Recommended Anime/Manga?

[soprano1]

hahah that car wash ! - and finally Apocalypse comes in .

OK that was fuckin incredible - had slightly less of the chilling creepiness of the series though - it was interesting that Anthy wasn't an evil bitch in it.

I liked how it was sortof a DYRL in that it changed enough to be interesting but still offered different perspectives on the original.

What would you recommend watching first, series or movie?

[KAI]

Watch the TV series, the movie is full of parodies and references from it.

[soprano1]

Watch the TV series, the movie is full of parodies and references from the series.

I see, thanks. It's just that 39 episodes seem a bit much, and i still haven't watched Yamato 2199.

[Raytrace]

yes I think it would be best to watch the series first also, even though just like DYRL it stands well on it's own, it is vastly improved as a type of 'alternative telling'.

[Raytrace]

Finished Bubblegum Crisis OVA last night... had been sitting on the last couple episodes for a month or so. Ended up rewatching all 8 again. I know I'm about as late as you can be to this series, but damn, it was great. I think I like the first three or four episodes the best, both for the artists involved and the tone of the music.

The directing feels especially masterful in those first few eps. I have to single out #2, Born to Kill, especially. The opening with Mad Machine, the aerobics scene, the "out about town" scene with Lina and her friend, the scene after Lina's friend dies when the Knight Sabers see each other across from the elevator... all beautifully matched to the music. On a similar note I also like the last scene in episode 3, where Priss drops off the kid and Wasurenaide starts playing. Its a zoomed out shot that has a great woodblock feel to it. I love it when anime gets "back to the roots" with shots like that. Tenshi no Tamago has some scenes like that, some of my favorites.

Is Bubblegum Crash even worth it? Or any of the others?

Bubblegum Crash from what I remember is definitely enjoyable, though it's a bit emm cheap and nasty, especially compared to the OVAs, I actually do like AD Police Files, however I've watched about 4 episodes of 2040 and it is really difficult after having seen the OVAs. Yeah the whole Mad Machine scene is incredible.

[KAI]

The Next Generation Patlabor
Looks so Tokusatsu.

Da fuq, Kiseijuu will have an anime adaptation.

[BIL]

Enjoying Berserk's post-Conviction Arc material much more than I recall doing the first time, possibly since I was reading it per episode last time around. It's good to forget those rather shitty recent movies. Please survive Miura-san, I'll try to as well!

[NTSC-J]

I bet he never finishes it. Him taking a long break to draw a new manga is bad enough, but the pace he's set with the story and the growing frequency and length of these breaks suggest he's burned out.

The Golden Age was awesome, though!

[drauch]

And his art keeps becoming ever more intricate and detailed. May have been a rumor, but wasn't there some talk of him becoming quite ill at one point? Regardless, it's been moving at a snails pace the last couple of years. More characters keep getting introduced, many of which seem to have no purpose other than comedy. I quite when almost two entire volumes were comprised of nothing buy comedic pirates. "Arghhh!"

[trap15]

Been watching Sekai Seifuku a bit recently. Enjoying it so far, really like the character designs and premise.

[Raytrace]

Finally finished all 92 episodes of Mazinger Z, which has taken more than a year - I started on Dec 11th 2012.
The reason it has taken so long is because I watch them with my childer and I can't 'skip ahead' on my own, as I am watching that (amazingly made) Spanish
fan site 'DVD collection' of 16 .iso's, with each disc having proper episode views etc. which all feature the main kaiju in them, so my children remember what the next monster is supposed to be and they will know if I have watched some without them :p.

I did overall enjoy it, though it was unbelievably repetitive at times. I loved all of the music, and motorbike scenes were class too.

I don't know if I would wholeheartedly 'recommend' watching the whole thing for even full on mecha fans, I would say maybe something like 'watch the first 12 or so episodes then pick say 1 out of every next 10 then just watch from say episode 82-92' would be enough to get a full picture of the emm 'plot'. The art development accelerates really quickly in the last 10 or so episodes.

In the first 20 or so, maybe even the first 40 or so episodes, Mazinger Z shape is so kindof floppy and his walking animation is just weird, he also pretty much has a belly haha.

It has to be said though, everytime you're just abobut to get bored, Ichiro Mizuki starts shouting out his epicness and you get into an episode again (well I did).

I watched the Mazinger Z Vs Devilman 40 minute long 'movie' straight after, it was quite good fun and the drawings were noticeably of higher quality, it was HK subbed though.

So now I shall watch the 25 extant subbed episodes of Great Mazinger, then after that UFO Robo Grendizer.

[drauch]

Yeah, a non-sequential show like Mazinger-Z or shows of similar ilk I draw out for a loooooong time. Like, years worthy. I imagine I'll finish the entirety of Urusei Yatsura in another 10 years, but that's how I like it. I think last time I checked I was like 30+ shows, but for this very reason. Keepin' fresh and always plenty in the reservoir.

[Raytrace]

Yeah, a non-sequential show like Mazinger-Z or shows of similar ilk I draw out for a loooooong time. Like, years worthy. I imagine I'll finish the entirety of Urusei Yatsura in another 10 years, but that's how I like it. I think last time I checked I was like 30+ shows, but for this very reason. Keepin' fresh and always plenty in the reservoir.

yeah I kind of get stressed when I've too many things being watched concurrently haha.

[drauch]

Yeah, I certainly can't do it with sequential stuff and a storyline that's tuggin' at my heart strings. I've been neglecting a few lately, and yeah, it's stressful. :/

[Raytrace]

yeh I've been badly neglecting Zypang, GE999 and Hokuto No Ken

[drauch]

Get on that Hokuto, asap! Life altering for the manliest of men.

[Raytrace]

haha yeah I gotta watch Hokuto No Ken deffo, I'm only at episode 15 atm I think. It's just, even though it's stylised I think it is a bit much to let a 4 year old watch, much as I would like to watch it with my son haha. So I have to watch it on my own. I will get back on it, maybe I'll concentrate on it and GE999 for the next while, and then when it's finished in the next few months Ashita No Joe .

[drauch]

haha yeah I gotta watch Hokuto No Ken deffo, I'm only at episode 15 atm I think. It's just, even though it's stylised I think it is a bit much to let a 4 year old watch, much as I would like to watch it with my son haha. So I have to watch it on my own. I will get back on it, maybe I'll concentrate on it and GE999 for the next while, and then when it's finished in the next few months Ashita No Joe .

Yeah, probably not suitable for a 4 year old--unless you want him to grow up super manly! Everyone is buff in Hokuto, even the kids! I'll watch it sometimes and be like, "holy shit, that kid is jacked!" Amazing.

But yeah, it's certainly violent and quite melancholy. I grew up on horror and action movies and violence in media at a young age. So unless you want a lil' drauch on your hands... Too bad there isn't Hokuto no Chibi!

[Bananamatic]

I don't know if I would wholeheartedly 'recommend' watching the whole thing for even full on mecha fans, I would say maybe something like 'watch the first 12 or so episodes then pick say 1 out of every next 10 then just watch from say episode 82-92' would be enough to get a full picture of the emm 'plot'. The art development accelerates really quickly in the last 10 or so episodes.

Old monster of the week shows get boring way too fast, plus there is no real plot to keep you interested. Gaogaigar was that way for the first 24 episodes or so before there was any real story progression(though the second half plus the OVA were amazing, so it was all worth suffering through).

I've finished Gear Fighter Dendoh a few days ago and for a 38 episodes long kid's show it was rather plot driven - from the 15th episode onward there was always something relevant happening.

[Raytrace]

Yeah, probably not suitable for a 4 year old--unless you want him to grow up super manly! Everyone is buff in Hokuto, even the kids! I'll watch it sometimes and be like, "holy shit, that kid is jacked!" Amazing.

But yeah, it's certainly violent and quite melancholy. I grew up on horror and action movies and violence in media at a young age. So unless you want a lil' drauch on your hands... Too bad there isn't Hokuto no Chibi!

haha yeah it probably is a bit too much, though I would love to be able for him to watch it in order to explain the honourable and loyal actions of the Man With The Seven Scars, as that sorta stuff most definitely ISNT in most modern cartoons on TV .

He loves the OP though - 'YOU MUST SHOCK!'
He's been playing a lot of Metal Slug aswell (yes on tablet (well you got to start somewhere)), and he loves it.

[Raytrace]

Old monster of the week shows get boring way too fast, plus there is no real plot to keep you interested. Gaogaigar was that way for the first 24 episodes or so before there was any real story progression(though the second half plus the OVA were amazing, so it was all worth suffering through).

I've finished Gear Fighter Dendoh a few days ago and for a 38 episodes long kid's show it was rather plot driven - from the 15th episode onward there was always something relevant happening.

Yeah you are right I suppose, but I still don't want to 'miss' anything, so I can't help watching it all - is Getter Robo? more eventful, it seems like there could be more dynamic events and character interactions, I don't know why I think that, but it just seems so from what I've seen.

[drauch]

Yeah, it's a shame. Nothing but humor and irreverence in today's animation. All about just being silly and goofy--not manly and honorable!

[Raytrace]

Yeah, it's a shame. Nothing but humor and irreverence in today's animation. All about just being silly and goofy--not manly and honorable!

well I don't mind silly and goofy too much (like all Hanna Barbera stuff is still pretty ace in my eyes) but it's the constant sarcasm, reference filled 'knowing' sh1t that passess off as kids cartoons nowadays I don't like.

[drauch]

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. Poor wording on my part. I'm a big animation fan in general. Early Warner Bros, Disney, Hanna Barbera, etc. Chuck Jones is probably one of my biggest idols in this wubbulous world of media consumption.

[Raytrace]

just watched Hokuto No Ken episode 16, the one where the two gang leaders are killed by literally crushing into each other -

pure amazing

[BIL]

The HNK TV animes' violence is relatively goofy compared to the insanely OTT 1986 movie and gruesome, biology textbook-like manga, but the post apocalyptic world is just as merciless a killer. Orphans and widows all over the shop. ;-; Truly a sad age!

Ease my pain, ease my roneliness / Whoaaa whoaaa!

GREAT THING ABOUT HNK = Dead is dead. No magical wish lucky charms BS here son! LOGH-like in that regard.

[drauch]

Yeah, manga and the film are way more violent, without a doubt. The HnK series is one of the rare cases where I actually prefer the series compared to the original manga. I dunno, Kenshiro in the manga seems to talk a bit more, which kinda detracts from the completely stoic, empty soul that traverses the wasteland, only speaking when necessary, in the series. I love when he's just riding around with BATOU with his arms crossed, staring. Plus those mournful horns! Gets me every time.

[BIL]

TV anime soundtrack is friggin' amazing. I mean God Damn. That's Ennio Morricone levels of mournful awesome.

[jpj]

i love hnk. already owned the movie and the legends of saviours ova series. just finished the tv series, and about a third into hnk 2. ken actually talks more in hnk 2 and i agree it detracts a little. DD hnk 2013 is very kid-friendly, but i dunno if it would be that enjoyable if you don't get all the references and in-jokes i'd heard of the live action american movie, but have also recently come across the live action north korean movie - needs to be seen to be believed

[Raytrace]

I have not read the manga yet, or watched the movie, but yes those eyebrows staring into the distance and an almost complete lack of dialogue is definitely a massive part of The Man With The Seven Scar's badassness .

I would go as far as to say make sure to not use 'aWarpSharp' when watching HnK as it compromises the size of his eyebrows.

Which bit is the horns? - I love the really slow analogue bassline music that comes in usually when say the local asshole gang are being shown approaching the town or smashing up shit.

The OP and ED are incredible too.