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I was chatting with Janos the other night about some decent anime that has popped up just recently. I don’t usually go big with the anime side of things on the site as there is a staggering wealth of sites dedicated to it out there already, but today I just had to put in a shout for Durarara!! (or Dullalala!! or even 无头骑士异闻录 if you’re that way inclined…).
This has already been picked up by CR and I’m in no doubt that it will become a classic.

from AniDB:
Based on a light novel series written by Narita Ryougo and illustrations by Yasuda Suzuhito.

The author Narita and illustrator Yasuda Suzuhito’s “distorted love story” is set in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, and revolves around an ensemble cast including street thugs, high school students, a female radio host, an underworld doctor, a young information vendor, and a headless Irish fairy.

Fantastic characters and setting makes this not only an unusual anime, but a real shot in the arm from all the loli/fanservice series we’re seeing of late.

I also want to big-up Bakemonogatari. I’m a bit late on this one as it was running through last summer on Japanese TV.

also from AniDB:
Bakemonogatari centres on Araragi Koyomi, a third year high school student who is almost human again after briefly becoming a vampire. One day, a classmate named Senjougahara Hitagi, who infamously never talks to anyone, falls down the stairs into Koyomi’s arms. He discovers that Hitagi weighs next to nothing, in defiance of physics. After being threatened by her, Koyomi offers her help, and introduces her to Oshino Meme, a middle-aged homeless man who helped him stop being a vampire.

One of the things that attracted me to this particular anime was the style. It has hints of Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei in there (it’s from SHAFT so I suppose it would be hinted at) but it also has a quality and uniqueness that is really refreshing.

Both these series are available at your usual anime sources…