Time Of Eve

Author: Yasuhiro Yoshiura

The first Original Net Anime (ONA) on the list, it's also one that made many take notice of the genre. This is another excellent series dealing with the availability of androids, and what they mean to the world of humans. The story centers around the goings-on at the Time of Eve, a café where robots and humans are on equal footing. The reason for the existence of the café, and how it is managed and maintained, and how it relates to people's views on the robots among them, is the central theme for the series, and one that makes the entire excersize seem valuable. Watching Time of Eve, you'll find it pays off in many unexpected ways. The liberal use of Asimov's 3 Laws of Robotics, the way that it brings ideas from films like Casablanca and anime such as Chobits, makes this one of the best uses of existing themes within a series that presents them with an economy of visuals. The entire package, perfectly delivered as an ONA, is as powerful as any regular television anime series, and it has led to a more traditional set of follow-ons, including an excellent film and a 'light novel' a style of manga. Why it's on the list: It's just a wonderful and compact story.