Recommend an Anime for my Boyfriend
- Thread starter Meemaimoh
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I have to agree with what everyone above is saying; namely, Death Note, FMA, and Miyaki. But I'd also have to add in Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. It's a decent movie, and (though the name has a game name in it) doesn't relate to a game. No huge eyes either.
Hmm...
It depends on why he likes the movies he does. I wouldn't jump immediately into the deep and heavy stuff, it takes a while to acclimate to "OMG I care about a cartoon", but I can make a few suggestions.
For action:
-Full Metal Panic (not to be confused with the inferior and melodramatic Full Metal Alchemist). It's got good characters, lots of action, great animation, and giant robots which aren't done in a fantastically retarded way... I'm looking at you, Gundam. It's legitimately funny. Here's probably one of the best scenes:
He's not a nerd, he's a specialist
Also, it features some of the best American voice actors in the business, so it's definitely worth a look
-Martian Successor Nadesico. I hesitate a little to put this here, if only because it's improved a bit by also seeing Evangelion (of which it is a sort of expy), but it works on its own. It does tend toward grimdark stuff at times, but it's funny, heartfelt, and action-packed. Okay, so the animation leaves something to be desired at times, and it really is more interpersonal drama than pure "blow shit up", but it still works.
-Hellsing. It's kind of like the Halo of anime. Not a lot of real plot, and not much by way of character development. It's about a raging badass being a raging badass and looking damned cool doing it. Alucard, the most awesome vampire since vampires were created, fights with an organization whose goal it is to rid the world of other, less awesome, vampires. Be prepared for fan service, but not over the top, and significant amounts of blood.
For comedy:
This one is more difficult, because most comedy anime is probably going to be a bit too anime-ish for him right off the bat. Ouran Host Club (a review of which I should make eventually) is fantastic, but the animation style changes might get to him. It's pure slapstick most of the time, but it's good.
Negima!? (the punctuation here is important) is another good comedy series. It's one of the best dubs I've seen, and has some of the most amusing references out there. Lots of painting the fourth wall, and shout-outs to other things (including a South Park parody). If he likes any Monty Python, it's a lot of the same humor.
For Drama:
Probably the most difficult to find for him, because he hasn't been exposed yet to the "oh, right, I can give a damn about these people". Here's my best guesses.
Kare Kano. It's pure high-school romance, but very well done, and much more character growth than most shows in the genre. There's not much else to it, actually. It's about an overachieving boy, and an overachieving girl, meeting, falling in love, and learning to be mediocre.
Once he's more in a mood, and accepting of the idea of actually giving a damn about cartoon characters, you can branch out into some of the more emotionally intensive stuff.
Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni (When They Cry - Higurashi) is one of the best psychological horror shows I've ever seen. I can't do it justice in short form here, but just watch it at some point.
It depends on why he likes the movies he does. I wouldn't jump immediately into the deep and heavy stuff, it takes a while to acclimate to "OMG I care about a cartoon", but I can make a few suggestions.
For action:
-Full Metal Panic (not to be confused with the inferior and melodramatic Full Metal Alchemist). It's got good characters, lots of action, great animation, and giant robots which aren't done in a fantastically retarded way... I'm looking at you, Gundam. It's legitimately funny. Here's probably one of the best scenes:
He's not a nerd, he's a specialist
Also, it features some of the best American voice actors in the business, so it's definitely worth a look
-Martian Successor Nadesico. I hesitate a little to put this here, if only because it's improved a bit by also seeing Evangelion (of which it is a sort of expy), but it works on its own. It does tend toward grimdark stuff at times, but it's funny, heartfelt, and action-packed. Okay, so the animation leaves something to be desired at times, and it really is more interpersonal drama than pure "blow shit up", but it still works.
-Hellsing. It's kind of like the Halo of anime. Not a lot of real plot, and not much by way of character development. It's about a raging badass being a raging badass and looking damned cool doing it. Alucard, the most awesome vampire since vampires were created, fights with an organization whose goal it is to rid the world of other, less awesome, vampires. Be prepared for fan service, but not over the top, and significant amounts of blood.
For comedy:
This one is more difficult, because most comedy anime is probably going to be a bit too anime-ish for him right off the bat. Ouran Host Club (a review of which I should make eventually) is fantastic, but the animation style changes might get to him. It's pure slapstick most of the time, but it's good.
Negima!? (the punctuation here is important) is another good comedy series. It's one of the best dubs I've seen, and has some of the most amusing references out there. Lots of painting the fourth wall, and shout-outs to other things (including a South Park parody). If he likes any Monty Python, it's a lot of the same humor.
For Drama:
Probably the most difficult to find for him, because he hasn't been exposed yet to the "oh, right, I can give a damn about these people". Here's my best guesses.
Kare Kano. It's pure high-school romance, but very well done, and much more character growth than most shows in the genre. There's not much else to it, actually. It's about an overachieving boy, and an overachieving girl, meeting, falling in love, and learning to be mediocre.
Once he's more in a mood, and accepting of the idea of actually giving a damn about cartoon characters, you can branch out into some of the more emotionally intensive stuff.
Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni (When They Cry - Higurashi) is one of the best psychological horror shows I've ever seen. I can't do it justice in short form here, but just watch it at some point.
I too am a guy who isn't that fond of anime however i must amit that Fullmetal is entertaining mainly cos it gets on with the story and dosn't suffer from that cleche of anime fights lasting 8 episodes. However it's still about teens fighting satan in some way or form.Meemaimoh said:
Dont get him into anime, get him into Takashi Miike movies.
I recommend Ichi the Killer (which probably still counts as an anime, I mean the movie)
and Sukiyaki Western Django
I recommend Ichi the Killer (which probably still counts as an anime, I mean the movie)
and Sukiyaki Western Django
DRAGON BALL Z!!
I am no fan of anime, with it's terrible english voice actors and framerate a 3rd of western animation (FLAME SHIELD UP) but Dragon Ball Z is just classic-over the top fight scenes, likeable characters and hilariously silly storylines that you can somehow take seriously.
I am no fan of anime, with it's terrible english voice actors and framerate a 3rd of western animation (FLAME SHIELD UP) but Dragon Ball Z is just classic-over the top fight scenes, likeable characters and hilariously silly storylines that you can somehow take seriously.
hmm...
Im reluctant to say Baccano.
maybe Elfen Lied (tell him about how its German and not anime)
Black Lagoon.
witch hunter Robin
Chobits.
I dont f*cking know...
good luck though.
Im reluctant to say Baccano.
maybe Elfen Lied (tell him about how its German and not anime)
Black Lagoon.
witch hunter Robin
Chobits.
I dont f*cking know...
good luck though.
Good places to start might be...
Ghost in the Shell, Ghost in the Shell, and Ghost in the Shell: GITS is probably one of the best anime series around... period. It's got it all, excellent characters, a well thought out plot, questions about what lays ahead for humanity, and some absolutely incredible action. It has no big eyes or exagerated expressions, no filler, and is 1000% awesome. Also, you could start him out watching the first two movies: Ghost in the Shell and Ghost in the Shell: Innocence are not cannon with the rest of the series, but since they're stand alone movies it might be easier to talk him into checking out a couple of movies before trying to get him to watch an entire series.
Black Lagoon: Modern day pirates in league with the Russian Mafia. Be warned ahead, it's got some pretty dark existentialist themes. But it's also got some incredibly badass action.
Wolf's Rain: It's a really well told interesting story, and doesn't really have too many of the problems you mentioned.
Kino's Journey: I'm a little hesitant to suggest this one, not because it's bad (far from it, it's excellent) but mostly because even for anime it's out there testing the edges of what the medium can do, though it pulls it off brilliantly. It's the story of Kino, a young girl traveling from one city-state to another on her talking motorcycle, and while that premise sounds a little silly, it's a really thoughtful show, and spends a lot of time examining what makes us human.
Ghost in the Shell, Ghost in the Shell, and Ghost in the Shell: GITS is probably one of the best anime series around... period. It's got it all, excellent characters, a well thought out plot, questions about what lays ahead for humanity, and some absolutely incredible action. It has no big eyes or exagerated expressions, no filler, and is 1000% awesome. Also, you could start him out watching the first two movies: Ghost in the Shell and Ghost in the Shell: Innocence are not cannon with the rest of the series, but since they're stand alone movies it might be easier to talk him into checking out a couple of movies before trying to get him to watch an entire series.
Black Lagoon: Modern day pirates in league with the Russian Mafia. Be warned ahead, it's got some pretty dark existentialist themes. But it's also got some incredibly badass action.
Wolf's Rain: It's a really well told interesting story, and doesn't really have too many of the problems you mentioned.
Kino's Journey: I'm a little hesitant to suggest this one, not because it's bad (far from it, it's excellent) but mostly because even for anime it's out there testing the edges of what the medium can do, though it pulls it off brilliantly. It's the story of Kino, a young girl traveling from one city-state to another on her talking motorcycle, and while that premise sounds a little silly, it's a really thoughtful show, and spends a lot of time examining what makes us human.
I would say Neon Genesis Evangelion. There's a rebuild of the series in a movie, but it's a bit difficult to find. The TV series is good though, and End of Evangelion follows suit.
Cowboy Bebop. Sounds like he can appreciate a little sci-fi, and it's got some real tragedy in it. I'm sure he'd appreciate that, since he didn't seem to mind Grave of the Fireflies, and I don't think you can watch that movie without crying unless your tear ducts are non-functional.
Really, though. It's only got 13 episodes, so he doesn't have to watch it for very long, and it's got pretty great reviews across the board. I don't care for anime very much myself, but I'll happily sit down and marathon-session Cowboy Bebop on a rainy day.
Really, though. It's only got 13 episodes, so he doesn't have to watch it for very long, and it's got pretty great reviews across the board. I don't care for anime very much myself, but I'll happily sit down and marathon-session Cowboy Bebop on a rainy day.
Maybe he just isn't into anime? It really isn't for everyone, you know. If he says things like the art style and the exaggerated expressions bother him (I can sympathize with both) then anime probably just isn't his thing, and you should look for something else the two of you can enjoy together.
Seriously, anime fans, I mean this with all due respect, but anime isn't for everybody. Don't go insisting that it is. If he ever asks you to recommend, go nuts, but don't try and force him into it.
EDIT- Silly me, I forgot that nobody in these "anime list" threads actually ever reads the other posts, and if they do they just do so to skim other people's lists and agree with said lists. Maybe if I post a list of my own people will read it? Worth a try...
Spongebob Squarepants
Courage the Cowardly Dog
Ed, Edd & Eddie
Ren and Stimpy
Dexter's Lab
Seriously, anime fans, I mean this with all due respect, but anime isn't for everybody. Don't go insisting that it is. If he ever asks you to recommend, go nuts, but don't try and force him into it.
EDIT- Silly me, I forgot that nobody in these "anime list" threads actually ever reads the other posts, and if they do they just do so to skim other people's lists and agree with said lists. Maybe if I post a list of my own people will read it? Worth a try...
Spongebob Squarepants
Courage the Cowardly Dog
Ed, Edd & Eddie
Ren and Stimpy
Dexter's Lab