Anime Recommendations

[Spanky The Dolphin]

What, are you making fun of me?

Huh, bitch? HUH?!

j/k

If you think that's something, I can get choked up just thinking about the final parts of The Iron Giant.

Yes, movies can make me cry. And I'm fucking proud of it.

[Jadeite]

Escaflowne

It's kind of a knights in armour mecha show with excellent combat scenes, particularly towards the end. It also has some really mind-blowing plot twists and really complex characters.

Score by Yoko Kanno. That there should be reason enough to see it.

It's also kind of shojo-ish, and the main character is a girl. There isn't really any nudity, but some parts can be pretty graphic when it comes to violence. But if you've got a soft spot for mushy stuff, you'll enjoy it.

Metropolis

Made in 2001. Written by Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira), directed by Rintaro (Galaxy Express 999), based on the 1940s manga by Osamu Tezuka, the God of Manga. All I can really say is that this film is amazing, and must be seen.

I didnt care much for Escaflowne, they didnt use enough of the villian, or the supporting cast, and they had no explanation for a lot of things.

Metropolis on the other hand, greeaat movie.

[Patrick Degan]

I too have gotten into Cowboy Bebop and Outlaw Star (hard going on that one at first, but after a while it became quite entertaining). But you really should check out CB.

So far, I've discovered three of the Mobile Suit Gundam series and all of them seem quite good. I'm really getting interested in Gundam 0083 presently.

The Professional: Golgo 13.

Vampire Hunter D.

Macross 84: Do You Remember Love —really much better than the original TV series version and infinitely better than the Robotech bastardisation. Some very unlucky souls have seen this one only in the form of the horribly kiddified Clash Of The Bionoids.

Lensman.

The original Galaxy Express 999 movies and Arcadia Of My Youth —all featuring ultimate hero space pirate Capt. Harlock.

Gargoyles —the original Disney series, not the Saturday-morning abortion which followed it. The artwork is a little inconsistent in some episodes, but it has a good storyline and characters, romance, and you'll have a much better appreciation for Jonathan Frakes after hearing him voice the suave, sophisticated, and ultra-devious David Xanatos.

Star Blazers —yes, it IS a bit dated now. Still, I have a soft-spot for this series because it was the first thing which got me seriously interested in Japanimation (which I had previously given up on in disgust after one episode of Battle Of The Planets), and the later Yamato movies are actually good-looking animation-wise. The "alternate timeline" movie Arrivederchi Yamato is a bloodier and more doom-laden version of the Comet Empire storyline from SB season two.

And, last but not least, Speed Racer —the ORIGINAL. The most violent cartoon show a kid could love short of Johnny Quest.

[lgot]

With beebop already in your list...

If you like the idea of mechas you must watch Macross Plus. You do not need to know about the previous series to watch, enjoy and understand this one. Rocks a lot.

There is one mixing sci-fic and magic stuff, good stuff in my opinion, Silent Mobius.

Evangelion. You must watch it, to hate or love it. But at least watching you will be able to pick one of the sides.

If you go for Comedy, Ranma 1/2 is short of a classic. The animation is old but it goes in the hate/love thing also. Bastard is fantasy/comedy and if you ever have listen to end of the 80´s - begining of 90´s heavy metal bands you will enjoy the gags about it. Tenchi Muyo is a comedy with sci-fic that have 3 different versions in anime. Watch first the best one, the OVAs then the 2 tv series. There is room from everything there. El-hazard, the OVAs are also a mix of fantasy and scific. get this one also

Now in the names already said
Ninja Scroll is a classic. horror and samurai adventure. Kenshin is a bit comedy also - but the OVAs are more darker - with a great hystorical setting in the japan, awesome. Record of Lodoss War is not well animated but its the best tolkien like anime ever.

and if you have run from such naive and pure things, Card Captor Sakura is in my opinion awesome.

[Patrick Degan]

Yes, by all means, Tenchi Muyo should have been on my list as well. I wasn't too keen on Tenchi In Tokyo as much as the others but it has its moments in the later episodes. My favourite was Tenchi Universe.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

I'm currently downloading Tenchi Muyo! GXP (Galaxy Police Transporter), the new TV series that's set in the OVA continuity.

And they're starting to gear up for the Third OVA, to be released sometime in the next several months.

[Parallax]

I recommend Macross Plus, probably the best installment of Macross to date (as opposed to Macross 7 which was a big pile of bollocks).
Yes, it has mecha in it but it's done very well and is widely regarded as being one of the best pieces of anime to come out for some time.

Grave of the Fireflies is one of saddest films you will *ever* see. I've seen *ex-marines* cry at the ending.

Some other titles I recommend;
Record of Lodoss War, Dragon Half, Vandread, Wings of Honneamise, Nadesico, Macross: Do you remember love.

Robotech is NOT an anime; it's the complete bastardisation of Macross (and two other series) which Macross fans tend to hate with an undying passion. You'll find few groups that hate something more than Macross fans and their hatred for Robotech.

Do not watch Dragonball - it's nothing but mindless garbage filled with a bunch of characters who all possess less brains than three week old roadkill. Two dimensional characters, a plot a dead parrot could follow, some of the worst voice acting in years, and pacing which defies all logic. Generally a friggin horrible series.

[lgot]

Yes, by all means, Tenchi Muyo should have been on my list as well. I wasn't too keen on Tenchi In Tokyo as much as the others but it has its moments in the later episodes. My favourite was Tenchi Universe.

I prefer the original OAV series. The history is better, there is Tsuname, Washu is a more complete character, so is Ayeke. And there is the Juraian royal family. They rocks.
Of course there is many things that come out of Tenchi, the 3 movies - i do not like any of them very much, too much out of any cronology , the galaxy police and Pretty Sasami series, which are good as comedy goes.

And I forgotten to mention also, Graves of Firefly is really a sad but very good movie. People should watch this one also.

[lgot]

amazing, I just remembered another anime to put in the list ^^

If you like some sci-fic and perhaps a bit of David Lynch (Twin Peaks, BLue Velvet) stuff:
Experimental Project Lain. Anyone saying that Eva is hard to understand have not watched this one.

I said i remembered another...but just Perfect Blue come in my mind also. A freak-policial anime, with some failure in the characters but with a hard and interesting policial plot. Good movie to watch also.

[Shaka[Zulu]]

my tastes are for the following, in no particular order of preference -- yes, I know this is way longer than requested:

first off, the big mecha flix... what can I say... I just love em!

Macross
Macross Plus
Macross II
Evangelion
Patlabor

then, the small mecha/cyberpunk flix... I really wanna build me a hardsuit!

Bubblegum Crisis
Bubblegum Crash
Bubblegum Crisis 2040
Ghost in the Shell
Appleseed

next is the space opera/action division

Cowboy Bebop
Outlaw Star

the typically underappreciated 'reality' shows

Golgo 13
Riding Bean (I want that car!!! rather, a SUV version!!!)

and last, but by no means least, the fantasy/adventure/comedy fare

Ninja Scroll
Princess Mononoke
Ranma 1/2 (a recent addition to the list... swore I would never watch it, but then did -- can we say INSTANT addiction!!!!!!)

[Tsyroc]

I too have gotten into Cowboy Bebop and Outlaw Star (hard going on that one at first, but after a while it became quite entertaining). But you really should check out CB.

So far, I've discovered three of the Mobile Suit Gundam series and all of them seem quite good. I'm really getting interested in Gundam 0083 presently.

The Professional: Golgo 13.

Vampire Hunter D.

Macross 84: Do You Remember Love ?really much better than the original TV series version and infinitely better than the Robotech bastardisation. Some very unlucky souls have seen this one only in the form of the horribly kiddified Clash Of The Bionoids.

Lensman.

The original Galaxy Express 999 movies and Arcadia Of My Youth ?all featuring ultimate hero space pirate Capt. Harlock.

Gargoyles ?the original Disney series, not the Saturday-morning abortion which followed it. The artwork is a little inconsistent in some episodes, but it has a good storyline and characters, romance, and you'll have a much better appreciation for Jonathan Frakes after hearing him voice the suave, sophisticated, and ultra-devious David Xanatos.

Star Blazers ?yes, it IS a bit dated now. Still, I have a soft-spot for this series because it was the first thing which got me seriously interested in Japanimation (which I had previously given up on in disgust after one episode of Battle Of The Planets), and the later Yamato movies are actually good-looking animation-wise. The "alternate timeline" movie Arrivederchi Yamato is a bloodier and more doom-laden version of the Comet Empire storyline from SB season two.

And, last but not least, Speed Racer ?the ORIGINAL. The most violent cartoon show a kid could love short of Johnny Quest.

I liked The Professional: Golgo 13 as well. The follow up wasn't as good.

I also like Akira, the Crying Freeman series, and after a couple of viewings The Fist of the North Star which is very violent.

I agree about Gargoyles. I have the original "movie" and it is pretty good.

[Typhonis 1]

Robot Carnival yhas a good Mecha one in it called a Tale of Two Robots Two Steampunk robots fight in Japan . TANK POLICE is good.and for Anime RPG depends theres Big Eyes Small Mouths and there Mekton Zeta these are papaer and pen games

[Sam Or I]

Recently I have gotten into Beserk. I am waiting on Episode 4.

I got into it from the Video game on the Dreamcast. Which you can get a better feel for if you know the series. What can I say, I am an addict. It deals with some deep shit, like child molestation, homosexuality, murder love, power, loyalty, betrayal, pride. Cool series. Like I said the 4th DVD comes out this november, and I cannot wait.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

I've never thought much of Ninja Scroll. Especially since it's actually called Jubei the Wind Ninja.

[Shaka[Zulu]]

Doh!!! how could I forget Gargoyles???!!!??? Oh, thats right, it was Disney -- although a good % of the animation was done by japanese anime studios -- so I dont really see it as anime per se, rather a well done Disney series... one of the very few where the themes are serious in nature. I was in hell when they went and dumped Greg Weissman(?name) and moved the show to saturday mornings, which effectively killed it (down here in S. Florida it was always getting pre-empted by saturday morning football pre-shows).

now I follow the fanfic... nuff said.

[Parallax]

I was likewise very ho-hum about 'ninja scroll'. Pretty darn average all things considered.
(and gargoyles is most certainly not anime ... and disney is still the work of the devil)

[SylasGaunt]

Also Yu-Yu Haksho is decent(What other show kills off the main charater in the first epsioded)

Excel Saga.. 3 times at that (four if you count Excel's concience blowing away her bad side with a magnum)

Excel Saga is something to watch if you want lots and lots of laughs, and variety (they keep changing the genre they're spoofing with each episode so far). The real question should be what other show kills off the writer twice in the first episode

[Connor MacLeod]

One Word: Hellsing.


Watch the 13 eps, and you'll be asking for more. (but the Manga is better)

[weemadando]

God, I cried for ten minutes after first watching that.

DAMN :shock:

Hmm when I got shot I sniffed for all of thirty Seconds

When I was six and maced myself(Quite a funny story but sufficet it to say I put it in my eyes and up my nose) I cried for a minute and a half

When I was 12 and broke my foot and leg in sixteen placed I cried for 30 seconds tops(Shock is your friend belive me, espcily when you get that bad of a break 1/2 mile from your house in the woods)

Dude, there is a difference between *ouch* crying and emotional crying. Last time I fully cried from an injury was about 5 years ago when I lost all the skin and meat from knee (you could see a good square inch and a bit of bone) in a mountain biking accident.

Earlier this year when I had a fucker ruck my knee into oblivion (couldn't walk for three days afterwards) during a rugby game I finished the match (another half an hour) and then calmly got some ice onto it, some painkillers into me and passed out for a day and a bit.

Emotional crying I did today when I heard my grandfather had had a stroke and might have to move off the family farm with noone to take it over from him...

[Kelly Antilles]

I'm currently downloading Tenchi Muyo! GXP (Galaxy Police Transporter), the new TV series that's set in the OVA continuity.

And they're starting to gear up for the Third OVA, to be released sometime in the next several months.

You're kidding? In the actual OVA continuity?? Let me know how it is. I like Muyo! but found the others rather campy.

[godzillahorn]

I really liked Fushigi Yugi and Excel Saga is an excellent series if you like comedy and parodies. If you want movies, I would recommend any of Hayao Miyazaki's.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

I'm currently downloading Tenchi Muyo! GXP (Galaxy Police Transporter), the new TV series that's set in the OVA continuity.

And they're starting to gear up for the Third OVA, to be released sometime in the next several months.

You're kidding? In the actual OVA continuity?? Let me know how it is. I like Muyo! but found the others rather campy.

As far as I can tell, it is (I'm only up to episode 7, BTW). As you know, there are currently three main continuites (excluding the Pretty Sammy OVA and TV series):

OVA (OVA 1 and 2 + Manatsu no Eve*)
TV1 ("Tenchi Universe" + both TMiL films)
TV2 (Shin Tenchi Muyo!/"Tenchi in Tokyo")

Both TV continuities are closed, so there are no new series or films for them.

So far, I've found the following evidence that places it in the OVA:
1. Galaxy Police have a jurisdiction of ~60% of the Universe (fits with the OVA, as it seemed to imply a larger amount of territory.)
2. The Masaki House is the large blue-roofed one that appeared in OVA2.
3. Characters refer to incidents that occured in the OVA.
4. OVA-only characters appear in GXP, such as Sariyo (sp?).

So far, the series is pretty good. Like Shin Tenchi, it has a greater emphasis on humor than the other series. Unlike Shin Tenchi, many of the gags have excellent execution, and so far no one has gone out-of-character (something ST was notorious for). The jokes are also quite funny, and sometimes hillarious.

Add to that the overall excellent animation quality (at least equal to the first TV series, and as good as Love Hina's) and good use of CGI and special effects.

(Those who've said that they disliked Tenchi in Tokyo shouldn't feel alone: it's almost universally hated by Tenchi Muyo! fans.)

*Some fans say that because Kiyone is in MnE, it's some kind of OVA/TV1 mix, but I think that's absurd. Considering everything else in the film points to it being in the OVA (The larger blue house, Yosho's past, the appearence of Tenchi-ken, Tenchi's Wings of the Light Hawk...), I say that it's part of it.

[Larz]

Hmm, this could get long... but I'll try not to ramble:

Cowboy BeBop: If you haven't heard of it, shame on you!
Trigun: The crazy pacifist Vash followed by two insurance girls and
a line of trouble that follows, a great comedy with some great
emotion thrown in
Neon Genisis Evangelion: Some love it, some hate it, but most have
have watched it... Shinji annoys me
Oh My Goddess: get the mangas, get the movie (hell, it even made me
cry), get the OVA (though it leaves Belldandy looking a bit
shallow, all around its good)... get them NOW
Tenchi Muyo: Classic, a wonderful work of comedy and one of the better
love triangle stories I've seen
Tenchi Muyo Movies: Get Tenchi muyo in love 1 and 2, try to avoid 3
it skews the entire universe... but 1 is great and 2 is lovely
Tenchi Universe: if you really like tenchi get this one and stop... do not...
I repeat.... DO NOT get Tenchi in Tokyo... that was pure crap!
Battle Angel Alita: get the mangas, great story, great art, very bloody...
never seen the series though so can't help you there
Akira: a classic, do the manga and the movie
Princess Mononokie: beautiful
Gundam Wing: I prefered Gundam wing and Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz
over many of the others, admitadly I still have yet to see some of
them, but I'm working on it
Drag-on Ball Z: some would say a must have, I say skip it... gets really
annoying when it takes Goku 20 episodes to kill 1 bad guy
Iria: I liked it, some don't
Vampire Princess: a dark story, quiet nice
Gunsmith Cats: Great manga... never seen the series
El Hazard: The magnificant world for the mangas, OVA (can't think of sub-
name for it right now) for the anime
Battletech: Macross series- the only one that wasn't made for selling
products
Macross Plus: overall very good
Inu-yasha: I like it, both the series and the manga
Seraphic Feather: Good manga
3x3 Eyes: Great manga, havn't seen the series
Outlaw Star: its a good series, never fully got into it until the 2nd watching
Lodoss Wars: very nice
Ghost in the Shell: this is an allright anime, very series but I liked it still
Armitage 3: I liked it, some may not
Those Who Hunt Elves: A great humor anime: an actor, a martail arts
master who loves curried rice, a gun fanatical teenager, a
elf sorceress who is turned into a dog all on a quest to strip elves!...
who could ask for me!
Golden Boy only if your into guterminded humor (hence I own both DVDs)

I was just wondering if anyone has seen Jin-Roh... I was wondering if its worth it to see it. Well, thats all I have. Ciao.

[Kelly Antilles]

*looks at Spanky*
[Mr. Burns] Excellent [/Burns]

[Rubberanvil]

First season of Fushigi Yuugi is pretty good, though imho the second season is a lot of wasted potenical.

Small selection of animes I recommand are

801 TTS Airbats

Mahou Tsukai Tai

Mahoro Matic

Mahou Senshi Riui

Legend of Galactic Heroes

Metal Skin Panic: Madox-01

Magical Girl Pretty Sammy

Android Ana Maico 2010

Devil Hunter Yohko

Mamotte Shugogetten

Master of Mosquiton

Maze

Mazinger Z

Melty Lancer

Mermaid's Forest

Minky Momo

Miracle Girls

Moldiver

Mysterious Cities of Gold

Sailor Moon the original Japanese version not the US hack.

Chobits

Card Captor Sakura not the Nelvana's Card Captors hack.

Adventures of Kotetsu

Akihabara Denno Gumi

Project A-Ko movies

Angelic Layer

Assemble Insert

Bakuen Campus Guardress

Legend of Basara

Bastard

Battle Angel

Berserk

Betterman

Birdy the Mighty

The U.S. Rendition's subbed version of Black Magic M-66 not the Manga Ent. hack dub.

Blue Gender

Boku no Marie

Boys Be

Oniisama e

Bubblegum Crisis OVAs

AD Police OVAs not the new TV series

Cat's Eye

Kodomo no Omocha

City Hunter


Yoma/Curse of the Undead Yoma haves a much better story, action and character development then Jubei the Wind Ninja.

Detonator Orgun

Devilman

Devilman Lady

Di Gi Charat

Dirty Pair

Doukyuusei

Dragon Half