Anime Recommendations (Another one!)

[Lem0nade Inlay]

Hey guys, sorry for another anime thread, but I need some good recommendations!

Alright so the only anime things I have ever seen are: Spirited Away, Howls Moving Castle, Porco Rosso, About 1/3 of all the Bleach episodes out so far and I'm currently watching Avatar: The Last Airbender (if that really counts). I know, I know, I'm an anime noob.

So I'm looking for a new series and/or films to watch. I'm looking for something that involves Action, Drama and Romance. I know that's pretty generic so I'll narrow it down.

+ I don't want something that I'll have to spend half of my life watching, so a series that has FINISHED and that has, at the most, like 150 episodes. I don't want something like Bleach which is massive, repetitive and keeps going on and on.

+ While I would like action/thriller (whatever it's called) I would also like a fair bit of romance and/or drama between characters etc. I don't want to be watching some pure action, boring thing. So if it's 50/50 action romance, that is good.

+ When I say action I don't mean that it has to be huge swords, or massive guns or anything. I just mean that it is thrilling and that it has...well...to put it bluntly, cool scenes.

So yeah. Also I should mention that I'm currently going through that Cyberpunk, Neon Lights, Bladerunner phase, (I recently went to Hong Kong). So anything that's in a sort of futuristic, or Neo-Tokyo-ish type thing is great!

Thank you!

 

[Sacman]

1. Serial Experiments Lain, It's The Second coming of Jesus, I even did a review!!! [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.214642-Sacmans-Sac-tastic-Anime-Review-Serial-Experiments-Lain]

2. Ergo Proxy, A lot of people say Ergo Proxy is an anime you have to think about but on reflection it feels more like a parody or satire of over pretentious anime like Eva. The last episode is even titled "Deus Ex Machina."

3. Elfen Lied, What this show does is hard to explain. It's gory and bloody and filled with tasteless nudity but I loved it. Elfen Lied just got me so attachedto the characters that come the end I cried...

4. Welcome To The NHK. It's hard to explain... I mean it's really the only slice of life I've ever loved this much but I'm just not exactly sure why. It could be the pitch black humor, the realistic characters, the social satire, or even the brilliant writing. Honestly, however, I think it's more the fact that Sato's, The main character's, situation hit's very close to home for me...

5. FLCL. I hate to sound like everyone else but FLCL is 6 episodes of awesome craziness!!!

6. Blue Sub No. 6. I used to watch this as a kid on Toonami and I really didn't get it but going back to watch all 4 episodes now I can safely say it's one of the most polished OVA series I've ever see, with an amazing soundtrack, great action, great animation, a standout art style, and one of the most coherent messages about human nature I've seen in anime.

7.Gundam The 08TH MS Team. It really stands out for me because it's one of the few Gundam series that give a general sense of fear because the action is unpredictable and the characters really endear themselves to the audiance...

8. Paranoia Agent. It's a truly great murder mystery that keeps you guessing at every turn but look past that and you'll find a very intriguing deconstruction of the human mind...

9.Gungrave. Possibly one of the most underrated shows I've seen. Gungrave is a truly great story about friendship, love and betrayal without ever falling into cheesiness the great animation, spectacular fight scenes and well thought out character development doesn't hurt either.

10.Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni. Despite having no real plot, since I consider Kai and Rei to be non canon, Higurashi is one of the most atmospheric and frightening shows I've ever seen. It constantly keeps you guessing and always gives a feeling of paranoia and dread...

 

[xavierxenon]

Just use the search bar, everyone says the same things all the time anyway.

Here, I even did it for you. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/global/search/?q=anime+recommendation&cx=005672590579257297818%3Amkmrjhvsnwa&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&sa.x=0&sa.y=0&sa=Search#1276]

 

[rabidmidget]

I think you just described Cowboy Bebop

...seriously though, watch it, there will be at least another 3 recommendations for it on this page alone.

 

[Lem0nade Inlay]

Just use the search bar, everyone says the same things all the time anyway.

Here, I even did it for you. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/global/search/?q=anime+recommendation&cx=005672590579257297818%3Amkmrjhvsnwa&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&sa.x=0&sa.y=0&sa=Search#1276]

Oh, thanks for that. Now I feel like an idiot ><

 

[Lem0nade Inlay]

I think you just described Cowboy Bebop

...seriously though, watch it, there will be at least another 3 recommendations for it on this page alone.

Yeah I've heard about that, I'll check it out, from what I'm reading on wikipedia it seems like the kind of thing I'm looking for, thanks!

-snip

Thanks! I'll check them all out. I've heard about Elfen Lied before, I think I'll check that out last, I'm afraid it might make me depressed

 

[silverhawk100]

Tekonkinkreet. Everyone needs to watch it. It doesn't matter if it doesn't fit your criterion, watch it.

 

[Sacman]

I think you just described Cowboy Bebop

...seriously though, watch it, there will be at least another 3 recommendations for it on this page alone.

Yeah I've heard about that, I'll check it out, from what I'm reading on wikipedia it seems like the kind of thing I'm looking for, thanks!

-snip

Thanks! I'll check them all out. I've heard about Elfen Lied before, I think I'll check that out last, I'm afraid it might make me depressed

Serial Experiments Lain is hardcore cyberpunk so if you like cyberpunk check that one out...

But looking at your description I think yo would Like Gungrave and Gundam The 08TH MS Team...
both are very good action anime with well done drama and romance... But Gungrave gets mehish towards the end and Gundam doesn't have enough time to give the romance sub plot the attention it deserves, it's only 13 episodes long...<.<

 

[kabbagekat]

I'm definitely seconding the Ergo Proxy rec. It isn't my favorite, but it definitely sounds like something you'd like.
It's also one of the better English dubs I've heard.

And if you ever decide to watch something calmer, I cannot suggest Mushi-shi enough. It's amazing (but maybe not exciting enough for you).

 

[kennypowers]

All of the films directed by Satoshi Kon.

Paprika. Psychological thriller that really tries to mess with your sense of time/reality. The premise of the film is awesome as it centers around a device used by a psychologist to enter patients dreams. Lots of "cool" scenes. Hard to figure out whats going on at times but not in a bad way. Interesting and unexpected romance.

Perfect Blue. Intense thriller. I won't give away any particular scenes but I can say they get the blood pumping. Again it is a film that will mess with your sense of time/reality. Interesting twists that make plot incredibly difficult to predict. Ha, this one has a super weird romance, if you can even call it that.

Millennium Actress. Great drama. The whole film is based on a love story. Action packed. This one is based on a famous actress who is being interviewed about her career, and as she answers these questions re-lives her past.

Tokyo Godfathers. Goofy, yet gets surprisingly dramatic the second half of the film. It is based around a group of homeless people (A transexual, some man, and teenage runaway) who find a baby in the trash and try to figure out what to do with it.

Princess Mononoke. A beautiful movie. I will just leave it at that.

Akira. Apocolyptic thriller. Action packed. Intense.

Ooooh almost forgot.

My favorite series which is only 26 episodes long SAMURAI CHAMPLOO. umm so much to say. How about its got great fight scenes that are incredibly well animated and not overly gory, unique episodes that retain ones interest, and great commentary on the Edo period in feudal Japan.

 

[Sharakal]

Hey try Akira

 

[Mr. Cheese]

Baccano is the best anime regardless.