For the longest time mine was Ranma 1/2. It was the very first anime that I ever completed, all 161 episodes of the Television Series, and then the 12 Original OVAs, with the Addition of the Newest (13th) OVA that came after, and the two movies. That series captivated my imagination like no other series did. It was truly a magical series.
Though I was introduced to Sailor Moon back when the Original English Dubbed Version (The Americanized Version) was airing on Television, I did not fully watch the series in its entirety. I remember always loving the series based from what I've watched of it though. Three years ago, I decided it was high time I watched through all of it, which I did, not once, not twice, but three times. All 200 episodes with the addition of all the OVAs that came out for it and the three Movies. It proved to be every bit as magical and powerful as Ranma 1/2 was to me.
Shugo Chara is up there with Ranma 1/2 and Sailor Moon and occupies Third place from the top. Shugo Chara impacted me in a unique way. It introduced me to the protagonists' struggles with multi-characters in her personality, and how she desperately needed to change and transform to be her true Would-Be self. Because Shugo Chara introduced me to the concept of Character Changing and Character Transforming, I've challenged myself, and have continued to do so for what's going on about 2 1/2 years now, to be the Person, Personality, and Character that I want to be and have. Like Amu, who would be cool and spicy one minute, then in a different situation, very nervous and timid. I, too, experienced this double (multi) character within me. Basically, it's all about activating One's Real Self, which is the Side of Each Person that truly represents who we truly are. Shugo Chara Challenged me to be true to myself, to develop and change and transform my Outside Character, so that I can be a happier and better me!
Ranma 1/2 will still be considered my first and foremost, favorite anime, because it had the biggest impact on my life in the anime-world. But Sailor Moon is closing in on it, and it wouldn't surprise me if it took first place One Day. Shugo Chara is just great, and it is an anime that I highly recommend for anyone who is interested in the Subject of Character Development, and of course, magic.
Serial Experiments Lain was one of the first anime I ever watched, shortly after (or within the process of finishing Ranma 1/2) back when I was 15 years old. It is truly a transforming anime. Lain's Identity does a 180 Flip after she learns and installs the Psyche Processor Chip. Through her acceleration and translation into the Wired, the World within the Internet, she becomes a completely different person. When talking to her father, she says: "Don't worry, dad. I'm still me." Her father questions her honesty, that is how much she transformed, and how noticeable it was in its leaking into the real world.
We all have the power from within us to Change and Transform our Characters. Let us not settle with the limitations and weaknesses of our non-transfigured lives. Let us continue to change, and be true to what makes us happy and empowered.
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