How do I get into anime

[ScaryAlmond]

Okay so i'm not the greatest anime fan I used to occasionally watch pokemon and Naruto but watching them felt like a chore.
Just need some advice on how I can truly get into the genre I can see the attraction but I have never felt any real connection to any sort of characters in tv anime.
For me most of the situations seem to simplistic and for me it's hard to get around the juxtaposition where nearly every situation causes a massive explosion.
Personally I like the more in depth storyline I am a massive fan of the mass effect style of writing where you develop a relationship with the characters.

Just going into the collective wisdom of the escapist community give me some intelligent and epic anime's want to hopefully get into it before Avcon so give me what you've got

 

[ChupathingyX]

Try out Steins;Gate.

I haven't watched the anime myself but I have read the visual novel and apparently the anime is very faithful. The story is very well done with a lot of hard sci-fi, the characters are quite enjoyable and there are no massive explosions every 5 seconds (it isn't action).

 

[SckizoBoy]

Cue everyone shoving their favourite titles down your throat...

Anyway, questions:

1. Define intelligence (cerebral or intellectual?)
2. Preferred style of animation
3. Sub or dub?
4. Preferred genre of TV

But regardless of your answers (for now, at least): GitS:SAC.

 

[deidara]

Okay so i'm not the greatest anime fan I used to occasionally watch pokemon and Naruto but watching them felt like a chore.
Just need some advice on how I can truly get into the genre I can see the attraction but I have never felt any real connection to any sort of characters in tv anime.
For me most of the situations seem to simplistic and for me it's hard to get around the juxtaposition where nearly every situation causes a massive explosion.
Personally I like the more in depth storyline I am a massive fan of the mass effect style of writing where you develop a relationship with the characters.

Just going into the collective wisdom of the escapist community give me some intelligent and epic anime's want to hopefully get into it before Avcon so give me what you've got

Well your best bet is to probably watch a gateway anime such as Death Note or Code Geass. After watching one of them there's a good chance you will be far more interested in anime. And Pokemon/Naruto are kind of awful to begin with (imo, yes despite my username). Other well known shows do a similar thing far, far better. I personally think Fairy Tail, One Piece and Soul Eater would be far better choices to watch. Either way, I'd watch one of the first 2 I suggested and take it from there.

 

[Death Carr]

I got into anime with Death Note. Then I got recommended FLCL, then that moved onto Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gurren Lagann, and so on.

It really just depends on what you're looking for. Aside from the writing, do you want high action, romance, Slice-of-life, etc. We really need more details before we can recommend something to your tastes.

Also, the obligatory anime guide I post every time one of these threads shows up.

Spoiler: Anime guide

 

[Scarim Coral]

Simple-
1 Read a synopsis of an anime.
2 Watch the said anime.
3 Profit?

 

[Dryk]

Cue everyone shoving their favourite titles down your throat...

Anyway, questions:

1. Define intelligence (cerebral or intellectual?)
2. Preferred style of animation
3. Sub or dub?
4. Preferred genre of TV

But regardless of your answers (for now, at least): GitS:SAC.

This man speaks the truth *attempts to hide toy tachikoma*

 

[SckizoBoy]

Simple-
1 Read a synopsis of an anime.
2 Watch the said anime.
3 Profit?

>_> ... <_< ... damn... why didn't I think of that...

This man speaks the truth *attempts to hide toy tachikoma*

Now, now... no need to feel ashamed... *hides behind Tachikoma plushy* =P

 

[Smertnik]

Decide what genres you're looking for, then browse through an anime database (e.g. anime-planet and look at the highest rated/most popular stuff from those genres.
If you find something you particularly like you can use it as a reference point and search for similar works (anime-planet has a rather good user-based recommendation system, for instance) or just ask around.

 

[Crenelate]

I would recommend Mushi-Shi as it's a personal favourite and is quite different in pace and tone to most anime. Also, it's all up on youtube with both subs and dubs so you can decide which you prefer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdhR5XZNXbs

Basically, Ginko is a doctor who travels around rural japan dealing with strange illnesses caused by little supernatural microorganisms. Each episode is an essentially self contained story, but all are beautifully told and animated, and not every one has a happy ending. Also, there are only 26 episodes, so it's not a huge track to get to the end.

 

[Sean Hollyman]

Disregard everything, watch Dragon Ball Z.. Nothing else can compare

 

[Casual Shinji]

If you can't get into it there's probably a reason, i.e. it's not your cup of tea.

But if you really want to sample something just check out some of the more mainstream stuff like Cowboy Bebop or Studio Ghibli's work. Even people who don't care for anime usually like this.

 

[The Wykydtron]

Yep go and watch Code Geass, no don't mind me i'll wait...

*taps foot impatiently*

'K wasn't that first episode fucking amazing?! He was like "i'm awesome, you will die now" and they were like "YESH" and it was cool and epic and exactly what a first episode should be!

If anyone knows where I can get a Lelouch figurine/plushie/whatever feel free to let me know btw.

Oh I don't know whether to recommend the sub or dub of CG... They're both really good. I slightly lean towards the dub because JYB is teh baist VA of all tiem.

Also Death Note, Gurren Lagann, maybe Soul Eater if you're into the more actiony stuff and *Clannad if you like drama and shit.

[sub]*Note, if you want any heartstrings left unpulled don't actually watch Clannad. It's so good at being downright depressing sometimes[/sub]

EDIT: GAH! I forgot to recommend The World God Only Knows! Right the anime is good, at least the first season was. The second season went way off message towards the end and took Keima's entire character and lobbed it into a skip.

I know this isn't a manga recommendation thread. But i'm recommending you go and read TWGOK instead... There's a reason why it's my favourite manga ever made.

Oh and if you've ever played League of Legends and and find the LoL anime on Youtube. So, so bad it's funny.

There is indeed a Garen in every bush...

 

[Lunatic High]

One anime at a time. The best thing about them is that they are essentially cinematic cartoons but can get away with things neither cinema or cartoons can, although I suppose that would depend on your own preferences but there is deffenitly something for everyone.

Like angst? maybe a check, I dunno
Like violence? check
Like love stories? check
Like interpesonal conflicts waged by actions and emotions? double check
Like tentacle rape? also check
Like lesbian relationships however subtle? thats a big wet check
Like laughing your ass off? check
Like awkward teen experiences? check

The list goes on
My step mom thought they were "just cartoons" and would hound me bout being in my 20s watching cartoons until I got her to sit back and watch a couple episodes of Steins Gate when she had the flu and the power was out. She kept watched the whole series I also got a couple of my nephews hooked on them from Black Lagoon I'll be damned if I'm gonna watch Dora with a couple 10 year olds. Currently I have my nephews watching Claymore

Theres a shit ton of more in depth ones out there although its pretty hit or miss I watched one episode of Dragon Crisis and deleted right after. Currently just beginning season 2 of Spice and Wolf, and honestly I didn't think I'd like it as much as I do. So some of them can surprise you. They are more than just "Cartoons" whats most important is that even if you read about one you'll never know if you like it until you watch it, so one anime at a time is the best way in my opinion. I almost always just download them at random then watch them and if they're really good and my visa isn't maxed out I'll order them on dvd/blu ray or boxset or whatever.

I recommend Galxy Express 999 in particular the movies or pretty much anything else thats already been reccomended by others.

 

[DrRockor]

Think about the type of stuff you enjoy before starting a series. People just throwing their faviour titles at you isn't the best approach.
Do you like action or comedy?
Do you like a slice of life sort of thing or a completely different world?
Fantasy or Sci-fi?

I'll try and give you a wide range of titles and once you find a style you like go deeper into that.

Fantasy = Fairy tail, wizards basically with a main character that literally eats fire and then punches people with said fire
Sci-fi/Mechs = Code Geass is pretty good, I'm not a huge fan but thats just my dislike for the main character
slice of life/comedy/music = K-On!, high school girls in a band. If you prefer female characters this has an entirely female cast, it helps if you like roch music too
slice of life/fantasy = Bleach

Explore genres your prefered genres and I'm sure you'll find something

 

[CODE-D]

Simple, you start watching anime.

If anyone knows where I can get a Lelouch figurine/plushie/whatever feel free to let me know btw.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=lelouch+figure&_sacat=0


and


http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=the+world+god+only+knows+figure&_sacat=0

 

[Richardplex]

Death Note and Steins;Gate are the most accessible in my opinion. See what ChupathingyX said about Steins;Gate - though the anime doesn't go much into the hard sci-fi nature unlike the VN. Both fill the intelligent anime category - Death Note is a battle of minds, and Steins;Gate, the main characters are a mathematician and a theoretical physicist, can't go wrong there. It also made me cry 6 times in 2 hours.

 

[Furioso]

I got into anime with Death Note. Then I got recommended FLCL, then that moved onto Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gurren Lagann, and so on.

It really just depends on what you're looking for. Aside from the writing, do you want high action, romance, Slice-of-life, etc. We really need more details before we can recommend something to your tastes.

Also, the obligatory anime guide I post every time one of these threads shows up.

Spoiler: Anime guide

Great list, I'll have to save that picture for future use, needs more Full Metal Alchemist and Yu Yu Hakusho though

 

[95spartans]

Death note is probably the best one to start with.

Most people seem to like at least one of the big three shonen. Those are naruto, one piece and bleach with fairy tail arguably being a fourth. One piece supposedly gets a lot better as it goes on (haven't got past episode 12 yet), bleach is the opposite.

Also find out which arcs are filler's and don't bother watching them. Almost all filler's are awful.

Edit: also, Hellsing Ultimate FTW