Anime Movie
Paprika

In the near future, a device called the DC Mini has allowed psychiatrists to enter a person's dream to help treat their mental ailments. But when terrorists steal the technology and begin attacking the populace in their dreams, it's up to Dr. Atsuko Chiba and her alter ego, Paprika, to stop the terrorists before the dream attacks begin spill out into the real world and destroy the world forever

Characters

Atsuko Chiba: A prominent psychiatrist in DC Mini research, she has been illegally using the device to help people outside of the program. Her greatest asset for the program is her unlimited power in the dream world via her alter ego Paprika. When the dream attacks begin, she uses Paprika to investigate the dreams to uncover the mystery behind the attacks.
Paprika: Dr. Atsuko Chiba's alter ego. Despite existing only in the dream world, she has immense power and can often bend other people's dreams to her will. She is almost the complete opposite of Dr. Chiba. Where as Dr. Chiba is straight laced and stoic, Paprika is energetic and lighthearted which leads to the suspicion that she may be a different person from Dr. Chiba all together.
Dr. Kosaku Tokita: An obese man and the inventor of the DC Mini. Despite his genius, he is essentially a child at heart which often causes problems for him, one of which is his inability to stop eating comfort foods. Due to his enthusiasm for his invention, he created the Minis with no restrictions. This allowed the terrorists who stole the device to attack people's dreams even when awake. He tries to assuage his guilt by helping recover his stolen invention.
Dr. Toratar Shima: Chief of the Dream Department, he was one of the first victims of the terrorists. While awake, the terrorists injected the doctor with a dream that caused his real body to jump out of a window. He survived however, and is now helping Dr. Chiba and Dr. Tokita in finding the culprits.
Detective Konakawa Toshimi: A police detective suffering from anxiety caused by a re-occurring dream. He is secretly helped by Dr. Chiba using the DC Mini. When people begin to mysteriously go insane via dreams, he becomes a part of the team investigating the attacks.

Why I like it: Two words: Satoshi Kon. For those who are unfamiliar with him, here's a quick resume:  Millennium Actress, Paranoia Agent and Perfect Blue. The main similarity of all these anime is that they challenge the watcher to think. Most people watch anime to be entertained. This usually means a linear plot with well thought out, but typecast style characters. Though I myself enjoy this style of anime myself (I'm sure I had some as my previous picks), I really love anime that gives me a mystery to solve before the end of the series/movie.
Like Kon's previous works, Paprika runs right from the beginning with one over all question: Who is Paprika? Paprika herself is a mystery. Though a part of Dr. Chiba, Paprika seems to be separate from Dr. Chiba's consciousness. At the minimum, Dr. Chiba has multiple personality disorder which manifests as Paprika. At the very most, Paprika is a being that exists only in dreams and uses Dr. Chiba's body as an anchor to the real world. Despite her mystery, Paprika is undeniably powerful which makes her a great asset for her counterpart, Dr. Chiba.

The story is also a challenge to the watcher because its nonlinear. The plot tends to jump around focusing on the different main characters as it goes by delving into their dreams to explore the inner workings of their being. This in depth search of the character's dreams helps the audience understand the actions of these characters when a critical decision point is reached in the story. Another factor that challenges the audience to think is the story's use of dreams. As the movie progresses, dreams become less distinct from reality which tests the audience to decipher whether a scene is either reality or dream. These factors create puzzle that the audience has to piece together in order to understand and solve the mystery of the movie.

Though the though provoking mystery is what makes this movie good, it's the animation and music that makes it truly amazing. As the characters travel through the dream world, the scenes are so unique and detailed that they could easily be considered a works of art in still frame. One of the more interesting dreams is the dream the terrorists use to affect people. The dream is portrayed as a parade that consist mainly of inadequate objects marching and dancing about. As the movie progresses, the dream becomes larger, more complex and ultimately, more visually more stimulating. To add to the great art, the movie has superb soundtrack. Similar to Paranoia Agent's soundtrack, it's a unique style a music that blends techno, tribal, and marching music into an eclectic and rich sound. Its bright and cheery beat is underscored by a melody the somewhat strange and unnerving. Like any good soundtrack, this one compliments the story immensely to give the movie the perfect atmosphere for its story.

My verdict: Arguably the best anime I have seen this year and maybe a new add to the top 100 of all time. Don't miss out on this amazing anime.
Manga
Pumpkin Scissors
The long war is over; the Empire and the Frost Republic signed a cease-fire known as the Thin Ice Treaty. Though borders are stable once again, the interior kingdom is not. Corrupt leaders and former soldiers turned bandits plague the populace and prevent reconstruction of the Empire. The only form of salvation for the people is a the Imperial Army State Section III. Otherwise known as Pumpkin Scissors, they strive to aid the people and to stop the destruction caused by renegade forces. But as they delve deeper into reconstruction process, will the ghosts of the previous war destroy them before they complete their mission?

Characters

2nd Lt. Alice L. Malvin: Field Commander of Pumpkin Scissors. Born under one of the 13 Appointed Families of the Empire, she graduated military academy right after the cease-fire. Young and brash, this noble turned soldier leads her unit with enthusiasm and a strong sense justice. However, her youth and inexperience in war often gets her and her unit in unneeded and sometimes unnecessary trouble.
Corporal Randel Oland: An impressively large man, he is a veteran of the previous war. Despite his kind nature in peace time, he is becomes an unstoppable machine capable of killing tanks when in battle. Formally a member of Invisible 9 battalion (more specifically the 901 ATT), the joined Pumpkin Scissors to promote peace through out his country. Though he tries to forget the war, the remnants of the Invisible 9 plague his conscious and threaten his mission of peace at every turn.
Warrant Officers Machs and Oreldo: The two other members of Pumpkin Scissors field team. Veterans themselves, they often groan at Lt. Malvin's head on attitude. Despite their lazy nature, they are capable soldiers and often help out a lot during missions.
Captain Hunks: Commander of Section III, he gives out the missions statements to Pumpkin Scissors field team. Though an old soldier, he is still kind and considerate to his subordinates. He often helps out by getting info of the enemy and keeping the higher ups from dropping he hammer on his subordinates.
Sgt. Major Stecchin: Highest ranking enlisted personnel in Section III. However, due to her age and lack of battle experience, she has become more or less a glorified servant for Captain Hunks. She still beams when she realizes that she has Corporal Oland as a subordinate, even though she'll never order him to do anything.
Corporal Private First Class Mercury: Section III's mascot and messenger. Though effective in passing info between the field team and the Captain, he often gets in trouble by biting higher ups.

Why I like it: Everybody has seen a war story. Whether it be about fantasy and fiction, or based historical fact, everyone has been read/watched an epic about two contending powers filled with heroes and pivotal battles. There is little written of the events after the war. No true war story ever ends with the war. Real life has shown us that conflicts still arise after the war is through, especially in devastated regions. Most people tend to forget that the reconstruction era could be just as bad (if not worse) than the actual war itself. Pumpkin Scissors sheds light to this era by showing the Empire after the treaty.
Though fictional, the region and technology of the story seems to be based on post WWI Europe. Its similarities show how the real Europe experienced their reconstruction after the Great War. Though the government is in power, due to their depleted army and damaged infrastructure, there are many regions of the Empire where the government's influence does not reach. In these areas, corruption and lawlessness takes hold. Some places become a private kingdom by the ruling class, while in others, bandits terrorize the populace.

The bandits themselves are also a byproduct of the end of the war. In long wars, many soldiers are trained in order to keep up with the increasing battles. When the war is over, this leaves a surplus hardened soldiers who only know of death and destruction. When the government lets them go with little to no knowledge of civilian life, they become bandits in order to survive. In order to remedy this, many governments build a force specifically designed to combat the problem and another to promote reconstruction. Pumpkin Scissors gives us a look at both by putting the two units together in the form of Section III.
Another problem the story focuses on that is the repercussions of weapons of war after the war is over. When a nation is in a long war sees no end in sight, they get desperate and invent weapons that are utterly devastating and can be considered a crime against humanity. For WWI, weapons like mustard gas and the machine gun have become part of its terrible legacy to the world. When the war is over, however, these weapons don't go away. Most of the time, they are copied by opportunistic forces and are used on civilians to instill fear or control. In Pumpkin Scissors, they highlight this problem with the Invisible 9.

But unlike WWI, they add a little extra to this phenomenon by making their weapons of war human. Unlike mechanical weapons, human weapons can't be stored away. When the war is over, they have to deal with what they done and and how to live after the battle. Some try so do penance for their sins; Corporal Oland exemplifies this by joining Pumpkin Scissors. Despite his early life of unrelenting battles, he becomes Section III for reconstruction and to bring about peace in his nation.  Others embrace their evil and continue their war on innocent people. This is shown by the other Invisible 9 soldiers who frequently haunt Corporal Oland as he attempts to reconstruct his nation.  Despite the somewhat solemn plot, the characters of the story often partake in witty banter to lighten up the mood. This style of joking around, a certain with respect to rank, takes me back to my conversations with my buddies back in the Marines (for you nonmilitary types, it's somewhat similar to how the military personnel talked to each other in Fullmetal Alchemist).  The banter, added with a few funny antics, help in lightening up the mood when the story becomes too serious.

My Verdict:  An easily engrossing story for anyone who enjoyed the military style of Fullmetal Alchemist or the fish-out-of-water style of Fullmetal Panic.
Anime Classic

You're Under Arrest!
The Bokuto Police Station. A hub of top cops known for their meticulous investigations and professional attitude. Well, they wish they were known for that. Actually, they are a commonly known as a motley crew of gossips, heavy drinkers, and outright troublemakers. But despite their screwy antics, when trouble arises in the Bokuto prefecture, the cops of the traffic division strap in, rev up, and get the job done in grand fashion.

Characters

Miyuki Kobayakawa: A diligent and punctual cop with a fascination with weapons. Partnered up with fellow cop Natsumi, she patrols the streets in a Honda patrol car she souped up herself. Despite her shy nature, she is the best driver in traffic division and is fearless when chasing escaping drivers.
Natsumi Tsujimoto: The complete opposite of Miyuki, Natsumi is always tardy, brash, and a drunkard by nature. Despite her vices, her physical strength and willingness to drive with Miyuki, makes her the perfect partner for Miyuki when patrolling.
Ken Nakajima: Known as the 'White Hawk', he is the best motorcycle cop in Bokuto Station. Though strong, tough and impressive to his peers, he often falls apart and becomes shy around his crush Miyuki. This has often lead to a lot of ribbing by his fellow cops on the force.
Yoriko Nikaido: Once a dispatcher for the station, she became a patrol officer when she partnered with Aoi. Incredibly nosey and a gossip, she often stirs up trouble amongst her peers by misinterpreting conversations and situations she comes across. Though incredibly clumsy, her enormous amount of luck often pulls her out of trouble.
Aoi Futaba: Once a man in Tokyo's vice squad, he dressed as a woman for a long length of time in order to capture a serial rapist. When the stake out was over however, Aoi's mind was so entrenched as a female, he was never able to revert back to his male personality. Not wanting to completely lose a proficient cop, the force decided to transfer Aoi to the Bokuto traffic division. Despite her former male appearance, she was quickly acknowledged as the most beautiful 'woman' in the entire station, which often leads to many comedic misunderstandings with people not familiar with her condition. An accomplished basketball player in her younger life, she often wows people on the court with her impressive skill and aggressive moves despite her very feminine disposition.
Kachou: Section chief of Bokuto traffic division. He is a stern, fair man who gives a lot of leniency towards his subordinates. When trouble starts brewing however, he makes sure his misfit division is kept in line and ready for action.
Inspector Tokuno: A detective in the Investigations division of Bokuto Station, he is the oldest veteran of the station. He is looked up to by the younger cops and often gives advice whenever needed. Like Kachou, his belief is that the group of cops of the traffic division are good at heart, which makes him very lenient and takes their antics with a grain of salt.
Tako Arizuka: A police superintendant, he is feared by most cops when he comes around for inspections. By the book and very strict, he is often frustrated by the dealings of Bokuto Police Station. Despite his gruff demeanor, he is always willing to help his subordinates whenever they need it. Even though he chastises them along the way.

Why I like It: A classic through and through, this slice of life anime has entertained many otakus with its Hogan's Heroes type antics and somewhat taboo subject matter for its time. Its more realistic style of comedy is very different from the over the top, physically impossible style of comedy seen in other comedy anime. It doesn't rely on enormous props and gravity defying hits to make the audience laugh. Instead, it uses character interactions and subtle situational humor.  The characters themselves, are a charming mess of different personalities that often clash and meld in an amusing fashion. From Yoriko harassing her coworkers, to Natsumi's bad encounters with the superintendant, the comedy falls firmly in line next to many great American sitcoms.

Aside from all the comedy, the anime also has a few dramatic scenes. Due to the anime's more realistic style and likable characters, these dramatic scenes have a great sense of pathos due mostly to the emotional investment the audience gives to the characters. Most watchers really don't want to see the relationships forged by these characters fall apart by a fight, which makes them all that more important in the development of the story and the way the fight is resolved. This helps spice up the story when the comedic parts become a little too stale.  One of my favorite things of this anime is its portrayal of transgender Aoi.  Aoi is presented as a very likable and very feminine person by the show. Rather than making her flamboyant or over-sexed, she is given a strong, yet feminine personality and is supported by her coworkers despite her condition. Though there are the obligatory shocked and confused comedic situations when she encounters other people, the anime gives Aoi as much respect as it gives to any other character given the era this anime was initially released.

The anime itself is a long one. It consists of two seasons comprising of 50 episodes each, 2 OVA specials, one full length movie, and a third season that is either in the works or currently showing on Japanese TV. However, only the first season, one OVA and the full length movie have been released to the American public. Hopefully, pending the popularity of the new series, the second season and the second OVA will be released in America sometime later on.

My Verdict: A strange, witty little cop tale reminiscent of The Office that could easily make it into the prime-time lineup if it where ever made into a live action show in America.

You're Under Arrest Fun Fact: While watching this anime, you may notice that some of the characters look strangely familiar. That is because you may have seen their faces in another, highly popular anime. During its manga run, author Kosuke Fujishima, created a short gag strip at the end of each chapter where they show YUA's characters praying to gods and goddesses that looked like the characters themselves. When the deitys proved to be popular, Fujishima decided to create a original story based solely on them. Thus began the humble beginnings of Fujishima's second anime/manga powerhouse known as Oh! My Goddess!
More from Commarine: