Official Anime Recommendation Thread
By
Aether_Crash,
Posted on: 2009-10-04 18:33 in Comic and Hero-Villain Culture
Just got done watching Samurai Champloo id liked it a whole lot better minus the rap .Id still give it a +1 just because it swings wildly from serious to funny.How many anime has a samurai throw out his back in a brothel?
The animation style reminds me of Afro Samurai but at times the animation is not as slick as afro.
Haven't actually finished Gundam 00 yet. But I +1 it. Been watching a lot of MS Gundam, first series, though.
Not sure if I already mentioned it in this thread, but I picked up the R1 discs (two, in one DVD case) for the first season of Hidamari Sketch some time back.
The premise: Slice-of-life of four girls in the arts stream who live in an apartment near their school. Very cute artstyle.
The good: I love this show. It's fun, happy, and is done in simple bright colours that give it a sense of being a sort of art project. Not the sort of Art that is about Criticism and Messages and all that, but the sort of Art that a kid might do, splashing paint around because it's fun.
The bad: The DVDs are pretty basic. The transfer looks a little poor, although I don't know if that's because of the original source. It's not a high-budget, stylish release, which I think is a pity for such a good show.
Current main:
Schrodinger's Gun, Dual Pistols/Mental Blaster, Virtue
Avatar: Becky Miyamoto from Pani Poni Dash. Roulette roulette~
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It was also animated by Shaft so I can dig it. Keep an eye for when the other seasons get released. I think its on its third or fourth now.
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Originally Posted by DKellis
Not sure if I already mentioned it in this thread, but I picked up the R1 discs (two, in one DVD case) for the first season of Hidamari Sketch some time back.
The premise: Slice-of-life of four girls in the arts stream who live in an apartment near their school. Very cute artstyle. The good: I love this show. It's fun, happy, and is done in simple bright colours that give it a sense of being a sort of art project. Not the sort of Art that is about Criticism and Messages and all that, but the sort of Art that a kid might do, splashing paint around because it's fun. The bad: The DVDs are pretty basic. The transfer looks a little poor, although I don't know if that's because of the original source. It's not a high-budget, stylish release, which I think is a pity for such a good show. |
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Third season, yeah. I've been keeping up with it, especially since New Characters are present.|
Originally Posted by ketch
It was also animated by Shaft so I can dig it. Keep an eye for when the other seasons get released. I think its on its third or fourth now.
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(One day we must attempt to flood a page with our Pani Poni Roulette Roulette.)
Current main:
Schrodinger's Gun, Dual Pistols/Mental Blaster, Virtue
Avatar: Becky Miyamoto from Pani Poni Dash. Roulette roulette~
11 pages of this thread and not a single person has mentioned Revolutionary Girl Utena?
And you call yourselves anime fans. 
RGU is a fantastic and surreal fantasy(?) series that deconstructs just about every magical girl trope ever. It starts out as a lighthearted magical girl story but, in the last half of the show, descends into a very dark tale. The animation is excellent and actually IMPROVES as the story goes on, which is a rare occurrence. Seriously, just watch it.
There is also a movie, but I haven't seen that yet.
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That one scared the crap out of me a little, lol...
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Originally Posted by Mr. DJ
digging Witch Blade
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My Lego Models http://www.flickr.com/photos/30369639@N07/ lemur lad: God you can't be that stupid... I'm on at the same time as you for once, and not 20 minutes into it you give me something worth petitioning?Lady-Dee: Hey my fat keeps me warm in the winter and shady in the summer.
Ok, I simply must make a recommendation for a particular anime we found skimming channels one night. However, it is not for those that wish high paced action. Spice and Wolf, at its core, is a classic representation of the "slow build" love story. It has some very smart dialogue and I daresay you will learn quite a bit about being a merchant. For those of you with a significant other it is definitely one to sit and watch together.
Oh, and one more thing before I depart, "Aroooooo!"
Heroman in my opinion is a an excellent blend of Old School Superheroic action / adventure and new school shonen / giant robot awesome.
In short Stan Lee knows Anime and its AWESOME!!!
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I'd go furry for Horo. Yeah, I said it. Wanna fight about it?|
Originally Posted by LadyGrimrose
Ok, I simply must make a recommendation for a particular anime we found skimming channels one night. However, it is not for those that wish high paced action. Spice and Wolf, at its core, is a classic representation of the "slow build" love story. It has some very smart dialogue and I daresay you will learn quite a bit about being a merchant. For those of you with a significant other it is definitely one to sit and watch together.
Oh, and one more thing before I depart, "Aroooooo!" |
In other news, Crunchyroll has picked up the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. So, if you're one of the 5 people that hasn't seen it yet I suggest you get started.
Ichiban Ushiro no Daimao - so far a very fun series.
We've got Code Geas: Lelouch of the Rebellion up already. I'm curious if that's including Code Geas: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 or not? R2 is sort of a second season, and sort of a separate anime. In either case, I'd like to point out its existence, and I will claim that R2 is the better of the two.
R2 most certainly comes after the other in the timeline of the world (specifically, one year after), but it can stand on its own feet as a series in medias res. However, if you watch the end of Lelouch of the Rebellion and immediately start on Lelouch of the Rebellion R2, most of the first episode will be thoroughly confusing. (Confusion should be cleared up by the end of the episode, though.)
Aside from that, I'll toss up a +1 for Blood: the Last Vampire, though I prefer the series that came after it, Blood+. Also a +1 for Read or Die (and similarly, don't forget R.O.D. the TV). +1 for Ouran High School Host Club, Excel Saga, Moon Phase, and Lupin III. +1 to Ranma ½ and to Fushigi Yugi: the Mysterious Play.
Finally, I'd recommend adding Renkin 3-kyū Magical ? Pokān (Magical Pokaan for short)*. 12 episodes (each consisting of 2 15-minute "spells") plus 3 similar length OVAs. Best description would be a comedy poking fun at magical girls. Very little continuity between the "spells", much less the episodes. The cast consists of:
- Liru, a werewolf who turns into a puppy at the sight of anything resembling the full moon... except the actual full moon.
- Pachira, a vampire concerned with her small bust size.
- Yuuma, a witch who is completely incompetent except when she's sick.
- Aiko, an android whose technical specs would make a floppy disk look good.
- Keimie, an invisible woman who... doesn't do very much.
* The question mark in the full title isn't a failing of your computer, it's actually part of the title.
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/36641/My-Little-Exalt
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Ergh...that's all down to executive meddling. It was supposed to just be a straightforward second season, but they got a better timeslot for it compared to the first season, and as they thought they'd end up with a lot more viewers who hadn't seen the first, they had to do all the recapy stuff and that idiotic first episode.|
Originally Posted by Fleeting Whisper
We've got Code Geas: Lelouch of the Rebellion up already. I'm curious if that's including Code Geas: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 or not? R2 is sort of a second season, and sort of a separate anime. In either case, I'd like to point out its existence, and I will claim that R2 is the better of the two.
R2 most certainly comes after the other in the timeline of the world (specifically, one year after), but it can stand on its own feet as a series in medias res. However, if you watch the end of Lelouch of the Rebellion and immediately start on Lelouch of the Rebellion R2, most of the first episode will be thoroughly confusing. (Confusion should be cleared up by the end of the episode, though.) |
Ah well, even if it does get really ridiculous later on, it's still great fun. Except for Ep09. YOU FAIL CHESS FOREVER!!!!
As for recommendations, here's a few things I've seen recently:
Noir and Madlax - Often known as the "girls with guns" series, Noir and it's spiritual succesor Madlax do indeed feature girls/young women, and they do indeed have guns. However, they are not the fanservice and explosion ridden romps you'd expect. Instead, they're deep complex stories with some fantastically developed characters. Plenty of mystery and conspiricies, a touch of mysticism (more pronounced in Madlax) and some excellent Woo-inspired gunfights (though there's no blood..). Not always an easy watch, but very very rewarding when you get into it.
Narutaru (Shadow Star) - Narutaru starts off pretty innocently. A young girl is on holiday when she finds a strange but cute creature and they become friends. The girl soon finds other people with similar creatures, some of who want to fight using them. But don't be put off but all the cute happiness, as its gets worse. Oh hell it gets worse. Essentially, this does to the Mons genre what things like Evangelion and Bokurano did to giant mecha.
Heroic Age - In the words of TVTropes: "20% Gurren Lagann, 30% Galactic Heroes, 15% Godzilla, 200% Dragon Ball!!!" Add in a dash of Greek Mythology and you've got something awesome
Puni Puni Poemi - A parody of the magical girl genre, as done by the team behind Excel Saga. Need I say more?
I've been watching Asura Cryin' on Crunchyroll. Its an action anime with magic, demons, ghosts, mecha, cyborgs and a big mystery all taking place in a high school. Its weird and entertaining, what more could you want?
"I used to make diddly squat, but I've been with the company for 16 years and have had plenty of great raises. Now I just make squat" -- Me
Pediatric brain tumors are the #1 cause of cancer related deaths in children.
Sengoku Basara - apparently TWO EPISODES A WEEK 
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Finally!|
Originally Posted by ShoNuff
Sengoku Basara - apparently TWO EPISODES A WEEK
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Love this show. SO MANLY!
Head of TRICK, the all Trick Arrow and Traps SG
Part of the Repeat Offenders
Still waiting for his Official BackAlleyBrawler No-Prize
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Ooo... I'll have to check this out from home later.
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Originally Posted by ShoNuff
Sengoku Basara - apparently TWO EPISODES A WEEK
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Goodbye may seem forever
Farewell is like the end
But in my heart's the memory
And there you'll always be
-- The Fox and the Hound
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More consistent animation. Seven Arcs often have trouble with the middle episodes of their anime in terms of proper art, which they try to fix in the DVD releases. They're not always successful.|
Originally Posted by Eislor
I've been watching Asura Cryin' on Crunchyroll. Its an action anime with magic, demons, ghosts, mecha, cyborgs and a big mystery all taking place in a high school. Its weird and entertaining, what more could you want?
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Asura Cryin is no exception. I do like Misao's initial relative lack of angst despite being a ghost. Also, Shuri being Shuri.
Current main:
Schrodinger's Gun, Dual Pistols/Mental Blaster, Virtue
Avatar: Becky Miyamoto from Pani Poni Dash. Roulette roulette~
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The biggest problem with Shadow Star Narutaru is that it seems to be amazingly difficult to find. I have three of the DVD volumes, but I never did find Volume 2. Dark Horse stopped publishing the manga series in the US well before the end.|
Originally Posted by PhroX
Narutaru (Shadow Star) - Narutaru starts off pretty innocently. A young girl is on holiday when she finds a strange but cute creature and they become friends. The girl soon finds other people with similar creatures, some of who want to fight using them. But don't be put off but all the cute happiness, as its gets worse. Oh hell it gets worse. Essentially, this does to the Mons genre what things like Evangelion and Bokurano did to giant mecha.
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And it is a depressing series. As you say, things get worse and then more worse and then still more worse, to the point that it's amazing the main character gets out of the anime series in one piece. (And I hear that the anime doesn't get as bad as the manga eventually does...)
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Yep, the manga gets far far worse. |
Originally Posted by Mirai
And it is a depressing series. As you say, things get worse and then more worse and then still more worse, to the point that it's amazing the main character gets out of the anime series in one piece. (And I hear that the anime doesn't get as bad as the manga eventually does...)
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The same guy who wrote it did another series called Bokurano (which has also been adapted into an anime but I don't believe it's available in America yet). It takes the same attitude and applies it to the mecha genre. The result is something that makes Evangelion look like Carebears.
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Gah. You're right. That sounds intensely depressing.|
Originally Posted by PhroX
The same guy who wrote it did another series called Bokurano (which has also been adapted into an anime but I don't believe it's available in America yet). It takes the same attitude and applies it to the mecha genre. The result is something that makes Evangelion look like Carebears.
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I think I would pass on that one.
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Originally Posted by PhroX
Yep, the manga gets far far worse.
The same guy who wrote it did another series called Bokurano (which has also been adapted into an anime but I don't believe it's available in America yet). It takes the same attitude and applies it to the mecha genre. The result is something that makes Evangelion look like Carebears. |
This scares and intrigues me at the same time...
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It's worth checking out. Not something that you can really enjoy, but fascinating none-the-less.|
Originally Posted by ShoNuff
This scares and intrigues me at the same time...
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To clarify, Bokurano and Narutaru aren't particularly violent or such, instead they're more about putting children in extreme situations - situations that would break most adults - and seeing how they're affected in a realistic manner.
**** There's a couple of spoilers in what I'm gonna say, but they're all from pretty early on in it so they shouldn't destroy the series for you. Stop reading now if that bothers you. ****
In Bokurano's case (much like Evangelion, which is in many ways a very similar premise; deconstructing the mecha genre and investigating what would actually happen), it's saving the world with a giant mecha that only the children (15 of them) can pilot. The first time they pilot themselves it results in civilian causualties in the thousands (IIRC), as well as the death of one of the kids. The second time culminates with the first big reveal, delivered in the most devastatingly offhand manner ("oh, whoops, did I forget to tell you?"): the mecha is powered by their life force - every time it's used, one of them dies. And then it gets worse. No, really, thats the high point.
I think for me what makes it so much worse than Evangelion is that in the latter, the kids are already f***ed up. In Bokurano, they're, for the most part, pretty normal, yet, over the course of the series, they are systematically destroyed.
Just got done watching the Sands of Destruction anime
fun short series
digging Witch Blade