What do you think the greatest anime series is and why?

[Lester C.]

I'm into the whole online shopping thing so I'm about to get back into the anime scene after taking six years off. My plan is to go to youtube and check out all of your recommendations and then once I pick a series I'm going to purchase myself a Christmas present so please help me out.

[The Xenos]

I was gonna say Evangelion, but you've likely seen it. Let's see... recent ones... since about 2000...

Full Metal Alchemist was excellent. Might even be able to catch it on TV. I rather liked the dub. It starts off or on the surface seems like another generic shonen series, but then you start noticing how messed up everything is in the world.

[Buzz Dixon]

Boy, if I had to save just one for all posterity, I'd save LAIN.




































Or RANMA 1/2. As you can see I'm kinda conflicted here...:(

[NeoSapien]

It's impossible to pick out just one series, but if I had to...

... Cowboy Bebop. It had everything but an intricate plot, and most shows with intricate plots just have them fall apart at the end, anyway.

[MilkManX]

Cowboy Bebop for me.

Incredible visuals. Great charicters. Some episodes have you asking why is this here and it all will make sense when you get to the end.

[yeoman]

I was gonna say Evangelion, but you've likely seen it. Let's see... recent ones... since about 2000...

Full Metal Alchemist was excellent. Might even be able to catch it on TV. I rather liked the dub. It starts off or on the surface seems like another generic shonen series, but then you start noticing how messed up everything is in the world.

Yeah, depends on if we're talking recent or all time.

Recent I'd recommend Full Metal Alchemist, Vandread (1st and 2nd Stage) and Read or Die (OAV) for ones I've liked.

Of those, FMA is the best on techinical levels as well asn entertaining.

If we go for all time, I add the Original El-Hazard OAVs, The Irresponsible Captain Tylor and The Vision of Escaflowne (TV).

With Escaflowne being my person all-time favorite.

And if we throw in anime-esque american shows, Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the greatest American Produced Animated Series ever.

[Kevinroc]

Maison Ikkoku.

Although for sheer goofiness factor, I love Galaxy Angel.

[Lester C.]

Thank you all. I'm looking into each of your suggestions.

[Lester C.]

I just ordered he box sets of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. I haven't been this excited since i got all five seasons of Babylon 5. I just love internet shopping as there was no way I could have afforded this stuff from the stores.

[Alex L]

Trigun has a little bit of a lot of genres -- the first half is a Western, non-episodic goofy series and the second half is much more serious, introduces more sci-fi elements and has a continuing storyline.

Haven't seen FMA, but have heard so much good stuff about it that I can't discount it.

Naruto is unquestionably the new DBZ.

[K.O.V.G]

For me Gungrave was really good. Excellent stories good action not to long not to short just right.

[OverMaster]

I can't pick only one. A few vague top picks:

El Hazard OVA.
Cowboy Bebop.
Azumanga Daioh.
Saber Marionette J (a personal favorite).
Excel Saga.
Outlaw Star.
Sherlock Hound is a little delight, especially if you like Hayao Miyazaki's work.

[Len Ikari145]

For me, Tekkaman Blade is one of the greatest anime series of its time (even now, I still consider it the best). It's hard to believe that an anime so spectacular could produce such a weak, half-baked excuse of a continuation like Tekkaman Blade 2 (heck, the ending was fine as it was, there shouldn't have been a need for a sequel dangit!:mad:).

[Kamen Rider Luffy]

To name a few Full Metal Panic, Nanoha, Haruhi, Azumanga Daioh, Trigun definitely Trigun, Genshiken along with Comic Party.

[Lester C.]

For me, Tekkaman Blade is one of the greatest anime series of its time (even now, I still consider it the best). It's hard to believe that an anime so spectacular could produce such a weak, half-baked excuse of a continuation like Tekkaman Blade 2 (heck, the ending was fine as it was, there shouldn't have been a need for a sequel dangit!:mad:).

Is that the same thing as Technoman which was on in my youth?

[Lester C.]

I just ordered Trigun.

[Len Ikari145]

Is that the same thing as Technoman which was on in my youth?

Yup. Media Blasters has also licensed and are now distributing DVDs (even of the episodes that weren't seen in the US). I was so happy to finally see my favorite show again (they also fixed the translations, though they kept the US names).

[OverMaster]

Dangabit, how could I forget Slayers (especially Slayers NEXT).

[The New Fate]

Evangelion
R.O.D.

[ouiyahtsiouiyah]

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and 2nd Gig

honorable mention: Noir

[Sophisticated_Gamer]

I was and still am a huge anime fan, here are some great recomindations...

Trigun( and of it, ether Maximum, Anime, or the 2 huge books) Because it's funny, got a lot of action and is just great to read, makes you feel better!

Full Metal Alchemist ( the anime, cause the manga is not that great) , gereat story, funny, and really really sad at times, but beatifull art and just a great watch.

Yu-Yu Haku Show ( anime) great to watch funny, very interesting story, plus nice and long.

And of Cource NARUTO ( manga) SUPER SUPER SUPER story, best one you can read, has everything in it, still on going, never gets old or boring, just super.

[SuperSaiyaMan12]

I was and still am a huge anime fan, here are some great recomindations...

Trigun( and of it, ether Maximum, Anime, or the 2 huge books) Because it's funny, got a lot of action and is just great to read, makes you feel better!

Full Metal Alchemist ( the anime, cause the manga is not that great) , gereat story, funny, and really really sad at times, but beatifull art and just a great watch.
The Manga is unfinished and still going, but the Anime is finished. And, it is as good as the Anime.

Yu-Yu Haku Show ( anime) great to watch funny, very interesting story, plus nice and long.
Spelling: Yu Yu Hakusho, and it's both an Anime and Manga.

And of Cource NARUTO ( manga) SUPER SUPER SUPER story, best one you can read, has everything in it, still on going, never gets old or boring, just super.
The way Akatsuki has been...it is starting to get a little old. I want to get back to the main villain, Orochimaru.

Oh, you spelled course wrong.

[Yun Lao]

Besides all the great suggestions from the others, I believe that one series to be noted would have to be Rurouni Kenshin

[karasu]

Stand Alone Complex, easily. It's deep, entertaining, political, action packed, philosophical, everything. The world is so well crafted that it almost feels real to me.

[Alex L]

The way Akatsuki has been...it is starting to get a little old. I want to get back to the main villain, Orochimaru.

Akatsuki = Itachi's Amazing Friends™,a way to drag out the story as Team Naruto battles them over the next five to eleven volumes rather than proceeding straight to the Itachi vs Sasuke/Naruto conclusion.

EDIT:
Besides all the great suggestions from the others, I believe that one series to be noted would have to be Rurouni Kenshin

In my opinion, Lone Wolf & Cub the manga is better than Kenshin the manga, but not by much.

LW&C feels a bit more substantial, while Kenshin feels a bit more superhero-ish with its 'blinding speedy deadly' techniques.

Also heard the last third of Kenshin was all filler -- and not particularly good filler.

[Len Ikari145]

Akatsuki = Itachi's Amazing Friends™,a way to drag out the story as Team Naruto battles them over the next five to eleven volumes rather than proceeding straight to the Itachi vs Sasuke/Naruto conclusion.

EDIT:

In my opinion, Lone Wolf & Cub the manga is better than Kenshin the manga, but not by much.

LW&C feels a bit more substantial, while Kenshin feels a bit more superhero-ish with its 'blinding speedy deadly' techniques.

Also heard the last third of Kenshin was all filler -- and not particularly good filler.

I hope you're talking about about the fillers of the anime, because the final saga of the manga was a crucial turning point for the series (especially in regards to Kenshin's development as a character).

[Ayo]

FLCL, for me.


It may or may not be the "greatest," but it's certainly my favorite

[Yun Lao]

I hope you're talking about about the fillers of the anime, because the final saga of the manga was a crucial turning point for the series (especially in regards to Kenshin's development as a character).

I hope so as well. Of course, it's obvious to say that the Jinchuu arc was my favorite of the manga.

[Lester C.]

FLCL, for me.


It may or may not be the "greatest," but it's certainly my favorite

Fooley Cooley?:confused:

[The Xenos]

Oh yeah, FLCL has a special place in my heart.

Also, it makes for a great, though strange and.. volitile, date movie. Freud would have a field day with the show.

Also, I'd recommend Hellsing. Though as good as the original TV anime was, this new Ultimate Hellsing OVA series is done much better. It's closer to the manga, so it has an actual ending and doesn't trail off on some random plot. Well, it will when it gets made.. in like five to ten years. So far they only have one episode out on DVD. It's a bit more expensive, but it's done much better, so you can think of each episode as a movie.

So you can either get the first Hellsing series to check it out or get the amazing manga. Then you can check out the more complete Ultimate Hellsing.

[Zelgadis]

Neon Genesis Evangelion
I call it the shakespeare of anime. It is multi layered and very complex, and there are so many ways to tell the story. In fact, as most of you probably they are releasing a new series that which will tell the story in a diffrent way.

[Mikado]

Neon Genesis Evangelion
I call it the shakespeare of anime. It is multi layered and very complex, and there are so many ways to tell the story. In fact, as most of you probably they are releasing a new series that which will tell the story in a diffrent way.

Yes, I deffinately agree..Eva is a giant robot show where the robots and fights are only vehicles for the complex probing into the pilots psyches; slowly revealing the inner demons of Shinji Asuka , Rei and everyone who comes into contact with them. The show has drama, great comedy, complex storylines that make you think, and as a nice bonus, some of the prettiest girls to ever "fan service" a major anime series ;)

[The Xenos]

And just like Shakespeare's plays there are a bunch of crazy fanboys who hold a religious reveance to the damn thing, keep looking for deeper and deeper meaning beyond reason, and keep forgetting that they were written as common entertainment by some write who was rather a working class schlub. Perhaps it's actually as deep as these crazy fans think it is or perhaps it's mostly sound and fury signifying nothing.

Oh but count me as one of those crazy fanboys on both counts, Shakespere and Eva.

Is this a progressive knife I see before me?