Mog Elffoe
Explorer
Avouz said:
Where'd you hear that? Last time I spoke with the Manga people (I work with a video distributor) the latest word was that they were unable to secure DVD rights for Giant Robo. Has someone else picked it up?
Top Five Anime Picks
- Thread starter EternalNewbie
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Where'd you hear that? Last time I spoke with the Manga people (I work with a video distributor) the latest word was that they were unable to secure DVD rights for Giant Robo. Has someone else picked it up?
Mog Elffoe said:
The rumor that I had heard was that Media Blasters had picked it up, but I've been unable to confirm it through website (seems to be down.)
My friends and I have worked anime cons for years, so I tend to trust rumors I hear from them. Still, we could be mistaken.
dreaded_beast
First Post
Ankh-Morpork Guard said:And I'm surprised how many things people are listing that are really NEWER shows. C'mon people, am I the only person hanging onto the 'past' of Anime here?
...I'm too young to be the Anime Diaglo....
Force Five:
Danguard Ace
Starvengers
Gaiking
Grandizer
Spacekeeters
Note: These are the Americanized names of the anime. At least most of them are.
These are the shows that started me down the road of Anime.
Mog Elffoe
Explorer
Avouz said:
I'll have to shoot my pals at Media Blasters and Manga some e-mails tomorrow it seems. I wouldn't bother with either Manga's or Media Blasters' websites. Keeping their sites updated isn't really a priority for either of them. If they get back to me tomorrow I'll be sure to post my findings.
Ankh-Morpork Guard said:And I'm surprised how many things people are listing that are really NEWER shows. C'mon people, am I the only person hanging onto the 'past' of Anime here?
...I'm too young to be the Anime Diaglo....
I'll step into the breach.
1) 1986 - The Dirty Pair Movie (AKA Project Eden - A name which does NOT appear on the original Japanese LD). That classic DP destruction, one of the best soundtracks EVER, a terrifically over the top villian and some of the best action sequences ever.
2) 1984 Urusei Yatsura Movie #2 : Beautiful Dreamer - Urusei Yatsura is in my opinion the prototype for the looser boy with magical harem girls shows, only without the treacle.
Ataru (the main character) is the unluckiest guy in the world and an incorrigable letch, actually quite capable in his own way and certainly one of the toughest characters in anime. He's Cursed/Blessed with constantly encountering the galaxy's most beautiful and powerful women, most of whom seem destined to become involved with him usually unwillingly since they all recognize his unsavory character. Given that his "wife"/Girlfriend Lum is very jealous and capable of megavolt outputs, this tends to be a painful state of affairs. Yet they do actually care for one another as is always proven in a pinch, when the cards are finally down.
This movie best captures (I think) the general wackieness of UY, the crazy cast of characters and the frequently bizarre and surreal situations they encounter. Great closing theme as well.
3) 1988 : My Neighbor Totoro - Possibly the greatest Children's movie ever. Unless you are a complete curmudgeon, this movie will charm you and touch your heart. I'm not a Miyazaki fan, but even I was disarmed by this one. Even though there is absolutely nothing in it that could possibly offend anyone, but the most determined and humorless self appointed guardian of public morality, it will enthrall children, yet still neither bore nor insult the intelligence of a watching adult. Great soundtrack as well.
4) 1995 (the Newby of the group) Macross Plus - While the original series was terrific and possibly should be here instead. This OVA series does capture everthing that was great about the original series and updates it with some jawdroppingly well animated arial combat sequences, a terrific soundtrack and an original, creative and absorbing story.
5) 1988 : Kimagure (Capricious) Orange Road Series + First Movie - Again one of the best soundtracks of any series, extremely well done opening and closing credit sequences. Some really creative and original stories (My favorites are the TOP GUN/Godzilla movie parody episode and the Groundhog day-ish Christmas episode), psychic powers, a love triangle with lots of tension and characters you can genuinely care about set this well above the teeming masses of teen highschool romance series.
The movie has to be included since it is the true finish to the series and should not be watched without viewing the series first, since it will not mean anything to you if you haven't watched the characters struggle and suffer over the course of the series. Even though I couldn't understand a word of the movie, I was riveted to my seat like I have almost never been. The movie actually drops a lot of the humor and psychic powers of the series and focuses simply on resolving the love Triangle between Kyosuke (the boy), Hikaru-chan (the bubbly, happy popular girl who loves Kyosuke) and her best friend Madoka Ayukawa (the brooding "bad" girl who also loves Kyosuke, but won't do anything about it since she won't hurt her best friend). It really hurts watching the plot unfold, since you know and like all of the characters, but someone has to get hurt to resolve the situation and the end where Kyosuke (who is a REALLY nice guy) has to brutally reject Hikaru-chan, because otherwise things will never be resolved is painful to watch.
Runners up
Mobile Suit Gundam the Original Saga - MSG to Char's Counter Attack : It's the classic Giant robot series. I really love pieces and the ideas/world of it more than any of the individual series. Though 0083 : Stardust Memories is my fav.
Monster City - While it is, alas horribly misogynistic. It's mindblowingly cool characters and animation style set the stage for pretty much every horror manga/anime to come.
Iczer One - Again a real trend setter, with some cool characters, mecha designs and one of the stupidest villians of all time (Iczer two - When your robots are powered by emotions, the last thing you want to do before finishing off the heroes is to cruelly and pointlessly stomp on the last person left living that one of the heroes cares about).
Area 88 - Tragic hero, betrayed by his best friend and forced to fight in a war to save his own life, so that he can survive to return to the woman he loves. The most terrible part of all for him, is that he is very, very good at the Killing.
Golgo 13 (Aka - The professional) - One of the all time classic assasins, in a highly stylized movie. While not exactly a likable character you have to admire/respect his absolute ruthlessness, determination and unerring skill in carrying out his contracts. Also notable for an early use of computer animation. Note : there is a fairly nasty rape scene about halfway through the movie.
One observation, a number of these probably wouldn't have the same effect if you watched them having seen a lot of the newer stuff. These were the originals that the later stuff was based on. So much of their impact would probably be lost on more recent viewers. What has be come trite and repiditive was original and shocking once upon a time.
I barely have a top 5. So here it is:
5. Macross. My older brother got the entire thing for Christmas last year and I'll occasionally go over to his place to watch an episode or two. Much better than the Americanized version.
4. Mobile Suit Gundam The 8th MS Team. I got the entire series for Christmas last year after seeing it on Toonami and it's the best Gundam series I've seen in a long time. It's also a vary short series at 12 episodes.
3. Outlaw Star. I love this series from beginning to end. Too bad one of the main characters that I really liked had to die in the first few episodes. Love the opening theme to this show.
2. Neon Genesis Evangelion. The series stands fine on its own merits until the last two episodes. Giant robots, kids saving the world, and a story that just keeps you guessing.
1. Cowboy Bebop. I found this as part of Cartoon Networks Adult Swim block a few years ago. Everyone here listed excellent reasons for liking it so I won't repeat what they said.
That's it for now.
More later.
5. Macross. My older brother got the entire thing for Christmas last year and I'll occasionally go over to his place to watch an episode or two. Much better than the Americanized version.
4. Mobile Suit Gundam The 8th MS Team. I got the entire series for Christmas last year after seeing it on Toonami and it's the best Gundam series I've seen in a long time. It's also a vary short series at 12 episodes.
3. Outlaw Star. I love this series from beginning to end. Too bad one of the main characters that I really liked had to die in the first few episodes. Love the opening theme to this show.
2. Neon Genesis Evangelion. The series stands fine on its own merits until the last two episodes. Giant robots, kids saving the world, and a story that just keeps you guessing.
1. Cowboy Bebop. I found this as part of Cartoon Networks Adult Swim block a few years ago. Everyone here listed excellent reasons for liking it so I won't repeat what they said.
That's it for now.
More later.
Taren Seeker
First Post
Man no one has mentioned one of my fave's, El Hazard. Humor, nice animation, great art design, cool fights and the story moves. This is the original I'm talking about, not the movie or the second series. Steve this may be one to try as it is pretty upfront with only a little weirdness.
Cowboy Bebop of course. It renewed my faith in Anime. My #1.
Macross+ - opened my eyes to the modern age of Anime, combining excellent animation with great music. Only exceeded by Bebop in that quality.
Ghost in the Shell
Yes and Loduss. What D&D geek can leave this off the list? Imagine what it could have been if the budget didn't dry up halfway through the series. I think that is where most of the damage is done, too many freeze frames, stock footage and long pauses.
Other ones I have a soft spot for: Ah! My Goddess, some of the Ranma OAV's, I can never keep straight all of the Gundam series but they are usually good (except W and I think the (original?) 79 movie...that was so slow it was waving to the glaciers screaming by in the left hand lane), Golden Boy is one of the funniest I've seen as well.
A shout out to Star Blazers (Yamato), Force 5 and Robotech for introducing me to the genre. And curses to Voltron and the like for setting the genre back in North America.
Cowboy Bebop of course. It renewed my faith in Anime. My #1.
Macross+ - opened my eyes to the modern age of Anime, combining excellent animation with great music. Only exceeded by Bebop in that quality.
Ghost in the Shell
Yes and Loduss. What D&D geek can leave this off the list? Imagine what it could have been if the budget didn't dry up halfway through the series. I think that is where most of the damage is done, too many freeze frames, stock footage and long pauses.
Other ones I have a soft spot for: Ah! My Goddess, some of the Ranma OAV's, I can never keep straight all of the Gundam series but they are usually good (except W and I think the (original?) 79 movie...that was so slow it was waving to the glaciers screaming by in the left hand lane), Golden Boy is one of the funniest I've seen as well.
A shout out to Star Blazers (Yamato), Force 5 and Robotech for introducing me to the genre. And curses to Voltron and the like for setting the genre back in North America.
WizarDru
Adventurer
Who are you, and what have you done with the Real Rackhir?Rackhir said:
Man, what a tough call to make.
In no particular order?
1) Space Cruiser Yamato - Oh, sure, they drove the concept into the ground....but the first two seasons are wonderful. A little silly, sure, and not amazingly animated by today's standards, but the story was terrific. I mean, the battle of the Andromeda fleet against the Comet Empire is worth the price of admission alone.
2) Space Pirate Captain Harlock (original TV Series): Spike Speigel is cool, but Harlock is just plain cooler, to me. Even though every series since appears to have been dogged by slow, slow, slooooow pacing, the original was the template for many shows that would follow.
3) Totoro. Really, one of the best animated movies ever. No, No, Castle Cagliostro. NO, Wait! Laputa, Castle in the Sky! WAIT! Spirited Away!! HOLD ON!! Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind! ARGG! Miyazaki, ok?
4) Super Dimensional Fortress Macross /Macross: Do You Remember Love? - Originally meant to be a parody, it evolved into a landmark show that was a proving ground for half of the anime professionals at work today. The talent read like a who's who of future anime masters, and it shows in the work. The big-budget movie still stands as a high watermark of animation.
5) Akira. A flawed masterpiece that still stands the test of time, and got widespread attention both for anime and a level of crossover respectability that few films have enjoyed before or since. Visually stunning, it was a ground-breaking flick, even if it didn't make a whole hell of a lot sense at the end, there.
And there are so many more....
Dru (who thinks it's a shame that so many modern anime fans casually dismiss older shows due to less expensive animation, and miss some wonderful stories...)
WizarDru said:Who are you, and what have you done with the Real Rackhir?
I was going to include Gundam initially, but I realized thinking it over that much as I love the mecha and the universe and Haman Khan ("AH! Haman-sama!), none of the actual series were all time favorites of mine.
I should have included Project A-Ko as a runner up as well. It is probably the funniest single anime movie I've ever seen and has almost enough anime in-jokes to go toe to toe with Airplane!. Great BGM as well.
You know despite Cowboy Beebop being on nearly everyone's lists. I just never could quite get into the series. It does have a very high cool quotient, terrific characters and a great BGM, but most episodes never really seemed to go anywhere. Also I could never quite get past the fact that they had enough money to operate a spaceship, several high performance craft, use lots of ammunition for their heavy weapons which probably cost $10+/rnd, yet never had money for food?
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