Animation: 1 (noun) the technique of photographing successive drawings or positions of puppets or models to create an illusion of movement when the movie is shown as a sequence. 2 (geek) one syllable too many

Now just hold it right there … I love my American animated shows as much as the next 11 year old. From “Transformers” to “Gumball,” I’ve watched ‘em all, with and without my son. (sorry, not sorry.) But then in the late 80s, a chance choosing of a Betamax cassette at a friend’s house showed me a whole new form of entertainment … cartoons with an actual story and acting. WHO KNEW!?

That Betamax cassette was a recording of Hayao Miyazaki’s “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind,” and it changed my little mind for the better. No longer were cartoons relegated to babysitting duty on Saturday morning while mom and dad slept in. This was a new art form to me, and I devoured every minute of it. This was anime.

I don’t pretend to be the world’s foremost expert on anime. I’m not even Brookhaven’s foremost expert, but I know what I like. Barring the mainstream choices of “Dragonball Z,” “Bleach” and “Naruto,” here are a couple I would recommend:

“Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” —  A gripping story of two young brothers who use a forbidden form of alchemy to try and resurrect their mother after her untimely death. After this fails, the boys travel in search of a means to rectify the consequences of their actions.

“Gundam OO” — a group of specially chosen individuals use advanced giant mobile suits of armor called Gundams to try and end all war on the planet. As noble as their intentions are, things don’t always go according to plan as they struggle to prevent themselves from becoming that which they fight against.

There are so many I could talk about (“Soul Eater,” “Sgt. Frog, Blue Exorcist,” “Gurren Lagann,” “FLCL”), but they don’t give me that much space to write.

You got interwebs… look em up! Class dismissed.