Exotic food, magnificent temples, orthodox religions and diverse cultures are some of the things that define Asia. But those are mostly textbook descriptions, for in this present time, Asia is gaining more prominence with pop music, fashion trends, television dramas, and of course, Anime! What is Asia without these greater-than-life animated series?
Watch Anime Trailer
Animes originated from Japan. They are animated productions
featuring computer or hand-drawn animation. Many of which are based on Japanese
manga or serialized comic books and graphic novels. Tons of animes had already
been produced and distributed not only in Asian countries but all over the
world. Some only last for a couple of
seasons while others span years of viewership. Some are pseudo-realist while
others are purely based on the out-of-this-world imagination of the creators.
As for me, I have several favorite, but among these peeves, one that I got so
addicted with is ONE PIECE.
Watch Anime Trailer
One Piece is based on one of the longest-running manga
series of the same title in Japan (which according to all-knowing Wikipedia is
also the best-selling manga series in history). It is about the journey and
adventures of a boy who dreams to be the next “King of the Pirates”. The manga
was serialised back in 1997 but the anime version only started airing in late
1999. As of the writing, the anime is on its 680th episode. In my
country (so obviously I am not Japanese), the dubbed version only came on
television several years later. From that very first episode, I was instantly
captivated and became an uber-avid fan. And thanks to the Internet, Google and
countless anime sites, I do not have to wait for the television premiere. I am
actually on my third re-watch of the entire anime series (LOL!). So what made
One Piece extra special from other animes? It’s simply the art, story, humor,
and characterization.
