Reki's Inner Studio

Hey, do you all remember when I decided to do a countdown of my top ten anime episodes of all time? WAY BACK IN 2007? And how I did every single one EXCEPT FOR MY #1 EPISODE?

Well, you probably don't. But I do!

Unbeknownst to you all, I did do a write up, but I was not able to finish it and then I kind of left it to moulder. But now it is done, and now I can share it.

But before I do, here are some links for those who would refresh their memories on my other 9 top episode choices:

Countdown... 10 to 7.
10. Hikaru no Go, episode 60, Farewell Hikaru
09. Honey and Clover II, episode 12, "...I'm here"
08. Rozen Maiden Ouverture, episode 2, Vanity
07. Mushishi episode 20, The Sea of Brushes

6 to 5
06. Ghost in the Shell, Standalone Complex, episode 25, Smoke of Gunpowder, Hail of Bullets
05. Digimon 02, episode 8, Ken's Secret

4
04. Neon Genesis Evangelion, episode 22, Don't Be

3
03. .hack//Sign, episode 19, Recollection

2
02. Hikaru no Go, episode 75, That Same Old Smile

... and now. Finally. Finally.

At last, here it is: my number one most absolute favourite anime episode of all time!

01. Haibane Renmei, episode 13, Reki's World/A Prayer/Epilogue

nymeria, you called it, and I suspect it will not come as a surprise to anyone who knows me even a little. However, despite my deep love of Haibane Renmei, I do not recall ever making a very detailed post explaining exactly what it is about the series that moves me. I hope this corrects that.

To the people who have not seen this series (*), I strongly recommend that you not read this summary, and go watch Haibane Renmei instead. Really. It's only 13 episodes. The pacing is kind of slow and dreamy, especially at first, and initially there is a sort of otherworldly slice-of-life feel that might not appeal to everyone. But the payout at the end, as I am about to describe, is simply one of the most lovely things I have ever seen. Not just in anime, not just in art: in my lifetime.

Obviously, this series will not affect everyone as strongly as it has me. That's okay, because Haibane Renmei has sacrificed universal appeal in order to capture a more specific audience. I don't think it was created for people who think they are better than everyone else, nor do I think that liking this anime series is a sign of higher taste or a more evolved soul. It's just... well, you know how Michaelangelo's art has a sort of universal appeal, but Picasso's is more divisive? Haibane Renmei risks boring and alienating some in the hopes of burrowing more deeply into the hearts of those who appreciate it. By courting a minority audience, it aspires to be a life-changing art; for me, it succeeds.

So: before clicking on the cut, consider yourself and whether you think your taste might be similar to mine. If there is any chance you might fall in love with this series, do not read what I have to say about it until you have seen it through to the end.

Really, think about it!

That said, here it is:

( Reki's World/A Prayer/Epilogue )



(*) excepting anax, who could not get beyond four episodes and refuses to watch any more on the principle that HR is "so not my thing" (and he's right, it's not).

Did you think I had abandoned this?

Never fear, I was just waiting until I was at work again! Apparently!

( #2 top anime episode: Hikaru no Go, episode 75, That Same Old Smile )

More Top Ten Anime Episodes of All Time!

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At this point I should reveal that Fullmetal Alchemist did not rate a top 10 anime episodes slot. Not at all. :( "All is One, One is All" almost made it, with the lovely little cicada scene, and the overall impactful storytelling, but Sai's final farewell makes me weepy and that is always a decisive factor in these things.

It's kind of weird that FMA doesn't rate, especially considering my deep love of Scar. But that's really a series where the interconnectedness of the episodes, and the careful building of story and characterization (until someone passed around the peace pipe, anyway) is not something well captured in any single episode.

Oh well, Scar. *pets him* You are still my favourite.

Onward!

4. ( Neon Genesis Evangelion, episode 22, Don't Be )

Am at work, and as things are (for the moment-- knock on wood) quiet, I have decided to prepare a top 10 list of my favourite/most memorable anime episodes. Not series: episodes. Each of the episodes listed has a special quality that sets it apart. Not only are they episodes that I have gone back to over and over again, but they have an emotional resonance for me, affecting my life in singular and profound ways.

Although anime as a medium is not always the most serious artform in the world, at its best it has the ability to move me as much, if not more, than my favourite books. I've been a fan of this form of media ever since I was a child, even outside of my appreciation for various series that Japan has produced. There is a kind of visual artistry that can be achieved with animation techniques that is separate from anything seen in live action film (or, for that matter, strict CGI); I would not say that hand-drawn animation is superior to other visual media, but in terms of my own personal taste, it is what I tend to be drawn to. It evokes something of my own heart's longing that I also get from books, but with an added dimension of visual artistry that makes me ache with happiness.

So, here are my top 10, in reverse order from least to greatest. Assume spoilers.

10. ( Hikaru no Go, episode 60, Farewell Hikaru )

9. ( Honey and Clover II, episode 12, ...I'm here )

8. ( Rozen Maiden Ouverture, episode 2, Vanity  )

7. ( Mushishi episode 20, The Sea of Brushes )

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Wow... this is getting to be long! Well, I'll cut it off here, and will pick it back up with episode 6. HOPEFULLY!

"There's no such thing as perfect writing. Just like there's no such thing as perfect despair."
-- Murakami, Hear the Wind Sing


My first Murakami was Norwegian Wood. It was five years ago, in 2001, when my friend Olive pressed a book into my hands and said, "read this, you'll like it." She was right. It soon became my favourite book for that year, and I carried it around covertly in my backpack, dipping into it whenever I needed to take a break.

I've always had Murakami books with me since then.

To prepare this soundtrack I went through all ten of his published fiction works in English, as well a Jay Rubin's excellent "The Music of Words," a book that explores the meaning of Murakami's writing through the lens of one of his three main English-language translators. Having done that, my intention is not to make a "balanced" soundtrack that touches on each of his works, but rather a cohesive one that gives a picture of Murakami's prevailing musical moods. I want this to be the kind of music you can listen to when reading his books, which is another way of saying that I want this soundtrack to be the kind of thing you can listen to on a lazy summer day on a beach by the sea, either alone or with pleasant company. This is music for swimming, for drinking beer, for making love, for eating a multi-course Italian dinner with, and most importantly, for getting lost in.

Haruki Murakami's musical influences are primarily jazz, classical, and what would now be considered oldies American rock. These are the kinds of songs you'll find on this soundtrack, and I hope you will enjoy them as much as I have.

( cover )

( content )

Full Megaupload FST download: Down Mexico Way: A Haruki Murakami FST (total 86.05 MB)

(crossposted to fst)