Geek of Oz

You won't find any ninja, robots, explosions, gunfights or even fan service Chihayafuru and that's part of the reason that it is such an endearing series.  Based on the manga series of the same name by Yuki Suetsugu, Chihayafuru is a story of dedication, friendship and an oddly riveting card game called karuta. Karuta is a game of both speed, knowledge and language. Players face off against each other while listening to Japanese waka poems and try to grab the card corresponding to the poem being recited. Frankly, even that description is deathly boring and yet at no point during Chihayafuru will you find yourself catching some Z's.

Nana is a rather girly anime series which is based on a rather girly, smash hit manga series by Ai Yazawa. So what is it about this series that had me, a somewhat manly geek so enthralled? "Two girls with the same name leave their old lives behind and come to Tokyo to start fresh. What adventures await these two hopeful young women under the bright lights of the big city? Nana Osaki wants nothing more than to make it big as the singer of a rock 'n' roll band, while Nana Komatsu wants to put her life in motion and get her new relationship off to a good start. When the two Nanas fall in love with the same apartment, they become roommates and then best friends, and the party has just begun!"