Anime recommendations

[Strazos]

While I think I am right, saying that 75% of these long, 100+ episode series are filler episodes may be a bit harsh. Maybe. I think you would be able to cede 50% to me, though.

For me, GTO at 43 episodes is about my upper limit. School Rumble is currently sitting on 42 episodes + 2 OVAs. More than that, and a series just starts to feel stale to me. Something like Inuyasha, or fuck, Dragonball (Z, GT, WhatTheFuckEver)...just get to the damn point already. They just keep making shit up, with no end in sight.

I mean, seriously....AniDB.net says Naruto is sitting on 220 episodes, plus movies and shit. 167 and change for Inuyasha, and 123 and counting for Bleach. Lets say that episodes average 23 minutes each.

That's 84+ hours for Naruto, 64+ for Inuyasha, and 47+ (and counting) for Bleach. Should I even touch the Dragonball stuff? My point is....there is no way that amount of time is even close to necessary to tell a great story.


And on your point of longer series having tons of characters and antagonists...that's just not for me. There's no way they're all going to be worthwhile characters Then you get more than a dozen different story lines going along at once, and it just devolves into a mess that I cannot be bothered to be concerned about; most likely, I would just concentrate on the couple of characters I actually like, and ignore the rest.

[stray]

Oh, but I think Naruto actually pulled off having that many meaningful characters. Just when I thought there was enough in the beginning with Naruto, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura, they finally dig into the rest of the cast 20 episodes later. And every one of them were cool, in my opinion (and as far as "other" Naruto fans go, there are rabid fanbases built around them).

Besides that, the tournament storyarc that they were all introduced in was really good. Better than anything that came before it (and it didn't end until like the 60th episode at that). Everyone who likes that series would say the same.

During the same time, you were introduced to Orochimaru and Kabuto (basically, the two main villains of the series), as well as Maito Guy (probably the funniest character).

It slowed down a bit after that, but then by the 80th episode, my favorite character came around (Jiraiya, the Frog Hermit). Which is strange even to me to have a favorite character that late in a series.

Further after that, you had the Akatsuki dudes (who are basically the entire centerpoint of the newer Naruto series), the new Hokage chick, as well as the Sand Ninjas becoming mainstays (everybody likes Gaara), and then the whole Sasuke-turning-evil-thing happening.

...

Basically, my point is, it kept on managing to surprise me, and the new characters kept my interest. That wasn't filler shit by any definition. It was only until about Ep. 130 or so that it started really getting filler heavy, but it picked up later as well. I would only suggest cutting off heavily around there.


/Naruto fanboism off 

[Chenghiz]

If you ignore the filler in Bleach and Naruto (especially Naruto) you're really left with two great shows. Also seconding Stray on the post-L arc in Death Note being a lot different and imo not as good.

[Simond]

And yes, Guren Lagann is what I'm talking bout. The ep is kinda funny in a lame way, basically it's a pair of brother with a combining drill robot. I'm not sure if they're making a parody or taking it seriously but I've only seen one episode, so it's just worth a first impression. In this episode, they get hungry while inside...and almost lost.

That was episode 4, which was the one that got someone kicked off the Gainax board because the fan reception to it was so poor. ;)

Get ep 1-3, put your brain into neutral, and enjoy the ride. Speaking of TTGL: The latest episode (6) was 'spot the Gainax female cameo'

[Strazos]

Help, I can't stop watching Lucky Star, silly nerd in-jokes and all.

[Quinton]

Help, I can't stop watching Lucky Star, silly nerd in-jokes and all.

I reactivated my WoW account this week (may the gods forgive me) and named my new character (to adventure casually with some old friends who are also starting new characters) nanakon, in honor of kanata's teacher's character in the MMO they play...

- Q

[Strazos]

Well, at least I am not alone then...

Is your new toon an AE-casting mage?

[stray]

OK. I totally take back what I said about Bleach (especially the stuff about repetitive powers/fights). Once I made it to the Soul Society arc (around the 20th episode.....which is too long of a wait really), it became one of the best examples of Jump animation I've seen. After that, there's some filler (the Bount storyline), and even though it's better than most filler in these type of shows, it almost killed the show for me. I stuck through, and now it's back on track to the main plotline. Pretty good stuff again.

And surprisingly, it's a pretty damn funny show to boot. Perverts and lechery are always a plus in my book.  :-D

....

Anyhow, despite me retracting on Bleach, I don't think I'll EVER like One Piece. Pirates or not. I don't know what people are thinking when they say that show is good. I know most shounen material is geared towards younger male audiences, but One Piece seems even moreso. Like in my mind, I can only see it appealing to ten year olds.

And while I'm at it, I'm having the same problem with HxH.

I don't what it is about Naruto (since he's a kid too), but most series with super young/almost chibi-ish lead characters just don't sit with me well. I mean, I can barely stand early Dragonball/Goku either.

....

Also watched a film from last year called Nitaboh. Pretty cool if you like historical stories and Japanese music. Not sure how much is based on fact, but it's about this blind kid who becomes like the Jimi Hendrix of shamisen instrumentation. It's a little slow, but a pretty nice feelgood story nonetheless. Also has a kickin' score.



....

Now watching: Full Metal Panic

Only on the fourth episode, but it is NOT as funny as some people lead me on to believe. So far, I'm disappointed.

....

On queue:

Excel Saga

Kyou Kara Maou

[Strazos]

The original FMP series is good. Fumoffu is funnier. The Second Raid is just loads better in just about every way.

The worst thing about the first series is the damn Helmajistan story arc in my opinion. You'll know what I mean if/wen you get to it. I personally skip it whenever I re-watch the stuff.

EDIT: Geez, I had forgotten that the first story arc takes up 7 episodes.

[stray]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll just try to enjoy the first FMP for what it is. I have Second Raid as well for later. I passed on Fumoffu because I was under the impression that it was just self-contained stories. Usually things like that don't do so well with me, but I guess I was wrong.

[Strazos]

I passed on Fumoffu because I was under the impression that it was just self-contained stories. Usually things like that don't do so well with me, but I guess I was wrong.

No, you're pretty much correct in that assessment. The entire series pretty much takes place at school and such, sans ASs.

[Teleku]

Bleh, couldn't really get into FMP.  But then again, I really don't tend to go for the Japany Anime humor like some do, so to each his own I guess.

Incidentally, I just finished watching Serial Experiments Lain.  It is taking all the will power I have ever mustered in my life to not walk out the door, find the nearest Japanese person, and punch them in the face.

[Chenghiz]

New anime called Darker than Black - Animation by Studio Bones, who did Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain, Samurai CHamploo, etc, and music by Yoko Kanno. Very mysterious setting, lots of questions to be asked. It's a supernatural powers/near-future setting/kinda noir show, I'd definitely check it out.

[schild]

I couldn't get into the first episode of Darker than Black. I'm going to wait for the jury to come back with an opinion.

[Hoax]

The jury's video card is fucked up, or computer is fucked, either way I haven't even turned on bittorrent in a month or so.  Fucking sad panda.

[stray]

Lol, I took a break from FMP to see what Kyou Kara Maou was.

I don't mean this in any kind of homophobic way, but this show is pretty gay. Innocently gay maybe. Not yaoi territory or anything, but I still don't feel right watching it.

Yet, I've watched several episodes now. The whole gayness of it has turned out to be pretty funny (I originally was recommended it just because someone said it was "funny". They didn't say why though....).


I'm confused.

[Fabricated]

Anyhow, despite me retracting on Bleach, I don't think I'll EVER like One Piece. Pirates or not. I don't know what people are thinking when they say that show is good. I know most shounen material is geared towards younger male audiences, but One Piece seems even moreso. Like in my mind, I can only see it appealing to ten year olds.

If One Piece wasn't one of those shows with 50 fucking million episodes (and still going apparently) I would get subs/uncensored dub DVDs. 4Kids just ruined it for TV. I've never seen an edit job that bad before. Ever.

It's weird. The art style and jokes seem to be aimed at the typical Shonen crowd, but there's a LOT of death and destruction. Way more so than even Naruto. Lots of people getting graphically shot/cut/impaled and just scads of people dying. I know the Japanese have vastly different standards for what constitutes "kids TV" but they're not THAT different. Hell, Evangelion shocked Japanese audiences with the violence/sexual content a few times.

[Lantyssa]

If One Piece wasn't one of those shows with 50 fucking million episodes (and still going apparently) I would get subs/uncensored dub DVDs. 4Kids just ruined it for TV. I've never seen an edit job that bad before. Ever.

You should have seen the butchering of Escaflowne they did for TV...

[Fabricated]

If One Piece wasn't one of those shows with 50 fucking million episodes (and still going apparently) I would get subs/uncensored dub DVDs. 4Kids just ruined it for TV. I've never seen an edit job that bad before. Ever.

You should have seen the butchering of Escaflowne they did for TV...

Dude, they turned rifles at the beginning of the show into water guns, then they just painted them green, all the blood was edited out (all of it), they removed single lines from characters to avoid the appearance of cleavage, and my favorite edit:



God, I would have loved to have seen the meeting behind this.

[stray]

Has anyone here seen Gintama?


I ran into the characters playing that Jump DS game and decided to check out some episodes. I haven't seen enough of it yet to say whether I like it or not, but I was just wondering if anyone has been watching it.

Unlike most of the Jump series out there, this one isn't focused on action (so far at least). It's pretty goofy. Almost Austin Powers like in it's gag level. Also, unlike most Jump series, it seems to be targetting a more mature audience a bit more. The main character is a grown man at least. Some people who've watched both have compared it to Excel Saga (if that's any indication).

As for the premise, it's Edo era --- Except somehow, it's in the future with flying cars, televisions, scooters, and aliens. Samurai have all but died off (due to an alien invasion). The lead character and his group are unemployed samurai and ninjas who've set up a business that "Does anything for Money". So, basically, the episodes lead off from that. They're freelancers. Anything goes.

Also, if that's enough for you to check it out, I'd recommend starting at Episode 3, which is the beginning of the manga. Episode 1 and 2 are funny, but they're more of an hour long series special. Or in other words, self contained filler.

[EDIT] Further in. I'm sticking with it. Pretty entertaining. Considering that's it's Jump, this will probably a LONG series. And that's a good thing -- I don't think there are any really long comedy series out there (?).

I'm surprised how little info is to be found about it though. It already has a million seller game in Japan, and keeps hitting top 5 polls over there. But yet, there are no English fansites to be found. Fansubs are way behind, and have few seeders to boot.

[stray]

You guys should just bullshit about anything in this thread. It may be 14 pages, but I think it needs more life in it.  :-D

Argue about something. Or just get fanboi or fangir about something. I mean... Heroes is ONE show, and it has more pages than this.


[EDIT] Basically, we need the equivalent of a Book Club Discussion for both Anime and Games. Extremely geeky, sure, but we all should watch a series at the same time or something. Then talk or fight about it. 

[Yoru]

Okay, well, I tried two series over the weekend, but neither look like ZOMG WINNARS to me.

Got 5 eps of Darker Than Black, tried the first and wasn't compelled at all. I had to fight the urge to just hit stop within the first five minutes. It's just so hokey and cliche I can't bear it. Probably going directly to the trashheap without watching further.

Got 2 eps of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, watched one. It cannot be properly summed into words without spoiling stuff. Robots, guns, boobs, drills. It doesn't so much have a plot as a Stuff Happens Hay Look ROBOTS! Wacky, but who knows if N eps of that will be entertaining. The style if very much reminiscent of late 80s anime. Dirty Pair on crack with drills and robots and only 1 of the main characters is a woman. Will watch the second ep, might even make the Three Ep Test.

[stray]

The style if very much reminiscent of late 80s anime.

Looks pretty modern to me. What do you mean exactly?


Heh, when I think of late 80's styling, I think of this haircut in particular. 

Like this:

[Yoru]

The art style and costuming, as well as the setting artwork. It all speaks of a lot of late-80s space anime influence. The character art is also reminiscent of the original Dirty Pair to me, for some reason.

[Simond]

I'd say that another reason (IMO) why it's got a late-80's feel because it's neither some po-faced 90's deconstruction of the genre (Evangelion); nor some knowing, post-modern parody with a smirk on its face (Abenobashi). Instead, it's played straight - it's not trying to be anything other than a really well done Super Robot show.

[stray]

Back to Gintama...

I'm loving it even more than my last post. If you guys want a break every once in awhile from the more serious stuff out there, then this is good remedy. Really funny series --- and not just in a way that's privy to Japanese and/or Japanophiles (though there is that too... Especially wordplay). Give it a whirl. Stick to at least episode 7 or 8 and see if you like it :)

[Stormwaltz]

I broke down and got a torrent client. After watching Paradise Kiss and reading my Ai Yazawa collection, Jamie has gone Nana-crazy. And I was going to buy it whenever it's licensed anyway.

First episode is... pretty much just like the manga, but compacted. I was not entirely surprised that they cut the entire first volume.

[Simond]

Well, Gurren-Lagann just hit another one of the 80's anime clichés last night - (Big spoiler):Kamina - the 'big brother' figure to the protagonist Simon - died from wounds received in a final, heroic battle against overwhelming force. And, of course, this was after Kamina kissed the token love interest.(end big spoiler).

Also, Nanoha StrikerS looks like it's finally beginning to pick up steam.

[rk47]

ahhah i know this is super late, but Code Geass latest ep twist really cracked me up.  :-D
It's a really ridiculous twist nobody expected because how utterly stupid it is but they decided to play it instead of a 'good ending'
2007 summer for the last 2 episodes...how long is that i wonder..

basic summary: mecha anime with some british colonization of japan as background.

[Chimpy]

Reading this thread made me realize how much of the world has passed me by since the last time I watched a "new" anime. The last episode of Evangelion when it was first released in the US on VHS, so like...1998 ish.

I might have to look some of these up.

Edit: And just as a note, the original Vampire Hunter D was my gateway into anime.

That is what got me hooked originally, I saw it on TBS late night when I was a senior in high school. I swear 80% of the people I knew who were into anime in the late 90s said that was their "gateway drug".

[schild]

Reading this thread made me realize how much of the world has passed me by since the last time I watched a "new" anime. The last episode of Evangelion when it was first released in the US on VHS, so like...1998 ish.

I might have to look some of these up.

Edit: And just as a note, the original Vampire Hunter D was my gateway into anime.

That is what got me hooked originally, I saw it on TBS late night when I was a senior in high school. I swear 80% of the people I knew who were into anime in the late 90s said that was their "gateway drug".

Holy shit. Was it TBS? All this time I thought I saw it on USA. Shoulda known better. USA probably woulda been showing Silk Stalkings at 2am. I specifically remember waking up one night and not being able to fall back asleep and going downstairs and this shit happened to be on.

-

Also, Lucky Star is 110% awesome.

[Chimpy]

That is what got me hooked originally, I saw it on TBS late night when I was a senior in high school. I swear 80% of the people I knew who were into anime in the late 90s said that was their "gateway drug".

Holy shit. Was it TBS? All this time I thought I saw it on USA. Shoulda known better. USA probably woulda been showing Silk Stalkings at 2am. I specifically remember waking up one night and not being able to fall back asleep and going downstairs and this shit happened to be on.

-

Also, Lucky Star is 110% awesome.

TBS, USA fuck if I know. I just know I happened to land on the channel during the opening credits and was like "holy shit this is different!" and was hooked.

I think that may be part of why I can't just get into anime lately. It is no longer this "different" style. You turn on cartoon network and half of the stuff is anime or faux anime.

[Strazos]

Also, Lucky Star is 110% awesome.

I almost fell out of bed laughing when Kona-chan starting making Marimite jokes.

[Simond]

Also, Nanoha StrikerS looks like it's finally beginning to pick up steam.

Yeah, um, scratch that.
GET TO THE MAIN PLOT, DAMN IT! >:(

Back to TTGL: Berserker-Simon = good; Shinji-Simon = Bad. Oh, and apparently the main villain should have been translated as 'Helix King' instead of 'Spiral King'...as in double helix. The clues were in his general's names. :)

[RhyssaFireheart]

Six days and counting down to SSS on SciFi.  Oh yes!