Recommended Anime/Manga?

[Obiwanshinobi]

I'm reading 20th Century Boys. Too exploitative for my liking, but maybe the suspense needs to be so tacky as a tribute to the author's childhood readings?
Nonetheless, a necessary book. I'm most impressed by depiction of the protagonist's baby niece. My sister's just brought her son this age home and yeah, he's something of the type.

[BryanM]

Been a lousy month animu-wise. Even tried watching the first episode of Leviathan, and was surprised to note that I found 0 things to like about a show meant for 6 year old girls. Might be the time to pull the trigger on School Days.

Give me something creepy and weird to watch brahs

[Xyga]

Cross Ange
No big surprise mecha-with-boobies (and lesbos) just average but solid average so far. It's watchable and not overly cliché for the genre.
It doesn't fall into infinite fan-service boredom, there's violence, death, a bit of sekuhara, and the heroine is okay as a fallen princess waking up to a harsh reality, could be a character.
Neither mechas nor the designated antagonists are the focus though, well not as far as I've watched (ep 7) as the story hasn't developed well yet.

[KAI]

GUNDAM FUCKING ORIGIN EP 1 CAME OUT A FEW MINS AGO!!!

[Raytrace]

I know - I'm not gonna get to watch it till dinner time tomorrow though - (its 3 AM here :p)

[GaijinPunch]

Wow -- even I'm interested to see that. Looks like it could be overly bad though.

[Randorama]

It's very close to the original style of the first series, both in content and graphic style.
In fact, my wife could not believe that it was new, and I had to point out about the cheap 3D parts.
There is not much mecha action in the first episode, but it becomes very clear how the Zebi came to power.

The seikyu for Char/young Casval is wrong, in my opinion.
I can see that they wanted Casval to sound mature and strong, but he's still an 11 yo boy, not a 60+ yo woman...
Still, the current Gundam series are embarrassing to say the least, so it is a breath of fresh air.

My father will love watching it, I guess.

[Pretas]

So I just realized I've never read or watched anything Fullmetal Alchemist. Is it still worth it if I'm not an edgy 15-year-old weeaboo/fujoshi, or is it just another one of those fad shonen series whose ship has sailed? I remember hearing a lot of dorks prattling on about its supposed "philosophical messages" circa 2006.

I've heard that Brotherhood is superior to the original anime, and much more faithful to the manga, but it assumes you're already completely familiar with the characters and setting. Bad idea for a retelling/reboot that isn't a Hollywood superhero movie.

[KAI]

Don't get the wrong idea, even if all the weaboos were praising it and putting it at the same level of Naturo and Bleech, FMA is a whole different thing.
I really enjoyed the first series, and most of my friends have told me Brotherhood is one of the best action series of all times. I think I should watch it too after finishing Remi and Ashita no Joe 2.

[ryu]

I had been recommending it to a friend for years. Not too long ago he actually watched it, and didn't like it at all. I got curious, started rewatching both FMA and Brotherhood, and didn't really get into any of them anymore.

I'd still recommend them, but have to advice that it's best not to expect too much.

[Xyga]

FMA is awesome but VERY dark (even gruesome sometimes) and totally depressing.

[soprano1]

FMA is awesome but VERY dark (even gruesome sometimes) and totally depressing.

Silver Spoon is a better work from the same author.

[Xyga]

Lol. two works that have absolutely nothing in common.

FMA is an atrocious story of war, genocide and power. Sliver Spoon is about farming.

[soprano1]

Lol. two works that have absolutely nothing in common.

FMA is an atrocious story of war, genocide and power. Sliver Spoon is about farming.

Yet they came from the same person.

[Randorama]

Silver Spoon is an excellent story about a boy who does not want to follow his stern's father's wishes, and about how shitty life of small scale farmers is.
As far as I understand, it is partly autobiographical: Hiromu Arakawa grew up in a farm and her family bankrupted while she was in college (and her father did not want to go etc. etc.), or something like that.

Full Metal Alchemist is a li'l masterpiece, as it has a core action series component on which the author delivers serious reflections on war, life and the likes.
I am still annoyed, though, that Arakawa does not want to admit that she took inspiration from Moorcock and the many other fantasy authors that she clearly read and used as a background.
She is an excellent writer, anyway.

[Pretas]

Watched the first episodes of both FMA (the original) and Brotherhood on streaming and could immediately tell it wasn't my thing. It also seems that Brotherhood's dedication to the manga is slavish to a fault, as they incorporated gags that were clearly intended to be left on the printed page. Guess I'll be skipping it. As for Silver Spoon, it's probably a good and insightful story, but I no longer have the patience or mindset for slice-of-life series. I did enjoy stuff like Aria when I was younger, though.

[pokemon123]

Finished clannad AS(definitely a bit overrated IMO), it was definitely sad but I didn't even come close to crying. still recommended although I barely watch any anime

Might try Kanon again but it's moecrap is annoying(Clannad had this problem too but I felt there was less)

[nasty_wolverine]

One punch man. Over the top. hilarious and fun. if you havent read it, you are missing out.

[Pretas]

So there is now an English website for the Xbox One Psycho-Pass visual novel. Looks like 5pb might be shooting for a Western release.

[Obiwanshinobi]

I just realised what "Friends" of 20th Century Boys remind me of most - Harry Potter fandom.

[nasty_wolverine]

I just realised what "Friends" of 20th Century Boys remind me of most - Harry Potter fandom.

lol, i would say its closer to twilight or 50shades fandom, a disillusioned cult.

[Lord Satori]

Last week there were double features at the Egyptian theater in Hollywood. I went to the friday one which was Ghost in the Shell followed by Redline. I've already seen GitS, so I don't have much to say about that, but it was nice to see it on the big screen.

Redline was amazing and hilarious racing movie. I was surprised by the amount of destruction towards the end. It's one of those movies where parts of it will be funnier since you're in a crowd of people as opposed to being by yourself. That said, I'm pretty sure the dramatic slow motion finish wasn't supposed to be funny, despite several people laughing at it.

[null1024]

Just watched all of G Gundam. Tons of fun, although it's got a fair few issues [Domon is unreasonably stupid at times, it's a bit ham-fisted with character portrayals at times, Shining/Burning Finger solved almost every problem until really, really, REALLY late in the series, and three out of the four rival fights in the tournament had Domon completely ass-pulling his way though [the fight against Sai was great though]].

It's a fun series and it consistently depicts that without the Gundam Fight, the world would return to a state of war, similar to pretty much the entire rest of the franchise. Domon and Rain's relationship was also pretty well handled, for the most part.
It's constantly over the top and isn't too obnoxious about it [some of the Gundam designs are though], and other than it being a bit too long [yeah, Gundam series run for about 50 or so episodes, but they really don't need that many], it's a rather solid watch.

Going to watch Gundam X next, and then Victory Gundam after that.

[Pretas]

Going to watch Gundam X next, and then Victory Gundam after that.

You're really scraping the bottom of the barrel. X was canceled due to low ratings, and Victory was made when Tomino was in full-on depression mode. Like, not creatively inspirational Anno depression but "I don't give a shit" depression.

[null1024]

Going to watch Gundam X next, and then Victory Gundam after that.

You're really scraping the bottom of the barrel. X was canceled due to low ratings, and Victory was made when Tomino was in full-on depression mode. Like, not creatively inspirational Anno depression but "I don't give a shit" depression.

I heard that X is still a pretty decent show. Watched the first episode and it's gotten my interest so far, but we'll see how it goes.

That's a bit worrying for Victory though.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Finally checked out the fourth episode of Ghost In the Shell: Arise Original Video Animation (OVA) -- interesting premise and keeps the audience guessing as to WTF is going on with all the action/running gun battles in the first ten minutes. At the end of this particular episode with the characters of Major Makoto and Batou (with their on-going playful bantering/small talk aside from being so serious sometimes) made me chuckle/smile. Of course, all the events that take place in the GiTS:Arise universe/mythos take place a few years prior to the events that unfold in the GiTS anime movie. Liked the background scenery wireframe CG ending as well with it's simplistic and minimalistic artistic approach/overall visual flair -- something different for a change of pace.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Pretas]

Victory is without a doubt the worst and most unnecessary entry in the UC saga. Unfortunately, it somehow ended up being the longest-running Gundam TV series ever, at over 50 episodes.

Gundam received some excellent OVAs in the Lost Decade, but all its TV anime of the nineties besides Turn A really floundered creatively.

[Obiwanshinobi]

REAL by Takehiko Inoue won me over from the 1st volume's early pages. I recall some accomplished mangaka (Kishimoto Masashi or Endo Hiroki) speaking highly of Slam Dunk, but sports themes don't typically evoke my interest, so I didn't expect this much flair so soon.
Even Hajime no Ippo anime took longer to make me sure I was gonna like it.

[Raytrace]

Victory is without a doubt the worst and most unnecessary entry in the UC saga. Unfortunately, it somehow ended up being the longest-running Gundam TV series ever, at over 50 episodes.

I myself actually like ZZ, but surely that in general is considered the worst UC?

Victory definitely has major pacing issues and particularly the middle is pure boring, but I like it's story overall, and I think it really does have a depressing feel; guillotines, weird bell sounds, women being sent out to die in space.

The art in Victory annoys the shit out of me though - such horrible fat lines, and lack of shading on mecha whose lines are being drawn as if they should be shaded (i.e. it doesn't look 'superflat'/stylized or on purposes, just shitty). It really annoys me because the V2 design is beautiful I think, and it is hardly ever drawn well enough in the anime. Usually I want Gundam kits to look as good as the anime, (or the way the anime has implanted their design in my head). In the case of Victory Gundam, you end up wishing the anime could look as good as the model :s.

[Raytrace]

Going to watch Gundam X next, and then Victory Gundam after that.

when you do watch Victory, let me know in this thread, or check online, as the first 4 or so episodes are completely in the wrong order, I can't remember why, I think Bandai wanted moar robots in the premier episode or something. Anyway it makes the already (as usual) exposition-lacking Tomino introduction episodes even more confusing, so it is pretty important to watch in the revised order - I think its something like: 4,1,2,3,5,6.... or something.