Best Anime Races

Anime seems to come up with some of the coolest races, I've noticed in the past that Anime has come up with some really unique, inspired and awesome races that are truly races I look at and say 'Jeez that's just so awesome', 'course not every Anime race is really that impressive and I'm not going to list every Anime race, simply my favourite..

Let's begin with our first race, shall we? And by the way this list is in no way actually listed in order of favourite to least favourite, it's simply random.

Yu Yu Hakusho, Yokai:

From the simplest form of Ogre which we see in Koenma's assistant, George the Yokai (Demons) featured and shown in Yu Yu Hakusho are by far some of the most inventive, inspired and original takes on Demons I've ever seen. Truly impressive to boot. The Yokai of the Yu Yu Hakusho world aren't limited to just one type of appearance or form but rather many varied much like the mythology of Japan which inspired them in where there are many different types of Yokai with many different varied forms and appearances. Let's go over a few of Yu Yu Hakusho that were my favourite designs, shall we?

In Yoko Kurama and Koto we see designs inspired by the Japanese Fox, usually a trickster and Yoko Kurama being as intelligent and cunning as he is definitely is somewhat of a trickster if a very direct trickster. I like this design simply because it's that, it's simplistic and true to what I would expect a Kitsune Yokai to be.

There are also lesser Yokai in the show whose appearance greatly varies from your average and typical appearance seen in Midorenjya, the character featured first to the bat-like appearance of Baldok and the spider-like appearance of the nameless Spider Yokai. I like the fact that they did make these characters unique because it displays a lot of creativity when you're making bit-characters and cannon fodder original looking.

Going further into the animal inspired Yokai we see birds, apes, fish, wolves, dragons, tigers, snakes and monkeys, oh my! I'd even seen but don't have a photograph of an Elephant Yokai!

And lest we forget more traditional demons of Japanese mythology such as Jin who appears to be a traditional Oni with his single forehead horn, Hokushin who is a Rokurokubi and Juri who seems to be inspired by the Kappa, these designs I like because they are a unique take typically on a traditional cultural mythology and well.. Honestly they just look pretty damn neat in my opinion.

Point being is that the Yokai are so varied and diverse in the Yu Yu Hakusho series that I really find them to be a very neat, unique and inspiring race. Some clearly awesome and serious thought and effort went into making them because if you watch the Anime even the spectators during the Dark Tournament and the troves of 'background Yokai' are even originally designed if only slightly. I like that level of detail and I really notice it.



Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z, Namekku-seijin:

The race from Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, just admit it. You know it and I know it, these guys were fucking cool, even if they didn't have females explicitly shown to exist (Although at one point in the series Dende does mention to Bulma that Guru spawned his 'Brothers and Sisters', so their existence is not entirely out of the question.)

How awesome is a race with super-thick skin, a natural affinity for Ki (Energy) manipulation, that is exceptionally strong compared to humans AND can regenerate limbs and in fact otherwise fatal wounds as long as their brains are in tact? Never mind the fact that they can survive on water alone, these guys were epic. Namekku-seijin was definitely one of my favourite races and honestly I just think Toriyama was even more on the mark in designing these guys than he was the Saiyajin who comparatively feel a little unoriginal and cliche.

Outlaw Star, Ctarl Ctarl:

They're crazy, super strong, super resilient Tiger, Cat and as evidenced by Lady Iruga of the Anten 7 also Wolf people who can transform into an ultra powerful and vicious beast-form. What's not to love? Never mind the fact that their metabolism would put you out of house and home if you were one, these guys were fucking awesome and I loved the fact that not only was one of the main characters featured in the show pictured above, Aisha Clan Clan a Big Cat but not even just a Big Cat, a Tiger!

I only wish that they'd elaborated more on the race and races of Outlaw Star, sadly the story was pretty confined and they haven't really done anything further. Here's hoping they will some day!

Dinner:

Another helping of Niwatori Chahan (Chicken Fried-Rice) tonight for James' Dinner which came out very nicely as should be expected. Judging by the verocity with which he consumed this (inhaled) I'm guessing he enjoyed it.. Heh..

I'm happy with the way it turned out. Fried-Rice, Chicken, Carrots, Sweet Peas, Mushrooms and of course Chicken all cooked in a nice home-made Soy Sauce mix with a side serving of a Chocolate Chip Anpan (Sweet Roll)