<!--QuoteBegin--Bosnian+Dec 30 2003, 06:44 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Bosnian @ Dec 30 2003, 06:44 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> No it isn't. There is another one that they play during the night on Saturdays. It is a very bad series, very bad. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Yu Yu Hakusho
Compared to some of the Almighty Sages that grace these off-topic forums with their godly (and useless) anime knowledge, I am a simple peasant. But, I'm gonna write my favorites down anyways.
Neon Genesis Evangelion (the TV series - I friggin' hated the movies and last few episodes... And shouldn't it be Neo Genesis..?) Cowboy Bebop, <i>especially</i> the last few episodes (it had some plot points that led to the end, but was rather incohesive - almost exactly like Vice City) Ghost In the Shell: SAC (for some reason I thought it was better than the movie, probably because Deus Ex had already explored the same concepts on a much more epic scale) Spriggan the movie (a good action movie with a plot similar to Halo - I love movies that explain the origin of the human race, I do not know why)
<!--QuoteBegin--Infinitum+Dec 30 2003, 04:00 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Infinitum @ Dec 30 2003, 04:00 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--SoulSkorpion+Dec 30 2003, 07:55 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SoulSkorpion @ Dec 30 2003, 07:55 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--TommyVercetti+Dec 30 2003, 04:11 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (TommyVercetti @ Dec 30 2003, 04:11 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> ... And shouldn't it be Neo Genesis..? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> No, it shouldn't. Nyah <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> It should be Shin Seiki Evangelion, but who cares... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Hah, I love the people who diss me because I like both the dubs and the subs of most anime, they say true fans only watch subs yadda yadda, basic otaku crap. Then I start a conversation about Mononoke Hime and they don't know what I'm talking about, lol.
I think Blood: The last Vampire should be mentioned too. Good music and wonderfull animation. Too bad its only 45 minutes. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
And how about that anime that was completely done by one man? Hishi no Koe I think. That was a good anime, really made me wish there was more.
<!--QuoteBegin--Mr. Vercetti+ Recently--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Mr. Vercetti @ Recently)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->(for some reason I thought it was better than the movie, probably because Deus Ex had already explored the same concepts on a much more epic scale)<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You mean what really defines a human? And is there really such a thing as soul?
To me, Ghost in the Shell was really about what makes us humans really human. And, let us not forget, that it has boobs, too. Deus Ex, on the other hand, was a clichéd cyberpunk story, which, despite trying, did not really delve deep into even the conspiracies it tried to portray.
<!--QuoteBegin--Lurker+ Recently--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Lurker @ Recently)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think Blood: The last Vampire should be mentioned too. Good music and wonderfull animation. Too bad its only 45 minutes.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And a bit thin on the actual plot department. A lot of things are hinted at, but are not really developed enough. Still, it was still a blast to watch.
<!--QuoteBegin--pieceofsoap+ Recently--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (pieceofsoap @ Recently)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Cowboy Bebop? Yes, its stylish, but the lack of a cohesive storyline detracts points.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
While I'll agree that there really isn't a plot as well-developed as some series or movies, in this case it's actually a good thing. All of the episodes are called sessions, and for a good reason. Don't forget the second part of the name: Bebop was a jazz style invented shortly after World War II, and the style was characterized by improvised solo performances.
So, in a way, the series is all about different, highly improvised sessions. While the "band" doesn't change until the very end, the episodes are vastly different in terms of pacing, plot, thematic elements and even the visual style. During the 26 episodes, the band meets roughly weekly and has a session, and all the time tries something new and exciting.
This part of the series is most notable in the score, which, while full of jazz and blues, still manages to feel very fresh and original, and it mixes a <i>lot</i> of different styles, too, mostly in new, original ways.
<!--QuoteBegin--Smoke Nova+ Recently--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Smoke Nova @ Recently)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Cowboy Bebop - It's good, each episode is it's own mini-story...plus it's kinda '30ish.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This man/woman/object speaks the truth. <i>Cowboy Bebop</i> isn't really typical, at all, and that's why the seeming lack of story might put some people off. To me, it was an extremely refreshing series, and definitely the among best series I have seen, anime or otherwise.
The 1930's feel comes from the various noir references and influences.
Ghost in the Shell (and\or Stand Along Complex) is especially interesting from a computer science perspective. Well, moreso if you believe humans are just organic computers.
I suppose it's about time i made an appearance. You'll all notice that my selections are the same i always put, but it can't hurt to say them again... <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
<b>Series:</b> 1] Chobits Well. What would be an anime thread without me mentioning Chobits. You're probably all sick to death of me bringing up this one, but i'm not. I still absolutely love it. It's a romantic comedy set in either the present day or the not too distant future. Computers are now full-size, human shaped Persocons that can do all that a computer can, but look great too. The story follows Hideki Motosuwa as he finds a cute Persocon in the trash and.... well... stuff happens. WATCH IT.... NOW!
2] Great Teacher Onizuka Ex-violent gang member decides he wants to become a teacher. Cue hillarious consequences. This really is a great series, it's funny, has great drama, god plot development and Onizuka himself is the ultimate character, you can't help but love him. As the new teacher he is given the "problem" class, full of troublemakers, <span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><subliminal>WATCH CHOBITS</subliminal></span> and over the 43 episodes of the series, it's his duty to win them over while trying to avoid getting fired for his actions.
3] One Piece As Inf. said basically, this anime is just purely great. Great characters, great stories, great animation and just generally great. A tad long, however, i've only seen some 72 episodes and there's still lots to go.
4] Kodomo no Omocha (Kodocha) One of my loves. Kodocha. This follows child-star Sana-chan through her daily life, with fights with the boys at school and doing a tv show afterwards. It's all about her life and loves and <span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><subliminal>WATCH CHOBITS</subliminal></span> actually follows her growing up and learning new things. This series is just absolutely great. It's cute, it's funny and sometimes it's genuinely quite sad.
5] Trigun Well, a few of you have mentioned it, and here it is. While yes, it's quite old, but this is the favourite animes of all time, and, well, this is one of my favourites. The story follows Meryl Strife and Milly Thompson, two insurance girls, as they track after a legendary gunman known as Vash The Stampede. I'm gonna stop there, you all know the story.
<b>Honourable Mentions:</b> Azumanga Daioh, Panyo Panyo Digi Charat, Angelic Layer, Full Metal Alchemist, DNAngel, Hikaru no Go..... etc etc
As with Inf., now i get bored so i'm only gonna list. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
<b>Movies:</b><span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><subliminal>WATCH CHOBITS</subliminal></span> 1] Grave Of The Fireflies / Tombstone Of Fireflies 2] Patlabor 1 3] Appleseed (As much as this is slated, i still really like it) 4] Ghost In The Shell 5] Jin-Roh
<b>OVA:</b> 1] Read Or Die 2] Gunsmith Cats 3] New Dominion Tank Police 4] Angel Sanctuary 5] Macross Plus
Ok, i'm bored with typing <span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><subliminal>WATCH CHOBITS</subliminal></span>. No subliminal advertising was used throughout this post. <span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><subliminal>WATCH CHOBITS</subliminal></span>
I have not seen as much anime as inf or esuna but this is my list ^^;
<span style='color:orange'>Series</span> 1: GTO (thanks esuna) 2: Chobits 3: NGE 4: Love Hina 5: Some very old mechwarrior anime that i watched when i was like 10, can't remember the name either.
<span style='color:orange'>Movies</span> 1: Grave Of The Fireflies 2: Ghost in the shell 3: DBZ movie with brolly ( don't ask why )
can't believe nobody put outlaw star as a fave =( <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> I saw some of that series also. Worst dialog ever. Worst characters ever. Worst action ever.
can't believe nobody put outlaw star as a fave =( <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> I saw some of that series also. Worst dialog ever. Worst characters ever. Worst action ever. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Fired.
You've just given me the reason I needed to throw anime away and not look back. I always think to myself "There has to be something I'm missing, something everyone else has experienced with anime that I haven't." But now I'm beginning to think that's not the case at all. It can't be if it's Lupin III and Outlaw Star. There are better things than anime. Why a lot of people don't believe so, I'm not sure. I'm going to give you a list of some of the "better things" I've encountered in some form.
Blade Runner Lateralus Mystery Science Theater 3000 Deus Ex Fargo The Book of Laughter and Forgetting Dr. Strangelove Planescape: Torment Frontline Søren Kierkegaard The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Close Encounters of a Third Kind Stalker Fallout Moya Philip K. D!ck (why don't we start counting how many times censorship helped and how many times it hurt us?)
There are a lot more I know of and infinitely more than I don't know of. Why don't you search these things out? I want know why you dwell on things like Transformers and Outlaw Star? I <b>have</b> to know. Because if I don't understand this, I'm going to bash the next person who says "Dubbed sucks. It's better with just English subtitles" in the head. It won't be too long until then.
Edit: Don't bother lecturing me on different opinions and tastes. Some things go beyond opinions. And I have to be sure if this is one of them or not.
Personally, I love anime as well as a lot of the things you have on that list, yet despise Lupin, as well (Never got near Outlaw Star in the first place.). Very often, I assume people like these series, especially Transformers, for the same reasons I love the Looney Tunes: They grew up with them. Anyway, what you are trying to do here is discarding a whole kind of visual media for a number of examples you feel are bad. Sorry to say so, but that's like trying to discard all novels for Rosamunde Pilcher. There's great anime, there's horrid anime. There's great games, there's horrid games. There's great movies, there's horrid movies. Catch my drift? Don't discard anime as 'bad' because of a number of bad experiences with the medium - you're depriving yourself of a number of aesthetic and narrative experience you just do not want to miss.
Oh, and sorry to say so, but subs <i>are</i> generally the better alternative, simply 'cause the Japanese voice acting scene has by far higher production values, exceptions such as Cowboy Bebop nonwithstanding.
Before you throw it away watch ANY of the following
Arjuna Now and Then, Here and There His and Her Circumstances Wings of Honneamise 3x3 Eyes
If you still want to give away Anime after watching those (Subbed mind you), then I by all means do so. Perhaps you were never meant to enjoy anime =/ I just hate it when people think that Outlaw Star, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, and whatever else they've butchered for Cartoon Network is the limit to the anime artform.
When it finally comes out on DVD in the US, do yourself a favour and hire it. They should include all 4 eps on the one disc. It is easily THE worst anime series ever produced.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Oh, and sorry to say so, but subs are generally the better alternative, simply 'cause the Japanese voice acting scene has by far higher production values, exceptions such as Cowboy Bebop nonwithstanding<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> I enjoy the subbed versions for a few reasons. A.) I'm a purist. I enjoy watching a show the way it was originally produced. For example I HATE the 'digitally enhanced' Star Wars movies, but love the originals. B.) The tidbits that get lost in translation. For example Japanese jokes or pop culture references. C.) Series tend to get 'Americanised' a bit. For example the English release of Azumanga Daioh changes Osaka's name (Which also happens to be a place in Japan) to Brooklyn.
That said, there are some tolerable dubs out there...
I'm discarding it as bad because these anime fans are placing what I believe to be bad on a pretty high pedestal. To me, anime is chaos. There in continuity, there is no standard, and there is no order in the anime culture. But I am hopeful that I'm wrong.
I'm going to download 3x3 Eyes from a certain source and then watch it. If I don't like it, I'll go watch Ghost in a Shell, Akira, or something like that. Maybe I haven't gotten a good viewpoint of anime since it is caught in the circumstance of being imported from a foreign country. I'll see how my attempts go.
By the way, if you were wondering, Blade Runner just beat you and you can't do a damn thing about it.
bos, I hate to rain on your parade but there's this thing about humans that makes them interesting; they're not all the same. Alarmingly this means there's no one great formula that everyone across the earth will love. I don't like anime just because it's anime... though I've always loved good art which means I enjoy it if it's well animated or drawn. I like anime because it taps into certain ideas and topics that most western movies don't touch on and after years of watching live actors it's refreshing to see something different that's left me hooked. It's nothing to do with transformers or saturday cartoons; it's just another branch of films. I tend to watch Asian movies too such as the classic 'the ring' before it got americanised and other stuff (I thought 'the eye' was a heckload more scary =3 ).
By the way, though bladerunner is considered classic and I like the effects I don't hold any great love for the film... it actually bored me a bit ^^; If that's your thing you should probably check out patlabour before all else though the other two you mentioned; ghost in the shell and akira offer some of that kind of navel-gazing and sci-fi you'd find in ye olde film.
At the end of the day though, somethings are or aren't for you. I doubt anime isn't for everyone in some sense because as I said, it's just another method of story-telling... just one that's rather unfortunately tied to being 'childish' or 'inappropriate' by a lot of people merely because they consciously or sub-consciously connect it to their only experiences of western animation; saturday morning cartoons and walt disney =/
I just finished watching Iria: The Zeiram Animation yesterday.... all I can say was "eh". Nothing really pulled me in as being unique or having a great story (what do you expect from 6 episodes?)... the action though which was the focus of it I thought was still mediocre....
<!--QuoteBegin--Geminosity+Dec 30 2003, 10:43 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Geminosity @ Dec 30 2003, 10:43 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> By the way, though bladerunner is considered classic and I like the effects I don't hold any great love for the film... it actually bored me a bit ^^; <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> I can understand that. But anime doesn’t bore me. It annoys me. It pokes me in the eye as I watch it. It makes fun of me, my beliefs, my family, and everything I hold dear. I hate anime, because anime hates me.
I have certain problems with most anime that I just can’t get over. There’s the lack of a central atmosphere in most anime. It’s cute to say you laughed and cried, but please shut up, you only did one. My eyes are not meant to view comedically conflicting emotions. My eyes are not meant to view contradictions of the core theme that lack dignity.
What I mean is, I don’t want my action heroes to cry and jump around. I don’t want someone to crack an inappropriate joke during a melancholy moment <b>and then everyone to laugh.</b>
I mean, God, you just got dumped, it’s not time to make an impossible facial expression and hold your arms and legs out like you’re an X and then jump around! NO! I don’t want that. Why do tears flow from their faces for no reason in one frame and then they stand with dramatized dignity in the next? *punches TV* WHY?
Does every character have to be so boring and yet have a uniquely appalling visual style? Do the Japanese people feel they somehow must compensate for their visual simplicity in reality by making and watching people who wear horrible clothes and have dyed and spiky hair? I’m not talking about Americans.
Keep in mind, I’ve only seen what’s on Cartoon Network. That’s bad anime, folks. But it’s depressing to see some of it show up on the favorites lists of the people who post here. Doesn’t matter. Those are some of the specific problems I have with anime that I’ve seen in general.
I really like Cowboy Bebop. But that’s probably inspired by Blade Runner (among other things). It has to be, sci-fi noir sticks together.
<i>This post took 50 minutes to write because of various crashes. You can thank Windows ME for your delivery.</i>
Edit: People seem to love Vash and his gun. His gun, hmm, does he ever use it?
I grew up with anime, strayed from it like most Japanese kids do at a certain age, I guess. But I still do watch it occasionally, and I assist a couple of fansubbing groups, so I'm still in touch. Not sure I can come up with five names I liked enough to list for each category, but in no particular order:
TV SERIES
* Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Reasons: Shirow is the author of my favorite manga, Appleseed (with a movie coming out soon @.@ Took damn long enough!). I like guns, and I like police action. I also worship Kusanagi Motoko (the female lead). So.. a TV series with all of this was basically God, if he exists, saying that he loves me. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> * Cowboy Bebop. Stylish, fun, creative... it's just a great, slick series that's totally enjoyable in every way. * Hellsing. Yes, I hated the ending, but it had police action, vampires, and guns. * Ebichu. This is about a talking, housekeeping hamster and her abusive owner. This is DEFINITELY for adults only, because there's a -lot- of dirty talk/imagery in it, but it's absolutely hysterical.
OAVs * Bakuen Campus Guardress. Almost unheard of, four episodes of insanity. This is a REALLY goofy, yet dark series about a school that guards the gateway to a demon world. * Memories. Three episodes, three different stories of gorgeous, gorgeous art and animation. I really can't describe it, I guess... they're weird, to say the least. * Rurouni Kenshin "Tsuiokuhen" (the first four-episode OAV). I cannot put into words how beautiful and haunting the story is, and the soundtrack, and the art... flawless, and it left me in tears. ;.; * Macross Plus. Not a big fan of mecha either, but to me this was more a story about two pilots and the woman they loved (that just happens to involve transforming fighters). Great music, animation, everything. * Please Save My Earth. Six episodes about a bunch of kids that are reincarnations of scientists from the moon. Really deep plot, though it's pretty squished together (the manga is over 20 volumes).
MOVIES * Escaflowne. Yes, I've seen the tv series. I prefer the movie. Escaflowne is fantasy-mecha done RIGHT. * The Ghost in the Shell. I thought it was actually a very good condensation of the manga, or at least parts of it... * Grave of the Fireflies. About a boy who tries to take care of himself and his little sister after their mother dies in a bombing raid during WWII. It's touching and probably one of the most human films I've seen in my life.
MANGA * Appleseed. Shirow, police action, political intrigue. Good stuff. * Rurouni Kenshin. I hate the TV series, but the manga is great. I just wish it were a bit less goofy, and didn't involve warriors "announcing" their moves a'la fighter games. * Tenjou Tenge. I love Oh! great's (yeah, that's his pen name... ^^<!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo--> art style, and this involves rival schools beating the crap out of each other (to put it simply), lots of fanservice and nudity. Right up my alley. * Trigun. The tv series wasn't bad, but the manga really takes things a lot further, and gets much darker plot-wise.
That about does it, I guess. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin--Bosnian+Dec 30 2003, 02:50 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Bosnian @ Dec 30 2003, 02:50 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Keep in mind, I’ve only seen what’s on Cartoon Network. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> That took away like, 99.9% of your credibility.
It's like translating the LOTR trilogy to african and replacing the scenes where everytime someone dies, with a fake editted scene saying, <i>"Wow, that was a good thing Boromir wasn't here when all those Uruks attacked, unfortunately he suddenly had to leave for some non existant place for no appearant reason at all."</i>
IT DOESNT WORK!
Offcourse you can dislike certain typical anime features, such as the nosebleeds and the gigantic sweatdrops. They're just something invented by animators to express certain emotions. The same could be said for smilies. They are like forum smilies in a way.
As for the typical big eyed, crazy hair look all anime characters seem to have... I think it's something the Japanese used to crack 'jokes' at the Western people. You see, if we were to draw an Asian person, what would we draw? Right, a person with tiny eyesliths and straight black hair. Anime is just a way for Animators to do the complete opposite.
Oh, and please don't go look for the Anime equivalent of Bladerunner, because there simply isn't one. Just like there isn't a real-life equivalent of Princess Mononoke, or Akira.
I don't see the offence of it though... I like the odd humour of it all, it makes me smile when vash uses his goofy facade to cover the more serious side; it makes the end all the more dramatic as the humour seeps out of the series to be replaced with the conflict and turmoil.
Sounds to me like you just want things to be straight and blunt; no funny stuff. You'll definitely appreciate the 3 movies; patlabour, ghost in the shell and akira then... the style throughout is very serious, the characters are solid and there's no exaggerated stuff. Dead-pan. Dead-serious. Nothing in there you'd find outside of a normal movie.
At the end of the day people have different tastes, as i already said... there's no need to be so worked up over something that doesn't agree with you =3 Just concentrate on what you like and what matters and let the unnecessary stuff just slip... away...
I basically agree with Gem (surprise!). The slapstic humor you seem to despise that much is not to be equalled with any kind of anime.
As for suggestions, I'd argue that you shouldn't watch Akira too soon; the happenings in the olympic arena will seem grotesque to anyone not familiar with the animes aesthetical style. I do however second the suggestion of Ghost in the Shell and (after all I heard) Patlabor. Also, you as a fan of D!ck will quite possibly be intrigued by Serial Experiments LAIN - the series main character is a teenage girl, but don't let that deter you. You might also be interested in Jin Roh, the quite possibly most serious anime of the last twenty years, although I'm willing to bet you won't agree with that movies message.
Comments
I liked spiritied away for a movie
it's late, I didn't post 5, sue me
<!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Yu Yu Hakusho
Neon Genesis Evangelion (the TV series - I friggin' hated the movies and last few episodes... And shouldn't it be Neo Genesis..?)
Cowboy Bebop, <i>especially</i> the last few episodes (it had some plot points that led to the end, but was rather incohesive - almost exactly like Vice City)
Ghost In the Shell: SAC (for some reason I thought it was better than the movie, probably because Deus Ex had already explored the same concepts on a much more epic scale)
Spriggan the movie (a good action movie with a plot similar to Halo - I love movies that explain the origin of the human race, I do not know why)
No, it shouldn't. Nyah <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
No, it shouldn't. Nyah <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
It should be Shin Seiki Evangelion, but who cares...
No, it shouldn't. Nyah <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It should be Shin Seiki Evangelion, but who cares... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hah, I love the people who diss me because I like both the dubs and the subs of most anime, they say true fans only watch subs yadda yadda, basic otaku crap. Then I start a conversation about Mononoke Hime and they don't know what I'm talking about, lol.
I think Blood: The last Vampire should be mentioned too. Good music and wonderfull animation. Too bad its only 45 minutes. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
And how about that anime that was completely done by one man? Hishi no Koe I think. That was a good anime, really made me wish there was more.
English name: Voices of a Distant Star
Japanese Comics.
<!--QuoteBegin--Mr. Vercetti+ Recently--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Mr. Vercetti @ Recently)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->(for some reason I thought it was better than the movie, probably because Deus Ex had already explored the same concepts on a much more epic scale)<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You mean what really defines a human? And is there really such a thing as soul?
To me, Ghost in the Shell was really about what makes us humans really human. And, let us not forget, that it has boobs, too. Deus Ex, on the other hand, was a clichéd cyberpunk story, which, despite trying, did not really delve deep into even the conspiracies it tried to portray.
<!--QuoteBegin--Lurker+ Recently--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Lurker @ Recently)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think Blood: The last Vampire should be mentioned too. Good music and wonderfull animation. Too bad its only 45 minutes.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And a bit thin on the actual plot department. A lot of things are hinted at, but are not really developed enough. Still, it was still a blast to watch.
<!--QuoteBegin--pieceofsoap+ Recently--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (pieceofsoap @ Recently)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Cowboy Bebop? Yes, its stylish, but the lack of a cohesive storyline detracts points.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
While I'll agree that there really isn't a plot as well-developed as some series or movies, in this case it's actually a good thing. All of the episodes are called sessions, and for a good reason. Don't forget the second part of the name: Bebop was a jazz style invented shortly after World War II, and the style was characterized by improvised solo performances.
So, in a way, the series is all about different, highly improvised sessions. While the "band" doesn't change until the very end, the episodes are vastly different in terms of pacing, plot, thematic elements and even the visual style. During the 26 episodes, the band meets roughly weekly and has a session, and all the time tries something new and exciting.
This part of the series is most notable in the score, which, while full of jazz and blues, still manages to feel very fresh and original, and it mixes a <i>lot</i> of different styles, too, mostly in new, original ways.
<!--QuoteBegin--Smoke Nova+ Recently--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Smoke Nova @ Recently)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Cowboy Bebop - It's good, each episode is it's own mini-story...plus it's kinda '30ish.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This man/woman/object speaks the truth. <i>Cowboy Bebop</i> isn't really typical, at all, and that's why the seeming lack of story might put some people off. To me, it was an extremely refreshing series, and definitely the among best series I have seen, anime or otherwise.
The 1930's feel comes from the various noir references and influences.
<b>Series:</b>
1] Chobits
Well. What would be an anime thread without me mentioning Chobits. You're probably all sick to death of me bringing up this one, but i'm not. I still absolutely love it. It's a romantic comedy set in either the present day or the not too distant future. Computers are now full-size, human shaped Persocons that can do all that a computer can, but look great too. The story follows Hideki Motosuwa as he finds a cute Persocon in the trash and.... well... stuff happens. WATCH IT.... NOW!
2] Great Teacher Onizuka
Ex-violent gang member decides he wants to become a teacher. Cue hillarious consequences. This really is a great series, it's funny, has great drama, god plot development and Onizuka himself is the ultimate character, you can't help but love him. As the new teacher he is given the "problem" class, full of troublemakers, <span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><subliminal>WATCH CHOBITS</subliminal></span> and over the 43 episodes of the series, it's his duty to win them over while trying to avoid getting fired for his actions.
3] One Piece
As Inf. said basically, this anime is just purely great. Great characters, great stories, great animation and just generally great. A tad long, however, i've only seen some 72 episodes and there's still lots to go.
4] Kodomo no Omocha (Kodocha)
One of my loves. Kodocha. This follows child-star Sana-chan through her daily life, with fights with the boys at school and doing a tv show afterwards. It's all about her life and loves and <span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><subliminal>WATCH CHOBITS</subliminal></span> actually follows her growing up and learning new things. This series is just absolutely great. It's cute, it's funny and sometimes it's genuinely quite sad.
5] Trigun
Well, a few of you have mentioned it, and here it is. While yes, it's quite old, but this is the favourite animes of all time, and, well, this is one of my favourites. The story follows Meryl Strife and Milly Thompson, two insurance girls, as they track after a legendary gunman known as Vash The Stampede. I'm gonna stop there, you all know the story.
<b>Honourable Mentions:</b> Azumanga Daioh, Panyo Panyo Digi Charat, Angelic Layer, Full Metal Alchemist, DNAngel, Hikaru no Go..... etc etc
As with Inf., now i get bored so i'm only gonna list. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
<b>Movies:</b><span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><subliminal>WATCH CHOBITS</subliminal></span>
1] Grave Of The Fireflies / Tombstone Of Fireflies
2] Patlabor 1
3] Appleseed (As much as this is slated, i still really like it)
4] Ghost In The Shell
5] Jin-Roh
<b>OVA:</b>
1] Read Or Die
2] Gunsmith Cats
3] New Dominion Tank Police
4] Angel Sanctuary
5] Macross Plus
Ok, i'm bored with typing <span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><subliminal>WATCH CHOBITS</subliminal></span>. No subliminal advertising was used throughout this post. <span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><subliminal>WATCH CHOBITS</subliminal></span>
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><subliminal>WATCH CHOBITS</subliminal></span>
can't believe nobody put outlaw star as a fave =(
<span style='color:orange'>Series</span>
1: GTO (thanks esuna)
2: Chobits
3: NGE
4: Love Hina
5: Some very old mechwarrior anime that i watched when i was like 10, can't remember the name either.
<span style='color:orange'>Movies</span>
1: Grave Of The Fireflies
2: Ghost in the shell
3: DBZ movie with brolly ( don't ask why )
can't believe nobody put outlaw star as a fave =( <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I saw some of that series also. Worst dialog ever. Worst characters ever. Worst action ever.
can't believe nobody put outlaw star as a fave =( <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I saw some of that series also. Worst dialog ever. Worst characters ever. Worst action ever. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fired.
Blade Runner
Lateralus
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Deus Ex
Fargo
The Book of Laughter and Forgetting
Dr. Strangelove
Planescape: Torment
Frontline
Søren Kierkegaard
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Close Encounters of a Third Kind
Stalker
Fallout
Moya
Philip K. D!ck (why don't we start counting how many times censorship helped and how many times it hurt us?)
There are a lot more I know of and infinitely more than I don't know of. Why don't you search these things out? I want know why you dwell on things like Transformers and Outlaw Star? I <b>have</b> to know. Because if I don't understand this, I'm going to bash the next person who says "Dubbed sucks. It's better with just English subtitles" in the head. It won't be too long until then.
Edit: Don't bother lecturing me on different opinions and tastes. Some things go beyond opinions. And I have to be sure if this is one of them or not.
Anyway, what you are trying to do here is discarding a whole kind of visual media for a number of examples you feel are bad. Sorry to say so, but that's like trying to discard all novels for Rosamunde Pilcher.
There's great anime, there's horrid anime. There's great games, there's horrid games. There's great movies, there's horrid movies. Catch my drift?
Don't discard anime as 'bad' because of a number of bad experiences with the medium - you're depriving yourself of a number of aesthetic and narrative experience you just do not want to miss.
Oh, and sorry to say so, but subs <i>are</i> generally the better alternative, simply 'cause the Japanese voice acting scene has by far higher production values, exceptions such as Cowboy Bebop nonwithstanding.
Arjuna
Now and Then, Here and There
His and Her Circumstances
Wings of Honneamise
3x3 Eyes
If you still want to give away Anime after watching those (Subbed mind you), then I by all means do so. Perhaps you were never meant to enjoy anime =/
I just hate it when people think that Outlaw Star, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, and whatever else they've butchered for Cartoon Network is the limit to the anime artform.
EDIT:
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->there's horrid anime<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Arcade Gamer Fubuki
When it finally comes out on DVD in the US, do yourself a favour and hire it. They should include all 4 eps on the one disc.
It is easily THE worst anime series ever produced.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Oh, and sorry to say so, but subs are generally the better alternative, simply 'cause the Japanese voice acting scene has by far higher production values, exceptions such as Cowboy Bebop nonwithstanding<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I enjoy the subbed versions for a few reasons.
A.) I'm a purist. I enjoy watching a show the way it was originally produced. For example I HATE the 'digitally enhanced' Star Wars movies, but love the originals.
B.) The tidbits that get lost in translation. For example Japanese jokes or pop culture references.
C.) Series tend to get 'Americanised' a bit. For example the English release of Azumanga Daioh changes Osaka's name (Which also happens to be a place in Japan) to Brooklyn.
That said, there are some tolerable dubs out there...
If I get you right, you're complaining about the variety of series available?
Anime IS variety.
As an excerise, pick and topic or subject matter you like and I will name an anime series or manga within 5 minutes of me seeing your reply.
By the way, if you were wondering, Blade Runner just beat you and you can't do a damn thing about it.
By the way, though bladerunner is considered classic and I like the effects I don't hold any great love for the film... it actually bored me a bit ^^;
If that's your thing you should probably check out patlabour before all else though the other two you mentioned; ghost in the shell and akira offer some of that kind of navel-gazing and sci-fi you'd find in ye olde film.
At the end of the day though, somethings are or aren't for you. I doubt anime isn't for everyone in some sense because as I said, it's just another method of story-telling... just one that's rather unfortunately tied to being 'childish' or 'inappropriate' by a lot of people merely because they consciously or sub-consciously connect it to their only experiences of western animation; saturday morning cartoons and walt disney =/
I can understand that. But anime doesn’t bore me. It annoys me. It pokes me in the eye as I watch it. It makes fun of me, my beliefs, my family, and everything I hold dear. I hate anime, because anime hates me.
I have certain problems with most anime that I just can’t get over. There’s the lack of a central atmosphere in most anime. It’s cute to say you laughed and cried, but please shut up, you only did one. My eyes are not meant to view comedically conflicting emotions. My eyes are not meant to view contradictions of the core theme that lack dignity.
What I mean is, I don’t want my action heroes to cry and jump around. I don’t want someone to crack an inappropriate joke during a melancholy moment <b>and then everyone to laugh.</b>
I mean, God, you just got dumped, it’s not time to make an impossible facial expression and hold your arms and legs out like you’re an X and then jump around! NO! I don’t want that. Why do tears flow from their faces for no reason in one frame and then they stand with dramatized dignity in the next? *punches TV* WHY?
Does every character have to be so boring and yet have a uniquely appalling visual style? Do the Japanese people feel they somehow must compensate for their visual simplicity in reality by making and watching people who wear horrible clothes and have dyed and spiky hair? I’m not talking about Americans.
Keep in mind, I’ve only seen what’s on Cartoon Network. That’s bad anime, folks. But it’s depressing to see some of it show up on the favorites lists of the people who post here. Doesn’t matter. Those are some of the specific problems I have with anime that I’ve seen in general.
I really like Cowboy Bebop. But that’s probably inspired by Blade Runner (among other things). It has to be, sci-fi noir sticks together.
<i>This post took 50 minutes to write because of various crashes. You can thank Windows ME for your delivery.</i>
Edit: People seem to love Vash and his gun. His gun, hmm, does he ever use it?
TV SERIES
* Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Reasons: Shirow is the author of my favorite manga, Appleseed (with a movie coming out soon @.@ Took damn long enough!). I like guns, and I like police action. I also worship Kusanagi Motoko (the female lead). So.. a TV series with all of this was basically God, if he exists, saying that he loves me. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
* Cowboy Bebop. Stylish, fun, creative... it's just a great, slick series that's totally enjoyable in every way.
* Hellsing. Yes, I hated the ending, but it had police action, vampires, and guns.
* Ebichu. This is about a talking, housekeeping hamster and her abusive owner. This is DEFINITELY for adults only, because there's a -lot- of dirty talk/imagery in it, but it's absolutely hysterical.
OAVs
* Bakuen Campus Guardress. Almost unheard of, four episodes of insanity. This is a REALLY goofy, yet dark series about a school that guards the gateway to a demon world.
* Memories. Three episodes, three different stories of gorgeous, gorgeous art and animation. I really can't describe it, I guess... they're weird, to say the least.
* Rurouni Kenshin "Tsuiokuhen" (the first four-episode OAV). I cannot put into words how beautiful and haunting the story is, and the soundtrack, and the art... flawless, and it left me in tears. ;.;
* Macross Plus. Not a big fan of mecha either, but to me this was more a story about two pilots and the woman they loved (that just happens to involve transforming fighters). Great music, animation, everything.
* Please Save My Earth. Six episodes about a bunch of kids that are reincarnations of scientists from the moon. Really deep plot, though it's pretty squished together (the manga is over 20 volumes).
MOVIES
* Escaflowne. Yes, I've seen the tv series. I prefer the movie. Escaflowne is fantasy-mecha done RIGHT.
* The Ghost in the Shell. I thought it was actually a very good condensation of the manga, or at least parts of it...
* Grave of the Fireflies. About a boy who tries to take care of himself and his little sister after their mother dies in a bombing raid during WWII. It's touching and probably one of the most human films I've seen in my life.
MANGA
* Appleseed. Shirow, police action, political intrigue. Good stuff.
* Rurouni Kenshin. I hate the TV series, but the manga is great. I just wish it were a bit less goofy, and didn't involve warriors "announcing" their moves a'la fighter games.
* Tenjou Tenge. I love Oh! great's (yeah, that's his pen name... ^^<!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo--> art style, and this involves rival schools beating the crap out of each other (to put it simply), lots of fanservice and nudity. Right up my alley.
* Trigun. The tv series wasn't bad, but the manga really takes things a lot further, and gets much darker plot-wise.
That about does it, I guess. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
That took away like, 99.9% of your credibility.
It's like translating the LOTR trilogy to african and replacing the scenes where everytime someone dies, with a fake editted scene saying, <i>"Wow, that was a good thing Boromir wasn't here when all those Uruks attacked, unfortunately he suddenly had to leave for some non existant place for no appearant reason at all."</i>
IT DOESNT WORK!
Offcourse you can dislike certain typical anime features, such as the nosebleeds and the gigantic sweatdrops. They're just something invented by animators to express certain emotions. The same could be said for smilies. They are like forum smilies in a way.
As for the typical big eyed, crazy hair look all anime characters seem to have... I think it's something the Japanese used to crack 'jokes' at the Western people. You see, if we were to draw an Asian person, what would we draw? Right, a person with tiny eyesliths and straight black hair. Anime is just a way for Animators to do the complete opposite.
Oh, and please don't go look for the Anime equivalent of Bladerunner, because there simply isn't one. Just like there isn't a real-life equivalent of Princess Mononoke, or Akira.
I don't see the offence of it though... I like the odd humour of it all, it makes me smile when vash uses his goofy facade to cover the more serious side; it makes the end all the more dramatic as the humour seeps out of the series to be replaced with the conflict and turmoil.
Sounds to me like you just want things to be straight and blunt; no funny stuff.
You'll definitely appreciate the 3 movies; patlabour, ghost in the shell and akira then... the style throughout is very serious, the characters are solid and there's no exaggerated stuff. Dead-pan. Dead-serious. Nothing in there you'd find outside of a normal movie.
At the end of the day people have different tastes, as i already said... there's no need to be so worked up over something that doesn't agree with you =3
Just concentrate on what you like and what matters and let the unnecessary stuff just slip... away...
As for suggestions, I'd argue that you shouldn't watch Akira too soon; the happenings in the olympic arena will seem grotesque to anyone not familiar with the animes aesthetical style. I do however second the suggestion of Ghost in the Shell and (after all I heard) Patlabor. Also, you as a fan of D!ck will quite possibly be intrigued by Serial Experiments LAIN - the series main character is a teenage girl, but don't let that deter you. You might also be interested in Jin Roh, the quite possibly most serious anime of the last twenty years, although I'm willing to bet you won't agree with that movies message.