The General Anime Thread...
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- Tunerguy21
@Lain Definitely glad you did decide to give it a shot. I realize I was pretty vague, but I'm honestly not sure what I would enjoy, barring car or racing-related stuff. I am prepared to go out of my comfort zone a bit and not write off a series just based on intial impressions. I guess that's why I was just trying to find a gateway show to start off with and get comfortable with the idea of watching anime again after quite a few years. That being said, your recommendation seems to be just what I'm looking for. Thanks.
@SVX I remember hearing about both Capeta and Over Rev from that automotive anime/manga thread. I remember looking into Capeta, but never actually got around to watching. I'm familiar with Studio Ghibli and have even watched a couple films with the family years back (odd, considering they had criticized me for watching Initial D at around the same time), but I've not heard of AKIRA. I might also be looking into Monogatari, cause I do love a good laugh.
Well, looks like I got some work to do. Thanks for the advice. I may end up checking by here and posting more often in the future.
@SVX I remember hearing about both Capeta and Over Rev from that automotive anime/manga thread. I remember looking into Capeta, but never actually got around to watching. I'm familiar with Studio Ghibli and have even watched a couple films with the family years back (odd, considering they had criticized me for watching Initial D at around the same time), but I've not heard of AKIRA. I might also be looking into Monogatari, cause I do love a good laugh.
Well, looks like I got some work to do. Thanks for the advice. I may end up checking by here and posting more often in the future.
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Capeta manga is great. You really feel for the main character as he struggles through certain challenges. It's not just based Takumi winning all the time. Haven't seen the anime though.
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Time to roll out the ol' suggestions list again.
Cowboy Bebop. Ticks all the boxes for a great starter show. Kung Fu Space Western with an acclaimed and eclectic soundtrack. Great English dub.
Steins;Gate. Starts off pretty slowly, picks up after ten or so episodes. About a self proclaimed mad scientist who accidentally turns his microwave into a time machine. Not necessarily the best show out there, but it's fairly accessible for newcomers. English dub is pointless as half the Japanese dub is just the main character shouting about himself in English anyway.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica. A total oddball (for a newcomer). One of those things people are talking about when they talk about weird Japanese things (in a non-sexual way). It's about teenage girls becoming superheroes and fighting witches. A few flaws, but it's a strong overall package if you're looking for something that's quirky, badass, and yet somehow also quite emotional. English dub is terrible, watch in Japanese.
Death Note. That thing a load of teenage girls like because it has pretty boys in it. Goes severely downhill in the last third of the series, the rest is an over the top supernatural detective drama. Fairly narmy, but entertaining enough, and again, accessible. The English dub adds to the overblown narm factor so I'd strongly recommend it. The same studio have recently been behind One Punch Man, which I haven't seen but which I hear offers the same sort of appeal.
Nichijou. Surrealist high school sketch comedy show. Good place to go for lighthearted laughs. No English dub.
Actually, looking back at your original post, you didn't mention which anime films you've seen. If so, I would recommend you try to check out Porco Rosso, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Castle In The Sky, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Whisper of the Heart, The Cat Returns, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Tokyo Godfathers, and Five Centimetres Per Second. Most of these films have English dubs which are okay enough, all though the Japanese dub will usually be easier on the ears. Even if nothing else on this list tickles your fancy, at the very least try giving most of these a watch. They're just downright classic films. If you're looking for something a bit more out there on the movie side, I'd strongly recommend Perfect Blue and Akira. Both brilliant films as well.
Gurren Lagann. Ridiculous over the top mecha hype action awesome big brash giant robot battles GIGA DRILL BREAKER show. English dub is competent enough, if you want one. The same people made Kill La Kill, if you want more like Gurren Lagann.
Azumanga Daioh. This show has cats in it. I like cats. Also some jokes. Japanese dub is NORIO WAKAMOTO/10, English dub is 0/10.
FLCL. Puberty, the anime. Also bass guitars. And Vespas. And Naota's father who is actually not a real character and is instead a metaphor for how the media shapes both our worldview and our view of ourselves. And spicy curry. And the correct spelling of mackerel. And Puss in Boots. And baseball. And playing baseball with bass guitars. English dub is good, Japanese also. Soundtrack is by the pillows and made of awesome.
Neon Genesis Evangelion. An anime about why anime is bad and you shouldn't watch anime because it is bad but still do regardless because anime is like a drug and drugs are bad unless they are good just like anime which is bad unless it is good but even if it is good still forms a part of the commercialised media which subtly and unconsciously shapes our fundamental paradigms and teaches us to hate ourselves and resent others, a cycle which can only be broken out of by sustained exerted use of willpower. English dub is godawful. Also giant cyborg mechas fighting eldritch abominations which (possibly) want to destroy humanity.
Shirobako. An anime about making anime. Unrealistically optimistic outlook on the medium.
My Love Story.
Story.
Do not get these two things mixed up. They are not the same thing by any means. One is about teenage romance or something (I don't know I haven't seen it), and the other is about terrible people doing bad things to each other. Do not get these two things mixed up.
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Yeah, but I think a lot of people would find it a bit heavy and slow.
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As many great films are.
Lain
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Because a 2nd opinion never hurt...
Steins;Gate starts of slow but enjoyable, goes off the deep end at about the halfway point and pretty much stops being worthwhile at that point. I personally recommend Noein over it. The art stlye's more unique and interesting (though the quality is more variable than S;G's rather consistent high quality), and the story is miles better.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a fantastic show, but it could be worth checking out Bokurano first... Very similar premise (though the specifics are different), and it's only a few years older than Madoka... also it goes for a subdued realistic look so it's naturally less stylish, but that may be a plus if the magical girl aesthetic scares you off from Madoka.
Death Note is also great, even if it relies heavily on its interesting premise to the point where other plot elements start deteriorating in the 2nd half. Still, the premise is cool and original, and the anime does take it in some fun and interesting directions. It inspired a wave of lesser anime that try to come up with overly contrived "cool gimmick", but there's something so simple and cool about Death Note's gimmick that just hasn't really been replicated since... until One Punch Man, that is. But One Punch Man is a very different show in terms of tone, it's more similar to Gurren Lagann, which is also on this list... Roger may not be able to vouch for it, but I can. It was insanely fun, one of the most entertaining shows I've seen in the past year or two.
Nichijou's brand of surreal sketch comedy may not be everybody, but it's definitely worth checking out.
I'm not going to cover all of Roger's film recommendations individually, but I'll say that I agree with all of them (with the caveat being that I haven't seen Porco Rosso, Princess Kaguya or The Cat Returns yet), and would also add Summer Wars and Sword of the Stranger.
Gurren Lagann is badass. Personally I like Kill la Kill a bit more, but its... uh... "aesthetic" might be a little harder to get into for someone new to anime. Can't really go wrong with either show though, they're both killer.
Azumanga Daioh, haven't seen the anime but I like the manga. Very cute and funny, though some jokes don't translate well to English.
FLCL is a short, crazy trip with sweet animation (even in spite of its age) and a soundtrack that somehow perfectly fits the wildly variable visuals like a glove. It'll have you scratching your head going "what the hell??", but in a good and highly enjoyable way.
Neon Genesis Evangelion. One of my all-time favorite anime, but some aspects have aged somewhat roughly... though I didn't watch it until 2010, so it hasn't aged terribly either. There are some highly redeeming qualities to NGE that make it still very worth watching today, even though they're remaking and moderinizing the anime as a series of films... the original show has one of the most interesting cast of characters (not just the main characters either), that are fleshed out in all their miserable detail. Not really a fun show to watch, however... don't let the giant robots fool you into thinking this is a fun mindless romp like Transformers, it's more akin to Irréversible.
Shirobako - Haven't seen. Modestly interested, if only because the premise appeals to me. Another similar show worth checking out would be Bakuman, which is about aspiring manga artists and is also unrealistically optimistic.
Steins;Gate starts of slow but enjoyable, goes off the deep end at about the halfway point and pretty much stops being worthwhile at that point. I personally recommend Noein over it. The art stlye's more unique and interesting (though the quality is more variable than S;G's rather consistent high quality), and the story is miles better.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a fantastic show, but it could be worth checking out Bokurano first... Very similar premise (though the specifics are different), and it's only a few years older than Madoka... also it goes for a subdued realistic look so it's naturally less stylish, but that may be a plus if the magical girl aesthetic scares you off from Madoka.
Death Note is also great, even if it relies heavily on its interesting premise to the point where other plot elements start deteriorating in the 2nd half. Still, the premise is cool and original, and the anime does take it in some fun and interesting directions. It inspired a wave of lesser anime that try to come up with overly contrived "cool gimmick", but there's something so simple and cool about Death Note's gimmick that just hasn't really been replicated since... until One Punch Man, that is. But One Punch Man is a very different show in terms of tone, it's more similar to Gurren Lagann, which is also on this list... Roger may not be able to vouch for it, but I can. It was insanely fun, one of the most entertaining shows I've seen in the past year or two.
Nichijou's brand of surreal sketch comedy may not be everybody, but it's definitely worth checking out.
I'm not going to cover all of Roger's film recommendations individually, but I'll say that I agree with all of them (with the caveat being that I haven't seen Porco Rosso, Princess Kaguya or The Cat Returns yet), and would also add Summer Wars and Sword of the Stranger.
Gurren Lagann is badass. Personally I like Kill la Kill a bit more, but its... uh... "aesthetic" might be a little harder to get into for someone new to anime. Can't really go wrong with either show though, they're both killer.
Azumanga Daioh, haven't seen the anime but I like the manga. Very cute and funny, though some jokes don't translate well to English.
FLCL is a short, crazy trip with sweet animation (even in spite of its age) and a soundtrack that somehow perfectly fits the wildly variable visuals like a glove. It'll have you scratching your head going "what the hell??", but in a good and highly enjoyable way.
Neon Genesis Evangelion. One of my all-time favorite anime, but some aspects have aged somewhat roughly... though I didn't watch it until 2010, so it hasn't aged terribly either. There are some highly redeeming qualities to NGE that make it still very worth watching today, even though they're remaking and moderinizing the anime as a series of films... the original show has one of the most interesting cast of characters (not just the main characters either), that are fleshed out in all their miserable detail. Not really a fun show to watch, however... don't let the giant robots fool you into thinking this is a fun mindless romp like Transformers, it's more akin to Irréversible.
Shirobako - Haven't seen. Modestly interested, if only because the premise appeals to me. Another similar show worth checking out would be Bakuman, which is about aspiring manga artists and is also unrealistically optimistic.
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Black Lagoon English dub if you like guns, explosions, and swearing. Not your typical slice of life moe moe cute girls show. Probably one of my all time favorites.
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Again, it may not be a fresh new show, or a long one at that, but Gunsmith Cats is another nice choice for the anime beginner; yes, at three episodes, it isn't a long classic, but the gung-ho action scenes really give out a Miami Vice (or any other American action show from the 80s or 90s) vibe, only with more gals and guns as well as having Chicago as its background. The animation quality grows a little bit worse between the second and third episodes, due to the animation director changing, but the overall design is very true to the source material.
Oh, and it has a Shelby GT500 (as well as its fantastic V8 engine sound thanks to some recording sessions at Willow Springs), which is another fantastic highlight. Trust me, even while it's a 1990's Original Video Animation, those three episodes will really make you crave for more repeats...
If Nichijou is a little too wacky for you in terms of comedy, Full Metal Panic: Fumoffu! can let out quite a few laughs. And since it doesn't need a masterful knowledge of its source material to understand all the jokes, many can just pick it up and watch some of the best "realistic comedy" Japan has ever made. It still has some Japan in it, but nothing as insane as what Nichijou can bring up...
Both shows' English dubs are bearable, nothing much wrong with either of them.
Oh, and it has a Shelby GT500 (as well as its fantastic V8 engine sound thanks to some recording sessions at Willow Springs), which is another fantastic highlight. Trust me, even while it's a 1990's Original Video Animation, those three episodes will really make you crave for more repeats...
If Nichijou is a little too wacky for you in terms of comedy, Full Metal Panic: Fumoffu! can let out quite a few laughs. And since it doesn't need a masterful knowledge of its source material to understand all the jokes, many can just pick it up and watch some of the best "realistic comedy" Japan has ever made. It still has some Japan in it, but nothing as insane as what Nichijou can bring up...
Both shows' English dubs are bearable, nothing much wrong with either of them.
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I'd like to add Summer Wars into the film list. It moves fast but if you can keep up it's a blast to watch. Not a single moment is ever boring or slow.
I'd give my money on Fumoffu!. The humor was brilliant, and it never got stale.
I'd definitely check Shirobako out. Like what Roger said it pits a slightly unrealistic outlook of the anime industry but it still gives you an idea on how it works. Plus there's some nicely-added allusions.
I'd give my money on Fumoffu!. The humor was brilliant, and it never got stale.
I'd definitely check Shirobako out. Like what Roger said it pits a slightly unrealistic outlook of the anime industry but it still gives you an idea on how it works. Plus there's some nicely-added allusions.
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I got to the end of it without getting bored. That's literally all I can say about it. It's inoffensive and mildly entertaining. I figured its interesting premise made it worthy of inclusion.
I tried that series, but I found it a bit grim dark for my tastes. I can probably see the appeal, but I found it a bit dull...
...but this is very true though. Madoka is stylish as all hell, but I can see why many would be put off by its aesthetic. Really it's a matter of taste. Some prefer one thing, others prefer another.
@Tunerguy21, If you do watch Madoka and love the aesthetic, try Monogatari. I'd never say it's good (unless the definition of good being used is "terrible"), but it's as aesthetic as it gets. Like, it's some sort of vapourwave anime or something.
This. Death Note is interesting in that it's its gimmick which elevates it above just being so bad it's good and actually into some sort of tier above that. Regardless, it's a fairly fun show to sit down, put on, take a potato chip, and watch.
Not familiar with Sword of the Stranger, so I can't comment; but I left Summer Wars off because I tend to find it to be a fairly polarising film. Some people love it, others just struggle to work out what's meant to be going on. I think it's the constant cutting between the real world and the virtual one which throws people off. I love Summer Wars, but I know plenty of people who can't stand it.
Hence why I included it as a follow up to Gurren Lagann. Kill La Kill is not a good show for beginners, and the first couple of episodes are weirdly rubbish. If you're already into anime though, Kill La Kill is just great fun. Also it has a load of weird parallels with Sonic Adventure 2 which I still can't work out whether or not were intentional, but which make that show ten times more entertaining to me.
Only if you've watched it less than four times. After that it makes perfect sense!
Let's not mince words here. So far the Rebuild films have turned out to be such a mess that they make the original look coherent.
The cast in NGE is brilliant. I wouldn't say it's not fun to watch though. Yes, parts of it definitely aren't, but then you have something like episode 9. It's a show which varies a lot in its style, and I think that's a big part of the appeal.
Ultimately, the subjectivity of NGE is a big part of its appeal; something which is best exemplified by the alternate endings. In the original TV ending, low production values and all, the events at the end of episode 24 ultimately serve as a catalyst for Shinji to accept who he is as a person and, well, grow up. In the End of Evangelion, they act as a final trigger, causing him to break down. They allow for both interpretations of Shinji's character (both that of him as a brave young man doing his best in the circumstances, and that of him as a cowardly little boy who's too afraid to even run away) depending on how the audience wants to view him. Obviously I just simplified things rather in that explanation (we are talking about subjectivity, after all), but regardless, it's a great example.
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Ok enough of GTSport, back to Anime now.
First off. Welcome @Tunerguy21 we hope you enjoy your stay
I'd ask what your favourite genres are then recommend based off of those. If you like cars and just visual eye candy then I'd recommend you watch Redline, tis a movie. Dub or sub, I dunno, I'll let the chaps debate on that.
In other news, I'm liking Mankind Has Declined. Has this nice surrealism to it.
First off. Welcome @Tunerguy21 we hope you enjoy your stay
I'd ask what your favourite genres are then recommend based off of those. If you like cars and just visual eye candy then I'd recommend you watch Redline, tis a movie. Dub or sub, I dunno, I'll let the chaps debate on that.
In other news, I'm liking Mankind Has Declined. Has this nice surrealism to it.
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...Forgive me but I'm gonna vent a bit here.
Someone told me there was Ace Attorney anime, and that it's actually pretty good - so, as curious as I am, I checked it out.
Now, I've never played the game before (I don't own a 3DS) but my god, this anime is very much the epitome of brain dead crap.
CGI is PS2 era, voice is miscast (Japanese dub), the script is so bad, as in not-even-laughably-bad bad, and the butchering of the court procedures is truly, truly indictment-worthy.
I want the twenty+ minutes back I wasted watching this horrid crap.
Also, if Japan has death penalty then please, by all means convict & sentence the makers of this drivel...
Someone told me there was Ace Attorney anime, and that it's actually pretty good - so, as curious as I am, I checked it out.
Now, I've never played the game before (I don't own a 3DS) but my god, this anime is very much the epitome of brain dead crap.
CGI is PS2 era, voice is miscast (Japanese dub), the script is so bad, as in not-even-laughably-bad bad, and the butchering of the court procedures is truly, truly indictment-worthy.
I want the twenty+ minutes back I wasted watching this horrid crap.
Also, if Japan has death penalty then please, by all means convict & sentence the makers of this drivel...
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Tokyopop changed Takumi to "Tak" and Itsuki to "Iggy" (among other crimes), I'm surprised they didn't change Bunta's tofu shop to a bakery/pizzeria.
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Learn how to Animate!
Module 1: Perspective, Pacing and Physics for Six Year Olds.
Bring your own Crayons.
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