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I know there’s a lot of lists out there, but this one is mine. I have an affinity for a very particular “vibe” in anime. What is that vibe? I don’t really know, but I always know it when I see it. Most of my more recent favorites tend to be…not necessarily obscure just less often discussed in peer circles. So I wanted to draw attention to them and kind of get down a bit into the meat of why these stories are so interesting, premise or presentation notwithstanding.
These are also in no particular order — I love them all for various reasons.
1. Sirius the Jaeger
Available on: Netflix
Studio P.A Works does some cool stuff. Charlotte, for one, which was great and caught me completely off guard, and this season’s Appare-Ranmen! which also looks delightful. But when I saw the PV for Sirius I knew it had those vibes. It was definitely for me.
Set in 1930, Sirius tells the story of a group of vampire hunters who go under the designation “V Shipping Company” as cover for their real occupation…hunting vampires. A coven pops up in Japan and they set out to hunt them. Yuliy is our protagonist, a young man who is a part of this motley crew of hunters, although his reasons for hunting vampires — and his background— are…let’s just say different from his fellow hunters.
Sirius is a great series to sink your teeth into (I didn’t mean to pun! No, I did, actually, I did) but I understand that not all of it’s characters are as compelling as the main one. What keeps this story on track and makes it so great is the relationship between Yuliy and his estranged brother, Mikhail. Their push and pull throughout the series won me over, and the ending song is absolutely enchanting. Give it a go — not just if vampires and subtle werewolves are your thing, but if you love found family, tragically separated siblings, and want something with crisp animation, great fights, and that will make you most likely cry.
