Anime Suggestions

The obvious classics:

Ninja Scroll
Akira
Ghost In The Shell

Does Miyazaki count as anime? Obvious choice if so. But all classics very much worth watching.

I'd say Perfect Blue is a great starting point.

See also, this thread.

My suggestion: Cowboy Bebop and the first half of Blue Gender.

Let's not throw him into the deep end right away -- Ghost In The Shell/Perfect Blue are classics, but I don't know how appropriate they are for your first experience. Death Note is a great "entry level" series, with a propulsive, character-driven storyline. The show can become addictive and is a lot of fun.

Cowboy Bebop
Ghost in the Shell
Last Exile
Dragon Ball (original series) (get the original with subtitles)
Outlaw Star

That should be a good mix for you.

Space Battleship Yamato, aka Star Blazers, should be everyone's first anime series.

First theatrical feature? Galaxy Express 999 and/or Phoenix 2772. Gotta have a grounding in the classics, and everything starts with Matsumoto and Tezuka.

Then, yeah, anything Miyazaki.

Yeah, I'm interested in finding intelligent anime as well. I've seen every Miyazaki film, the first Fullmetal Alchemist series, and Ghost in the Shell: Stand-Alone Complex. What else is there?

For smart, provocative stuff, Satoshi Kon (RIP) is your man. The afore-mentioned Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress.

It depends on what you're looking for.

Action? 'Cowboy Bebop' is the classic entry level anime, but in the newer spectrum I have to say 'Black Lagoon' (which answers the question "What if John Woo and Michael Bay made an anime about modern-day pirates in the South Pacific") and 'Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood'.

Sci-fi? I really like both 'Ghost In The Shell' series, and 'Eden Of The East' (note: I prefer the Japanese version of 'Eden' if only for the opening song. It is not on the US DVDs) worked pretty well for me.

Comedy? Problem here is that Japanese comedy can be a tough nut to crack, given that you really can't do funny wordplay and puns in a language you can't understand. That said, 'Excel Saga' is fun absurdist raunchy parody stuff, and 'Detroit Metal City' is basically as close to 'Metalocalypse' as Japan's ever gonna get.

Drama? I really dug 'Monster', but it's long (73 episodes) and suffers for feeling long for stretches. When it pays off, it pays off big, but the wait might not be worth it to some. 'Beck' is a show that I love, and it's a much more manageable length (26 episodes). Great music and great characters.

Miscellaneous recommendations: 'Baccano', 'Paranoia Agent', 'Gurren Lagann'.

Recommended only if you plan of investing lots and lots and LOTS of time into it: 'One Piece' (seriously, there's 464 episodes currently, and it's still running).

Note about japanese versus english audio: I prefer the english versions of 'Cowboy Bebop', 'Black Lagoon', 'Baccano' and the 'Ghost In The Shell' series.

Crap, double post.

What? Oh man, that's awful. Rights issues, I guess?

Yep. Shame, too. It's a good series, but the Oasis song really was fantastic at setting the mood.

MIND GAME. (Link is to a Region 4 Australian DVD - there's no Region 1 disc for this film, just Regions 2 and 4 so far).



Trailer.

Like SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD combined with PINOCCHIO in Ralph Bakshi's head if Ralph Bakshi were Japanese and on mescaline. Or something. Absolutely a must see.

Kyler, Hammerhead words are...True. The entire series of...Starblazers is on dvd. Don't watch...The Bolar Wars (season 3) as the voice cast from Season 1 and 2 were completely replaced. Instead, I would recommend...The Space Battleship Yamato film collection. There are...5 films. The First Film is a, 2 1/2 hour edition of season 1. Film 2, is a 3 hour version of Season 2, albiet with an, alternative ending. The next...3 films are not adaptions of the series, as they are original. Space Battleship Yamato: Ressurection was shown in, Japan last christmas and still does not have a US or Theatrical Release, but hopefully will be on dvd eventually. Awe-Inspiring and Awesome, Space Opera, from the mind of...Leiji Matsumoto. He also created...Space Pirate Captain Harlock!

Kyler, A fave of mine is...Fist Of The North Star! If you take...Bruce Lee supersize him to...7 ft tall, Mad Max (in particular the, Post-Apocalyptic setting), and make an...Ultraviolent Anime, that lasted...152 episodes, you have, FOTNS. Discotek Media brought the movie (first 5 episodes) to the US in 2009. Now, they are bringing the...Entire series on to dvd. The first box set of...36 episodes are already available. Box Set 2 arrives on...11/23, and I am guessing Box Set's 3 and 4 will...Kick-Ass, on dvd, in 2011.

Berserk, I'd start with that. Its a great anime tv series, lots of bloods, and lots of cliff hangers.

You should probly start with the movies - try Ninja Scroll, Grave Of the Fireflies, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away.

I don't know much about anime series. I've only watched 2 in their entirety but I enjoyed them both: Death Note and Fullmetal Alchemist.

Vampire Hunter D for the retro lulz, and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust for the pretty scifi horror bits.

And Records of Lodoss War (Original) for a decent fantasy series. 13 episodes and nice designs and animation

Lupin III. Mystery of Mamo for funky anarchy, Castle of Cagliostro for Miyazaki's smooth touch.

Another vote for Black Lagoon, which is great if you like action and weapon based eye candy.
BoogiePop Phantom is a good paranormal/horror series IMO.
Read or Die (the OVA) is pretty damn good, but the Tv series is hit or miss if you ask me.
SpeedGrapher is a nice choice as well.
If you are into geek/otaky comedy, Genshiken is hilarious and kind of sweet.

I always dug Lain. I am super picky about the anime I watch. However, Lain, Vampire Hunter and Evangelion are about the extent of what I have liked. There are some suggestions in here that I will check out though. It was always an intimidating genre to tackle, so I haven't ventured into much of what has been mentioned.

My opinion prolly doesn't mean shit anyway. I have never been able to get into a Miyazaki flick.

I'll back you on this much, though: Lain is awesome.

both Ghost in the Shell series are on instant watch, and all of the first Fullmetal Alchemist series is available on Hulu.

Which have you seen?

Time to open a can of worms...are the new "Evangelion" movie/remakes worth watching?
Part of me has a morbid curiosity to find out.

Never been that much of a fan. Try Rahxephon for a better version of apocalyptic robot madness (this time with appealing main character!).

Also, Noir.

For educational purposes and respect for the medium alone: Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop and Lain are obligatory.

I will never, EVER, get tired of recommending Ergo Proxy. It isn’t entry level anime but if you get into it will blow your mind.

Hellsing is also a must see. So are Paprika and Perfect Blue. I’d also recommend Blood: The Last Vampire, but not its TV counterpart Blood +. And Darker than Black is definitely fun stuff.

If you are a bit of a perv, like gore, and don’t mind some serious dumbass storylines on the side, Elfen Lied might be your type of thing.

If you’re going for nostalgia pieces, I’d recommend Saint Seiya (which I loved) and Dragon Ball (which I hate, but boys like it, so who am I to judge… I still hate it but it’s popular).

If you ever meet a Colombian person born in the late 70s/early 80s, ask this person what he/she thought about The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee. The answer will always fluctuate between “AAAAHHHHHHH!!!”, “my childhood trauma”, and “I want my mommy!”. I recommend it only if you want to experience what traumatized a whole generation.

And once you’re ready to go hardcore, try Texhnolyze. This one made me feel queasy for months.

As of last night, I finished Paranoia Agent. I’m still trying to digest it. There are parts that I loved and parts that have me undecided. But it’s a must see for sure.

Oh yes. They are.

Im back in the Saint Seiya wagon since Hades saga its been on tv here daily since last month; far better than DBZ, and much more violent and fun...loved as a kid, still love it as an adult.

Also, Hutch the Honeybee....that sounds really familiar....AGHHHHHHHHHH! now I remember it! Im hating you right now!
Oddly enough, all you need to start a riot among 80's kids here is to ask if the ending of "Angel The Flower Girl" and "Candy, Candy" were good/stupid/cop outs/meaningful.

I've been meaning to check them out, but god dammit, after the tv ending of the original series and the theatrical movies, I dont trust Hideaki Anno anymore, no matter how happy/on antidepressants/sane he is right now.
Yes, im still bitter about the whole thing.

Made a slight adjustment there. The OVAs are so much better than the original series. 100% more vampire Nazis and none of that 'Incognito' insanity!

Hammerhead's question is valid. Miyazaki has done some "kiddie" films that I was never into but can see the merit in, but the guy really is the Japanese Disney(the man not the corporation).

I consider Spirited Away to be anime's answer to "Alice in Wonderland".

Heeheehee… I guess Colombia is not the only country traumatized by The Hutch. Oddly enough, the second biggest traumatizer for 80s children here is Candy,Candy. “Anthony!!! Anthony!!!!” Oh god, the horror. Whenever it comes up in conversations, no one remembers Candy’s end. We just remember Anthony, and Candy’s incessant tear fest (and how we cried along with her).

I have a friend who is well over her 30s, who sings the whole Candy, Candy theme song almost every time I see her. It makes us laugh, and then we get in a really weird mood.

I completely share your feelings about the ending of Eva and those damn movies. What makes the new movies worth seeing is the Angels redesign and how, in my opinion, the story is being told more efficiently. The Berserker mode fights in these movies are a thing of beauty. And the new characters aren’t completely annoying. But the true test will come when they get to the Human Instrumentality Project, because that’s where the TV show and the first theatrical releases failed.

You are 100% right. Hellsing Ultimate is superior to the TV show in many ways. The only thing that bothers me about it is those horribly long monologues every character gets into. My reaction is always “Shut up and tear each other to pieces already!!!”

Spirited Away, Moving Castle, Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Prince Mononoke.

I mean, I guess I tried. I didn't just watch one and leave it at that. I have tried several. They just didn't connect with me. I don't know; they have excellent animation, but I have never gotten into his story-telling.

Maybe Evangelion (which I have yet to see more than 7 or 8 episodes) is just super accessible. Admittedly, without knowing much about most anime, it seems highly mainstream and popular to latch onto. I have avoided finishing it though because I hear it completely shits the bed at the end. And efforts to repair that were just as futile.

But hey, I like Lain and that seems to get a couple of thumbs up. At least I am not a total lost cause. I am anxious to check out the others mentioned on here that I haven't tried to watch yet. It has always been a genre I have been afraid of, yet revered.

Which reminds me. A buddy of mine tries to claim he likes anime, but hasn't even made the efforts I have to watch different films and shows. He swears by Bleach. I don't know much about it, but it seems utterly ridiculous to me. Is there any value or worth to this show? To me it seems like a story that has lasted this many episodes was never a story worth telling. Am I off? Should I give it a chance? Or is it considered a joke amongst the serious anime watching community? (Like Evangelion appears to be...)

Gotta watch Porco Rosso.

Bleach is not worth watching, in my opinion. Too long and repetitive.

Just to make sure everyone doesn't miss that important point. Even in its genre, Bleach is paced terribly.

WD40: before you give up completely on Miyazaki, you should watch 'Lupin the 3rd: Castle of Cagliostro'. Great movie, loads of fun.

Man, Paprika is the BEST. The plot borders on nonsensical, but as a visceral experience, it's basically perfect. This is not merely recommended viewing, this is a film that legitimately belongs in "Best of the Decade" lists, and "Best Animated Films of all time" lists. It's firmly entrenched in movies, making a fascinating parallel between dreaming and filmmaking. And the character Paprika is pretty much a Japanese superhero Shirley MacLaine (from The Apartment).

I don't know, the Major is just so deliciously insane/evil that I love hearing him talk, and that scene of Maxwell addressing the Vatican Army sends chills down my spine.

Oh, and the second in command of the Nazi Vampires is a Nazi Werewolf. A NAZI WEREWOLF. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but the weapon in which he's dispatched is oh so right.

Hated this movie. Lazy, needlessly convoluted, fucking dire monologues, it epitomized everything wrong with the medium. But people can disagree I guess...

I honestly don't get stuff like Bleach or One Piece. I mean, I loved Pokemon as a child, so I understand the appeal to preteen boys. But those shows are kind of designed to just keep chugging on and make money for the original authors.

Anyway, while most of the recommendations here are good, I'm not sure if they're good as introductory material. That being said, I think the first Fullmetal Alchemist series is not just a great show but a nearly perfect gateway show for the style.

As for movies, I'll give the incredibly boring and predictable Miyazaki answer. His adventure films (Nausicaa, Castle in the Sky, the criminally overlooked Castle of Cagliostro) may be a better start than his more low-key stuff, though I say that as someone who thinks Spirited Away is a tad (really) overrated.

People who say this are what I like to call wrong. The finale, End of Evangelion, is one of the greatest animated films of all time. Hell, if you like Lain, finishing Evangelion is practically demanded of you, the two series are on the same wavelength. Evangelion screws with expectations in a big way, and some can't handle that. But the people who dig it, dig it big time, so you gotta give it a chance. Remedy this ASAP.

Is Evangelion the show where they got so far behind schedule one episode was just sketches and storyboards?

Man, I gotta say I did not like Paprika. Great animation but the story is needlessly complicated and (it seems) purposefully obtuse. And I say this as someone who thought Satoshi Kon was really on to something unique. Perfect Blue is pretty great and showed a ton of promise. I haven't seen all his films but to me none have quite hit that high point. His show Paranoia Agent seems like something I'd want to check out. The promos gave it this weird David Lynch vibe.

These days, I usually only get psyched for anime if the right creative team is involved. Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo) and I.G. (Ghost in the Shell, Kill Bill). Though I think it's interesting that the one of the best "anime" to come out in the past few years is Avatar, created by white people.

Yes there are many:
Futurama
Robot Chicken
Ben 10
Simpsons