Beowulfthehunter Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 While I do not claim to be some huge otaku, nor am I a hater of things anime, it is just not something that interests me. I mean if I have to drop 100 bucks on a series with no chance to rent it I am just not going to take a plunge. As of late one of my freinds has been nice enough to lend me things to watch. Thus I am trying to get more into it. As it stands right now I have seen most of what I like to call "Cartoon Network Anime" Things like Tri-Gun (Enjoyed it), DBz (I will lump Naruto in here to...leave it), Cowboy Bebop(Enjoyed), Inuyasha(eh..kinda bored by it), FMA(loved it), Ghost in the Shell SAC(Totally Loved it...etc. I have also borrowed a bunch Here is what I liked:Witchblade, Elfen Lied (the nudity was very unsettling), Appleseed (both versions), Gunslinger Girls I was neutral about Full Metal Panic and Fumofu (although I enjoyed Fumofu) a bit more. I hated Vexille, Aika What I like is hard science mecha with an actual plot and direction, not just mindless fights. I do not like Henti or ecchi elements...(sorry panty shots and things like that leave me uncomfortable). I loath what I like to call "face explosion anime" where the characters seems to show extreme emotion in a stupid and cartoony way. Not a fan of any anime based in HS or Colleges. So what else should I see? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 I've always liked Bubblegum Crisis (both versions) and Dirty Pair (but may meet your "uncomfortable" criteria). Neon Genesis is good right up till the last episode (then tanks IMHO) but it is about 13 year old mecha pilots, so you might not like it either. I'm not up on anything current as the wife just can't get into anime so these suggestions are all at least 8 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DjinnWing Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Akira is just classic as well as Vampire Hunter D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRigger Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 The patlabor series had more mecha and plot, was pretty good. Think you might like those. AD Police is a pretty good Bladerunner ripoff - I liked the movies, didn't like the series. Project A-Ko is sort of fun and pokes fun at a lot of anime. I seem to remember enjoying Megazone 23 Samurai-7 and Blue Submarine No. 6 are also pretty good (they love numbers in anime series) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattmcl Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Go here. Everything you ever wanted to know, with top 100 lists of all sorts. http://www.animenfo.com/index.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars Porsenna Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 I really like Samurai Champloo, though it is very different from your run-of-the-mill anime Chanbara. Another pretty cool series I picked up is Planetes...a sort of hard SF show about orbital...garbage men! Evangelion is still a fantastic series, even though there are a few "uncomfortable" moments by your definition (though IIRC most are not schmaltzy like the gratuitous fan service in some other series'). Project A-ko should only be seen in subtitles. The dub is aweful and not even close to as funny. The dub producers were deliberately not very ambitious... Damon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruunwald Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Akira is just classic as well as Vampire Hunter D. Yes, if you like the high-tech stuff (or any animation in general) Akira is a must. VHD is great, but particularly the sequel, Bloodlust, which is one of the best, in my opinion. Neither Akira or D are mecha, but both are pretty good sci-fi, with nice machine designs. Blood is also good sci-fi/vampire stuff. You didn't mention seeing the Ghost in the Shell movie. Again, must-viewing. Heavy stuff, and there is a little mecha in it. I never went for mecha much personally, but the obvious mention goes to Gundam. My kid loves that in all of its (too) many forms. I did like Betterman, which was a sort of supernatural Gundam ripoff. Personally, I like the dystopian and steam punk stuff. Metropolis, Howl's Moving Castle, Wicked City (that might have too much nudity for you), Cyber City, that sort of thing. Being averse to the goofy-faced thing, you might enjoy other Studio Gibli stuff like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. That stuff is much more subtle and grounded in realistic emotions. If you can find it, check out an anthology flick called Robot Carnival. It featured segment with a battle between two nineteenth-century mecha made of wood and run on steam. There's a bit of goofiness in it, but it's pretty awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattmcl Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Just a word of advice about the nudity- you will likely run into that, and it's often hard to tell if a movie goes that route or not. Elfen Lied would be very tame in comparison to some of what you can find in anime. DO NOT rent any of the Legend of the Overfiend series as they are probably the worst I've seen, bordering on Hentai. That link I mentioned provides reviews so you can do some research before you rent or buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kheprera Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Tenchi Muyo is okay and when they leave Earth is fun. The off-titles can be really funny like when they poke fun at Microsoft. I adore Bubblegum Crisis. Great anime and great music. I even have the music CD. Lupan III is funny and witty. I highly recommend the Castle of Cagliostro and any other Lupan you can get your mitts on. It's not mecha, but the artwork isn't over-the-top cute anime and the main character is a total hoot. Project A-Ko is hard to find now and we were lucky to pick up the box set when we did. It pokes a LOT of fun at anime. I *still* think those aliens are men... Akira is a little dark and an older one, but is very good. Robotech. If you like mecha, you can't go wrong with this title. Cutey Honey has some nudity but can be good for a laugh. Wicked City is awesome, but only if you're into that sort of stuff. Phantom Quest Corp will cure that "I need some dark ghostly magic" fix. Someone mentioned Vampire Hunter D. This is dark but fun. One of the first anime's I saw but it was ruined because it wasn't dubbed or subtitled and we had someone translating from a script (and his Japanese wasn't very good) and the copy was horrid (VHS) and full of static (copy of a copy of a copy thing). Whatever you do... don't do Fushigi Yuugi. It's a soap opera that sucks you in, eats your brain, and replaces it with horrors that should not be spoken of. While the first half of the series might seem okay (except for a lot of whine and cheese) the last half will revolt you and the ending will break you in half and leave you asking "why did I do it?" It cannot be unseen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRigger Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Project A-ko should only be seen in subtitles. The dub is aweful and not even close to as funny. The dub producers were deliberately not very ambitious... Damon. Oh! Yes.. totally! 100% Usually I go for sub over dubbed, personally - but this one it really makes a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRigger Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Akira is just classic as well as Vampire Hunter D. If you can find it, check out an anthology flick called Robot Carnival. It featured segment with a battle between two nineteenth-century mecha made of wood and run on steam. There's a bit of goofiness in it, but it's pretty awesome. I saw this in the theater, it was FANTASTIC :) I had forgotten about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastman Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Just a word of advice about the nudity- you will likely run into that, and it's often hard to tell if a movie goes that route or not. Elfen Lied would be very tame in comparison to some of what you can find in anime. DO NOT rent any of the Legend of the Overfiend series as they are probably the worst I've seen, bordering on Hentai. That link I mentioned provides reviews so you can do some research before you rent or buy. "Legend of the Overfiend" aka Urotsukidoji (or something similar) was one of the first of the Hentai brought to North America. You will want to avoid them if you aren't interested in tentacle pr0n. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggeye Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Based on what you've identified as stuff you like - These are all titles I liked enough to buy and I think fit your taste. Try: Witch Hunter Robin (modern scifi with a supernatural twist) Ghost in the shell 2nd Gig (2nd season basically) Ghost in the shell the movie (be aware the 1st movie comes after the TV series in the timeline but was made first so you will see an age difference in the animation styles) Ghost in the Shell 2 - Innocence (Visually stunning - no dub available, subtitle only and again comes after the 1st movie in the timeline) Death Note (currently being aired on Adult Swim but you REALLY need to see this from the start) Karas (this was a short 6 episode series that is currently being sold as 2 movies Prophecy & Revelation) Spriggan (this is a good saturday afternoon popcorn flick) Read or Die (the OVA's) Read or Die the Tv series Outlaw Star (the Fore runner to Cowboy Bebop) Vampire Hunter D (older movie but the story still holds up - more of a Fantasy title) Vampire Hunter D - Bloodlust (newer shinier better - This one really is the shiznit - more of a lost tech scifi title) Highlander - The search for Vengence (the same studio that did Vamp D Bloodlust also did this - Starts medieval - switches to scifi) Rah Xephon - Mecha - less angsty than Evangelion Geobreeders - This is fun comedy/action/scifi. Serial Experiments Lain - This is some smart "pay attention" scifi. Kinos Journey - Awesome series with moral issues and lessons learned type of feel. The Place Promised in Our Early Days - movie - the artwork here is amazing Voices of a Distant Star - short film - scifi/mecha - but so frickin powerful I cried (this is a good thing - this shouldn't be missed). Rune Soldier - Fantasy/action/comedy Chrono Crusade - Fantasy/action Peacemaker - Medieval japan - swordfighting action/intrigue/and some comedy Berserk - Hardcore Fantasy - Lots and Lots of Blood - not for the squeemish - couple of nude sceens as well. Gilgamesh - Modern/super natural/with a very Goth feel to it. Noein - Scifi - recently was aired on either FX or scfi channel in the "AniMonday" slot Last Exile - Scifi. Titles to look out for (I have seen most of these but they havent been fully Dubbed Yet. Black Lagoon - Modern - South Asian Sea pirates - (one of the main characters is a Laura Croft clone but with a much nastier disposition) Ergo Proxy - SciFi/cop/mystery Gundam 00 - This is How Gundam Should Have Been Done!!!!! (basically a complete rewrite of the Gundam Universe) And my current Favorite: CLAYMORE - Medieval/Fantasy - (Think Klockenbooty with Big two handed swords) Can't wait for Funimation to finish Dubbing this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beowulfthehunter Posted August 5, 2008 Author Share Posted August 5, 2008 Thanks for the imput. I have seen Akira...sorry not impressed I have no idea what the hoopla is about. I have seen most things related to GitS and SAC. Outlaw Star loved it. I think Bubblegum Crisis is going to be the next one I look into. I am also wondering if they have another volume of Gunslinger Girls...I have liked it a great deal. Seen both Vampire Hunter Ds, thought it was ok. The same goes for Witchhunter Robin. I want to try and track down Trinity Blood as I only caught snipets on Cartoon network. Death Note looks interesting, I am wondering if the live action movie is any good? I may try and check things out at Gen Con when I go this year, that is how I got turned on to Witchblade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayin Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Some very good suggestions there. A lot of those I've seen, and most of the rest are ones I want to see! Two others I'll throw in that are on my personal favs list and not already mentioned: Battle Angel Alita El Hazard El hazard has some goofy moments, but I absolutely love it. My husband and I started watching it late night, figuring we'd get thru a couple episodes, go to bed, and finish in the morning. By dawn, we were watching the last episode. Battle Angel just kicks much butt. I want a rocket hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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