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Orphen is mostly your typical adventure/fantasy series. It doesn't stray far from it's genre, which in this case I don't really mind. It isn't trying to be more than it should be. However, that doesn't mean that it is a good series. Overall the series is slightly above average and has alot of the standard cliches that you would expect from a series in this genre.

The series stays close to the typical "I'm going to save the one I love" story. It isn't anything spectacular at first glance, but it does it's job pretty well by creating a goal and purpose for our main cast. ... I did appreciate the little twists in the plot, but it wasn't anything that will blow you away. Sometimes I even felt that it was executed and handled poorly.
The series explained parts of the story though the use of flashbacks, which I didn't really mind. The flashbacks were pretty well placed and it didn't made the viewer forget about the events in the present. The ending was predictable, but I didn't expect anything major or groundbreaking.
The story had it's fun moments, but when you look at the big picture it was mediocre at best.

The series dates back to 1998 and it showed when looking at the art. The art was dated, but is wasn't irritating to look at. The background were for the most part pretty dull and dark, but at the beginning of the series it looked very refreshing and sometimes beautifull. The character design were pretty cool, but the overuse of robes for most characters didn't give them any uniqueness in design and appearance-wise.

The sound is this series strongest point. There wasn't much OST which I didn't like and it fitted really well in the many scenes, but the different OST were starting to get overused as times past on. Both openings were really catchy and nice to listen to. The endings were average in my opinion. The voice actors did their jobs as they should have done. They all sounded allright and they could convey the emotions in a good way.

The characters were a downside for me. Our main cast got hardly any development through the series. At first I had high hopes for our main character Orphen, but he slowly began to feel like your typical shonen character which dissapointed me. Majic didn't change in a way or form. Cleao was the only main character with some development, but it wasn't anything big.
The series also had a comedic duo consisting of the brothers Volcan and Dortin. This kind of comedy is normally a hit or miss and in mine case it was a miss. It didn't make me laugh and because of the repetitiveness, I started to get irritated by our "comedic" duo.
The villians were pretty shallow in my opinion. It was very confusing at the end what actually the main reasoning behind their goals were.

In the end, I did enjoy this series in a way. The twists in the story and the nice music gave me the motivation to keep watching and see what happened next. The poor character development and overall predictable and mediocre story made me almost drop it, but in a way I'm happy that I continued to watch it.

I wouldn't reccomend this immediatly when someone wants to watch a series in this genre, but I would advise you to check it out when you have some spare time.

Gintama is a series that sits all day on it's massive golden throne of comedy while it does nothing except for poking it's nose, reading Shonen Jump, eating Chocolate Parfaits and not giving a shit about any form of copyright. This series can get away with everything. It can make complete fun out of insanely popular series like DBZ and Naruto without anyone being pissed off. It's also the only series that, if there exists a fourth wall, completely destroyed it without even caring.
How do I start reviewing this masterpiece that dominates the MAL top 10.

You can't be someone who likes comedy series and ... have not watched Gintama. This series is the pinnacle of comedy. It's like second nature. This series will leave you laughing on the ground by even the smallest of jokes. It can be cheesy at times, but that's part of the charm.

Gintama is a series that doesn't take itself seriously and that is it's best selling point. There are a lot of comedies that try their hardest to be funny, but for Gintama is just comes naturally. The series mainly consist of episodic (or even half episodic) stories which are all amazing to watch on their own.
The story in itself isn't as amazing as some of the top series, but it does it's job very well. The premise and setting of the series is what makes this unique. Blending old Edo period with the outerspace technology creates very fun and weird comedy that you can enjoy any time of the day. Aside from the episodic content, Gintama also delivers on very serious and sometimes sad arcs which is very well appreciated.

The art, which dates back to 2006, is still very beautifull to watch. It hasn't aged badly. The colours are bright and the animation is very fluid, especially in the battle scenes. The background are also done well.

The voice actors really outdid themselves with this series. Every voice fits perfectly, but the one that is the best is of course the voice actor of Gintoki. This man should get all the awards that he deserves, because of him this series got to the next level.
The OST is also very nice and there isn't anything that I don't like. The openings and endings are also very nice to listen to.

Now I'm going to talke about my favorite part of the series, the characters. Never have I seen so many characters that I love. They are all unique on their own and provide endless fun when they appear. From the lazy, sweet loving Shonen Jump reader Gintoki, to the chain smoking and strict officer Hijikata. Each character will leave a impression on the viewer and you will be craving for more screentime every episode.

If there is one series which I enjoyed all the time, Gintama takes the prize. Every episode was unique and funny in it's own way. You can watch the same scenes over and over and still not be bored with it. If you want a series that can make you laugh, make you angry and even cry, this series is the one for you.

All in all, this series is really the King of Comedy and will be for a very long time. It has everything that you ask for a Shonen/Comedy series. The story has a unique blend of the past and the future. The voice actors did an amazing job while providing each amazing character with their perfect voice. I can not reccomend this series enough, hence why it deserves a spot on my favorites list.
The whopping 201 episode can scare alot of viewers off, but all I can say is: Don't be afraid to try this series, you will surely love it. I advise you to skip immediatly to episode 3, because the first 2 episodes are boring filler.

Have fun laughing fellow and future fans!

"I think, therefore I am"

This is the main reasoning of the highly acclaimed cyber-punk series which left many people scratching their head. The series isn't very keen in holding your hand throughout the series, so you have to use your own brain to figure out most of missing pieces. When you do, you mind is blown and you now look very different at things in life.

Who am I? What is my purpose? Why do I live? Those are the main questions that set the story in Ergo Proxy. The identity of the characters are contantly questioned by others, but especially by themselves. The story is ... very complicated and doesn't give much away in the first half of the series. You constantly left guessing which purpose everyone has and it can make your brain melt. I feel like this is the main selling point of the series.
The series has a very deep meaning, but it isn't trying to be pretentious by just throwing deep and unnecessary philosophy at the viewers just for the sake of.
It actually makes the viewer think about the meaning of life and having a purpose and I find that really enjoying.
After only watching it once, I still haven't figured out everything the story has to offer, but the series is inviting enough to watch is a second time.

The art does it job by giving out a eerie vibe throughout the whole series. The cyberpunk dystopian setting has been handled pretty well and you can really see the thin line which humanity walks on.
The art could have been more fluid in some parts of the series, but it doesn't take much away from the overall quality of this series which is almost a decade old.

The sound is, just as the art, very eerie and dark. It really makes you feel like humanity is on the last brink of survival. Majority of the OST is done very well, but some songs could have made more impact. The opening and ending are very refreshing and in a weird way complement the series. It's not normal for a anime to have a opening song from a English band like Radio Head.

The characters are very well done. You have the strongheaded, calm and driven Lil, who takes a lot of things for granted. You have the kindhearted, but at times, strange Vincent Law, who is on a quest to find his true meaning. At last you have the cute and innocent Pino, who still has to learn what being a human is all about.
The side-characters are a strongpoint of the series. You can relate to of feel for many of the characters as you slowly begin to understand their purpose and goals in life.

The series left a great impact on me. At times it was hard to follow the direction the story was taken and that left me with alot of questions. At times, the pacing could be slow in the first half, but the series redeemed itself in the second half. Overall, I really enjoyed watching this series, because it left a great impact on me at the ending.

I would reccomend this to anyone who likes a good and dark anime with a compelling, but vague story which unfolds as the series progresses. Anyone who likes great characters who you can relate to and feel for with their own struggles that they need to overcome.
And anyone who likes any scifi series that makes you scratch your head.

It has pacing problems, but if you stick to it, you will be very satisfied when everything falls at it's place at the end.

I had this series in my plan to watch list for a very long time, hesistant to watch it, because I heard that it was mainly episodic. For me personally, episodic anime aren't bad, but if a anime lacks a constant story with a clear goal ahead, it is very hard for me to keep focus.
In Samurai Champloo's case however, it works amazingly well and I can even say it adds to it's strenght.

This series is made by studio Manglobe, which also made the amazing classic Cowboy Bepop (which is also mainly episodic) and it's recent mediocre Gangsta. Unfortunately, studio Manglobe has become bankrupt and ... it is very saddening to know that they could be never making such classics again.

I can fairly say that Manglobe outdid themselves this time with Samurai Champloo. There is a reason why I immediatly put this series in my favorites list. It has a perfect balance of great comedy, amazing characters/development, serious situations/fights and a good overall story/direction.

The story in itself isn't very thrilling or deep if Samurai Champloo aimed to be a story driving series. However, in a mainly episodic series, the story is just right to keep the viewer interested without being too complicated. This isn't a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but it does it's job in giving the characters a reason to keep fighting and keep moving in this Edo-styled world.
Aside from the main story, the individual episodes are very well done story-wise. It varies from extremely funny, to very sad and it never bores the viewer. There are also some twists in certain parts of the stories which keeps you interested.

Considering it's a series that dates back to the year 2004, the art is still up to par and it is beautifull to look at. The characters are nicely animated, the fights are fast-paced and amazing to look at. The backgrounds are mostly well done, but it could have been a bit more detailed for me sometimes. The animation is overall very fluent and it is hard to criticize it.

I really appreciated the descision that they made regarding the sound. The opening is very different from the normal Jpop songs, and the added hiphop elements in there made it a very memorable series. You don't see this very often and you will probably see it never again in a series centered in the Edo-period.
The voice actors for the main characters are pefectly chosen. They all feel so natural and it would be weird without those voices. If you can achieve that, than your doing your job right.

The characters are the series biggest selling point. You have the airheaded and big breast loving Mugen, who likes to eat, fight and have sex. You have the quiet and samurai-like Jin, who can have a fun side aswell. At last you have the young, eccentric and loudmouthed Fuu, who is actually the most serious one of them all when it comes to the normal things.
All three of these characters work really well together and add alot of seriousness and comedy to the series. All three have a sad past and the series gives them enough time to develop.
The side characters are also really well done, every mini-arc has loveable characters who you can really feel for.
I would definitely reccomend this series solely on all the characters.

I would never have thought that I would enjoy this series as much as I did. I kept wachting episode after episode, because everything just worked so well. I wanted to see how the main story unfolded, but the part that I liked most where the funny episodic stories in which the side-characters shined the most. I can never get enough of Mugen, Jin and Fuu and I was sad that the series ended.

Overall, the story is good and compelling for an episodic series. Each episode has an intersting story and great characters to go with it. Our main cast is just so fun to be with and you feel like your going on the adventure with them. The hiphop elements really gave this series some uniqueness and it didn't felt out of place at all. The art was very well done and the fight scenes were amazing and fluid.

This series in on par with the highly praised classic Cowboy Bebop and I would reccomend this series to anyone who likes a funny, but also serious series with great fights and a certain uniqueness to it.
Don't let the term 'episodic' scare you, just like it did to me. If you finally decide to watch it than you will have an amazing time ahead of you.