I got really interested in an ongoing twitter conversation between some friends regarding emotional impact of anime they’ve seen. Like the people involved in the conversation so far, I put a lot of myself in the media I consume.

Sometimes however, I don’t stay engaged. Rightly or wrongly I often credit that to the ability of the work in question to keep me so.

More often than not I think well of a show that keeps me emotionally involved, even if the emotions aren’t very pleasant. I attempt to make a few lists here (no particular order).

Works that gave me emotional highs: (and I cried lots)

• Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
• Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still
• Eureka SeveN
• Gunbuster & Diebuster
• Summer Wars
• Legend of the Galactic Heroes
• Macross Plus
• Onani Master Kurosawa
• 20th Century Boys 

The emotional investment here is related to this whole business of “Crying Manly  Tears” which really sounds silly, but there it is.

Works that I experienced profound melancholy for. (I like this, and cried for most of them)

• Aria the Origination
• K-ON!!
• Toy Story 3
• Honey & Clover 2
• Solanin
• Planetes (TV)

Works that fucked me over emotionally. (I like this, cried sometimes)

• Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
• Bokurano (manga)
• Hataraki Man (TV)

Works that felt emotionally disgusting. (I don’t necessarily like the works)

• Narutaru (manga)
• Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji
• Grave of the Fireflies
• Welcome to the NHK (novel)

I find it difficult to articulate my feelings about this last category. I suppose I respect these works, but I don’t like them.