I've been intrigued by anime but never got into it. I'd like to pick up 2 or 3 good titles to provide me with sort of an "introduction" to the genre without being too overwhelming or too "weird". Without getting too technical, which series or Dvd's should I pick up to get started. Again, nothing too weird or bizarre please.
I watched anime before most of today's fans could wank. I've always taken shit for it, but Akira is fantastic, is responsible for a lot of exposure anime got, and is one of 10 things in Japanese pop culture that has a soundtrack worth buying.
Mainstream Anime that are good to see if you'll like it or not are: 1. Akira 2. Ghost in the Shell 3. Ninja Scroll 4. Perfect Blue 5. Naruto Naruto is a series which you can only download cuz its only aired in Japan, but there are good quality fansubs of the series for it. The rest are great movies. Also the movies are easier to find in most retail outlets due to their popularity and they are cheaper than the other anime mentioned.
You want Bubblegum Crisis or at a push Bubblegum Crash (Not the new and shitty Bubblegum Crisi 2040. That's total shite). Bubblegum Crisis and Crash (mostly Crisis) are cyber punk action anime. The story involves the Knight Sabers who are a bunch of women that dress up in robotic suits. They battle the evil Genome Empire that constructs Boomers (they changed the name in the English version). The atmosphere is amazing !! Great thumping late 80's early 90's Japanese rock tracks at to the excitement. In the UK the DVDs and Videos were released by Anime Projects which I believe is Animego in the US. What ever you do, DON'T buy the shitty English version. As always the voices sound like crap and they even changed the music to English making it sound so piss poor that I sound better at a drunken Karaoke party :smt043 Yakumo
try any of Miyazaki's Ghibli release... I have entire collection by Ghibli and it was money well spend. beautiful and what the anime should be all about - and on top of that you can watch with your entire family too! Totoro My Neighbour Kiki Delivery Service are two of missus' fav while I like Laputa:Castle in the Sky and Porco Rosso(?)... cheers p.s. on last visit to Tokyo we went to Ghibli Museum and watched the short film based on Totoro. Very entertaining to say the least... Quite tempted to buy couple of cells but were too expensive - planning to get some on next visit though as well as that desk clock with all the Ghibli characters spinning around... heh...
I bought Akira Laster Disc on its release day years ago... Dame impressive when considering DVD wasn't around back then... great sound and visual - at that time - on old man's RPTV HT setup... I'm sure I still have the disc somewhere in the house... I even had entire manga collection at one point although donated to local collage library when I moved... cheers
Except "the boy who saw the wind" as its total shite! Perfect Blue is a great Hitchcock-esque suspense horror type film, really good. For funny series, try "Love Hina" or if you can find it "Ebichu keeps house" (Ebichu the housekeeper) but the last one is a bit rude, so don't watch it with the kids/wife/family
Didn't Haoru no Shiro (or something like that just come out... or is coming out? Wanted to see it. The new Appleseed movie (don't think it's out here yet) is a pretty good flick. Basement Jaxx even did a track on the cd.
The special edition re-release of Akira (the one in the Tin casing) has all the interviews from the LD.
saint seiya :-D hajime no ippo :-D hunter x hunter :-D all the crap made by the creater of ranma :-D oh my goddess :-D family guy :smt082 akira :smt033 and for more good stuff check out the #100 best animes list on www.animenfo.com ....i dont agree with some of those... but .... most of them are good in that list :-D
Looks like a good list of suggestions. Thank you all! I think I'll start off with Ninja Scroll and Akira since I'm hearing all the positive comments about these.
A guide to anime. http://www.therossman.com/examiner/04/october/index.html Seriously though I would try some of these. Gunsmith Cats Cowboy Bebop Last Exile Gundam Series (If you're buying them then start with one of the alternate universes to see if you like it. The UC storyline will drive you into poverty) Akira Ghost in the Shell Metropolis Grave of the Fireflies (Don't watch if depressed in any way)
