July is Graphic Novels in Libraries Month. To celebrate this
occasion, we’re going to look at anime – which has many connections and
crossovers into graphic novels. Stop by your local Mercer County Library
System branch to see our great selection of anime and graphic novel
materials, or check them out at mcl.org!
The first anime I ever saw was Neon Genesis Evangelion. It
was on a VHS tape from Blockbuster Video. I remember being captivated by
the detailed visuals and the story of a boy my age that operated a giant
robot and lived with a cool lady and a penguin. The fact that
Evangelion was able to shift from dark and moody to absurd and
light hearted isn’t lost on me – or any other anime fan. It’s a genre
that is as varied as any other storytelling medium.
There were a lot of ways to watch anime, but I personally liked
getting up early and catching an episode of Dragon Ball Z
before I went to school. It was a show about a group of friends who
fought aliens and went on adventures. It wasn’t deep, but it was fun. It
became a peaceful morning ritual before I started my hectic days. In the
evenings, my friend and I would sit down to watch a show called
Cowboy Bebop. At the time, the idea of a dark and philosophical
cartoon that featured jazz music was pretty mind blowing.
It feels like my entire generation was doing the same thing. I didn’t
always want people to know that I liked it because I was embarrassed,
but by the time I graduated from high school, our athletes were doing
impressions of Goku going Super Saiyan and I remember some girls joking
about how much they liked Sailor Moon.
We have a good collection of anime here at MCLS and I’ve collected
some great and varied titles for you to check out. Anime is a global
phenomenon today, so everyone is welcome to enjoy it whether you’ve
never seen it before or if you just want to take a trip down memory
lane. Share your favorite anime in the comments!
Cowboy Bebop: The Complete Series
“The Bebop crew is just trying to make a buck. This motley lot of
intergalactic loners team up to track down fugitives and turn them in
for cold hard cash. On their own, any one of them would be likely to get
lost in the sprawl of space, but together, they're the most entertaining
gang of bounty hunters in the year 2071.”
Assassination Classroom: Season 1
At Kunugigaoka Junior High School, Assassination Classroom class 3-E
is the lowest of the low. With abysmal test scores and no future
prospects, they've been given up on and hidden away from the main campus
at the top of a deserted mountain. But when a super-powered tentacled
creature with a thirst for destruction becomes their new teacher,
they've got a brand new assignment to get them inspired about school:
take him out.
Sailor Moon: Season 1
“Usagi Tsukino is a cheerful schoolgirl who often finds herself in
unwanted trouble. One day, she saves a talking cat named Luna who gives
Usagi a brooch that transforms her into Sailor Moon, guardian of love
and justice!”
Attack on Titan: Season 1, Episode 1-25
“When the man-eating giants called Titans first appeared, humans
retreated behind massive walls. After a hundred years of safety, a
colossal-sized Titan smashes through the defenses, unleashing a flood of
giants and carnage in the streets. Eren Jaeger watches helplessly as one
of the creatures devours his mother. He vows to kill every Titan walking
the earth.”
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Complete Series
“At the dawn of the New Millennium, mankind has awakened a threat
unlike any faced before--the Angels. They can only be stopped by means
of the Evangelions, bio-engineered vessels born from the Angels' own
technology. The forbidden knowledge is key to bringing about a new
genesis for the human race.”
Death Note: The Complete Series
“Light Yagami is a genius high school student who is about to learn
about life through a book of death. When a bored shinigami (God of
Death) named Ryuk drops a black notepad called a Death Note, Light
receives power over life and death with the stroke of a pen. Determined
to use this dark gift for the best, Light sets out to rid the world of
evil...namely the people he believes to be evil.”
Dragon Ball Z: Season One
“The Saiyans are coming! The last survivors of the cruel warrior
race, these ruthless villains have carved a path of destruction across
the galaxy, and now they have set their sights on Earth! They will stop
at nothing. Includes 39 episodes.”
Fruits Basket: The Complete Series
“The Sohma family has a curse they've kept hidden for generations.
Whenever a member of the clan is hugged by the opposite sex, they turn
into an animal from the Chinese Zodiac! Now Tohru Honda must never
reveal their secret or her most cherished memories could be lost
forever.”
-Andrew, Lawrence Headquarters Branch
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