The first anime I ever really loved is called “Boku No Marie,” or “Metal Angel Marie” in America.

My friend’s birthday was coming up. I knew he was really into anime, but I didn’t know what to get him. I found a DVD at the now defunct store Media Play that the clerk said was “obscure.” I didn’t see him open the gift at the party. The Monday after, I asked my friend if he watched the DVD and he said “yes.” He thought it was great – and wanted me to watch it immediately. Suddenly, “Boku No Marie” was back in my hands.

At the time, I didn’t know much about anime. I had seen some “Speed Racer” and “Astro Boy” when I was little, but that was the extent of my knowledge. Oh, and I knew about “Sailor Moon,” but that show looked girlier than a tea party with Hello Kitty and Jem.

I laughed uproariously through “Boku No Marie.” It wasn’t hard to relate to the lonely, nerdy scientist trying to build the love of his life – without any understanding of how love actually worked. Unfortunately, my many Alta Vista searches for more episodes came up short. The series was tragically discontinued after only three episodes. Sadness.

However, through those searches, I discovered many other wonderful anime series, like “Cowboy Bebop” and “Trigun.” Though a little part of me is sad that they never continued “Marie,” I’m glad my internet journey led me to those other wonderful titles. As the old cliche goes, “life is about the journey, not the destination.”

Still, a proper 6 episode season would have been nice.

-Geoffrey Golden 7/28/11