I have been a fan of anime before it was known as anime. In the 60’s and 70’s, it was just a Japanese cartoon dubbed in English to American kids. Shows like Speed Racer, Gigantor, Marine Boy, and Star Blazers were an absolute joy to watch, after school and on Saturday mornings.
In the 80’s, anime became more frequent with Mobile Suit Gundam, Captain Harlock, Sailor Moon, Voltron, and more. Then came the great Hayao Miyazaki and movies like Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and the Academy award winning film Spirited Away. There so many more that I didn’t list here. That’s because anime has become a global phenomenon.
There are so many different types of anime, from story and style to genre and sub-type. There are terms like Ecchi, Harem, Shounen, Mecha, Shoujo, etc. There are so many different anime out there, there isn’t enough time to watch it all. A lot of them seem formulaic in their writing, but they do have their own quirky characteristics.
I am currently binging on Crunchyroll, an anime app and website that plays dozens of anime, old and new. There is such a wide variety available, I can’t watch it all. My favorite genre is magical fantasy, and they don’t stick to just one type. There are dozens of different combinations, from your basic fantasy (Full Metal Alchemmist) to Angels vs. Devils (High School DxD) and supernatural (Tokyo Ghoul) to fantasy/sci-fi (Infinite Stratos).
These anime is so different and so expressive that it comes up with new ways of approaching fantasy. The Irregular at Magic High School is a great example. The story takes place in an alternate history where magic exists and is polished through modern technology. However, the ability to use magic is determined by genetics, limiting the amount of magicians in existence. Due to the limited amount of magicians, they are treated as commodity and are forced to enter magic related schools and professions. It follows Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba, siblings who enroll into First High magic high school.
The thing I love about this anime is how they combined technology as a way to better use magic. Instead of using chants and spells, magic users cast spells with their Casting Assistant Device (CAD). The CAD is infused with the user’s Psions (a substance-less thought particle) that activates the device and constructs the magic ritual. The spells are programmed into the CADs that allow them to use their magic more efficiently. It’s an incredible concept that, to me, brings the fantasy/magic genre to a new level.
A lot of the fantasy genre revolves around magic schools, training young men (but mostly women) in the arcane arts. There is a strong obsession in these anime with school girl uniforms and how they “fill” them out. I’ve been told its called a “fan shot” by name. Quite peculiar but fun to watch.
Another one of my favorites is Is it Wrong to try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon. This anime is like Dungeons and Dragons but better. The story takes place in the fictional city of Orario, whose main feature place is the Dungeon which contains an assortment of monsters from goblins to dragons. The people of Orario join groups called Familia, who serve a range of functions from dungeon crawling to crafting items. The story follows the exploits of Bell Cranel, a 14-year-old solo adventurer under the goddess Hestia. He is a “Level 1 Noob” who is trying to do good by his Familia and impress Ais Wallenstein, a powerful swordswoman who once saved his life, and with whom he fell in love.
Watching this anime is like playing D&D on Saturday night. This anime goes as far as the dungeon crawlers leveling up, with their statistics tattooed on their backs. Their deity updates the stats through magic. They can buy armor and magic items, just like in the game. You can’t help but laugh out loud through each episode.
For a writer, freedom to express your stories is vital to creativity. Anime has such a broad range of genres that it has inspired my own writing for more than 40 years. I watched it as a child because it was entertaining and imaginative. I watch it now because it inspires me to broaden my imagination. You should too!
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Mark Piggott is the author of the Forever Avalon book series. Forever Avalon is available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The Dark Tides is available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iUniverse publishing. The Outlander War, Chapter 3 of the Forever Avalon series is coming soon.
Them (1954) — The earliest atomic tests in New Mexico cause common ants to mutate into giant man-eating monsters that threaten civilization. This movie has an all-star cast, including James Whitmore and Edmund Gwenn (Santa Claus from Miracle on 34th Street). In the early days of the atomic bomb, scientists didn’t really know how radiation would affect people, insects, animals, etc. It wasn’t the giant ants that were scary in this movie, but the sound they made. When you heard that sound, it made chills run down your spine, kind of like the music from Friday the 13th when Jason Voorhees was near. The best scene was when they were talking to the little girl who survived the attack and, when she hears the sound of the ants, and shouts out “Them! Them!” It really makes the movie seem real and terrifying.
Dracula (1931) — The ancient vampire Count Dracula arrives in England and begins to prey upon the virtuous young Mina. Before vampires became sparkly boy-toys, there was Count Dracula. Bela Lugosi is, and always will be, the one and only Dracula. This is the role that, unfortunately, typecast him so that he rarely did any other roles outside the famous vampire; but at the same time, it is a role he will always be remembered for. He doesn’t bare the classic fangs we see in vampires today, but he was terrifying none the least. It is amazing to see the huge sets and dark, scary places associated with the classic story. Though it’s been told and retold, time and time again, this is still the original and the best one there is.
War of the Worlds (1953) — A small town in California is attacked by Martians, beginning a worldwide invasion. Though Orson Wells radio show started the hysteria around this adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel, the movie brought it to life. It even won an Academy Award for visual effects, influencing countless science fiction movies in the years to come. The death and destruction reigned down on the people of Earth was overwhelming. It also showed the ugly side of man, as they tear each other apart to escape the horror. Even in the end, when they died from something simple as bacteria, it demonstrated that we (human beings) are not the most powerful beings in the universe. This movie is always on the top of my watch list.
The Thing from Another World (1951) — Scientists and American Air Force officials fend off a bloodthirsty alien organism while at a remote arctic outpost. Many think John’s Carpenters The Thing is the best version of this story, but I beg to differ. This is, without a doubt, the best and the scariest there is. When battling aliens, it’s hard to imagine a fight like this: A crashed spaceship, a frozen alien pilot, alien plant-life that grows on human blood, and more. The creature itself was terrifying to watch. His bloodthirsty nature was an integral part of the story, as was the idiot scientist who thought he could control it. Battling the creature in the freezing arctic made it even more difficult. This is an essential science fiction classic for everyone to see, but my advice is don’t watch it alone.
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) — Two hapless freight handlers find themselves encountering Dracula, the Frankenstein monster and the Wolfman. Okay, it’s not a scary movie, but it’s too damn funny to ignore. Abbott and Costello ran into various classic movie monsters in a series of movies, but this one is the best. This movie has the original Dracula (Bela Lugosi), the original Wolfman (Lon Chaney, Jr.) and even a cameo by Vincent Price as the Invisible Man. It has so many great scenes that combined scary and funny. When Lou Costello was reading the description of Dracula and the coffin lid kept opening and closing, or when he goes into the Wolfman’s room and he keeps missing the monster’s attacks are side-splitting laughter to watch. This is a don’t miss movie.
James Cameron is a moron! I had to start out with that because, in my opinion, he is. Here is an Academy award winning filmmaker, who has created some of the most powerful women on screen and he says something stupid like this:
![Lord Bryan MoonDrake [2072845]](https://authormarkpiggott.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/lord-bryan-moondrake-2072845.png?w=273&h=353)
My fantasy series, 
The words of the great Sun Tzu have been used to motivate warriors for thousands of years. His wisdom in warfare is an essential read for those signing up for the armed forces. It is also essential for fantasy writers. Warfare between humans, Elves, Dwarves, dragons, centaurs, and other mythical creatures is an integral part of fantasy writing.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Live in the sunshine. Swim the sea. Drink the wild air.” I like the sound of that, not only as a writer but as a human being. To me, it says “enjoy life” to the fullest possible sense. It also helps to keep one’s creative juices flowing.
There are many walls that writers have to hurdle to make it to the finish line as a published author. Sometimes those walls are self-imposed, like writer’s block, and other times those walls are caused by outside forces, like a publisher’s rejection letter. All of these walls can be overcome and soon, you’re on your way to being a published author.
Hope…It’s a word associated with many things, like Star Wars, President Obama, and the first game of your favorite sports team’s season. Hope is a part of faith, family, and charity. This past week, watching the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey filled me with hope for humanity as I watched people helping others without thought of their own safety.
In recent weeks, those rights have been tested with the events of Charlottesville and the subsequent rallies and protests since them. The question remains, is hate speech protected? If I disagree with what you’re saying, do I have the right to shut you up?
I turned 54-years-old today. One more year until I qualify for a senior citizen discount. It’s sad when you think about it, but is it? I can remember turning 18 like it was yesterday.
