Anime recommendations

[Pop]

Elfin Lied is a lot like Spawn. Dark for dark's sake, draining, but not necessarily because it's good. It's just draining. I watched it and was reminded of the basic limitations of the genre. Every anime has to be about what love is, or what it means to be human, and that means eventually you'll come up with deformed, melodramatic cudgels like Elfin Lied. Such abominations aren't unlovable, but you've got to be of a certain state of mind to really enjoy them. You've got to enjoy repetition, or at least pretend that Philip K. **** never existed.

 

At this point all that anime really has to give is Studio Ghibli, which might not really be considered anime, since what they put out is naturalistic, unpretentious and universally excellent (and with the exception of Grave of the Fireflies, kid stuff) and a thousand films and shows like Elfin Lied that cling to the tired husks of Akira and try to leech off of it so that they don't have to go through the trouble of actually coming up with something fresh.

 

But I'll still watch Bebop or Trigun every once in awhile. Lightweight as anime goes, but at least they're not so in love with themselves.

[Sturm]

SW-fanboy turned War glorifier and NGE-fanboy....the ultimate battle?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It's The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny! ^_^

 

We still need OPG for that though

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Roffel.

 

Anime just doesnt appeal to me, crazy japanese drawings with crazy characters doing extremely crazy things (dragon ball z as an example) while most the characters are incredible arrogant when it comes to their skills and powers.

[Tale]

 

Anyone have watched The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya? Seems to be number one anime of the moment. Discussion on "Haruhi" goes on in forums and otaku blogs about it are coming up all the time.

 

As of December 2006, including shows from the current season, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya maintains number one popularity in Japan according to Newtype.

 

This certainly deserves its attention. Animation quality is superb (as it should be in year 2006) and this anime has joined the fight between Azumanga and Excel Saga for title of funniest anime again.

 

I recommend.

 

My only complaint is music is only averege, generic soda pop. This good anime would've deserved much better. Ending theme is quite catchy though

 

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya follows the high school life of Haruhi Suzumiya and those who are caught up in her antics. While Haruhi is the central character to the plot, the story is told from the point of view of Kyon, one of Haruhi's classmates.

 

Kyon is a first year in high school who has just recently been able to leave his fantasies of espers, time travelers, and aliens behind him along with middle school. However, when he chooses to speak to one eccentric girl by the name of Haruhi Suzumiya on the first day of high school, he unwittingly sets off a chain of events which drags him into situations entirely different from the real world of which he had convinced himself he was a part. This turns his world nearly upside down as he is drawn further into a world eerily like the fantasies he had just managed to outgrow, with Haruhi Suzumiya at the center of it all.

 

Watched this. Absolutely awesome stuff.

 

I just got done with Black Lagoon and Ergo Proxy. Both are series I would recommend. Ergo Proxy is beginning a domestic DVD release. Black Lagoon will be seeing domestic DVD release in April. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya sounds like it's currently undergoing dubbing, so release is not too far away.

[Tale]

Elfin Lied is a lot like Spawn. Dark for dark's sake, draining, but not necessarily because it's good. It's just draining. I watched it and was reminded of the basic limitations of the genre. Every anime has to be about what love is, or what it means to be human, and that means eventually you'll come up with deformed, melodramatic cudgels like Elfin Lied. Such abominations aren't unlovable, but you've got to be of a certain state of mind to really enjoy them. You've got to enjoy repetition, or at least pretend that Philip K. **** never existed.

 

At this point all that anime really has to give is Studio Ghibli, which might not really be considered anime, since what they put out is naturalistic, unpretentious and universally excellent (and with the exception of Grave of the Fireflies, kid stuff) and a thousand films and shows like Elfin Lied that cling to the tired husks of Akira and try to leech off of it so that they don't have to go through the trouble of actually coming up with something fresh.

 

But I'll still watch Bebop or Trigun every once in awhile. Lightweight as anime goes, but at least they're not so in love with themselves.

 

You might like Black Lagoon. I just have a hunch about it. You might have problems with the theme presented at the end of the Second Barrage.

Edited January 5, 2007 by Tale

[Meshugger]

Elfin Lied is a lot like Spawn. Dark for dark's sake, draining, but not necessarily because it's good. It's just draining. I watched it and was reminded of the basic limitations of the genre. Every anime has to be about what love is, or what it means to be human, and that means eventually you'll come up with deformed, melodramatic cudgels like Elfin Lied. Such abominations aren't unlovable, but you've got to be of a certain state of mind to really enjoy them. You've got to enjoy repetition, or at least pretend that Philip K. **** never existed.

 

At this point all that anime really has to give is Studio Ghibli, which might not really be considered anime, since what they put out is naturalistic, unpretentious and universally excellent (and with the exception of Grave of the Fireflies, kid stuff) and a thousand films and shows like Elfin Lied that cling to the tired husks of Akira and try to leech off of it so that they don't have to go through the trouble of actually coming up with something fresh.

 

But I'll still watch Bebop or Trigun every once in awhile. Lightweight as anime goes, but at least they're not so in love with themselves.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You might like Black Lagoon. I just have a hunch about it. You might have problems with the theme presented at the end of the Second Barrage.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I've heard a lot of positive about Black Lagoon aswell. Care for a summary?

[Tale]

Elfin Lied is a lot like Spawn. Dark for dark's sake, draining, but not necessarily because it's good. It's just draining. I watched it and was reminded of the basic limitations of the genre. Every anime has to be about what love is, or what it means to be human, and that means eventually you'll come up with deformed, melodramatic cudgels like Elfin Lied. Such abominations aren't unlovable, but you've got to be of a certain state of mind to really enjoy them. You've got to enjoy repetition, or at least pretend that Philip K. **** never existed.

 

At this point all that anime really has to give is Studio Ghibli, which might not really be considered anime, since what they put out is naturalistic, unpretentious and universally excellent (and with the exception of Grave of the Fireflies, kid stuff) and a thousand films and shows like Elfin Lied that cling to the tired husks of Akira and try to leech off of it so that they don't have to go through the trouble of actually coming up with something fresh.

 

But I'll still watch Bebop or Trigun every once in awhile. Lightweight as anime goes, but at least they're not so in love with themselves.

 

You might like Black Lagoon. I just have a hunch about it. You might have problems with the theme presented at the end of the Second Barrage.

 

I've heard a lot of positive about Black Lagoon aswell. Care for a summary?

 

The basic idea is that a small mercenary corporation (3 people small), with a torpedo boat, named Black Lagoon are hired to kidnap a Japanese businessman. When the company the businessman works for hangs him out to dry, the businessman ends up becoming the 4th member of Black Lagoon. The series is about their various jobs. There's no overarching story, but a few stories do go into multiple episodes.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Lagoon

* Revy provides the muscle for the Black Lagoon. She's good with guns, but not with people.

* Rock is a Japanese salaryman who joins the crew of the Black Lagoon after they kidnap him. Rock doesn't fight but is an excellent negotiator and translator.

* Dutch is the leader of the Lagoon "trading company". He captains the PT boat Black Lagoon, and coordinates his crew.

* Benny is an electronics genius. He serves as the Lagoon's technical expert.

[Blank]

To add my opinion, I recommend Samurai Champloo. I also like Bleach a lot. Eureka 7 is alright. I enjoyed Full Metal Alchemist, and Trinity Blood seems really good. Ghost in the Shell is cool. Obviously my only exposure to anime is from Adult Swim.

[Meshugger]

Elfin Lied is a lot like Spawn. Dark for dark's sake, draining, but not necessarily because it's good. It's just draining. I watched it and was reminded of the basic limitations of the genre. Every anime has to be about what love is, or what it means to be human, and that means eventually you'll come up with deformed, melodramatic cudgels like Elfin Lied. Such abominations aren't unlovable, but you've got to be of a certain state of mind to really enjoy them. You've got to enjoy repetition, or at least pretend that Philip K. **** never existed.

 

At this point all that anime really has to give is Studio Ghibli, which might not really be considered anime, since what they put out is naturalistic, unpretentious and universally excellent (and with the exception of Grave of the Fireflies, kid stuff) and a thousand films and shows like Elfin Lied that cling to the tired husks of Akira and try to leech off of it so that they don't have to go through the trouble of actually coming up with something fresh.

 

But I'll still watch Bebop or Trigun every once in awhile. Lightweight as anime goes, but at least they're not so in love with themselves.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You might like Black Lagoon. I just have a hunch about it. You might have problems with the theme presented at the end of the Second Barrage.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I've heard a lot of positive about Black Lagoon aswell. Care for a summary?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

The basic idea is that a small mercenary corporation (3 people small), with a torpedo boat, named Black Lagoon are hired to kidnap a Japanese businessman. When the company the businessman works for hangs him out to dry, the businessman ends up becoming the 4th member of Black Lagoon. The series is about their various jobs. There's no overarching story, but a few stories do go into multiple episodes.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Lagoon

* Revy provides the muscle for the Black Lagoon. She's good with guns, but not with people.

* Rock is a Japanese salaryman who joins the crew of the Black Lagoon after they kidnap him. Rock doesn't fight but is an excellent negotiator and translator.

* Dutch is the leader of the Lagoon "trading company". He captains the PT boat Black Lagoon, and coordinates his crew.

* Benny is an electronics genius. He serves as the Lagoon's technical expert.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Sounds like something more uplifting. Might give it a try

[kirottu]

Sounds like something more uplifting. Might give it a try

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

"Terminator" nanny is freaking awesome. )

[Musopticon?]

Thanks for the summary.

 

So, what's Ergo Proxy then?

 

Yeah, I could just ask the internet, but I thought might want to give your view the same time.

[Tale]

Thanks for the summary.

 

So, what's Ergo Proxy then?

 

Yeah, I could just ask the internet, but I thought might want to give your view the same time.

Ergo Proxy is a cyberpunk thriller.

 

The world has ended, the earth is no longer suitable for human life. Those that live there, mostly live in large sheltered domes. One such dome is Romdeau. R-il (Lil or Real depending on sub) Mayar is the grandaughter of the leader of Romdeau. She works hunting down infected autoraves (androids). Vincent is an immigrant to Romdeau. He does menial work, I don't recall what exactly. I don't want to spoil too much, but the plot follows these two characters' pursuit of the truth behind Proxies. A type of large humanoid creature (meta-human/super-human/whatever) that they are both introduced to.

Edited January 5, 2007 by Tale

[Musopticon?]

Thanks, I might look into that. Especially if it's dystopian.

[Tale]

Thanks, I might look into that. Especially if it's dystopian.

Definitely.

[Surreptishus]

Anyone seen Afro Samurai?

 

Samuel L. Jackson does the voice of the main character, Ron Perlman does the voice of the main bad guy, RZA does the music.

 

I think that is all that needs to be said.

[Baley]

I've heard that RZA produced track with GZA and Big Daddy Kane - good stuff, not enough to pump a guy up and cleanse him of all worries, but good, reassuring stuff. Guess, I'll look for it; to tell the truth - and be an honest, stand up guy - I didn't even know the show was out.

[Musopticon?]

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJjj1XiwFPA

 

You've probably seen it though.

 

Edit: The comments on that vid are beyond absurdly funny btw.

Edited January 5, 2007 by Musopticon?

[Surreptishus]

So like the tv version is censored with respect to language... no f words.

Still plenty of graphic dismemberment though )

[Musopticon?]

Ergo Proxy seems promising.

 

I laughed at the ending song though. Of all things, they chose Radiohead. :D

[Tel Aviv]

I finished Outlaw Star yesterday, what are people's opinions, I'm undecided as to whether I actually enjoyed it or not.

[Blank]

It's a bad sign if you don't know you enjoyed it or not.

[Tale]

I finished Outlaw Star yesterday, what are people's opinions, I'm undecided as to whether I actually enjoyed it or not.

I can't help but think of Outlaw Star just a little everytime I watch the Firefly pilot.

 

Girls in boxes.

[Pop]

It's a bad sign if you don't know you enjoyed it or not.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Anime is often inscrutable. Being confused by it is pretty standard. I probably enjoyed FLCL back when I first saw it, even though I didn't know what the **** it was going on about. But that wasn't really a show that was meant to be "gotten".

[jaguars4ever]

http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all...v%3DsJjj1XiwFPA

 

[Tigranes]

Saw Haruhi on both manga and anime, it's one of those things that really comes alive on anime. But then, I always have trouble with manga where everything is really messy and cluttered and there are people and speech bubbles at war across the boundaries. Way too unsettling. Show itself was pretty fun though. Nothing special, but fun.

 

Recently saw: Kare Kano (the OTHER gainax), Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society (good as always), Eureka 7 (some blatant Eva ripoffs but still pretty fun), and Welcome to the NHK. The last isn't as well known so I don't know if anybody here ever picked up on it; it just finished in Japan, 1 season, 24 episodes. NHK is the Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai (the Japan Hikikomori Organisation / Conspiracy); a hikikomori is someone who has extreme antisocial tendencies, even phobia, and can't bear to go outside or interact with other people because of paranoia and lack of self-confidence. As a result they cannot work, socialise, or study, and live holed up in their room - financially assisted by their sympathetic partners, friends and/or parents. It's a big syndrome in Japan (and smaller elsewhere). The main character, Satou, is one of these hikikomori - and the story revolves around him and his two only acquaintances, and Satou's troubles as he struggles to overcome his hikikomori status. It's funny, witty, well paced and pretty damn nice overall. The only complaint is that the anime convention of artists getting tired mid-season is really really prevalent here; frankly the faces and character art in most mid-season episodes are ****. Still, good series.

 

But then, my tastes are a bit different in terms of anime, especially from Adult Swimw atchers, I believe. I generally get really bored by sci-fi or adventure anime (Naruto, Champloo, etc) and in fact usually go for the 'lighter' ones - and anime being anime, that usually means Japanese high school (Fruits Basket, Kare Kano, Azumanga Daioh, so forth). More of a social setting. The only exceptions to that are Evangelion, GITS and Full Metal Alchemist, which I enjoyed. ONe of the big reasons for me is that fighting in anime is really really boring. Martial fighting is boring because in manga they just have outrageous poses and random slashes (exception is Holy Land, by Kouji Mori; that thing reads more like a street fighting manual, it's excellent.) Fantasy / Sci-fi ones have that Ever-Escalating Scale of Once-Awesome Moves, also called the Dragon Ball syndrome. I think the stupidest one in recent memory is in Naruto. I was watching a few eps ..around 40-something, I think. That fat little kid, the main character, he had taken about 10 episodes to perfect this awesome move that would totally destroy anybody. He finally uses it and succeeds, with much hoopla, one hit kill, etc. Then in the next episode, some guy just invents some sort of flaw or rule that renders the move useless and brushes it aside. And so I understand the episodes are somewhere upt o 200 now. Can't keep using the same moves, right?

Edited January 6, 2007 by Tigranes

[steelfiredragon]

trinity blood

erueka seven

 

are decent and they are on cartoon network currently