AVerMedia is a company that specializes in video and sound for the entertainment/technology industry and has since focused their efforts on video gaming and how to amplify the immersion for those looking for the full experience when gaming. Anything from microphones, headphones, soundcards, monitors, tablets, and much more, AVerMedia has excelled in many fields of tech that their efforts are surely being noticed further with their line of streaming products for content creators on Twitch, Mixer, YouTube, etc. In addition to AVerMedia’s fine products, they have partnered with several other companies to provide a more robust experience when using their products for content creators. For example, they’ve worked with CyberLink PowerDirect in providing a free full version of the editing software/program to use for creating your content and having that professional and entertaining look—unfortunately, the CyberPower Director program does not come with the Mini. They’ve also teamed up with ReStream.io to provide a way to stream on multiple platforms simultaneously, so you can maximize your efforts in promoting your brand. This is a good way to find out which platform is right for you based on the responses to your content whether you are streaming live or uploading.

• Interface: USB 2.0 (USB Micro)
• Video Input: HDMI
• Video Output (Pass-Through): HDMI
• Audio Input: HDMI
• Audio Output (Pass-Through): HDMI
• Max Pass-Through Resolution: 1080p60
• Max Record Resolutions: 1080p60
• Supported Resolutions (Video input): 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p, 480i
• Recording Format: MPEG 4 (H.264+AAC) / Supports hardware encoding
• Dimension (W x D x H): 100 x 57 x 18.8 mm (3.93 x 2.24 x 0.74in)
• Weight: 74.5 g (2.63oz)
• Bundled Software: RECentral streaming software, StreamEngine plugin
• MSRP: US$129.99

• Operating System: Windows 10 (to support UVC Protocol for driverless usage)
• Processor: Desktop - Intel i5-3330; Laptop - Intel Core i7-4810MQ
• Video: Desktop - NVIDIA GTX 650/AMD Radeon R7 250X; Laptop - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M
• RAM: 4GB (8GB recommended)

With the Live Gamer Mini, you can make some quick edits within the streaming program as well and you can also share clips or full streams to your social media account for quick sharing with friends or viewers! There are some other features in the program that are not necessarily compatible with the Live Gamer Mini as it is more for the Live Gamer Portable, as the example images used in the program itself are, in fact, the Live Gamer Portable. But this doesn’t take away any experience towards the Live Gamer Mini. It’s still the quality streaming device you wanted.

The resolution of the video the Live Gamer Mini produces is 1920x1080p at 60fps. This is just a small step down from the Live Gamer Ultra’s 4K resolution, which actually looks the same as the Live Gamer Mini. If you want that 4K, though, then we suggest getting the Live Gamer Ultra device which pushes out that 4K quality. Just make sure you have a 4K TV otherwise it will be a waste. Although, if you want to provide this for your viewers more than yourself, then by all means! Just make sure you meet the minimum spec requirements at the very least in order for your viewers to appreciate the 4K streams! Other than that, the Mini is perfect for you! We tested out the Live Gamer Mini on our PC which the specs were:

• Intel i5 processor
• 16GB Ram
• NVidia EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB

The good thing about the Live Gamer Mini is it has the ability to record your streams as a backup if you are using a 3rd party program for streaming. This allows you to upload your edited content manually if you want to at a later time. All with super low to no CPU usage.

The Live Gamer Mini is about ⅓ less the size of the Live Gamer Ultra device from AVerMedia and is also just as quiet if not, quitter. The Live Gamer Ultra is a bit noisy but that is because it has a built-in mini fan to help with the heating of the device when producing that beautiful resolution, the Mini is a slight step-down, as mentioned at the beginning of this review, but still packs just about the same amount of power. The one thing that is different from the Mini and the Ultra, besides the 4K resolution, is the power cord for the device. The cord for the Mini is a USB Android connector as opposed to the USB-C connection required for the Ultra 4K and other fully equipped devices from AVerMedia. This is a clear sign that the quality may not be as great when you go down from a USB-C to a USB Android connector, BUT, and again, this does not take away from your quality streaming experience.

Unlike typical Cancers, Moriko is very quiet and reserved. She is sympathetic towards others but does not like to speak much so her ability to help is limited. She is suspicious of others and has incredibly low self-esteem which makes her very insecure. Her withdrawn nature is amplified by her desire to be a NEET and adds to her seclusion. Her shy nature allows her to be on our list but puts at the bottom due to her inability to align with the tenacity of the Cancer.

Kagari is a shy individual who has had a difficult hand dealt to her. After being sent back from the future as a young child, she is unsure of what action to take because of her separation from her family. Because of her experiences early in life though, Kagari is suspicious of everyone she meets but has a very friendly and shy demeanor. She is emotional and sympathetic but is very insecure in herself. Her shyness and general behavior does not match the tenacity of the typical Cancer so this puts her towards the bottom of our list.

Akeno is not your typical high school girl. This busty gal is a fallen angel and a demon. However, her tenacity and loyalty is matched by none. She is sympathetic and extremely emotional. She is high ranking in her court and this is accompanied by tremendous power. Armed with her skills as a demon and a fallen angel, she can defeat almost any enemy and has powerful skills in persuasion. She does not exhibit the more negative traits of a Cancer. Her weakness lies in criticism exhibited by others towards her loved ones. Her temper is not the most stable but this also lends to her innate power.

Hiyori Iki was initially your average high school girl, kind of… She loved wrestling and could see spirits. However, when she runs into a god, her life will change forever. Hiyori is very protective of everyone she meets and will rush to save them regardless of any consequences. This also leads her to be very naive and childish. Hiyori does not entirely understand the world of spirits and the effects that it can have on her. This leads her to make rash decisions. Hiyori represents many of the positive traits that are found in Cancers but does not exhibit the negative ones which is why she earns a lower spot on our list.

Tamaki is extremely protective of her friends and even in her helpless state in the first season, she tries her best to protect even her guardians. She has a cheerful demeanor and is not easily discouraged. Unlike most Cancers, Tamaki is can be incredibly insecure and tries to overcome it when it surfaces. Tamaki is sympathetic to those around her, making her an admirable character in anyone’s eyes. She truly treats all of her friends and loved ones as family, despite some of their negative attitudes towards her. Her loyalty is unmatched and she is deserving of a spot on this list.

Serena may seem like a crybaby but she has a strength of character that is not often seen. Despite her insecurities, she rises to face every challenge that confronts her and will stop at nothing to protect the world from the evil Queen Beryl. She is loyal to her friends, though her childish antics often come through in these interactions. Serena’s transition into Sailor Moon made her evolve as a person and allowed her to become the admirable princess that she was destined to be.

Kaori is musically gifted and free-spirited. This tenacious girl makes us as viewers want to live life to the fullest just by allowing us to see into her world. Kaori is sympathetic and imaginative and seeks to bring joy to everyone she meets. However, Kaori hides a dark secret that impacts the lives of everyone around her. As with any middle school girl, she can be moody. This is seen in particular with her interactions with Kosei Arima who has given up his talent with the piano. She thinks he is wasting his gift, which is something that she cannot abide by. Kaori represents the positive aspects of a Cancer to the fullest and lives her life through her passion on the violin.

Yachiyo’s strength lies in her ability to help others. She acts as an almost motherly figure to everyone who works for her and those who enter the café. This demeanor puts everyone at ease practically immediately. Her compassionate nature keeps the customers coming back and also lends to a more romantic attraction to her as exhibited by some of the characters. Her loyalty is unmatched and she often shows kindness to those who obviously don’t deserve it. However, if given the chance she can be very moody, especially when approaching romantic situations. This makes her character seem more naive and is very stereotypical of a female Cancer.

As a ghoul, Touka must be careful to not reveal her true identity. She must also have the self-control to not let her ghoulish instincts show. While Touka was initially seen as cold and calculating, she eventually gave way to the more positive aspects of the Cancer. After meeting Ken Kaneki she became more docile and sympathetic, both towards humans and ghouls. Her double life allows her to experience the positive and negative aspects of both sides of her which deepened her understanding towards both species. She is an incredibly loyal friend and admirable Cancer which puts her towards the top of our list.

Kikyo is a difficult character to analyze because of her change in demeanor after her death. In life, she was loyal and compassionate, sympathetic and tenacious. Kikyo and Inuyasha had a great love and she carried her feelings to her grave and beyond. After she was resurrected, she harbored a hate that made her much more villainous than ever before. Kikyo was manipulative and moody and did not seek closeness with anyone. After Kikyo’s death, she became a person that was the embodiment of the negative traits of a Cancer unlike her previous exhibition of the positive ones. This flip earns her the top spot on our list of the top Cancer females.

Shiro is Wakaba's Mushi companion that dutifully supports the group across their journey. Although Shiro can't speak and doesn't have any cool powers, it is still one of the best characters in the anime. Shiro has the essence of animal character has many cute moments, whether it is communicating with computer smiles or the little beeps it makes.

Out of all of the main characters, Wakaba is the least exciting to watch. However, he is by no means a boring character. As the series progresses, we slowly learn more about Wakaba and the bigger role he plays in the story. Outside of his story importance, Wakaba also has a few heroic scenes that are some of his best moments and make him seem less like a weak sidekick.

The collected Ritsu brings a much needed calm to the group. Ritsu takes it upon herself to be a calming presence in order to support the other sisters in their times of need. Her supporting nature isn't just reserved for her sisters, as throughout their journey, Ritsu also takes care of a tree named Midori that rides around in the railway cart.

Out of all of the sisters, Rina may just be the most interesting and have the coolest powers. As Rina drinks more water, she is able to make copies of herself that all have unique personalities. Although the main Rina is a little plain in the personality department, her many forms more than make up for it. Thanks to her abilities, Rina is able to provide a lot of different things to the series, she brings tons of comedy to the dark and dreary world, plenty of cute moments, and watching as her Rina clones die off are some of the most emotional scenes in the anime.

The leader of the sisters and the main character of the anime, Rin was bound to be one of the best characters in Kemurikusa. Rin has a cold untrusting demeanor, but she has a soft and protective side when it comes to her sisters. Unlike her sisters, Rin's abilities are more battle-focused allowing her to battle against the Red Bugs and protect her sisters.

Meiji Tokyo Renka shares the story of a girl named Mei Ayazuki, your average, ordinary high school student. One day, Mei encounters a peculiar magician, Charlie, who transports her back to the Meiji Period where she, unfortunately, loses all memory of the present. Additionally, Mei meets several historical figures who played pivotal roles during the Meiji Reformation. One of these guys is named Tenshin Okakura. Historically, Tenshin Okakura is an intelligent scholar who introduced the Western world to Asian culture, particularly the arts and literature. He sought advancement into the modern age all the while expressing the need to preserve traditional cultural heritage. In this anime, he is a dreamboat! He and other intelligent ikemen compete for Mei’s attention, and this new sensation for her is overwhelming and flattering. As these good-looking guys seek her aid and her special ability, Mei grows fond of living in this era. Will she be able to return home or will she decide to stay in the past?

Denpa Kyoushi centers on Junichiro Kagami, an accomplished physicist and also an otaku. Junichiro is a driven individual. When he wants something, he will come up with a way to get to it. He self-diagnosed himself to have a syndrome that basically is defined as him being able to do what he wants. So when he puts aside his physics career and picks up blogging, his sister isn’t pleased. She wants him to take the position he was offered at Ichou Academy as a physics teacher. He reluctantly accepts and later learns how to motivate his students through his personality and his own interests. A teacher that plans a lesson around video games? We’re all ears! Junichiro is not afraid to share with others his nerdy interests, often challenging others to learn by using their own creative methods. What’s sexy about this is that he’s a proud NEET, embracing what most would define as weird.

Demi-chan wa Kataritai is a story about an average high school biology teacher named Tetsuo Takahashi and his fascination for “Ajin,” also known as “Demi.” These human-monster hybrids have made themselves a place in society, but Tetsuo believes there is more to be learned about these beings. What better way to gain knowledge than by interacting with them first hand? As an instructor at Shihasaki High, we follow Tetsuo’s daily life with his demi students and staff, engaging in countless interviews, learning that the Demi are not as different as he believed. Tetsuo really values the work he does as a teacher and uses the knowledge he learns of demi to empathize and support their integration into society. With his gentle demeanor, Tetsuo becomes a supportive and reliable educator in biology and his personal studies on ajin. Now that’s sexy.

In the anime Ansatsu Kyoushitsu (Assassination Classroom), the students of class 3-E must learn how to assassinate their teacher, who happens to be the greatest threat to Earth. It’s scary to think that the fate of the world rests on these students! In addition to the already troubling conflict, the threat itself is an alien being, Koro-Sensei as he is called, foreign to what humanity knows. In this hilarious anime, these youths must learn to battle in order to save their homes and livelihood. Tadaomi Karasuma is an agent from the Ministry of Defense sent to supervise Koro-Sensei. He has a distinguished military career and holds his professionalism to a high degree. Tadaomi was admitted into the school as an assistant teacher and a P.E. teacher. The students see him as a cool, yet strict teacher. Although he has experienced much in his life, the students of Class 3-E have a lot to teach him, particularly in matters of romance. Many would think that his attractiveness gets him far in that subject, but it’s quite the opposite. His cluelessness and baffled responses to dating and women are sexy and sweet.

This anime is third in the series and is about a teacher named Nozomu Itoshiki. We know that each teacher has a strategy or two to keep their students engaged, but none is as interesting as Nozumu’s. This bizarre teacher of the even stranger Class 2-F attempts to teach his students the horrors of the world, drilling into their minds the negative aspects all because he’s such a pessimist. Unfortunately for him, his lessons always backfire whenever he tries. Though he may think he’s misunderstood, his personality gains attention from students and peers alike. As a bundle of despair, Nozomu is drop dead serious about the looming thought of ending his life. Although the act in and of itself is dismal, his persistence is sexy.

Ryuuko Matoi has traveled through towns and cities in search of the person who murdered her father. Ryuuko’s only lead is that the murderer possesses part of the “Scissor Blade”, her father’s invention. When she arrives at Honnouji Academy, she notices that the students are super competitive. Under the leadership of Satsuki Kiryuuin and with support from the “Elite Four”, they are granted special “Goku Uniforms.” Wanting to make a name for herself, she challenges the president but is defeated. Later on, when Ryuuko stumbles upon a suit of her own, she tries again to challenge these students; in the hope of gaining more answers about her father’s murder. Aikuro Mikisugi is Ryuuko’s homeroom teacher. He is flamboyant, eccentric and flirtatious, finding any excuse to make pervy comments. Prior to teaching, he was Ryuuko’s father’s assistant and has significant knowledge of the Life Fibers’ potential. So when he needs to be, Aikuro can be serious and get down to business, sorta, if you count being part of a secret organization called “Nudist Beach” invaluable. Overall, he cares for his students and is determined to help Ryuuko on her mission, even when his affection is shown in slow-motioned sequences, zoomed in ab shots, and flashing in our faces. You’ve got our full attention!

Shock, terror, and fear travel fast when the ExWires of True Cross Academy discover one of their own classmates is the son of Satan, but that is the least of their worries. A powerful demon, the left eye of the Impure King was stolen from a secure place within the academy. Attempts have been made to steal the other eye, and therefore, the ExWires are tasked with investigating the thief’s motive and the significance behind the Impure King. Unfortunately, Rin Okumura, the son of Satan, remains distant from his classmates but aims to bring the group close as they once were by practicing special training. Once again, Rin’s personal issues are placed on hold as the group, under the guidance of Yukio Okumura, makes an effort to regain the eyes and put down a traitor. Yukio Okumura is Rin’s twin brother. Some may say that Rin is the better twin because of his power, but being brainy is hot too. He is extremely intelligent, later becoming a teacher at True Cross. With many distinctions at a young age, Yukio is recognized as an extraordinary Exorcist, credited for teaching his brother in his class. We dig the studious look and there’s more to him than just that. He’s popular with the girls and he’s always packin’ heat. That’s hot. Is Yukio the sexiest twin on our list? You decide.

Soul Eater takes place in a world where people have the ability to turn into weapons and are paired with individuals called meisters who wield them. The Death Weapon Meister Academy is a school dedicated to teaching these youngsters and was founded by the one and only, Death. This academy educates in fighting against the forces of evil called kishin who tyrannically devour the souls of humans. As meister and weapon learn to combat the kishin, they collect every soul after completing their task, absorbing them into a death scythe. As meister and weapon traverse on their quests, they combat kishin and various evils in order to achieve peace in Death City. Franken Stein is a skilled doctor and Meister; actually, the strongest one to graduate from DWMA. He later becomes an instructor there and students can describe him as eccentric. His approach in the classroom is also applied outside of the school where everything can be systematically studied through observation and experimenting. Essentially, everything can be dissected utilizing particular methods. He himself was his own science project! He’s sexy because he’s got a curious mind and isn’t afraid to take risks!

Uta no Prince Sama is the story of various young talents enrolled at Saotome Academy, in hopes of reaching stardom through music. Surrounded by musical brilliance and artistry, the protagonist, Haruka Nanami attempts to make her way to the top of the industry, gaining six companions along the way. The progress through each episode demonstrates the journey of students training to become future idols. It’s showtime! The students at Saotome take their lessons from the stunning Ryuuya Hyuuga. He is the S Class advisor. As the kids are learning from the best, they know that they’re getting first-hand advice from someone well versed in the industry. Ryuuya is a board member at Shining Entertainment and he is recognized because of his television role. Ryuuya believes the path to becoming an idol is one that requires strict discipline, so don’t expect to slack off or get into his class to gawk and stare at his fineness. If you don’t pass an exam, he’ll expel you on the spot. How provocative! So are you quivering with fear or excitement?

Before Naruto was delivered, the Nine-Tailed Fox demon called Kyuubi attacked the Hidden Leaf Village, Konohagakure, causing great damage and destruction. With all other options exhausted, the leader and Fourth Hokage sacrificed his life. By this noble act, he was able to contain Kyuubi inside Naruto. As time has passed, Naruto still resides in the same village. Often avoided and rejected, Naruto struggles to find his place, hoping to become the Hokage of Konohagakure. Kakashi’s time with Team 7 demonstrates to be a growing and rewarding experience. From a very young age, Kakashi was always a gifted student in learning the way of the shinobi. Now a little older, he teaches Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. Often looked to for guidance and advice, he is also easygoing and not keen on responsibility. Kakashi uses insight and knowledge to balance these qualities with intuition, overall making him into a well-rounded instructor. We like a guy that's all around good at everything, and that's why he’s number one sexy!

The 29-year-old game programmer Suzuki Ichirou finds himself transported into the game he was working on and becomes 15-year-old Satou. Using his vast understanding of the game, he quickly becomes one of the most powerful beings in the world, leading to some very curious situations. He finds himself freeing slaves and amassing a harem all on auto-pilot, narrating his thoughts and actions along the way. If you’re looking for a simple story that meets all the criteria for an isekai, this is the manga for you.

Fate made Takeru Kamishiro a boring middle-aged salaryman, but a whimsical god reincarnated him in a strange new fantasy world. Not only that, he has a new perfect body, but he’s pretty much clueless as to how it or the world works. Finding himself skilled at tracking down rare ingredients, he searches for ways to earn a living alongside his newfound dragon pal. This is a very simple lighthearted read for budding isekai readers.

While tending to his farm, Saeki Kanji finds a female knight who has somehow been transported to our world. She is confused, scared, and most of all, hungry. After feeding her, he begins to believe her story, but there’s nothing they can do to return her, so she’s here to stay. Thus begin the subtly romantic days of a middle-aged farmer and a perky, precocious knight from another world. While it begins simply enough, the plot starts going in some unexpected directions that will leave readers guessing.

After dying in an accident, Shin Walford reincarnated as an orphan alone in the woods and was raised by renowned magician grandparents. Now, newly introduced to society after years of isolation, he has made some new friends and powerful enemies. He’s loving civilized life, but the very demonic threat that his grandparents fought years ago is resurging in force. Kenja no Mago is a simple isekai story all about how overpowered its protagonist can be.

Imagine, out of all the job titles you could have upon reincarnating in another world, you pick the one you just had before you died. Finding himself reborn in a fantasy world, seasoned exterminator Naoki opts to buy some ingredients and make his own pesticide in another world. He’s so good at it that he levels up to an insane degree from killing mass amounts of monsters that most adventurers ignore from disgust. Bringing a level head to his encounters and explaining his methods along the way, Naoki helps those in need on his fantasy world adventures. This is a very straightforward and enjoyable read.

Shiina Kazuya heroically died saving both his sister and his childhood friend from a mugging and was reborn as the young and cute Cain Von Silford, third son of a noble house. The gods must have been impressed with the way he went out, because in this new world, he has just about all of their protections, blessings, and skills that can possibly be bestowed. Cain is all about experiencing the fantasy lifestyle of being in another world, but his powers and gifts make him stand out even more than you might expect. This is a simple to follow isekai manga with an exceedingly long name, but quite enjoyable to read.

Shortly after dying, Tomokui Kanata found himself reincarnated as a goblin, destined to lead a short life as one of the weakest monsters. However, he changed his fate and that of the other members of his clan through his retained memories of combat and strategy from his previous life. Quickly rising through the evolutionary ladder, the newly reborn Rou has discovered the ability to empower himself by eating strong monsters and his defeated foes. Full of his own inner monologues and observations of this new world, Re:Monster is an isekai that puts you inside the mind of a ruthless demon warlord in the making.

Machio Hiraku succumbed to sickness at the age of 39 but was given another chance at life by a god who directly granted his wishes for what his new life would be. Given an indestructible body and a magical farming tool, he slowly establishes a farm in what he believes is simply an empty forest. It isn’t long before the strongest and strangest creatures and beasts are drawn to his work and find his skills and company irresistible. Before long, Hiraku finds himself building the most sought-after village in the world, and becoming one of its biggest world powers. However, all he wants to do is live a simple life, but his wives have other plans for his time, at least at night that is.

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Overworked Haruto was literally isekai’d by truck-kun out of nowhere, but all’s good now, he’s the 5th son of a royal family. He’s loved, respected, and above all, insanely gifted with his abilities, however, he wants nothing but leisure time so he hides away all of his talents as much as possible. His plan fails, as he quickly tames the legendary beast Kuro who he had met in the forest. Now with a god of destruction in tow, he’s standing out more than ever despite trying to keep a low profile. A funny story about the world’s most powerful isekai child trying to stay under the radar, this series is a lighthearted and enjoyable read.

Overworked and alone, Ryouma Takuma died in his sleep at the age of 39. Heartbroken at seeing the tragedy of his life, gods of another world brought his soul to theirs and bestowed to him powers and gifts to make his new life as pain-free as possible. Reincarnated as a young boy alone in the woods, he comes to the aid of passing nobles who quickly try to adopt him into their family after learning of his situation. No matter who he meets, they quickly learn that he is more than meets the eye and wields as much power as the gods themselves. This is one of the best isekai stories you’ll read and very easy to understand.

We rarely see much of Viper Zero, except in battle and in the singular episode where Kei mistakes her for his friend Minghua Song. However, she poses a lot of questions, ones that we are still asking ourselves… Why does her empathic reflector cause her to look like whoever the spectator is thinking of? What is her true form? She seems quite powerful, defending the coast all on her own, and she even offers Kei some good advice when he first meets her. We would have loved to learn more about her, but since a second season doesn’t seem likely, Viper Zero may remain a permanent mystery.

Rhino is an outsider to the main group, being the only American-made Anima in existence. She was so restricted and secluded in her life that she was excited to be working alongside the other Anima, even throwing them a party to welcome them for their mission. However, when she is taken over by the Xi while stranded with Kei and Gripen, she finds a freedom too enticing to pass up and turns against them, forcing the two to destroy her. While she also does not have much screen time in the series, her story is rather tragic and sticks with you even after the show has ended. With someone to stand by her from the beginning, she might have even been saved…

In many ways, Kei is our typical lone male protagonist. He builds his own harem of women, albeit unknowingly, and never fully commits to any one of them. However, Kei does have a bit more depth found in his backstory and character development. His mother was killed by Xi, and he wants to fly against them in order to avenge her. When he discovers that Gripen and the Anima are made out of parts of Xi, he struggles with it at first. Yet he does overcome his hatred in the end, fighting alongside Gripen because of who she is, rather than where she comes from. Despite being an average boy, Kei is surprisingly strong when it comes to endurance, and is able to fly with Gripen thanks to his determination and will to fight.

Phantom was one of the original Anima, back when they thought they might not be able to create any more. Under the increasing pressure to be the only savior for humanity, she has become very self-reliant, appearing condescending to the other Anima when she first meets them. She does come to respect Kei and his flying instinct over time, though she remains superior in this regard. Phantom may have appeared abrasive and unlikable when she first joined the team, but after a bit of explanation, she quickly became one of the best characters in the series. Using her tactical abilities to mess with the enemy and her incredible focus and leadership to direct the others, Phantom is someone everyone needs by their side in a battle!

The true main heroine of the series, Gripen starts out a timid girl afraid to fly, but she quickly overcomes obstacles in her way with the help of Kei. She discovers what it means to be human through time spent with him, and some of the most meaningful moments of the series happen as a result of their deepening relationship. She also continues to grow throughout Girly Air Force, eventually coming to question her past and why she cannot seem to remember anything from before she met Kei. She struggles with her image of herself, as well as a sort of physical illness, and comes out at the other end able to fly confidently with Kei by her side. Gripen is an adorable inspiration to us all!

The excitable half-German teen Momiji is the perfect person to embody the Zodiac’s rabbit spirit, especially in his earlier appearances. He’s small enough to look like a little kid and dresses in adorably eccentric clothes, including wearing the female high school uniform (with shorts) for his entire freshman year. It’s easy to forget that his upbringing was just as abusive as those of the other Zodiac members, especially since he hides his pain behind his cutesy attitude. But later in the manga, he hits a growth spurt and shows up to school as the very model of an early 2000s bishounen! He still keeps some aspects of his old self, such as his rabbit backpack, earrings, and positive outlook on life, but the new Momiji now has the confidence to attack his problems head-on. He stops dwelling on the past and even manages to refuse Akito’s manipulative pleas to return to the family. We love this glow-up so much!

It seems like just about everyone in Fruits Basket has a tragic backstory of some kind, even the ones who aren’t part of the Zodiac. This allows for deep and complex storytelling, but it does get predictable after a while—when a new character shows up, it’s only a matter of time before we get the depressing flashback about their childhood. Hilariously, Natsuki Takaya acknowledges this with her “tragic” backstory for the bubbly and vain student council member Kimi. It starts with a standard schoolyard bullying scene, complete with shadowed faces and dramatic camera angles, where some bratty girls tell Kimi that she’s a dumb bimbo who can only get by on her looks. Surprisingly, Kimi thinks that’s a great idea and vows to use her cute face to get anywhere she wants in life! Considering that she was explicitly created to have nothing to do with the Sohma family’s emotional struggles, her flippant attitude makes her the best character to deliver this self-aware jab at Takaya’s own writing.

For the school festival, Tohru’s class decides to put on a production of Cinderella. Unfortunately, they horribly miscast it—dark and brooding Hana is Cinderella, sweet Tohru is her “evil” stepsister, and scrappy Kyo is the prince (Yuki’s role as the fairy godmother is the only good decision). Naturally, the rehearsals go haywire from there and the final performance ends with Cinderella choosing to open a yakiniku shop with her sister instead of marrying the prince. Let’s hear it for career gals! As sidesplitting as this arc is, it also shows how Tohru and Kyo need to reject their prescribed roles (a polite, deferential orphan and the ostracized Zodiac cat, respectively) in order to make any real change in their lives. Kyo realizes that Tohru genuinely wants him to break free from the curse so he can live by his own rules and that he wants the same for her. It’s the spark that ignites his true feelings of love for her, and it came from the smoldering remains of their doomed school play.

Everyone in the Sohma family respects and fears the “god of the Zodiac”, a kimono-clad recluse named Akito who controls the other Zodiac members through gaslighting and systemic abuse. Even Tohru is struck still with terror when Akito briefly appears at her school to “check in”. But when she pries further into the Sohma’s inner ranks and meets Akito’s closest confidant Kureno, Tohru learns who this mysterious “god” really is—a sad, scared little girl. Only a chosen few knew Akito’s true gender from the start, and even fewer knew how she became so conniving and manipulative. It’s all because of her narcissistic mother Ren, who raised her as a boy so that Akito’s father (the previous “god”) wouldn’t love her more than his wife. None of this excuses Akito’s reprehensible behavior of tearing the Zodiac members away from anyone they grow close to so that they can’t stop worshipping her, but it does explain a lot of it. Can Tohru’s love heal a heart as black and bottomless as this?

Ah yes, what we’ve all been waiting for! Breaking the curse actually happens over several volumes (and Kureno had been free since before the story started), but the most impactful moment comes when Akito finally chooses to let everyone go. By allowing the warped promise of years past to fade away, the Zodiac members are released from their forced devotion to Akito and can choose their own way forward for the first time in their lives. It’s a bittersweet conclusion, as each of the Sohmas cries at the loss of such an influential part of themselves, but the catharsis of being able to embrace their loved ones after a lifetime of isolation more than makes up for it. The scene where Kyo tears off the bracelet that seals his true form and hugs Tohru without hesitation makes us cry every time we read it. Once it’s animated, we can only imagine how much more powerful this moment will be!

Yuzo Ogata was accidentally summoned to a fantasy world along with four of his friends. Unfortunately, his being there was a mistake as he had no powers as a hero and was killed by a slime, leaving his friends heartbroken. However, after dying, he found a cheat system built into the world which he used to return, fulfilling all his fantasies about being in another world. Not only has he amassed a harem of animal girls and deities, but he’s overpowered to the max!

Mikoshiba Ryouma was a high school student summoned to another world by a nation besieged by war. However, he realized that his summoners meant to harm him and slaughtered them by using his family’s martial arts training passed down for generations. While on the run from the kingdom that summoned him, he encountered and freed two beautiful slave girls cast aside by their master and left to die. With the help of their magic, Ryouma is avoiding capture, but he’s getting more and more caught up with the political schemes in this dangerous world.

High schooler Kazuya Souma was alone after the passing of his grandfather, but shortly after, he found himself standing before the king of another world. Summoned as a hero, he possessed nothing but his keen intellect which he quickly used to solve many of the nation’s problems. The king was so impressed that he resigned and made Souma the new king, much to the confusion and dismay of the entire kingdom. Now, he has a new fiancee, the princess, and many new allies and lovers that admire him for his genius as a leader. This is one harem protagonist that proves he’s worth all the attention seekers.

The author of this manga seemingly set out to amass the largest harem of animal-eared girls we’ve ever seen. Amakusa Ryouto was summoned by a mage to become his apprentice, and afterward, he set out to explore the world. Everywhere he goes he meets and encounters girls of all kinds of animal persuasion. His appetite is endless, and he at one point takes half a dozen of them into his bed at once. If there’s one thing we can say about this manga is that it delivers fan service at every opportunity when it comes to its harem.

Misumi Makoto was confessed to by not one but two of his classmates and friends prior to being sent to another world. Granted the power of a gracious god, he was outcast to a barren wasteland by a cruel goddess. That hasn’t stopped him from amassing a harem, though. Forming contracts with two of the most powerful creatures in this world, they take the form of beautiful young women in an attempt to appeal to him. He may not have been able to become lucky in love in his old world, but his prospects are bright in the next.

After dying at the age of 39, all Machio Hiraku wanted was to live a healthy life as a farmer once he was reincarnated in a fantasy world. What he got was to be the village founder and head honcho of the most powerful fantasy harem that world has most likely ever seen. Vampires, angels, ancient dragons, and demons crawl into his bed late at night, and a few have even sired his children. While it’s a restless life for him, not even he can argue that it hasn’t been fulfilling.

While he may have reincarnated as a goblin, Tomokui Kanata didn’t take the typical path of one, but he’s getting lots of action nonetheless. His companions include members of every race from fellow goblin archetypes, humans, elves and the occasional dryad. Rou, as he is now called, may only be a few months old in this new world but he’s become a father as well. His harem just keeps growing with each new conquest.

After his death on a school trip, Odamori Tooru reincarnated with the ability to turn anyone into his slave at will. He began targeting beautiful women, and eventually, Himeno Kirika, a princess knight, came to subjugate him for his heinous acts. However, she was also the reincarnation of one of his classmates, but she too fell victim to his abilities and become another of his slaves. Now there’s only one thing to do when you have the most beautiful, most powerful harem in the world—make it bigger!

All Satou meant to do was follow after his childhood crush, Hime, after she disappeared through a portal and now he’s married to her and four other beauties. Hime is a ring princess and Satou is the Ring King, meant to use the powers of his wives’ rings to combat the Abyssal Lord. Now they’re strengthening their bonds by battling, skinship, and trying to go from mostly strangers to intimate lovers. The battles are probably easier on Satou!

Youta was dragged out of a third story window and dropped by a mysterious masked being only to wind up in a strange fantasy world. In this new world, there are only women and they die at the age of 20 to a mysterious curse. The only way to break it is to become one with a male, and Youta is the only male in the world. Driven to him on almost pure instinct, they mate with him regardless of time, place or situation. Can he uncover the secrets of this bizarre world and free these girls while finding his way back home?

A good percentage of sports anime are largely featured in a school setting. This applies to Prince of Tennis, Hinomaruzumou, Slam Dunk, and All Out!! So, what’s the idea behind this? In schools across Japan, students are strongly encouraged to participate in sports. Though this may not be present in the consciousness of non-Japanese viewers, but the reason why participating in sports is such a big deal in the school system is because it teaches members how to get ready for the real world. Through all the anime we just listed, they actually do a great job of showing how members are supposed to interact with their senpai, kouhai, captain and coach. When audiences view such anime, it teaches you how to manage such relationships in society. Though this isn’t exactly portrayed in the anime we listed, putting what club you were in back in secondary school on your resume is actually big in Japan. If you participated in team sports, it gives the company a better idea that you can be a team member to them as well. When you take into account Japanese society’s group-oriented mentality, such sports titles are relatable to its native audience. In let’s say American society, individualism is encouraged and sports aren’t exactly for everyone, which is why the genre doesn’t resonate with some non-Japanese viewers.

A lot of sports anime do a great job of educating their viewers behind the sport it portrays. This quality is most emphasized in the boxing series, Hajime no Ippo. It shows audiences how there are various styles suited to a character’s build such as Ippo’s peek-a-boo and close quarters power oriented style for his stockier build, and how it contrasts to the taller Miyata’s stick and move style which relies on speed. Depending on the match, audiences can see how Ippo prepares and what parts of his body he has to train in order to get ready. You see how certain exercises create muscle memory and how it contributes to his performance, and it’s what real fighters do. One unorthodox sports anime that excellently fits well into how it excellently educates its audience is the street racing hit, Initial D. Largely narrated through the supporting character Ryousuke, audiences can learn how drifts work and how a car needs to be modified in order to perform on certain courses. You learn how street racing can foster certain unconventional techniques and thinking as opposed to racing on an actual track. This is largely demonstrated when Ryousuke races Kyouichi, who has a professional background. Due to the risk of possible oncoming traffic, Kyouichi exhibits a hint of hesitation when turning right (remember that Japanese drive on the left side), and it affects his performance. Ryousuke deduces this and exploits it to get the W.

Some anime tend to tell a full story of one’s career in one particular sport from beginning to end. This originated with Kyojin no Hoshi, of how Hoshi starts his career in little league baseball, to competing in high school, and finally as a pro. In the eighties and its 2018 remake, this story applied to soccer with Captain Tsubasa. In recent years, we have also seen this with Free! where the characters start as children, and you see how they advance to a more competitive level as the series progresses. While all three anime cover different sports, they do have very common qualities with how you see the main characters start off as children, and they stay dedicated to their craft to the pros. However, with Kyojin no Hoshi as an older title, the training methods portrayed in that series (especially when Hoshi was a child) now qualify as a visit from CPS by today’s standards. With modern titles like Free!, the cast trains hard but not to a point where you can consider it child abuse/labor.

On the surface, Free! seems like a yaoi series with how it gender swaps the studio’s (meaning Kyoto Animation) typical female oriented titles with boys. You see the team together in skimpy swimsuits looking like they’re intimate, but it’s not like that. However, if there is one anime that has been known to go in that direction in a more suggestive sense, then that’s what Yuri!! on Ice is for. Yuri!! on Ice does a great job of portraying same sex relationships in a very natural sense and not just for novelty’s sake. You see how significant a relationship between a coach and athlete is very beneficial to development and success, and sometimes, love can be born out of it.

In most mecha anime, they commonly tend to be used in the confines of war, which was popularized in the original Gundam series. Eventually, it paved the way for the likes of other “clones” from Votoms to Aldnoah.Zero. Gundam is probably the biggest mecha franchise to have ever existed. However, if one anime does a great job of portraying the war aspect of mecha, it is certainly in 08th MS Team, which is told from the point of view of a squadron stationed in the jungles. As opposed to highly evolved people fighting each other head-to-head, you see guerrilla tactics applied and a hit or miss can make the difference. While the mecha are rather secondary in Code Geass, it is another great example war and mecha. In its spin-off, Akito the Exiled, you see how the designs of the mecha can be applied in certain environments. For those in high-tree forests, sometimes a multi-legged mecha with low suspension is most effective for camouflage and efficiency. When you’re outmanned, there are instances that (literal) horsepower that give you the speed and agility advantage can be the key to victory.

What Gundam and numerous mecha anime all have in common is the use of teenagers as the pilots. Yes, part of the trope is to appeal to younger audiences, but there are more subliminal ideas behind it. To modern Japanese society, they see their teen years as the last stretch of freedom they have in their life before they become adults and become a slave to the workforce. By “violating” this sense of freedom, it can capture mature audiences as well. With Iron-Blooded Orphans, the present incarnation to the Gundam franchise, it presents the teen/child soldier trope in a much more mature context. As opposed to having the pilots being academically inclined, the pilots/soldiers portrayed in IBO are driven by economic conditions. As a result, as opposed to having a genius pilot, Mikazuki and a majority of his teammates are illiterate and he’s as socially awkward as Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory but to a different kind of extremity.

A significant percentage of mecha anime use space as the setting. Under zero gravity conditions, you can see heavy machinery operate at believable speeds and agility while in combat. Though the original Gundam paved way for this, it mostly took place within the Earth’s realm. Other anime from the old days such as Ideon, Dougram, and Votoms largely took place in the vastness of space, but they never interacted with other alien lifeforms, and mostly focused on humans expanding throughout the stars. However, if any anime solidified intergalactic mecha, it was certainly the Macross franchise. With Delta, its most recent release, you see how humans have migrated across the galaxy, how they interact with other forms of intelligent life and become friends with them. While the Earth initially start off as enemies with some of the aliens they encounter, they still come to learn that peace is always the answer for everybody to advance. Some cultures on Earth have a tendency to be isolated and for good reason, and at times, we should respect such sovereignty. But by sharing when the time is right, all good (and maybe bad) things are possible. Through Delta, audiences can come to learn how precious life is when the average lifespan of a Windermerian is at max around 30 years. With Freyja, you learn that no matter where you come from, everybody has dreams and sacrifices have to be made to make them come true. But whatever those dreams are, not only will they take you places, but so can they people you encounter. They can help make your dreams come true, and the pursuit of your dreams can also make a difference in their lives as we see in Macross Delta.

As we shared before, mecha anime originated as what is now called super robot, meaning that the featured robot was more of a superhero as opposed to lets say a soldier. The designs from Mazinger Z to Go-Lion (or Voltron outside of Japan) gave them numerous colors and all the bells and whistles. They had gimmicky attack moves, etc. While younger audiences can call them silly and out of date, it doesn’t mean that they’re still out of fashion. For example, Evangelion, which has been listed on many polls as the best anime of all time, is an homage to super robot where they have to face a monster of the week. Gurren Lagan, another masterpiece by Gainax, is another homage to the super robot genre with its design and novelty with its unconventional weapons and abilities.

Isaac is a difficult character on this list to place. He is not cheerful or humorous and does not display many of the positive characteristics of a Leo. He is stubborn and selfish. He uses Rachel for his own selfish desire to reach the end of the game and only starts to question his motives and show some humanity after he develops deeper feelings for Rachel. The stereotypical generous and warm-hearted nature of the Leo is not present in Isaac, which makes him fall to the bottom of our list.

Kogami is not someone that enjoys small talk. He is a no-nonsense detective that takes his work more seriously than anything else. When it comes to solving crimes, Kogami is one of the best, but his work attitude transitions into his personal life which makes it difficult for any personal or close relationships. He also is extremely inflexible when it comes to pretty much anything in his life, which makes him more dull than the other characters on this list and is not characteristic of a Leo. Kogami’s life is work and while he is certainly an admirable character, he does not display the traits of a Leo as well as others on this list.

Kusuo is almost too cool for school. He has the most outrageous abilities but because of this, nothing surprises him. He finds almost nothing humorous and is never cheerful. Most of the time, it seems like the only thing that he is passionate about is coffee jelly. However, these moods make him come off as incredibly arrogant and self-centered. Kusuo is frustrating because he makes himself out to be better than everyone around him, but he displays the self-centered nature of the Leo well. He avoids large crowds and dislikes talking to pretty much anyone. This character embodies many of the more negative characteristics of the Leo.

Hinata is the long lost childhood friend that everyone wishes that they had. He is kind and compassionate and harbors a deep and passionate love for Misaki. He is the most cheerful person imaginable and brings joy to everyone around him. He rarely has a bad attitude and even is friendly to those that he considers his enemies. Even when he feels that things are more difficult for him, he chooses to refrain from being selfish and let others lives go on without him. Hinata is the guy that many Leos strive to be because he only displays the most positive traits of the sign. However, without some negative ones, we find that his character is lacking the depth that some of the others possess and earning him a lower spot on our list.

Darian, aka Tuxedo Mask, is sworn to protect and defend his princess. However, things become dicey when he finds out that the love of his life is such a crybaby. Despite his irritation, Darien comes through when necessary and is constantly around to save the day. His character displays an arrogant and stubborn attitude even though his true feelings are more passionate. Darien is a good representation of both sides of the character of a Leo.

Nagisa is not one that faces any situation with a malicious attitude. His personality is very straightforward and he intends on making the best out of any situation. Nagisa is an admirable friend and teammate and always does his best. His trustworthiness is something to be admired and he rarely lets anyone down if he can help it. Nagisa is an admirable Leo and displays the passion and friendliness that this horoscope sign is known for.

Sasuke started out being an average Leo, very cheerful and able to bring joy to all of those around him. However, as darkness started to creep into is life through his family’s murder, he learns to fall far away from the happy-go-lucky person that he used to be. This change morphs him into an unpleasant fellow and international criminal. He becomes stubborn and inflexible until he meets Naruto who makes him see the error in his ways. This changes him into a happy medium that should be proud to be a Leo.

Ryoutarou seems serious about everything that he approaches, this includes soccer, piano and women. His passion is visible through any outlet that he chooses to express himself in and this passion can sometimes come off as being self-centered by others around him. He will put aside his relationships for his craft and this is often frowned upon by those who don’t understand what he is experiencing. His focus on his activities is an admirable trait of any Leo and he is worthy of a high spot on our list.

As a fox demon that is full of lust and desire, Tomoe portrays the negative aspects of the Leo quite well. He is stubborn and arrogant towards anyone except his most trusted friends and shrine members and he is uncompromising when it comes to his own personal rules. Though when he warms up to Nanami, he displays a more cheerful side when getting his way. She is able to change him into a more passionate and warm-hearted fox. This mix of traits earned him a top spot on our list.

Hak is a great warrior. After training all of his life to protect the princess, Yona, Hak is able to use his skills to the fullest. However, being born under such a passionate sign can lead him to have conflicting feelings towards the beautiful princess. To hide these emotions, he displays an aura of stubbornness and arrogance. These traits often make Yona angry with him because of his apparent love one moment then disdain the next. His passion and overall spunk make Hak an excellent fighter and worthy advisory. Hak is definitely a character to be admired but has difficult balancing his emotions putting him at the top of our list of top Leos.