anime advice, doozo
Recently the iconmaster asked for suggestions for filling his Netflix queue. I have a similar request, but one that's a bit more specific: I'd muchly appreciate recommendations regarding anime.
I'm already familiar with Miyazaki's work, I've seen Akira and Steamboy, and both Ghost in the Sheel flicks are under my belt. But beyond those titles my knowledge of the genre is pretty slim, and I'd really like to avoid wasting my time with stuff that's best left ignored. For example, I'd been wanting to get my hands on Virus Buster Serge for quite awhile, but once I did I was left wanting.
Oh ... Pokemon doesn't count!
Arigatou gozaimasu!
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katylava
on Jun 15, 2007
Cowboy Bebop... it's just... wow.
tamashii on Jun 15, 2007
SERIES
=====
Cowboy Bebop (has a conclusion: not an ongoing series - but your life will be complete having watched it)
Bleach
One Piece (good fun)
Samurai Champloo
Full Metal Alchemist
Naruto (also good fun - but don't watch the Funimation Dubs)
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Death Note (just now in anime form)
=====
MOVIES
=====
Grave of the Fireflies
Kite
Akira
Perfect Blue
jmnovak on Jun 15, 2007
Depends on what your tastes are, really. For example, one of my favorites is Fruits Basket, but that won't appeal to someone who particularly likes action (which seems to be what you're leaning towards in the list you cite). I will second the recommendation for Cowboy Bebop, though.
Basically, anime isn't a genre as much as a style (and even that's a misleadingly limited statement); you can find examples of every genre within it. So, what do you like?
If you like some gory action, maybe something like Hellsing; for a standard mature action series, perhaps Black Lagoon would be a decent recent example (only first disc of that out at the moment). For angsty post-apocalyptic, perhaps Technolyze or Ergo Proxy. Comedic action, I'm enjoying Black Cat. Could try Le Chevalier d'Eon for a historical action-drama (set pre-French revolution).
If you want to move away from the action genre, how about Revolutionary Girl Utena? That's a slightly surreal character-driven series...
My profile lists a few more possibles... there are so many, it's hard to choose! :-)
Jen on Jun 15, 2007
I don't watch but a close friend of mine is an anime junkie. His favorites are Naruto and Bleach, and he has mentioned one called "Blood" or something. I'm sure he would highly recommend the first two.
jmnovak on Jun 15, 2007
I'll second tamashii's recommendations for Samurai Champloo, Full Metal Alchemist, and the Perfect Blue movie. Bleach is somewhat lighter (not as tight a story), but it's great fun, I'm looking forward to the next disc of that...
jamuraa on Jun 15, 2007
I have to put in a third recommendation for Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. Both made by similar people, they are outstanding.
It may be surprising, but you can find anime to suit almost any taste - there are just an insane amount of them.
If you are into the fantasy genre at all, I have to recommend the best anime of all time IMHO: Juuni Kokki (The 12 Kingdoms).
If you liked Steamboy I can recommend Metropolis (not the old-time movie, the anime). If you like Ghost in the Shell the series Stand Alone Complex may interest you as well.
etherbrian on Jun 15, 2007
Thank you kindly, good people! A few titles you've mentioned are familiar, but I've never viewed them. As jamuraa mentioned, the choices are overwhelming. Thanks, all, for throwing a life preserver!
jmnovak on Jun 15, 2007
I would certainly agree with the recommendationo of 12 Kingdoms, though I might contest 'best of all time'... :-p For epic, serious fantasy, 12 Kingdoms is quite excellent, though. For lighter, comic fantasy, try Slayers. For a gorier fantasy bordering on horror, but with solid story & characters, try Berserk. Also consider Escaflowne for general fantasy adventure.
tamashii on Jun 15, 2007
Slayers: When you want to see the consequences of busty women and cliff crawling…
eury on Jun 15, 2007
Perfect Blue is clearly the choice.
VaaRDaMiRoFsHaDowgLaN on Jun 16, 2007
Probably a clasic and a great one i think is mm i think in english is mm the zodiac knights, its incredible, gotta love their armors!!1
ajennell on Jun 17, 2007
It's good to know I'm not the only anime freak arond here. Below are a few suggestions of the ones I like. I've marked the more girly ones with an * but don't let that get in your way. Most are hilarious and man perverted ;-)
A tip when using Netflix (or Blockbuster Online). Add only a few movies at a time or the first couple disks to a series. It's a real pain to get disk 3 of series B and disk 5 of Series C when you just finished disk 1 of series A... Hope you got that ^_^
Happy watching!
--SERIES--
-The Twelve Kingdoms (10 disks) - Seconding!
-Samurai Champloo (7 disks) - Seconding!
-Chobits (3 disks)*
-Trigun (8 disks)
-Midori Days (3 disks)*
-Last Exile (7 disks)
-Bastard (1 or 2 disks... can't remember) - Kinda leaves you hanging, but good.
-Record of Lodoss War (2 disks)
-Full Metal Alchemist (13 disks and counting...) - Seconding!
-Gun Slinger Girl (3 disks) - Haven't seen, but looks good.
-Gilgamesh (7 disks) - Haven't seen, but looks good.
-.hack//sign (6 disks)
-Scrapped Princess (6 disks)
--MOVIES--
-Nausica of the Valley of the Wind (must see!)
-Castle In The Sky
-Howl's Moving Castle
(I like Miyazaki's work, can't you tell?)
Classicsmiley on Jun 17, 2007
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Ruroni Kenshin...
dgtlb on Jun 17, 2007
Oh my youve got many suggestions.. here are mine.. in no order but..
Series:
-Samurai Champloo
-Last Exile
-Basilisk
-Cowboy Bebop
-Project Lain
-Speedgrapher
Movies:
-Akira
-Fist of the North Star
-Ninja Scroll
-Grave of the Fireflies
-Spirited Away
-Wicked City
bleh thats all thats coming to mind @ the moment.
Debi on Jun 25, 2007
Heres some fun and strange ones we've bit into lately:
Scrapped Princess
Midori Days
The Twelve Kingdoms
Fruits Basket
Chobits
I think my daughter got the rest (ajennell above)as you can tell, we have a blockbuster online account and a netflix account. Blockbuster gives you a free movie for each movie you return through the store instead of the mail, but they don't have the diversity that other mail movies clubs have.
BTW Anime is contagious! Even at my advanced age of 40 something Ive really gotten into them. Its also something we watch as a family, 40+ 20+ and teens together!
louiemctool on Jun 26, 2007
i can't believe no one has mentioned these:
1) Neon Genesis: Evangelion
2) Trigun
3) Saber Marionette J.
check this link if you want to know more:
http://www.adultswim.com/shows/
p.s.: it's the cartoon network website...
Hoshichan on Jun 26, 2007
I would highly recommend Record of Lodoss War (the OAV series, I'm not as hot about the TV series), Trigun (funny!). I'm into different genres than most cited here, but I love Tsubasa Chronicle (first DVD just out over here), Full Moon wo Sagashite, Sailor Moon (ahem), Card Captor Sakura and anything Miyazaki. Maison Ikkoku is hilarious. I love Fruits Basket, but again, that's not quite action-packed.
tamashii on Jun 26, 2007
NG:E? C'mon. Even Kubrik wouldn't be able to decipher that series. I felt so jaded and unfulfilled when I saw the last episode.
jmnovak on Jun 26, 2007
Ah, but you need to watch the movies to get the full NG:E effect... :-p
Nokiko on Jun 26, 2007
patlabor, blood, neon genesis evangelion, ranma, nanako, orange road. love hina to name a few
Nokiko on Jun 26, 2007
dont forget spirited away, won an oscar for best animation
davethegr8 on Jun 26, 2007
Cowboy Bebop is the shit.
Trigun is also pretty great.
The only thing that I can add to what has already been said is a little known series called Elf Princess Raine. It was never finished, and consequently there are only two episodes. However, it's so amazingly brilliant that you won't be disappointed. It's one of those silly/wtf series, but awesome. In the spirit of Excel Saga, except without all the stupidness.
jmnovak on Jun 26, 2007
Raine is definitely one of those classics that should have been continued. Another with a similar spirit (and same result, killed after two eps) is Dragon Half.
Kiesh on Jun 26, 2007
Death Note~ It's a twisted, but cool anime. Theres a live action movie of it out there, too. ;)
khursten on Jun 26, 2007
It really depends on what you want to see.
== Masterpieces ==
(Breathtaking animes)
1. Monster (beats Death Note anytime. Haunting suspense Anime. Brilliant work!)
2. Bokurano (still on-going, but brilliant story, nonetheless)
3. Samurai Champloo (funky samurai story)
4. Neon Genesis Evangelion (It is not the story, but the experience of Evangelion that should be felt)
5. Paprika (Trippy, but that's just Satoshi Kon)
6. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl who leapt through time. Moving)
7. Whispers of the Heart (Moving.)
8. Planetes (Space drama. Interesting)
9. Spirited Away (Nice~)
10. Initial D (because cars rock!)
=== Comedy ===
(Because you can never get too serious ^^v)
1. Gintama (samurai CRACK)
2. Keroro Gunsou (frog CRACK)
3. Ebichu (hamster CRACK)
4. Lucky Star (schoolgirl CRACK)
5. Damekko Doubutsu (animal CRACK)
6. One Piece (pirate CRACK)
7. Jungle wa Hale Nochi Guu (island CRACK)
8. Konjiki no Gash Bell [Zatch Bell] (book CRACK)
Honestly, if you want more crack than this, your head 'could' explode. lol. My brain has turned to mush already by watching this.
But yeah. These are nice things to watch. :3 I haven't even started the chick animes yet! lol. You can start with Lovely Complex. :3
tamashii on Jun 26, 2007
@Kiesh: How far are you into that series (I know the anime just recently came out)? The manga went on for a while but… well… it ended without actually ending. It should have stopped at… that ending, but it doesn't. Great series overall, though.
edbrannin on Jun 26, 2007
I'll second recommendations of:
* Fullmetal Alchemist
* Trigun
* Last Exile
* Scrapped Princess
I really liked Naruto too, but it moves almost as slow as Dragonball Z. Kekkaishi (currently being fansubbed) is a faster-moving alternative, and really the only currently-fansubbed show I bother to watch these days.
That said, I anti-recommend these:
* NG:Evangelion -- super messed-up. People tell you to watch it because misery loves company.
* Perfect Blue & Kite -- lust and senseless violence. And if you're the sort who goes for that in action movies, seriously, this is a different and more sinister brand. Stay away.
As for non-anime Japanese stuff, look into Akira Kanazawa films like Seven Samurai, and especially a 1997 film called Shall We Dansu.
blythebabe on Jun 26, 2007
I love anime too! Currently watching Noein. Very interesting storyline. A mix between present day and future world. The special effects are fabulous. Nice music too.
tamashii on Jun 26, 2007
whoa whoa whoa there, edbrannin. Let’s not be too hasty with the anti-Kite (& Perfect Blue) talk, hehe. There is some sexual tension/violence there but it only reinforces the direness of the situation.
If you didn’t like Léon (The Professional), then sure, Kite may not tug your string. If you aren’t really into psychological thrillers, then Perfect Blue may match your palette. However, if those kinds of movies appeal to you, go see them, but be aware that blood, violence and mature content are present. This ain’t your Grammy’s Saturday morning cartoons, you know.