Gift guide kicks off with fan favorites

People reading this column might be looking for gift ideas, whether it's anime and manga fans looking to give stuff to fellow fans, fans giving stuff to non-fans, or non-fans giving stuff to fans.

To that end, it's time for the second annual Cel Shaded guide to some of the best and hottest series today. Again, these picks are largely best for people in their teens and older. This week, it's proven fan favorites; next week, it's under-the-radar stuff that I like that you might as well.

» The "Full Metal Panic" franchise (ADV and Funimation): Now chugging into its third anime iteration, this tale focuses on a hardened young military man and his struggles to adapt to high school life as he guards a girl. Go for the original "FMP" and "FMP: The Second Raid" series if you're looking for more action, or the "Fumoffu" anime and "Overload" manga for more comedy.

» "Hellsing Ultimate" (Geneon): The first volume came out earlier this month, but already the series has garnered considerable buzz among fans who see this anime series as more faithful to the original manga story. A secretive organization battles to defend England against vampires, ghouls and other supernatural bad guys.

» "Negima!" (anime from Funimation, manga from Del Rey): A young magician becomes teacher to a high school class full of beautiful babes. Hilarity ensues.

» Pretty much anything in the Viz manga catalog: Last year, I called out "Fullmetal Alchemist," "Naruto" and "Inu-Yasha"; those suggestions certainly still apply. Also gaining momentum this year: "Bleach" and "Death Note," which explore the powers of death gods among mortal humans in different ways; "Prince of Tennis," about a young tennis-playing phenom; "NANA," about two roommates both named Nana struggling to make it in Tokyo; and the pretty-boy-filled "Ouran High School Host Club."

Cel Shaded, a look at the world of Japanese anime and manga, appears every Monday. Reach Jason S. Yadao at jyadao@starbulletin.com