I don't like anime.

[Nighthawk 0]

This is my impression of anime: Everyone turns into a demon, then they run at each other screaming. The end.

 

But I've come to think I shouldn't dismiss the entire genre at a glance. So I'm looking to give it a try. I, of course, have no idea where to begin. So, I'm seeking recommendations. Give me what you think is best, I'll watch it.

 

I'd probably be most interested in horror/occultish type things, but I'm open to whatever. I don't think I'll get too into it at first, so if possible avoid anything very obscure or series with several integral parts. I am familiar with Akira.

[chaosrage 0]

La Blue Girl

[spiny norman 0]

I too used to hate anime.

 

Then I saw Spirited Away.

 

I still hate anime, but Spirited Away was the exception to the rule.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

they all suck. i say we go all SS on them and burn all Anime film

[El Psycho Diablo 0]

Thankfully, not everything in anime resembles Dragonball Z.

 

I'm not too sure about horror or occult type stuff, but the site and boards at animeondvd.com are likely the best place to look, or ask for reccomendations.

 

It shouldn't be hard to find something you like..anime has all sorts of stories, just the most popular ones aren't necessarily the best.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I loved Robotech as a kid -- that counts, right?...

[Guest I Got Banned for Sucking]

Hey IDRM, try the films Akira and Spirited Away, if you haven't already.

[Slayer 0]

I know, let's ask Kamui...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...on second thought, scratch that

[Guest Goodear]

I'd probably be most interested in horror/occultish type things, but I'm open to whatever. I don't think I'll get too into it at first, so if possible avoid anything very obscure or series with several integral parts. I am familiar with Akira.

For the Horror/Occult stuff give Hellsing a minor whirl. Its generally pretty episodic but sort of falls a part at the end of the series when some seemingly major plot points get kind of brushed away. But I don't think you can go wrong with the first two or so disks.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Metropolis should be pretty easy to find in any local video store. If you've seen the Animatrixs' Second Renaissance, it's kinda like that, but deeper and more character-driven. It's dark, but not Horror-dark.

 

http://www.scottweinger.net/metrev01.html - eberts review

 

Princess Mononoke is more of an 'earthy' kinda film, both in content and theme. It is a pretty profound movie, IMO, and there are no real villains, no black and white, just shades of gray. Its one of my favourite movies, and I can't see anyone not liking it, but I don't think it's what you are looking for.

 

Spirited Away is more bizarre and darker than PM, with more amazing visuals (though I like PMs visuals more), and there's a lot of "stuff" going on in it. I'd rank it in my top 20.

[Youth N Asia 0]

I've pretty much seen the 3 that every says you have to see: Vampire Hunter D, Ninja Scroll, and Akira.

 

I wasn't overly impressed, so anime isn't really for me either.

[AndrewTS 0]

Disregard chaosrage's suggestion. He meant that as a joke.

 

Did you like The Lion King? Then you'll probably like Kimba the White Lion, which it shamelessly ripped off. Pretty much anything Miyazaki is a safe bet.

 

However, in the less family-oriented stuff, there's your Outlaw Star, Trigun, a friend recommended the Gungrave anime, and the fact no one mentioned Cowboy Bebop yet is a freakin' crime.

 

Japan's animation industry is so huge, yeah, there's going to be tons of crap. Once you get past your DBZ, Digimon/Pokemon, Magical Girl anime, excessive giant robot anime (American men extend their small manhoods by buying a gun or an expensive car; Japanese men draw giant robots), stupid hentai and soft-core hentai-ish crap, maybe 5-10% of it is actually any good, kinda like here.

 

Some one may mention Evangelion, but it's really an acquired taste, because of how screwed up it really is.

 

I'd heard people recommend Patlabor, but despite the unique, if dry and lifeless, visual style, I've rarely been so bored out my skull as I had been watching it. Minutes upon minutes of driving footage with a little bit of dialogue...yuck.

 

A lot of people really like Tenchi and may recommend one of the versions (there are about a billion different takes on the exact same story, because the makers have no imagination) to you enthusiastically. These people are idiots.

 

However, if you don't want to bother collecting a whole series, there are good anime movies.

 

I've heard Akira recommended. Please, stray far away. It sucks. First off, while some of the animation is good, the actual character design is so BUTT-ugly you're likely to be turned off. Plus, it makes no sense. The anime movie is basically a compression of an entire manga series. Now, you could easily compress an entire season/story arc of Dragon Ball Z in a "feature length" presentation and not miss a lick of the plot. However, in Akira it becomes a complete mess. Oh, and they added gratuitous breast shots to the movie, which is seen on one the horribly ugly animated girls in the feature. Supposedly the manga is good, but I wouldn't know it from the movie.

 

Vampire Hunter D is excellent, as is the sequel, Bloodlust. Great visual style, music, pacing, story, characters (although D himself is rather enigmatic, some is revealed about him).

 

Some people may recommend you get a taste of Tenchi with one of the movies. These people are huge idiots. These are actually worse than the anime series..es.

 

Despite it's presence and the demons and the girliness, Inuyasha actually doesn't suck, however it isn't for everyone either.

 

Samurai X / R. Kenshin is pretty good.

 

Ninja Scroll (the movie) is considered pretty classic, however it has it's share of gore and disturbing stuff in it. The series I haven't seen much of. However, if you do decide to check it out stay the hell away from "Ninja Resurrection." It has a similar logo style, the main character is named the same, but it is basically a loathesome, uninteresting, disgusting mess.

 

Stay far away from any anime movies based on fighting games, except for "Street Fighter II, the Animated Movie." It is a pretty fun one, actually, with great animation, a decent plot and a cool ending fight scene. Street Fighter Alpha's also decent, despite the vastly inferior art.

 

The rest of the fighting game anime...STAY AWAY!! Tekken, Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, the rest of the Street Fighter animes, Virtua Fighter, Toh Shin Den--they all lick balls. Some people may disagree with me. They may feel that "eat," "blow," "suck," or "are a mediocre effort, poorly executed merely to cash on a license." The plot line for 95% of fighting game anime: there are some robots created by some evil person that are trying to learn everyone's style.

[Golgo 13 0]

I was going to recommend Bebop, Trigun, Outlaw Star, etc, but he said no series so I held off. But now that someone at least mentioned them...

 

For at least sampling various shows, if you have Cartoon Network then there's no more accessable place than that to start. The late night Adult Swim line-up features anime Monday-Thursday and Saturday. In rotation right now are Inuyasha, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Wolf's Rain and FLCL (one I think you may like, just because it's so fucking weird, although it's only six episodes long).

 

A lot of shows are somewhere around 26 episodes, so if they run the full 5 days like Bebop or Trigun, CN burns through them rapidly, allowing someone to catch up quickly. Thankfully a lot of anime also gets domestically released on dvd these days, sometimes available in box sets like Bebop, so it's really easy track down the dvds if you like the show.

[Red Hot Thumbtack In The Eye 0]

Dragon Ball Z, Funimation version

[Downhome 0]

Have any of you seen Wonderful Days? I watched the trailer on IMDB and it looks freaking amazing. I'm thinking about buying the DVD it looks so awesome.

[Guest wildpegasus]

I'm a big anime fan even though I haven't watched too much lately. Anything that's imaginative gets my viewing attention as I'm a total mark for that.

 

First off be careful with what English dubs or versions of anything. Some are good but some are the worst alterations of oringal material you'll ever see. Don't be afraid to give anything a shot.

 

If you like horror, try Blood Reign: Curse of the Yoma. Mermaid's Scar is fun too.

[razazteca 0]

The rest of the fighting game anime...STAY AWAY!! Tekken, Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, the rest of the Street Fighter animes, Virtua Fighter, Toh Shin Den--they all lick balls. Some people may disagree with me. They may feel that "eat," "blow," "suck," or "are a mediocre effort, poorly executed merely to cash on a license." The plot line for 95% of fighting game anime: there are some robots created by some evil person that are trying to learn everyone's style.

Street Fighter II V was not that bad. But I have to agree with you description of Tekken there.

 

I'd probably be most interested in horror/occultish type things, but I'm open to whatever. I don't think I'll get too into it at first, so if possible avoid anything very obscure or series with several integral parts. I am familiar with Akira.

Try Peacock King, but be sure it is the orginal OVA miniseries and not the other stand alone videos. Orge Slayer is about fighting monsters but has some good plots.

 

I've heard Akira recommended. Please, stray far away. It sucks. First off, while some of the animation is good, the actual character design is so BUTT-ugly you're likely to be turned off. Plus, it makes no sense. The anime movie is basically a compression of an entire manga series. Now, you could easily compress an entire season/story arc of Dragon Ball Z in a "feature length" presentation and not miss a lick of the plot. However, in Akira it becomes a complete mess. Oh, and they added gratuitous breast shots to the movie, which is seen on one the horribly ugly animated girls in the feature. Supposedly the manga is good, but I wouldn't know it from the movie

WHAT? HOW DARE YOU SAY AKIRA SUCKS..........the movie was was great for its time period the late 1980s. The plot is basically about the govt doing experiments on young runaway/orphans along with various morals like you can't play god and anti-govt story. Tetsuo the runt of his group of friends tries to fight the rival gang all by himself and gets himself in serious trouble which gives the govt an excuse to experiment on him. Well to say that everything goes wrong is an understatement. Tetsuo gets power hungry and gets back on everybody who were mean to him, be it gangs, his friends, etc...eventually Tetsuo becomes unstable is a threat to himself and the world, nothing could control the radical changes that the experients did to him. If you like the FUCK THE GOVT plots then you will like this movie.

 

Also check out Astro Boy which is currently on WB or Cartoon Network during after school hours. Its about a robot with a conscience. If you like this then you will like Kikider which is alittle more violent.

 

Lupin the III is a classic series about the greatest theif in the world and the police chief who is chasing him. Very smart series that had current event and historical references in it everything from politics to art involve in the plot.

[Guest El Satanico]

Stay away from Inuyasha...I hate that fucking show. CN seems to always have it on the Adult Swim lineup and I wish they'd buy a new show with a large amount of episodes.

 

Speaking of Adult Swim. I understood very little of the show, but I loved Fooly Cooly. It's a crazy and fucked up show and you will often think "wtf is going on", but it's great for some reason. It also has a great theme.

 

Anime fan or not anyone should enjoy a show like Cowboy Bebop and Trigun.

[pochorenella 0]

I see nobody's mentioned Ghost In the Shell, yet. Highest recommendation on my part, a must-see film.

 

I'm not too familiar on the horror/occult front, but the already mentioned Vampire Hunter D movies are great. Blood The Last Vampire is also pretty good, although a really short film.

 

Spirited Away, Akira, Ninja Scroll, Princess Mononoke, are all classics and I think you should give them a chance. Also Neon Genesis Evangelion, but like someone else said, it's more of an aquired taste.

 

Although not really fantasy, action, horror features, I'd also recommend Grave of the Fireflies, and Blue, which is a thriller.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

the best thing about Bebop is the music anyway.

 

I think Akira had one of the top 5 shitty endings in movie history and therefore I dont like it.

[Downhome 0]

I see nobody's mentioned Ghost In the Shell, yet. Highest recommendation on my part, a must-see film.

I don't know if it really adds anything to the thread, but what the heck. Have you seen Avalon yet? It looks to be a mixture of anime, CGI, and live action, and looks very cool as well, like Wonderful Days. Avalon is also directed by Mamoru Oshii, the guy who did Ghost In the Shell. That's why I bring this up.

[Guest wildpegasus]

Also check out Astro Boy which is currently on WB or Cartoon Network during after school hours. Its about a robot with a conscience. If you like this then you will like Kikider which is alittle more violent.

Astroboy from the 80s just might be my favourite show ever.

[Renegade 0]

Well if you like the whole cult/horror thing go with boogiepop phantom. Lots of short stories which tie up with each other.

 

And Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust is a snoozefest.

 

Also to anybody wanting to watch some good new anime I would suggest Gungrave.

[Guest wildpegasus]

I see nobody's mentioned Ghost In the Shell, yet. Highest recommendation on my part, a must-see film.

They're making or have already made a "sequel". Here's the trailor for Innocence that I hear is going to be at Cannes:

 

Inncence Trailor:

 

Medium Resolution -- http://www.innocence-movie.jp/comingsoon/wm_320.html

 

Small Resolution -- http://www.innocence-movie.jp/comingsoon/wm_240.html

 

Large Resolution -- http://www.innocence-movie.jp/comingsoon/wm_480.html

[Golgo 13 0]

Stay away from Inuyasha...I hate that fucking show. CN seems to always have it on the Adult Swim lineup and I wish they'd buy a new show with a large amount of episodes.

As much as I like Inuyasha, it's extremely overrated.

[AndrewTS 0]

WHAT? HOW DARE YOU SAY AKIRA SUCKS..........the movie was was great for its time period the late 1980s.  The plot is basically about the govt doing experiments on young runaway/orphans along with various morals like you can't play god and anti-govt story.  Tetsuo the runt of his group of friends tries to fight the rival gang all by himself and gets himself in serious trouble which gives the govt an excuse to experiment on him.  Well to say that everything goes wrong is an understatement.  Tetsuo gets power hungry and gets back on everybody who were mean to him, be it gangs, his friends, etc...eventually Tetsuo becomes unstable is a threat to himself and the world, nothing could control the radical changes that the experients did to him.  If you like the FUCK THE GOVT plots then you will like this movie. 

Well, then can we agree it sucks now? Because that's my point.

 

Yes, basically I understood that much. ^

 

Also, you left out the whole evolutionary message which probably is much more lucid in the manga but is just one or two vague sentences in the movie. The "ending" is a mindf*** and a neat visual, but that doesn't make the movie itself good or any less confusing. It's basically a poor adaption of something that probably was good.

 

TETSUUUUUO!!!!!

 

Stay away from Inuyasha...I hate that fucking show. CN seems to always have it on the Adult Swim lineup and I wish they'd buy a new show with a large amount of episodes.

 

Hey, I'm aware lots of people probably won't like it. However, it beats the hell out of most of the "mainstream" anime.

 

From what I've seen of Ramna, it's extremely stupid as well. Also I dislike Reign and .hack.

 

Spirited Away, Akira, Ninja Scroll, Princess Mononoke, are all classics and I think you should give them a chance. Also Neon Genesis Evangelion, but like someone else said, it's more of an aquired taste.

 

Yes, no, good BUT very iffy, yes.

 

N.G.E. -- the further you get into it, the more alcohol you should consume with it.

 

Speaking of Adult Swim. I understood very little of the show, but I loved Fooly Cooly. It's a crazy and fucked up show and you will often think "wtf is going on", but it's great for some reason. It also has a great theme.

 

It isn't something I'd recommend to some one to try to get them into anime. Well, maybe, depending on what their taste was.

 

Project A-Ko I wouldn't recommend, because to "get" it you have to be familiar, at least somewhat, with the anime it parodies. If you are though, it's a pretty neat poke at the various genres and the rampant cliches in it.

 

Dominion: Tank Police seems decent enough, but I haven't seen enough to clearly judge it.

 

Blue Seed: some people like it....I never bothered to watch much of it. Didn't grab me.

 

Gunsmith Cats is pretty good for what is, which is basically an animated version of a buddy cop show. You know, the maker of it really seemed to be fascinated with guns and nifty cars...gee, I wonder why?

 

8-Man is pretty decent.

 

And Vampite Hunter D Bloodlust is a snoozefest.

 

Much less action than the original, but a snoozefest? Eh, I don't think so. Although I could see your point somewhat.

 

As much as I like Inuyasha, it's extremely overrated.

 

Oh, certainly. It isn't as bad as preconceptions would have you believe, but it isn't as good as it's staunchest supporters would have you believe.

[Guest wildpegasus]

I watched half a show of Inuyasha one time but the main whiny charactor immediatly became one of my worst ever. The show could be good but I'll never know.

 

I've seen a couple of episodes or movies of City Hunter -- Good, fun stuff.

 

3X3 Eyes which I believe I've only seen half of is awesome. Very imaginative and a cast of charactors I liked.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I'd recommend Astro Boy (old one) because it is deceptively dark (a man who creates a robot in the image of his dead son and then sells him to a carnival), but you have to get past the bad voice acting (astro), repetitive music, and storylines that go by so fast you have to have ADD to keep up.

[Guest wildpegasus]

I'd recommend Astro Boy (old one) because it is deceptively dark (a man who creates a robot in the image of his dead son and then sells him to a carnival), but you have to get past the bad voice acting (astro), repetitive music, and storylines that go by so fast you have to have ADD to keep up.

I heard the American voice dubbing in a few short clips. The Canadian one was different. I assume the American dubbing is what's on the currently released tapes right now. That so?

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

The voices sounded the same on the tapes as they did on tv.