Anime recommendations/sources

[straydogstrut]

Now we're talking, what an amazing response everyone; lots to get my teeth into!;-)

Anything mentioned so far on Hardydev I can heartily recommend

Agreed. The reviews on HardyDev are super-special.

I also liked a lot Shin Sheiki Evangerion (and not for the battles) but it's a bit of hate or love, and kind of childish at times.

Yeah, we have the complete series. I liked it for the technology and the relationships between the characters (ahh some good old teenage angst) but the ending went a bit loopy though. Still, gotta love PenPen!

Perfect Blue (Probably the most amazing anime film. I even did a review of it on hardydev)

And a wonderful review it was. I still haven't picked this up yet. Buying now..DONE!

My Neighbour Totoro (Yeah, kind of an okay movie)

I love that movie, another one in the collection. Think we have all the Studio Ghibli ones now, except a couple where the art style doesn't appeal to me (My Neighbours the Yamadas for example)

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Cause, IT'S AWESOME)

I could not have put it better myself. It has to be one of my all-time favourites=D

Memories (3 stories. The first is objectively the best though)

I'm sure i've heard of this, but I haven't seen it. I'll be checking out this and your other recommendations, thanks!

I don't really watch anime anymore, but I remember Serial Experiments Lain to be pretty cool, if a bit weird. Hmm... Noir and Hellsing (Ultimate).

Ultimate? Now is that the OVA version i've heard good things about?* We've got the Hellsing Collection and I love it, so could definitely go for more. I'll try the other two as well=)

*Editor's note: Yes, it is the OVA version

For some reason I was very dissapointed with Akira, not only do I generally not like the "retro" look in anime (as compared to modern ones (Paprika, Mononoke etc.) where there's even 3d and other effects inside and the drawings seem to be cleaner and animation is more fluid) but the story was just silly and the ending was lame if you ask me.

I found it disappointing too. I thought the visuals were great for what they were, but the story wasn't the best. There's a lot of hype around it but for me it doesn't quite match up. I still like that world though and I can understand why it was so groundbreaking back in the day, but being a latecomer, i've seen better.

Fullmetal Alchemist is extremely epic.

One to try. I've glanced at it once or twice on the shelf as it looks promising. I'll give it a go=)

if you're into steampunk, Last Exile could be your thing

Nice! I just watched a little bit and it definitely looks like something I could get into. I'm going to pick up the first few episodes now and see how I go, thanks=D

If you like gits, don't miss the gits series. Writing-wise they're not exactly mind blowing, but aesthetically they kick ass. I have spent SO much time looking at those backdrops, man oh man...

Yeah, i've got both seasons of GITS: SAC. Bitterly disappointed there aren't any more=( I've seen all the movies too except The Laughing Man and The Individual Eleven, but i've heard they don't add much more so will pick them up for completeness one day.

All the rest I haven't heard of so will go a-Googling and see what takes my fancy. I'm spoilt for choice now!=D

[Stupot]

I've just started watching Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, which I had been meaning to watch for a while, but recent events in Japan reminded me about it.  Only 3 eps in so far and I'm liking it.  It focuses on a teenage girl and her kid brother, and I guess their quest to get home and find out if their parents are okay after 'The Big One' hits Tokyo...

[Jonez]

I'd say anything from Studio Ghibli, some of their movies has already been mentioned. Their production vary from ok to great. Can't wait for Karigurashi no Arietti to be released in Finland...

At the moment I'm watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, which is like the original anime, only more faithful to the manga. I really don't like how the original anime ended (the movie was horrible), but the manga was great.

Oh and Grave of the Fireflies. Absolutely great movie. Got 8.3 in IMDb.

[Pinback]

Samurai 7 is absolutely magnificent (Anime series version of Kurosawa'a masterpiece- Seven Samurai)

I also think Desert Punk and Cowboy Bebop are noteworthy.

Oh, and Cromartie High is pretty goddamn hilarious;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCIWsfPxJ2k&feature=related

Mechazawa worries about you more than anybody else!

Man I love that robot.

[straydogstrut]

I've just started watching Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, which I had been meaning to watch for a while, but recent events in Japan reminded me about it.  Only 3 eps in so far and I'm liking it. 

It looks really good, i'm going to give it a try, thanks=)

I'd say anything from Studio Ghibli, some of their movies has already been mentioned. Their production vary from ok to great. Can't wait for Karigurashi no Arietti to be released in Finland...

Oh and Grave of the Fireflies. Absolutely great movie. Got 8.3 in IMDb.

I can't wait for Karigurashi no Arietti to be released either, I grew up on The Borrowers. While I wasn't so impressed with the Tales of Earthsea reinvention from the Ursula le Guin books - it was good, but they left so much out!! - i'm hopeful they can make this something special. I think it comes out in August here (UK).

Grave of the Fireflies is a wonderful, sad, beautiful film=)

Samurai 7 is absolutely magnificent (Anime series version of Kurosawa'a masterpiece- Seven Samurai)

I also think Desert Punk and Cowboy Bebop are noteworthy.

Ha, yeah, Cowboy Bebop is my first love;-) Samurai 7's going on my list of 'Ones to Watch' as I loved the Kurosawa film, thanks.

[Stupot]

Oh yeah, I second Samurai 7.  I've never really been able to get too much into Anime, so I much prefer the shorter self-contained series'... never been into any of the long-running 'big-boys' like Bleach or Naruto... Although I've been tempted to start watcing One Piece, because a lot of my friends rave about it.

[BruisedWeasel]

Oh and Grave of the Fireflies. Absolutely great movie. Got 8.3 in IMDb.

I cry at the end of that movie every time. Much much crying.

I didn't mention earlier, I'm a Captain Harlock fangirl, and Galaxy Express 999 made me squee. Pirates and rebels in giant space frigates, IN SPACE! And big trains IN SPACE!

And then there's the delightful little anime accompanying the songs from Daft Punk. (Interstella 5555?)

[nihilyst]

I LOVE Serial Experiments Lain, but yes, I agree, it's very weird ...and wired. But it leaves you with that "what the heck was this anime about?"-feeling, which I like.

Spiral kept me entertained. It's not too serious and a sometimes very clever mystery series.

As for movies, I can recommend Jin-Roh (quite interesting story, although slow at times).
I recently watched The Sky Crawlers; this is a VERY SLOW one, but I kind of liked it.

[Igor Hardy]

I didn't mention earlier, I'm a Captain Harlock fangirl, and Galaxy Express 999 made me squee. Pirates and rebels in giant space frigates, IN SPACE! And big trains IN SPACE!

And then there's the delightful little anime accompanying the songs from Daft Punk. (Interstella 5555?)

Yay! Another Leiji Matsumoto fan! Captain Harlock is the best of his creations for me. How do you like Space Battleship Yamato?

On an unrelated note, I'm a huge fan of Lupin III - you know that series that inspired the style of Cowboy Bebop. A lot of it is actually awful and the fondest memories I have of it are the original series from the early 70s and several feature films, but it's three long series and about 100 feature films (new ones are still created) so no wonder the quality wavers.

From the newer ones I loved: Azumaga Daioh, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and FLCL - all of which were already mentioned. Also, Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou.

And Mamoru Oshii of course - mainly his two GITS movies and the first Patlabor OVA.

[ThreeOhFour]

I agree with theo on the beauty of gits scenery, but have to say I find the backdrops in The Place Promised in Our Early Days and 5 Centimeters Per Second even better again. The colours are stunning!

[Ilyich]

I agree with theo on the beauty of gits scenery, but have to say I find the backdrops in The Place Promised in Our Early Days and 5 Centimeters Per Second even better again. The colours are stunning!

Agreed, Makoto Shinkai's films are absolutely stunningly gorgeous, his high-contrast work with light is nothing short of amazing, shame that I can't say the same about his stories, or rather, a story. Not that it's bad, just not on par with his spectacular visuals.

Also just remembered - The Girl Who Leapt Through Time - a thoroughly charming and enjoyable sci-fi time-travel movie about a girl who leapt through time. Duh.

[Tuomas]

I might sound lame to all you HC-animefanboys, but I really did have a soft spot for Love Hina, which is a short one with a romantic story. Also, I've been watching Urusei Yatsura for ages because it's so awesomely funny

[Igor Hardy]

Also just remembered - The Girl Who Leapt Through Time - a thoroughly charming and enjoyable sci-fi time-travel movie about a girl who leapt through time. Duh.

There's an awesome Japanese live-action film from the 70s based on the same story. I never seen the anime though.

[Radiant]

Oh yeah, while this is technically not made in Japan, MegaTokyo is very well done. After all, how many webcomics do actually end up in real bookstores worldwide?

[straydogstrut]

I find the backdrops in The Place Promised in Our Early Days and 5 Centimeters Per Second even better again. The colours are stunning!

I loved The Place Promised in Our Early Days. It's a beautiful, thoughtful film. 5 Centimeters Per Second has recently piqued my interest too so will definitely take it for a spin.

Also just remembered - The Girl Who Leapt Through Time - a thoroughly charming and enjoyable sci-fi time-travel movie about a girl who leapt through time. Duh.

Yeah, another favourite in our collection, and I loved the simple way the sci-fi/techy elements were presented, especially the time travel 'device' itself. I like character stories like these that anime does so well. You're missing out if you haven't watched this;-)

On an unrelated note, I'm a huge fan of Lupin III - you know that series that inspired the style of Cowboy Bebop. A lot of it is actually awful and the fondest memories I have of it are the original series from the early 70s and several feature films, but it's three long series and about 100 feature films (new ones are still created) so no wonder the quality wavers.

Shockingly, the only Lupin anime i've seen is The Castle of Cagliostro, but I loved it. I'll definitely check out the series/films if they're anywhere near as entertaining.

[Igor Hardy]

On an unrelated note, I'm a huge fan of Lupin III - you know that series that inspired the style of Cowboy Bebop. A lot of it is actually awful and the fondest memories I have of it are the original series from the early 70s and several feature films, but it's three long series and about 100 feature films (new ones are still created) so no wonder the quality wavers.

Shockingly, the only Lupin anime i've seen is The Castle of Cagliostro, but I loved it. I'll definitely check out the series/films if they're anywhere near as entertaining.

The Cagliostro one I didn't like that much because Miyazaki decided to go with much idealized versions of the characters and consequently made them much blander than usual. I think that movie was meant for younger audience than Lupin usually is targeted at.

I'd say my favorite Lupin feature film is Bye Bye Liberty (though it's difficult to pick just one).

[BruisedWeasel]

No one's suggested Garzey's Wing yet, have they?

[Ponch]

No one's suggested Garzey's Wing yet, have they?

:o

I'm utterly speechless.

As far as anime goes, I'm strictly old school. Macross, Project A-Ko, BGC, Mazinger. That sort of thing. Azumanga Daioh and Cowboy Bebop were the last of the relatively new things I've picked up.

I'm old, is what I'm saying. 

[Eggie]

Like a lot of people my first introduction to Lupin III was through the Miyazaki movie and I liked it quite a bit.

Of course I've since discovered the series debauched, randy, violent and crazy-well-drawn history and now I love it with all my heart despite only seeing the pilot for the TV show on youtube and owning one random volume of the comic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMhr_6BVO3Y The pilot's still up and it's still a smorgasbord of visual insanity. People who say animé is never expressive need to get this shit down their necks.

EDIT: And don't worry that the subtitles are in Italian, you'll get it.

[EKM]

I used to be a huge Anime fan and I've only recently stopped, but nevertheless...I enjoyed a plethora of titles both old and new, as it doesn't really matter to me as long as the story is engaging. I'm not a heavy critic on the artwork as so many of the new generation of young fans are.

My favourites are...

1. Urusei Yatsura <-- Very funny if you're open to a more eccentric sense of humour. This Anime inspired tons of Anime of the same genre/theme. Lum is an iconic Anime character.
2. Haibane Renmei <-- Very top tier artwork with compelling fairytale-type story and likable characters.
3. Infinite Ryvius <-- The emotional realism in this makes it feel like Lord of the Flies in space.
4. Welcome to the NHK! <-- About a recluse, but it's a grand emotional roller-coaster experience. Slice-of-Life at its finest.
5. Vision of Escaflowne <-- A classic from the 90's. You'll like it if you're into action/adventure/mecha and subtle romance.
6. Ergo Proxy <-- A philosophical post-apocalyptic Anime with intriguing artwork and music.
7. Touch <-- Another classic for sports Anime fans, but even if you're not a sports Anime fan, this is a must for the drama.
8. Kimagure Orange Road <-- Fun and nostalgic romance. It's very similar to Rumiko Takahashi's work. If you do watch this, make sure to watch the "I want to return to that day" movie afterwards. It's some serious drama as opposed to the TV series' lightheartedness.  
9. Monster <-- Amazing pyschological Seinen thriller Anime. I can't recommend this enough. Grimmer is such an interesting character.
10. Maison Ikkoku <-- The best Slice-of-Life Anime in my honest mind. It has very enjoyable characters, a fluctuating romance and deep story development. Very funny and intense at times too.

Other shows you might enjoy are City Hunter, Gunbuster, Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Baccano!, Beck, Casshern (any of the incarnations), Fantastic Children, Honey & Clover, Genshiken, Hataraki Man, True Tears, Twelve Kingdoms, Macross, Major, One Piece, Trigun, Birdy the Mighty Decode...

and the one Anime movie I recommend is Whisper of the Heart.

Anyway, I was gonna recommend iTunes for legal Anime purchasing, but I guess if you want physical copies...then you can try Animenation. There's a lot of epic stuff out there if you explore.