Any Anime Recommendations?

[Lenny]

Anyone mind if I inject a wee bit of life into this forum with a recommendation thread?

If not, I'll go ahead!

I got into anime quite recently - one of the people on my corridor last year gave me a couple of series about a year ago, and I've since watched quite a bit. I was wondering if people could recommend me some more.

EDIT: Japanese, preferably, please. American, English and European cartoons are all well and good, but the Japanese are leagues above us.

This is what I've watched (red means I disliked it and never want to see a single second of it ever again), what I've got to watch and what's currently on my list of things to find:

Watched
Cowboy Bebop - loved it! Series + film.
Samurai Champloo - loved it even more!! Re-watching soon.
Outlaw Star - not bad. Watched a dubbed version, which spoilt it a bit.
Fullmetal Alchemist - very good. Series + film.
Neon Genesis Evangelion - truly awful. Hated it, even with the alternate ending.
Trigun - took time to pick up, but I liked it. Quite amusing.
Claymore - comes very close to toppling SC off the top of my list.

Got to Watch
FMA: Brotherhood - seen first three episodes and liking it, though prefer the original series at the moment.
Ghost in the Shell - both series and the three films (seen the first, got completely lost).
Code Geass - both series.
Texhnolyze
Bleach - yes, even the filler...

To Find
Ruroni Kenshin
Serial Experiments: Lain
Kaiji
Last Exile

I've also got Akira (enjoyed), Steamboy (still to watch) and a complete collection of the Studio Ghibli films (halfway through - Nausicaa is my favourite so far).

---

I realise that that's quite a big list as it is. Don't worry if you haven't got any new recommendations - you can always tell me how great the ones I've still to watch are.

Whatever happens, I've got a nice collection to keep me happy for the few weeks after my exams (four days, then a SC and FMA:B marathon! ).

 

[Ambriel]

Trinity blood is good. Im a huge Naruto fan. Digimon in japanese. I concur with Bleach and Outlaw start. Yu Yu Hakusho is good too.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

I can recommend Paprika-it is a rather strange anime film with the main plot revolving around dreams. I won't reveal any more than that.

Others I could recommend...hmm...that's a harder one. But I can advise what to stay away from-Wicked City, for one. VERY BAD FILM. Other ones to avoid I would have to think about.


Ninja Scrolls was a decent enough one, feudal Japan era anime, worth a look.

 

[Talysia]

Whilst I'm probably not the best person to recommend current anime, I know a few older titles that might fit the bill. The Ghost in the Shell series (both of them) are infinitely better than the first film in my opinion, as is the last film, Solid State Society - I count them as favourites. If you find you like them, you could always try Appleseed and Appleseed Ex Machina (the two most recent films, rather than the original). These are by the same creator.

If you liked Trigun, you might like Gungrave, too, although I've only seen the first four episodes of that. Funnily enough, I bought a set of 10 dvds a while ago, all containing the first eps of 10 series, featuring Gungrave, Serial Experiments Lain, Texhnolyze and others. I couldn't get in to Texhnolyze, though I haven't seen it in ages, but I enjoyed Gungrave. Still to watch SEL.

I'm going to have to have a think about this: I'm sure there are some series I've forgotten!

 

[Michael01]

Definitely look for Last Exile and Serial Experiments Lain. Last Exile is one of my top five faves. It's very good. I also like Blood+, Witch Hunter Robin, Eureka 7 and When the Cicadas Cry (all favorites, of course).

Talysia's right about the GiTS movies too. The third one, Solid State Society, which is more closely related to the series, is the best of them in my opinion (although I like all three).

 

[Thadlerian]

EDIT: Japanese, preferably, please. American, English and European cartoons are all well and good, but the Japanese are leagues above us.

This is true on a general basis, but not for Avatar: The Last Airbender. Which is an American anime-lookalike. With a quality far, far above anything I've seen* of Japanese anime save for the Ghibli stuff.

* (Last Exile, FLCL, Haibane Renmei, Wolf's Rain, Full Metal Alchemist, Nadia and the Secret of Blue Water, Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne, Noein, The Count of Monte Christo (yeah, there's actually one))

 

[Michael01]

This is true on a general basis, but not for Avatar: The Last Airbender. Which is an American anime-lookalike. With a quality far, far above anything I've seen* of Japanese anime save for the Ghibli stuff.

I almost agree with you. Avatar: The Last Airbender is definitely a high quality, "must see" American-made series, which has some conventions in common with anime. However, I would say it's comparable or relatively equal to many of the Japanese series I've seen, rather than "far above." In any case, Thadlerian has made a great suggestion. Don't completely forswear American animation - give Avatar a shot! I think you'll find it more than satisfying.

 

[Lenny]

Righto, I've added what's been mentioned to my list.

Someone on another forum also recommended these. Any good ones?:

Berserk
Elfen Lied
Slayers
Big O & Big O 2
Eureka Seven
Witch Hunter Robin
Clannad ~After Story~
Hellsing & Hellsing Ultimate
FLCL/Furi Kuri/Fooly Cooly
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
Paranoia Agent
Eden of the East
Koi Kaze

 

[Thadlerian]

I've only seen part of FLCL. Very confusing. It's supposed to be great/unique/innovative among anime connoisseurs, but I didn't have the patience to watch more than two of the four episodes.

 

[Talysia]

Hmm, out of that list, I've only seen the first few episodes of Slayers, plus the film, but they were pretty good. Big O was ok, but not my favourite giant robot anime, and I've still got to watch Paranoia Agent, but I've heard good things about it. I can definitely give my recommendation about Witch Hunter Robin, though. It's a very good show, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[Michael01]

And I already mentioned both Witch Hunter Robin and Eureka 7, so now you have a consensus. Elfen Lied is pretty good, but I haven't seen any of the others on that list. But a couple more I just remembered: Shakugan no Shana (how can forget this one?), Night Head Genesis, Witchblade, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Chrome-Shelled Regios.

 

[einlanzer]

@Lenny, I guess I did watch a few of these. So:

Berserk, well what was made is great and hella worth watching, BUT, only if you´ll find time to read the manga as well which is HUUGE and still running, check aniDB for more info there, it´s just that the anime covers a really small portion of the manga, still great but simply said, it´s a cliffhanger which makes you crave for more

Elfen Lied, ok this one is short and manageable but it´s a thin line between loving or hating it, i personally liked it although i do know a couple of people who swear that those 12/13 episodes are the worst of anime they have ever seen. Check the first few episodes and see for yourself.

Hellsing & Hellsing Ultimate - Hellsing Ultimate (OVA) is awesome, just jump over the "normal" Hellsing series and get on with watching the Ultimate. The Ultimate follows the manga where as the root series are more of a spinoff

FLCL/Furi Kuri/Fooly Cooly, damn, I liked this one, and yeah, it was totally weird but still funny and likeable, it´s not your average-type-of-anime, worth a try.

Paranoia Agent, got lots of recommendations on this one, still, never really found time to check it.

 

[Lenny]

Sorry folks -I've been busy so haven't really popped into this thread for a while.

My library of FMA:B has just run out (sadface ), so I need to find something new (which I want to do whilst I make a start on the other series I've got).

I'll read through the suggestions in here again tomorrow, and make some choices!

Thankee muchly.

 

[Doctor Crankenstein]

I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

It has the manliest man of manly manliness you will ever see in an anime. It's absolutely hilarious.

 

[Lenny]

Oooh, that does look interesting.

I've just finished Code Geass, so I'm on the lookout from something new. I didn't look through this thread when I said I would last time, but I will do after Doctor Who tonight.

Promise!

 

[Lenny]

OK, I've gone through things and made this list:

Berserk
Chrome Shelled Regios
Eden of the East
Gungrave
Gurren Lagann
Hellsing + Hellsing Ultimate
Kaiji
Last Exile
Night Head Genesis
Paranoia Agent
Serial Experiments: Lain
Shakugan no Shana
Trinity Blood
Witch Hunter Robin

Now to try and find them. Whee...

EDIT: Also Ninja Scroll and Vampire Hunter D. Oh, and I've just added Death Note to my list.

 

[Michael01]

Man, there is so much anime out there; looks like I'll be able to get my fix everyday even if I live another 100 years!

Cruchyroll has Last Exile, and I'm enjoying Shangri-La and Black God (also called Kurokami: The Animation) right now. Black God is awesome. Reminds me in some ways of Shakugan no Shana. Not sure if they have any of the other titles, though. They have a lot...

EDIT: Think I found Serial Experiments Lain the same place I found When the Cicadas Cry, at WatchAnimeOn.

 

[Doctor Crankenstein]

I didn't know if we were allowed to post places to find stuff but by the look of Michael01's post we are?

Here is where I find most of my anime and sci-fi, I'm pretty sure it has most of your list.

Piggymoo - Watch anime & tv online

 

[Michael01]

Hmm. Maybe not. If not, I apologize, and won't let it happen again. I didn't post links...

 

[Armadillo-002]

Chrome Shelled Regios
Fate Stay Night (if you like mythological figures)
Vampire Hunter D (movie)
Last Exile
D.Gray Man
Pandora Hearts (an on-take on Alice in wonderland)
Hitman Reborn
Shining Tears X Wind
Tsubasa Chronicle
Night Wizard

For the oldies:

Record of Lodoss
The Heroic Legend of Arslan (based off of an Persian/Iranian story)