy to try and cover-up that information. This overlooked series is perfect for library shelves: Filled with a cast of strong young women, an intriguing Sci-Fi topic that we ourselves are on the cusp of experiencing, and a heart-wrenching story of coming of age and friendship that will bring a tear to your eye. This series belongs on anime genre library shelves.
Budget too tight to accommodate a series? Consider these Japanese animation movie titles in collection development!
Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
Three homeless people in Tokyo find a baby abandoned in a dumpster on Christmas eve. Together, they resolve to care for the child until they can find the parents. This tale is bizarrely funny, heartwarming, and hits many hard topics in a very human way. Consider this as an alternative to more traditional Christmas programming.
Naussica of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
A pacifist princess must tame her own impulse for revenge in order to keep two warring kingdoms from destroying each other and what remains of mankind. This imaginative film belongs in many collections including Fantasy, Anime, Post-Apocalyptic, and Adventure. Ecologists of any age will love the themes in this movie.
Paprika (2006)
Therapist Paprika uses a machine to enter the dreams of her patients to aid in their treatment. One day, it disappears, stolen. This movie is the psychological-horror companion to Akira. While Akira’s horror elements lie in Cronenberg-style body horror, Paprika deals with the darkest fears of the human psyche. This is not a movie for children, but older anime-enjoyers will be interested.
Read our review of Paprika