Anime & manga

[nettle]

I want to try to read some manga or watch some anime films but it is completly new subject for me.

can you give me some suggestions? some interesing titles?

 

[Talysia]

Well, for a start, there are animes and mangas of all genres, so finding one you like is fairly easy, and there are a lot of animes based on manga. All you have to do is pick a genre.

My own personal favourites are Rurouni Kenshin, which is now both a manga and an anime. It tells the tale of a reformed assassin in post feudal Japan, who has sworn never to kill again despite the troubles that keep haunting him from his past as he tries to live peacefully with new found friends. It actually has a bit of everything - action, comedy, romance, and samurai drama, so it has a lot of fans already.

Another one I would definitely recommend is Cowboy Bebop. This features a group of misfit bounty hunters as they travel through the solar system looking for the next job - and fighting over the cash. It's got a lot of great elements to it - comedy, action, sci-fi drama - and the music is excellent. The manga doesn't follow the anime, but rather provides a collection of standalone stories that don't require any knowledge of the series. Definitely one of my favourites.

What I've read/seen probably hasn't even scratched the surface of what's out there, but here are a couple of my suggestions:

Trigun - sci-fi action comedy-drama featuring a good natured gunslinger looking for something from his past.
Escaflowne - a lavish fantasy series, with a girl from modern Japan who finds herself in an unbelievable world, where her hobby - fortune telling - is actually real there,
Ghost in the Shell - a sci-fi crime drama, featuring a group of both human and cyborg detectives tracking down all sorts of crimes.

There are lots to choose from, and I'm sure that a lot of people will post their own preferences and recommendations here. Hope I've been of some help!

 

[nettle]

Thanks for help. The inforamtion you have given me i have found useful and now i know where to start with my new inerest.

 

[Talysia]

No problem. Glad to help.

 

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Manga: I read vol1 of Rurouni Kenshin recently and thought it was cool aswell.My fave manga series are....

Battle Royale:A group of kids from the same class are forced to take part in a reality T.V show where they must kill each other if they are to survive.Its kind of like a cross between Lost and Lord of the Flies.An interesting and wide diversity of characters to appeal to eveybody.I would have to mention however that it is extremely violent and sexually explicit so if youre a younger reader Id steer clear

Dragonball:This is a really cool manga series that I think has an excellent blend of action(mostly martial arts)and humour.Youve probably heard of dragonballZ,well this saga takes place before the events of DBZ and follows the life of Son Goku(half boy-half monkey) as he grows up

ANIME:Spirited Away is an excellent starting movie for any budding anime fan.As are any of the Sudio Ghibli films

 

[Talysia]

I would definitely agree with Spirited Away. Other Ghibli/Miyazaki films to look out for include Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbour Totoro and Laputa: Castle in the Sky. It's been said that Miyazaki is the Japanese Disney, but I don't think you can compare the two.

 

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Yeah I agree.Miyazaki creates more intellectual animated movies than disney although at the same time they are not so philosophical that the meaning of the movie escapes the understanding of a child.

There are also the classic 'must-sees' in anime aswell such as Ghost in the Shell,Akira,Ninja scroll ect.

 

[DeepThought]

I dont read nor watch manga/anime but a close friend of mine is a fanatic, so I pick up bits and pieces now and then during his usual avid forays...for manga you could perhaps try Akira and Ghost in the shell both of which I've watched the animated movie of.

For anime:

Bleach - which he regards very highly, a lot of battles if you like that sort of thing, but probabaly low in themes/idea/philosophy thingies...
Naruto - it seems (here in maldives atleast) everyone is crazy about this
Ninja Schroll
Flame of Recca
DragonballZ - one of the earliest ones, of course, but probably would be fair to say it influenced a the bucket loads that came later...

Cheer's, DeepThought

 

[Lith]

Fullmetal Alchemist. It's got a pretty good mix of action, angst, drama, poignancy, irony, physical humor, philosophical musings, etc.

Bleach is also good, though I haven't read all of them- there's A LOT of fighting, but he's a great artist, especially after about the tenth one.

I've heard real good things about Rurouni Kenshin, but I haven't got into it myself.

 

[Overread]

hmm:
Anything by Studio Ghibli: Spirited Away; Princess Mononoke; Laputa Castle in the Sky; Nausica; Howel's Moving Castle --- and many more - all are great films both beautifly animated, well written and also (for convenience) well dubed in english

Ghost in the Shell: a classic film and one of the best - an action film that also possesses a deep and well written storyline - a must see

Cowboy Bebop: Possibly one of the greatest anime - a true must see series (there is also a film, but don't see that until you have at least 10 episodes under your belt - otherwise it won't make as much sense).

Wolf's Rain: a newer anime series to the market (least in the UK) but a really great sereis - great animation and a gripping - if sometimes slow in the middle - storyline.

Akira: in the same group as Ghost in the shell - and older anime that is a must see for its quality and story - one you can watch again and again

well that is it for me - I am new to anime - but I have seen the above and it is amazing stuff

 

[TheManager]

Why hasn't anyone mentioned:

Samurai Champloo only started watching this recently but it shows alot of promise.

and for manga I'd have to recommend:

Gunslinger Girl: The anime wasn't as good in my opinion. This is one of my favourite manga.

 

[Overread]

hmm Samurai Champloo is in my to check out list - from what I have heard it is a very good anime (made by the same group that made cowboy bebop if I am not mistaken)

 

[Lith]

It's not a bad anime. I think there's a manga version of it out now too, but I haven't seen it.

 

[Talysia]

Samurai Champloo is one I've been meaning to have a look at for a while now. I think I'll have a look one of these days.

 

[Connavar]

Samurai Champloo has a main character who is almost cooler than Spike himself


I would recommend Hajime No Ippo most. The anime first than the manga cause the manga has been going strong for 19 years ! Its very realistic manga about a boxer life. Its no Naruto full of magical punches and speed.

Anime is 79 eps and manga is over 80 (!)VOLUMES now .

 

[Talysia]

Almost cooler than Spike? I'll definitely keep my eyes open for it, then.

Wow, Hajime No Ippo sounds like an interesting read, too. I'm always glad of threads like these - they throw up all sorts of interesting suggestions that I might otherwise overlook.

 

[DeepThought]

Has anyone watched Fate Stay Night? Is it any good? A friend just lent it me, all 24 episodes of it . I dont usually watch Anime, but I've just put down my copy of Watchmen for the night after feeling a little bit sleepy...So I'm probably going to watch some before I turn in.

Cheer's, DeepThought

 

[Apoc]

Anime? For series-Cowboy Bebop, Melancholy of Haruri Suzumiya, Samurai Champloo, AzuManga Daioh, Fullmetal Alchemist, Death Note, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell etc etc...they're all good...Bleach and Naruto are amazing but they require serious commitment-Naruto's first series is 200episodes long, the new series Shippuuden is on its 43rd episode-absolutely amazing series, great cast of characters and wonderfully developed...Bleach is on episode 164 at the moment-its a great show but again...i wouldn't reccomend starting unless you have the time for the long haul heh coz trust me you'll get addicted, such a good show

For films, I agree with whats been said already, Miyazaki is the master, Princess Moninoke and Spirited Away his best i think...Akira is the other major one-i watched this 15 years ago and it blew me away, its been one of my favourite films for all that time and i've seen it uncountable times now heh oh and for amazing breakthroughs in animation and a cool dark short movie, check out Blood the Last Vampire.

For manga, my favorite is Claymore (which had a short anime run aswell) but its an aquired taste i think, its pretty violent...another favorite is Blade of the Immortal, thats a good series....Highschool of the Dead is a fun zombie apocalypse manga that should soon be made into an anime...and finally Bleach-such goodness heh

i've still got in my anime and manga collection- elfen lied, basilisk, ruoroni kenshin, record of loddoss war and Hellsing still to get through, heh no rush...got a naruto and bleach episode a week, a claymore and Highschool of the Dead chapter a month and bleach chapter a week also. So i'm good

 

[thiagoleal]

I would tell you to try Death Note... it's my favourite by now. It's different from any other I've ever read coz uses supernatural elements in such realistic way. I've never seen like that. Mangás use to be very fancy... this is really different.

The same about Gantz.

I read a lot of... Dragon Ball (I've read it whole, but I like to re-read), Naruto, One Piece, Bt'X, Hunter x Hunter...

But if I had to chose two and take to a desert island, it would be Death Note and Gantz. Along with a Belle & Sebastian recording. =)

 

[Apoc]

The same about Gantz.

I had to stop watching Gantz, the protagonist was just soo uncomfortably pathetic...i'm used to watching perverted characters in anime, every show has one...but not like Gantz...i felt disgusted by the protagonists idiocy and perverted nature...and damn, i've watched Urotsukidoji so to say that about gantz has gotta mean somethin no?

I urge serious avoidance of Gantz...but then all are free to watch whatever they please but i think its an acquired taste ~shrugs~