Recommended Anime/Manga?

[Momijitsuki]

Anyway, finally a topic I can relate to. I don't think any of you guys will share my tastes at all though. Anime is my other top passion, shmups aside.

My favorites, that I would recommend to anyone who's into such things:
Tsukuyomi -Moon Phase- (romance/comedy/vampire)
Ichigo Mashimaro (Strawberry Marshmallow) (slice of life/loli)
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (it's hard to describe in a genre)
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (satire/comedy)
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (suspense/horror)
Hidamari Sketch (comedy/school/art)
Air (tragicomedic romance)

Agree with these ones, they're great - Air, Ichigo and Hidamari are particularly favourites of mine. The others I either mildly dislike for various reasons, or haven't seen yet (ef, Nodame Cantabile, Toradora and Baccano fall into the latter category).
While I don't mind tsundere characters in general, I'm a little wary of wholly tsundere anime, especially since there was a one called Tsuyokiss that I made the mistake of watching the first episode of, a long time ago, and now I'm horribly mentally scarred for life.

Since you like comedies, have you seen Potemayo yet? I love that one, it has me in fits of laughter constantly.

Potemayo is on my extensively long 'to-watch' list (Link), but I'll get to it eventually.

Also, if you don't like tsundere anime but don't mind tsundere characters, I very strongly suggest at least trying Toradora!. The main character is voiced by Rie Kugimiya, who was the seiyuu for other well known tsundere characters (Examples: Shana from Shakugan no Shana and Louise from Zero no Tsukaima). When I heard she was doing the voice for Taiga, I had to check this out and was very pleased (not to mention she's short and a DFC, two of my biggest moe fetishes).

What were the ones you disliked, Icarus? Or rather, why?

[Icarus]

What were the ones you disliked, Icarus? Or rather, why?

Chobits - tried my best to get into it, both anime and manga, but really it didn't stick with me at all. Not really a big fan of CLAMP's stuff in general to be honest (dearS is another that I really tried to like and couldn't - "fuckhot alien in servitude" gets old pretty quickly).

Kodomo no Jikan - it's funny in parts, but like CLAMP, it didn't agree with me at all. (The oversexualised loli is another thing that didn't agree with my tastes.)

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann - not really my cup of tea, but I can see the appeal in it.

School Days - interesting in places, but the ending was really quite predictable, kind of like the psycho bit in Shuffle.

I'll take your recommendation on Toradora after I'm done with Kara no Kyoukai. Rie Kugimiya also voices Iori Minase from the arcade and X360 game iDOLM@STER, if I remember correctly. She has that distinctive screechy-cute voice that fits really well with tsundere characters, LOL.

[Momijitsuki]

Chobits - tried my best to get into it, both anime and manga, but really it didn't stick with me at all. Not really a big fan of CLAMP's stuff in general to be honest (dearS is another that I really tried to like and couldn't - "fuckhot alien in servitude" gets old pretty quickly).

Kodomo no Jikan - it's funny in parts, but like CLAMP, it didn't agree with me at all. (The oversexualised loli is another thing that didn't agree with my tastes.)

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann - not really my cup of tea, but I can see the appeal in it.

School Days - interesting in places, but the ending was really quite predictable, kind of like the psycho bit in Shuffle.

Aww, that's a shame on Chobits. Even if it's not CLAMP's best work, it was the first series I watched from start to finish, and it retains sentimental value to me.

I can see where you're coming from on Kodomo no Jikan though. Some people have labeled me a pedo just for liking it, but really, I watched it for the loli cuteness and found that it actually had an excellent storyline come episode 6. But yeah, I know loli isn't everyone's cup of tea. :p

I'm rather surprised on Gurren Lagann though. I had put off watching it for so long because back before I watched it, I only really liked cutesy comedies and such, and thought a mecha series would be boring. But after the first episode, my views changed entirely, and I loved every minute after.

And yeah, the ending WAS predictable in School Days, but it was oh-so-pleasing to see Makoto get kniferaped in the end. And it was good in some places in the middle, but the beginning of the series was pretty underwhelming.

What other series do you like?

[Icarus]

What other series do you like?

The list would be pretty hefty if I noted everything, so to keep it short
- Aria is by far my favourite, as it's very relaxing to watch, with nice characters and good stories;
- I have a bit of a soft spot for the Nanoha series as well, as it does magical girl in a completely different way to genre convention and it does it well;
- I'm a massive Makoto Shinkai fan (5cm/sec, Beyond the Clouds, Voices of a Distant Star, She and Her Cat);
- I adore goofy stuff like Yotsubato!, Azumanga Daioh and Lucky Star;
- and as evidenced by the other anime thread going on, I like some old stuff too, particular favourites being Dominion Tank Police (which along with Akira I credit for getting me into anime), Ninja Scroll and the Ghost in the Shell movie.
The rest of my tastes and likes you can probably discern from both this and the other thread.

I usually have quite a diverse taste in anime and I can watch a lot of different genres quite easily.

[Momijitsuki]

What other series do you like?

The list would be pretty hefty if I noted everything, so to keep it short
- Aria is by far my favourite, as it's very relaxing to watch, with nice characters and good stories;
- I have a bit of a soft spot for the Nanoha series as well, as it does magical girl in a completely different way to genre convention and it does it well;
- I'm a massive Makoto Shinkai fan (5cm/sec, Beyond the Clouds, Voices of a Distant Star, She and Her Cat);
- I adore goofy stuff like Yotsubato!, Azumanga Daioh and Lucky Star;
- and as evidenced by the other anime thread going on, I like some old stuff too, particular favourites being Dominion Tank Police (which along with Akira I credit for getting me into anime), Ninja Scroll and the Ghost in the Shell movie.
The rest of my tastes and likes you can probably discern from both this and the other thread.

I usually have quite a diverse taste in anime and I can watch a lot of different genres quite easily.

I have a friend who likes Aria too, I should look into it-- especially since ROUND TABLE does the music for the credits in both seasons (and I fucking love them).

I haven't seen much of the Nanoha series yet, but that's because I'm waiting to get the Cardcaptor Sakura set I've wanted for oh-so-long for Christmas, and I want to watch that first. (I'm picky about magical girl anime-- when I want to watch a specific one, all of the others seem less interesting).

I love Azumanga Daioh and Yotsubato! too. I wish they'd make an anime adaptation for Yotsuba; it has great potential. Lucky Star was fantastic as well-- otaku fanservice everywhere!

[moozooh]

The TV series of Kodomo no Jikan totally fails compared to manga (which is, unfortunately, not a rare case). Which is to say, the manga is still a somewhat strange attempt at disguising a deep psychological insight mumbo-jumbo as a fanservice-filled sexual loli crap. Reminds me of Fruits Basket (where several kilograms' worth of paper is filled with the characters' DESPAIR and SORROW and ANGST and some other shit). I didn't have the guts to read the last few chapters of the latter, and I somewhat expect Kojika to bore me the same way.

Hellsing is the only recent manga that kept me interested right to the end (even if the ending was somewhat run-out-of-ideas goofy).

[Momijitsuki]

The TV series of Kodomo no Jikan totally fails compared to manga (which is, unfortunately, not a rare case). Which is to say, the manga is still a somewhat strange attempt at disguising a deep psychological insight mumbo-jumbo as a fanservice-filled sexual loli crap. Reminds me of Fruits Basket (where several kilograms' worth of paper is filled with the characters' DESPAIR and SORROW and ANGST and some other shit). I didn't have the guts to read the last few chapters of the latter, and I somewhat expect Kojika to bore me the same way.

Hellsing is the only recent manga that kept me interested right to the end (even if the ending was somewhat run-out-of-ideas goofy).

I haven't read the Kojika manga yet, and if it really is that much better, I don't know if I want to right away. I loved the anime, and if the manga is that much better, it will make me not like the anime as much! x_x

[moozooh]

I don't see how that is a problem. :p

But generally, if a psychologically-centered manga predates a TV series that follow the same plot, it will almost always have numerous details and aspects omitted in the TV version. That's not to mention the usual things such as increased amounts of filler, censorship, and poor animation — things that plague screen versions of nearly any written/drawn work.

There are also TV series that stray so far away from the manga they become utterly retarded by the end. See: Trigun.

[joeboto]

all time fav of mine : lucky star. i just cant get bored with it.

and i love rie kugimiya's voice. she has perfect voice for tsundere characters.

and i hope minami-ke okaeri isnt as lame as okawari. first season really good, the teardrop mouth, animation, serious faces, and best comedy ever.

currently watching:

nodame cantabile paris (manga is awesome, anime is even more awesomeness with those real orchestra music going on, and dont forget the epic lols of nodame)

toradora (RIE KUGIMIYA!)

kannagi (nice comedy here)

chaos;head (this anime blends with otakuness and guro, and beautiful girls too!)

kyou no go no ni (adaptation from OVA, pretty bland but fun. story of 5th grade kiddies, lots of ecchi (who doesnt like ecchi anyways). from the creator of minami-ke)

[Icarus]

I have a friend who likes Aria too, I should look into it-- especially since ROUND TABLE does the music for the credits in both seasons (and I fucking love them).

I haven't seen much of the Nanoha series yet, but that's because I'm waiting to get the Cardcaptor Sakura set I've wanted for oh-so-long for Christmas, and I want to watch that first. (I'm picky about magical girl anime-- when I want to watch a specific one, all of the others seem less interesting).

I love Azumanga Daioh and Yotsubato! too. I wish they'd make an anime adaptation for Yotsuba; it has great potential. Lucky Star was fantastic as well-- otaku fanservice everywhere!

Your mileage may vary with Aria - like many of its fans I adore it because it is slow-paced, it's one of those anime you can throw on after a long day and unwind to. As for the music, the ED themes for all three seasons and the OVA are nice, but the OP themes are considerably better. ^_-

Cardcaptor is okay, but like Pretty Cure I think it could have been much better by being half a series shorter or split into two seasons, as there's a lot of cookie-cutter stuff going on and it can get a bit repetitive with the action and transformation sequences, especially given its length. It does do magical girl well though, I'll give it that.

And yeah, Lucky Star is brilliant. The MMO joke sequence in one of the episodes had me in creases, and Konata teasing Kagami always gets a laugh.

Hellsing is the only recent manga that kept me interested right to the end (even if the ending was somewhat run-out-of-ideas goofy).

Read Hitsuji no Uta (Lament of the Lamb). Seriously.

[elfhentaifan]

I once found a sample of some manga called witchBLADE. I actually dont read mangas at all (just own one series of some romance stuff) but that kept in my mind since it looked pretty interesting.

Is it worth buying/reading?

[moozooh]

Read Hitsuji no Uta (Lament of the Lamb). Seriously.

Will do.

[Momijitsuki]

all time fav of mine : lucky star. i just cant get bored with it.

and i love rie kugimiya's voice. she has perfect voice for tsundere characters.

and i hope minami-ke okaeri isnt as lame as okawari. first season really good, the teardrop mouth, animation, serious faces, and best comedy ever.

currently watching:

nodame cantabile paris (manga is awesome, anime is even more awesomeness with those real orchestra music going on, and dont forget the epic lols of nodame)

toradora (RIE KUGIMIYA!)

kannagi (nice comedy here)

chaos;head (this anime blends with otakuness and guro, and beautiful girls too!)

kyou no go no ni (adaptation from OVA, pretty bland but fun. story of 5th grade kiddies, lots of ecchi (who doesnt like ecchi anyways). from the creator of minami-ke)

I wasn't blown away with Minami-ke's first season. I mean, it was a good series to sit down and watch, but it seemed to pale in comparison to other school life anime like Azumanga Daioh, Ichigo Mashimaro and Hidamari Sketch.

Is Nodame Cantabile Paris as good as the first season?

Kannagi was the first of this season's anime that I watched. However, it started to pale in comparison when I started watching ef - A Tale of Melodies, Toradora! and Yozakura Quartet.

I need to look into Kyou no go no ni. Seriously.

Your mileage may vary with Aria - like many of its fans I adore it because it is slow-paced, it's one of those anime you can throw on after a long day and unwind to. As for the music, the ED themes for all three seasons and the OVA are nice, but the OP themes are considerably better. ^_-

Cardcaptor is okay, but like Pretty Cure I think it could have been much better by being half a series shorter or split into two seasons, as there's a lot of cookie-cutter stuff going on and it can get a bit repetitive with the action and transformation sequences, especially given its length. It does do magical girl well though, I'll give it that.

And yeah, Lucky Star is brilliant. The MMO joke sequence in one of the episodes had me in creases, and Konata teasing Kagami always gets a laugh.

Well, I know there are multiple story arcs to Cardcaptor Sakura-- so maybe if you watched it in segments instead of all at once?

I haven't seen Pretty Cure yet. Is it any good, despite being too long as you said?

Also, am I the only one who got incredibly annoyed with the second half of Lucky Star's EDs? Something about that Minoru Shiraishi just annoyed me-- probably because I liked the karaoke segments a lot more.


Oh! I totally forgot one of my favorites in my list earlier-- Strawberry Panic. Gotta love the yuri action in that one-- the OPs were fantastic, too.

[Icarus]

Well, I know there are multiple story arcs to Cardcaptor Sakura-- so maybe if you watched it in segments instead of all at once?

Perhaps, but I'd still notice the cookie-cutter scenes popping up in every episode. It's a minor gripe, though, and Cardcaptor is definitely one of the better examples of the genre.
I just prefer my anime to be at 26eps or less. ^_-

I haven't seen Pretty Cure yet. Is it any good, despite being too long as you said?

It's okay, but it has even more copypaste moments than Cardcaptor - you'll notice them if you watch it, it's pretty blatant the amount of recycled elements they use in each episode. It does have some good action moments though, and it is pretty funny in places, too.

Also, am I the only one who got incredibly annoyed with the second half of Lucky Star's EDs? Something about that Minoru Shiraishi just annoyed me-- probably because I liked the karaoke segments a lot more.

The Lucky Channel segments weren't anywhere near as funny as the karaoke endings.

[Momijitsuki]

Also, am I the only one who got incredibly annoyed with the second half of Lucky Star's EDs? Something about that Minoru Shiraishi just annoyed me-- probably because I liked the karaoke segments a lot more.

The Lucky Channel segments weren't anywhere near as funny as the karaoke endings.

No, I didn't mean the Lucky Channel segments, I meant the credits where Minoru (the real-life Minoru) is singing. It annoyed me for some reason. :p

[Drascin]

No, I didn't mean the Lucky Channel segments, I meant the credits where Minoru (the real-life Minoru) is singing. It annoyed me for some reason. :p

They didn't do anything for me, either, particularly after the much more awesome karaoke endings (SPARKING!). But then, I'm also a bit of an oddball - I fastforwarded through almost all Lucky Channel sketches, because I just didn't find them funny, while most people I talk with swear Akira's antics are hilarious.

[Icarus]

No, I didn't mean the Lucky Channel segments, I meant the credits where Minoru (the real-life Minoru) is singing. It annoyed me for some reason. :p

Oh, that. I'm of the opinion that it's so bad, it's actually funny. ^_-
But it's nothing on Konata's mangling of classic themes. First time I heard her singing in the first episode ending, giving it so much feeling and yet so very out-of-tune, I was doubled up in laughter. Aya Hirano does a really good job on them.

I once found a sample of some manga called witchBLADE. I actually dont read mangas at all (just own one series of some romance stuff) but that kept in my mind since it looked pretty interesting.

Is it worth buying/reading?

Witchblade if I remember correctly is the Japanese version of the Western comic series of the same name. Some of the original elements have been retained and some changed, so if you're familiar with the Western original you should be on a bit of familiar territory.

However, I've heard mixed reactions regarding the quality of the Japanese version. I think it'd be best if you download a chapter/episode and see for yourself. Personally I'm not too interested in it, but I know people who really enjoyed it.

[Momijitsuki]

No, I didn't mean the Lucky Channel segments, I meant the credits where Minoru (the real-life Minoru) is singing. It annoyed me for some reason. :p

Oh, that. I'm of the opinion that it's so bad, it's actually funny. ^_-
But it's nothing on Konata's mangling of classic themes. First time I heard her singing in the first episode ending, giving it so much feeling and yet so very out-of-tune, I was doubled up in laughter. Aya Hirano does a really good job on them.

CHA-LA! HEAD CHA-LA!

That girl sings her heart out.

I liked Kagami's song more though.

[Icarus]

CHA-LA! HEAD CHA-LA!
That girl sings her heart out.
I liked Kagami's song more though.

I'm of the opinion that the production crew took the four VA to a proper karaoke place and filled them full of alcohol before recording, because there's no way you could script this kind of comedy gold.

"Ah! Actual footage from the show!" *commence banshee wailing*

[Momijitsuki]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG3YC40nxME


<3333

[Momijitsuki]

Also, I plan on starting Pani Poni Dash! after I finish Clannad. Have you seen either of those yet, Icarus?

[Icarus]

Also, I plan on starting Pani Poni Dash! after I finish Clannad. Have you seen either of those yet, Icarus?

Clannad is not bad. I've already played the game beforehand, so I knew what to expect. It is well animated, has a decent story, and interesting characters, probably one of Key's better names (Planetarian and Air coming ahead, but only just).

Pani Poni Dash! is hilarious. If anything it's like Lucky Star with the way it references media and culture, so if you liked Lucky Star (which I think you do) then you'll definitely enjoy PPD. Another referential anime that might get a laugh is Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magikarte.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

One series I haven't given much time to is FMP Fumoffu, which I'll probably rectify at some point. Recommending Kara no Kyoukai again, very well written and animated. Definitely Type-Moon's darkest work, and all the better for it. Fourth part comes out on DVD in a few weeks - the wait for subs will probably kill me.

[Momijitsuki]

Also, I plan on starting Pani Poni Dash! after I finish Clannad. Have you seen either of those yet, Icarus?

Clannad is not bad. I've already played the game beforehand, so I knew what to expect. It is well animated, has a decent story, and interesting characters, probably one of Key's better names (Planetarian and Air coming ahead, but only just).

Pani Poni Dash! is hilarious. If anything it's like Lucky Star with the way it references media and culture, so if you liked Lucky Star (which I think you do) then you'll definitely enjoy PPD. Another referential anime that might get a laugh is Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magikarte.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

One series I haven't given much time to is FMP Fumoffu, which I'll probably rectify at some point. Recommending Kara no Kyoukai again, very well written and animated. Definitely Type-Moon's darkest work, and all the better for it. Fourth part comes out on DVD in a few weeks - the wait for subs will probably kill me.

I watched a few minutes of Pani Poni Dash! a while back, and it seemed to combine Lucky Star with more satire, like Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei--is my assumption correct? I loved Lucky Star. :p

I'm enjoying Clannad, but not on the same level I enjoyed Air or The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (yes, I know Haruhi isn't a Key series, but it's animated by Kyoto Animation).

[Icarus]

That's correct. PPD is goofy, and yet very clever with the way it presents the humor. Definitely one to watch if you like that kind of stuff - like Lucky Star, Komugi-chan and various other anime that do humor via references, you'll be having fun spotting all the nods and homages.

[Momijitsuki]

Just another mention for Toradora!. I just finished the 9th episode and it was so hilarious I was almost in tears.

And now back to watching Clannad.

[joeboto]

lol i like lucky channel. cant forget how bully akira is, and finally she got what she deserved, straight from minoru himself. BAMMMM!!!!
i also watched Pani Poni Dash up to 10+ episodes, but for me, the references are to fast to catch up, plus the randomness is too.. random! same goes with zoku sayonara zetsobu sensei.
for clannad, the funny element starts in middle episodes, and not that much. but i like 2nd season, starts off with laughter, especially episode 2.

[Momijitsuki]

Should there be anything I watch before I watch Pani Poni Dash!, so I'd pick up on more of the references?

I remember watching the first season of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei really early on (I haven't been watching anime for a long time, just these past two years or so), so I didn't get many of the jokes. When I watched Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei after watching many, many other series, it was funnier because I understood more of the references.

[Icarus]

Should there be anything I watch before I watch Pani Poni Dash!, so I'd pick up on more of the references?

Animes of this kind usually reference popular media and Japanese culture (both past and present), so if you're relatively clued up, you'll get some of the jokes. Some the more obscure gags you'll likely come across usually deal with things that we might not be accustomed to in the West - Komugi-chan EP1 deals with 2ch/net-culture, for example, and School Rumble occasionally has some obscure Japan-related jokes hidden in an episode or two, - or historical references, but you can probably find a synopsis and explanation for anything you don't get floating around the internet somewhere.

[elfhentaifan]

Thanks for your advice Icarus.
Yesterday, after having missed the train i found some really really intresting and cute designed manga called *ibara no ō* (Koenig der Dornen).
Will keep digging for free next time im stuck in cologne main station again

Caught my eye immediately and made me fall in love just into the style like with Lain back then.

[Domino]

I finally got around watching 5cm Per Second and yeah it's really good. After watching it I purchase the DVD from Rightstuf for $21. If you live in the US and love 5cm Per Second I would recommend picking up the DVD ASAP. ADV Films only put the DVD in print for three months (March to June of this year) and now it's becoming rare and going for crazy ebay prices as we speak.

Rightstuf still have copies of it in stock so I would recommend picking up a copy. Also the dub is very good as well.