Summer 2014 anime series that I watched:
- Tokyo Ghoul
An interesting plot about a guy who was transformed into a half-ghoul due to an accident. A ghoul is a human-like creature who hunts and eats humans. This guy has a hard time dealing with the fact that he is now a half-ghoul. A story about how he deals with this change, keeping his identity secret from other humans and understanding the ghoul society and his powers. Most of the characters are interesting. However, the main character can be annoying sometimes but redeems himself near the end.
Rating: 8/10
- Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun / Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun
This anime always makes me smile or laugh out loud. It is a story about a high school girl who has a crush on a guy but when she confesses, he mistakes her for a fan and gives her an autograph. She soon discovers that he is actually a renowned shoujo manga artist, and so she becomes his assistant. They encounter other schoolmates who are also assistants or serve as inspirations for characters in the stories. The characters are all very likeable and well developed. It's hilarious how it flips all the gender roles of the shoujo romance genre and also gives a new spin to cliché romantic scenarios, such as a couple with an umbrella on a rainy day. This anime is a must-watch!
Rating: 9/10
- Barakamon
A story about a young calligrapher who was send off to a small island as a punishment for punching a famous calligrapher. This young guy is actually a city boy and is not used to the country life. This is a fun, simple yet meaningful story that explores several topics such as friendship, self-motivation, independence, and choice and its consequences. All the characters are likeable, and the art and animation are well done.
Rating: 8/10
Older anime series I recently finished watching:
- Nurarihyon no Mago / Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan
A very interesting story about a young boy, Rikuo, who appears to be a normal kid, but he is actually the grandson of Nurarihyon, master of a yokai clan. He has a human form in the day but transforms into his yokai form at night. He eventually accepts the position of the head of the Nura Clan, but multiple clans try to stop him or usurp his position. I really enjoy the storyline and the action scenes always kept me at the edge of my seat. The characters are enjoyable to watch except Rikuo's human friends as they are quite pointless. The art and animation are excellent though.
Rating: 9/10
Year released: 2010-2011
Additional info: 24 episodes/season (2 seasons total)