Kochouki: Wakaki Nobunaga

Shows based on Vocaloid originals or involving utaites/producers who are/have been active on Nico Nico Douga (extended to YouTube for newer gens).
While not its own genre, these compositions tend to have a recognisable feel to them.
(Updating as I come across songs, you can poke me to add stuff as well :D)

2nd stack for post-2020 anime debuts: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/26372

Actual Vocaloids:
GUMI ~ Joshikousei no Mudazukai / Agukaru: Play with Ibaraki-hen (cv: Megumi Nakajima)
IA ~ Recorder to Randoseru Mi☆ (cv: Lia)
Miku ~ Akikan / Watamote / Yami Shibai / Black Rock Shooter / Kemurikusa / ALFA-X / Aware! Meisaku / Petit Seka (cv: Saki Fujita)
MEIKA Hime & Mikoto ~ Hakata Mentai! Pirikarako-chan (cv: Kotori Koiwai)
Luka ~ Copihan (cv: Yuu Asakawa)
Meaw (possibly) ~ Honto ni Atta! Reibai Sensei
Go! Go! 575
Zunda Horizon

Luo Tianyi ~ Wan Sheng Jie

Prioritising first appearances/multiple artists bc of 50 limit. For composer entries, the singer is only listed if they're
At some point, I'd have been super hyped for any show with a Vocaloid producer but come late 2010s they've been popping up everywhere :')

*List is roughly sorted by anime based on Vocaloid songs > Male utaites > Female utaites > Producers

If you are likely to watch an anime specifically because it predominantly features swords, blades, katanas, scimitars, or claymores in it, then this is the list for you!

(Real swords only: i.e. no magic, virtual, or fake swords)

Many are familiar with Akemi Takada's '80s-defining character designs for the adaptations of Rumiko Takahashi's manga (whom I have also covered in an interest stack dedicated to her), but there is another person that is credited for translating Takahashi's characters within the wider anime (and promotional material) context. Atsuko Nakajima is a prominent animator, animation director, and character designer whose name emerged during Studio DEEN's prime years in the late '80s up until the early '00s, serving one or two of the roles above across its multitude of productions.

There is an interesting progression in Nakajima's design output. While she already had a certain tendency for hair complexity in her designs (see the nuances of Ranma 1/2; it stands out to me how there's a lot more to Kasumi's hair than how it looks), the advent of the 2000s and the rise of digital animation saw her trying out more extravagant and detailed appearances. Sharp faces complement the hair which brings forth a stronger emphasis on individual hair strands which have a notable sheen, such as her work in Taiho Shichau Zo and her animation direction work on Rurouni Kenshin.

As the title suggests, though, the standout element of Nakajima's character designs are the detail and expressiveness of her eyes. Evolving past the Takada-and-Takahashi-fused characters of Ranma 1/2, Nakajima maintained the glass-like look of her characters' eyes, which can be seen even with characters of a serious nature (i.e. having slanted or thin eyes like in Hakuoki). There's a doll-like element to her design philosophy that reflects or at least bears resemblance to the flashy and hyper-stylized bishounen and bishoujo aesthetic of shoujo manga.

Frankly, finding similarities in Nakajima's style is a bit harder to pin down, since she seems to be more flexible with adapting to the original manga artist's style. If there's a way to encompass her overall style, it would be the aforementioned doll-like attributes of her characters, the sharp lines that accentuate their presence in the frames, and a subtle luster that gives off the impression of an aura amplifying their importance.

Atsuko Nakajima profile: https://www.furinkan.com/features/interviews/atsukonakajima.html
Some illustrations: https://danbooru.donmai.us/posts?tags=nakajima_atsuko

Imagine you've just watched "Harakiri", or perhaps "Yojimbo", and now you're thinking to yourself: "I wonder how Samurai Cinema would translate into anime" - Next you're scrolling the anime database, and you've searched for anime with the theme "Samurai", only to be met with entries containing people spitting fireballs, and giant robots shooting lasers.

If this is something you've experienced, then this interest stack is for you. I've scoured every entry (as of October 2024) listed under the theme "Samurai", as well as tried to find others not listed there, to fit the following more narrow definition:

"Swordfighting anime set in historical Japan with a realistic setting."

Some anachronism is okay, but futurism like mechas and RPG launchers are excluded. Trying to keep supernatural elements at a minimal. Allowed to a certain extent, but trying to avoid full on superpowers. This list contains no sequels, one entry per franchise only.

Anime might be excluded for other reasons, such as not adhering enough to the style. Also skipping a lot of <~10 minute shorts. Some (most) of the anime I haven't yet seen, so there's a possibility an anime that should've been excluded has slipped by into the list.

PS. "Lone Wolf and Cub" + "Vagabond" anime when??

Tags: Chambara, Samurai, Jidaigeki, Ninja, Katana, Meiji, Edo, Azuchi–Momoyama, Muromachi, Ashikaga, Nanboku-chou, Sengoku, Kamakura, Heian, Nara,

This stack will include historical anime that have their basis in actual history, including real life events and people.

Read notes for comments on history, accuracy, framing etc.

Will include first seasons only.

Noriyuki Abe is a Japanese anime storyboard artist, sound director and director. He worked at Studio Pierrot on anime series, such as Yu Yu Hakusho, Ninku, Flame of Recca, Great Teacher Onizuka, Bleach and Boruto. He won the Animage Anime Grand Prix award in 1993 and 1994.

Mallorie Rodak might be known for being the voice of Frieren but did you know that there are some notable characters in other anime that you didn't know she voiced?
For the anime it's based on which season the character she voiced debut. For example the High School DxD character she voiced Rossweisse debuted in the third season BorN.
All of these are before October 2023 which was when Frieren's Dub released.

-Male Protagonist.
-Anime that shows strong bonds and lots of interactions between two or more male casts.
-Friendship, rivalry, brothership,non-romantic relationship.
-Basically, something that isn't tagged as BL, but still enjoyable for female audiences and fujoshi.
-Non sports anime.

Why non sports anime? because I have another stack specifically for sports anime, check it here:
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/58340

Clarification: fishing might counted as sports, but I put Negaposi Angler here because it is not like the typical "sports anime".

~not including ova and sequel, only the first season listed.~

Updating whenever I find something new