Nothing can quite compete with GITS. It's on a completely different level than anything else (that I have seen). One of the few truly intelligent series out there. And when I say truly intelligent I don't mean "as compared to" something or other (everything compares favorably to Bleach or Naruto in that regard for example), but in general. It fits with the times as well, discussing terrorism, moral ambivalence and the human condition, using the great philosophers as a basis for both the story and the arguments. What more can you really ask?
Trigun is unique in a way that makes it quite timeless. Every character is well-outlined and as absurd as they are sometimes they do not feel forced in any way (in contrast to Trigun clones like Trinity Blood). It also feels very complete, as compared to many other series that are riddled with plot holes. Also, it is one story being told, not a set of contrasting ones which sometimes get confusing when things are being summarized at the end of the story (Evangelion is an example of that, although I do like it).
Monster, which is clearly inspired by "The Fugitive" also tries to do something different, telling a story in its entirety instead of summarizing certain events. It stretches out to over 70 episodes, but it manages to keep your interest (mine at least) for the duration, although the finale was a little weak. The writers do, perhaps make a few too many assumptions about Germany, but that's okay ^^
GunGrave is based on a game originally, which is sort of hard to believe. The first episode is so bad that I considered to stop watching, but I gave it another episode... and then another and another and... Now it's one of my all-time favorite series, excluding the first and the last 5 episodes. The rest is a criminal drama about two friends living in a city where the only path to a decent life seems to be one of crime, and through chance they are allowed into the most powerful mafia in the city. Few series has well-told character development of this caliber.
As for Death Note and the type-moon stuff (F/SN and Tsukihime) I feel that Death Note shot itself in the foot trying to be "funny" and "cute" while simultaneously being a sort of Dorian Gray-story. It's very morbid and starts out asking some powerful questions about morality, but after a while it becomes ridiculous, with grown men acting like children, the national police elite not being able to figure out the simplest thing and the basis for Kira's tricks becoming more and more forced and illogical.
F/SN feels like a game and not much else. In the beginning it tries to fill the plot holes, but after a while it just doesn't bother, making the whole experience quite ridiculous. The characters are nothing one hasn't seen before and the narrative is very talky, as the writer is so impressed with his own thought-out system for magic and its workings.
Tsukihime is by the same guy, but far better in my opinion. It manages to remain dark, creepy and quite mysterious, revealing only enough facts you make you accept or question the next thing that happens. It is too short though, and much of what was interesting in the original game/novel is lost for no real reason.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is okay I suppose... Although it's more or less Philip.K.Dick's VALIS + girls with dinner plate eyes.
Cowboy Bebop is also one of those series that can't really be copied. It thrives on two things, attitude and atmosphere. The only thing I can really compare it to is Hellsing: The characters have coolness running out their ears, the backdrop is a gritty dog-eat-dog reality and the music is many steps above average.
Trigun is unique in a way that makes it quite timeless. Every character is well-outlined and as absurd as they are sometimes they do not feel forced in any way (in contrast to Trigun clones like Trinity Blood). It also feels very complete, as compared to many other series that are riddled with plot holes. Also, it is one story being told, not a set of contrasting ones which sometimes get confusing when things are being summarized at the end of the story (Evangelion is an example of that, although I do like it).
Monster, which is clearly inspired by "The Fugitive" also tries to do something different, telling a story in its entirety instead of summarizing certain events. It stretches out to over 70 episodes, but it manages to keep your interest (mine at least) for the duration, although the finale was a little weak. The writers do, perhaps make a few too many assumptions about Germany, but that's okay ^^
GunGrave is based on a game originally, which is sort of hard to believe. The first episode is so bad that I considered to stop watching, but I gave it another episode... and then another and another and... Now it's one of my all-time favorite series, excluding the first and the last 5 episodes. The rest is a criminal drama about two friends living in a city where the only path to a decent life seems to be one of crime, and through chance they are allowed into the most powerful mafia in the city. Few series has well-told character development of this caliber.
As for Death Note and the type-moon stuff (F/SN and Tsukihime) I feel that Death Note shot itself in the foot trying to be "funny" and "cute" while simultaneously being a sort of Dorian Gray-story. It's very morbid and starts out asking some powerful questions about morality, but after a while it becomes ridiculous, with grown men acting like children, the national police elite not being able to figure out the simplest thing and the basis for Kira's tricks becoming more and more forced and illogical.
F/SN feels like a game and not much else. In the beginning it tries to fill the plot holes, but after a while it just doesn't bother, making the whole experience quite ridiculous. The characters are nothing one hasn't seen before and the narrative is very talky, as the writer is so impressed with his own thought-out system for magic and its workings.
Tsukihime is by the same guy, but far better in my opinion. It manages to remain dark, creepy and quite mysterious, revealing only enough facts you make you accept or question the next thing that happens. It is too short though, and much of what was interesting in the original game/novel is lost for no real reason.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is okay I suppose... Although it's more or less Philip.K.Dick's VALIS + girls with dinner plate eyes.
Cowboy Bebop is also one of those series that can't really be copied. It thrives on two things, attitude and atmosphere. The only thing I can really compare it to is Hellsing: The characters have coolness running out their ears, the backdrop is a gritty dog-eat-dog reality and the music is many steps above average.
