The Best of the Best...??

[Ta2grrl]

I am interested in getting into anime much more then I have to this point...

And so I pose a question to the experts...!!

What are your favourite Manga/Anime and why??

I'm looking for some good books/video collections/tv shows etc etc...most I've seen to date are videos and are fairly well known...like "Princess Monoke" and "Metropolis" as well as "Akira" and "Ghost in the Shell"

So give me a little bit about your favs and what format they come in...one word responses are really NOT what I am looking for as it doesn't help me when I know nothing about what the person is talking...!!

Cheers,

Erin

EDIT: I am also looking for good websites with nice photos of characters and such... :D

[Buzz Dixon]

My favorite anime films include GHOST IN THE SHELL, which is a very profound meditation on the meaning of human identity; TOKYO GODFATHERS, which translates the old Western into a contemporary Eastern; SPIRITED AWAY, which is a modern fairy tale on the surface and a condemnation of child exploitation when one digs deeper; CASTLE CALIGOSTRO, a Lupin III feature that's as exciting as a the best of the Bond movies; NAUSICAA IN THE VALLEY OF THE WINDS, which might best be described as "DUNE with fungus;" and GALAXY EXPRESS 666, which also ponders what it means to be truly human.

Favorite anime series are AZUMANGA DAIOH, a bittersweet comedy about a group of Japanese school girls and their teachers which is similar to the old SEINFIELD show in that it's about nothing yet it's about everything; SERIAL EXPERIMENTS LAIN, another examination of identity done in a way that is evocative of THE MATRIX but aimed for a pre-teen girl market; SAMURAI CHAMPLOO, which sends up the conventions of Japanese samurai films; ROBOTECH a.k.a. MACROSS, an epic space oepra that doesn't lose sight of the humans in the spectacle; TENCHI MUYO, which also manages to balance the outlandish with the humane; and RANMA 1/2, the original gender-bender comedy that just keeps topping itself with outrageousness.

Favorite manga are LONE WOLF AND CUB, the sprawling story of Ogami Itto and his infant son on a long and bloody quest for vengence; AZUMANGA DAIOH the manga; LOVE HINA, yet another hilarious harem comedy; and YOTSUBA$!, a series about a five year old girl and the unintended chaos she creates in her neighborhood.

[Paploo the Ewok]

Galaxy Express 999 and it's assorted Harlock Spinoffs
Sailor Moon
Aura Battler Dunbine
Genesis Climber Mospeada
CardCaptor Sakura or anythingelse by CLAMP
anything by Miyazaki

[Pikachu]

Spirited Away has got to be one of the most influental features in the history of story telling! It's the Wizard of Oz meets Alice in Wonderland with a deep sense of Japan's rich culture and history. It's visually stunning in every way, and the story is WOW! However, all of Hayao Miyazaki's films are. So if your serious about Anime, watch everyone of his films.

The Place Promised In Our Early Days is a great movie. It's a meloncholly journy to the sublime. It uses soft pastel colors and blends in pillow shots which reflect on the beauty of life, which add to the films somber mood. It's an amazing love story.

Ghost in the Shell. The manga, the movies, and especially the television series "Stand Alone Complex" are all amazing. I would say, that I prefer the TV series because it stays more true to the original manga by Masumune Shirow. However, the films are deep and philosophical, and make you think. I prefer the hard boiled detective/ espionage thriller that GITS: SAC contains, plus the animation is phenominal!

Naruto. Both the Anime and Manga are excellent. I read the Japanese, and while I was staying with my Japanese parents in Japan this summer, I rented the complete third and fourth season of the ANIME. Naruto has a very interesting anti-hero premise, and combines classical Japanese mythology with a very cool story about persaverance, and doing one's best to reach one's dreams. The Manga has slow build up, and pacing can leg at times, but this allows for in depth character development and story arcs with epic qualities.

One Piece. It's bizarre, fun, and hillarious! One of the greatest imaginations ever to live, Eiichiro Oda brings so much to the plate in One Piece, that you forget about your worries and just enjoy the ride. Currently, it is the worlds NUMBER ONE SELLING MANGA. The anime is neat, but American dub sucks, and the filler arcs are crap. Stay with Oda's original stories and you will enjoy it emensly. I really love the high octain action adventure, the journey, the originality, imagination, and over-all theme of nakama -deep friendship - over coming all adversity.

These are just my top few favorites. There are other hugely wonderful manga and anime to enjoy too.

My other favorites which I read/view on a regular basis are:

Black Jack ni Yoroshiku -- a doctor drama.

Vagabond -a historical biography on Japan's most famous Samurai.

Air Gear -A teen sports manga set in the future.

Tenjou Tenge -a fighting manga. The Japanese version is extremely explicit and graphic in all details.

Apple Seed -by the guy who did GTS.

"Is" -a high school drama/romance story.

Cowboy Bebop -a quirky yet funny look at human interaction. Very intelligently written, and the animation is beautiful.

Escaflowne -a great fantasy which takes the Japanese notion of mix/matching to a whole new level. A girl is whisked away to a strange new land where angels, dragons, and the myth of atlantis all have something to do with her grandmother.

Samurai Champloo -Japanese history scrambled up and served as a crazy romp through the vast historicity of Japan. All of it accurate in context, none of it authentic. In other words, accurate history in no particular order not based off true stories. Watch it for the cultural richness if anything.

Macross Plus -a love triangle, a rogue computer system bent on destroying the world, transforming mechs! Yep, that plus it's some of the best animation ever. Genuinely intelligent with complex characters, Macross plus is a must see.

Macross Zero -the newest OVA of the Macross Saga. This time, a prequel story. More stunning animation and fun.
...
the list goes on and on.

Pika!

[Pikachu]

Originally posted by Ta2grrl
EDIT: I am also looking for good websites with nice photos of characters and such...

Wikkipedia always has excellent information and links on any numerous topics. I really love their extensive and comprehensive info on Anime and Manga. Just type in anything you want to read about, for example, Ghost in the Shell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell) , and walla -tons of information at your finger tips!

Pika!

[Robotech Master]

I'll stay away from film suggestions since a lot of people are probably going to give you that. Note that the following suggestions come from me, a person with a wide range of tastes, and so a number of the series that I like are sometimes acquired tastes; like Ghost in the Shell: SAC. Some people find it boring; I find it absolutely fascinating.

Anyway:

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: The first season was really good; its a very intelligent show, much like the GITS you saw, though the TV series is a bit different and unrelated to the story of the movie. Good character development for the main members of the team, interesting stories, great animation. The Batou episode with the loose war criminal who is skinning his murder victims stands as one of the best Anime episodes I've ever seen (I think it was titled Jungle Cruise). Second Gig (the second season) looks good so far from what I've seen.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Who's to say if you're going to like it or not? As one of the most popular animes of all time, it stands to reason that much of what you're going to hear about it is fan raving and overrating comments. But I've always felt that every good anime has been overrated to some kind of undeserved perfection, its just what happens when a show has fans. Regardless, in my opinion NGE is still a good anime, but its an acquired taste. Those with interests in philosophical and Psychological stuff will appreciate it more. It does have good production values and interesting (but messed up) characters, and its fight scenes are extremely well done. Even if you don't end up liking it, Eva is often considered Seminal for Anime viewing.

Rahxephon: Rahxephon is a series that is a lot like Evangelion, but also different. If you end up liking Eva, then Rahxephon is definately a series for you. Has very strong story telling and character development. Like Evangelion it can get very metaphysical and a little confusing at the end, but it makes for some good repeat viewing to try and catch all the details. I like it a little less than Evangelion, but I can understand why some people like it better than Eva.

Cowboy Bebop: I like this series a lot; its really great, although its overrated about as much as Evangelion. Try to go in with little expectations and just enjoy the ride it takes you on. Classic characters and great animation.

Infinite Ryvius: A series that is heavy on character development, so don't expect too much fighting. The best way to describe IR is a Science Fiction version of Lord of the Flies, with the children all lost in space on a space ship with no adults left alive.

Record of Lodoss war: The OVA is a pretty good Fantasy series. Its dated by now, but it stands as one of the original Tolkien-style fantasy stories in Japan. Has a sequel called Chronicles of the Heroic Knight which is ok--has both pros and cons compared to the OVA. Chronicles could have been a much better series had it had enough episodes to do the novels justice.

Full Metal Alchemist: Good characters, good story, good pacing, good animation, good fights, good suspense, good everything just about.

Scrapped Princess: An interesting story that I'd look into if you are into sci-fi and fantasy. Its sort of a hybrid of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and the results are pretty neat.

Now and Then, Here and There: A powerful, dramatic anime that pulls no punches when it comes to content that will make you go "ouch." It can be disturbing to some people, but it is a really good story with a very serious sci-fi story about a terrible war taking place in the future (not stated to actually be Earth, but implied), and how a young guy is transported from his cozy life in modern Japan to this hellish world.

Those are the suggestions I'll give for now. I could give more.

[Sanagi]

In film, you can't go wrong with Hayao Miyazaki. (http://nausicaa.net/miyazaki/films/)

Another favorite is Mamoru Oshii, of Ghost in the Shell fame. His film Beautiful Dreamer, based on the Urusei Yatsura TV series, is one of my personal favorites for its strange story and mind-bending visual tricks.

As for TV shows, Cowboy Bebop for action, music, and general coolness, Serial Experiments Lain for brainy, artsy weirdness, and The Irresponsible Captain Tylor for humor.

[Steve]

Samurai Champloo - about the only TV series I will own down the line without question. I'm usually very picky when it comes to TV series. Enjoyed Cowboy bebop but dind't wanna own it. Really liked Escaflowne, but didn't wanna own it either. But Champloo, oh boy. It's stylish with excellent action sequences. Plus, the designs whether it be background or character are really good. The humor is done well too. Well paced.

Macross Plus - when it comes to mech battles, I think Shoji Kawamori is da man. Check out both the OVA and movie, which has about 15 extra minutes. I actually liked the OVA more, seeing it first and all. I think the sense of the climaxes made it more effective for me.

Ninja Scroll film - by far, my favorite anime ever. Fuedal Japan. Interesting villains with interesting designs. A kick ass lead and killer action sequences. Plus, lots of blood!

Street Fighter II Movie - as with all, or should I say most video game based animes, the plot is usually weak. But this one had decent plot with beautiful animation. You get three really good fights in this film, from the opening to the shower scene, to the too short of an ending fight. It's definitely worth a check, that's if you like the Street Fighter universe. Oh, and watch it in sub or import only!

Ghost in the Shell - i didn't quite enjoy the TV series as much as the film. The film left a more lasting impression with me. Beautiful animation and haunting soundtack. Also check out Oshi's other political thriller, Patlabor 2 The Movie. Excellent, with very good soundtrack as well.

Record of Lodoss War - It's been over a decade (15 yrs!) but I think the animation still holds up very well. I love the sketchy type designs by Nobuteru Yuuki. I think he also did designs for Battle Angel, another beautiful looking animation. AZN Network has been airing Lodoss, both the OVA and TV series. I enjoyed the OVA more, and it still looks better than the TV series, which came eight years after. Lodoss is pretty much my favorite fantasy anime around.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust - Vampires, vampires, vampires done by one of my favorite anime directors, Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Wicked City, Cyber City Oedo 808, Demon City Shinjuku)! What more can ya ask for? The awesome detailed animation by Studio Madhouse is top notch.

Cyber City Oedo 808 - a gem that no one really talks of. Directed by Kawajiri himself and animated by Madhouse, this one was released back in 1990, and the animation still holds up. This one had only three installments though. It's a shame cause I would've liked to see more storylines based on these characters. They should release a film!

Iria: Zeiram the Animation - here's another gem. A bounty hunter chick who kicks ass and stumbles upon a plot by a corporation. A really fun watch. And all that whacky hair styles!

Robotech: Macross Saga - my childhood favorite. I remember watching this after school every day and was mesmorized by the quality of the animation back then. I was pretty much blown away by the love triangle between Rick, Lisa, and Min May.

[Ta2grrl]

This is fantastic guys...and gals...

:D

I actually picked up Ninja Scroll last night based on the opinion of a guy at Rogers Video...lol...and I'll be checking it out tonight...

The others I picked up...which was based solely on the pictures on the front of the cases as I had yet to return to this thread...where "X" and "Shadow Skill, the Movie"...

I'll get back to you once I've checked them out and have a bit better understanding of what i like and don't like...although blood is always good...

:D

Cheers,

Erin

[Steve]

This is fantastic guys...and gals...

:D

I actually picked up Ninja Scroll last night based on the opinion of a guy at Rogers Video...lol...and I'll be checking it out tonight...

The others I picked up...which was based solely on the pictures on the front of the cases as I had yet to return to this thread...where "X" and "Shadow Skill, the Movie"...

I'll get back to you once I've checked them out and have a bit better understanding of what i like and don't like...although blood is always good...

:D

Cheers,

Erin

Which Ninja Scroll and X? The films or the TV series?

I hear the Ninja Scroll TV series ranked from decent to blowing chunks while you'd have to have some backgroud knowlege of X before diving into the film. Anyone know how good the X the TV series is? I've read the AnimeonDVD.com reviews and they seem to like it, but I'd like to hear from those who watched it.

[Ta2grrl]

Which Ninja Scroll and X? The films or the TV series?

I believe they are both movies...

But I suppose I won't know for sure until I watch them...

How would I know the difference??

XXX

[Steve]

I believe they are both movies...

But I suppose I won't know for sure until I watch them...

How would I know the difference??

XXX
Oh, that's easy. The quality of the animation.

The movie box cover for X.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000JL4L.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Movie box covers for Ninja Scroll.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6305014140.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpghttp://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000B1OE7.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[Ta2grrl]

Yup...if those are the covers then I have the DVDs!!

:cool:

XXX

[Robotech Master]

RE: Anyone know how good the X the TV series is

Its a good series. Has beautiful animation despite being only a TV series (Though that can certainly be expected of Studio Madhouse). It develops the story and the characters well enough, and in just about every way except for animation it is superior to the movie.

The TV series suffers from one main flaw which isn't too much of a problem. The problem is that its 24 episodes, and I'm not sure if they material they had was 24 episodes worth. A lot of the stuff in the middle seems like repetition of the same facts and information already stated in the earlier episodes. I have to give Madhouse credit in that regard though, because they were essentially trying to adapt a Manga that CLAMP still hadn't found a freakin ending for.

BTW, has the X Manga ended finally? I never heard any information about the X Manga once the TV series rolled around.

[Melchior]

BTW, has the X Manga ended finally? I never heard any information about the X Manga once the TV series rolled around.

Dude, it's X.

*Starts singing.*

And X is the manga that will never end, never end, never end!

*Stops singing.*

Seriously, I've given up all hope that they'll finish it this century. Part of the reason I think the TV series is better than the movie is the simple fact that they have more information to go on (the movie was based on, what, 5 volumes and the assumption that everyone was going to die in the end?).

[666MasterOfPuppets]

Infidels!!! ;)

No one has listed Mazinger Z and Mazinkaiser!

Okay then, my faves:

Mazinkaiser: the most beloved mech saga ever continues. Koji Kabuto, Sayaka Yumi, Boss and the rest of the gang are back, with the most powerful Mazinger ever: MAZINKAISER! The best OVA is MAzinkaiser Shitou! Ankoku-Dai Shogun.

Mazinger Z: do you really need me to explain this? The TV anime classic for excellence. Mazinger Z was the first robot to be piloted from a cockpit.

Cowboy Bebop: Action, drama, and space adventures.

Space Adventure Cobra: the famous space pirate Cobra and his equally famous psycho-weapon. Space Opera at its best.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust: vampires everywhere. Amazing animation, and a compelling story and amazing soundtrack.

Vision Of Escaflowne: fantasy mixed with mechs. Excellent story, with great animation and soundtrack.

Ghost in the Shell: an anime that delves into the depths of the meaning of humanity and being alive.

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence: the sequel to the above mentioned, only with better animation, and with a story just as good.

Robotech/Macross: another classic. Space adventures, with drama and whatnot. A must.

And if you manage to get your hands on any of the other Go Nagai mech creations (Gaiking, Kotetsu Jeeg, Getter Robo, etc.), you won't be disappointed. Those are faves of mine as well.

Ga-Keen: more mech madness. Another classic.

I could go on with more anime, with this will be a good start.

[Ta2grrl]

Watched "Ninja Scroll" tonight and really enjoyed it!! I like that it was historical and not new age...guess thats what I was up for tonight...!! Some really great fights although there was one boss guy that kept popping out of the shadows who was killed way too easily...

Was a bit surprised with the nudity but I like porn so it was all good...

And so was all the blood!!

Now I know what Quentin Tarantino was talking about and showing us in Kill Bill...

I want more blood!!

XXX