In search of GOOD modern anime.

[DaneSaga]

Been out of the anime loop for a while now and I’ve been slowly catching up over the past six or so months, but I’m having a hard time finding anything I really like. The industry seems to have changed quite considerably over years, and very little seems to live up to all the 80’s and 90’s stuff I used to love watching. (at least to me)
So some recommendations of the good stuff would be great.

I should mention though, I don’t really want any of this “moe” or “ecchi” shit that a lot of anime seems to contain these days please, or at the very least keep it to a bare minimum. I don’t mind the odd tit or arse shot here and there but not so much as to make me cringe, and certainly not involving bloody 10 year olds.

For reference here are some of the recent anime I’ve seen and enjoyed

Mushishi
Samurai Champloo
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex
Sky Crawlers
Redline
Katanagatari
Planetes
Moribito
Satoshi Con’s movies

[Moniker]

Mmm, I don't know if these are post 2000 or not, but I really liked:

FLCL, Gungrave, Black Lagoon, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, - (and Cowboy Beebop of course, but I think that's older...)

[GaijinPunch]

Keep searching. Doesn't exist. If I want to watch an anime I generally just get shit from the 80's/90's.

Oh, Redline is definitely worth watching. It is basically an 80's anime with a 2010 budget & gloss.

[Op Intensify]

You could have just posted in the anime thread, but here's a braindump anyway. I can guarantee that none of these are overly moe.

Mind Game
Kemonozume
Kaiba
The Tatami Galaxy
Michiko & Hatchin (US disc release coming in 2013)
Gurren Lagann
Princess Tutu
Last Exile
Last Exile: Fam's Wing
Xam'd/Bounen no Xamdou
Mononoke (not Princess Mononoke)
Genius Party, Genius Party Beyond, Sweat Punch (three compilations of amazing short animations)
Moyashimon
Library War
Emma
Pumpkin Scissors
Le Chevalier d'Eon
Gankutsuou
House of Five Leaves
Le Portrait de Petite Cossette
Ergo Proxy
FLAG
Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space
Kino's Journey

[DaneSaga]

FLCL, Gungrave, Black Lagoon, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, - (and Cowboy Beebop of course, but I think that's older...)

Bebop is older, though the Movie is from 2001 I believe. FLCL is awesome and FMA was alright for a shounen I guess. Have to check out Gungrave and Black Lagoon.

Keep searching. Doesn't exist. If I want to watch an anime I generally just get shit from the 80's/90's.

I’m sure it exists but like finding a Russian woman without facial hair, it seems to be a fucking rare occurrence.

[DaneSaga]

You could have just posted in the anime thread, but here's a braindump anyway. I can guarantee that none of these are overly moe.

Mind Game
Kemonozume
Kaiba
The Tatami Galaxy
Michiko & Hatchin (US disc release coming in 2013)
Gurren Lagann
Princess Tutu
Last Exile
Last Exile: Fam's Wing
Xam'd/Bounen no Xamdou
Mononoke (not Princess Mononoke)
Genius Party, Genius Party Beyond, Sweat Punch (three compilations of amazing short animations)
Moyashimon
Library War
Emma
Pumpkin Scissors
Le Chevalier d'Eon
Gankutsuou
Le Portrait de Petite Cossette
Ergo Proxy

sorry man, I should have done a search beforehand.
I've seen several of those listed (Mononoke, Kaiba, Tatami Galaxy, Ergo Proxy) but will check out the others. thanks.

[Op Intensify]

I added more to the list at the end, by the way.

[DaneSaga]

I added more to the list at the end, by the way.

righto!

[gundamalpha]

You should watch Makoto Shinkai's anime, a little known director with unique style

[Op Intensify]

I didn't mention Shinkai because he's probably too moe for this guy's tastes.

[DaneSaga]

lol. Actually my girlfriend out of the blue bought me makoto shinkai 's 5 centimetres Per Second on blu-ray as a late birthday present, which also contained Voices of a distant star and that black and white short about a Cat.
I really think she bought it for herself but it sits there on the shelf with my library of anime DVD and BRs, emasculating both me and said shelf (the case is fucking PINK for god sake!) but whatever.

tbh, I didn't think they were too bad actually, but yeah...not what I'm really looking for right now.

[Raytrace]

You could have just posted in the anime thread, but here's a braindump anyway. I can guarantee that none of these are overly moe.

Mind Game
Kemonozume
Kaiba
The Tatami Galaxy
Michiko & Hatchin (US disc release coming in 2013)
Gurren Lagann
Princess Tutu
Last Exile
Last Exile: Fam's Wing
Xam'd/Bounen no Xamdou
Mononoke (not Princess Mononoke)
Genius Party, Genius Party Beyond, Sweat Punch (three compilations of amazing short animations)
Moyashimon
Library War
Emma
Pumpkin Scissors
Le Chevalier d'Eon
Gankutsuou
House of Five Leaves
Le Portrait de Petite Cossette
Ergo Proxy
FLAG
Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space
Kino's Journey

are Ergo Proxy and Bounen no Xamdou the only sci-fi setting ones in that list?

- I know it's bad to be negative in a positive titled thread but whatever you do DaneSaga - don't go NEAR Rinne No Lagrange, it wil damage your soul with it's crapness...

[DaneSaga]

are Ergo Proxy and Bounen no Xamdou the only sc0-fi setting ones in that list?

I know it's bad to be negative in a postive titled thread but whatever you do DaneSaga - don't go NEAR Rinne No Lagrange, it wil damage your soul with it's crapness...

Don't worry, I've seen quite a bit of crap over the past several months so I appreciate any warnings on shit that shouldn't be seen.

'bout to start watching House of Five leaves and Kino's Journey as they looked the most appealing so far. Need a break from mechs after sitting through both the Patlabor OVA and Gunbuster 2.

[Raytrace]

are Ergo Proxy and Bounen no Xamdou the only sc0-fi setting ones in that list?

I know it's bad to be negative in a postive titled thread but whatever you do DaneSaga - don't go NEAR Rinne No Lagrange, it wil damage your soul with it's crapness...

Don't worry, I've seen quite a bit of crap over the past several months so I appreciate any warnings on shit that shouldn't be seen.

'bout to start watching House of Five leaves and Kino's Journey as they looked the most appealing so far. Need a break from mechs after sitting through both the Patlabor OVA and Gunbuster 2.

'break from mechs' - what do those words mean?

Patlabor OVA s are brilliant, I will try to finish Gunbuster 2 just cause I feel I 'have' to, but I found the one episode I saw pretty difficult to watch after just finishing watching the sublime work which is Gunbuster OVA

[DaneSaga]

'break from mechs' - what do those words mean?

......................

Patlabor OVA s are brilliant, I will try to finish Gunbuster 2 just cause I feel I 'have' to, but I found the one episode I saw pretty difficult to watch after just finishing watching the sublime work which is Gunbuster OVA

Yeah the original Gunbuster OVA is damn brilliant. “Diebuster” bleh can’t hold a candle to it.

[shmuppyLove]

I'm really enjoying Bodacious Space Pirates, check it out.

http://youtu.be/4JKWt-GdTxQ

[Op Intensify]

are Ergo Proxy and Bounen no Xamdou the only sci-fi setting ones in that list?

Also Kaiba, Gurren Lagann, FLAG, and Tamala 2010 (though I don't really know what the fuck is up with that last one).

The Patlabor OVAs can't compare to the movies.

[KAI]

Sentou Yousei Yukikaze

If you liked Katanagatari, you should watch Bake/Nisemonogatari or read Zaregoto Series.

[EmperorIng]

Black Lagoon is probably my favorite anime to come out in the 2000s. Madhouse is usually a sure sign of quality (at the very least, entertainment), and its dub is probably one of the best in my opinion.

[Hagane]

Keep searching. Doesn't exist. If I want to watch an anime I generally just get shit from the 80's/90's.

There's probably more good anime post 2000 than in the 90's and 80's.

Op Intensify's list is pretty much spot on. I'd add Dennou Coil, Detroit Metal City (read the manga though) and House of Five Leaves. Some people like Monster; I thought it was poorly paced compared to the manga but you might find it interesting.

[Raytrace]

are Ergo Proxy and Bounen no Xamdou the only sci-fi setting ones in that list?

Also Kaiba, Gurren Lagann, FLAG, and Tamala 2010 (though I don't really know what the fuck is up with that last one).

The Patlabor OVAs can't compare to the movies.

cool thanks - I love Gurren Lagann I'll check out the others -

yeah I kinda don't really compare the OVAs to the movies anyway as they're definitely different in intent, the OVA is definitely more humorous etc., whereas the movies are definitely more sombre/tense - Patlabor II is amazing I prefer it even to GITS.

[KAI]

If You like Gurren Lagann you should watch his father, Shin Getter Robo: The last days.
Opening 1 & Opening 2

and his bastard brother, Shin Mazinger.
Manliest Opening Ever

[Raytrace]

If You like Gurren Lagann you should watch his father, Shin Getter Robo: The last days.
Opening 1 & Opening 2

and his bastard brother, Shin Mazinger.
Manliest Opening Ever

cool man yeah, I intend to watch them for sure, though I'm intending to try and watch all the originals before that - well Mazinger Z and movies, Devilman, emm well them anyway - that guy singin Shin Mazinger is teh best anime singers I've ever heard!!!!!

[xbl0x180]

There isn't a lot of anime from the past 15 years I'd recommend and the few that I liked don't match anything in the list. Sadly, the anime I'd consider to be "good" are either based on shoujo manga or cheapie VNs. I liked Nana, even though one of the titular characters is rather annoying. It had a decent premise and it was just long enough to have an involving storyline that would make the audience become invested in what happens along the way. Another drawback is the heavy reliance on CG to make smooth animation, but the chara designs are distinct/unique, so all is not lost. The music is decent, with some J-Rock thrown in as part of the story. Lastly, the characters are drawn and acted as young adults, so there isn't a lot of that moe garbage that other shows are plagued with.




Or you can by-pass seeing a whole series and just watch the last episode of Clannad, which was the only good episode from an otherwise unremarkable and somewhat annoying series. It's the only episode I've seen more than once




For Sci-Fi, I'd recommend Project Blue Earth SOS, which looked to me as if it was a sleeper hit. It had a decent blend of retro Sci-Fi from the 30s up to the 50s - 30s and 40s Art Deco and Streamline designs abound as backgrounds, UFOs that look as if they were taken from 50s B-movies, kid protagonists that harkened back to "Tin Tin" and "Johnny Quest." It's not quite Kishin Heidan or Giant Robo (which are way better), but it's definitely one of the more noteworthy series I have seen from the past decade.

[DaneSaga]

yeah I kinda don't really compare the OVAs to the movies anyway as they're definitely different in intent, the OVA is definitely more humorous etc., whereas the movies are definitely more sombre/tense - Patlabor II is amazing I prefer it even to GITS.

Probably because they are Oshii Mamoru films with the Patlabor name slapped on top of them. Still great though and Oshii is boss.
Didn't enjoy WXIII nearly half as much but it was certainly watchable.

Gurren Lagann is a name I hear quite often and compared to Gunbuster a lot too. Probably going to have to see what all the fuss is about sooner or later.

Anyway I'm nearly halfway through Kino's Journey as per suggested by Op Intensify, and its quite good. Reminds me somewhat of Mushishi or Haibane Renmei in certain respects. Not a lot of action but I don't mind that. Second episode about the stranded travellers in the snow and fifth ep about the rail road workers have easily been the best so far.
Thanks for the rec.

[DaneSaga]

There isn't a lot of anime from the past 15 years I'd recommend and the few that I liked don't match anything in the list. Sadly, the anime I'd consider to be "good" are either based on shoujo manga or cheapie VNs.

I liked Usagi Drop and I believe that would be considered shoujo. Twelve Kingdoms was decent too, though the anime ended in a odd place I thought.

Will look into Project Blue. I love me some old school Military Sci-Fi action

[Kiken]

I really enjoyed Mahjong Legend Akagi: The genius who descended into darkness (or simply "Akagi"). Then again, I love the game of mahjong. Also, I rather liked DuRaRaRa.

[Cuilan]

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Guyver (the newer one)
Durarara
Wandering Son
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Fate/Zero
Metropolis

[KAI]

There's probably more good anime post 2000 than in the 90's and 80's.

You say that cause you don't like robots.

Mugen no Ryvius is good too. Realistic sci-fi by Sunrise.

[xbl0x180]

On almost every category, except for moe, stupid jokes and fanservice, 80s or 90s anime will be better than stuff from the 2000s