Your Favorite Anime?

Segata · Post by **Segata** » Fri May 28, 2004 2:58 pm

Seeing as there are obviously at least a handful of anime fans here, I figured we ought to have a thread for sharing our favorite anime series.

My all-time favorite series and total obsession from two and a half years ago until about six months ago was Neon Genesis Evangelion. I even had a <<website>> that I started completely redoing and abandoned around Christmas.

My other favorites are most of the other heavy-hitters. I love Cowboy Bebop, Dragon Ball (signifigantly more before it became so disgustingly popular), Trigun, RahXephon, and Naruto, my current obsession.

I've also been watching some Full Metal Alchemist and One Piece lately and am just about to dive into Last Exile and Hunter x Hunter.

I love summer.

aso · Post by **aso** » Fri May 28, 2004 3:00 pm

Dragon Ball (I know far too much about this series) and DiGi Charat.

That's... about it.

Post by **Esrever** » Fri May 28, 2004 3:12 pm

FLCL is my favourite, just slightly edging out Cowboy Bebop from the top spot. Nothing else comes even close to those two.

Biby128 · Post by **Biby128** » Fri May 28, 2004 3:57 pm

FLCL is a funny show, too bad it was short. My favorite of all time is Cowboy Bebop, I also like the DragonBall series because it was the first anime I've ever seen.

Segata · Post by **Segata** » Fri May 28, 2004 4:55 pm

I could never really get into FLCL. I mean, it's fun to watch at three in the morning in an "omgthismakesnoooosensebutitzkool!" kind of way, but most of it was just too nonsensical for me. The last episode was the only one I really enjoyed.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Fri May 28, 2004 4:55 pm

You can easily spot an online community of geeks because the majority of them use anime characters as their avatars.

FLCL is my current favorite.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Fri May 28, 2004 5:09 pm

I don't understand why FLCL was turned into a series. Really, it would problably have done better as a long movie than a short series. People wouldn't complain about it being short if it was a two-hour movie instead of a couple of episodes . . .

plasticwingsband · Post by **plasticwingsband** » Fri May 28, 2004 5:26 pm

I don't really like all that much anime. But Cowboy Bebop is really cool. So is FLCL.

Ngangbius · Post by **Ngangbius** » Fri May 28, 2004 6:23 pm

Other than the obligatory Cowboy Bebop and FLCL responses, I also enjoy...

~~serial experiments lain

~~Now and Then, Here and There(a very underrated gem)

~~El-Hazard OAV

~~Fullmetal Alchemist

~~Escaflowne(the movie is crap though)

~~anything Slayers(yes, including the mediocre Try season)

~~many Studio Ghibli/Miyazaki animated movies

~~and for some reason I'm enjoying Digimon Tamers which I find to be the best kids anime I've ever seen. Maybe it is that Konaka writing...

I haven't had the time to rent that many anime from a local rental store like I used to. That's okay though, since I like manga much more than anime with a few exceptions like Escaflowne and Cowboy Bebop.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Fri May 28, 2004 6:34 pm

FLCL is light years beyond anything else that's out right now. Abenobashi was excellent until the ending, I've lost respect for the series as a whole since that incident.

I was a big Bebop fan before it became popular, since which time I've had to brush my interest into the closet. I was introduced to Miyazaki fairly recently, and now the Ghibli movies are among my all-time favorites (except Kiki, it's too depressing).

I really like a couple of Oshii's animated works, namely Ghost in the Shell and Beautiful Dreamer. I'm a big fan of early era Takahashi, specifically Urusei Yatsura (the anime, which might be attributed more to Oshii than Takahashi) and Maison Ikkoku (the manga).

As far as stereotypical anime with all the schtick associated, I actually quite like the Saber Marionette J TV series (the manga is horrible). Slayers was sort of my introductory anime, but I've discovered that I still quite enjoy it independent of nostalgia.

And Golden Boy. Can't forget Golden Boy.

plasticwingsband · Post by **plasticwingsband** » Fri May 28, 2004 7:31 pm

Ah, I forgot about Lain and Golden Boy. Golden Boy in particular, especially on the sixth episode when Kentaro (that's his name, right?) and the animator are discussing how to draw boobies. That was funny.

As far as Ghibli goes, I really liked Princess Mononoke, but I've seen it far too many times. I really, really liked Spirited Away. Talk about an acid trip. Anyone notice how that guy who works the coal (forgot his name) looks like Eggman? Face-wise, at least.

Post by **Squirrelknight** » Fri May 28, 2004 7:34 pm

Yeah, I suppose I'll go along with the crowd and continue to praise FLCL. I do believe that it is the true pinnacle of EVERYTHING. Yeah, its only 6 episodes, but each of those episodes are so well put together... Hell, ever frame of animation is so beautiful you could print out a bundh of screenshots and hang them in a museum. I'd much prefer shows to be as short as FLCL if each episode is that well-done, rather than the majority of shows nowadays that fill up their episode quota with pointless filler (Or in the case of Dragon Ball Z, where the entire show is pointless filler).

Other than FLCL, I'd recommened Last Exile... I've only seen the first 13 episodes, which were great, but I hear that the show falls apart near the end.

Oh, and Millenium Actress, Satoshi Kon's masterpiece. Its probably the only anime movie I'd rank above any of Miyazaki's movies.

And if you can't tell by my icon, I like Naruto alot too... Its one of those shows that'll probably go on for a long as time, as it already has 85 episodes, but unlike similar anime (Like DBZ), it never drags on and is thankfully free from filler-episodes. Each episode is important and the characters are likeable. The complete opposite of DBZ.

Post by **Segaholic2** » Fri May 28, 2004 7:51 pm

I still haven't ever watched any real anime. Woohoo! *waits for Pep's comment about how I always bring this up in anime threads*

Segata · Post by **Segata** » Fri May 28, 2004 8:06 pm

Squirrelknight wrote:And if you can't tell by my icon, I like Naruto alot too... Its one of those shows that'll probably go on for a long as time, as it already has 85 episodes, but unlike similar anime (Like DBZ), it never drags on and is thankfully free from filler-episodes. Each episode is important and the characters are likeable. The complete opposite of DBZ.

I agree that Naruto has a lot of staying power, but I must disagree that there about filler episodes. I'm still a few episodes behind the latest releases, but even in the late seventies, there were a few episodes (I don't remember exactly which ones), where they were just showing a few unimportant fight scenes and traveling to find Sasuke. I mean, it is usually very interesting and doesn't tend to drag on, but like any anime, especially ones of this length, there are plenty of uneventful, "filler" episodes.

No argument about Dragon Ball Z being mostly filler, though. I haven't even watched the series in a long time, it's just something I watched a LOT when I was younger and it has a very memorable storyline and characters.

Post by **Delphine** » Fri May 28, 2004 8:26 pm

I have a different favorite everytime I'm asked. I look at my collection and I have a reason for loving each and every single one. Er, except for the aborted Gundam Wing collection. But let's not go there...

Right now I'm watching Witch Hunter Robin, and yeah, it's been done before, but it's interesting and the animation is really good, and I want to know what the hell is going on. Wolf's Rain is next on my list; I fell in love with the few episodes I saw on CN.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Fri May 28, 2004 8:58 pm

I really, really liked Spirited Away.

I love Spirited Away. It's probably my favorite Miyazaki flick. Alot of people think it lacks the focus of some of his other work, and they're kind of right, but it's so imaginative it's just plain fun to watch. It's possibly the most beautiful movie I've ever seen.

Anyone notice how that guy who works the coal (forgot his name) looks like Eggman? Face-wise, at least.

Did you see Laputa? That character first showed up there (not the self-same character, but the look). Eggman's original design was based on it.

Most Studio Ghibli stuff has such a broad range of appeal, though, it can hardly be classified as "anime" in the sense that it's usually used.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Fri May 28, 2004 9:10 pm

I can't wait till Howl's Moving Castle comes out. It was one of my favorite fantasy books as a child, so when I heard Miyazaki was doing it as his last film, I came close to wetting myself.

Trust me, it's got a kick-ass story. And all of the freaky shit going on will make for some awesome visuals, but it's also sort of a mundane day to day take on fantasy - so it's got a very human, down to earth, Miyazakish feel.

Segata · Post by **Segata** » Fri May 28, 2004 9:24 pm

I love Miyazaki's work, especially Spirited Away. It has this really surreal atmosphere that reminds me of these weird dreams I had as a kid. Great movie.

plasticwingsband · Post by **plasticwingsband** » Fri May 28, 2004 9:36 pm

Green Gibbon! wrote:
I really, really liked Spirited Away.
I love Spirited Away. It's probably my favorite Miyazaki flick. Alot of people think it lacks the focus of some of his other work, and they're kind of right, but it's so imaginative it's just plain fun to watch. It's possibly the most beautiful movie I've ever seen.

Anyone notice how that guy who works the coal (forgot his name) looks like Eggman? Face-wise, at least.
Did you see Laputa? That character first showed up there (not the self-same character, but the look). Eggman's original design was based on it.

Most Studio Ghibli stuff has such a broad range of appeal, though, it can hardly be classified as "anime" in the sense that it's usually used.

I've never see Laputa, but I do agree that Spirited Away is just damn fun to watch.

Ngangbius · Post by **Ngangbius** » Fri May 28, 2004 9:47 pm

Most Studio Ghibli stuff has such a broad range of appeal, though, it can hardly be classified as "anime" in the sense that it's usually used.

Usually used? I was under the impression that "anime" was used to describe Japanese animation in the English definition and cartoons in the Japanese definition.

Post by **G.Silver** » Sat May 29, 2004 2:10 am

My mom likes Ghibli. It's not anime. :)

I don't have a favorite at all, but right now the shows I'm most excited about when a DVD arrives are Azumanga Daioh and The Big O (Season 2). Azumanga is just amazing to me, I can watch it over and over, not neccessarily picking up on new details (though it is more fun to watch the early episodes after watching the later ones when you have a full appreciation of each characters' quirkiness) but just enjoying the mellow wonderfulness of it. It's like a drug.

Cuckooguy · Post by **Cuckooguy** » Sat May 29, 2004 3:56 am

My favorite current animes are One Piece and Naruto. One Piece is just so fun and charming, I can't help but love it. Naruto's pretty cool, too. Trigun, Slayers, and Sorcerer Hunters are also among my favorites.

HunterxHunter was awesome... except the middle. I hated the middle of HunterxHunter, I couldn't stand Gon and Killua and that tournament tower thing. Maybe I'm getting tired of 12 year old kids being able to beat up men 4 times their size and at least twice their age. It's like, it starts out pretty good, starts to get sour, then it gets sweet, and then the OVA after that was REALLY sweet, and then the HunterxHunter Greed Island OVAs sucked.

The only romantic comedy I seriously enjoyed is Boys Be. It's a very charming and lighthearted romance from the guy's perspective. And it's got a killer soundtrack, too. It's got the best anime soundtrack of all time. Sample an mp3 from [url="http://seboysbe.tripod.com/pages/mult/dlmusic.htm"]here[url] or [url="http://boysbe.web1000.com/mp3s.html"]here[url], will ya?

I can't forget Hajime no Ippo. It's a boxing anime, and that statement alone will probably make no one want to watch it. But it's so... so, good! And hilarious! And well written! And it never drags throughout it's 75 episode run! And I don't even like sports!

Anime that aren't my cup of tea, but can see that are very well written and well conceived that I can recommend to a certain audience would be Fullmetal Alchemist and Cowboy Bebop.

I'm also one of those people who don't get FLCL. It's just so... mad and confusing.

Post by **Crazy Penguin** » Sat May 29, 2004 6:10 am

I recently got the Boogiepop Phantom boxset.

Whilst it's not my favourite anime it's really damn impressive. I've never had to actually think so much when watching a show or movie. Whilst watching episode 1 I thought it was going to be the standard ongoing mystery affair, but then episode 2 came and focused on an entirely different character, starting off before episode 1 and then crossing over with and explaining a scene in episode 1. All of the episodes followed that way, introducing plot points that make no sense until much later on, focusing on a different set of characters, explaining various strange moments from previous episodes, and having a clever use of flashbacks (one episode going further and further backwards to reach its conclusion).

The plot that brings the whole series together is never directly addressed or the main focus of any one episode, you have to piece it together yourself.

The visuals are so wonderfully dark, detailed and subtle and the character designs suitabley naturalistic. And a chilling soundtrack tops it all off.

Plus, Boogiepop is cute.

One Classy Bloke · Post by **One Classy Bloke** » Sat May 29, 2004 11:16 am

Let's see, FLCL (ha! look! i conform too!), Haibane Renmei, Witch Hunter Robin (ep 8 owns all!), Tenchi Muyo, Princess Tutu (plain ownage).

Yea, nothing eventful here either. But i really recommend Haibane Renmei and Princess Tutu.

bcdcdude · Post by **bcdcdude** » Sat May 29, 2004 2:38 pm

My favourite anime's are pretty varied. On the one hand i love stuff like Pokemon, Cardcaptors (yet to see Card Captor Sakura), etc - but on the other end i enjoy bloddy carnage such as Urotsukidoji, 3x3 Eyes and Fist of the North Star.

My current favourites at the moment are Chobits and Excel Saga - both because they are very funny, and Chobits has cute girls in...