Matt's Top 20 Anime Crushes

Yes, it's that day once again. For the lucky ones, it's a time to spend with the person you love, to indulge in their company and to show them how much they mean to you. Then there are the lonely bums who sit back and watch. Still, I'm hardly one to sulk on Valentine's Day, so instead I think I'll try to turn it into something constructive and pay tribute to some of the lovely ladies of anime. In some ways, I suppose you could call it "wish fulfillment", but I don't think that's entirely a bad thing. Rather, to me this is an opportunity to reflect on the traits I love and admire both in anime and in real life. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Matt's Top 20 Anime Crushes.

The usual disclaimers: no more than one girl per series to keep the list from becoming too samey. My experience with manga is a bit too limited to justify including them just to add one or two ladies to the list, so I'm keeping it just to anime for now. Obviously I haven't seen everything, and even if I had my preference probably won't overlap with yours as much as you might like, so if there are any other dames you feel deserve their due, feel free to make your own list rather than complaining about mine.

But enough rambling, on to the ladies!

#20 - Urumi Kanzaki (Great Teacher Onizuka)

Urumi, along with a couple of other entries, is a bit younger than my usual preference, explaining her low placement. Still, there was no way I could overlook this brainy beauty; she's funny, witty and passionate but knows how to have a good time, and she grows into someone truly admirable over the course of the series. What more could I ask for? You know, aside from the next 19 entries.

#19 - Haruhi Fujioka (Ouran Highschool Host Club)

Haruhi is what every rom-com protagonist should be. She's sharp and witty, but adaptable and open-minded enough to take the craziness life throws at her in stride. She values hard work and fortitude, always good traits to have, and she manages to be attractive as both genders... the fact that I find that pretty neat leaves me rather inwardly confused, now that I think about it. Moving on.

#18 - Integra Hellsing (Hellsing)

Alucard may be the centerpiece of Hellsing, but Integra is where most of the show's depth comes from. She's hardened but still young and hasn't yet completely given herself to war and strife, which makes her an effective leader with room still for growth. This is true in both the original and especially in Ultimate. She's a badass, but also a thoughtful and charismatic woman with an iron will that puts the world's strongest vampire to shame.

#17 - Nico Robin (One Piece)

One Piece isn't particularly well-known for depth or subtlety, but it does try its hand at something different every now and again, and Robin is arguably the most interesting and complex of the Straw Hat Pirates. It's really endearing seeing her warm up to the rest of the crew, but she can still hold her own among the best of them and is definitely not one to be trifled with. She makes this list quite handily. Did I really just write that?

#16 - Maetel (Galaxy Express 999)

This is another borderline inclusion, because I actually haven't finished Galaxy Express. I'm only just getting into it and have no idea what Maetel might be hiding or what ulterior motives she might have. A part of her placement comes from that air of mystery, but at the same time I'm somehow very confident that once I know what's really driving her I'll like her character even more. She's clearly not all that she seems, but I do believe she's a good person at heart, whatever dark history she may carry.

#15 - Hitomi Kashiwa (Welcome to the NHK)

The first of a few inclusions that'll call my mental well-being into question, when we first meet Hitomi she's arguably the furthest gone out of any of the main characters. However, she's also the first one to take steps toward rediscovering her self-worth and putting her life back together. And then there's that awkward part of me that would've treasured those slow lunch hours of just quietly playing cards and talking about conspiracies together. I'm just weird like that.

#14 - Gina (Porco Rosso)

I had to have at least one of the Ghibli gals on this list, and Gina tends to be forgotten amidst the studio's more well-known works and characters. That's a shame, because Gina is a truly special kind of woman. It's clear that she loves Porco, but at the same time she's built a fulfilling life of her own. She always has a place waiting for him, but she lets him live his own life while she lives out hers, and they're both fine. That's a rare, wonderful strength that puts her in a league of her own.

#13 - Reki (Haibane Renmei)

While Rakka may have been the viewpoint protagonist of Haibane Renmei, Reki is the one whose journey we're truly meant to follow, and it's hard not to feel for her as she seeks to break her curse and find salvation. To me, there's something deeply moving about finding selflessness in selfish actions, in learning to live for others through pure, honest perseverance. That's something I admire, and kind of identify with. She's the heart of one of my very favorite anime, that's more than reason enough for her place on this list.

#12 - Nice Holystone (Baccano!)

This gal is an absolute blast, pun intended. She compliments Jacuzzi nicely, encouraging him at all the right moments, but even without him she'd be a formidable presence. She knows how to have a good time, she's faithful to the people who are important to her, and she's always smokin'. A bit crazy, I'll admit, which keeps her from placing higher, but she's still a helluva fun woman to be around.

#11 - Junko Kaname (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

For a show as talked-about as Madoka, people don't talk about Junko all that much, which is a shame because she's far more important than she's often given credit for. She's too flawed to be a boring "strong independent woman" archetype, and yet she's also a driven and confident woman despite and because of her flaws, and she knows how to bring out the best in the people around her. I'd be her house husband any day.

#10 - Juri Arisugawa (Revolutionary Girl Utena)

Tough but not cold or unkind, refined but not stuck-up or snobbish, she's easily my favorite character from one of my favorite anime of all time. Getting back to the "strong female characters" trend, she can hold her own against the best duelists, and while she does have her own motives she still tries to do the right thing through it all. Okay, she's also a lesbian, so for my purposes I can't place her as high as I'd like, but still a worthy entry.

#9 - Fujiko Mine (Lupin III)

After going on about complex, subtly written, layered female characters we come to Fujiko, who pretty much is what she is. She just happens to be incredibly awesome. She's sexy but not easy and uses her womanly charms to great effect. It's no wonder she's become almost as iconic as Lupin himself. Hell, she even got her own show recently, and it was a damn good show. She's one of the classic anime hotties and it's easy to see why.

#8 - Misato Katsuragi (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

I think I must be twisted. Ah well. Out of all the characters in Evangelion, I found Misato to be by far the most likable. Despite not being an Eva pilot, she goes above and beyond the call of duty to help out when it's needed, which I find admirable. She has some problems to deal with, but she truly does her best to take control of her fate in spite of all that, and to inspire others to do the same. Definitely a great lady to have on any list.

#7 - Shiki Ryougi (Garden of Sinners)

I really am twisted, aren't I? Honestly I'm okay with that. Shiki is a strong lady through and through, but with just enough of a sweet human side to make her endearing beneath it all. She has the resolve to constantly suppress her dark side. Kara No Kyoukai's strongest point, aside from its animation, is its subtle character writing, and Shiki is a great example of a character who's more than meets the eye.

#6 - Holo (Spice & Wolf)

We're hitting the home stretch, so at this point, the entries start to speak for themselves. Spice & Wolf is a show carried entirely by the strength of its leads, so it's no wonder Holo stands out. Witty, perceptive, and knows how to get what she wants, she's definitely a force to be reckoned with. Her chemistry with Lawrence is always fun to watch, and I look forward to seeing more of their journey together. To top all that off, she's just good company, plain and simple. That, more than anything, is what this list is all about.

#5 - Celty Sturluson (Durarara!!)

My feelings toward Durarara!! may be mixed, but I still remember many of the characters fondly, most especially Celty. She has an unmatched power and centuries behind her, but she may oddly be the most human of the cast, wanting nothing more than to regain the identity that she's lost and to find acceptance among friends and loved ones. I have a real soft spot for that kind of sincerity, so she definitely comes out ahead.

#4 - Julia (Cowboy Bebop)

Did I just forgo Faye Valentine, the absolute postergirl for fanservice done right? Call me an otaku heretic if you must, but to me Spike's old flame Julia has more of the mature appeal I love while still speaking to my romantic side. She sticks with Spike in the end not out of dependence, but on her own initiative to see an end to the conflict that in many ways she herself started. From the very little we see of her, it's immediately clear why Spike thought she was worth running away with.

#3 - Cher Degré (Wolf's Rain)

Sexy scientist headed for Paradise? Yes, please. Let's face it, anyone who'd travel to the end of a dying world when everyone else is just waiting to die easily deserves a spot on this list. Her role in Wolf's Rain is a minor one, but still definitely a necessary one. She's not without a caring side, though, and if ever any humans deserved to make it to Paradise in that story, she and Hubb certainly did. Now excuse me while I go shed a few manly tears.

#2 - Casca (Berserk)

A fantastic lady of war. Strong female characters are difficult to get just right but Casca hits all the marks perfectly. She lives in a man's world and is constantly made aware of that fact, but she doesn't let it weigh her down and proves she can hold her own among the best of them time and time again. With her fierce spirit and unyielding determination, she commands nothing but the utmost respect from her subordinates and leaves one of the strongest impressions of any anime character I've ever seen, without exaggeration.

#1 - Haruka Shitow (RahXephon)

My top anime crush, bar none. She starts off as a friendly but mysterious figure, and as we unravel her layers it's clear that there is something driving her forward, something she values above all else. What made RahXephon great, for me at least, was the wonderful humanity of its cast and how genuine and honest their interactions were throughout. At its very core, RahXephon is a love story, and what ultimately sets Haruka apart from the competition is her unwavering capacity to love through all the trials and tragedies she's endured. She's charming, genuine, admirable, and well-deserving of the top spot on this list.

Review: Hellsing Volume 1

One of my favorite Halloween traditions is to watch classic horror movies. I have a love for the Gothic horror stories of old such as Frankenstein, but our subject for today dates back to the other most famous Gothic story, Dracula, the king of vampires.

Vampires have taken a step back in popular culture thanks to the hordes of zombie movies and the Twilight franchise making vampires "uncool". Well, their reputation might not be all that great now, but the vampire fiction keeps on flowing. This Halloween, Funimation re-released the first volumes of the Hellsing Ultimate OVA, and later this month they will be releasing volumes 5-8, the first time the United States will be able to legally buy those episodes and hear the original English cast. Oh, and the final Twilight movie comes out this month as well, but we don't care about that. We're here to talk about one of the most famous vampire stories in anime and manga, Hellsing!

Hellsing Volume 1
Created by Kohta Hirano
Published by Dark Horse Comics


I remember a time when every anime fan loved Hellsing. This was around the time the Hellsing TV series was fresh and people were enamored by it. Quite frankly the Hellsing TV series is kind of terrible, having some rather ugly animation and not really going anywhere. But we're here to talk about the original story that made the TV series and the glorious OVA possible.

The story of the first volume is rather simple, serving to introduce the main characters, the Hellsing Organization, and set up the rules of the universe. There is of course Alucard, the vampire that the Hellsing Organization employs to destroy other vampires. For all intents and purposes he's invincible; guns, silver knives, and decapitations just amuse him instead of killing him. There's Sir Hellsing, the head of the Hellsing Organization who's female despite the title and androgynous appearance. She mostly gives out orders in this volume and little else until the end, but she commands an air of authority. There's Seras Victoria, a police officer turned into Alucard's servant vampire in the first chapter to escape death. She's subject to most of the comic relief, but is allowed to be a badass when need be. Finally, there's the insanely awesome priest Anderson, an immortal vampire killer who hates Protestants and speaks in a thick Scottish accent. There are other characters, but most of them are unimportant or serve to be killed.

The first chapter quickly sets up the rules of the vampires. Vampires are subject to change in different vampire stories, as the myths and legends aren't consistent or merely get changed or ignored depending on the story. Vampires can only breed more vampires by biting a virgin of the opposite sex. Non-virgins become ghouls, essentially mindless zombies that obey their vampire master, but when their master is killed, they die as well. It's established early on that the best way to take out ghouls is to send Alucard to kill their vampire master, which is how Alucard meets Seras, who has been taken hostage by a vampire. She's fatally shot during the ordeal, but Alucard saves her by turning her into a vampire. It's probably one of the nicest things Alucard has done, even though he was responsible for getting her killed.

The only thing that makes Alucard a hero is that he's working against the vampires under the Hellsing Organization, because for some reason he can't disobey them. He takes pleasure in killing as much as the next vampire, but he's more wise than the young vampires who kill more humans than they need to survive. Alucard is disgusted with two teenage vampires who go on a killing spree because vampires need to let the human race survive in order to survive themselves. It's a symbiotic relationship in a way, and the order needs to be kept.

Alucard's relationship with Seras is one of the highlights of the story. He's initially not very respectful of her, calling her "Police Girl" and not by her actual name, but despite his outward insults to her, he does seem to care about her and want to mentor her. It's like a strict teacher-student relationship, and it is enjoyable watching Alucard comment on Seras's first fights against the vampires.

But the real highlight of the manga is the action and style. This is not a story that requires much thinking, very much style over substance. That's not a bad thing, as the style of Hellsing is extremely cool, thanks to Hirano's dynamic and exaggerated art-style. All of his characters are very tall-looking and lanky, though thankfully not to CLAMP extremes with a few exceptions.

One of the ugly exceptions. You'd think Anderson were an orangutan.

When the characters are fighting, the speed-lines and blood spray look very fluid and clean. There's some weird posing, but mostly done by supernatural characters like Alucard himself and it looks really creepy, but in a fun way. It's basically an action manga about vampires fighting each other with some really crazy awesome characters, and it knows that. There's nothing profound about the conflict at all, but it oozes with such style that you can't stop reading, and it's all paced very well.

I'd  like to note that volume 1 of the Hellsing Ultimate OVA is paced at about the same rate as this manga volume, ending on the same chapter and mostly being faithful to the events of this story with a couple of minor exceptions. There's an extra story involving the Vatican, who in this world also kills vampires, but it doesn't serve much of a purpose beyond expanding the page count and having a nun flash her panties. There's also some notes from the author himself spread across the manga, but the bulk of them are at the back of the book. He makes a few jokes about the character and how he's grateful to have been successful. My favorite part is that he's aware of the similarities Alucard has to Vash the Stampede, noting the long read coat and glasses.

With the Hellsing Ultimate OVA finally looking like it'll get a full release here in North America, now's a good time to revisit the original manga. It's one of the best examples of manga that run on rule of cool without ever trying to be something it's not. Highly recommended for gore fans and vampire fans.

Hellsing is available from Dark Horse Comics and can even be downloaded from their digital service. There is a prequel manga called Hellsing: The Dawn that is not available in the US. As mentioned before, there is a TV anime adaptation by studio Gonzo that lasted 13 episodes that deviated heavily from the manga. A ten episode OVA called Hellsing Ultimate was later made by studio Madhouse. It follows the manga closer and has superior animation and quality to the TV series. The first 8 episodes will be available from Funimation this month, and the last episode is still in-production. If you need an animated adaptation of Hellsing, watch that one.