Azisien needs to find some enjoyable ANIMU but can't. [Archive]

Azisien

09-22-2010, 01:42 PM

Okay so I moved in with a big Japanophile anime nerd at the start of summer and he insists I watch more anime. I have nothing against doing so, but it seems like my tastes are...pickier than your usual purveyor of the Animus and Magnas.

I figure it's probably best if I just list every anime I can ever think of watching, and let you know what I thought of them briefly.

My anime nerd friends also had a pow-wow recently to find me some, I'll list those as well.

Anime I've completed

Dragonball Z: Innate enjoyment as a kid as led to the foundation of my hatred of anime that drags on for season after season, episode after episode, filler after filler. I also gave up near the start of the Buu saga but DBZ is fucking bullshit, so I consider it completed.

Inuyasha: Another show that just seemed to drag on with no enjoyable resolution and characters that are pretty annoying. It was fun to make fun of while watching though. Also contributed to growing hatred of drag-on animes.

Cowboy Bebop: I used to think it was the bee's knees of anime, and I've decided it probably still is one of the best dubbed ones. I re-watched it recently and it certainly shows its age now, but I quite liked it.

Trigun: Probably my most hated anime to date. It was a show I could have not hated so much if I had just been able to stop watching it part way through, but my anime nerd friend (same one as above) INSISTED I "see it through." Okay. I watched all 26 episodes. It fucking blew*.
*Fine like 4 episodes were pretty decent.

Samurai Champloo: Excellent anime, I quite enjoyed it. A little weak on the characterization, I felt they faffed about too much near the end of the series when they should have been adding depth. The baseball episode makes up for those shortcomings.

Akira: Pretty decent. I didn't think it was extraordinary but there were some genuinely creepy parts.

Princess Mononoke: Pretty good movie too.

Gundam Wing (the original one?): Had promise but I thought it got kind of silly with the tech level of the robots changing on a per-episode basis, such that the GRAND SUPER GUNDAM of episode 7 was completely obsolete in episode 11. Also mostly stupid characters.

Escaflowne: Liked it when I was a kid, but I had bad tastes (see earlier anime history).

Afro Samurai: Loved the original. Resurrection was pretty terrible save for a few parts.

Anime I've watched some of

Sailor Moon: This show probably helped my balls drop, but it made them crooked...

Pokemon: Terribl....y awesome! But only when I was 10.

Ghost in the Shell: Gave up about 20 episodes in. For all its decent art and action, I just found it boring. Couldn't care less about any of the characters, story, or lack thereof.

Full Metal Alchemist: Watched the first episode only and it didn't grab me. I might re-visit some day since one episode isn't always enough to judge.

Gurran Legann: This show was like 60% Trigun by episode 2 and I cut my losses quick.

Great Teacher Onizuka: Pretty damn good show so far, I'm really enjoying it.

Mushishi: I want to like it, but it's kind of boring. Some cool concepts at least.

Lucky Star: Oh lordy, the cutesy anime. I honestly couldn't stand this for long. Addictive opening theme.

Excel Saga: Too much of not the right kind of random for me.

Anime my friends just recently recommended

GTO - already started
Mushishi - already started
Berserk
Full Metal Panic
Nodame Cantabile
FLCL

...and a few others but they're in Japanese and I don't have the sheet with me at the moment.

Anime I will look into due to NPF

Baccano!
House of Five Leagues
Paranoia Agent
Hellsing Ultimate
Soul Eater
Star Driver
Samurai 7 (note: make fun of tech levels)
Black Lagoon
Katanagatari (some day, perhaps, maybe)
Full Metal Alchemist (fiiiiiine)
Millenium Actress (movie)
Tokyo Godfathers (movie)
Gungrave
Death Note
Hajime no Ippo
Ergo Proxy
Noein
Desert Punk
History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi

This is an open challenge to the anime experts of NPF, what do I have the best chance of liking?! Clearly if you look at my anime resume, I like a good amount of action. I don't mind things being silly. I'd rather look at pictures or videos of actual puppies than watch little anime girls be all cute n' stuff.

Sign: No weed please.

Menarker

09-22-2010, 01:47 PM

You might want to check everything said in THIS thread, which Krogoth made asking the exact same request.

http://www.nuklearforums.com/showthread.php?t=38611

Azisien

09-22-2010, 01:50 PM

I actually did see that thread but Krogo has seen sooooooo many more anime than me, and I sure as hell ain't going to shotgun pick even his list.

Edit: Hmmm, Baccano, I heard about that one...adding!

mauve

09-22-2010, 02:01 PM

My sister got me hooked on House of Five Leaves. Here's the manga (http://www.sigikki.com/series/houseoffiveleaves/index.shtml), but apparently the anime is a lot farther along than the translated version of the manga. I think the anime goes to the end of the series. (Plus I believe it's animated by the Cowboy Bebop/Samurai Champloo people.) Personally I haven't watched it yet; I'm still reading the printed version. Apparently it's faithful to the comics though. Episode 1. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFF-fPLtOs0&feature=channel) I really like the art style.

Also, I already bugged krogo about it, but check out Paranoia Agent (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-anabfAg06U&feature=related) if you're up for something spooky and mind-breaking. Warning, some episodes contain adult themes. Not a show to watch while younger siblings are in the room.

Kim

09-22-2010, 02:01 PM

FLCL I'd be a bit skeptical of watching until you've seen more anime. It's an amazing show, and every time you rewatch it you catch things you didn't previous, but the wacky off-the-wall humor is so very anime it might put you off it. On the plus side, it's only six episodes long.

Berserk is interesting. I haven't watched the anime, but I've read all the manga thus far. The anime is basically a faster version of the first main story arc. Great action, great story, though I hear they had a really shitty animation budget, so you'll occasionally get really well-drawn still frames in place of actually showing fluid combat. Also keep in mind that it's kind of a dark show, though that might be hard to catch early on. Bad shit happens in it, though the anime seems to gloss over some of the worse things.

I watched the first episode of Fullmetal Panic, and while I wouldn't say it was bad, there just wasn't a whole lot there that sold me on it.

I'll tentatively recommend both Hellsing Ultimate and Afro Samurai, both of which have awesome English dubs. I've found that both seem fairly accessible to non-anime fans, though there's definitely an emphasis on action and style over any real substance in both. Check out the first episode of both, and make sure when you check out Hellsing that you check out the Ultimate version because the original TV series isn't worth shit compared to it.

One thing I'd like to know is what your tastes are in more of a general sense. What kind of humor do you like? Is a lot of action a prerequisite for you watching a show? What kind of pacing do you like? Stuff like that. Let me know and I might be able to give better recommendations more tailored to you.

Regulus Tera

09-22-2010, 02:07 PM

Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, a story about two angels who spend their time fighting demonic creatures, going to high school, eating pastry, and fucking men (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZbGlVqKXTM).

It hasn't even aired and it's already the best show of the year.

Fifthfiend

09-22-2010, 02:11 PM

Stop watching animes, they're all terrible.

Azisien

09-22-2010, 02:17 PM

Also, I already bugged krogo about it, but check out Paranoia Agent (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-anabfAg06U&feature=related) if you're up for something spooky and mind-breaking. Warning, some episodes contain adult themes. Not a show for younger siblings to watch with you.

Mind-breaking, now that's a good sell! Fear not, however, I have already consumed my younger siblings.

I'll tentatively recommend both Hellsing Ultimate and Afro Samurai, both of which have awesome English dubs.

Crap, I totally forgot I've seen all of Afro Samurai. Added that to stuff I've completed. Will definitely look into Hellsing Ultimate then.

One thing I'd like to know is what your tastes are in more of a general sense. What kind of humor do you like? Is a lot of action a prerequisite for you watching a show? What kind of pacing do you like? Stuff like that. Let me know and I might be able to give better recommendations more tailored to you.

I avoided a blurb on this because I'm not sure I can articulate my tastes well enough, if I even HAVE them yet. I'll try. For humor, I think pretty much anything can grab hold of me if it's executed well enough. I find GTO hilarious most of the time. This is my kind of humor also (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKwXwk7jA9c). There was an anime I did not list because I CANNOT for the life of me remember the name. It was about a kid who got a guardian angel that basically spent the entire 10 or so episodes murdering him and resurrecting him. Though a tough sell, it was also hilarious.

I think action is more or less a prerequisite, but I mean I watch some Hollywood movies without action, it's just rare. So finding non-action anime will probably be tough, too. Like Mushishi has very little action so far, but it's well animated and written. I am finding it difficult to hang on to.

I'm a fan of shows that take off with a BANG. Champloo, which I just finished recently, had me hooked because right from the first episode there's some bad-ass sword fighting. I appear to like swords, but not if robots are holding them. Samurai are cool. Trigun took 20 episodes to be even remotely decent, so fuck that kind of pacing.

I like heroes that struggle. In Bebop and Champloo, the protagonists were highly skilled but enemies were often a little under, or equal, or better in skill. Contrast to Trigun, where it's basically a Vash circle jerk of his greatness for almost the entire series. Hated that.

So in summary, shows should pick up relatively quickly, have some action and humor, and they have to END too. I hope that helps a little.

As one addition, although I haven't actually watched too much edgy stuff before, I don't mind dark, or adult, or whatever. Bring it on.

Tev

09-22-2010, 02:17 PM

From your list I'd say give Full Metal Alchemist a fair shake. I personally didn't like the ending very much but the journey there was worth the watch. From your recent recommends I'd say Full Metal Panic is the front runner. The tech-level of the mechs doesn't get too crazy like it did in Gundam Wing and the main characters are rather well developed. Also it's damn funny. If you find FMP to your liking I'd also suggest Black Lagoon. No mecha in that one but it has the same feel and is very high energy.

I watched all of Lucky Star. It's a good watch if you've seen lots of other anime because there are a great many references to other shows that pop up over the course of the series. Also at the end of almost every episode the girls gather in a Karaoke Lounge and sing theme songs to other shows.

It's hard to recommend anime to someone unless I know what genres and themes interest them. I'm a little confused that you liked Cowboy Bebop but hated Trigun as those plus Outlaw Star were the holy trinity of anime for their time. Anyway, do you have anything more specific besides "lots of action?" Are you more into horror, big robots, samurai/ninja, action harem, intrigue, time travel, hunter, mind-fuck? I've stumbles across some gems in my time and if I knew more what you liked I could point you in the right direction.

phil_

09-22-2010, 02:19 PM

Watch Katanagatari. It's about killing swordsmen and writing fiction. It picks up half way through episode one, has neat sword fights and ninjas, is funny, and will have an ending in December.

Wigmund

09-22-2010, 02:21 PM

I do not see Soul Eater on your list Azisien or in any of the recommendations above and that is terrible.

Regulus Tera

09-22-2010, 02:22 PM

Screw you guys, it's all about Star Driver (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtDpxbIr0-I&feature=related).

I haven't seen such levels of fabulousity since Code Geass ended.

Tev

09-22-2010, 02:24 PM

Oh, I got one for you: Samurai 7. It's of course an animated take on the Seven Samurai movie drawn out into about 24 episodes set in the future where an oppressive technocracy is basically draining the outlying peasants of resources after a horrible war. The main character girl takes some rice and hires up some samurai (one of which is a robot!) and heads to town to show those assholes in mech suits the what for!

Fifthfiend

09-22-2010, 02:28 PM

S7 is kind of good but also incredibly dumb.

Like there is all this badass future technology but all of the badass future technology is easily, easily defeated by any moron with a sword or a bow and arrow or like a really sharp wooden stick.

If you can overlook that it's pretty okay.

Watch Katanagatari. It's about killing swordsmen and writing fiction. It picks up half way through episode one, has neat sword fights and ninjas, is funny, and will have an ending in December.

Katanagatari is pretty great but hold off watching it for a few months when all the episodes come out, like it's on this fucking one-episode-a-month release schedule that is goddamn infuriating.

Tev

09-22-2010, 02:33 PM

If you want to give street fighter/mortal kombat-esque shows a try, I'd say Grappler Baki and Air Master are decent. Also on the competition scene is Air Gear which was rather fast paced, being all about kids who race Fast and the Furious style with motorized roller blades. Only downside there was that it was made to be two seasons and season two never got made.

Kim

09-22-2010, 02:44 PM

There was an anime I did not list because I CANNOT for the life of me remember the name. It was about a kid who got a guardian angel that basically spent the entire 10 or so episodes murdering him and resurrecting him. Though a tough sell, it was also hilarious.

I believe it's Bokusatu Tenshi Dokuro-chan. I'm not sure on the translation of the first two words, but I believe Tenshi means angel.

I'm a fan of shows that take off with a BANG. Champloo, which I just finished recently, had me hooked because right from the first episode there's some bad-ass sword fighting. I appear to like swords, but not if robots are holding them. Samurai are cool. Trigun took 20 episodes to be even remotely decent, so fuck that kind of pacing.

I like heroes that struggle. In Bebop and Champloo, the protagonists were highly skilled but enemies were often a little under, or equal, or better in skill. Contrast to Trigun, where it's basically a Vash circle jerk of his greatness for almost the entire series. Hated that.

So in summary, shows should pick up relatively quickly, have some action and humor, and they have to END too. I hope that helps a little.

As one addition, although I haven't actually watched too much edgy stuff before, I don't mind dark, or adult, or whatever. Bring it on.

Black Lagoon. It's basically if Cowboy Bebop was about pirates in the south China seas. (I think that's where they are) Oh, and if it was INCREDIBLY dark. Another one of those shows that I've found is accessible to non-anime fans.

Baccano! might be to your liking. Lot of action, a lot of humor, and it's all set during the prohibition era of the US. It's a little confusing early on because it doesn't do things in chronological order, but as the show continues you start to get a feel for how everything comes together. If you like Baccano!, you might want to check out Durarara! which is by the same author.

Phil recommended Katanagatari, which is a pretty aces show in most every regard, but my only concern is that how talky it is will put you off it. Watch the first episode. If you like it, cool. If you don't, don't bother with the rest of the series.

Soul Eater is great, but it's pretty anime in its humor. It also suffers from some really weak episodes for the first three. Like, I love the show, but those episodes suck. Possibly try watching the first episode aware that the show is normally much better than this, and then skip to the fourth episode. Episode two is literally so bad I could only stomach five minutes of it. It's fifty-one episodes long, but it actually has an ending, and the ending kicks ass.

Elfen Lied is something I foresee people recommending, and I'm a little torn on it. On the one hand, it's something that really isn't all that great in retrospect, because it dials up the "awful shit happening" all the way to eleven, and then to twenty. You really have to be in the right mindset to enjoy it otherwise you won't be able to take it seriously just because of how over-the-top the depressing stuff is. The ending also sucks. On the other hand, it is something that non-anime fans seem to enjoy on some level, from time to time, so I might as well throw it out there.

Two directors I recommend checking out are Satoshi Kon and Miyazaki. For Satoshi Kon, I recommend Millenium Actress (a movie I am halfway through right now) and Tokyo Godfathers. Neither are action based, but they're movies, and therefore less of a commitment. Story, characters, and presentation in both is just aces, though. However, if you don't like one of those two films, I'm can't recommend checking his others out. I love how he directs, but I can see how it would put some people off. Paranoia Agent is by the same guy, but is a bit more out there than those two movies I've mentioned. Miyazaki I recommend because he's goddamn Miyazaki. Dude kicks ass. Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke are both easy recommends, though I haven't watched the latter in some time so my main source of confidence in it is that Miyazaki directed it.

I'll try and think of some others to throw out there.

Tev

09-22-2010, 02:52 PM

Miyazaki I recommend because he's goddamn Miyazaki. Dude kicks ass. Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke are both easy recommends, though I haven't watched the latter in some time so my main source of confidence in it is that Miyazaki directed it.Basic rule of thumb for people getting into anime. If Miyazaki made it, watch it.

He's like the Japanese Walt Disney but better in many (most)....(all?) respects.

EDIT: OH, and if you can suspend your disbelief in the science of sound in a vacuum then I suggest you look up Black Heaven.

Plot Summary: Oji Tanaka has a wife, a child and a mundane job as a salary man in Tokyo's modern society. But life wasn't dull for him to begin with; 15 years ago, he was known as "Gabriel", leader of a short-lived heavy metal band called Black Heaven. Oji's life gets a sudden change in direction when he is invited by a mysterious blonde woman named Layla to pick up his Gibson Flying V and once again display his "legendary" guitar skills, not knowing that his music generates power for a massive weapon in an intergalactic war.
It's about how you win a space war by rocking out harder than the other guy.

A Zarkin' Frood

09-22-2010, 03:27 PM

Recommending the Gungrave anime, because it's really underrated and only very few people seem to have seen it. Just skip the first episode.
It's basically a mafia drama with lots of sci-fi. Though that may not be so apparent at first.

Also: Neon Genesis Evangelion. Horribly overrated, as it's a cult object. But it's still very good and one of my favorite shows.

Berserk has already been recommended, though. I'd suggest reading the Manga instead. Unless you're easily put off by grimdarkness, then the anime is better for you. It even turns a minor villain into more of a comic relief character. But the ending is a pain in the butt, because it pretty much ends at one of the most depressing moments, and there's no real conclusion, so you'll have to read the manga if you wanna know the rest of the story.

And I know it's hip and trendy to hate Death Note, but I liked Death Note, and you should probably at least try it. It's an interesting show with a villain-protagonist.

Elfen Lied is also one of those shows lots of people seem to hate. It's nothing too special, but it's worth a watch. Most of the gore people complain about is from the first few minutes of the first episode.

Azisien

09-22-2010, 03:36 PM

Whoooa, this list is getting long as I expected. I'm going to cross-reference these recommendations with my roommate to see if he's seen any of them.

Thanks for all the recommends so far, I don't have time to thank everybody personally but...

Stop watching animes, they're all terrible.

Bro like half of your Twitter updates are about Bleach, I take what you say about anime with a dump truck of salt.

Tev

09-22-2010, 03:38 PM

And I know it's hip and trendy to hate Death Note, but I liked Death Note, and you should probably at least try it. It's an interesting show with a villain-protagonist.Just know that when the two boys who aren't L show up to play detective, it's time to turn off the show and watch something else. By then you will have seen the two biggest pay-offs of the show and the rest just seems like it was just tacked on for funsies.

Elfen Lied is also one of those shows lots of people seem to hate. It's nothing too special, but it's worth a watch. Most of the gore people complain about is from the first few minutes of the first episode.Yeah, starting a show off with a naked girl wandering the halls of a military installation reducing everyone in her path to blood splotches with her mind most certainly has that effect on most people.

Fifthfiend

09-22-2010, 03:40 PM

Bro like half of your Twitter updates are about Bleach, I take what you say about anime with a dump truck of salt.

Logically this should make me more qualified than anyone to tell you that all animes are terrible.

All the rest of these motherfuckers could tell you the same thing but for some reason they're not. They must really dislike you or something.

Tev

09-22-2010, 03:43 PM

To be fair, I have had to use Bleach on occasion to cleanse my brain pallet after watching some of the random anime my roommate gets. He finds some of the crappiest stuff....

Menarker

09-22-2010, 03:56 PM

I would suggest Noir and Hajime no Ippo. Both have considerable action. The former is conspiracy and mafia/assassin combat while the latter is probably without peer as the best boxing anime. Noir has some bitchin' music and Hajime no Ippo has a fair deal of comedy and realism to it. It was mentioned quite a few times in Krogoth's thread, so it's worth checking out.

Should probably mention that Noir has a sort of pacing issue that some people find difficult to accept but it's worth checking out!

I seen both of them myself.

I would also suggest Ebichu the House-keeping Hamster... but that depends on how perverse your taste is or if you require art above childish crayon drawing. But if you like your comedy on the saucy side, you'll like it. You can even find it on Youtube oddly enough. ^^
"Holy Hell, that's obscene! On to episode 2!"

Token

09-22-2010, 04:20 PM

I do not see Soul Eater on your list Azisien or in any of the recommendations above and that is terrible.

This pretty much sums it up. Although, the animation is done by the FMA guys, and I think the music is done by the Gurren Lagann guys. That might be a turnoff for you. But, it's worth a shot.

Azisien

09-22-2010, 04:45 PM

Just started....uh.....borrowing......Baccano!

And apparently my roommate already has Black Lagoon. These will be my first two on top of continuing GTO and Mushishi. Don't let me down NPF!

Tev

09-22-2010, 04:46 PM

Not to really suggest this one by any means, I just thought I'd share:

So I was reading through some anime reviews looking for good suggestions when I came across Enspelled. The picture looked kind of cute and standard anime fare for magical girl shows. The review was going pretty well also...

Plot Summary: Anastacia was a witch who wanted to give up her powers and live a normal life on Earth. She married Genyo and together they started a normal, happy suburban life. Of course, Anastacia some times can't resist using her magic to help her get through the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Her powerful mother is still a bad witch. But what this really means for Anastacia is that she needs to channel her sperm powered sex magic to fight off her psychotic lesbian mother and her army of crazed sex slaves and demons.
The spoilered part is where it all fell to pieces.

Azisien

09-22-2010, 04:49 PM

I don't know, sperm powered sex magic just might be my kind of humor...

Unless they aren't joking. :ohdear:

Tev

09-22-2010, 04:56 PM

Unless they aren't joking. :ohdear:Trust me, in these kind of instances they never joke.

As far an actual suggestion goes, you may want to try Ergo Proxy and Noein. The first has an interesting robo-centric dark near future Russia thing going on. The second has time travel via repelling through time on an energy rope. Both are somewhat gritty and full of intrigue.

Kim

09-22-2010, 05:03 PM

I haven't seen Noein but it does have some fantastic bloopers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp8ohelYOY8).

krogothwolf

09-22-2010, 05:04 PM

I actually did see that thread but Krogo has seen sooooooo many more anime than me, and I sure as hell ain't going to shotgun pick even his list.

This makes me feel like an anime whore :(

EVILNess

09-22-2010, 06:57 PM

You really need to watch Gurren Lagann. It's not even 30 episodes long and overall is a great hero's journey story and a general love letter to the Giant Robot genre. Giving it until Episode 2 is not really giving it a fair shake. Just throw it in with some of the other shows you are watching and if you don't care about the characters by the end then well at least you have watched it and can give a full opinion of why you didn't like other than blaming it on Trigun.

As for other shows History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi is funny and despite the over the top representations of Kenichi's masters the martial arts are fairly realistic.

Either of the Full Metal shows are great and if you watch one you can skip the first ten episodes of the other. I will admit that the show is kinda slow until they break into the Lab and they start to glimpse the plot.

Desert Punk is great fun IF you watch the Dub, the original Japanese isn't nearly as good.

One Piece is probably the best super long anime in existence, mainly due to the fact that Oda has an insane amount of fun with his world and his characters. Of course, even One Piece has terrible filler (But you can look them up and see which is filler so you can skip them) I would watch up to episode 50 to see if it catches you enough to go in for the long haul.

As for movies, watch anything by Miyazaki (Ponyo, Castle of Caliogstro, Howl's Moving Castle, Nazica of the Valley of the Wind, Porko Rosso, etc)

In the mindfuck category I only have 1 movie and 1 seriee. Paprika and Paranoia Agent. Watch at your own peril.

Azisien

09-22-2010, 07:24 PM

Fifthfiend

09-22-2010, 07:25 PM

Wait what's this about TTGL

Gurran Legann: This show was like 60% Trigun by episode 2 and I cut my losses quick.
I just started disliking it rather fast. Why? I thought the characters were annoying and I thought the robot designs were stupid.

oh wha huh look at that Azisien is a terrible human being, how about that.

Azisien

09-22-2010, 07:27 PM

Wait what's this about TTGL

oh wha huh look at that Azisien is a terrible human being, how about that.

Didn't you see the sign Fifth? No weed please.

Eltargrim

09-22-2010, 07:28 PM

Noein involves involves a quantum hobo, bwuh?, and, well...I don't even know. I enjoyed it, but I don't really know how to describe it.

PS: Seriously, lots of quantum.

PPS: general recommendation to the masses. Eve no Jikan, aka The Time of Eve. It's like Ghost in the Shell without the guns and pretentiousness.

Kim

09-22-2010, 07:28 PM

1. I'd recommend Gunbuster if you want a solid introduction to some super robot anime. Done by the Evangelion guy, though far superior to Eva, only six episodes along, and it uses light speed travel in its narrative really well.

2. TTGL is pretty much a love letter to the giant robot genre, as has been stated, so your appreciation of it might increase if you watch the stuff it draws from first. Perhaps even throw Captain Harlock in there because that little bit in the very first episode where it has all the huge explosions and they're on a spaceship and shit is visually speaking pretty much ripped straight out of Harlock. As for what Harlock thing to check out, I started with Endless Odyssey, and while the 70's nostalgic character designs might put you off, everything else about it is aces.

Fifthfiend

09-22-2010, 07:34 PM

Didn't you see the sign Fifth? No weed please.

Less talking more kill yourself

Fifthfiend

09-22-2010, 07:36 PM

Was that over the line? It feels like that was over the line.

I'm just messin' around, I don't actually serious-hate anybody for not liking TTGL.

EVILNess

09-22-2010, 08:49 PM

Be warned as you watch TTGL that episode 4 is TERRIBLE. Some big famous guy came in and screwed it up. The worst part is it introduces a couple of important characters. So I recommend getting to the part where they introduce Kittan and his sisters and then go to the next episode, all of which are subtle character building episodes disguised as hijinx culminating in a hot spring episode which is really just used to get all the characters in one place so the real awesome can start.

Oh and try to stay spoiler free for TTGL, the story has a lot of emotional impact and if you spoil what happens then well you just ruined the first half of the series.

Krylo

09-22-2010, 09:31 PM

Kamina kills Dumbledore.

RobinStarwing

09-22-2010, 10:38 PM

Magic Knight Rayearth> CLAMP is well known for it's girl-oriented manga and anime but this is one I HIGHLY reccomend even though the second season is subpar to the first but not by much.

Witchblade> TOP COW and Gonzo worked together on this one so if you either are into the comics or heard about it, this I highly reccomend. The sexual things might scare you but they aren't overt and in your face (more often used for humor) but the story pacing and character growth is phenomenal! Besides, how often do you get to see a scantily clad busty woman get up after being hit with a tank shell and destroy said tank barehanded except for a 3-foot long giant sword extending from her right arm? Enough said I hope?

Hell Girl> Oh god, I could say so much about this one but...I will leave it to Ai herself to speak of her awesomeness. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_pPtthy8vw&feature=related)

Slayers> All five seasons are now stateside. This is classic anime at it's best! Yeah, the english voice acting is horrid but this from the mid to late 90's, before it went mainstream. Much like Rayearth, it got put on VHS for the first 2-seasons at least. TRY, REVOLUTION, and EVOLUTION-R are on DVDs as far as I know.

Full Metal Panic/Fumoffu/The Second Raid> I saw this on your list and added the other two series cause I wasn't sure if you knew it was a 3-series set. It does take having an interest in the military thing to really get into this anime in the first series and TSR. Fumoffu is more humor than anything else and it doesn't take itself seriously at all. Besides, Sousuke reminds me of myself sometimes, unable to get the normal world. ^_^

Karas> A six-episode miniseries made into two 90 minute movies by MANGA CORP, this is also good and brought to us by the same studio who did the old Speed Racer (and it shows in a couple scenes). Really bad-ass stuff but also rather bloody.

Wolf's Rain> Awesome anime but a sad ending. Still worth watching for the character development and moments.

Fruits Basket> Yeah, cute and fluffy but this is Anime Sitcom at it's finest. I watched it and if my now EX had left the DVDs here, she'd never had gotten them back after the breakup for what she did to me.

On another note...

What the hell is this supposed to be? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd4SwGdCPvk&feature=channel) *is a Supernatural Fan*

Julford Hajime

09-22-2010, 11:43 PM

Slayers recently (Within the last five years) got a DVD box set of the original series, NEXT, and TRY; I have it, and it's, well, Slayers. While I'll disagree on the dub being bad (Though one could argue it being inferior to the original, the English dub is still well done), it certainly has it's issues, the main one being that it is pretty formulaic. Cast screws around for five/six episodes, big bad appears and ruins things for six/five episodes, cast figures out how to win, rinse, repeat.

I loved Elfin Lied, despite that it gets such a bad rap. Basically everything Noncon said earlier is true, so go reread that.

FLCL is totally a "THIS IS ANIME BITCH, NO TIME FOR QUESTIONS" type of show. Still, very well done, and it's one of those things where the longer you look at, the more clear some things become while other aspects become even MORE confusing.

Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket. Honestly, you don't even need to know much about the original Gundam series that this is based on, as all of the characters are original characters and aside from a few phrases here and there the series is entirely self-contained. In fact, the first 60 seconds of this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF9p5PDazjA) is all you need to know. Beautifully written, and one of the best-animated OVAs for the time period (1989). The only thing is that the action is more than a bit sparse, with the only real fights happening in episodes 1, 4, and 6.

Evangelion is one of those series that I should by all counts love, but they managed to screw it up in the home stretch. From what I've seen in terms of reactions to the ending, it will either leave you in a pool of your own tears/blood or enraged at Gainax for ending it the way they did. Doubly so for the End of Evangelion movie, which was a bitterly cruel first half that also gave us one of the most amazing fight sequences ever and then turned it around in the second half with a "IT'S NOT DIFFERENT AT ALL, IS IT STEVE?" finale.

But no seriously Evangelion does SOOOO much right that I still find myself going back and rewatching it every now and then. I just get SOOOOOOO much angrier once I finish it and realize that I wasn't in fact being too harsh on the ending and it really was piss awful both times :mad:

Azisien

09-22-2010, 11:51 PM

Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket. Honestly, you don't even need to know much about the original Gundam series that this is based on, as all of the characters are original characters and aside from a few phrases here and there the series is entirely self-contained.

Without even looking at that, all I really need to know about any Gundam series is that Gundams are made out of GUNDANIUM!!!

Edit: Seriously, thanks for all the rapid recommendations. I now have a very large pile of anime to watch, so I don't think further recommendations are necessary.

phil_

09-22-2010, 11:56 PM

Well, yeah Azisien. Why do you think they call'em "Gundams," huh?

<Alternate post>

You're turned off of a sci-fi series by a single fictional material?

Julford Hajime

09-22-2010, 11:57 PM

Without even looking at that, all I really need to know about any Gundam series is that Gundams are made out of GUNDANIUM!!!

Actually, that was just Gundam Wing, and yeah it was a stupid plot point. Wing was a mid-90s series with an entirely seperate continuity from the other series (Which started waythefuck back in 1979), though not terrible in it's own right.

RobinStarwing

09-23-2010, 12:26 AM

Azisien

09-23-2010, 12:39 AM

You're turned off of a sci-fi series by a single fictional material?

No. See original post. It was a rather entertaining thing for me to latch onto and make fun of, though. So really, that single fictional material improved Gundam for me.

01d55

09-23-2010, 01:17 AM

I am beginning to wonder if any of you have seen the Witchblade anime at all.
My father has the translated manga.

Anyway you should watch the first episode of Sasameki Koto which is available legally right here (http://www.crunchyroll.com/sasamekikoto/episode-1-535020). It won't take long.

Magni

09-23-2010, 11:28 AM

Scryed is an oldie but a goody. Great for its action and the story isn't terrible.

You already have Hajime no Ippo on your list which is fantastic.

Fumoffu has been mentioned once, but if you're looking for a short anime filled with hilarity that would be the one to pick. Watching Full Metal Panic isn't necessary, though it has the same characters.

RahXephon hasn't been mentioned, which is a shame. It's like an updated, better NGA. Not to say NGA isn't great.

Yu Yu Hakusho is another old one, but probably one of my favorite animes. All about action and a decent amount of comedy. It's DBZ but a tad more realistic and less drawn out.

If you can find The SoulTaker (just found it streaming online in like 2 seconds), the animation and color presentation are fantastic.

Been watching Noein the past few days (which until now I was surprised none of you had recommended, so I enter this thread and here it is several times, jerks) and it's pretty solid. Not as action oriented as the first episode implies it will be, but the story is rather intriguing.

The Legend of the Legendary Heroes, despite the name, has been pretty awesome. It has good action (magics and swords), comedy, and a rather interesting storyline. It is ongoing at the moment, slated for 26 episodes. The 13th episode comes out tomorrow.

YuYu Hakusho, Scryed, and RahXephon I suggest watching as they came out during the anime surge (read: Toonami) of our time. They are pretty much the building blocks for most anime fans along with DBZ and Cowboy Bebop.

Regulus Tera

09-23-2010, 03:20 PM

So this is the new animu thread?

Pok�mon Best Wishes! Episode 1:

http://i55.tinypic.com/2mwgojn.jpg

Pikachu: Hey, there's a large ominous cloud looming over the sky! Ash, check it out!

Of course the cloud ends up being a legendary Pok�mon and Pikachu gets delevelled. Yay for reboots! Nothing else noteworthy happens except that Ash gets a new rival with a Smugleaf. He gets beaten like a little bitch because his Pikachu is a noob now. It feels like pilot episode.

Pignite has the cutest voice eveeeeeeeeeeeeeeer. Team Rocket... being competent? And it seems like Wotter will be the comic relief this season.

Pok�mon Best Wishes! Episode 2:

http://i51.tinypic.com/14abl1y.jpg

Pikachu gets some of its power back after a second encounter with Zekrom. So, what was the point of that?

So Ash decides to try and tackle the Isshu league, meeting new fanfic-fodder Iris Moe-chan in the process. She has twice the personality Misty, May, and Dawn ever did combined. Fan favourite already!

Ash proceeds to capture the region's Pidgey. Surprisingly, Team Rocket reveals they've caught this region's Zubat too. Neo-Pidgey loses to Neo-Zubat, and when all seems lost Wotter appears to save the day

Overall, it was alright. Having an actual plot to follow instead of "let's show off this week's Pokeymanz!" is truly appreciated, as it makes the whole thing more dynamic. Team Rocket's appearance did not turn down the quality at all, which was very surprising. Let's see how long does this last before they revert back to the old formula.

Interestingly, the new opening is all 3D. It looks really nifty. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6cIGi_q4vw)

Inbred Chocobo

09-23-2010, 04:57 PM

I'll throw in my two cents and suggest Wolf's Rain. The manga is only 2 books long, so the majority of the anime is stretching out the story, but I actually did enjoy the anime surprisingly well. It may be worth your time and I am sure there are people here who have something to say about it.

RobinStarwing

09-23-2010, 11:10 PM

I forgot one more Anime. It's very fan service at the start and the main characters are girls. It's called Kiddy Grade. ^_^

synkr0nized

09-23-2010, 11:32 PM

RobinStarwing

09-23-2010, 11:34 PM

I was all about that show until it decided to be retarded at the end. But, in fairness, that happens to a damned lot of anime, so.

Lipstick weapons are go, then.

In any case, it can be pretty awesome (http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members/members_videoinfo.php?v=38885) and is a heck of a blast to watch anyway.

Especially when Eclair is in costumes. ^_^ Oh the fan service was worth it with her body alone. Probably one of the few times I could say an anime female left me wanting to ask her out on a date if she was real.

Arhra

09-24-2010, 01:14 AM

Evangelion is one of those series that I should by all counts love, but they managed to screw it up in the home stretch. From what I've seen in terms of reactions to the ending, it will either leave you in a pool of your own tears/blood or enraged at Gainax for ending it the way they did. Doubly so for the End of Evangelion movie, which was a bitterly cruel first half that also gave us one of the most amazing fight sequences ever and then turned it around in the second half with a "IT'S NOT DIFFERENT AT ALL, IS IT STEVE?" finale.

But no seriously Evangelion does SOOOO much right that I still find myself going back and rewatching it every now and then. I just get SOOOOOOO much angrier once I finish it and realize that I wasn't in fact being too harsh on the ending and it really was piss awful both times :mad:
The new Rebuild of Evangelion films are full of rainbows and happy songs!