I am pretty new to anime....

Prog39 · Post by **Prog39** » Sat Mar 05, 2005 5:37 am

I (in the last few months) just started to get into anime. I usually download fansubs or rent dvd's of stuff thats already over here. My question is this...what do you guys really like.

Here is what I have seen/currently watching:

1.Gundam SEED (one of my favorites)
2.Gundam SEED DESTINY
3.Full Metal Alchemist
4.Full Metal Panic + Fumoffu
5.Witch Hunter Robin
6.Last Exile
7.Ghost in the Shell + both SAC's
8.R.O.D
9.Naruto (at ep. 30)
10.Rurouni Kenshin

My Favorites of all these are Gundam SEED and Naruto. Is there anything out there that you long time anime watchers think that I would like. There so much anime out that its hard to figure out what I would like. I have Chrno Crusade and Neon Genesis Evangelion but I havent watched them yet.

I'm usually watch a couple episodes a night...but lately I have been trying to watch 1 ep of Naruto a night but it usually turns into 8 or 9 before I stop. (gotta quit doing that)

Zephie-chan · Post by **Zephie-chan** » Sat Mar 05, 2005 2:03 pm

You've got quite a list there! For me, the Gundam SEED series is probably ranked at my most favorite. I have a very complicated rating system for my personal usage, so I won't go into it, but if you're still watching it then you're going to enjoy the hell out of both. I sure am.

Fullmetal Alchemist is a must for any otaku fan, so you got that base covered. I've never actually seen Full Metal Panic, or Full Metal Panic: Fumoffu?, but I hear it's supposed to be funny as hell. Let me know how it is and I might take a gander one of these days.

Witch Hunter Robin wasn't something I was able to get into. I watched some of the fansubs when they were first coming out, but could never get into it. It was a little too slow and too weird for my tastes. I liked the later episodes I saw of the English production on Adult Swim, but... I just couldn't do it.

Last Exile, if you look at my review of it here on this forum, is also a must for any otaku. It's got the animation, the story, and the kick ass seiyuu. As for GitS, I've only watched the first movie and whatever I could get on the Cartoon Network blocks. I fully plan on exploring them once they're all out and done with so I don't have to wait for episodes or anything of that such. The same goes for R.O.D., though with that, since it's all out and released, I'm just being a lazy bastard about it.

Naruto is still ongoing for me. I caught up with the RAWs (I watch the RAW when it's released and then go for the fansub to get what I wasn't able to in the RAW), which sets me at episode 124... kick ass, man. I don't think anyone who likes anime should be deprived of this particular series. It's actually, though new, has become a classic because it has defined its own sub-genre of anime.

Rurouni Kenshin is another classic for it's type of genre. Whenever an anime comes out about the Bakumatsu or the Meiji era, people think of Ruroken (its nickname). The manga was even better than the anime, truly, so check that out of you can. You can probably find some Ruroken manga at your local Banes and Noble or something...

Based on that this list is almost, with the exception of Witch Hunter Robin, very near my own tastes, I can list a few that you MIGHT like. A star next to the name will denote that I'm not entirely positive:

Escaflowne & Esaflowne: A Girl in Gaea (ie. the movie)
AIR TV *
Xenosaga
Elfen Lied * (18+ only -- contains extreme violence and nudity; no sex)
InuYasha
Samurai 7
Tsukuyomi -MOON PHASE- *

... The list can go on, but I'll leave it at those for now. AIR is one that I'm not sure everyone will like. I'm an avid fan of that show because of the story that it implies and the overall sensitivity they give the personalities of the characters as well as the animation.

Elfen Lied would be classified as an 18+ anime here in the States: It has some very fucking raunchy fight scenes consisting of lost limbs, gallons of blood, as well as huge amounts of nudity -- no sex (I know some of you were dissapointed with that), but it is worth at least a look if you've got a strong stomach. It's also very "cruel", meaning no situation is taboo; a good example is in the beginning where an army soldier hits a woman just because he felt like it when she was trying to be nice and bring him coffee. Just the way it happens wants to make you puke.

MOON PHASE is a weird anime consisting of dark castles, cute vampire girlies, and just plain weirdness. A brake from the normal, I suppose. I enjoyed the hell out of the episodes so far. But it's definitely not for everyone. Download the first episode or so and see if you like it before dedicating yourself to batch files.

Prog39 · Post by **Prog39** » Sat Mar 05, 2005 4:47 pm

Wow that is a good list too. I actually have Samurai 7 downloaded but I havent began watching it yet. Full Metal Alchemist is up on the top of my list but it cant take the top spot because of the way it ended. Although there is a movie coming this summer and a rumor of another series.
I actually have seen all of Inuyasha Episodes and all but the last movie (it hasnt been subbed yet and my Japanese isnt that good). That was is pretty good but it has a lot of filler and still feels unfinished. I will definetily check out the ones that you mentioned.

I got gotta tell you NARUTO is frickin awesome. I think I have watched episode 19 20 times because of how cool it was. (in a sad kind of way) NARUTO is a prime example of why I like anime. It is the only thing I watch that is able to make you care about characters and what happens to them and Naruto is easy the best anime I have seen so far.

Keep in mind that FMA I thought was going to be the best execpt for the ending. If the ending isnt good in Naruto like it wasnt in FMA that will drop it down below the ones that do. I just think that since all ANIME is watched mostly for the storyline (even though the action is NARUTO is top notch) if the ending sucks it blows the whole experience.

Thank you for the list and PM me if you think of any others that you like.

Regarding Elfen Lied, nudity doesnt bother me at all as long as its tasteful. Generally as long as its not fanservice its fine with me. I will not watch any Hentai or any Pornography at all just because I do not need that kind of trash in my life. (I am probably one of the few 20 yr olds who say that) Basically if there is a reason for the person to be nude then I wont care...but if its just because then that will bother me...Hell, there was nudity in Dragonball.

P.S. What is your favorite Anime Web Site? Im looking for a good one with Wallpapers, fan art, and maybe some MP3's!?

Zephie-chan · Post by **Zephie-chan** » Sat Mar 05, 2005 11:25 pm

The nudity in Elfen Lied isn't really needed. I mean, it would go just fine if she had clothes on. They did it just because that's how the original creator drew it in his manga. It's not really tasteful, but, in some weird way, watching a chick with psychic powers killing people in various gruesome ways is kinda hot... if you're into that sort of thing. People have told me that's the only reason that they liked the series -- I'm watching it only because I help fansub it.

I thought FMA ended pretty good (don't give out any more spoilers; now people now it ends like shit -- I know Typheus probably isn't happy right about now). I'm one who likes those kinds of endings. You get something like that in Escaflowne, but it's more of a philisophical ending that many people don't get, hence why many think the ending sucks for Escaflowne. I understood it probably because I'm a writer at heart and I knew what was probably going on in the creators' heads: When creating something, you're bound by the laws you create for it, and even the creator must obey those laws.

I've read a lot of interviews and kept up on all the rumors and hypes about the FMA, and it seems that the movie will give the closure that the fans of the series wanted from the beginning. They ended the series like that because they were already working on the movie.

Look for InuYasha Movie 4: Guren no Hourai-jima this June. It'll take roughly a week and a half, depending on if we run into trouble or not, after the movie is released for rental DVD for InuYasha 4Ever Fansubs to translate, subtitle, and release it -- just remember: June!

I don't actually have a specific anime site I go to to get all that stuff. I find what I need in various places on the web. I keep up on all the latest information at ANN, but that's about the only anime site I frequent every day that has detailed specifics. For wallpapers, you can find lots at http://www.animewallpapers.com/, and you can find more of the latest released soundtracks, JPop and anime alike, listed somewhere on http://www.tokyotosho.com/.

Post by **Verence** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:51 pm

I reccomend...

Now and Then, Here and There

Hellsing

Onegai Teacher

Twelve Kingdoms

Trigun

Peacemaker Kurogane

Samurai Champloo

Cowboy Bebop

the fuzzy panda · Post by **the fuzzy panda** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:03 pm

oh oh my turn
initial d - you'll like cars after watchin it
bleach
great teacher onizuka - teaches u about life
peach girl - because everyone need to watch a drama filled girly anime

Zephie-chan · Post by **Zephie-chan** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 6:38 pm

Ohh! Yes, yes. Those are good. If you keep reading this forum, I'm sure you'll get more anime listed than you'll actually need.

I didn't like Peacemaker Kurogane too much, though... I... I just couldn't get past that anime for some reason. I thought it was a little too dragged out and they also seemed to repeat themselves over and over again.

If you watch Onegai Teacher, you should also take a look at Onegai Twins. They take place in the same town, and the characters from Onegai Teacher make an appearance, and it's just plain cool to see an indirect sequel for that series.

Also keep an eye out in the future for Onegai Friends which should be premiering some time soon... they started working on it last year, in the beginning of 2004, I believe. I haven't actually kept up on the news about the Onegai series, though.

Prog39 · Post by **Prog39** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 4:29 pm

A long list is great....I may be losing my broadband connection for a month or two so I am trying to get as many fansubs as I can before then.

Zephie-chan · Post by **Zephie-chan** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 11:23 pm

Try http://www.boxtorrents.com/. They've got shitloads -- most of them being full or half completed series'. Never the less, they're all good. They've even got music and manga series'. They've also got hentai if you're into it, but I'd avoid that section just because...

Realm · Post by **Realm** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 8:59 am

I've only seen 2 anime episodes in my life: one Initial D and one Cowboy Bebop, both courtesy of Richie. Liked them both.

Afrotect · Post by **Afrotect** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 10:19 am

If you like music, you must watch all of bebop. The infusion of incredible jazz / funk / rock / everything into an engaging, deep story will evoke all kinds of wicked emotions when you go back and listen to the music alone. The other day, I heard 3 notes of Into The West...I think that's what it's called and all I could envision was Faye, Jet and Spike flying alone in their craft, thinking about their lives...it's a powerful scene towards the end, and I won't put spoilers. But for shizzle...each time you watch the 26 or so episodes through, you glean more and more from the show.

DO IT

Zephie-chan · Post by **Zephie-chan** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 2:33 pm

I agree whole heartidly with Afrotect. Cowboy Bebop has been praised as the best anime created due to its infusion of storyline, music, and characters. It's one of my favorites, in my complicated rating system, and I wouldn't have it any other way. If you haven't seen this series, you haven't experienced what true anime is...

Afrotect · Post by **Afrotect** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 2:39 pm

/big hug for Zephie

Prog39 · Post by **Prog39** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 5:51 am

^^^ How Gay!!
Yeah Box torrents is awesome...Im download Mononoke right now!!

Typheus · Post by **Typheus** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 4:20 pm

Anyone here seen Betterman? I loved that anime... I also loved Dual: Parallel Universe. If I told you anything about Betterman I would spoil it, but in Dual this one kid gets sent to another world where a kign is trying to control the world (and wouldnt you know it he managed to take down Europe, Asia, and even US so the only place left is Japan)