Anime Suggestions

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

I'd also have recommended Haruhi... but that's such a polarizing series, especially lately.

Yeah, I agree. One of the things I found weird about that anime was it's popularity. It was a great show, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I doubt I've seen an anime with such a large fanbase in terms of ratio of fans/episodes. It's just baffling. Also, the behavior of the team that made the anime is just as confusing. Barely giving any notification about the new season, the airing order is out of the implied viewing order, and several other things that make it seem like whenever they make an announcement, more questions are raised than answered. In fact, the whole damn thing is just a huge enigma... maybe that's why it's popular?

Well technically they did air the whole series in order, just chronologically according to the story not by episode number.

I'm praying to God that they don't screw up the movie, because I'm still pissed over Endless Eight.

Also the fanbase grew mostly out of readers from the light novels which preceded the series by years and years in Japan.

[Erik_Twice]

I think that Haruhi fandom/hatedom is filled with idiots that hate it because it's popular and idiots that like it because it's popular. Not worse than any other series, really.

For some reason I havebn't watched the second season, since I read all the novels already. I should get some time to watch it but Animaniacs is taking that time. I don't have enough time for so much awesomeness.

I think of Haruhi as a whole like Don Quixote on a twist. Think about it, specially concerning themes. Don Quixote and Haruhi herself are quite similar, she is Don Quixote as a real knight but she doesn't know she is one. This is specially notable with the second part of Don Quixote, where he is manipulated to believe he is a knight but at the same time people recognize him as so. Haruhi is manipulated to believe she is not a knight but at the same time people know she is.

Kyon is a bit of a Sancho too. He is not naïve but is the counterpart of the new Don Quixote. He is smart so he shouldn't believe whatever crazyness the new Don Quixote does but he believes it deeply and he has no other choice than to believe it.

In the end those two chracters are the ones who make the show, the other characters are minor and are used as a way of expanding those two characters so the comparison to Don Quixote makes sense.

There are also a lot of similar themes, the mix of reality and dreams, the Bachiller and the Clergyman of Don Quixote are the SOS brigade but one groups tries to bring the main character back to Earth and the other one wants to get him to outer space, and so on.

I don't think many people in the fandom/hatedom appreciate such a literary approach to Haruhi and perhaps see it as a much simpler series but I think this interpretation is much more consistent with what the author had in mind.

[Pulsar_t]

Rurouri Kenshin aka Samurai X. Epic and ultimately depressing.



Legend of the Galactic Heroes. One of the longest-running anime series that dealt with a lot of important issues regarding human conflict.



The Animatrix. This is actually better than the Wachowski's overrated trilogy but I know a lot will disagree with this opinion.



Cybercity Oedo 808. Pure 80s retro bliss. Not as deep as the other entries but it is better than 90% of anime produced nowadays.



Battle Angel Alita. Short, beautiful and thought-provoking. Can't ask for more from a 60 minute OAV.



Akira's symbolism and visual style are still relevant two decades after its debut



Wolf Brigade. A drama set in an alternate post-WWII universe. And a tear-jerker too.

[executioner]

I'll try to cover anything non mentioned yet since a lot has been mentioned.

For the series:

Claymore
Death note
DNA2
Initial D
Full metal panic
Genshiken
Gundam Seed
Hellsing
Mahoromatic
Noir
Onegai Teacher
Record of lodoss war ova
Sakura wars
Scrapped princess
Twelve Kingdoms

A few quick movies and ovas I highly recommed:

3x3 eyes
Ah my goddess
Beyond the clouds
Blood the last vampire
Brave story
Byousoku 5 centimeters
Highlander search for vengeance
Hoshi no koe
Kakurenbo
Karas
Kite
Macross Zero
Spriggan
Tokyo Godfathers
Vampire hunter D
Wonderful days
X
Yukikaze

[fastbilly1]

I forgot about Scrapped Princess - an excellent fantasy anime.
Wonderful Days and Jin-Roh are fantastic aswell.

[hashiriya1]

Thanks again guys. There is more than enough here to keep me busy on airplanes and idle Sundays.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Anytime, after all you've started with EVA like I did when I really got deep into Anime so there's no longer a chance to escape the madness.

[AmishSamurai]

I'd also have recommended Haruhi... but that's such a polarizing series, especially lately.

Yeah, I agree. One of the things I found weird about that anime was it's popularity. It was a great show, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I doubt I've seen an anime with such a large fanbase in terms of ratio of fans/episodes. It's just baffling. Also, the behavior of the team that made the anime is just as confusing. Barely giving any notification about the new season, the airing order is out of the implied viewing order, and several other things that make it seem like whenever they make an announcement, more questions are raised than answered. In fact, the whole damn thing is just a huge enigma... maybe that's why it's popular?

KyoAni treats it's viewers like dumbasses and giant money cows. Don't get me wrong, I love the novels to death, but this season pissed me off.

However, Tanigawa has announced he's getting some serious work done with book 10, which may or may not be the final one.

[Ack]

Man, four pages, and only two of you have mentioned one of my favorite series, both of which were in long lists. Hashiriya, I don't know how you feel regarding your typical Tolkien-inspired European fantasy trappings, such as knights, elves, dragons, etc., but if you have any interest, you really must watch the original Record of Lodoss War.

In my opinion, it defined fantasy anime for me for a very long time, and though I've watched multiple series in the same genre since then, none have had the impact on me that Record of Lodoss War has. I mean, seriously, massive battles between goblins and men, wizards casting spells, men fighting dragons, gruff dwarves, graceful elves, warring kingdoms, political intrigue...this anime had it all, and all in only twelve episodes. Plus, the intro happens to be one of my all-time favorites in all the anime I've ever watched.

Seriously, absolutely awesome series.

Personally, I would also say to avoid the Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight, as I feel it wasn't a quality follow-up. Especially the chibi review sections that occur in each episode...it just kills the seriousness of the series to me.

[jfe2]

Man, four pages, and only two of you have mentioned one of my favorite series, both of which were in long lists. Hashiriya, I don't know how you feel regarding your typical Tolkien-inspired European fantasy trappings, such as knights, elves, dragons, etc., but if you have any interest, you really must watch the original Record of Lodoss War.

In my opinion, it defined fantasy anime for me for a very long time, and though I've watched multiple series in the same genre since then, none have had the impact on me that Record of Lodoss War has. I mean, seriously, massive battles between goblins and men, wizards casting spells, men fighting dragons, gruff dwarves, graceful elves, warring kingdoms, political intrigue...this anime had it all, and all in only twelve episodes. Plus, the intro happens to be one of my all-time favorites in all the anime I've ever watched.

Seriously, absolutely awesome series.

Personally, I would also say to avoid the Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight, as I feel it wasn't a quality follow-up. Especially the chibi review sections that occur in each episode...it just kills the seriousness of the series to me.

I remember seeing this on the Sci-Fi channel back when I was younger! I haven't seen it since then, but I'll have to check it out now.