Recommended Anime?

[SnowCub]

Hello Escapist!

I recently got my laptop so it's a lot easier for me to get online than before, and I've decided that now might be a good time to start looking at some anime as I've been wanting to for a while.

The thing is... I have no idea where to start. Can any of you recommend any of your favourites or any that are particularly good for newcomers to check out? Also anything I can watch online for free would be a bonus.

I like the Studio Ghibli films so anything of a similar feel would be awesome!

Thanks for your help!

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

Paranoia Agent? I thought it was well done
Flcl? You might need to re-watch it to fully understand the plot though
Pom-Poko? You might like it, if you can get past the Tanuki's...

You also multi-posted

 

[dreadedcandiru99]

I think Ghibli did Nausicaa, so there's that. Also, I remember Princess Mononoke being pretty good. And as far as series go, if you haven't already seen Cowboy Bebop or Fullmetal Alchemist, you totally should.

And then there's Neon Genesis Evangelion, if you're in the mood for a show that makes you want to swear off anime forever.

 

[delet]

Well, you should definitely try out Full Metal Alchemist (Along with the movie) and Death Note.

There are tons of different animes for different types, though.

Notable comedy/school animes: Azumanga Daioh, or Lucky Star

Fighting (DBZ style): Yu Yu Hakusho (They use their heads to win their fights!)

Mecha anime: Neon Genesis Evangelion (Amazing, though the final 2 episodes were damned confusing.)

It would help if you told us more of your interests.

 

[Keisuke Zero]

The Funimation Site Streams alot of their anime online
One Piece is Pretty good to start with..

http://www4.funimation.com/video/?

I might be able to help better if I had some idea as to what you like.

 

[JeffersonTwilight]

Cowboy Bebop, X (the series rather tehn the movie it is clamptastic), i would also suggest either Gasaraki or Raxephon and of course Ghost in the shell all of them. for free anime online tehn i would suggest either http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/ or http://www.crunchyroll.com/

 

[wandatheavenger]

+1 to Cowboy Bebop. I know it'll likely be overmentioned, but it's a very accessible series that is a whole lot of fun, actually sounds really good in English, and has some killer music. Not only was it my first anime series, but I like it so much that I intend to eventually get a corgi and name him Ein.

 

[Arisato-kun]

Go for Gurren Lagann. Best action anime out there and chock full of memorable characters and manly spirit. Hell, the largest mech is 10 light years tall. It's got some nice character development as well with the main character especially.

I recommend Baccano! as well. It's a 30s gangster story with some alchemy thrown in. They also give you the ending first which is a nice hook. Watch it in English though. It's completely superior to the Japanese version and the best Dub I've ever seen.

If you're into romance I'd check out Toradora! which is a great romantic comedy. Most importantly, check out Clannad and Clannad ~After Story~ as both will make you laugh one moment and make you cry big manly tears the next.

Finally, if you're into Japanese music check out K-On! It's chock full of hilarious moments and has one of the best soundtracks out there.

 

[DoctorNick]

Planetes and Crest of the Stars.

The latter is sometimes accused of being 'space elf CSPAN' but I think it has a good story and character development.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

To Aru Kagaku no Railgun.It's not explainable without ruining anything.

 

[Lonan]

There have been a billion of these threads. But in any case:

For short series:
Code Geass
Death Note
Full Metal Alchemist

For long series:
Naruto
Inuyasha

It depends what you're into.

 

[Sneaklemming]

I'm very picky when it comes to anime. That is; i generally don't like nonsensical anime conventions.

So here's a western orientated list.

Ghost in the Shell (The movies)

Helling OVA (Nice n Gory, just make sure its the OVA and not the regular series)

Yu-Gi-Oh abridged. (You can watch this on youtube, and it personifies all I dislike about anime)

Parasite Dolls (another movie, you can watch this on youtube for free also, but only if you live in the US)

...wow I thought there was more anime I liked. huh.

If anyone knows of any anime I might like based on what I've listed, can yuh mention it to me please?

 

[Julianking93]

Ghost in the Shell is probably my favorite anime movie.

Tenchi Muyo is still my favorite anime series though.

And Death Note's pretty good if you can put up with its overly dramatic and ridiculous dialog as seen here:

[spoiler/][/spoiler]

 

[Sneaklemming]

Ghost in the Shell is probably my favorite anime movie.

Tenchi Muyo is still my favorite anime series though.

And Death Note's pretty good if you can put up with its overly dramatic and ridiculous dialog as seen here:

[spoiler/][/spoiler]

That video can't really be serious... is it meant to be funny?

 

[Julianking93]

I'm very picky when it comes to anime. That is; i generally don't like nonsensical anime conventions.

So here's a western orientated list.

Ghost in the Shell (The movies)

Helling OVA (Nice n Gory, just make sure its the OVA and not the regular series)

Yu-Gi-Oh abridged. (You can watch this on youtube, and it personifies all I dislike about anime)

Parasite Dolls (another movie, you can watch this on youtube for free also, but only if you live in the US)

...wow I thought there was more anime I liked. huh.

If anyone knows of any anime I might like based on what I've listed, can yuh mention it to me please?

You may like Higurashi, Blood +, Monster, or Death Note.

And Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged is one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

 

[Julianking93]

Ghost in the Shell is probably my favorite anime movie.

Tenchi Muyo is still my favorite anime series though.

And Death Note's pretty good if you can put up with its overly dramatic and ridiculous dialog as seen here:

[spoiler/][/spoiler]

That video can't really be serious... is it meant to be funny?

No, at least I don't think so. It sure is funny though

But that line wasn't in the manga. The anime really brought it down, but its still good to watch.

 

[FrossetMareritt]

The Twelve Kingdoms. Best Character development I've ever seen in an anime.

 

[SquirrelPants]

The two I started with were FLCL and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. They're both pretty crazy, but they're also both amazing. FLCL has an amazing plot but you might miss it the first time around because of all the craziness going on. Fortunately, it's five short episodes long, so that doesn't end up being a huge deal.

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is about robots and fighting, and is also pretty funny, and I really can't comment on how great the plot is yet since I've only seen three episodes of it so far. That one's on Hulu, though.

both of those are totally worth watching though, I promise. I've probably watched through FLCL fifteen times, trying to figure out all the fine details: There's quite a bit left unsaid, and a lot of really subtle bits in scenes that totally fly right over your head if you're not watching for them.

 

[Sneaklemming]

I'm very picky when it comes to anime. That is; i generally don't like nonsensical anime conventions.

So here's a western orientated list.

Ghost in the Shell (The movies)

Helling OVA (Nice n Gory, just make sure its the OVA and not the regular series)

Yu-Gi-Oh abridged. (You can watch this on youtube, and it personifies all I dislike about anime)

Parasite Dolls (another movie, you can watch this on youtube for free also, but only if you live in the US)

...wow I thought there was more anime I liked. huh.

If anyone knows of any anime I might like based on what I've listed, can yuh mention it to me please?

You may like Higurashi, Blood +, Monster, or Death Note.

And Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged is one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

BTW if Ghost in the Shell is one of your favourite movies, check out Parasite Dolls. It takes the whole GITS idea on a bit further.

And... if you're a PC gamer, there's a Mod for Half-life2 called NeoTokyo, and it's basically a ghost in the Shell mod. (But a mod of the movies, not the spider tanks, like the old PS1 game.)

The trailer for it is sweeeet.

Spoiler