Recommended Anime/Manga?

[Obiwanshinobi]

Don't know about Kiddy Grade, but I'm watching Uta∽Kata by the same production team.
Shame about the pornographic designs and crass (if very mild) fanservice, as it has its heart in the right place and is actually quite lyrical. There is material for a Fuujin Monogatari quality show to be found here (similar take on "superpowers"), but the ham-handed delivery drags it down.
I'm afraid those who expect epic battles and hot girl on girl action will be disappointed, whereas those who might be interested in what it's all about under the skin will get turned down by the presentation. In theory fanservice should make everything beter, but this here fanservice lacks vitality.

[R-Gray 1]

Anime:

Gun Frontier - very nice
Lupin III - I watched it 15 years ago...i watched it many times even repetitions xD
Rurouni Kenshin ( until Kyoto saga with Shishio) one of my favourite animes, great fights great dialogues, great enemies.
Gantz - very very nice.
Cobra - classic anime frm my childhood.

Manga: Rurouni kenshin ( Enishi saga)
Gantz manga- I never read this but it has good comments.

[psy]

I haven't read or watched a lot due to the fact that 'read x' or 'watch y' always gets pushed back by other 'leisure priorities', so this list probably sums up about 50% of what I've actually watched and read. I'm not really giving any regard to if things have been mentioned before, this is my own personal list of what I think is worth passing along.

Manga:
Uzumaki (don't worry, it has nothing to do with Naruto)
Tokyo Red Hood
Elfen Lied (don't let the supbar anime or its understandable reputation put you off, the manga is a good read)
Karneval

Anime:
Time Of Eve
Samurai Champloo
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Air Gear *braces for flack*
Wangan Midnight

[louisg]

I just watched the 80s Area 88 OVA, and it was great. It's very melodramatic though, and parts are completely ridiculous. But, it was well done. Every shmup fan should watch it.

[Obiwanshinobi]

I just watched the 80s Area 88 OVA, and it was great. It's very melodramatic though, and parts are completely ridiculous. But, it was well done. Every shmup fan should watch it.

Every shmup fan should watch Wings (the silent 1927 live action flick).

[greg]

Manga:
Uzumaki (don't worry, it has nothing to do with Naruto)

I saw the movie Uzumaki. It was rather quirky. The part when guy ended up killing himself in the clothes washing machine was pretty weird. I don't remember there being any real resolution to the film, though.

I just watched the 80s Area 88 OVA, and it was great. It's very melodramatic though, and parts are completely ridiculous. But, it was well done. Every shmup fan should watch it.

I still like the original '80s Area 88 to the modern anime. I just wish that they would have released the part 4 that would have concluded the series. However, the anime was getting ahead of the comics, IIRC, and they never got around to making part 4. But yeah, that's the anime that my favorite SFC shmup is based off. I remember in the early '90s when I discovered that my favorite arcade game, UN Squadron, had an anime tie-in, I was ecstatic.

[Siren2011]

Elfen Lied (don't let the supbar anime or its understandable reputation put you off, the manga is a good read)

I just caught this now, and I couldn't disagree more. It was an excellent anime. The plot development was great/free of cheese, the music was sensational, and the battles were refreshingly brutal. Plus, the whole Diclonius/vector stuff was nothing short of fascinating. I was glued to the screen from episode one to the end. What didn't you like about it? The only thing I wasn't crazy about were the character designs. They looked semi-crude, but I've seen far worse. At least they know how to draw a nice pair of tits. I can usually tell when an anime was digitalized and when it was pencil drawn. Just look at Betterman and Gunbuster: Aim for the Top! Those were obviously pencil drawn. Something like Azumanga Daioh on the other hand, looks crude enough to make me wonder if computers were involved.

There is no denying that whatever charm that most anime circa 1990s had, many of today's anime lacks.

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

Elfen Lied looks more hilarious than most comedy animes out there. Seriously.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Elfen Lied looks more hilarious than most comedy animes out there. Seriously.

Reminds me of Iczer, except Iczer, stunningly bad as it was, did the splatter (of all things) well.

[xris]

The manga for Uzumaki is AMAZING!! If someone can take the ideal of a town being over-run with spirals, and make it completely fucking terrifying, you should stand up and take note. Some of the greatest horror of all time. Junji Ito's art is so perfectly suited for horror, the man should be held in the highest regard. His short story stuff is also rather good. Gyo is also worth reading.
Edit: I also see you have a *braces for flack* next to Air Gear.. Air Gear is dope. Oh! Great! is dope.
Hell, my avatar pic is Ringo..

[xbl0x180]

I was wondering where the animu thred was when, lo-and-behold, there's one with 23 pages worth... oh, s**t, there's no way I'll be able to catch up on what was written, discussed, and recommended.

Anyone mention Kimagure Orange Road? I know, I know, cheezorama haremfest, but the chara designs and the OST really stood out back then. It's one of the first series I watched here in the U.S. and sold me on - briefly - collecting Japanese cartoons in the early 90s

I really like Matsumoto Izumi's style. It's definitely dated to its time of the late 80s and early 90s.

[Siren2011]

Chainsaw, I urge you to actually watch the show from start to finish. If you still find it cheesy, then you probably are one of those people who can't take great horror movies seriously, let alone the less convincing ones. My brother is like that, unfortunately.

That said, there was one violent closing scene of an episode that made me lol in a good way.

[greg]

I was wondering where the animu thred was when, lo-and-behold, there's one with 23 pages worth... oh, s**t, there's no way I'll be able to catch up on what was written, discussed, and recommended.

Anyone mention Kimagure Orange Road? I know, I know, cheezorama haremfest, but the chara designs and the OST really stood out back then. It's one of the first series I watched here in the U.S. and sold me on - briefly - collecting Japanese cartoons in the early 90s

I really like Matsumoto Izumi's style. It's definitely dated to its time of the late 80s and early 90s.

Thumbs down for using the retarded word "animu," but thumbs up for mentioning Orange Road.

Actually, Matsumoto made the manga. The art designs for the TV show was done by Takeda Akemi, who was also famous for her designs for the Patlabor TV show. I'm currently reading volume 3 of the manga, and it's mostly written on my reading level. However I'm sure there are scanlations available for the KOR manga if you're interested.

But I'd disagree with calling it a harem anime. This manga/show was made way before that became an anime cliche. It's a love triangle, not a harem show. In my book, a harem anime involves an ever-increasing number of girls who flock and swoon over one guy, often for no real valid reason whatsoever because developing something like that in a story actually requires brain cells. On top of that, KOR shows the problems created by Kyousuke's indecision and leading Hikaru on. The movie is very sad as a result as he tries to end the relationship with her, yet does not have the maturity to handle it in a kind way.

[xbl0x180]

I was wondering where the animu thred was when, lo-and-behold, there's one with 23 pages worth... oh, s**t, there's no way I'll be able to catch up on what was written, discussed, and recommended.

Anyone mention Kimagure Orange Road? I know, I know, cheezorama haremfest, but the chara designs and the OST really stood out back then. It's one of the first series I watched here in the U.S. and sold me on - briefly - collecting Japanese cartoons in the early 90s

I really like Matsumoto Izumi's style. It's definitely dated to its time of the late 80s and early 90s.

Actually, Matsumoto made the manga. The art designs for the TV show was done by Takeda Akemi, who was also famous for her designs for the Patlabor TV show. I'm currently reading volume 3 of the manga, and it's mostly written on my reading level. However I'm sure there are scanlations available for the KOR manga if you're interested.

But I'd disagree with calling it a harem anime. This manga/show was made way before that became an anime cliche. It's a love triangle, not a harem show. In my book, a harem anime involves an ever-increasing number of girls who flock and swoon over one guy, often for no real valid reason whatsoever because developing something like that in a story actually requires brain cells. On top of that, KOR shows the problems created by Kyousuke's indecision and leading Hikaru on. The movie is very sad as a result as he tries to end the relationship with her, yet does not have the maturity to handle it in a kind way.

Off the top my head, Urusei Yatsura and Ranma 1/2 also had "harem" elements. Um, Cobra Space Adventure to a certain extent (although it fits in with his playboy rogue persona). Bottom line is that it's cliche now and people would view these series as having this kind of plot device. It's not necessarily a bad thing. If I wanted to see something without that, I'd get Countach.



Short and sweet... also a very cheap bargain-bin find

Which reminds me:

Thumbs down for using the retarded word "animu,"

Hahah, you take this s**t way too seriously. I remember the whole scene in the 90s was filled to brim with that same kind of retort; if anyone took a bite from a holy cow, it was as if one insulted their mother or something. No wonder I gave up being a collectro back in the 90s

[greg]

Hahah, you take this s**t way too seriously. I remember the whole scene in the 90s was filled to brim with that same kind of retort; if anyone took a bite from a holy cow, it was as if one insulted their mother or something. No wonder I gave up being a collectro back in the 90s

It's just that the phrase "animu" has 4chan written all over it. People who use it are usually up to their neck in anime and yet they pretend they aren't interested in anime, so they use the word "animu" to troll others. To me, "animu" means "I watch anime a lot, but I pretend I don't like it, so I'll just use the word 'animu' to be a jerk about it." I'm not saying that this was your intention, but that's how it seems to be basically used. If it's anime, just call it anime. I have no idea where the u came from.

[xbl0x180]

I don't know how you could've misread my comment as such in spite of the fact I also wrote I collected animation videos. It makes no sense to think I was trolling or that I was writing from a detached perspective just because I happened to use a word I saw on urbandictionary. Again, taking s**t waaaay too seriously.

Animu animu animu... and MANGO! There


But just to remain on topic. What anime would I recommend?

Cobra Space Adventure (the original television series and movie)
Lupin The 3rd (television series and movies)
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (oav series)
Ulysses 31
Urusei Yatsura (television series, some movies, and some of the oavs)

Which manga would I buy again?

Countach (Okazaki Takeshi)
Countdown (Utatane Hiroyuki)
Five Star Stories (Nagano Mamoru)
Macross 7 Trash (Mikimoto Haruhiko)
Plastic Little and Chirality (Urushihara Satoshi)

[greg]

I don't know how you could've misread my comment as such in spite of the fact I also wrote I collected animation videos. It makes no sense to think I was trolling or that I was writing from a detached perspective just because I happened to use a word I saw on urbandictionary.

No no no. Again,

I'm not saying that this was your intention, but that's how it seems to be basically used.

I know you weren't being a dweeb about it. It's just that the "animu" word gets on my nerves. I don't think you're being annoying at all. I just think the word "animu" is annoying, since it's usually used to try to be funny, yet fails. Anyhow, you have good taste in anime, and a love for the classics. I like what you've posted in this thread and in the "why modern anime sucks" thread.

I just don't care for Macross 7. I saw this fansubbed back when it was first released back in '95 or so. I was a member of an old anime BBS in the Phoenix area called the Anime Archive and we'd have these anime get togethers in which we would watch tons of cool fan subs. When we saw Macross 7, I was literally rolling on the floor laughing. The concept of flying a space jet fighter by playing a guitar is just ridiculous. I love Mikimoto's artwork and I'm sure the manga is great at least in that respect, but I'd rather pretend that Macross 7 never existed.

[xris]

ultimately the whole thing stinks of trying too hard. the choices too obscure, and lack the feeling of an honest admission of , i do actually like this also,.
edit2; cobra is dope

[xbl0x180]

I just don't care for Macross 7. I saw this fansubbed back when it was first released back in '95 or so. I was a member of an old anime BBS in the Phoenix area called the Anime Archive and we'd have these anime get togethers in which we would watch tons of cool fan subs. When we saw Macross 7, I was literally rolling on the floor laughing. The concept of flying a space jet fighter by playing a guitar is just ridiculous. I love Mikimoto's artwork and I'm sure the manga is great at least in that respect, but I'd rather pretend that Macross 7 never existed.

I was getting series such as Yu Yu Hakusho, Blue Seed, and Macross 7 as they were being aired in Japan from a video store. For me, it was just the excitement of getting television series few had access to, which I could then use to trade with pen pals. I remember Arctic Animation had a huge set up for distributing their fansub collection, but their rules were just way too strict. I did order from them, but it was a costly hassle.

As I've been saying all along, I contradict myself, my choices may seem ironic, and then I go back and choose something totally different. On the one hand, Macross 7 Trash I liked because of its style; same goes for most of my other comic choices. I liked style over substance and, yet, one of my chief complaints was/is that "there isn't that much substance in anime and manga nowadays" hahaha. So, it really boils down to my preferences - the stuff I liked isn't being made anymore.

One cool thing about the market being filled with new clutter is that the old junk is [sometimes] easier and cheaper to come by (this is not the case when it comes to a lot of outta print movies and definitely outta print books). I recently got "Please Save My Earth" and "Here Is Greenwood" both for about 20 bucks. I couldn't believe how incredibly easy to find and cheap they were. This would've been unheard of in the mid-90s when each tape was worth at least 25 and average price was around 30, while some were as high as 40. AD Vision's "Devil Hunter Yohko" - in the hard-plastic clamshell - premiered at that price in 1993(?)

[greg]

I recently got "Please Save My Earth" and "Here Is Greenwood" both for about 20 bucks. I couldn't believe how incredibly easy to find and cheap they were.

Yeah, I picked up Here is Greenwood a while back. Last year I scored a whole ton of the translated manga, but I haven't read it yet. The show is hilarious, but it references stuff from the manga and assumes you've already read it.

Lately I've been watching Dairugger XV, otherwise known as Vehicle Voltron. I've always liked the Vehicle Voltron (aka Voltron I) over the Lion Voltron (Voltron III). I love the epic space fleet battles and the shapes of the alien ships. Plus, nothing says "badass" more than "I have Toyotas for feet."

[RNGmaster]

Franken Fran. Just totally out there in terms of plot, but it has great black humor and the author did surprisingly good research.

[Treasurance]

Umineko no Naku Koro ni in its visual novel form.
The plot is one hell of a mess (multiple planes of existence, battles of twisted logic, more characters than in SSFIVAE and such) but incredibly entertaining too.

[Daigohji]

Manga:
Uzumaki (don't worry, it has nothing to do with Naruto)

I saw the movie Uzumaki. It was rather quirky. The part when guy ended up killing himself in the clothes washing machine was pretty weird. I don't remember there being any real resolution to the film, though.

There was no resolution to the movie because it was only based on the first issue of the manga. Not the first volume, the first issue. They threw in a handful of shots from the rest of volume one in the final minute, but the movie was a real disappointment. It was obvious that they didn't have the budget to show what happened later in the story. Also, the film never settled on whether it was taking itself seriously or not. Now, the Uzumaki manga, that is one of the greatest pieces of horror fiction I've encountered in any medium. I rank it right up there with Carpenter's The Thing and Cronenberg's The Fly.

Air Gear *braces for flack*

Air Gear is a good series. You'll probably also enjoy Tenjho Tenge, which is another quality adaptation of an Oh! Great manga.

[Frenetic]

Spotlight on:

Matsumoto Taiyo

You might have seen his movie Tekonkinkreet aka Black & White. Here are some of the great manga you can find in stores or on online manga readers:

Ping Pong

Two young ping pong players meet each other--friends/rivals? I'd say it's kind of like Black vs. White. Very good.

Cheers,
F

[Siren2011]

Just finished Burn Up. I'm sad that it's over, cuz I really enjoyed it. The animation style was undoubtedly betraying the golden era of anime, and the plot, while simple and somewhat cliche, was satisfying to watch unfold.

I still gotta finish Gunbuster, and then move on to this (both on VHS):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqeI03IcAfk

It's called Manie Manie, and it's made by the same people who made Akira, apparently.

Also, it's pretty safe to say that Funimation is dominating the Western anime market, no? Gone are the days of ADV. Well, at least we're getting something.

[drauch]

^Gunbuster is amazing! The ending is a real treat for my sci-fi-fandom.

[Siren2011]

The ending is a real treat for my sci-fi-fandom.

Oh, man. I can't wait to see it now! Gainax did a great job with Diebuster's climactic-as-fuck ending, I can't even imagine what the first series did. I shall find out soon enough...

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!











It was sad that the one pilot died. At this point in the series, the cause of death is unspecified. He just never came back to the dock.
/SPOILER

[xris]

It's not manga, but I do want to start a thread for other comics.

I read We3 earlier today. Very short, but unbelievably good! Homeward Bound but with cyborg animals developed for warfare. I really, really liked this.

[drauch]

We3 is a lot of fun, but yeah, pretty depressing...

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

Watched Underwater Ray Romano on whim recently. Not bad at all I must say. Is Tears to Tiara worth checking out as well?