85

Megalobox was the top anime of 2019, with crunchyroll reporting it as the highest popularity among the US at the time. It is a monument to older, grittier anime like Cowboy Bebop, and forcefully makes its visuals worse to achieve a retro stylistic effect. It is very cool on paper, and does look very cool when you first see it. The sakuga animation mixes surprisingly well this lo-fi version of modern digital animation; the fights are intense. It is a remake of the classic Ashita no Joe storyline of the boxer who wants to become champion, but dies in the championship match with an unannounced winner at the end of the story. Megalobox is the modern version of this, but does not follow how the story of Ashita no Joe ends (wouldn't have been so popular if it was that predictable). I watched the 2nd season recently, and have to say, Nomad was more enjoyable to me than Season 1. The themes of addiction and giving up are extremely potent, regardless of whether or not the reasons behind these vices felt contrived. The latin theme that comes with Nomad really fits Megalobox, and gives it a warmth that isn't seen in Season 1. The music is also elevated in Season 2, with the soundtrack attempting to emulate Trigun's raunchyness in its guitar playing. Both seasons are worth watching, and Megalobox was a hit for a reason. Its a treat, but not the best!

90

Before saying anything about MIA, it is important to understand that the mangaka is a twisted individual; he is a closeted pedophile, with children being his primary canvas in which he inflicts serious gore, physical violence, emotional/mental violence, and sparingly, sexual violence. It is not the easiest show to watch if these things inherently bother you. Despite all of that, this is one of the most gorgeous and well written worlds ever created in fiction; it has whole biospheres, plants and symbiotic organisms that feed off of the supernatural force that is the titular "Curse" of the Abyss. The further down you go into the netherworld, you are subjected to more horrific effects the instant you try to ascend. This is the driving narrative force behind the story, as the main character finds a sentient robot that does not experience the effects of the Abyss. The soundtrack is also amazing, Kevin Penkin created his best OST's with the MIA soundtracks. The anime also enlists the help of background artsts from Studio Ghibli to heighten an already absurdly high level of visual detail. If you can get past the weird shit the author enjoys, you will see what made this show so popular and meaningful for thousands of people.

90

An insane slow burn of a shonen; it challenges tropes of innocence and explores the theme of latent evil found within even the most seemingly benevolent people. Hxh has a power system based upon daoism, which if there's anything to know about daoism is that it is modeled after nature. So the power system, Nen, feels as natural as you can get with a magic system (due to its distinctly eastern origins based around form and power). It has its issues, pacing can be excruciatingly slow at times (stairway for those who know), and can provide a ton of detail to unimportant portions of the plot which can feel like bloat. Overall, hxh is one of the best anime there is with the original 1999 version having already one of the highest ratings in the 90's among anime fans, but the remake is miles better. Give it a shot, the end of the 2011 remake makes it worth the time spent.