Anime recommendations request

[alexandral]

"Vampire Knight" is still constantly on my mind. The new episode will be out on the 5th of May so I have to wait. ** sigh **. In the mean time I am very much in anime mood and I would love any recommendations of your favourite anime. I haven't seen too many, only "Ayashi No Ceres" and "Wolf's rain" . Both were excellent and I loved both. I intend to finish the latter during these holidays.

Things I particular like:

1. Fantasy or science fiction storylines.
2. Long and beautiful arcs.
2. Tortured but noble heroes.
3. Heroes in the process of redemption.
4. Star-crossed love stories, doomed romances, etc. etc.
5. Good endings. :D

Thing that don't particular interest me:

1. School stories. I am currently experiencing an overload with school stories. My school time happened too long ago.. (I know "Vampire Knight" starts in school, but..)
2. Slash.

Comments

[vierran45.livejournal.com]

Cowboy Bebop. Wonderful noirish anime set in the far future with a group of bounty-hunters, all with their hidden pasts. Plenty of angst, sf, but also humour. It also has fantastic jazzy music.

Examples:
Tank! (http://www.sendspace.com/file/531yrg) (main theme)
The Real Folk Blues (http://www.sendspace.com/file/cve76p) (end theme)

[tangledtale.livejournal.com]

I second this. Cowboy Bebop is great, and I wouldn't be surprised if you'd watched it already given its classic status. Samurai Champloo was directed by the same guy and I love that as well. Although, it's more historical than fantasy or scifi (although it has an anachronistic soundtrack of reggae and modern music set against the edo period being depicted on screen) and there's not really any star-crossed love stories. Or rather, there's no real dominant one in the little travelling trio, but their interpersonal relationships are wonderful to watch nevertheless. Anyway, it's about a girl named Fuu who's set out to search for a samurai and on the way she picks up these two fellow travellers/guardians: Jin, who's the stoic, traditional ronin figure of great tactical calm and steely precision to the wilder, more raucous, uncouth Mugen.

There's even a kitty!

[bzoppa.livejournal.com]

What got me into anime was RahXephon (http://animenfo.com/animetitle,792,mbwnsc,rahxephon.html). It's not QUITE what you're looking for, but it turned me onto a few years of watching anime straight.

It is mecha (big armored robots) but it's not "typical" mecha like the ones you've probably got vague impressions on. There's only one big armored robot, not bunches of them fighting each other. And it's very mystifying about WHY this one kid can pilot it (he's the only one).

There is a lot of angst. An OTP not quite regular because of the nature of the backstory... so you have to wonder a little who exactly is supposed to be together. An overall arch that I still don't 100% get after two times straight through... which doesn't mean don't watch it, I'm just trying to say it requires far more brain power than the "oh, they're cartoons" people think. There is school for half the first episode, then it starts throwing spies and government and military agencies fighting each other trying to get hold of RahXephon and Ayato. Oooh, it's so awesome. It totally blew my mind and started me on a huge kick. Nothing else quite matched up.

I have other recommendations and probably could do a better job pimping this one, but I have a work meeting in half an hour which is totally my fault and almost got me fired, so I'm a little distracted.

And like the subject of this says, there's even kitty. Oh, it's the same company who made Wolf's Rain.

I've been out of anime for a really long time so I don't have much else to recommend off the top of my head. I'll check my list at home.

[spankmayer.livejournal.com]

try Fruits Basket - touching, beautiful and funny story, I think it matches with the requirements list)

the animenfo link doesn't have a summary

[bzoppa.livejournal.com]

Here's the one from imdb. It spoils for the second episode, but I think you're okay with mild early spoilers.

Kamina Ayato lives an ordinary life. He goes to school. He lives with his mother. He has schoolmates. But all of that changes one day when massive machines, known as the Dolem, attack the city of Tokyo with their destructive vocal powers. Caught up in the chaos, Ayato meets a mysterious girl named Mishima Reika. She leads him to the sanctuary, resting place of the RahXephon, a giant humanoid being with powers to counter those of the Dolem. Upon its awakening, Ayato finds himself synchronising with the machine and it takes him to the world beyond Tokyo. It seems that Tokyo, more precisely called Tokyo Jupiter, has been cut off from the rest of the world. Those living within the boundaries of Tokyo Jupiter believe that the rest of the world has been decimated, when in fact they live in a world controlled by the Mu. Now, facing the truth, Ayato must come to terms with his new reality, for he is a central element in the fate of mankind.

I swear, it's not school-type. It's... there's no description! Some people who watched both Wolf's Rain and RahXephon said RahXephon is better. Um.... the soundtrack is cool, some awesome piano music. Tons and tons of characters. If you ever stumble across Neon Genesis Evangelion, the guy who introduced me to RahXephon said, "RahXephon is Evangelion for people who like good things."

*hops up and down and tries to get you to watch RahXephon because not many people I know have seen it*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I don't like Cowboy Beebop because it's clever but not arced enough for me.

Full Metal Panic is one of my fave animes ever: strong heroine, super-cool (but messed up hero). It starts out in school but it's not really a school story.

Fushigi Yuugi. One of my fave animes ever. Girl gets thrown into medieval fantasy world blah blah blah. Tamahome (her OTP) is my anime boyfriend. It's based on a manga by the same lady who did Ceres and Absolute Boyfriend.

Trinity Blood and Blood + are both excellent and are vampire stories. Hmmmm, let me get back to you because anime suggestions are now pouring out of my ears.

(I have tags on all these animes in my lj, btw).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

But the manga is even better! So, alexandral, try the manga :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

OK, let's see.

I want to second the rec for RahXephon, one of the most mind-bending and awesome scifi things I've seen.

Also, Peacemaker, it is gorgeous. It's set in 19th century Japan and is actually about the Shinsengumi, the group of samurai who were (eventually) on the losing side of the civil war. It's animated beautifully but it also has a lot of things to say about vengeance and hope and all those other things, that I really agree with.

Here is little picspam for it:

http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/352192.html#cutid2

My favorite anime in this world is Trigun a post-apocalyptic space Western, with one of the most awesome fictional heroes ever. It starts out funny, gets super-angsty, and ends up hopeful. Bonus for strong female characters.

http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/tag/trigun

Oh, and about Full Metal Panic. It really is incredible. It has two seasons (FMP and FMP: The Second Raid) and FMP:TSR just might be my favorite stand-alone anime arc. (There is also FMP: Fumoffu, which is basically comedy outtake-in between stuff).

FMP has such a delicious plot! Our hero, Sousuke, is a mercenary assigned to protect Kaname, who appears to be a normal school girl but in reality possesses secret to great unknown tech inside her head. Kaname is bossy and cheerful and awesome, and Sousuke (who is actually Kaname's age) has much too serious and never learned to interact, having been in combat zones from childhood. There are adventures and bad guys and battles (the anime leaves school very quickly), and an awesome OTP, and some really cool things about growth and self-discovery. Seriously, FMP: TSR made me incoherent.

http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/tag/full%20metal%20panic

I mean! So cute!

[bzoppa.livejournal.com]

I love the opening theme for FMP :) One of my favorites!

[bzoppa.livejournal.com]

I don't like Cowboy Beebop because it's clever but not arced enough for me.

100% agree. I think it's a good "intro" for people who normally don't watch anime because it doesn't require the 26-ep processing something like RahXephon or Neon Genesis Evangelion do. I almost commented earlier when someone recommended it that it simply has an intro, one mid-series arc ep, and then the end. I thought it was okay and accessible, but nothing like season-long arcs.

[the-reverand.livejournal.com]

I third the Cowboy Bebop. One of the best ever. And I second Trigun! As well as Samurai Champloo even though it's a bit of Blade of the Immortal ripoff, which BTW, is soon going to be released as an anime! And man, talk about heroes in the process of redemption, long arcs and tortured... well, tortured everyone. And AMAZING ART!

Gundam Wing was actually a great series if you don't mind mecha, personal, military, and political angst! The original Tenchi Muyo is all kinds of fun, though it is school age. FullMetal Alchemist is equal parts silly and hardcore emo, even I was not 100% pleased with the ending. Someone mentioned Fushigi Yuugi and that's pretty addictive and fun. I also remember loving Outlaw Star but it's been a really long time since I saw it.

Anime movies:
-All things Miyazaki!, yes!
-Perfect Blue (Psychological thriller!)
-I also remember loving Blue Sub 6 though it's been quite a while since I saw it. And I guess it's more mini-series than movie.
-Grave of the Fireflies is a very sad, serious and beautiful movie. Good for a cry.

And I know there are more I'm not remembering!

Re: the animenfo link doesn't have a summary

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I have. I adore RahXephon...one of the most mindbendingly brilliant things I've ever seen.

Re: the animenfo link doesn't have a summary

[bzoppa.livejournal.com]

I tried to get meganbmoore to watch it, but she didn't bite. Perhaps she'll read through these comments, and see your second!

I don't know if it was a good or bad thing that this was my introduction to anime. Not much else came close afterwards. I found myself wading through a lot trying to get the same shock and awe I experienced when I first saw RahXephon.

Further recs

[bzoppa.livejournal.com]

Noir (which eventually has female slash but it's cool, about two female assassins in Europe and a prophecy)

Fullmetal Alchemist (although it pales in comparison to the manga, and I will thank meganbmoore for convincing me to read it; it's also my first manga)

Serial Experiments Lain (starts off kind of normal but then goes completely whacky/creepy)

Two series I haven't finished but I've heard are quite awesome:

Paranoia Agent - which is f*cked up! not kidding! but very cool! Seriously mindbending *steals dangermousie's word* about some severely dysfunctional people. The stuffed animal in this icon may or may not be in a character's head or not. Cutest little voice, and my friend said when he saw this icon he got freaked out because he finished the series and knows what the character eventually does.

Monster is supposedly the best series my friend ever saw—and he made video games for anime so he watched a lot (and turned me on to most of what I watched). I'm reading the manga and have to say, I think I would've liked it better in anime form. Maybe I'm just reading the series too quickly.

.... ok, seriously, I'm going to stop commenting on this post. But I wanted to tell you some of my favorites :) I've seen some of the ones other people have posted, and I thought they were all right but I wouldn't necessarily recommend them. The ones I've said specifically are top.

[revolos55.livejournal.com]

I also haven't seen much in the way of anime, but I'll ditto the Fushigi Yuugi and original Tenchi Muyo recs, and add Escaflowne, Samurai X, Record of Lodoss War and El-Hazard: The Magnificent World. Ryoko, Rurouni Kenshin and Ifurita are neat redemption-seeking characters.

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

What is Rurouni Kenshin about?

[revolos55.livejournal.com]

Rurouni Kenshin is the original Japanese title of Samurai X. It's about an assassin (named Kenshin) who has vowed never to kill again. I haven't seen it in a very long time, but I remember liking it a lot.

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

Thanks heaps for the info! :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I completely forgotten - I have watched "cowboy Beebop" too.. I loved the music and the main guy but anime itself was not arced enough (I agree with <lj user="dangermousie" here). but the music is out of this world.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for Samurai Shampoo rec! I have forgotten that I have already watched Cowboy Beebop (the music score is fantastic, isn't it?) but Samurai Shampoo sounds really interesting!

Re: the animenfo link doesn't have a summary

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for RahXephon rec! I will definitely try to find this - the things you wrote are really interesting!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I was wondering about this one, what is it about and how good it is..

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am firmly on manga-reading path. :D I have read all "Vampire Knight" I could get from the web. :D I am going to buy this too, it is so beautiful.

What is "Fruits Basket" about?

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

I forgotten that I also watched "Cowboy Beebop" and it also wasn't arced enough for me too.

I started "Full Metal Panic" few month ago as well but it was a bit too much of a school story.

I am getting Fushigi Yuugi as my first choice, I remember you raving about it, plus Trinity Blood and Blood+. I need me some vampires. :D

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much again!!!!!!

I remember now that I wanted to get good "Trigun" DVDs. I started it a while ago but because the quality was less than perfect I stopped.

Also, Peacemaker, it is gorgeous. It's set in 19th century Japan and is actually about the Shinsengumi, the group of samurai who were (eventually) on the losing side of the civil war. It's animated beautifully but it also has a lot of things to say about vengeance and hope and all those other things, that I really agree with.

Is this where your icon with the red umbrella is coming from? I like the couple on the icon, I think..

Re: Further recs

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I can't say thank you enough for all your recs!! Thank you!!! You are awesome!!!!!!!!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry - I completely forgotten that I have watched "Cowboy Beebop". I liked it , but it wasn't arced enough for me to fall in love with it. However, the music there score was most fabulous.

Thank you so much for all the recs! I am particular drawn to "Grave of Fireflies". I have seen it somewhere and it caught my attention..

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the info! I have on decided on "Fushigi Yuugi" as the first one!

[spankmayer.livejournal.com]

You are welcome! Lovely icon)
Since you like stories about gorgeous vampires take a look at anime "Trinity Blood" with amazing art and nice plot

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Someone else recced "Trinity Blood". It is decided. :D

[joonni.livejournal.com]

I also recommend Fruits Basket. It is seemingly light-hearted but there is a deeper and darker story. Yet the humor is wonderfully executed, the art is perfect, and the opening song of the anime is beautiful. The characters are wonderful too. There are only 24 or 26 episodes to the anime but the manga has been completed and it was so incredible!!!!

As for Vampire Knight...I have finished reading what has been scanlated. I am enjoying it and very excited for more. I am very curious to see how that the story will progress. (If you have finished reading it also) the turn of events was quite suprising, wasn't it? But now I can understand Kaname's actions.

And Trinity Blood..I saw the first four episodes and thought it was very cool. I was little confused about the storyline so I stopped but after your post, I think I will go searching for more. Thank you!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

FB is a story about an orphan girl, Tohru, who comes across the cursed Sohma family. It starts out all light but ends up really angsty and wonderful. It has two of my all time fave manga OTPs: Tohru and Kyo (who has SUCH an angsty story) and Haru/Rin which is just the swooniest. See icon.

I can spoil more, but not sure how much more detail you'd like. I have a tag about it in my lj. It's my favorite manga, bar none.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yay! FY!

Glad you liked TB.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yup. That's Yamanami (one of the Shinsengumi leaders) and Akesato, a courtesan.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Yay! FY!

I just got it - so far I preferred the animation style of "Vampire Knight" and "Trinity Blood", but Tamahome is pretty. :D

Glad you liked TB.

I may try to find the manga.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the info! I think I'll watch this one too. I am not sure about the full manga yet (reading "Vampire Knight" downloads made my head spin, it is all so not linear. :D)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

A courtesan! This is meant to be too. I like stories about conflicted courtesans doing it "for love" rather then for money.. :D

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

My destiny for "Fruits Basket" has been sealed. :D

I am very curious to see how that the story will progress. (If you have finished reading it also) the turn of events was quite suprising, wasn't it? But now I can understand Kaname's actions.

Judging by the speed anime progresses (5 episodes covered 7 chapters of the manga), it finish where the manga finished (OMP! What a moment!) .
I was spoiled for who Yuki was from the beginning but I actually find Kaname's actions less explainable. I wish he stopped acting towards her as if he is mentally challenged or something.

And Trinity Blood..I saw the first four episodes and thought it was very cool. I was little confused about the storyline so I stopped but after your post, I think I will go searching for more. Thank you!

The first few episodes are a bit formulaic and many characters are introduced, but after Sister Ester appears in the episode 4(?) it all gets into the more arc-ey story.

[joonni.livejournal.com]

Yey for Fruits Basket!

Thank you for the info on Trinity Blood. My destiny for a new anime has been sealed. :D

And I think I need to clarify something. The anime for Fruits Basket didn't complete the whole story. What I meant was that the manga itself is done so if you want to read it and know more beyond the anime, it is there for your pleasure.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

And I think I need to clarify something. The anime for Fruits Basket didn't complete the whole story. What I meant was that the manga itself is done so if you want to read it and know more beyond the anime, it is there for your pleasure.

Oh, thank you so much for the info. But there is always a hope they will make more anime, right?

I like your icon, whoever is on it are my OTP already.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

FY's animation style isn't as pretty as VK, agreed. The anime is 10 years older and I prefer the newer, fluider style. Oh well, no way to go back in time :)

I kinda love FY because it both has some amazing angst and emo (later on, it starts out light) and pokes fun at it at the same time. My inner 15 year old and outer 29 year old love it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I love the two of them together.

Note of warning though, the romances in Peacemaker are at best secondary (and probably tertiary) to the story. There are three: Yamanami/Akesato (icon), Tetsu (the child protagonist) and Saya, the little girl apprentice of Akesato, and a slash ship. Tetsu/Saya is given a bit more time than the other two, but they are all relatively secondary to the story.

Oh, and I see people reccing Rurouni Kenshin. It is indeed wonderful. And Blood + is good!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I kinda love FY because it both has some amazing angst and emo (later on, it starts out light) and pokes fun at it at the same time. My inner 15 year old and outer 29 year old love it.

Hee! This is a good description. It is similar for me with VK and TB, they both don't take themselves too seriously at times. Which kind of helps with taking vampires/destinies/angels stories better for me.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Note of warning though, the romances in Peacemaker are at best secondary (and probably tertiary) to the story. There are three: Yamanami/Akesato (icon), Tetsu (the child protagonist) and Saya, the little girl apprentice of Akesato, and a slash ship. Tetsu/Saya is given a bit more time than the other two, but they are all relatively secondary to the story.

This works fine for me usually.. The other way, when romantic storyline is the only storyline and everything else is secondary, bores me sometimes (unless it is in a drama :D)

Oh, and I see people reccing Rurouni Kenshin. It is indeed wonderful. And Blood + is good!

"Blood+" is on it's way to me (I looked around and like the style very much) and Rurouni Kenshin sounds good too. SWORDS!!!

[joonni.livejournal.com]

oh! it's tohru and kyo from Fruits Basket. A wonderful OTP!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am so sold. :D

[lacus5140.livejournal.com]

1. Ouran High School Host Club (comedy, drama, romance, slice of life) [A MUST Watch, It's friggin' hilarious for god sakes!! My no.1 fav till now]
2. Full Metal Alchemist (adventure, drama, fantasy)[THIS TOO!!]
3. Romeo x Juliet (drama, fantasy, romance)
4. Code Geass - Lelouch The Rebellion (drama, science fiction, supernatural)[Season 2...Code Geass R2 is currently releasing)
5. My-HiME (action, drama, magic, romance)
6. Mai-Otome + My-Otome Zwei OAV + My-Otome 0. S~ifr (action, comedy, drama, magic, psychological, romance, slice of life) [The 3rd one is currently releasing]
7. Claymore (action, adventure, drama, fantasy)
8. Death Note (drama, mystery, psychological, supernatural, thriller)[Last few chapters of the manga is the real ending after the anime]

All the above comes in manga too but only Claymore and Ouran High School Host Club are worth reading since it shows the continuation after the anime. The anime's last two episodes for both of it changed/edited from the manga. It is recommended to watch Ouran High School Host Club anime first before the manga. Although Ouran starts in school but I felt its way much better than Vampire Knight although i like VK too.

* Detailed summaries of each episodes, songs & etc/ review:
http://randomc.animeblogger.net/category/ouran-high-school-host-club/page/2/
http://www.basugasubakuhatsu.com/blog/2006/04/10/ouran-high-school-host-club-anime-first-impressions-review-preview/
http://www.anime-source.com/banzai/modules.php?name=Anime&rop=showcontent&id=1614

* Short summaries & ratings can be found here:
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6122

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! ** writes it all down **. I am particular interested in "Death note"!