Favorite Books

An ever-growing, ever-changing list of my favorite books (novels, short-story collections, plays, etc) excluding graphic novels and non-fictional books (even though there are plenty of both that I think are great).

*= Book read in its original language.

(last updated: 02/08/2026)

Prose

Abigel (Magda Szabo) 

Absolon, Absolon! (William Faulkner)

The Abyss* (Marguerite Yourcenar)

Address Unknown* (Katherine Kressman Taylor)

Against the Day* (Thomas Pynchon)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass* (Lewis Carroll/Charles Lutwidge Dodgson)

Ambergris* (Jeff VanderMeer)

Anna Karenina (Lev Tolstoy)

The Angelic Avengers (Isak Dinesen/Karen Blixen)

Augustus* (John Williams) 

Austerlitz (W.G. Sebald)

Baltasar & Blimunda (José Saramago)

Baudolino (Umberto Eco)

Barabbas (Pär Lagerkvist)

The Baron in the Trees (Italo Calvino)

Berlin Alexanderplatz (Alfred Döblin)

Beware of Pity (Stefan Zweig)

The Bethrothed (Alessandro Manzoni)

Blood Meridian* (Cormac McCarthy)

The Book of Disquiet (Fernando Pessoa)

The Book of the Long Sun* (Gene Wolfe)

The Book of the New Sun* (Gene Wolfe)

Brideshead Revisited* (Evelyn Waugh)

The Bridge on the Drina (Ivo Andric)

The Brothers Karamazov (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)

Buddenbrooks (Thomas Mann)

The Buru Quartet (Praomedya Ananta Toer)

By Night Under the Stone Bridge (Leo Perutz)

The Captain's Daughter (Alexander Pushkin)

The Castle (Franz Kafka)

Carmilla* (Joseph Sheridan Lefanu)

A Canticle for Leibowitz* (Walter M. Miller Jr.)

The Case of Comrade Tulayev (Victor Serge)

The Charterhouse of Parma* (Stendhal/Henri Beyle)

The Christmas Oratorio* (Göran Tunström)

The Comedians* (Graham Greene)

The Confessions of Felix Krull (Thomas Mann)

Conversations in the Cathedral (Mario Vargas Llosa)

The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexander Dumas)

Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)

Dangerous Liaisons* (Choderlos de Laclos) 

Daniel Deronda (George Eliot/Mary Ann Evans)

Darkness at Noon (Arthur Koestler)

Daughter of Fortune (Isabel Allende)

Death of a Beekeeper* (Lars Gustavsson)

The Death of Artemio Cruz (Carlos Fuentes)

The Death of Virgil (Hermann Broch)

Demons (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)

The Deptford Trilogy (Robertson Davies)

Diary of a Country Priest* (Georges Bernanos)

Doctor Faustus (Thomas Mann)

Doctor Glass*  (Hjalmar Söderberg)

Don Quixote (Miguel de Cervantes)

Dream of the Red Chamber (Cao Xueqin)

The Dwarf* (Pär Lagerkvist)

Earthly Powers* (Anthony Burgess)

Earthsea books* (Ursula LeGuin)

East of Eden* (John Steinbeck)

Emma* (Jane Austen)

The Emperor of Portugal* (Selma Lagerlöf)

The Erl-King* (Michel Tournier)

Everything Flows (Vassily Grossman)

Fathers and Sons (Ivan Turgenev)

The Feast of the Goat (Mario Vargas Llosa)

The Fifth Queen* (Ford Maddox Ford)

Flashman at the Charge* (George MacDonald Fraser)

A Fringe of Leaves* (Patrick White)

The Galton Case* (Ross MacDonald)

The Golem (Gustav Meyrink)

Gormenghast* (Mervyn Peake)

Great Expectations* (Charles Dickens)

The Great Gatsby* (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

Grendel* (John Gardner)

A Harlot High and Low* (Honoré de Balzac)

A High Wind in Jamaica* (Richard Hughes) 

A Hero of Our Time (Michail Lermontov) 

Herscht 07769 (Laszlo Krasznahorkai) 

The House of the Spirits (Isabel Allende)

Hunger (Knut Hamsun) 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame* (Victor Hugo)

Hyperion* (Dan Simmons)

I, Claudius* (Robert Graves)

I Served the King of England (Boumil Hrabal)

Iceland's Bell (Halldor Laxness)

The Idiot (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)

If on a Winter's Night a Traveller (Italo Calvino)

Independent People (Halldor Laxness)

Invisible Cities (Italo Calvino)

Jacques the Fatalist* (Denis Diderot)

The Jerusalem Quartet* (Edward Whittemore)

Journey by Moonlight (Antal Szerb)

Kidnapped* (Robert Louis Stevenson)

Kim* (Rudyard Kipling)

A King Alone* (Jean Giono= 

The King Must Die* (Mary Renault)

Kristin Lavransdatter (Sigrid Undset)

The Last Unicorn* (Peter S. Beagle)

The Left Hand of Darkness* (Ursula K. Le Guin)

The Leopard (Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa)

Life and Fate* (Vassily Grossman)

Lord Jim* (Joseph Conrad)

Lost Illusions* (Honoré de Balzac)

Lyonesse* (Jack Vance) 

The Makioka Sisters (Junichiro Tanizaki)

The Man Who Laughs* (Victor Hugo)

The Man Who Was Thursday* (Gilbert Keith Chesterton)

The Manuscript Found in Saragossa (Jan Potocki)

The Master and Margarita (Michail Bulgakov)

The Melancholy of Resistance (Laszló Krasznahorkai)

Memories of Hadrian (Marguerite Yourcenar)

Middlemarch* (George Eliot/Mary Ann Evans)

Milkman* (Anna Burns)

The Ministry of Fear* (Graham Greene)

The Miracles of Antichrist* (Selma Lagerlöf) 

Les Miserables* (Victor Hugo)

The Moonstone* (Wilkie Collins)

Mrs. Dalloway* (Virginia Woolf)

Music and Silence* (Rose Tremain)

My Name is Red (Orhan Pamuk)

Mysteries (Knut Hamsun) 

The Name of the Rose (Umberto Eco)

The Napoleon of Notting Hill* (Gilbert Keith Chesterton)

Narciss and Goldmund (Herman Hesse)

Night Flight* (Antoine Saint-Exupéry)

Ninety-Three* (Victor Hugo)

No Name* (Wilkie Collins)

Nostromo (Joseph Conrad)

The Notebook (Agota Kristof)

Oblomov (Ivan Goncharov)

Old Goriot* (Honoré de Balzac)

Orlando* (Virginia Woolf)

Pale Fire* (Vladimir Nabokov) 

A Passage to India (E.M. Forster)

Peace* (Gene Wolfe)

Pedro Paramo* (Juan Rulfo)

Pereira Maintains (Antonio Tabbuchi)

Petersburg (Andrei Bély)

The Power and the Glory* (Graham Greene)

The Prague Cemetery (Umberto Eco)

Pride and Prejudice* (Jane Austen)

The Queen's Tiara* (Carl Jonas Love Almqvist)

The Quiet American* (Graham Greene)

The Quincunx* (Charles Palliser)

Quo Vadis (Henryk Sienkiewicz)

Pale Fire* (Vladimir Nabokov) 

A Pale View of Hills (Kazuo Ishiguro) 

The Raj Quartet* (Paul Scott)

The Remains of the Day* (Kazuo Ishiguro)

Requiem (Antonio Tabucchi)

Resurrection (Lev Tolstoy)

Restoration* (Rose Tremain)

Riddley Walker* (Russell Hoban)

Romola* (George Eliot/Mary Ann Evans) 

Salka Valka (Halldor Laxness)

The Samurai (Shunsaku Endo)

Satantango (Laszló Krasznahorkai)

Scaramouche* (Rafael Sabatini)

The Sea, The Sea* (Iris Murdoch)

The Serious Game* (Hjalmar Söderberg)

Silence (Shunsaku Endo)

The Silence of the Sea* (Vercors/Jean Bruller)

The Sleepwalkers (Hermann Broch)

The Sound and the Fury (William Faulkner)

The Spectre of Alexander Wolf (Gaito Gazdanov)

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (John Le Carré/David Cornwell)

Steppenwolf (Herman Hesse) 

Sword of Honour* (Evelyn Waugh) 

The Tartar Steppe (Buzzati Dino)

Tigana* (Guy Gavriel Kay)

The Third Policeman* (Flann O'Brien)

Thomas Cromwell books* (Hilary Mantel)

Three Men in a Boat* (Jerome K. Jerome)

The Three Wise Men (Michel Tournier)

The Tin Drum (Günter Grass) 

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (John Le Carré/David Cornwell)

The Transylvanian Trilogy (Miklós Banffy)

True Grit* (Charles Portis)

Ubik* (Philip K. Dick)

The Unconsoled* (Kazuo Ishiguro)

Under the Sun of Satan* (Georges Bernanos)

Vertigo (W.G. Sebald)

Villette* (Charlotte Brontë)

Voss* (Patrick White)

Waiting for the Barbarians* (John Maxwell Coetzee)

Watership Down* (Richard Adams)

The Waves* (Virginia Woolf)

The Way We Live Now* (Anthony Trollope)

The Wild Ass's Skin* (Honoré de Balzac)

The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis (José Saramago)

Zeno's Conscience (Italo Svevo) 

 

 Short-Story Collections

 The Aleph (Jorge Luis Borges)

 Fictions (Jorge Luis Borges)

The King With the Golden Mask* (Marcel Schwob) 

The Periodic Table (Primo Levi)

 Seven Gothic Tales (Isak Dinesen/Karen Blixen)

The Sword of Welleran* (Lord Dunsany)

Trafalgar (Angelica Gorodischer)

 

Verse

The Aeneid (Virgil) 

Aniara* (Harry Martinsson)

 The Divine Comedy (Dante Alighieri)

 The End of Satan* (Victor Hugo)

Eugene Onegin (Alexander Pushkin)

 Gaspard de la Nuit* (Aloysius Bertrand)

The Illiad (Homer)

The Kalevala (Elias Lönnrot, ed)

 Metamorphoses (Ovid)

The Odyssey (Homer)

Orlando Furioso (Ariosto)

Paradise Lost  (John Milton)

The Ring and the Book* (Robert Browning)

  

Plays

 Andromaque* (Jean Racine)

The Alchemists* (Ben Johnson)

Berenice* (Jean Racine)

Blood Wedding (Federico Garcia Lorca)

Boris Godunov (Alexander Pushkin)

The Cherry Orchard (Anton Chekhov)

Cyrano de Bergerac* (Edmond Rostand)

Death and the King's Horseman* (Wole Soyinka) 

Faust (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

Hamlet* (William Shakespeare)

Hedda Gabler (Henrik Ibsen)

Henry IV* (William Shakespeare)

The House of Bernarda Alba (Federico Garcia Lorca)

Julius Caesar* (William Shakespeare)

King Lear* (William Shakespeare)

Macbeth* (William Shakespeare)

A Man For All Seasons* (Robert Bolt)

The Master Builder (Henrik Ibsen)

The Misanthrope* (Moliére/Jean-Bapiste Poquelin)

A Month in the Country (Ivan Turgenev)

Murder in the Cathedral* (T.S. Eliot)

Othello* (William Shakespeare)

The Oresteia (Aeschylus)

 Peer Gynt (Henrik Ibsen)

Phedre (Jean Racine)

Prometheus Bound (Aeschylus)

The Satin Slipper* (Paul Claudel)

The Seagull (Anton Chekhov)

The Supper* (Jean-Claude Brisville)

The Theban Plays (Sophocles)

Three Sisters (Anton Chekhov)

The Trojan Women (Euripides)

Uncle Vania (Anton Chekhov)

Volpone* (Ben Johnson)

The Wild Duck (Henrik Ibsen)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fanny & Alexander

Greetings, Dear Reader and welcome to a new year for this blog. Not just a new year, but a new decade as well. Yes, we have left the 2010's behind and must now venture forth into the uncharted waters of the 2010's. Best of luck to both of us.
Anyway, I thought I'd begin the 2020's on a positive note. Namely, by doing a little post on one of my favorite movies. So, here we go:

I don't think I've ever mentioned this before, but I am an admirer of the filmography of Ingmar Bergman. Admittedly, I haven't seen everything he made (far from it), but what I have had the opportunity to see has been of a consistently high quality and that there is no doubt to me that Bergman deserves his reputation as a director.

That said, if I had to pick out what is, in my opinion, the man's Magnum Opus, my choice would fall upon the movie that is the subject of this post:

Fanny & Alexander.

Fanny & Alexander exists in two versions; one made for television and a (comparatively) shorter cut released in theaters. Bergman himself considered the TV-version to be the correct one and so, that is the one, I've decided to focus on.

The Film takes place in Sweden in the early years of the 20th Century and focuses on the Ekdahls; a large and wealthy family ruled over by the grand-mother, in general and two of the children in that family: Fanny and her brother Alexander, in particular. Following the death of their father, the children's mother remarries the local Bishop and the three of them move into his home; a place of strict rules and punishments.

The TV-version of Fanny and Alexander lasts for five hours and not once during that time does it feel as if the story is dragging its feet. One major reason for this is the characterization, which is quite simply top-notch. With a few exceptions, pretty much every character that are introduced to the
viewer is well-rounded and interesting.

Take, for example, uncle Karl. While his treatment of his wife and bitter resentment towards his brothers  and self-pity hardly makes him a sympathetic character, we also see him get along well with the children during the Christmas party and much later, it is he who goes to negotiate with the Bishop in order to save his late brother's remarried widow. In short, he's not a cardboard character but a human being with both good and bad aspects to his person and this goes for almost every character in the cast.

Then there's a villain of the story, who stands among the all-time great screen-villains. Bishop Edward Vergerus is, in many ways, the epitome of the wicked step-parent and yet, as horrible as he is, the Bishop never strays into the realm of cartoon villainy, but remains a chillingly believable figure throughout.

At the beginning of this post, I called Fanny & Alexander as one of my favorite movies (or films) and I've kept referring to it as such throughout. However, I would also call it one of my favorite series. While most commonly thought of as a movie, the TV-version was originally intended as a mini-series and can be watched as such. In fact, the DVD/Bluray box-set even refers to it as a "TV-series".

That said, at the end of the day,  no matter what label one chooses to apply to it, one thing remains true: Fanny & Alexander is a masterpiece; an enchanting tale of great richness, covering every human emotion. From hope and joy to fear and terror, aided in no small part by the cinematography of frequent Bergman collaborator Sven Nykvist. If you haven't seen it already, you definitely should and if you have? Watch it again, like most great works, its worth returning to every now and then.

My Favorite Animated Shows (2018 Edition)

Way back in 2015, I made a list of what I considered, at the time, to be my favorite animated shows; western cartoons and anime alike. Since then a lot has happened. Not only have I discovered plenty of new shows ("new" as in I hadn't seen them before, some of them are quite old) that are worthy to be included among my favorites, but I've also gone back and re-watched shows that I had not seen for many years. As such, I figured that it was high time that I updated my old list.  Before you jump ahead to check whether or not one of your favorite shows made it, there are a few things I need to inform you about:

First of all, unlike the previous list, this one does not rank the shows in order from best to, well, least best (there's no such thing as a worst entry on a list of favorites). Instead, I've chosen to list them in alphabetical order.
 I realize that this may take some of the fun out of things, since one of the main reasons as to why one would check out a list like this is due to curiosity as to where one's favorite show has placed and if its actually on the list at all. However, I prefer to do it this way. Besides, it will make it easier for me to add or remove shows, should I feel like it.

Furthermore, I've decided to limit myself to shows that have either finished airing or aren't currently airing new episodes.
Finally, if there's a show on here that you haven't seen, I hope that I have, in some way, made you interested in checking it out.
Well, enough of that. Let's get on to what you are all here for. Here we go:

Update 26/2 2019: Space Brothers added (full description to follow)

3000 Leauges in Search of Mother 

With 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, or Haha wo Tasunete Sanzenri as its called in the original Japanese, the late Isao Takahata (who passed away earlier this year) took a single chapter, albeit a very long one, of the Italian children's novel Cuore and expanded it into a 52 episode long anime, the result was arguably the best example of so-called adaptation expansion ever seen. During the course of its run-time, 3000 League presents the viewer with very believable depictions of life in Italy and South America during the late 19th Century and makes us care for the characters and their plight. A true classic and a worthy show to start this list of with.

Ashita no Joe

I'm a huge fan of Osamu Dezaki and so, it should come as no surprise that he will be well represented on this list, with Ashita no Joe being the first show of his to appear. The oldest show on the list,  Ashita no Joe (or Tomorrow's Joe, if you prefer) is a legendary anime and for good reasons; following Yabuki Joe's career in the boxing-ring as well as his personal growth as a person is fascinating. Definitely an anime that deserves its iconic status. 

Ashita no Nadja

Out of the shows I re-watched before making this list, Ashita no Nadja is most certainly the one that improved the most in my estimation. Not that I didn't like it before, but this second viewing of the series really elevated it in my eyes. The story of Nadja and her quest to find her mother has the feeling of one of those books that you read at a certain point in your life and which then stays with you forever. Add a great cast of supporting characters (including a really memorable villainess/anti-heroine), most of whom gets fleshed out during the course of the story and you have one of the finest works that the Shoujo genre has produced.

Dennou Coil

A great science-fiction series, Dennou Coil is also a rare example of an anime where the one-off episodes are more interesting and memorable than the ones that focus on the main plot. Not that the plot of Dennou Coil is bad, but its not what earns the show a spot on this list. No, what does are the episodes which was dedicated to exploring the setting and the technology invented for the series. Episodes such as the one in which the kids grow sentient beards or befriend a dinosaur-looking illegal were the most memorable ones the show has to offer and the ones that I, having recently re-watched the series for the first time in years, remembered the most vividly.

Future Boy Conan

In many ways, Future Boy Conan feels like a blue-print for Miyazaki's later work. Several character-types and themes appear in this series that will re-occur throughout the famed director's career. Of course, if that was the only thing Future Boy Conan had going for it, it wouldn't be on the list. No, Future Boy Conan is a great series in its own right and, even today stands as one of my favorite things Miyazaki has ever been involved in.

Gankutsuou

The best thing to come out of studio Gonzo. Gankutsuou is an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, that despite taking place in the future and incorporating giant robots and demonic possessions in the plot, still captured the spirit of Dumas' novel better than any other version I've seen. The Count himself is charismatic, manipulative and completely merciless in his quest for revenge, as he should be and while I didn't care much for his character, I do think the decision to make Albert the protagonist instead of Edmond was an interesting one, since it adds an aura of mystery and terror to the story: Just who is this guy who worms his way into the lives of these families? What is his deal? 

In some ways, Gankutsuou actually improves on Dumas' work. For example, I never found Franz d'Epinay all that interesting in the original novel, but here he soon became one of my favorite members of the cast. In short, Gankutsuo is easily one of my favorite adaptations of a literary classic in any medium.

Gargoyles

I grew up in the 90's and Disney-cartoons like Talespin and Darkwing Duck were definitely a huge part of my childhood. Gargoyles, however, was not. The Show never aired in Sweden and so, it wasn't until much later in life that I became aware of its existence. Better late than never though, as the saying goes. With its comparatively darker and serious plots and art-style, Gargoyles had more in common with shows like Batman: TAS at its best, than its peers. Definitely my favorite animated series to come out of Disney and the best thing Greg Weisman ever created.

Giant Gorg

I've watched my share of mecha anime in my days, including several installments of the Gundam franchise. That said, if I had to pick only one representative of the genre to be on the list, it would have to be Giant Gorg. Featuring a memorable cast of characters, some of which aren't what they seem to be, as well as a great sense of adventure and mystery, this is a show that I would recommend even to those who are not into stuff involving giant robots.

Kaiba

The first Masaaki Yuasa anime on this list. The first half of Kaiba calls to mind the classic children's book The Little Prince, with the main character travelling to various planets and encountering their inhabitants. Although, it should be pointed out that Kaiba features a lot more violence and sexually active characters than Saint-Exupéry's opus. Taking place in the distant future, in which memories can be bought and sold, Kaiba is a great science-fiction story and one of the best short anime I've seen.

Legend of the Galactic Heroes

This is the anime equivalent to something like War and Peace; a huge, sprawling epic with a cast that numbers in the hundreds. I don't know if I'll ever re-watch Legend of the Galactic Heroes, due to its massive length, but it is a show that I will always hold in immensely high regard. I'd go so far as to say that every anime-fan should watch it at least once.

The Long Long Holiday

A children's cartoon set during World War 2? That's not something you see every day, but that's exactly what the French cartoon Les Grandes Grandes Vacances, or The Long Long Holiday is. What's more, despite being for a children, the show does not pull its punches. It starts out fairly light, but as the characters become more involved with the local resistance and the Germans' grip on the village tighten, the show gradually takes on a darker, more serious tone. The final few episodes are among the most intense I have seen. Its not often that a cartoon has me concerned about the fate of its main characters, but The Long Long Holiday managed to do just that.

The Maxx

I've read the two volumes of the original Sam Keith comic that The Maxx is based on and why I enjoyed them a lot, this is one of the instances where I actually prefer the adaptation over the source material. Of course, the The Maxx cartoon is one of the most faithful adaptions of a comic-book I've seen, with only a few minor changes made to the story, such as replacing Erik Larsen's character Savage Dragon (a comic I've never read, incidentally) with a generic detective, or adding a new ending to wrap things up. With its treatment of serious themes, complex cast of characters and some of the best voice acting I've ever heard, The Maxx stands out as one of the most interesting western cartoons ever made. Of all the cartoons to come out of MTV in the 90's (though much like Gargoyles, I didn't watch it until much later), this is my favorite.

Mononoke & Mushi-Shi

That's right, I'm putting both these shows together. They are pretty much two sides of the same coin, with both of them starring an enigmatic character wandering the Japanese countryside, dealing with things beyond normal humans. Of course, there are several differences between them, such as their respective artstyles and Mushi-Shi having a calmer and more meditative feel to it, while Mononoke is more steeped in horror. Either way, both are great shows and definitely belong among my favorites.

Oniisama-E...

The first Osamu Dezaki adaptation of a Riyoko Ikeda manga on this list and although I have a slight preference for The Rose of Versailles, due to its more compelling main character and the fact that it takes place during a very interesting time in history, Oniisama E... (Dear Brother) certainly rivals the older show in terms of characterization and drama. I would also say that this is the best looking of all the shows Dezaki directed and considering how all his shows tend to look great, that's saying a lot.

Paranoia Agent

The body of work left behind by the late Satoshi Kon may have been small, but its quality can not be disputed. My personal favorite of Kon's work is Paranoia Agent, his only series. 

At its core, Paranoia Agent is basically a morality-tale about taking responsibility for one's actions, but its also a great mystery in the vein of David Lynch, filled with memorably weird imagery and characters. Never have cute little plush-dogs been so creepy.

Ping Pong the Animation

Out of all Yuasa's shows, Ping Pong is easily the one that's most grounded in real-life; there are no time-loops or other fantastic concepts to be found here. That's not to say that Ping Pong is boring though, far from it! The various ping-pong matches are both well-animated and full of intensity as well as great vehicles for exploring the characters and their motivations. All in all, Ping Pong is a show that deserves to stand alongside the likes of Ashita no Joe as one of the great works of its genre.

Princess Tutu

The title of this show and the fact that its main character is a duck who wants to dance ballet may lead you to believe that Princess Tutu is going to be something cute and light-hearted. Well, you'd be mistaken; the show is not devoid of cuteness, but its also filled with some really dark and intense moments, particularly near the end. Oh, and as you'd expect from a show like this, the music is fantastic.

Revolutionary Girl Utena

Revolutionary Girl Utena occupied the top spot on my old list and if this one was in any order...Well, it would definitely still be in the top three. No other show on this list is as heavy with symbolism or enjoyable in as many different ways as Revolutionary Girl Utena. It deals with important themes such as growing up, sexuality, gender roles, etc and does so expertly. It has conspiracy, intrigue, sword-fights, great comedic moments and an awesome soundtrack. Moreover it features one of the best ensemble casts in any show, animated or live-action. Basically, Utena is one of those shows that I think has something for everyone and while I do like Mawaru Penguindrum a lot (and am thinking of giving Yuri Kuma Arashi a second go), to me, Revolutionary Girl Utena will always be Kunihiko Ikuhara's magnum opus.

The Rose of Versailles

Its hard to pick a favorite out of Osamu Dezaki's work, but if I had to choose I'd go with The Rose of Versailles. Its often melodramatic as all get out, but the melodrama actually works, since its very easy to imagine the french aristocrats acting in that way. The show also does a good job at highlighting the differences between the petty schemes of the nobility and the much more important concerns of the french people at the time. Plus, The Rose of Versailles features one of the most charismatic, badass and awe-inspiring protagonists I've seen in Oscar Francois de Jareyes. As Axel von Fersen says to her at one point in the show: "Oscar, you are manlier than a man." 

Truer words were seldom spoken.

Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

The newest show on the list, from a chronological perspective. Genroku Rakugo is one of the great character studies of the medium, chronicling the life of one man, from his childhood to his old age, while also letting us know the people around him. Its also a show that should be watched by anyone who appreciates the art of telling a good story. An amazing show that is a strong candidate for my favorite animated show of this decade.

Simoun

In my old review of Simoun (Please check it out for a more detailed view on what I thought of the show) I wrote that if I was to ever update my old top animated shows list, the show would definitely be on it somewhere. Well, here it is. With its well-developed cast of characters, interesting world-building and great music, Simoun has more than earned a place among my favorites.

Space Brothers

Many shows, whether live-action or animated deal with the relationship between siblings in some ways, it may not be the focus of the show, but its almost always there in some fashion. That said, if I had to pick my favorite sibling relationship it would have to be the one between Mutta and Hibito Namba; the titular Space Brothers. I think that everyone who has a brother and/or is one, can recognize themselves in these two. I know I did. 

Of course, that's not the only thing that earns Space Brothers a spot on this list. Throughout its 90+ episodes, the show presents us with an engaging story and well-drawn characters. In fact, the characterization is one of the strongest parts of this show, Mutta may be the protagonist, but many of the other characters feels as though they are the stars of their own stories, who just happens to cross the elder Namba brother's path.

Takarajima

Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island is the novel about pirates and one of the foremost adventure novels ever written. As such, it is no wonder that it has been adapted many times over the years and though I haven't seen every version of the story, my favorite adaptation has to be this animated series courtesy of none other than Osamu Dezaki. Its not completely faithful to its source material (than again, what adaptation is?), but it captures the spirit of adventure and excitement of Stevenson's story perfectly and the changes that were made are, in my opinion, actually improvements; making an already classic story even better. The characters from the book were never portrayed better  than in this series, especially its two stars: John Silver and Jim Hawkins. Jim is especially great in this one, being a far more entertaining character than he usually is. Furthermore, the characters invented for the series, such as Puppy and Gray, fits so well within the narrative that its hard to picture Treasure Island without them. To this day, Takarajima stands as one of the finest adventure series that it has ever been my pleasure to watch.

The Tatami Galaxy

The final anime on this list to be directed by Masaki Yuaasa. The main character of The Tatami Galaxy lives through several different time-lines and in each one he tries to have the perfect college-experience ("the rose-colored campus life", as he calls it) . Naturally, he never achieves this goal, at first it seems like the blame for this should be laid entirely on Ozu, the protagonist's impish friend, but it gradually becomes clear that things are not quite so simple. The Tatami Galaxy is fantastic; its funny with hilarious rapid-style narration from the main character and it takes full advantage of its alternative time-line gimmick to show different aspects of its cast and of course like everything else Yuaasa has done, it has a really interesting look to it. One that I personally think is great.

The Venture Bros.

Closing out the list we have my favorite Adult Swim cartoon. The Venture Bros started out as a parody of boy-adventurers in general and Johnny Quest in particular, but has since evolved into something much more than that; featuring character-development and story-lines that the things it started out parodying could only dream of, while still being genuinely funny. Make no mistake, The Venture Bros main theme may be failure, but the show itself is definitely not a failure at all.