Anime Education

[Harry Mason]

Hey Escapists.

I've been trying to broaden my cultural horizons lately. Recently my girlfriend pointed out that all ever want to do is watch horror movies, play horror games, run horror RPs, read horror novels, make horror smoothies, etc.

So my first step in trying to branch out is Anime. There are droves of people obsessed with the stuff, so there must be something really special to it. I've seen all the obligatory stuff (Studio Ghibli movies, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell) but I've yet to find anything that I can really sink my teeth into. Any amount of advice would be appreciated, even if it's just giving a fan-job to stuff you personally love.

As a note, I'd like a nice episodic adventure. No movies for the moment.

My second step in broadening my cultural horizons is Bollywood... So any good Bollywood to recommend?

Tanks fer th' 'elp!

 

[Azure Sky]

Lets see... *Rubs hands together*
Seeing as you like horror, lets start with that. =3
While there isn't all that much (convincing) horror anime, there is one that sticks out.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (Higurashi When They Cry)

As for the not so scary, but still quite dark.
Hellsing, Highschool of the Dead, Chrono Crusade.

These deviate more, but still might interest you.
Blood - The Last Vampire (Movie), Darker Than Black, Death Note, Elfen Lied, Ergo Proxy, Trinity Blood, Vampire Knight, X.

As for a shameless fan-job.
Neon Genesis Evangelion =3

Hope this helps =3

 

[ZtH]

Well I was hoping to put a good list here but it seems I was beaten to it. Azure's list is very good though I would highlight Elfen Lied in addition to Higurashi.

Outside of darker horror titles I would recommend things along the lines of Gurren Lagann, Baccano, and Eden of the East, as they're all good titles even if they may not be precisely in line with your interests.

 

[Harry Mason]

Lets see... *Rubs hands together*
Seeing as you like horror, lets start with that. =3
While there isn't all that much (convincing) horror anime, there is one that sticks out.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (Higurashi When They Cry)

As for the not so scary, but still quite dark.
Hellsing, Highschool of the Dead, Chrono Crusade.

These deviate more, but still might interest you.
Blood - The Last Vampire (Movie), Darker Than Black, Death Note, Elfen Lied, Ergo Proxy, Trinity Blood, Vampire Knight, X.

As for a shameless fan-job.
Neon Genesis Evangelion =3

Hope this helps =3

I actually have seen Ergo Proxy, and I love it, so you hit the nail on the head.

"Higurashi no Naku Koro ni" looks really interesting. I'll give it a try! Thanks for the advice.

And Neon Genesis Evangelion looks like like an acid fever dream. I'll try a couple of episodes just on that principal...

Anime isn't really as inaccessible as people tend to claim. The only thing I struggle with as an Anime noob are the HUGE drops of sweat that appear on random places on character's heads. I know they are supposed to provide visual symbolism for being nervous, embarrassed, etc., but every time it happens I'm like "Dum de dum de... WHAT THE SHIT! A GIANT DROP OF WATER IS ATTACKING YOUR FACE! RUN! IT'S GOING TO EAT YOUR SOUL!"

Spontaneous nose bleeds and sudden chibi-fication don't phase me at all, but the giant sweat drops... They haunt my dreams...

 

[Azure Sky]

Hehe.

Words of warning.
If you watch Evangelion through, it will either make more sense as it goes on, or less as it goes on.
Higurashi starts out innocent as can be but is -really- messed up for an anime. =3

Also, for something on the total other end of the scale.
Otome wa boku ni koishiteru
Kashimashi
Very strange, but otherwise enjoyable. Oto-boku in particular. =3

 

[ddrfr33k]

Otoboku is awesome. You're gonna love Higurashi and High School of the Dead I'll also add:

Kannazuki no Miko: Two Solar Priestesses caught in a spiritual war with decendants of occultists who pilot giant robots summoned out of dirt. Love triangle with one priestess, she can't choose between a classmate or the other priestess. Not as trashy as you might think, and the ending is really bittersweet.

Gunslinger Girl: The Italian government takes terminally ill children, turns them into cyborgs, and uses them as assassins for the government. Episodes show the girls going on missions kicking more ass than Hit Girl, then coming home and playing the violin or enjoying tea together. The polar extremes tug at the heartstrings, and it's a must see all around.

You might also want to look into Manga. As for good places to start, try Osamu Tezuka's "Metropolis." It's by and large credited as the first manga ever made, and it's a fascinating little Cold War commentary in the process.

Also, Zamiel, I know this next part is a bit off topic, but I think you'll get a kick out of it. I was talking with Kyle Hebert on Sunday (voice of Kamina). Apparently the Gurren Lagann dub was a rush job. Had he not told me, I never would have known. Thought you might like to know that little tidbit of info.

 

[BonsaiK]

Hey Escapists.

I've been trying to broaden my cultural horizons lately. Recently my girlfriend pointed out that all ever want to do is watch horror movies, play horror games, run horror RPs, read horror novels, make horror smoothies, etc.

So my first step in trying to branch out is Anime. There are droves of people obsessed with the stuff, so there must be something really special to it. I've seen all the obligatory stuff (Studio Ghibli movies, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell) but I've yet to find anything that I can really sink my teeth into. Any amount of advice would be appreciated, even if it's just giving a fan-job to stuff you personally love.

As a note, I'd like a nice episodic adventure. No movies for the moment.

My second step in broadening my cultural horizons is Bollywood... So any good Bollywood to recommend?

Tanks fer th' 'elp!

Predictably, everyone's talking about Anime and completely ignoring your Bollywood question. Since both Anime and Bollywood are in fact directly and heavily influenced by western culture, it's probably not very accurate to say that you're "broadening your cultural horizons" by experiencing this stuff, however that doesn't mean that such things aren't worth taking a look at anyway just on their own merit.

Although I do like a few Anime feature length films, I've never seen an Anime series that I've actually enjoyed. That has probably got a lot to do with the different narrative and economic factors that come into play when a series is created as opposed to a one-off film. With the exception of Twin Peaks I don't like any western TV series either and it's basically for the same reasons. So I'll let others recommend that stuff.

As for Bollywood, this list is a good starting point:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/bollywood/fiftyfilms/index.shtml

Ignore the IMDB lists, they're crap. Use that one instead and research from there.

 

[The Cake Is Annoying]

Hey Escapists.

I've been trying to broaden my cultural horizons lately. Recently my girlfriend pointed out that all ever want to do is watch horror movies, play horror games, run horror RPs, read horror novels, make horror smoothies, etc.

So my first step in trying to branch out is Anime. There are droves of people obsessed with the stuff, so there must be something really special to it. I've seen all the obligatory stuff (Studio Ghibli movies, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell) but I've yet to find anything that I can really sink my teeth into. Any amount of advice would be appreciated, even if it's just giving a fan-job to stuff you personally love.

As a note, I'd like a nice episodic adventure. No movies for the moment.

My second step in broadening my cultural horizons is Bollywood... So any good Bollywood to recommend?

Tanks fer th' 'elp!

Maybe you could ask your girlfriend for advice? Something you could both do together? Its more likely to help you get out of your comfort zone and may also benefit your relationship too.