Top 5 Anime Dogs

If you're not a football or shopping fan, then chances are your Thanksgiving tradition is watching the National Dog Show (all 3 of you).

We listed our Top 5 Anime Cats a while back, so we'd better balance it out with our

Top 5 Anime Dogs

(Behave and you might get a treat.)

#5 - Blue (Wolf's Rain)

Loyal and lovely, Blue is actually part wolf. In Wolf's Rain that means she can appear in human form to other people. And in Blue's case, we'd say she looks much better walking on two legs.

#4 - Sesshomaru (InuYasha)

Another stretch in our list, as Sesshomaru is the son of a dog demon father. But when provoked, this uppity aristocrat transforms into his true dog demon form. And nothing irks Sesshomaru more than his snotty younger half-brother InuYasha. (Might have something to do with little bro cutting off big bro's arm.)

#3 - Mr. Tadakichi (Azumanga Daioh)

A Great Pyrenees nearly twice the size of his owner Chiyo, Tadakichi-san is cuddly like a teddy bear. He doesn't even snap at bite-bait Sakaki, as seen in this video. Even better, Tadakichi gives pony rides. Bonus!

#2 - Washington (Project Blue Earth SOS)

A faithful sidekick to the boy genius Penny Carter, even through an alien invasion. (He can climb ladders, too!) Extra kudos for not laughing at the name of costar Lotta Brest. (What is this - middle school?)

#1 - Ein (Cowboy Bebop)

Everyone's favorite "data dog," this Pembroke Welsh Corgi is smarter than your average canine. Plus, Ein and Edward are master mushroom hunters!

That's it for now - who's a good boy?!

Top 5 Anime Teachers

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Check it out here, schoolies.

We appreciate our teachers, especially with summer vacation on the horizon!

Here are our

Top 5 Anime Teachers:

#5 - Umino Iruka (Naruto)

A lot of attention goes to the much cooler Kakashi, sensei of the Team 7 heroes. But only Umino Iruka has the patience to put up with a whole classload of precocious pre-ninjas. Iruka has a soft spot for bratty hero Naruto, treating him like a person instead of the nine-tailed demon fox Naruto contains. Talk about leaving no child behind . . .

#4 - Kagome's Teachers (InuYasha) -- Not pictured

They don't get much screen time (see above), but these educators do yeoman's work. They keep student Kagome (pictured) on track to pass her tests. That's not easy, since Kagome's always skipping school to tromp around feudal Japan with her band of heroes.

#3 - Eikichi Onizuka (Great Teacher Onizuka)

Ex-gang member (and virgin) Onizuka didn't have the noblest motives for becoming a teacher--hooking up with girls. Nevertheless, our hero soon decides to become the greatest teacher ever and does a pretty fine job--bucking the traditional system and reaching each student one-by-one--professionally speaking, of course.

#2 - Minamo Kurosawa (Azumanga Daioh)

Kurosawa-sensei is a calm and caring P.E. teacher--much more competent than her friend and crazy colleague Yukari. Just keep Kurosawa away from alcohol, and your students are in good hands.

#1 - Piccolo (Dragon Ball Z)

Piccolo's pedagogy is full of tough love. Think of the old movie The Miracle Worker, except instead of teaching a young Helen Keller how to sign "water," former villain Piccolo dumps monkey boy Gohan into the dinosaur-infested wildnerness. That's how you teach a kid to fight world-crushing bad guys.

Stay in school, kiddos!

Top 5 Anime Cats

We've talked swords and guns. Now it's on to that other lethal weapon . . .

Top 5 Anime Cats

#5 - Kuroneko Sama (Trigun)

Maybe one of the most famous anime feline, Kuroneko Sama ("Lady Black Cat") appears in every episode of Trigun and even makes a cameo in the Wild ARMs: 2nd Ignition video game.

As famous as she is, Kuroneko sometimes gets mistaken for protagonist Vash the Stampede. We don't see the resemblance.

#4 - The Cat (She and Her Cat)

We're going obscure here. This little kitty is the narrator of a short film made by Voices of a Distant Star creator Makoto Shinkai. (You'll find the short as an extra on the Voices DVD.)

Check out this emotional tale to hear about the people/pet relationship from the pet's point of view.

#3 - Maya (Azumanga Daioh)

Poor Sakaki could never find a cat to return her affection. Case in point:

But finally Sakaki finds a lovable orphan mountain cat who follows her home to Tokyo.

Not only is Maya a fine furry companion; he also can emit a "battle aura" to scare off any mean cat who even thinks about biting his surrogate mother.

#2 - Pero (Big O)

Poor little Pero. Got stuck in a mad scientist's lab and finds brief peace in the tender arms of android R. Dorothy Wayneright.

It's a short respite. Then it's back to the monster factory where Pero transforms into its giant-sized manufactured form.

But the heart of a fuzzy feline still remains in Pero's soul, and the ending of this episode will break your heart, too.

#1 - Jiji (Kiki's Delivery Service)

Also known as Rei Sakuma, but Americans are probably more familiar with Jiji courtesy of the late, great Phil Hartman's voice acting on the Walt Disney dub.

Jiji is witch-in-training Kiki's talking black cat, and his voice sheds light on a cat's personality--sarcastic and self-protective.

Now we know what our cat is thinking when she glares at us.

Talk about a dangerous weapon . . .

Top 5 Anime That Should Air on Cartoon Network/Adult Swim

Didja hear the news? Cartoon Network's Adult Swim may be showing THREE new anime shows in the near future! Whee!

(Our guess is the same as everyone else: 1) Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, 2) InuYasha: Final Act, and 3) Who knows?)

We'll find out soon enough, probably through those snarky bumper messages. But just for fun's sake, here are our

Top 5 Anime That Should Air on Cartoon Network/Adult Swim

Everyone can dream, right?

#5 - Gun Sword

It looks like Cowboy Bebop crossed with Trigun. And most episodes follow the Big O model of finish the show via giant robot fight. Plus, Gun Sword's creators are the same folks who did Code Geass. Cartoon Network aired all of those shows to death, so why not bring in this one, too?

#4 - Patlabor--The Mobile Police

It's like NYPD Blue with giant robots. And no Dennis Franz.

If you're shooting for quantity, you can't go wrong with Patlabor. Not only is the TV series over 45 episodes long, you also get two OAV series and three movies to fill up the time. Ghost in the Shell's Mamoru Oshii is one of the creators, too, so you know you're getting quality as well.

#3 - Azumanga Daioh

This show fits in with all of the dry goofiness of Adult Swim's American-made shows. And it's not that adult-y, either, so CN could even air it in Prime Time. Not too early, though, since you've gotta watch out for that creepy Mr. Kimura. But we're sure some male fans could relate.

#2 - His and Her Circumstances

Like Azumanga, but more serious and melancholy at times, and more zany and insane at other times (if that's possible). This show by Studio Gainax (FLCL, Evangelion) is the kind of anime that drives some viewers bonkers, which we're saying is a good thing. Teenage love has the same effect.

#1 - The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

The perfect prescription for anime newbie and jaded otaku alike, this show packs a punch in a small series, much like phenom FLCL. But Haruhi Suzumiya has more heart, more episodes, more seasons, and a movie to keep fans happy.

What would make US happy is seeing these shows on TV. Sure, these anime are available on DVD and such, but they deserve a wider audience.

C'mon CN/AS, give us some love.

And do us a favor by showing the entire end credits for Haruhi Suzumiya. Youtube is just not enough. Well . . . it's good for our weekly fix . . .

Top 5 Costumed Characters

Happy Halloween, Everybody!

We're celebrating the season by listing the Top 5 Costume-Wearing Characters in Anime.

#5 - Shunsuke Akagi as Eagle Mascot (Dai Guard)

[Check it out at the 01:30 mark.]

View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Before Akagi was the lead pilot of giant robot Dai Guard, he was just another office worker for the 21st Century Defense Corporation, putting in some extra hours with the PR team as the company mascot. Don't worry, Akagi, you'll be fighting Heterodynes in no time!

#4 - Eri Ninamori as Jack/Marquis de Carabas in Puss 'n Boots (FLCL)

As class president and mayor's daughter, Ninamori has a lot to live up to. This includes making sure she gets starring role in the school play. In the BEST episode of FLCL, we learn that Ninamori is human just like everyone else. But what about those glasses? You'll just have to watch.

#3 - Chiyo-Chan as Penguin (Azumanga Daioh)

The cute gets cuter when child genius Chiyo dons a penguin costume for the school's cultural festival. Just don't trip her.

#2 - Isaac Dian & Miria Harvent as _____ & _____ (Baccano!)

Take your pick for costumes. Isaac and Miria do every time they go on another heist.

#1 - Ed as Pumpkin-head (Cowboy Bebop: The Movie--Knockin' on Heaven's Door)

Ed gets the #1 vote because she's actually going Trick or Treating--well, sort of, to search for a bad guy. Enjoy Ed and faithful Ein on their haunting adventure, starting at 05:45.

Do you have a favorite costumed anime character? Share below. Now go get some candy!