Let's talk about Anime!

[Vega Van-Derveld]

I'm looking for some recommendations of Anime that is worth watching. They don't really show any anime on any TV stations over here, so I haven't seen all that much. Recently, though, I decided to rent a couple of DVDs, just to see what I'm missing. So far I've seen:
Blood: the Last Vampire (really enjoyed this, shame it's so short)
Macross Plus: The Movie
Neon Genesis Evangelion (just the first 5 episodes)
Hellsing (just the first episode!)
I have more of Hellsing that I'm going to watch, a copy of Vampire Hunter D waiting for me, but other than that, I am open to suggestions. What would you consider "must-see"? Ideally I'd like movie recommendations, as it's more cost-effective to watch a couple of movies than to try and rent six or seven box-sets worth of a TV show - but I'm open to both.

[Fiona Devlin]

You know how big my collection is. :lol

As far as MUST SEE goes, I have to place 'Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind' at the very top. :)

[Ryan Pode]

Princess Mononoke was real good. I also found parts of Rurouni Kenshin to be enjoyable.

[Shawn]

Studio Ghibli rarely disappoints, so go with Spirited Away (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245429/) and Princess Mononoke (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119698/).
Originally posted by Vega Van-Derveld
I have more of Hellsing that I'm going to watch, a copy of Vampire Hunter D waiting for meI'm not sure which one you're referring to but, if you don't already have it, check out Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216651/). It's really good.

Perfect Blue (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156887/) was a pretty good thriller.

Dead Leaves (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439533/) is really, really insane and fun.

As for series, you should really check out Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. The closest comparison I can make is if someone made an ongoing show based off the first Matrix.

Finally, if you want a show that overwhelmingly cute, try to get ahold of Azumanga Daioh.

PS. The Macross Plus 4-part OVA is way better than the 'movie', IMO.

[Vega Van-Derveld]

I've seen Spirited Away already, but Mononoke I will check out.

There's also some stuff that I'm curious about, having heard of it so many times on the net. What do you think of:

- Serial Experiments Lain
- Battle Angel Alita
- Outlaw Star
- Cowboy Bebop
- Read or Die

[Fiona Devlin]

Battle Angel Alita & Cowboy Bebop = GREAT STUFF!!!

Serial Experiments Lain looks very interesting, but I haven't gotten my paws on it yet.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Escaflowne (http://imdb.com/title/tt0138919/) is easily me favorite anime - the perfect melding between mecha and knights.

Cowboy Bebop (http://imdb.com/title/tt0213338/) is just fantastic, and some of the episodes had me laughing pretty hard.

Yoko Kanno did the music for both of these series', and each soundtrack is simply awesome.


Also, Steamboy (http://imdb.com/title/tt0348121/) is a good treat. The animation is great, and the dub is actually very well done. Brought to you by the director of Akira; and even if you didn't like Akira, Steamboy is vastly different and won't disappoint.


Battle Angel Alita was also good, though I liked the manga better ^_^;

Outlaw Star is a fun one too; Charley made me watch the whole series and I enjoyed it alot.

[Vega Van-Derveld]

The annoying thing is that Cartoon Network ran Cowboy Bebop a couple of times on it's short-lived CNX channel, but that was back before we had Sky Plus - which meant that I couldn't record it, and couldn't get control of the TV when it was being aired :( Now the channel is gone and there doesn't appear to be any Anime showing on any of the hundreds of channels we have available.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

CBBB and Escaflowne were both made into movies as well. Both were great, though the Escaflowne movie was structured a bit differently than the series, and seems to me to be more of a different angle/view of the setting. Both are awesome, though, and the Escaflowne movie has the greatest intro I've ever seen in a long time.

[Fiona Devlin]

Escaflowne is Beautiful. :)

Sadly, Battle Angel never got more than 2 episodes.

[Shawn]

Serial Experiments Lain is a great series, but it's mostly http://dark_god7.home.mindspring.com/emot/emot-words.gif. You really have to be in the right mood to watch it, or it'll be boring. It's a real headtrip, too.

I really haven't liked too many new series like Cowboy Bebop or Hellsing. I don't know why, but I just haven't gotten into them.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Berserk (http://imdb.com/title/tt0318871/) was pretty good, but the last episode made me want to tear my hair out in frustration. Ak and I finished the boxed set in two days I think, and the ending killed me.

But, all was redeemed due to - yes - the outtakes.

[TheHolo.Net]

I'll toss a recomendation for the three Full Metal Panic series.

Full Metal Panic! (24 eps)
Full Metal Panic FFumoffu (12 eps)
Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid (13 eps)

[Mandy with an I]

If you have the first Vampire Hunter D movie, it's :thumbup This thread only reminds me how much anime I *don't* watch :x I prefer manga.

Cromartie High School
Gunslinger Girl
Tsukihime
GTO

[Sanis Prent]

Gunsmith Cats is awesome. Lots of good research and material, and the story is good to boot. :)

Gunslinger Girl is probably the one of most technically well researched firearm piece I've seen either live action or animated, with the exception of Michael Mann movies like Heat or Collateral. The guy who made that thing went to the nth degree. The only drawback is that its a horribly depressing series and if you're not into the gunplay like I am, its just really sad.

[Fiona Devlin]

Gunsmith Cats is cool.

and since we've crossed into Kenichi Sonoda territory, gotta toss Bubblegum Crisis into the mix. :D

[Droo]

There's is very little anime I have seen but there is so much I would love to see, so this a great thread; pretty much how I asked for a list of Must See war movies when I started my collection. Keep the recommendations coming, guys! :)

On a related note, here is a trailer for Gedo Senki or the Legend of Earthsea from Studio Ghibli:

http://www.ghibliworld.com/gedo_senki_second_trailer.wmv

I'm praying it has nothing in common with that televised catastrophy. The books are incredible and I think they would look incredible in anime.

[Vega Van-Derveld]

It's overwhelming how much of this stuff there is! I suppose you just have to try and find your niche and go with it. I am tempted to join my university's Anime society at the start of next year, to see if some of the other members can hook me up with some DVDs to borrow.

[Fiona Devlin]

Originally posted by Droo
There's is very little anime I have seen but there is so much I would love to see, so this a great thread; pretty much how I asked for a list of Must See war movies when I started my collection. Keep the recommendations coming, guys! :)

On a related note, here is a trailer for Gedo Senki or the Legend of Earthsea from Studio Ghibli:

http://www.ghibliworld.com/gedo_senki_second_trailer.wmv

I'm praying it has nothing in common with that televised catastrophy. The books are incredible and I think they would look incredible in anime.

OH MY GOD!!!!

OMG!!! OMG!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!

:: does the ghibli dance :: :crack

I've got to see this!!! :D :cat

[Mandy with an I]

Originally posted by Vega Van-Derveld
It's overwhelming how much of this stuff there is! I suppose you just have to try and find your niche and go with it. I am tempted to join my university's Anime society at the start of next year, to see if some of the other members can hook me up with some DVDs to borrow.

I joined the Anime Society at my sisters' university -- it's a great way to see different anime and find what you like/dislike. The only Ghibli movie I've seen was "Naussica and the Valley of the Wind", at the Anime Society :)

Another anime I used to watch a lot was "Naruto". The fight scene animations are well-done and the fan-subs are great, but I'd steer clear of the dub version that's been dumbed down for kids. :x

[Vega Van-Derveld]

I've watched 6 episodes of Hellsing so far and I'm really enjoying it :D I managed to find Volume 1 of The Stand Alone Complex in the sale at HMV today, and I have a rental of Volume 2 of Evangelion coming in the post :)

[Morgan Evanar]

Evangelion: probably totally overrated. IMO it falls apart terribly twoard the end of the series and I hated most of the characters thoroughly.

I loved Cowboy Bebop and enjoyed Hellsing. Still need to see Ghost in a Shell: Standalone.

[Freddie Tibodeaux]

What little I've seen of Stand Alone Complex is pretty good actually. It's like an animed Law & Order or something.

I couldn't get into Hellsing for the same reasons I couldn't get into Trigun. Its just too campy.

[Fiona Devlin]

Here's the show that made me fall in love with anime, and still tops my list of the best anime tv series ever. :D

<a href=http://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/1166-gatchaman/>Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman</a>

Gatchaman Links -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatchaman
http://www.chronicsite.com/gatchaman/


And another favorite from my High School days in Anime Club. :lol

<a href=http://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/903-ranma-1-2/579/#intro>Ranma 1/2</a>

Ranma 1/2 Links -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranma_1/2
http://www.furinkan.com/ranma/

[Fiona Devlin]

More Classics. I wish Cartoon Network would run more shows like this on Adult Swim :cat

<a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVGlh1OrE-4&search=dirty%20pair> Dirty Pair</a>

Dirty Pair Links -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Pair
http://www.elenorecity.com/home.html


<a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqOcKUHUI8A&search=harlock>Captain Harlock</a>

Captain Harlock Links -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Harlock
http://www.cornponeflicks.org/harlock/harlockmain.html


<a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwC57NOwcqg&search=Urusei%20Yatsura>Urusei Yatsura</a>

Uresei Yatsura Links -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urusei_Yatsura
http://www.furinkan.com/uy/

[Park Kraken]

My sister used to be the president of JACO (Japanese animation club of Orlando) and still helps to run the JACON convention. So I've seen, a ton of anime, too much to keep track of by far. When I go up to see my sister, they have litterally thousands of DVDs of movies and anime, and they have several hard drives full of downloaded materiel from bittorent, etc.

Right now I'm watching a good anime series on Adult Swim called Samurai Champloo. Hellsing is good, but too short IMO, only 13 episodes total.

I've seen some of Cowboy Bebop, a good series.

I used to be a Rourini Kenshin die hard fan, my favourite character was Saitoh. There is a storyline running for about twenty episodes or so, the main enemy is Shi-Shi-O, that's probably the best of the whole series by far.

I loved Escaflowne, but that was a long time ago.

Gundam Wing is a good series, I've seen the first several episodes, and I like it.

What type of animes are you interested in? Action, comedy, sexual comedy, etc?

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

The first part of a movie called 'Memories' by the fellow who did Akira. One of my favorite little videos.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xoXcjKvJXyM&search=anime%2C%20phantom%20of%20the%20opera

[Vega Van-Derveld]

I wish that Hellsing had lasted longer :( I guess I am the opposite to you, Charley, because I am really getting into Trigun too! I'm surprised, because it is camp and goofy, but I like it.

I quite like Stand Alone Complex, the animation is really crisp and a pleasure to watch - but the plot leaves me wanting a little. The episodes I've watched seem to end rather abruptly.

[Shawn]

Originally posted by Vega Van-Derveld
I quite like Stand Alone Complex, the animation is really crisp and a pleasure to watch - but the plot leaves me wanting a little. The episodes I've watched seem to end rather abruptly. Keep watching. It all starts to tie together. :)

[Droo]

I feel bad for not bringing this to your attention earlier, Jenny, but I hope you have Film Four. If so, you'll be pleased to know that there's been a Studio Ghibli season ongoing. It started last Friday, I believe. They did seven days of the dubbed versions and today, they started with the subtitled versions.

Princess Mononoke was on today, subtitled, so I'm assuming they won't be showing that again during the Ghibli season but I'm sure it'll appear on Film Four again soon. Tomorrow, at 17:05 there's My Neighbour Totoro and at 2:05, there's Grave of the Fireflies.

I loved Totoro, I think I'll watch it again tomorrow and Grave of the Fireflies is meant to be excellent from what I've read.

Here's the week's listings for Film Four anyway:
http://www.ghibliworld.com/news.html

So far, I've seen Laputa: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbour Totoro, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Porco Rosso, and Princess Mononoke. They're all wonderful films, I'm so pleased to be able to see them all together like this. My favourite has to be Nausicaa, I have to go with Kitty on this one.

Unfortunately, Miyazaki's newer films, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, won't be featured in the Ghibli season. So tonight I hopped onto Amazon and ordered them, along with Nausicaa and Laputa. And thus, my Studio Ghibli collection/obsession is born. :uhoh

Edit: Jenny, do you know what british channels, if any, show the likes of Cowboy Bebop and Hellsing?

[Dasquian Belargic]

Luckily we have Freeview, so I should be able to watch some of these. I say luckily... our signal is incredibly finicky. Usually it's at its best during the day though, so I should be able to watch My Neighbour Totoro at least.

As for any channels showing Cowboy Bebop etc, I couldn't tell you. As far as I'm aware, there aren't any showing t at the minute. A good way to check up on that kind of thing is to look up the various shows on Wikipedia - they usually have listings for which channels bought the rights to airing the show. I know that once upon a time Cartoon Network, when they had their short-lived X channel, did air Cowboy Bebop, but outside of that... Do let me know if you find anywhere showing them :)

[Droo]

Grave of the Fireflies finished about ten minutes ago and I have to say, I'm still choking up now just thinking about it. That film made me bawl my eyes out and the next time someone tries to tell me that these films are only cartoons, I will tell them to watch Grave of the Fireflies. Without doubt, one of the most moving films I've ever seen.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I didn't get to see either of them. It was raining today, so that ruled out any possibility that the Freeview box would get a signal :(

[Droo]

Well, take my advice: in the future, watch Grave of the Fireflies then My Neighbour Totoro right afterwards. You'll need a good cheering up, believe me. I hope the reception cleans up for you tomorrow, Castle in the Sky is loads of fun: the pirates alone are worth a viewing. :)

[Dasquian Belargic]

Did anyone else watch The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya? I've just discovered it (thanks SA) and am finding it rather amusing!

Likewise I am a growing fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender ^_^;

[Videl]

*thinks and or looks back at her anime*

let's see DearS, Those Who Hunt Elves, Burn Up Excess(though not a great ending) and Excel Saga...

and one most people like though it's very bloody one, Elfen Lied....

[Neutron]

Avatar does look pretty neat. It's been well recommended.

[Yog]

Like everyone say, all of Miyazaki's movies / studio Ghibli stuff is a great introduction to anime. Neon Genesis Evangelion is also a good entry, if you're looking for a TV series.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Avatar does look pretty neat. It's been well recommended.

They've just started showing the second series over here, and it is neat. The whole idea of 'benders' (what an awful name) isn't like anything I've ever seen in a cartoon before and although it's obviously aimed at a fairly young audience I still really enjoy it and look forward to the next episode.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Death Note is my latest discovery, again thanks to SomethingAwful. The premise is that a high school student finds a notebook dropped by a death god. If you write someones name inside the note, then they will die. There are all sorts of rules surrounding it, like if you write details within a certain amount of time you can specify when/where/how they die. The student/main character Light is decides that he is going to kill all of the criminals and rule over the world as a new, just God. The series, so far, is following the investigation into the deaths, as Light tries to hide his identity and outsmart the police. It's great :D

Have been watching Kanon too, which is a bit more light-hearted.

I also just rented Nausicaa Valley of the Wind :)

[Droo]

Death Note sounds very interesting but please let us know what you thought of Nausicaa, I'm with Kitty in that it is my favourite anime.

[Ryan Pode]

What's some good anime on Vampires, apart from Vampire Hunter D?

[Dasquian Belargic]

Blood: the Last Vampire and Hellsing are the only other two I've seen with vampires.

[Ryan Pode]

That'll do, thanks. It's for a paper.

[Park Kraken]

Do Hellsing. There are only thirteen episodes in the series, but it's awesome none-the-less.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Death Note sounds very interesting but please let us know what you thought of Nausicaa, I'm with Kitty in that it is my favourite anime.

I know this is a very late reply but I have to say, honestly, that I didn't find Nausicaa as good as I had hoped. I enjoyed it, yes, but it didn't appeal to me as much as Spirited Away. That aside, I haven't really been watching an anime lately, besides Death Note, which continues to surprise and engross me 26 episodes into the series.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:( pout It's still my favorite though.

[Park Kraken]

I think I've seen all 167 episodes of Inuyasha now, in both Japanese and American, along with the four movies. Now I'm working my way through the Manga.

[Yog]

I know this is a very late reply but I have to say, honestly, that I didn't find Nausicaa as good as I had hoped. I enjoyed it, yes, but it didn't appeal to me as much as Spirited Away. That aside, I haven't really been watching an anime lately, besides Death Note, which continues to surprise and engross me 26 episodes into the series.

Agreed. I'ts good, but I prefer most of Miyazaki's other work.

[Damien E. Dervish]

Myself, I'm in love with the Fullmetal Alchemist series. My wife, not a big anime fan, fell in love with it. Stand Alone Complex was and is still quite great, and I'd love to see more of the Stand Alone Complex: Second Gig. Samurai Champloo gets another noteworthy mention for it's style. Blood Plus is a great series from what I've seen so far. The one Vampire Hunter D movie I saw was awesome. Avatar is pretty good. Inuyasha has become immensely popular, and even though I'm seeing some of the dumbed down versions of Naruto, I can say that I've actually enjoyed the small number of episodes that I've seen, though I wasn't overly crazy about it at first.... And from the very little bit I've seen, give Darkstalkers a chance. It was quite good from the two episodes I've seen... Unfortunately, I don't think any TV stations run it now, so you might have to find tapes or DVDs....

[Zereth Lancer]

Myself, I'm in love with the Fullmetal Alchemist series.

I do must confess that I greatly enjoyed Fullmetal Alchemist. The concept alchemy they use is so grand I just could not help but like it. The dialogue is not what I'd call the best, but the action/fighting scenes were always good. I enjoyed how the series builds up characters, and then lets them die. Sure, no one wants their favorite character to die, but I think any anime where no one dies is a huge waste of time. It just gets boring when all the characters are invincible all the time. The ending, however, made we want to punch the screen. The fact that the movie that sequels the anime ended very much the same way made me even more upset.

I highly recommend it.

[Park Kraken]

I watched the 26-episode Zipang series recently, and I would say it was very well done, and an excellent anime to anyone who would be interested in trying something new.

That, and I'm about to watch the new Hellsing anime coming out, I have the first three episodes on disc now, I just haven't gotten around to watching them yet.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I'm watching Code Geass - it's about some future version of Japan, where 'Britannia' has taken over and renamed Japan as 'Area 11'. They have giant robots called Project Knightmare, and the main character is a hell of a lot like the main guy from Death Note, so I'm loving it :mneh

[Droo]

I'm an addict of Bleach and I've recently got Peter into it, too. Very entertaining stuff!

[Wei Wu Wei]

Great Teacher Onizuka is by far my favorite Anime.

Trigun is usually a staple for most Anime fans.

If you want something light and funny, watch Ranma 1/2. It's one of my favorite animes that i don't have to think about.

If you're going to watch Naruto, and like that kind of stuff, watch Dragonball Z. For some people, they're just about the same thing.

Rurouni Kenshin was interesting, but I never saw a lot of it.

Deathnote: If writing things in a very secret manner gets you going, see this. I was non-plussed by it. The most intense thing about it was a kid writing in a notebook.

[Crusader]

I am surprised that nobody mentioned the first 13 volumes of Record of Lodoss War here and the TV series. This show really got me into anime. I think they got the whole Fantasy atmosphere right in this one.
Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo are the best shows that you can watch because they score high in music, action and fun.
I know that the Matrix movies sucked after the first one but I really enjoyed the Animatrix.
I thought the Basara Anime was kind of cool but it did not get finished.

[Ilias Nytrau]

I just recently watched La Corda d'Oro. Now, it might not be what you're looking for, but it did it for me. It made me want to play my violin again.

I definitely agree about GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka). Worth it on both the anime and manga fronts, IMO.

Currently, I am watching Glass Fleet, and will probably watch Ikki Tousen soon so I can say to a friend of mine that I finally got around to it. >_<

[Dasquian Belargic]

Deathnote: If writing things in a very secret manner gets you going, see this. I was non-plussed by it. The most intense thing about it was a kid writing in a notebook.

I was more interested in all of the scheming that went on, as the characters tried to out-wit one another. As the series goes on, the way that the main characters power is tested and developed is pretty interesting, as he has to come up with new and ingenius ways of using it... I can't really explain it though, it's just something you have to watch a couple of episodes of, I think.

I like Code Geass for the same reasons - it's all about cunning, strategy, trying to outwit an opponent who could potentially catch you at any moment. Also, there is this whole moral element that Death Note had, struggling with what the perfect world is, who should get to decide, etc.

[Park Kraken]

I had received and watched Part 1 of Season 1 of Fullmetal Alchemist and would like to add my recommendation to other people to watch this good series.

Another good series I watched recently that runs for less than fifty episodes is the Scrapped Princess series. A very very good series that I would recommend for anyone to watch.

Also, the latest Macross series coming out is very good as well.