Top 5 Anime Eyeglasses

To counter the sudden surge in coolness by last time's topic--sunglasses--let's crank the dial to the opposite side and examine characters with

Top 5 Anime Eyeglasses

These aren't the top 5 anime characters who wear glasses (sorry, Yomiko Readman).

No, these are characters whose eyeglasses play a pivotal role in the story, or at least make you pull off your own glasses, chew on the end, and go, "Hmmmm . . ."

#5 - Lady Une (Gundam Wing)

With glasses, Lady Une is a treacherous, murderous witch. Without her glasses, she becomes a lovelorn peacemaker. If you're sniffing out a split personality disorder, you may be the next candidate for piloting Gundam Wing Zero--or filling in for Dr. Oz.

#4 - Gendo Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

These tinted eyeglasses worn by Nerv's commander are the perfect shade with which to gaze down at your son with perpetual disapproval.

#3 - Eri Ninamori (FLCL)

Ninamori is the mayor's daughter, class president, and lead role in the school play. But her uppity actions are mostly a mask of her frustrated life, something main character Naota finds out when she stays at his house. Her eyeglasses are just one secret she keeps.

#2 - Yukino Miyazawa (His and Her Circumstances)

Out in public, Yukino is a perfect student without blemish. Inside her house, though Yukino is an eyeglasses wearing slob with self-esteem issues. Rival classmate Arima Soichiro finds out Yukino's private identity, and the hi-jinks ensue.

His and Her Circumstances takes the Eri Ninamori-studied episode of FLCL and gives it a full series treatment--with teenage melodrama.

#1 - Robin Sena (Witch Hunter Robin)

Robin is a pyrokinetic hunter of evil witches--not bad work if you can get it. Unfortunately, Robin's powers interfere with her eyesight. Before she can burn her teammates to a crisp, Robin goes to the eye doctor and returns wearing Dumbledore half-moon spectacles. Those granny glasses go perfect with her Pippy Longstocking pigtails.

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 Anime Openings

For our first Top 5 list, why not begin with beginnings? Sure, okay! We hear that the beginning is a very good place to start . . .

Openings are critical to draw the viewer in and make him or her want to see more. An outstanding opening has the perfect combination of catchy music, clever credits, and awesome animation to keep us from skipping over it during our DVD viewing-marathons.

Here are our top five favorite anime openings with comments and courtesies of YouTube (no ownership or copyright claims here, just showing what's available):

#5 - Baccano!

A relatively new anime with a cast list longer than the show's death toll (poor gangster thugs), this show's opening gives a deftly woven roll call of the main players accompanied by a stylish jazz tune called "Gun's & Roses." (That's how it's spelled, too. Even so, Axl called; he wants five bucks for royalties and an apology from Slash.)

#4 - Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight

We dare you to watch this opening and not get chills. Who knew flower petals in the wind could be so invigorating? Unfortunately, this magnificent opening only sets you up for major disappointment when you watch the actual show. The episodes are so stiff and sappy that it makes the 1980s Saturday morning cartoon Dungeons & Dragons look like Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings.

#3 - His and Her Circumstances

File this one under "fun." The zany opening encapsulates this teen romantic comedy/dramedy with some of Studio Gainax(Neon Genesis Evangelion)'s unconventional animation techniques.

#2 - Cowboy Bebop

"Tank!" = the classic opening that exudes cool. Everyone remembers where they were when they saw this opening late Thursday nights at the dawn of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. As a testament to maestro Yoko Kanno's utter greatness, she composed both this toe-tapper AND the epic opening to Lodoss War: Heroic Knight (#4 above).

#1 - Read or Die: OAV

You only have three chances to enjoy this opening during the OAV's trio of episodes, but it's worth it! The animation is top-quality with some of the best cityscapes in any anime. No cheap shortcuts here. We get to see the main characters in original action sequences, enticing you with more story beyond this all-too-brief mini-series. (And the =ahem= shapely silhouettes displaying the credits do some enticing too.) Top it off with some funky/classy spy music and you've got a winner!

So what are your thoughts? What openings do you love? Share below!