T5W#121-Top 5 First Episodes of An Anime Series

For many Anime fans, the general rule of thumb is to give a new show about 3 episodes before determining whether or not they’ll continue on with it.  I’m more of a 1-3 episode kind of guy, especially with how I do my First Impression Friday articles.  There are some shows out there that come really close to nailing it out of the park.  Some are indicators that the show is going to be a blast from beginning to end.  Others are the instant peak of the series and there’s a slow decline in quality right to the finish line.  On todays Top 5 Wednesday, ill be looking at a mix of both.  These are my Top 5 First Episodes of an Anime Series.  These are the 25mins (sometimes plus) of animation that gave me a good indication that I had found something special to watch, for better or for worse. 

#5-Starting Over (Little Witch Academia-The Series)

Any worries I might’ve had about Little Witch Academia getting a 26 episode series were dashed away by the time the credits rolled on this premiere episode.  Rather than continue the story begun in Little Witch Academia and it’s sequel, The Enchanted Parade, the series resets everything and starts from the beginning.  Through this, we are able to see the first meeting between Akko, Lotte and Sucy and their crazy fist adventure trying to escape a killer forest and a giant chicken…you know Studio Trigger stuff.  Plus, the episode also kept the awe inspiring Shiny Chariot Show from the original short that filled my hear joy and wonder.  Little Witch Academia, for me, is the best Anime of 2017 and the first episode showed that, as impressive as it was, we hadn’t seen anything yet from the unstoppable Akko Kageri.

#4-Crime Coefficient (Psycho Pass)

If you think you know what you’re getting into after the prologue scene, you have no idea what’s actually coming, at least I didn’t.  For a Minority Report style series about future police who arrest you based on how bad your emotional status has become, I never expected it to be so…wow over the top bloody.  But this is balanced out through a solid introduction to the main cast, especially wide eyed rookie Akane Tsunemori and veteran enforcer bad ass Shunya Kogame.  And yet the first episode still manages to ask all the right questions a show with such a premise would ask and would continue to ask as the show progressed.  Come for the bloody action but stay for the case to case material that’s the reason I call this series the Anime equivalent of TV’s Criminal Minds

#3-Gundamjack (Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory)

A number of Gundam shows have great first episodes.  However, I decided to keep this to a “one entry per franchise” rule.  As much as the first episode of Gundam Wing changed my life, I think the opening episode of Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory had a bit more dramatic bang.  After three years of peace, the Earth Federation seems oblivious to the fact that Zeon is far from gone and is about to strike back in a huge way.  Before Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny played out the trope, the titular “Gundamjack” was a huge and great way to kick things off.  Gato not only steals a Gundam armed with a nuke but his Zeon allies rain hell upon the Federation’s Torrington base, echoing images of a Pearl Harbor esque attack.  Even if the rest of the series ended up suffering (and it did), Gundam 0083 got off to a very promising start.

#2-The Strongest Man (One Punch Man)

Holy crap what a fun ride and in only 26 minutes.  I’ll go into a bit more detail on this episode next month, guess that’s my cue to announce that One Punch Man will be the first series I review in 2018.  Short version: Saitama quickly becomes one of the most entertaining and likeable leads in any Anime and the episode unique take on a Superman level hero suffering from extreme boredom is second to none.  Still need to watch the rest of the series as a whole but this could be the best look at the Superhero genre put to Anime…of course the diehard lovers of My Hero Academia will now secrewer me to death but if im honest…they both pretty good shows, ok?

#1-Asteroid Blues (Cowboy Bebop)

Pilot pitches don’t get any better than this.  Cowboy Bebop’s debut is a solid mix of wild west story tropes, quirky characters, bloody and relentless action and the first few songs in one of the greatest OSTs of all time.  You’d think that would all sound like a bit of a cluster cuss but it’s not.  If this had not turned into a full 26 episode series, Spike and Jet’s mission to capture a drugged up bounty head and his pregnant girlfriend would still be one of the greatest 20 some odd minutes of animation ive ever seen put to screen period.  All the drama, the fake out intensity, that moment when Spike shoots Asimov’s Bloody Eye vile and the drums kick in…this episode always gets my blood pumping and is worth multiple rewatches.  The adventures of the Space Cowboy were just getting started but he was already shinning brightly in his quest for Bell Peppers and Beef.