Hey hey, it's HSA!'s Lucy here to share her top defining anime moments!

Katt: Minnie is a terrible influence. Thanks to her, you’re all doomed to be bombarded by these ‘defining anime moments’ posts; hopefully they don’t get too redundant. With the diverse tastes of everyone here in the blog, though, I should think that they won’t. A few of mine are from recently aired episode, so I have my fingers crossed that I won’t look back on this in a few weeks and be like, “What the hell was I thinking? I barely remember that scene.” That’d be awkward. But I think that I’ll remember and love these scenes for a while yet, whether they make me cringe, cry, or laugh until I cry.

Oh, um…spoiler alert? You’ve been warned! (#10 and #1 are the only ones I’d call major spoilers, though.)

#10. X Episode 23 - The woman he’d give his life for

Scene

After I started watching anime as anime (as opposed to just another Saturday morning cartoon), this was probably the first scene that really made me cry. It’s Sorata’s sacrifice to save Arashi from being killed by Fuma. Now, anyone who has watched X can tell you that deaths aren’t exactly a rarity in this series–in fact, a lot of people die. More people die than live, to put it into perspective. By the second-to-last episode, one would expect to be immune to it, but instead we are hit with the death that has been building up and building up since the very beginning when Sorata tells Arashi that she was “the woman [he] will give his life for”.

When I watch this scene now, it admittedly seems kind of bland, but it nonetheless had a great effect on me years ago so it deserves to be on this list. It isn’t so much Sorata getting stabbed that gets the waterworks going; it starts with Sorata’s drawn out ‘farewell’ and then Arashi’s devastation when he actually dies. A few different romances are introduced in this series, but this is the only one that manages to progress somewhere and it all ends up for nothing in this scene. And even without that romance, Sorata is built up as one of those genuine ‘nice guy’ characters, so of course this death is tragic. My point in this rambling is basically this: all of the development leading to this moment throughout the series–the foreshadowing of his sacrifice, the budding romance–comes to its peak in this scene and just slaps the viewer in the face. Hard. I could never forget a moment like this one.

#9. Umineko no Naku Koro Ni Episode 21 – Rosa freaks out…more than usual

Scene

This probably seems silly of me. With all of Umineko’s gratuitous violence and frequent instances of Rosa abusing Maria, why would I pluck this scene out of the bunch? Put simply, it made me care. I did not give a crap about Maria before this most recent arc, and this scene really made me feel awful for her and actually fear for her. So what is it about this scene that made it so effective…?

Sound, here, is a huge factor: both seiyuu do an amazing job at either being terrified or terrifying. Rosa’s shrieking made me cringe and kind of made me feel helpless, as though I was the one on the receiving end of her freak-out. And as opposed to just slapping Maria around as she usually does (wow, did I write ‘just’? I sound like a horrible person), Rosa takes it to a more psychological level with her destruction of two of Maria’s toys, one of which is technically her best friend. This kind of torture just has such a greater impact than a literal slap and made me really say, for the first time, “Rosa is a major bitch.” More than that– more like, “Oh my God, what the hell?! Why is Rosa such a huge bitch/horrible mother?!?!” Sorry for hating you for all of your ‘uuu’ing, Maria. This scene made me take it back.

#7. Yu Yu Hakusho Episode 56 - Blood-covered bishie, oh my!

Scene

If I harbour any sadistic fondness for bishies covered in blood, it is entiiiirely the fault of my #7 defining anime moment. And the fact that I have seen this episode far more times than is healthy, thanks to it being on the first Yu Yu Hakusho DVD that I bought. When Kurama loses the ability to stay in his Yoko Kurama body, he returns, exhausted, to his ‘human’ form. In a state of helplessness he is left to the mercy of his opponent, Karasu, who also has a fetish for bishies…and for hurting bishies. So what does he do? He creates a lot of bombs and sets them all off right next to Kurama.

While I of course feel bad for Kurama in this scene, it isn’t what you’d call emotional. It’s just excessive and was pretty overwhelming since this was one of the first ‘violent’ series that I watched. And this is one of my favourite characters getting hurt, here, so there’s no surprise that it’s left a lasting impression on me! It just makes a fangirl want to rush in and rescue him, but instead we’re forced to watch as this physical and psychological (why does Kurama always face the crazy ones?) torment is dragged on…until Kurama sics a bloodthirsty plant on Karasu and wins–but it’s the ruthless bombardment on Kurama that I remember most of all.

#6. Kemono no Souja Erin Episode 21 – Human-beast communication

Scene

“Lilan tried to communicate something to me, but I didn’t know how to answer!” Naturally this line is strongest in context, but even on its own it makes my heart wrench. This series really makes a grand effort in some scenes, and you know that you’ll remember those scenes for a long time (take #8 on Minnie’s list, for instance), but somehow this brief moment in episode 21 left just as strong an impact on me than the major scenes in other episodes. In it, Erin makes an attempt to get Lilan, the injured baby beastlord that’s arrived at Kazalm, to start eating and taking care of itself. She manages to awake some sort of interest in Lilan by casting light beneath her, but when she starts talking to Erin, Erin doesn’t know how to respond and instead starts crying and says the line I quoted earlier.

The reason that this scene has become a defining moment to me is mostly thanks to my personal love for animals and thus ability to associate so strongly with Erin in this scene. Since I blog this series, I’ve already reflected on this scene, and will quote myself to explain: I know that I have caught myself asking an animal or two to speak in English, but unfortunately life doesn’t work that way. They speak their language and we have to rely on things other than speech to help them, particularly when they are suffering and we have to decide whether they want to be helped or not. “Please tell me how to help you. Do you want me to help you, or…?” It is so hard to deal with, having their fate in your hands. This hurts Erin so badly because she just wants to understand what it is that the beast-lord wants when she finally finds her voice.

Following that glimmer of hope when Lilan finds her voice, and then the fact that Erin actually starts crying while there are other people around too… ah, this scene is so perfect!

#6. Hanasakeru Seishounen Episode 11 – Machaty’s proposal

Scene

Machaty, you are so epic! I’d say yes. Would you say yes? I’m pretty sure you would because this proposal is too epic to say no to. The scene– Machaty’s one-time lover Kathleen has slipped into the crowd waiting to watch the world leaders leave their meeting, with hopes to sneak a peek at the man she has had to part ways with. Machaty spots her and she tries to flee when he starts calling to her, but he catches up and dramatically removes his headdress, which, according to his religion, is only to be removed when admitting defeat or proposing to the woman he loves. And let me tell you, Machaty is not the type to admit defeat.

It’s kind of ironic that the most memorable scene to come out of this series (so far!) is from the prologue–or, as inserted into the anime, a flashback. I was tempted to cheat like Minnie did and include this scene in conjunction with the later moment of Rumaty performing a similar proposal, but really, it’s Machaty’s proposal that leaves the impact that makes this a defining moment in my anime-viewing experience. He did it first and he did it best!

#5. Eden of the East Episode 1 – Um, naked man?!

Scene

I tried to use this scene as a selling point for this series, but unfortunately telling guys that there’s a naked man in the first episode doesn’t really make the series appealing. I guess you just have to see it to appreciate it, eh? In all seriousness, Eden of the East’s opener has to be the most hooking first episode of an anime that I have ever seen, greatly due to Akira’s amazing entrance. Saki is in trouble, getting scolded by the English-speaking police of Washington D.C., when Akira comes to her rescue– waving a gun around, completely naked, concerned for her well-being when he doesn’t even remember who the hell he is or why he’s in Washinton. (Oh, and the phallic Washington Monument is in the background at one moment…it just makes the scene all the more memorable.)

Do I really need to elaborate on why this is a defining moment? It raises the bar for the image of a ‘knight in shining armour’–now, the perfect hero is a total stranger in his birthday suit! Ideally with no memory and nothing more than a fancy cell phone and a hand gun in his possession, but I won’t be picky.

#4. BECK Mongolian Chop Squad Episode 5 - Skinny dipping duet

Scene

Most BECK fans would say that “Moon on the Water” is their favourite song from the series (mine’s “Slip Out”–but shh!), and there’s no doubt that that is because of this unforgettable scene. A little bet leads to Koyuki and Maho sneaking into the school pool, where Maho strips down and jumps in. She starts singing “Moon on the Water”, a song by their favourite band Dying Breed, and Koyuki is moved to join in the skinny dipping. Maho continues singing the song, and when the chorus comes around, Koyuki joins in and they sing together in a moment that is just…pure <3, for lack of coherency.

It’s honestly such a simple scene. There are more shots seen of the moon, its reflection on the water, and the swaying grass than on Maho and Koyuki themselves; and when they are shown, they’re just neck-deep in the water, singing. Yet somehow, it doesn’t feel stretched out, it’s doesn’t get boring–in fact, you kind of hate Saito for showing up and distrupting the moment. It could go on forever, and this is coming from someone who gets bored of slice-of-life series if they don’t go anywhere. This serenade…nothing happens, but so much happens. That is why it’s my #4 defining moment and, no question, the most defining moment of BECK.

#3. Vampire Knight Episode 6 - This? This is why vampires are sexy.

Scene

When I was coming up with this list, I was running through the series I’ve watched and thinking of their most memorable moments. I thought of Vampire Knight and went, “Nah, there’s nothing really notable in it…” And then I remembered this scene and backtracked. When Octavia and I went to see New Moon last week, we spent the time before the movie talking about different depictions of vampires and ended up gushing over how hot this Vampire Knight scene is for, like, ten minutes. I think that that makes it the defining moment of oh-my-god-sexy in anime for me.

The vampire bite in itself is pretty damn appealing, but there are plenty of those in this series–and other vampire series for that matter–so what makes this specific one stand out? Prior to this moment, Zero biting Yuuki has been done out of uncontrollable bloodlust; here, Yuuki is offering herself to Zero. Sound inappropriate yet? Let’s get a bit more specific… Yuuki leads Zero into his shower and tells him to freely drink her blood. To make her point clear, she strips (and yes, it looks as suggestive as I’m making it sound) her blazer off, exposes her neck to him, and presses him against the shower wall and urges him to bite her. He gives into the temptation and it is the best thing everrr.

The forbidden nature of this scene, the fact that it comes off as Yuuki holding power over Zero even though he’s the ‘predator’, the way he apologizes and the way that she holds him as he gives in… it all cumulates into one hot and memorable scene. Sorry that I ever doubted your ability to produce defining moments, Vampire Knight.

#2. Pokémon Episode 39 – Pikachu’s Goodbye

Scene

Don’t you dare laugh at me!! Yes, I cried watching this episode as a kid, and that is because I have a soul! I remember I was at a friend’s house one time and this episode was on, and I thought, “Oh no! I can’t let myself cry!” I felt so accomplished when I didn’t.

For anyone who didn’t have a childhood, in this episode Ash and friends come across a group of wild Pikachus. Ash’s Pikachu gets along with them so well that Ash very reluctantly decides that it would be best if he left Pikachu there to live with his wild bretheren. This scene that I’ve chosen as my #2 defining moment is when, after flashbacking to all of the good times, Ash halts and turns around to see Pikachu appear majestically over the top of a hill. He runs down and jumps into Ash’s arms, making it clear that he’d rather stay with his trainer than live in the wilderness with others of his kind.

Definitely a far less realistic take on the human-beast bond than the Kemono no Souja Erin scene that I looked at earlier, but still amazing to have stuck out in my memory for so many years. I know that this is the case for a lot of other people who watched Pokémon in their youth, too, which certainly makes a big statement about this scene. It’s melodramatic, cheesy, cliché, but come on–all moments reinforcing Ash and Pikachu’s bond are, and that doesn’t make them any less moving! And it doesn’t prevent this scene from being a defining anime moment for me and many many others out there.

#1. Kemono no Souja Erin Episode 43 - Erin uses the mute whistle

Scene

While my #2 was an optimistic scene, my #1 is more of the devastating nature. At my first Kemono no Souja Erin scene, I mentioned that this series puts a grand effort into some scenes–this is one of those moments in which they go all-out to leave a huge impact on the viewer. Lilan is about to be taken by messengers sent from the queen, and she becomes enraged and aggressive towards them. Erin pleads that they don’t use the mute whistle, certain that she can soothe Lilan as she always does, but Lilan attacks the messengers and leaves them bloodied and half-dead. In a moment of panic, Erin reaches for the mute whistle. Instead of actually showing Erin blowing it, we see flashbacks to happy memories of Erin and Lilan together, and then there is a shot of Erin bewildered, with the mute whistle loose in her mouth, and then Lilan knocked out with blood stains around her mouth.

This scene, for so many reasons, deserves to be my #1 defining anime moment. While it was only aired a couple of weeks ago, no anime scene has ever hit me as hard as this one did. It’s executed in the fragmented style that Kemono no Souja Erin’s violent scenes tend to be shown in, but it doesn’t hide the violence behind the regular stylized illustrations. We see the men being held between Lilan’s teeth, we see the injuries they’ve sustained; the thing that gets hidden is Erin’s action, the blowing of the mute whistle. The images of Erin raising Lilan are there to remind us that this is the one thing that Erin never wanted to do, and yet she’s had to resort to it. The scene flawlessly conveys everything that it wanted to.

It’s a little funny, thinking of my number one moment next to Minnie’s. Her last paragraph about the Bokura Ga Ita scene could very well be my ending paragraph for this Kemono no Souja Erin scene, with a few changed names and put into my words: I have never sympathized with a character as much as I do Erin. When she has to break her vow to herself and to Lilan in this scene, I ache for her and for Lilan. No other scene has made me cry so much and yet I can’t help but want to watch it over and over because of how strong the emotions it evokes are. So perfect. …Minnie, are we masochists to love these depressing scenes, or what?