Monster would have to be my all time favorite anime. Actually, I think I would have to say it’s my all time favorite STORY. The plot is so well constructed, intricate and engrossing I think it transcends the medium. Very few stories have had me so enthralled and on the edge of my seat, not an easy feat for 74 episodes!  I can sense many of you backing away at that, but don’t let the episode count daunt you. It doesn’t feel like 74 episodes when you are watching it and the end comes all too soon.  Also, since the anime was made after the manga was complete there are no filler episodes. Each of those 74 are pure plot, baby!

Speaking of which, I don’t want to give away too much of the plot because most of the fun is being shocked at how it unfolds and wondering what happens next.  It’s best summed up as "The Omen" meets "The Fugitive" and then they both go over to "The Usual Suspect's" house for a mixer with "Black Jack" (The Osamu Tezuka manga/anime). Monster’s author, Naoki Urasawa, loves giving shout outs to his favorite movies, books and bands. It’s fun to spot the influences in his work. The gist of Monster’s plot though is one day a young up-and-coming Japanese doctor working in Germany makes a decision to save a young boy’s life based on his firm belief that every life is equal. Ten years later, that belief is put to a bitter test when he meets the boy once again and sees the man he’s become. Will our good doctor stick to his old principals or will he throw away his old life and do anything to try to rectify the “mistake” he made that fateful night?

The anime is faithful to the manga to a fault. If anything was added or left out, it was so miniscule I didn’t catch it. If you’ve read the manga, you might not see the sense in dedicating a lot of time to an anime series that will repeat it verbatim. But-! I think the anime tells the story better even if it is the same thing. Some of the scenes, for instance the "jump" scenes, are more effective if you see them in motion, especially that one at the end. You manga readers know what I’m talking about.

If you like thrillers, suspense, and/or horror movies, this is the show for you! Though it never gets overly graphic (CSI is worse) it will get into your head. And stay there. After the last episode, it will haunt you for weeks (in my case years). If you watch anything on my recommendation list, let it be this series. It won’t disappoint!