Rest In Peace: Anime’s Dearly Departed

The inevitability of death. Even anime, who’s meant to entertain its audience, expresses and explores the concept of mortality together with the emotions that subsequently follow. Perhaps a way to make the experience closer to reality. A character may be just a plain sketch. But for a fan, an anime character is much more. They’re mentors, sweet rivals, or close friends. Any painful feelings brought about by their demise are true.

So let’s look back at those anime characters that once taught us to value life a little more. Which ones did you shed tears for?

He loves to drink, travel, and sleep with girls. Very improper for a priest. But who says there’s anything normal in the world of Trigun? Despite his facade however, Wolfwood is a man with deep understanding of life. He holds great value for family and would go ballistic at the thought of a kid getting hurt. He travels to collect donations for the orphanage where he was raised by a man called Chapel the Evergreen, and not without his “burden” – a huge cross that no one should learn more about. His past is something that he minds other people to know. He lives for the present and for the ophan kids.

Cephiro used to be a world where humans and monsters lived harmoniously. Princess Emeraude was chosen to be the Pillar and the world’s health rested upon the condition in her heart. She was expected to devote her whole being to Cephiro. However, being a human herself, her heart can never be swayed from the strongest emotion of all. Therefore, everything started to complicate itself when he heart began to fall in love.

He never cared about getting any promotion as a lieutenant, he just wanted to be happy supporting his family. He likes to have fun and compared to his comrades, holds a more positive outlook in life. He always carried pictures of his family, especially his daughter and loves to show them all to his co-workers. A family man who loves to spread the good feeling to everyone whom he comes into contact.

Kikyo used to love InuYasha with all her life. And even after being reincarnated, there was no one else for her to love but the dog-demon. As a demon herself, she still helped people who needed her priestly assistance. She seemed to know what Naraku’s plans were and would try her best to do something against it. Sure, at some point she tried to kill Kagome, but she understands that she has a different path laid out for her. She may have been a villain to some,  but she was clearly intent on bringing Naraku down.

The Third Hokage is known for his wisdom and kindness. He was the one who saw that Naruto was more than just a container for the demon fox. He likes to end things peacefully and would do anything to avoid bloodshed with anyone. However, this old man still has a lecherous side, and once ended up swooning over Naruto’s Sexy Technique. He also likes talking  to young girls.

*****

Before turning into a double-agent for Gendo Ikari and the Department of Interior, Kaji lived as an orphan. He betrayed his friends and brother who were killed by the JSDF and was since then plagued by guilt. In college, he met Misato and fell in love with her though their love didn’t last long. When he came back to Japan from Germany, he brought the hell out of the now-respected Captain Misato. He simply loved making her blush and explode in embarrassment as he reminds her of their very steamy past.

Despite the life-changing accident she encountered at a tender age, she was able to live as normally as other people. Then she met Ryoji Kaji and everything went…well, let’s just leave it. Just imagine how she reacts whenever Kaji mentions even the slightest hint of the past  with her. Being with Shinji and Asuka (and yes, even Kaji) Misato was able to see life in a different light, despite the weight of her past being too heavy. She continues to smile and make light of everything.

*****

Euphie has been a delicate soul ever since and she despises conflict. She met Suzaku Kururugi in the most unusual of situations and has since then took the heart of the Britannian soldier. She is overwhelmingly positive and holds the same view in life as that of Suzaku. When she reunited with her sister Cornelia in Area 11, she decided to form the Special Administrative Zone of Japan.

He likes to hang around in the Bebop, slacking away in front of the TV looking for bounties in the TV program “Big Shot”. He is very laid-back but nonetheless very skillful in handling a gun and Jeet Kune Do. He owns a cool ship named Sword Fish, which he uses to fly even in space. Though he may never admit to calling the rest of the Bebop his family, he nevertheless cares for them.

He used to have a twin sister and when she died, he started wearing female clothings to honor her death. No one knew about his big secret until he met Miaka and he became a Suzaku shichiseishi. Nuriko has since then become the funny one in the group who likes to use his charm and beauty much to the Suzaku no Miko’s disdain. Nevertheless, Nuriko proved to be faithful in his mission to protect the Miko and even went on to cut his braid – a symbol of his past – to gain more respect from his peers. Not that anyone would do him bad, lest they want to suffer from this shichiseishi’s herculean
strength.

____________________

Surprisingly (or shouldn’t it be), there are a number of anime characters that audiences wouldn’t mind dying. Annoying or a source of pain these characters may be, we wouldn’t know. Everyone has their own opinions why they want to kill off the following anime characters:

…and then there’s that annoying pokemon called Psyduck.

Now that one I would love to see dead ^ ^;

source (anime characters people want dead):

http://www.acen.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=22511&st=0

http://forums.abs-cbn.com/thread/1313066.aspx

http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/recycle-bin/anime-characters-yoou-want-to-kill/t.42543831_1/

http://forums.mukamo.com/showthread.php?t=4480

*****JHAJR*****

‘Dem Devilishly Beautiful Villains

Evil is Beautiful

This is by no means an endorsement to lean closer to the dark side. Though, truthfully, evil usually do lurk in the most beautiful of forms. It’s a way to entice the unsuspecting, for beauty is always seen as a positive thing, a good thing. Something that will bring happiness.

Evil in its most beautiful is seen no less in the world of anime. The antagonists, the cold-blooded killers, the unemotional souls that walk passed the protagonist to cause a stir. Not only are they blessed with striking beauty, they are also cunning, witty, and determined.

In some cases, it is the antagonists that get more attention than the innocent, naive protagonists.  They gain their own fans who swoon over their ability to make the lives of anyone who opposes them a living hell yet not forgetting to look their wicked best.

From the Feudal Period to the olden days of the Meiji era and straight to the modern days of alchemy and warfare and even throughout the far reaches of the galaxy, we count down the most sinfully beautiful evil forms in animedom. Get ready to fire up like hell!

10. Yumi Komagata (Rurouni Kenshin)

She is beautiful, intelligent, well-cultured and dignified. Her voice and eyes are enough to drive a man crazy.

Yet Yumi is not all bad. She is very much capable of caring just like what she does to Shishio. She loved him till the end. Her passion for one of the Japan’s most notorious man has enough fire to keep hell burning. In fact, if not for her siding with the bad guys, she wouldn’t be in this list.

And admit it, no one dresses up in a kimono as sexy as Yumi. What else could be expected from one of the best courtesan in the Meiji era?

09. Aoshi Shinomori (Rurouni Kenshin)

The cool and expression-less leader of the Oniwabanshuu would rather let his kodachi talk.

That composure alone makes Aoshi mysteriously beautiful. His intelligence is obvious in his silence. He is quick to think and act and although seemingly unemotional, he cares for his team members so much that he’s willing to give his own life for them. And him not saying that fact outright is what makes people love him. Of course, his striking good looks, upon which Kenshin Himura’s doesn’t even win against, is also a huge factor for making him lovable.

08. Seishiro Sakurazuka (Tokyo Babylon / X1999)

It must be the eyeglasses. Or the wavy hairset. Or the broad shoulders. Or perhaps it’s his hints of sexual perversion over his young onmyoji friend that makes Seishiro lusftfully beautiful.

Being a sakurazukamori, his mission was to kill the heir to the Sumeragi clan. So he befriended the young Subaru. Not surprisingly, the  onmyoji fell in love with his “good” side. Perhaps it was the mystery of his true colors that made people swoon over this powerful assassin.

07. Kikyo (InuYasha)

She may not be as evil as all the other monsters in InuYasha, but being a member of the dark side is what made her get to this list.

Kikyo retained her quiet but all-knowing demeanor in her reincarnated form. This time, however, she doesn’t fight on InuYasha’s side. Well, sometimes she does. Which is what brings InuYasha fans mixed feelings towards her. Yet one thing was definitely making fans agree – she’s one bad-ass priestess. Her stern looks gives goosebumps. Her long black hair stands out in her white robe. Best of all, she uses her sexyness to her advantage as she plays with InuYasha and Naraku’s feelings for her.

06. Knives (Trigun)

As a young sentient, Knives had a different look compared to his twin Vash. His was tougher and more brash. When he had grown, it was no surprise that he turned out to be a villain. But what a beautiful villain he turned out to be. His clothes successfully show his muscular build. His blue eyes stand out with his spikey, sand-colored short hair. And deep within those eyes is the longing for the love that was spared from him as a kid or perhaps just the symbol of a true-blue, cold-blooded human-hater.

05. Sloth (Fullmetal Alchemist)

She has an unmistakable gothic air in her whenever she dresses up as a homunculus. And that is what makes her very sexy. Add to that, her brown hair that waves gently along her back and the tattoo on her left chest. She’s as calm as deep water, a personality that goes well with her homunculus ability to change into liquid. She may be one of the bad guys, but being a failed attempt to bring Trisha Elric back, she retains the dead woman’s motherly affection.

04.Kuroro Lucifer (Hunter X Hunter)

When Kuroro lets his shiny black hair down, covers a cloth over his forehead and dresses up casual, one would never suspect him as a  leader of a group of bandits. He would easily come off as a good-looking and intelligent young man.

But as soon as he throws his hair back, showing a beautiful tattoo on his forehead and dresses up in his suave trench coat, he reveals himself as a powerful Nen-user and definitely a force to be reckoned with.

For a bad guy, his face comes off as kind and charismatic. Look at his big black eyes and it’s easy to feel the mysteries about him that he wouldn’t share.

03. Vicious (Cowboy Bebop)

Everybody loves a man who can wield his sword. Add to that a suit and stoic personality and you’ve got…Aoshi? No, much better…Vicious.

Who wouldn’t get drawn by his shoulder-length silver hair and devilish smile? Vicious lives up to his name. He is ruthless, bloodthirsty and ambitious. He is depicted as a venomous snake and is willing to do anything to gain power.

How good is he in using his katana? He could fight even gun-wielding foes. And what about the big bird on his shoulder? He uses it as a weapon and distraction to his enemies.

Swords and birds…hmmm…

02. Lust (Fullmetal Alchemist)

The first thing that will grab anyone’s attention upon seeing Lust is… the tattoo on her chest. No?

Lust is the most beautiful homunculus in existence. She lives up to her name but is by no means a s*** (rearrange the word “lust”). If she doesn’t like a person she could and would easily dispose it with her deadly nails. Talk about the power of a beautiful woman!

Lust has all the things that men (or women who act like men) crave for – sexy lips, long, wavy hair, striking eyes, and a gorgeous body! Who cares about her dark past? If evil is this beautiful, then it’s good to be evil!

And the number 01, the most beautiful manifestation of evil resides in the body of…

01. Lelouch Lamperouge (Code Geass)

Young and deadly, Lelouch is the epitomy of evil! Sure, he is the lead character in Code Geass but he’s such a villain after killing almost all of the Britannians in Area 11.

When he’s being a student in Ashford Academy, he looks very stylish in his school uniform or  his cool red jacket and tight-fitting pants. As the hero of the revolution, Zero, he wears a tight-fitting outfit and the coolest mask one would ever see.

His personality reeks of the royal blood in him. He’s cold, ambitious, and hides his crimes behind a dream for his little sister to be in a peaceful world. No one is as evil and equally beautiful as Lelouch.

____________________

There they are. 10 most beautiful forms of evil in anime. Do I hear a need for more? Below are the runners-up. Wickedly beautiful, but not quite enough.
*****JHAJR*****

Bebopper Reeves

Is Keanu fit for the cool role?

Click the image to read more

*****JHAJR*****

Sailor Pluto

Anime: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S

Human Name: Setsuna Meioh

Gender: Female

Birthdate: October 29

Age: Appears 19 (over 1,020 in stasis)

Hair: Green

Eyes: Red

Height: 5′7″

Blood: Type A

Status: Outer Senshi, guardian of time and underworld

Seiyuu: Chiyoko Kawashima

The sailor senshi first encountered Sailor Pluto upon arrival in the Silver Millennium era. Sailor Pluto appeared to everyone guarding the Door of Space-Time.

She is the only senshi to have existed before all the others and has the most important duty among the sailor senshis. She must never leave her post and for it would cost her her life. She once did the taboo. However, being the soldier of time, she was immediately reincarnated as Setsuna Meioh to present-day Tokyo for a much bigger mission.

Sailor Pluto is considered a dear friend of Chibiusa who seems to be the only human to visit her often as she watches over the Door of Space-Time. She also has an unrequited love for King Endymion.

Sailor Pluto has the power not just over space and time but also the underworld as reference to the Roman myth god, Pluto.  Unlike any other attacks in the series,  hers is whispered rather than shouted when used. Her Garnet Orb, one of three talismans kept by the outer senshis is the source of her power. It rests on top of the Garnet Rod, a key-like staff symbolic of her duty.

In Silver Millennium, Queen Serenity gave her three “taboos” as the senshi of time: she must not travel through time, she must not abandon her post at the Door, and she must never cause time to stop.

*****JHAJR*****

Monkey D. Luffy

Anime: One Piece

Alias: Straw-Hat, Rubber-Man. Anchor

Gender: Male

Birthdate: May 5

Age: 17 years old

Hair: Black

Eyes: Black

Height: 172 cm (about 5′8″)

Weight: 141.1 lbs

Status: Captain of the Straw Pirate fleet

Bounty: 300,000,000 Beli (End of Enies lobby Arc)

Seiyuu: Mayumi Tanaka, Urara Takano (OVA)

Luffy is the pirate-wannabe who can’t swim. He is fairly immature despite all the experiences he has encountered reaching for his dream of becoming the king of pirates. He ate the Gum Gum Devil Fruit, giving him the ability to stretch his body and use it as an almost indestructible weapon.

He grew up in a town named Fuschia Village. He was inspired by the pirate captain “Red-Haired Shanks” to pursue the same path plus obtain the Pirate King Gold Roger’s legendary treasure “One Piece”. He believed that whoever becomes the Pirate King would gain the most freedom.

Luffy is often seen as an air headed kid. He’s too carefree to be looked at seriously. His huge appetite is also something that has made him notorious more than being the captain of his ship.

Yet in every struggle, Luffy always transforms into a very loyal captain who’s willing to risk his own life for others’ safety.

Eichiiro Oda, creator of One Piece once said that during the creation of Luffy’s character, he thought about “manliness”, since he felt Dragon Ball had done all the things that a child could be happy about. Luffy’s unusual ability was the result of Oda wanting to see a silly fighting style, so as to relax the reader, no matter how tense the situation gets.

*****JHAJR*****

Check Your Passport: 10 Anime Destinations

Pull out your GPS; take out a map; and hope you didn’t forget to bring your camera. We’re cruising down animedom to list down top places to visit for the otaku traveler.

Tokyo-3 is located in Hakone and holds the world’s only line of defense against Angels. It’s a unique city with buildings that retract into the ground for safety.

Get to see the EVAs in action and destroy the enemy – but only if you’re brave enough to go outside during the commotion. Other buildings in this city serve as launch ports and weapons caches. Survive an Angel attack and get rewarded with the most breathtaking scene of buildings “growing” from the ground.

But that’s just the surface of Tokyo 3. Underneath it all is the spherical cavern called GeoFront, a landscape that is believed to have existed even before the birth of Tokyo 3. Nerv headquarters can be found here.

It’s a futuristic country with a highly advanced technology. Skyscrapers of varying shapes will sure strike you with awe and the only way to enjoy the sight is to ride a dragonfly, a futuristic flying vehicle that looks like a car with wings.

You could also try to enter the Dragonfly Race supported by the Piffle Princess Company.

Wanna hone your martial arts skills? Hidden in the Chinese forest is the training ground of Jusenkyo.

Train in its tall bamboo poles that stand in the middle of numerous springs. But make sure to have a tourist guide with you. And make sure not to fall in any of the springs lest you want to be cursed with any of the things that fell on each spring hundred of years ago. Learn more about Jusenkyo’s cursed springs  here.

Cephiro is a world guided by the prayers of its pillar. It is an enchanted place where humans and supernatural creatures live in harmony. Magic is widely observed here.

Go to the Forest of Silence and experience a day with cute animals or try to visit the temples of the Rune Gods. Celes’ is underneath the ocean; Windam’s is atop a rock formation in the sky; and Rayearth’s is inside a volcano.

You could also take a look at the castle where you might meet the pillar.

You’ll be greeted by giant faces of the Four Great Hokage engraved in a rock formation overlooking the village.

Learn how to be a great ninja in this place. Take the yearly ninja exams in the Forest of Death. Visit Naruto’s favorite place: the Ichiraku Ramen Bar.

This place is hidden in the Land of Fire so you might want to check your map.

The owner of this small shop, The Witch of Dimensions, holds a variety of very unusual treasures. The shop’s customers’ most valuable possessions can be seen here.

If you have a desire of your own, you could sell you own possessions to her as well. Unfortunately, the shop is open only to those who are terribly in need of her help.

But to make your search for this invisible shop easier, try looking for an empty lot with old fence posts amidst tall buildings. Most likely, the shop is located there.

Guys, please be reminded that Hinata Inn has been turned into an all-girls dormitory.

Once an inn, Hinata Inn has a very inviting feel to it. It is located atop a hill overlooking  a village and a huge body of water.

The place has a hot spring for customers to feel warm and fresh. Outside, you could take a stroll on the lovely street or visit Haruka’s Tea House. There is a small park in this place where a promise between two kids were once born.

Bath house business always prove to be good business and Yubaba’s Bath House is no exception.

Just before the end of each day, the place is packed with customers coming from just about every direction. The place is on a festive mood every night.

You may want to stroll down the streets and amaze your eyes, but try your best not to touch or eat anything or worse, stay until dusk.

There’s a very good reason why Yubaba’s Bath House opens only during nightime and you wouldn’t want to be a pig or worse, disappear before YOUR very eyes before you realize what that reason is.

CLAMP School is a self-sufficient place housing over 10,000 people – students and their families.Only talented students can enroll in this exclusive school that has the size and resource of a small city.

When you visit, try the Zoo or the amusement center for some entertainment; or eat at the Dukylon Bakery, or perhaps visit their old clock tower. While you’re at it, you may want to meet the famous CLAMP School Detectives or if you’re lucky enough, you may get the chance to ride their Penguin Air Balloon.

If you have the will and is lucky enough to find an energist, then you could definitely visit Gaea. It’s a world that is like and unlike the Earth.

It is located outside Earth although no one can see it. Earth, on the other hand can be seen in Gaea and is called the Mystic Moon.

In Gaea, certain places may remind you of cities on Earth. In fact, Gaea is born out of the wishes of the people of Atlantis for a place where none of their mistakes will happen.

You may want to take a trip to Fanelia and meet the Prince believed to be a descendant of the Atlanteans and possesses wings. See real dragons and energist mines.

You can also visit the Zaibach Empire where the Emperor Dornkirk, believed to be an earthling, reigns. But if you don’t have an energist, you could still learn more about Gaea here.

So that’s it! Go pack your bags and plan your next trip on any of these anime destinations. Don’t forget to buy souvenirs!

*****JHAJR*****