This thread is for recommending non-mainstream, recent or particulary impressive anime.
Hot stuff to watch in other words.
Instead bringing back the old thread and receiving the 2nd necrotech title, I decided to collect the recommendations that took place so far with some notable idea about the mentioned anime.
I will make another general discussion thread about stuff here, or whatever otaku mania takes over HLP.
(BTW I don't intend to invade our beloved column of light with J-cell, I merly try to provide some ground for anime/manga/otaku discussion for Harlighters)
Recomendations by Genryu[/u]:
Gokudou-kun ManyuukiFantasy, Asshole hero, and even more fun than slayers in my opinion. I like how the guy think for making money in the 1rst ep.
Jubei-chanChaotic Fun
Uchuu no StellviaSF-wise, good story, but not really for gun nuts.
Mahou Tsukai Ni Taisetsu Na KotoIf you want a good sentimental series
Comic PartyThe life of an apprentice doujin artist, with his merry band of wacky friend. Nuff' said.
Recomendations by Kamikaze[/u]:
BleachAn *excellent* action anime that still manages to be very emotional at times. Good music too. It's about a high school guy that can see and interact with ghosts. Overall best anime I'm watching now (beats the pants off of competition). You'll probably like this if you like anime like Naruto.
School RumbleHilarious comedy high school romance anime. It's about two weird high school students who try to get the attention of their crushes in ... funny ways. A good anime for a laugh, don't watch it for seriousness.
Macross ZeroA 5-part DVD only series, a prequel to Macross. Best sci fi animation in an anime I've ever seen. The action scenes aren't just graphically impressive, the mechs (veritech fighters/variable fighters actually) perform some really cool tactical stunts. Watch this even if you hate anime (skip to the action scenes).
Fruits BasketIt was very popular in Japan, but I don't think many have watched it elsewhere. It's a shoujo story about a family with the curse of the 12 zodiac animals. It's extremely funny for most of the time, but gets very gloomy and serious for certain parts.
Recomendations by Shrike[/u]
Maico 2010(Available at Boxtorrents, don't know if it made it out of Japan)
Basically it's about a radio show that's doing poorly so they bring in an experimental android announcer for novelty value. It's humor but manages to avoid most of the physical/school humor that's so prevalent in anime. Each ep is half-length as well.
RahXephonIf you liked Evangelion, get ahold of Rahxephon and watch it. It has a distinct lack of angsty 14 year olds.
Recomendations by SadisticSid[/u]:
Hunter X HunterIt was never really a mainstream series, but it was what spawned Naruto (whose early episodes are very much a clone of HXH). Although recently in the manga it's gone tremendously downhill, the first arcs up to the new chimera ant one were really well animated, had a cast of superb characters and a good measure of fighting and violence. It's a shame the story surrounding the Genei Ryodan (a band of top-level criminals) has taken a back seat to this lame DBZ Cell-clone crap.
Recomendations by Gortef[/u]:
Great Detectives Poirot and MarpleSure it seems like a kids serie more or less, but time to times the crimes in it are indeed quite well thought and what I like in it is that Poirot has the personality Poirot should have ^^
2+2 ShinobudenWhat can I say.... propably one of the best Ninja parodies there is (filled with dark and two minded humour). Or at least one of the weirdest.... A tad too short though... again.
Midori no HibiThe basic idea can't really get more odd but amazingly it works like a dream. Seiji is a high school delinguent, and propably that's why all the girls are afraid of him allthough he only fights to protect his friends. So basicly, no girlfriends for him. Untill one day -when he is again mumbling how his right hand will be his only "girlfriend" he'll ever have- his right hand actually changes into a girl. This girl is Midori who has had a crush on Seiji for a while but has been too shy to tell about it. So begins their odd life together and when Midori is having fun being Seijis right hand, her real body stays in a coma. Hilarious and romantic series, a must watch. Allthough the manga is far more better.
Recomendations by 01010[/u]
Excel SagaI'm not much into Anime, however Excel Saga (not sure what the Japanese title is, though it is the Japanese subs I've been watching) is fantastic. I haven't laughed so much for ages.
Recomendations by Getter Robo G[/u]
Cosmo Warrior Zero In this new epic Warrius Zero is commisioned by the Earth government to finally track down and capture Captain Harlock. However numerous plot twists ensue...
Recomendations by Flaser[/u]:
PlanetESWho said being an astronaut will always be cool? The people at half-section/debris section don't think so - though space garbage is a serious business, most people don't give a damn...
A good novel anime about the reality of spacefaring-with the advent of Spaceships 1 maiden voyage its whole environment seems eerly accurate.
Elfen LiedViolence and nudity lovers unite! The new queen is here. A diclonus breaks out of containment/research facitlity in a murderous rampage, but ends up amnesiac in the care of people who share a lot more with her troubled life than what's immdediately apparent.
If you're among the first two groups or like serious drama with a hint of romance (...and can stomach extreme violence) this is for you.
The Irresponsibe Captain TaylorThe one way to make fun of all Trekkies, SW-bigots and light/pulp sci-fi maniacs while laughing your ass off with them.
Justy Ueki Taylor certainly doesn't qualify as first grade soldier material but he is certain that the life in the navy is the next best thing next to lordship, since food, accomodation are all covered for and the chicks have the hots for uniform.
As fate and his absolute, freaking luck has it, Taylor ends up saving the revered Hannah ex-madmiral, and in turn is promoted Captain of the destroyer Soyokaze....the trashcan of the navy.
With the most uncaring and incompentent captain at the helm of the most extravagant ship with a crew of outcast misfits, a bossy by the book first lietuanant and an even more by the book idealistic second in command disaster is sure to befall....the entire galaxy! For this company just never fails to pull through-though not thanks to bravery or compatance- but more sheer dumb luck to the bewilderment of both the warring Ralgon empire, and the annoyed brass at HQ.
A definite must see for all space opera funs.
ScryedThough it the story is somewhat cliche about the appearance of superhuman powers in part of the population, the series actually manges to pull it off right.
For these powers are indeed over the top, however the characters still act in a sensible manner - well sensible for someone with their character.
Instead the non-stop laser-gun background shooting/vs. smashing the other into the wall action orgy of all older Marvel titles, we are given small scale engagemnts between individuals who simply do their best in old western/smaurai style duels with the flair of their own added to the mix.
What sets the show even further apart, just like any anime is characterisation: you have the protagonist overcoming greater and greater opponents, but the show hadn't gone the cheap way.
It isn't Dragonball where everything is resolved with training and acting mucho - you often come to like people on the other side of the conflict, and the battles aren't just mere spectacles to assertain the superiority of the protagonist.
It is the drama and the realisation of the deeper truth behind his life the alleviate the protagonist, and enarmor him to face the odds.
...oh and if WAFF makes you cry prepare a good deal of hankies, for tragedy is abound in this story, though it is light overall.
Area 88A modernized and relaistic version of the Count of Monte Christo.
Shin Kazama, the new rising star among the Yamato airline's pilots has it all: the thrust of the president, an engament with his daughter, and reputation of being a top-notch pilot.
All falls apart, when his 'friend' makes him piss drunk as has him sign some papers - apparently enlistment into the (fictional) Aslaan military as a pilot.
He is forcibly transfered to Area88 where few pilots end up of their own volition.
There are 3 ways out of the area: get 1.5 million dollars the fortfeit cost of your duty, serve 3 years or end up in a bodybag.
The last option is the most likely one since Aslaan is at civil war right now, and casulties are high.
There are two version of the show:
A 3 OVA made in the 80' with a politically not so correct, but very engaging and deep cutting story dealing with Shin's realization that if he is to survive he has to become a killer, but doing so he may never be able to live a normal life again, and the creaters didn't take the cheap way ouyt.
There is a recent, 13 episode TV remake, that inserts another character - a photoreporter - into the story who is hell bent on taking a "special" picture of Shin.
The serias can be viewed as series of one-shots from the original story and is pretty much left without a conclusion.
Both shows do the rare fare of portraying accurate (for a anime or film in general) aircombat in the '70-'80 with well animated planes and some real aerial tactics.
GasarakiEver thought that mecha were too catony or didn't like how Gundams seemed about pretty boys lately?
Tired of the super-shiny magic of Veritechs?
Gasakari is for you.
From the creators of Armored Troopers Votoms, that brought the hard, utilitarian design we love about Terran designs to mecha, which later inspired stuff like Heavy Gear and Battletech this show brings the aged and loved design back with a better look but retains the gritty and stuttering hard nature of the original.
Yushiro Gowa, the youngest son of the Gowa family is forced to take on several grueling responsibilities on his shoulder.
He is the shrine dancer, taught from an ealy age to perform the dance of Gasara - a task that leaves him in a painful trance.
Meanwhile he was also the prime test pilot for Gowa industry's latest weapon's development: The TA - Tactical Armor, bipedal weapons system.
When the TA is transfered to the JSSDF for testing, Yushiro is forced to go along. However on both his maiden dance at the shrine as well as the initial deployment of the TA a mysterious woman appears in his trance and later on the battlefield piloting another TA.
However he feels as if he had known her, like there was a time...
The TAs themselves are fishy - they are desingned with a simulated nervous system that adepts to the pilot over time - however so far only Yushiro has managed to push them on - but the rest of his squad's TAs followed in tandem...
Infinite RyviusEver wondered what the "Lord of the Flies" would be with mature characters, girls for a change and a truly desperate situation where survival isn't taken for granted?
This show is for you. Though the somewhate cheezy combat, the unusual (and IMHO unimpressive) music, this show has some deep hit to it, that will capticate the sensitive ones on the spot.
In the 22rd century, a huge Solarstrom blew over the Solarsystem creating the Geduld a sea of crushing plasma that eradicated anything in the planet's plane - with the exception of planets protected by strong enough Van Allen belts. Still humanity still reached for the stars.
Now in the 23rd century a group of various spacejob trainies are aboard a training station about to submerse into the Geduld to rid it of the overaged lower section. Then due sabotage all hell breaks loose. Through various events - after the sacrifice and death of all the adults - the roughly 400 teens end up stranded on the space Cruiser Ryvius that was hidden inside the station. From then on the real story begins, about the true nature of man and possibilities of society.
For those who want an indepth analyse or don't mind spoilers I recommend the following essay:
http://www.shaylart.com/essay.htmPS:
Taken from Darkscribes, Mastermind's sig for laugh factor:
