Current Favorites (again)

[horacethegrey]

Well, since the previous thread was deleted by the recent forum troubles, I thought I'd put it up again.

For those new here, this is a thread where you can share your favorite among the current crop of anime. And by current, I mean anime that's been in shown in the last 3 years. But if it's older anime you've taken a liking to, you can mention it too.

Anyways, allow me to start off with a recent show I just can't get enough of:

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Good lord. I honestly couldn't stop laughing at the first episode of this. It is without a doubt the most whacked out anime I've seen since Excel Saga and Yakitate! Japan. To try and explain what this show is about would be doing it an injustice (not to mention revealing a great deal of Spoilers ). But if you all insist on a description, let me say that it's a slice of life/comedy anime much in the vein of Azumanga Daioh, but taken to the nth degree. All of you must watch this, trust me. And believe me when I say that the first episode is pure comedy gold.

 

[Dog Moon]

I didn't like the most recent episode as much as the previous ones though. It's like they had decided to take a break from being funny/interesting. But it is certainly in interesting anime.

[Rant]Naruto is annoying the heck out of me! Needs to get back to the storyline[/Rant] Though only neat part is seeing some of the other characters, though I wish Naruto wasn't in every single side quest, or if only they played him more like the movies. He's still Naruto, but isn't as annoying in the movies.

Jyu Oh Sei - An awesome anime, IMO, although with only 13 episodes, it seems like it might be going just a little bit too quickly.

That's all I can think of atm, not surprising considering how late it is, but I can't sleep.

 

[horacethegrey]

I'll admit that I've only watched up to episode 3, but it's still such a killer for me that I'm willing to take the good with the bad. But thanks anyway for the heads up.

I'll not comment on Naruto, since I hardly ever watch it. Sorry to all Naruto fans here, but it just doesn't interest me. It reminds me too much of Dragonball Z for me to take a liking to it.

Jyu Oh Sei - An awesome anime, IMO, although with only 13 episodes, it seems like it might be going just a little bit too quickly.

Hmm. Interesting. Looking at it's entry in the Anime News Network, it seems like a Space fantasy much in the vein John Carter of Mars. Perhaps I'll give it a try, thanks for sharing Dog Moon!

 

[Dog Moon]

I'll admit that I've only watched up to episode 3, but it's still such a killer for me that I'm willing to take the good with the bad. But thanks anyway for the heads up.

I'm on episode like 9, I THINK.

I'll not comment on Naruto, since I hardly ever watch it. Sorry to all Naruto fans here, but it just doesn't interest me. It reminds me too much of Dragonball Z for me to take a liking to it.

Not going to get into THAT argument.

Hmm. Interesting. Looking at it's entry in the Anime News Network, it seems like a Space fantasy much in the vein John Carter of Mars. Perhaps I'll give it a try, thanks for sharing Dog Moon!

No problem. I wouldn't have seen most of the anime I've seen if it wasn't for other peoples' recommendations.

[For others] It's about twin boys about the age of 11 who go home one day, find out their parents have been murdered. They are hit with sleeping gas and wake up on a strange planet. In this planet are four different groups of people, separated by color [the Rings, as they are called in the show]. This is the prison planet of which most of the wildlife is dangerous and the only way to escape is to defeat the leaders of all four Rings and become the Jyo Oh. The boys want to return to their home and figure out just what sort of conspiracy caused their parents to be murdered and then be stranded on this island.

Not sure if my description does the show justice though.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

I've been watching the first disc of Golden Boy. Pretty funny ^^

 

[horacethegrey]

I've been watching the first disc of Golden Boy. Pretty funny ^^

Not only that, it's educational as well. OBENKYOU!

 

[Abe.ebA]

Currently enjoying Noein, which isn't terribly new but also isn't terribly old. It's fairly difficult to describe other than being sci-fi drama with some sporadic over-the-top fighting. Also Nana looks good so far, though I'm only up to episode 3. Same with Black Lagoon and Ergo Proxy. My fiancee tells me that the second season of Tsubasa Chroncile continues to be awesome and that Mai Otome is good as well, but I've not watched any of either (and, in fact, am only about halfway through the first season of Tsubasa and Mai Hime).

Bleach I loved up until the beginning of the current storyline (which I believe coincided with the beginning of the most recent season). I've yet to be able to get into the new badguys and find the new sidekicks annoying rather than ingratiating.

Gave up on Naruto around episode 120. They'd killed off one of my favorite characters and the other ones don't get any screen time. Between that and the declining art quality I couldn't pay attention anymore.

Just finished Fruits Basket a couple weeks ago. Old series but very cute and certainly worthwhile.

I've checked out pretty much everything from the Spring release season in Japan and am generally disappointed. No idea what's coming next season, but I'm really hoping for at least one really good series. Nothing in the past year has been anywhere near the quality of Samurai Champloo and similar. Maybe I'm just too picky.

 

[Hijinks]

I don't watch too much of it - I've got 300+ in my Netflix queue as it is - but my favorite is Fullmetal Alchemist.

Being an MMORPG fan, I also like Hack.sign but that's older.

 

[ThirdWizard]

My current favorite that's airing at the moment is Nana. It's really great. It's almost scene for scene straight from the manga (which I have via Shojo Beat) but I'm now further along in the anime than the manga.

I think Haruhi is good, but overrated. People are getting waaay too worked up about it. I can still enjoy it, but I have to distance myself from the diehard Haruhiites (or whatever they call themselves). I'm probably a bit more than put off, though, by the fact that the episodes are airing out of order.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (the red is part of the title) is also one of my current favorites. It's horror, and weird horror at that, with deadly lolis and insanity and other fun stuff like that. It's a show that doesn't explain what's going on but leaves lots of hints so you try and figure out why everything is happening.

There's the obligatory Bleach and Blood+ of course. Blood+ in particular is awesome and I'm loving it.

CLAMP's Tsubasa Chronicle and xxxHolic are quite enjoyable.

Ouran High School Host Club is a great shoujo comedy about a rich high school club that entertains women. It's got your assortment of obligatory male types (prince, shota, yaoi, etc) and it doesn't take itself too seriously, so its quite enjoyable to watch.

The Third looks interesting, but I've only seen the first two episodes. It looks to be a step above the typical shounen action series, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it achieves this.

Witchblade is something I'm planning on getting around to. I thought the first episode was kinda lackluster, but it might pick up into some good stuff. The story has potential, and I'm hoping it lives up to its production qualities.

As always, Yakitate!! Japan is keeping the funny alive, even if its aimed at children.

Recent but older favorites include Mai Hime (I actually bought it instead of Netflixing it!), Monster, Mushishi, and Jigoku Shoujo. My favorite anime of all time is Haibane Renmei.

[Rant]Naruto is annoying the heck out of me! Needs to get back to the storyline[/Rant]

I have some choice words about Naruto that Eric's grandmother wouldn't be to pleased with. Akamaru gets rabies my... erm... posterior. The manga is majorly kicking butt, though!

 

[Dog Moon]

Being an MMORPG fan, I also like Hack.sign but that's older.

.hack//roots has come out recently [within 2 months, I believe]. I've watched a couple of episodes. Doesn't seem quite as good as .hack//sign though.