Good anime?

[Angry_squirrel]

Hey guys, not sure how to start this, but here goes: I saw Death Note a few years back and absolutely loved it. I also liked Monster and Ergo Proxy. Now I'm going through another phase where I really want to watch a good anime, but I know from experience that there is much, much more bad than good where anime is concerned (my opinion, no offence intended to anyone who disagrees).

So, I'm wondering if my fellow Escapists can recommend me any good anime (I like horror, mystery, psychological kinda stuff. Oh, and fantasy, but not childish stuff)

Also, I'm aware that there are a fair few other threads on this, but looking through the ones I found I wasn't able to find anything I like.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Darker Than Black might be worth looking into for you.

It mostly alternates 2 episodes character-heavy story arcs, with an good over-arching story.

It's a very mature series, heavy on mystery and action. With a dose of philosophy thrown in to balance things out.

It's hard to describe anymore without giving something away, honestly.

>_>


Edit: This trailer will do it for me!

 

[xFullmetalx]

Angel Beats would probably be my favorite, don't let the name discourage you.

 

[Nooners]

I'm gonna recommend Blood Plus. 50 episodes, so it's already done, but the story is well done, and the characters fairly strong. You'll remember the villains more than anything else, if you're like me.

 

[Slenn]

If you like horror and mystery, then look no further than Higurashi. It's essentially a brutal murder mystery anime with tons of character connections and a plot that is very very edgy. It does look very cutesy at times, but don't let it deceive you. Here's the opening for a taster:

 

[manythings]

I believe that's called an Oxymoron. *guffaw*

Not really in your list of preferences (also not anime) but you would be doing yourself a disservice to not watch "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" Gigs 1+2. Seriously it's fucking amazing. I want to talk about how awesome it is but I can't because it would ruin plot points and character arcs, it's just great.

 

[Sarge034]

Ghost in the Shell. The first movie was jaw droopingly good. The series is ok, and the second movie was not as good in my opinion.

I like it because it is always a combination of action, philosophy, and fan service. (I kno I'm shameless )

-EDIT= REALLY!?!?!?! Ninjas are waiting until I post to ninja me now? WRRRAAAA >RAGE<.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Well, if you loved Death Note, you'll love Code Geass.

Haven't watched Darker Than Black yet (it's on my to watch list), but I hear it's good. Might want to check it out.

 

[artanis_neravar]

CODE GEASS!!!

 

[artanis_neravar]

Also I'm debating between watching
Blood +
FLCL
GANTZ
Monster
s-Cry-ed

Which did people Like better

 

[Serving UpSmiles]

That one about the zombies in the highschool, i hear it pretty good.

 

[TheSaw]

I'm not much of an anime lunatic like some of my friends, but I've watched Death Note and Angel Beats.
I enjoyed them both quite a lot.
The next one on my list is High school of the Dead, why? A friend said it had zombies in it!

 

[DaphneRose]

Also I'm debating between watching
Blood +
FLCL
GANTZ
Monster
s-Cry-ed

Which did people Like better

FLCL is great. It's only a handful of episodes long, so no reason not to watch it.
That being said, I'd listen to the suggestion of Higurashi. It has all of your key ingredients: horror, mystery, psychological aspects, with even touches of fantasy later on.

 

[Michelle Weiss]

I watch the new straight from japan anime so it will be in japanese with english subtitles
deadman wonderland, gosick, and c the money of soul and possibility control

 

[mireko]

Oh, I can't pass this one up.

Ghost in the Shell and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex are a film and a TV anime respectively, and they are fantastic.

Make sure you get the original '95 version of the movie with subtitles too. I'm not one of those purists, but the dub was awful and the "2.0" release added distracting CGI. Stand Alone Complex had a good dub, from what I've heard, so you can't go wrong on that one.

The second movie (Innocence) and the second season of the TV series (2nd GIG) can safely be skipped. Trust me on this.

You could also check out Serial Experiments Lain and Boogiepop Phantom. They're both pretty obtuse when it comes to the plot, but things make sense in the end and there's so much atmosphere that it shouldn't matter. Boogiepop Phantom, especially, is the only horror anime that has ever creeped me out (I've tried most of them, they don't usually work). That said, Lain is definitely the better series of the two, and you will want to start with that one.

 

[Mikael Guldborg Rask Andersen]

Comedy: Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu, Hayate no Gotoku!! (Second season is awesome)
Comedy/Romance: Skip Beat!, Nodame Cantabile, Welcome to the NHK!
Action/Just awesome: Code Geass, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Eureka Seven
Good Movies: Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo, Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu

Personally, I think all of these are just plain awesome!

 

[Angry_squirrel]

wow I wasn't expecting this many responses, particularly in such a short time. Thanks guys I'll check these out.

 

[Avayu]

I also recommend Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.
Seriously, if you have any love for (post-)cyberpunk, political thrillers, action, cool technology, good characters and/or philosophical questions, you should see it.

 

[yanipheonu]

I'd look at the big three Gainax shows Evangelion, Gurren Lagann and FLCL. All three are great for their own reasons, for many these shows are some of the pinnacles of anime.

I'd highly recommend FLCL, it's one I'm currently obsessed with XD

Other anime to look at:

Samurai Champloo
Eureka Seven
Summer Wars