Anime on youtube, apparently legit? (Also: recommend me)

[BB]

This is more of a heads up than anything really, but since there's a considerable base of anime fans on this forum- Youtube's running a Geek Week (http://www.youtube.com/user/YouTubeUK) this week and one of the highlights, sort of tucked away at the bottom, is anime on youtube.

I figured it'd be a case of "watch episode 1 free then buy the DVD for the rest", but it seems the channel featured has all of Madoka (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5XBB1vj1xpjh3dlFM-4OyyTQJZErtyRe) up, most of Sword Art Online (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5XBB1vj1xphS7trbcmwfAo9p8kQSTQiD), and is currently uploading three (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5XBB1vj1xpj9Pmw2SjlNFIDXpfOUP-Dc) different (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5XBB1vj1xpjaM4kLID3GP7kScAmQKFsW) series (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5XBB1vj1xpjCbY2Qz9oC1QDdWia9j9RS) of Gundam Something Words And Letters. Elsewhere, there is the full series of Chobits (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9BB72E0C6C494FCE) on Funimation's channel, too, and probably more.

Possibly I'm years behind, but it's pretty great to see ad-supported, legit licensed anime watchable in such an accessible way. And I guess to make this a discussion... any recommendations for someone who has pretty much only ever seen Bleach?

[Arcanum]

Funimation has been doing this for a while I believe. I re-watched Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood on their youtube channel like a year or so ago.

Anyway, for recommendations, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood is great.

The first season of Sword Art Online is pretty good, but I never watched the subsequent seasons because I read a plot summary and the main plot was dumb and the setting for season 2 ruined the main thing that made season 1 so great.

Also Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) is fantastic, but I don't know if that's a Funimation series or not.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Goddamnit BB, why'd you have to go and post a link to SAO, making me finally go and check it out and thus end up watching 6 episodes back to back??

I don't do subs but now even I'm hooked!

[Krylo]

any recommendations for someone who has pretty much only ever seen Bleach?

Literally anything else.

[Menarker]

For a comedic and dirty-minded experience that while NSFW doesn't go into hentai level, check out "Ebichu the Housekeeping Hamster". (Just youtube Ebichu episode *Insert number). You will still need to log in to verify age and what not.
An article on the anime can be read here if you want a quick summary before you delve into the work. (http://www.animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=526)


If you want a bit more action, check out "Hajime no Ippo" for some boxing fare. There is a manga for this too, but it's over 1000 chapters long.
Article can be found here. (http://www.animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=143)


If you prefer more gunplay, intrigue and drama, consider "Noir" and enjoy the music!
Article again here. (http://www.animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=376)


For that matter, check out Anime Academy website for some info on noteworthy older anime. Several of which are likely to be available to watch on youtube. (Search the Library section for the articles on individual works, organized either Alphabethically or by grade.) (http://www.animeacademy.com/)

Additionally, we have had a thread on something kinda like this in the past that might help you out.
(http://www.nuklearforums.com/showthread.php?p=1153893#post1153893)

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

So I just finished watching all the episodes of SAO that are up on youtube, but I keep hearing that the rest of the series is pretty terrible. Is it worth persuing it at all or is it better to call it quits there?

[Odjn]

Last I checked Samurai Champloo and Soul Eater were available on youtube as well.

[Magus]

Samurai Champloo

This one, immediately.

EDIT: Also, Hulu is free on PC. They have a great selection of anime, and it's usually subbed, too.

I recommend Psycho Pass and Darker Than Black on there, and FMA: Brotherhood if you haven't seen that one yet.

[Aldurin]

So I just finished watching all the episodes of SAO that are up on youtube, but I keep hearing that the rest of the series is pretty terrible. Is it worth persuing it at all or is it better to call it quits there?

You will literally wish that you had never watched the season, as it will begin to slowly attempt to ruin season 1 for you.

Essentially, using the Hatchet analogy (if you're familiar with that book and it's sequels) then Season 1 is the Hatchet, a solid situation of being trapped in shit, and then getting out of it at the end. Season 2 is Brian's Return, a hamfisted attempt at writing up circumstances to try to put the protagonist back in the same situation, but far worse than Brian's Return probably is (it's probably a decent book, but it's the only one of the Hatch trilogy I haven't read).

I would say to never watch anything SAO again unless it takes a Brian's Winter route. Essentially, that book is the "sequel" to Hatchet, wherein the dumb luck that saves Brian in the first book doesn't happen and he has to survive through the winter (I recommend). SAO's season 1 ending set it up perfectly to have a season 2 in that manner, where Episode 14 didn't resolve in Kiriko's victory through whatever means (retaining Kiriko preferably), and they have no choice but to proceed through the remaining 25 levels. But of course that's not going to happen because it's too good for us to expect them to actually do it. Basically stop at episode 14 before you regret everything.

[BB]

Hulu's not an option for those of us stuck on Old Brittania, sadly. We've only just managed to figure out Netflix and there's nothing on that, even.

There's more available online than I thought, it seems! Hope this isn't a limited-time thing. With a lot of peer pressure from my friends, I've been convinced to watch Madoka and have my spirit shattered into a million heartbroken pieces, so I'll get that out of the way first. Sounds like SA:O is next after that.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

You will literally wish that you had never watched the season, as it will begin to slowly attempt to ruin season 1 for you.

Essentially, using the Hatchet analogy (if you're familiar with that book and it's sequels) then Season 1 is the Hatchet, a solid situation of being trapped in shit, and then getting out of it at the end. Season 2 is Brian's Return, a hamfisted attempt at writing up circumstances to try to put the protagonist back in the same situation, but far worse than Brian's Return probably is (it's probably a decent book, but it's the only one of the Hatch trilogy I haven't read).

I would say to never watch anything SAO again unless it takes a Brian's Winter route. Essentially, that book is the "sequel" to Hatchet, wherein the dumb luck that saves Brian in the first book doesn't happen and he has to survive through the winter (I recommend). SAO's season 1 ending set it up perfectly to have a season 2 in that manner, where Episode 14 didn't resolve in Kiriko's victory through whatever means (retaining Kiriko preferably), and they have no choice but to proceed through the remaining 25 levels. But of course that's not going to happen because it's too good for us to expect them to actually do it. Basically stop at episode 14 before you regret everything.

Unfortunately your analogy was somewhat wasted on me, but yeah, everything I've heard basically backs up what you're saying, so I will stop at the 15 that I've seen. I don't normally like doing that with any series but I'll make the exception this time, since I haven't heard a single good thing about the rest so far.

[Gregness]

I'm gonna go ahead and be a voice of dissent here. The first arc of SAO was certainly better, but the rest of the series isn't quite the pile of dog shit that everyone here seems to think it is. Having not read the original source material, I can't say for certain but I've heard that a lot of the stuff that goes on serves to lay the groundwork for future installments as well as dealing with fallout from the first arc. So, it's not really it's own thing, but hopefully will make more sense in context (assuming there's a second season eventually).

[Flarecobra]

From what I've been seeing on Toonami... SAO does seem to be influenced by .Hack insofar as basic premise goes.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

You will literally wish that you had never watched the season, as it will begin to slowly attempt to ruin season 1 for you.

Essentially, using the Hatchet analogy (if you're familiar with that book and it's sequels) then Season 1 is the Hatchet, a solid situation of being trapped in shit, and then getting out of it at the end. Season 2 is Brian's Return, a hamfisted attempt at writing up circumstances to try to put the protagonist back in the same situation, but far worse than Brian's Return probably is (it's probably a decent book, but it's the only one of the Hatch trilogy I haven't read).

I would say to never watch anything SAO again unless it takes a Brian's Winter route. Essentially, that book is the "sequel" to Hatchet, wherein the dumb luck that saves Brian in the first book doesn't happen and he has to survive through the winter (I recommend). SAO's season 1 ending set it up perfectly to have a season 2 in that manner, where Episode 14 didn't resolve in Kiriko's victory through whatever means (retaining Kiriko preferably), and they have no choice but to proceed through the remaining 25 levels. But of course that's not going to happen because it's too good for us to expect them to actually do it. Basically stop at episode 14 before you regret everything.

Sounds like SAO originally might not have been intended to have a second season. But it got popular and is now about to be thoroughly milked.

[Ramary]

Sounds like SAO originally might not have been intended to have a second season. But it got popular and is now about to be thoroughly milked.

It is an LN adaption, the novels just go to complete shit after that first arc, it is a faithful adaption all things considering.

Although hot tip, the author also wrote Accel World which also got an anime adaption and doesn't fall apart after the first arc like SAO, in fact it pretty much just gets better and better as it goes on IMO (the point that the anime ends on for example is such a FUCK YEAH moment that lampshades a trope I hate that it really made me wish for a second anime season).

[Kyanbu The Legend]

It is an LN adaption, the novels just go to complete shit after that first arc, it is a faithful adaption all things considering.

Although hot tip, the author also wrote Accel World which also got an anime adaption and doesn't fall apart after the first arc like SAO, in fact it pretty much just gets better and better as it goes on IMO (the point that the anime ends on for example is such a FUCK YEAH moment that lampshades a trope I hate that it really made me wish for a second anime season).

Ah I see. So it's more a problem from the original novels.

[Ryong]

From what I've been seeing on Toonami... SAO does seem to be influenced by .Hack insofar as basic premise goes.

They're both from 2002, though...

SAO's issues stem from the author's lacking maturity at the time which results in marty stu and mary sue characters.

[phil_]

I've been convinced to watch Madoka and have my spirit shattered into a million heartbroken pieces, so I'll get that out of the way first.I feel Madoka benefits immensely from watching it in 2011 and not knowing it's going to shatter your spirit into a million heartbroken pieces before you start watching the first episode (also not knowing anything about where it's going, for that matter). Just don't get your hopes up too high and enjoy the pretty pictures is what I'm saying.

[Ookalf]

I would say to never watch anything SAO again unless it takes a Brian's Winter route. Essentially, that book is the "sequel" to Hatchet, wherein the dumb luck that saves Brian in the first book doesn't happen and he has to survive through the winter (I recommend). SAO's season 1 ending set it up perfectly to have a season 2 in that manner, where Episode 14 didn't resolve in Kiriko's victory through whatever means (retaining Kiriko preferably), and they have no choice but to proceed through the remaining 25 levels. But of course that's not going to happen because it's too good for us to expect them to actually do it.

You know, that's actually pretty much the plot of the PSP game. Well, more or less. In that game, Kirito actually manages to beat Heathcliff without Asuna stepping in and almost dying. Something glitches out, though, and the players still can't log out of SAO, so they end up having to fight through the remaining floors anyway. Also, Leafa and Sinon get sucked into things somehow.

[Fenris]

any recommendations for someone who has pretty much only ever seen Bleach?

Watch Cowboy Bebop.

Because it's Cowboy Bebop.

[BB]

So you remember how I mentioned this was featured as part of the very british-led and british-run Geek Week?

http://24.media.tumblr.com/c02f201d8060404e29b109d4d44be4cf/tumblr_mra2oc5OdN1qdx54to1_500.png

Are you having an actual giraffe?

Well this was nice while it lasted, also episode 3 is just about the worst place to stop ever.

[Ramary]

I'm not saying just go and torrent the rest but I am saying there are ways and means.

Wink Wink

[Magus]

I am saying go and torrent the rest.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Hey you know back on page 1 when I said I don't watch anime? Well it turns out I'm actually a big fat liar, as I just started watching Attack On Titan. And I kind of wish I hadn't.

God damn this show is dark. It's like the Game of Thrones of anime.

[akaSM]

I watched Madoka, all of it in 1 night. I'm happy.

[Gregness]

I don't know if 'happiness' is the emotion you should be feeling after finishing that show...

[Ramary]

I don't know, the ending is more or less happy. Compared to the rest of the show at least.

[Overcast]

I cannot suggest to you youtube means of watching everything I suggest for the most part. I will provide the means though.

Check out Haiyore! Nyaruko-san a harem anime that features the elder gods of the Cuthulu Mythos as moe boys and girls. Accept Nyarlathotep as your waifu. (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDEQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymotion.com%2Fvideo%2Fxq0 ndd_haiyoru-nyaruko-san-episode-1-english-subs_fun&ei=1p0LUt_vHYGwyQH9l4HIDQ&usg=AFQjCNFZMzLVW3GaPA66zj09sOImXEF7-Q&bvm=bv.50723672,d.aWc)

On a more serious note I would strongly suggest watching Baccano! Alchemy, immortality, mobsters, and MURDER?! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dCqwmto7X0) Also probably the best American dub pretty much ever.

Also to help lighten the mood have Bokurano, a show where children must save the earth by piloting giant robots. Cool right? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0chEOeuDNAc)

Finally less known, but a personal favorite Survivor Kaiji, the story of the mother of all gamblers. Check it out. (http://nuklearforums.com/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk-GbIwqXC4)