Anime recommendations

[Rendakor]

Can we talk about.....Evangelion?

Ahem.

[Mosesandstick]

Eureka7's one of the two or three anime series I've seen in the past couple of years. Definitely worth it.

[Vision]

Can we talk about.....Evangelion?

Ahem.

So is End of Evangelion technically the cannon ending?

[Rendakor]

No. They're two distinct endings. Have you seen it yet?

It's also possible that each story (TV Series, Death&Rebirth and End of Eva, Rebuild of Evangelion) is a sequel to the previous; multiple iterations of the same story, recreated by Shinji after Third Impact each time.

[Teleku]

My impression was that they were basically two different endings, though they both shed light into understanding each other.

[Simond]

Conversely, they could be the same ending - the "Congratulations!" is Shinji during Third Impact coming to the realisation that it's okay for him to just be himself, that you do need to reach out to other people and accept the possibility of being hurt but that you can't do that by simply destroying everyone's ego-barriers and turning the planet into a giant, Tang-based, group-conciousness because that's just stasis instead of progression*. EoE is bookends around that - leading up to and after the fact.

*I feel like going into a TTGL tangent here, but shall simply leave one little snippet: Did you know that the S2 engine used by Angels  canonically runs off of spiral energy?  

[Rendakor]

I don't think they're the same ending. My take on it:

[Vision]

canonically runs off of spiral energy?  

Oh, nice! Spiral energy seems to be a GAINAX thing.
and within the series, there was definitely a 3rd impact? Where did I miss this?

[Rendakor]

Well, I did say presumably, but it is sort of implied that Third Impact must occur for Human Instrumentality to occur.

[Simond]

Well, fuck.
http://io9.com/5620836/

Japanese animation has lost one of its giants. Satoshi Kon, director of Paprika  and creator of Paranoia Agent, has apparently died at age 47. Gainax employee Takeda Yasuhiro tweeted the news a short time ago, and it was confirmed by Madhouse's Masao Maruyama via the Otakon committee.

[Lantyssa]

Studio Ghibli is likely shutting down as well.

[Vision]

http://io9.com/5620836/

Japanese animation has lost one of its giants. Satoshi Kon, director of Paprika  and creator of Paranoia Agent, has apparently died at age 47. Gainax employee Takeda Yasuhiro tweeted the news a short time ago, and it was confirmed by Madhouse's Masao Maruyama via the Otakon committee.

Fuck...
Just Fuck.

[Rendakor]

Well, fuck.
http://io9.com/5620836/

Japanese animation has lost one of its giants. Satoshi Kon, director of Paprika  and creator of Paranoia Agent, has apparently died at age 47. Gainax employee Takeda Yasuhiro tweeted the news a short time ago, and it was confirmed by Madhouse's Masao Maruyama via the Otakon committee.

You will be missed.

[fuser]

Ack to Satoshi Kon

Studio Ghibli is likely shutting down as well.

Dear god no, I wanted the rumored Porco Rosso sequel.

[Stormwaltz]

So I'm finally watching Toradora. I downloaded the first three eps ages ago, but only continued when I won a box set of the NA release from The Escapist.

Good lord, Kushieda is just... vividly weird.

[Hoax]

That was a good show, I really enjoyed it and that style of anime is not often my cup of tea.

[Hoax]

I need to give a lot of praise to Angel Beats. Plain and simple, watch it.

Wanted to second this opinion and say thanks to Segoris for mentioning the show which got me to watch it.

[schild]

Well, fuck.
http://io9.com/5620836/

Japanese animation has lost one of its giants. Satoshi Kon, director of Paprika  and creator of Paranoia Agent, has apparently died at age 47. Gainax employee Takeda Yasuhiro tweeted the news a short time ago, and it was confirmed by Madhouse's Masao Maruyama via the Otakon committee.

You will be missed.

Oh god, that is a shame.

[Simond]

And time for a couple of trailers of Autumn series.

Firstly, Star Driver. Our protagonist, Ginga Bishonen (no, really) washes up on the shore of an island housing an exclusive academy. There, Utena Ginga must fight duels using swords mecha to protect the Rose Bride Shine Maiden Anthy Himemiya Wako Agemaki, who is the key to revolutionising the world unlocking the secrets of the mecha.

Produced by Bones (RahXephon, Eureka 7) and written by this chap. So it could be interesting. Fabulous trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtDpxbIr0-I

Secondly, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. Gainax doing an impression of the Powerpuff girls in the style of Dead Leaves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZbGlVqKXTM

[LC]

Dont forget the inevitable fall anime crammed into a single image preview.

I'm looking forward to the second seasons of letter bee and super robot wars.

[Vision]

And time for a couple of trailers of Autumn series.

Firstly, Star Driver. Our protagonist, Ginga Bishonen (no, really) washes up on the shore of an island housing an exclusive academy. There, Utena Ginga must fight duels using swords mecha to protect the Rose Bride Shine Maiden Anthy Himemiya Wako Agemaki, who is the key to revolutionising the world unlocking the secrets of the mecha.

Produced by Bones (RahXephon, Eureka 7) and written by this chap. So it could be interesting. Fabulous trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtDpxbIr0-I

This looks like Gurren Lagann TBH. Dunno if that was what they were purposely going for or not.

The new Gainax show looks awesome!! Love the PPG look.

[Bzalthek]

Hrm, I dunno.  Maybe this Fall won't completely suck after all.

[Hoax]

Is there a reason nobody mentioned Bakemonogatari here and I had to find it for myself? Show is fucking fantastic. Gonna have to buy this on BR, its that good.

[Bzalthek]

Hrm, I coulda sworn I mentioned it, but I suppose not.  I recall enjoying it, but from last summer I barely remember much of anything =/

[Korachia]

I have heard that a 3rd season of Black Lagoon is commencing. Has anybody seen the first episode, and can they recommend it?


Also, I don't watch much anime, but is there anything out there that has the same quality as Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the shell? can be a series or film.

[Arrrgh]

Is there a reason nobody mentioned Bakemonogatari here and I had to find it for myself? Show is fucking fantastic. Gonna have to buy this on BR, its that good.

Great show. The psycho bisexual girlfriend who appears a few episodes in steals the show.

[Segoris]

Is there a reason nobody mentioned Bakemonogatari here and I had to find it for myself? Show is fucking fantastic. Gonna have to buy this on BR, its that good.

I believe I have that on my list of shit to watch, glad to hear a positive opinion.

I have heard that a 3rd season of Black Lagoon is commencing. Has anybody seen the first episode, and can they recommend it?

Also, I don't watch much anime, but is there anything out there that has the same quality as Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the shell? can be a series or film.

The "3rd season" is an OVA that is, sadly, only five episodes called Roberta's revenge or something along those lines (she was the maid for the Lovelace household/cartel). Only the first episode is out, and I'm waiting for all five to finish before I watch them. They aren't due to finish though until March or April since they are doing some weird scheduling thing of one per month for the first three and then every other month, I think, for the last two. I'd say this, it's Black Lagoon...just watch it if you don't mind waiting a while between episodes, or wait for it all to finish up and watch it at the same time.

As for the recommendation, are you looking for sci-fi? Bounty Hunter? Cop/detective action-type? More specifics would help as "quality" is a pretty vague term in this case, imo.

[LC]

Also, I don't watch much anime, but is there anything out there that has the same quality as Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the shell? can be a series or film.

Death Note
Hellsing Ultimate OVA
Planetes
Evangelion
Ergo Proxy
Zipang
Anything with Gundam in the name. (In my opinion anyway.)
Anything from Studio Ghibli

Just the first ones to pop into my head. I'm sure I could make a nice list given enough time.

[Hoax]

Also, I don't watch much anime, but is there anything out there that has the same quality as Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the shell? can be a series or film.

Death Note
Hellsing Ultimate OVA
Planetes
Evangelion
Ergo Proxy
Zipang
Anything with Gundam in the name. (In my opinion anyway.)
Anything from Studio Ghibli

Just the first ones to pop into my head. I'm sure I could make a nice list given enough time.

Since you said quality, not much.

I'd say take a look at:
Kenshin OVA's
5-shot OVA called Yukikaze about an fighter jet with an ai and a pilot
Macross Zero (another OVA)

Those are just insane visual standards, have you seen the show Ghost in the Shell (Stand Alone Complex) if that isn't what you are talking about bump that to the top of the list, its better imo than the movies, also Ergo Proxy is a true show, scifi and great, so I'll ditto LC there.

On par with Bebop in terms of a fun show but without that holy fucking shit eye candy factor but with that overall quality level Black Lagoon would be the first thing I would recommend.

Other favorites that you should read the synopsis on and decide if they sound like your cup of tea..

mecha:
Rahxephon
TTGL
Escaflowne
Eureka 7

(juvenile) Love Stories of various odd anime stripes:
FLCL
Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Welcome to the NHK

[Bzalthek]

Lots of good shit in these posts, but I highly recommend Samurai 7 as well. And well, Tengen Toppa Gurenn Lagann simply because if you haven't seen it you're a bad person.

Also, while I'm not a huge Bebop fan, I think you might like With Hunter Robin.  Another probable, though it's off in another direction, is the 74 episode Monster.  Not as much action, but I found it thoroughly enjoyable.

That leads me to horror/psych tangents, but it's pretty far from start already.

 

[Fordel]

Any of the Macross' but Seven are fun to watch really.

Macross Plus is still my favorite.

Frontier is the latest one I think, or it's the last one I've seen. It's the same 'spirit' or theme as the very first one.



Has anyone else watched the two Patlabor movies? I never watched the actual series, but I have the movies and really enjoy them.

[Lantyssa]

I loved Patlabor, but most find them really slow.

[Korachia]

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions. I very concisely used the vague term "quality" because I wanted to keep an open mind to all the anime out there. First time I was recommended to watch cowboy Bebop I was quite skeptical because it was "cartoons"... My skepticism was turned into shame. On the other hand I have experienced that there is a lot of crap out there as well, so I was kinda hoping people would show me what shows/films are the gems of anime genre.  

I guess what I liked the most was the first season of ghost in the shell with its intelligent plotline, somewhat philosophical themes, focus on technology, and a strong, but with flaws, central character(s) and villians that aren't just "bad evil dude", but is quite complex themselves. Also anything in a post apocalyptic or apocalyptic setting is also of interest. Don't know if it helps.

Anyway I appreciate all the suggestions so will look into it :)

[Hoax]

I'd say check out Technolyze as well then, I found it far too brutally slow paced myself but I have ADD when it comes to anime and the quality of the art/animation is top notch along with a setting/plot that it sounds like you will enjoy.

Oh yeah Voices of a Distant Star & Pale Cocoon are both fairly easy choices for scifi, def worth watching.

[fuser]

Also, I don't watch much anime, but is there anything out there that has the same quality as Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the shell? can be a series or film.
...
I guess what I liked the most was the first season of ghost in the shell with its intelligent plotline, somewhat philosophical themes, focus on technology, and a strong, but with flaws, central character(s) and villians that aren't just "bad evil dude", but is quite complex themselves.

If you want to go down right serious Serial Experiments Lain is probably exactly what your looking for. Continuing on with some of Oshii's work (Jin-Roh, The Sky Crawlers) seems a good match. The Wings of Honneamise would probably be good viewing as the world design alone is amazing (it captures some weird 1950's USSR alternative world).