I've seen nearly 200 Japanese animated series and this is my FAVORITE! Banana fish is a great well rounded story, with depth in both its plot and characters. Never a dull moment, every episode is well written and enveloping. The story follows a boy named Ash who was forced into the mafia as a child and now is a leader of a gang in New York City as he tries break ties with his past and seek justice for his loved ones. Perfect balance between action, comedy, and backstory/character development with a dash of romance. It covers many dark topics and has a beautiful ending. Highly, highly recommend. And if you loved it when you finished read the manga too!