there are only three excellent anime series that have been made within the last ten years, and only one of them was even remotely successful: Cromartie highschool is the single most hilarious thing ever made by man, Mahoromatic Is an artfully done, wonderfully wrought tale that is equal parts sacharine sweetness, crushing heartbreak, and pulse pounding action, and Paranoia agent is the biggest mindfuck since Neon genesis. All other new animes are simply good, at best.

I thought Higurashi was alright. It had potential in being a good suspense thriller in a Japanese "Hot Fuzz" kind of way, but the structure of the episodes turned me off a bit.
I really, really liked these though.

Barciad:

15 films and 30 series (brief approximations) later I have come to the point where I feel pretty much sated. All the new series, for all their technical magnificence simply do not cut it any more. Not to sound old fashioned or anything, but there is a significant lack in originality in the 'brand new ideas' department.

Sounds like someone missed The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya then...

Apparently I'm the only person here who HAS picked up on the incest running through NG:E. Don't believe me? Have a GOOD think about Rei and how she matches with Shinji.

Now for all those who hate incest yet love NG:E, such as good old PurpleRain, you are all hypocrites :P

PurpleRain:
The story basically went something like this:
In Japan, schools fight other schools for no reason. To fight you have to wear special earrings. One day a hot sassy chick bunks up with her cousin (cue awkward yet steamy incest relationship) and goes to school to fight. She obviously sucks because she gets beaten up as many times as the sun as set. But nobody worry, she's the one and will unlock super 'the one' powers by the end of the series to kill the big baddy! I think the reasoning behind this madness is because every time she gets beaten in a fight, ALL HER CLOTHES GET TORN OFF!! All down to her bra and panties at least. Aww, put it back in fellas. Why, oh why, do the Japanese insist on crapping on their only descent marketing aside from Whale meat?! Each shot of a girl was low enough to be titled 'up-skirt-cam' and the entire story was full of sexual tension. I'm pretty sure the protagonistis mother wanted in on her son as much as his cousin. This was like some weird hentia, except pass the sex and nudity for partial nudity and fighting... leading to partial nudity.

That sounds like either Tenjou Tenge or Real Bout Highschool, I can't remember which.

Anime is one of those media that you really have to pick and choose. Yeah, I like a pretty sizable amount of it, but I can't stand some things about it- why are the heroes of many fifteen year old girly boys, for one. It's hard to find a good anime that isn't overhyped and overrated.

And the fanbase itself doesn't help matters- truckloads of Narutards and DBZ fans that think those shows are the best in anime seriously are the makings of a headache for me... especially when you ask them if they've ever seen something classic like My Neighbor Totoro or Metropolis and they stare blankly at you.

sma_warrior:
Apparently I'm the only person here who HAS picked up on the incest running through NG:E. Don't believe me? Have a GOOD think about Rei and how she matches with Shinji.

Just one more symptom of just how much Shinji Ikari fails at life. I mean Jun Sakurada is more manly, and he plays with dolls.

I firmly believe that Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is Gainax' official apology for Neon Genesis Evangelion, and the wangst and misery it inflicted on the giant robot genre for the next ten bloody years.

sma_warrior:
Apparently I'm the only person here who HAS picked up on the incest running through NG:E. Don't believe me? Have a GOOD think about Rei and how she matches with Shinji.

Now for all those who hate incest yet love NG:E, such as good old PurpleRain, you are all hypocrites :P

Honestly, being an anime fan for years, I'll admit that I find a fair bit of the stuff out there to be crap. There have only been a handful of shows in recent years that have made me sit up and go, "God damnit, why didn't I watch this sooner?"

The issue is pretty much the pandering to either children or boys who just want shows that are purely action. I'll admit that I'm a fan of the first few seasons of Bleach, which is one of the big offenders, but for me, I feel that the series just loses it's magic after the Soul Society arc ends.

Now, a few shows that have blown my mind that are definitely worth watching:

RahXephon: Mix equal parts beautiful animation, mecha use that's not as dominant as in something like NGE or Gundam, very nice soundtracks (I credit the opening, "Hemisphere", as the first ever Japanese song I liked), and characters who are quite well written, and you've got this great show. Unlike Shinji in NGE, who absolutely annoyed the hell out of me most of the time, Ayato is a hero that I think can be more identified with. Yes, the mecha is there, but it's not leaned on like a crutch, and is balanced well with conflicts in the outside world. The plot being music-related works well, and it makes you think without being as mind-raping as NGE. As far as the movie goes, either watch it before the series or not at all, because it totally fucks over some of the characters and does more damage than anything else to the plot.

Mai-Otome: Don't worry about watching My-HiME first, because this one is a totally AU series from it's sibling series. Sure, there's some fan-service (though it's not too terrible, and this is coming from someone who hates the Fan-service trend), lesbian undertones (well, considering the explanation they give as to why the Otome can't be involved with men past a point, it's a given), and a few other oddities in the plot, but otherwise it's a strong series with a good mix of action, quality character interactions and drama, and of course the music. It was one of the first shows in years I sat down and just kept watching. Screw the fact that it's a female-centric show somewhat in the vein of Sailor Moon, it's good for anyone.

Death Note: I'm sure many people have already presented the good points of this one, so I won't bother.

GloatingSwine:

Barciad:

15 films and 30 series (brief approximations) later I have come to the point where I feel pretty much sated. All the new series, for all their technical magnificence simply do not cut it any more. Not to sound old fashioned or anything, but there is a significant lack in originality in the 'brand new ideas' department.

Sounds like someone missed The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya then...

That goes in at number eight on my all time favourites list. Okay, I have not seen a great series since that. Perhaps I am being too demanding. Over the last four years I have spoilt myself rotton on some of the most mindblowing TV ever created. Yet all the best stuff I did see was made between 1999 (which incidentally is the best single year for anime that I know of to date) and 2002. I would have to concede that 2006 was a very good year. Apart from the aforementioned Haruhi Suzumiya, there was also Kenomozume and Black Lagoon doing precisely what anime does best.
Yet in the last two years, all the new series have been tremendous let downs. This horrendous trend of trying to set Anime in Europe has to end now. Personally, I should think a mere mention of Le Chevalier'Deon and Romeo x Juliet should close any further discussion on the topic. They were horrific, simple as that.
There have also been some very nice looking new series out there, Heroic Age and Guardian of the Sacred Scroll for example. Though not bad, they are not that good either, well not in the areas that matter.
Claymore was nothing but mindless fun for 26 episodes, but sadly had the potential to be so much more. Deathnote was just too contrived to feel genuine. Ergo Proxy started off well, but then went downhill after episode 10. I just hope the same does not apply to Denno Coil, so far the best of what I have seen.
What I am looking forward to is series 2 of Haruhi Suzumiya. After that, there will be season three proper (season four if you count Fumoffu) of Full Metal Panic. And if those two don't live up to their star billing, then I think we really should all begin to worry.

From what I hear, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (the light novel that forms the core story of the next anime season), is a pretty good one, so that should certainly be good.

And hell, I'm in seventh fucking heaven these days, because Macross is back, and better than ever.

[quote=] "what the fuck is going here?" "Why are they flying?" "What the shit is with that cat?" "Who made her a god all of a sudden?" "whoah, you guys can teleport? why aren't you robbing banks then?" "You can glow now? Wait, if you can glow, why are you fighting monsters, let some other masochist do that, you could totally become a pro spelunker, or a carny." "Oh, god, why? That's your sister you fucked up mutant!" "No, just no! Get the fuck out of that giant robot. That is totally unnecessary for the task at hand." "You're how old?!" "Just kill him already! screw the rules, you're rich!" "Ok, Light, I know you're a derranged psychopath, cram school could do that to a human, but there's a hot girl throwaing herself at you, and you're not on top of that like a cathedral on catacombs. I don't want to see this actually happen, but seriously, every other guy around you is drooling over this chick and you treat her like she's a pile of ants. God, you deserve the police to lock you up, I don't care if you're a magnificent bastard."
I could go on for pages and pages at a time, but no one wants to hear about my confusion.{/quote]

wooooowwwww epic i laughed so hard at that. thanks nightmare G. for my two cents, i completely empathize wih purps there. its rediculous the anime crap out htere. and also highly fucked up and often times way stupid. for my part i dont watch anime, nearly at all but have to throw my hat up in celbration for The Animatrix, and Howls moving castle, and Spirited away. all other anime can take a running jump imo.

The issue with anime is that it's really varied in quality, but we tend to lump it all together and call it either fantastic, or crap. Don't get me wrong, I'll give any show a chance (maybe one or two episodes), but there are people who will watch any anime through until the end just because it's anime. On the other hand, there are people who take great shows like Full Metal Panic, Negima, Miyazaki's works, ect. in with Dragon Ball, Gundam (whatever), and Full Metal Alchemist, and honestly think the latter is a good measure of the former.

A lot of the time, I blame the fans. I'll admit, when I was in middle school, I loved DBZ, so I say this with respect for anyone who does, but when the most prominent anime we get is stuff like FMA, Naruto, Inuyasha and their ilk, and there are a massive number of fans (many, suprisingly, who aren't in middle school), who gush ad naseum about the shows, and honestly believe that anime is more "original", "artistic", or "cool" than other types of media, it makes the entire industry look bad.

So, can we agree to a few changed in anime:

-No more screaming sky (where the background becomes monochrome and moves behind a stationary character while he screams, if you've seen DBZ, you know what this is)
-Stop classifying everything as "anime", and divide it into the kind of sub-categories we have in most other media. You wouldn't use rap as a barometer for classic rock, would you?
-Stop taking it seriously. I like anime as much as the next person, and I do think that they can be works of art, but stop acting like it's more than a television show. Even Shindler's List never tried to be more than a movie. A poignant one, but a movie nonetheless
-Cease the fight over dubs versus subs, it makes us all look stupid. Admittedly, aside from the most egregious examples, I prefer the dubs. It's a personal choice, stop trying to make it some grand treatise on anything.

Seldon2639:
Don't get me wrong, I'll give any show a chance (maybe one or two episodes), but there are people who will watch any anime through until the end just because it's anime.

Same. I managed to pull myself through 3 episodes of the highschool sexyfighting thing (I think it went something along the lines of: Iccitowsen) before finally breaking. People that watch anime because it's anime are like those street kids that like to pretend they're rappers... only with less dignity.

Seldon2639:
when I was in middle school, I loved DBZ.

That's when I watched it and first got into anime. DBZ was playing in the morings before school. Ahh, good times. Now I can reflect and point my finger at it for ruining me deep deep down.

Seldon2639:
So, can we agree to a few changed in anime:

-No more screaming sky (where the background becomes monochrome and moves behind a stationary character while he screams, if you've seen DBZ, you know what this is)
-Stop classifying everything as "anime", and divide it into the kind of sub-categories we have in most other media. You wouldn't use rap as a barometer for classic rock, would you?
-Stop taking it seriously. I like anime as much as the next person, and I do think that they can be works of art, but stop acting like it's more than a television show. Even Shindler's List never tried to be more than a movie. A poignant one, but a movie nonetheless
-Cease the fight over dubs versus subs, it makes us all look stupid. Admittedly, aside from the most egregious examples, I prefer the dubs. It's a personal choice, stop trying to make it some grand treatise on anything.

All very good points that it's fancrowed will never learn.

The one thing I wished they'd stop doing, personally, is making anime that seems very much like the next with the giant mechas that everyone owns and the giant cannons that blows up planets that you find the stores...but the female characters seem to have boughten self-riding skirts which have a habit of flashing off their goodies every 20seconds.

I don't mind suchs things...but find the right place to do it! I don't need to be in a serious fight scene when some random character runs past the fight scene while flashing everyone!

(Talking about GunBurst.)

-----

The idea to sub-categorize anime would be quite refreshing, especially when I've heard so many people refer to the American attempts at anime as "anime" and it just scares me to think that in a couple years from now the good anime is gonna be one the same shelf as "Barney: Anime Version".

Seldon2639:
-Stop classifying everything as "anime", and divide it into the kind of sub-categories we have in most other media. You wouldn't use rap as a barometer for classic rock, would you?

There are hordes of subcategories in anime, even beyond genre (some of which are unique to anime). The fact that you don't know about them doesn't mean they aren't there. They're generally broken down by target audience, with the most common to recieve translation being Shounen (young boys) and Seinen (older teens and young men), but with a few Shoujo (young girls) shows as well. There are other categories in Japan that aren't frequently translated, aimed at older women and outright older audiences.

However, retail breakdown isn't terribly likely, because other DVDs aren't classified that way. The only thing that might happen at retail is moving the individual shows into existing TV/Movie/Childrens DVD shelving.

PurpleRain:

Same. I managed to pull myself through 3 episodes of the highschool sexyfighting thing (I think it went something along the lines of: Iccitowsen) before finally breaking.

If you had to sit through 3 eps of Ikkitosen then I completely understand your general level of anger and completely understand your rage against your fellow human being. I'll clean the blood off the walls for you when you are finished.

Go watch Black Lagoon. You will feel better, and it will give you some nice ideas as to how to take your revenge.

Actually only about 10% of anime are actually the highschool sexyfighting thing. There are a ton of really good ones with deep moral understandings. On the top of my head, I'd probably say Clannad would be a perfect example. That or Ah! My Godess.

Jhereg42:

PurpleRain:

Same. I managed to pull myself through 3 episodes of the highschool sexyfighting thing (I think it went something along the lines of: Iccitowsen) before finally breaking.

If you had to sit through 3 eps of Ikkitosen then I completely understand your general level of anger and completely understand your rage against your fellow human being. I'll clean the blood off the walls for you when you are finished.

That's the one!

Ok, I'm off now to paint the walls with the brains of those responsible.

"Horton Hears a Who" does the best Western take on Anime I've ever seen. Only a 2-3 minute part in the movie, but really takes the piss out of it, and not in an offensive way. Gauranteed laughs if you find Anime....weird.

PurpleRain:
The gorgeous emotional drama that is Neon Genesis?

Actually a LOT of people all over the world really hate Evangelion, but I do see the point you're trying to make here. Although I myself like many Anime series/movies of old and new such as Eva, Lain, GitS (movies and the series), even Ergo Proxy, I always shudder at the bastard half-breed (mainstream?) Anime such as Naruto that feels like it was essentially manufactured for American seventh graders with learning disabilities.

Kinetic_man:

PurpleRain:
The gorgeous emotional drama that is Neon Genesis?

Actually a LOT of people all over the world really hate Evangelion, but I do see the point you're trying to make here. Although I myself like many Anime series/movies of old and new such as Eva, Lain, GitS (movies and the series), even Ergo Proxy, I always shudder at the bastard half-breed (mainstream?) Anime such as Naruto that feels like it was essentially manufactured for American seventh graders with learning disabilities.

I'm imagining there's a lot of hate over NG:E because everyone expects it to be a giant robot duel thing. Then the ask questions like: Why are the robots bleeding? Why do 14yr olds pilot them? Why does everyone have shields? Why don't they just blow the angels up with big lasers instead of making robots?

I've heard them all.

i liked evangelion, except for the end with that wreid interrogation-like thing.

broadband:
i liked evangelion, except for the end with that wreid interrogation-like thing.

Those two episodes were made as a alternate ending until they made enough money to do the movie, End Of Evangelion. I ignor those last two episodes because they didn't actually happen in the timeline. Just skip them and watch the movie and it will make more senes.

Just wanted to say, in total neutrality, that Anime is a form of art, like any other, be it western cartoons, books, music or films. It's the presumption that it's somehow one giant single celled entity, that usually causes epic failure. A lot of people are like "Well, some of it's the shit, other stuff is plain shit, I can't make up my mind!" Well you're really not supposed to.

Decide if you like one thing, regardless of it's genre, and you'll have a far richer, high quality life, than trying to categorise large swathes of media in your likes and dislikes mental files.

I agree for the most part, but it mostly depends on what anime you're watching. almost every anime has the same plot involving some schoolgirl that fights evil. I don't like anime like that, but some are wonderfully different and just the opposite of what it sounds like you are against. Try watching the best anime ever, Fooly Cooly (only 6 episodes), and I think you'll agree with me.

To all the blind ignorant hater's out there, that like to judge before they experience an aspect off the wide variety off entertainment this world has to offer. to those people I would like to say suck my anime loving balls. And in return for this gesture off my supremacy. To you I give my recommendation guide to the best anime available on the net. That I've been able to find so far.

Claymore
Berserk
Blood plus

and the last two which aren't so good., fate stay night and elfen laid

And on a final note! you cant just peg a whole genre ass shit just because you've seen for example(east enders) And Just because eastendes is shitt, doesn't mean all soap's are wank. You live and learn aayyeee!!.....

ps its a shame this world has to be filled with closed minded idiotic dimwits, but its just one off the facts off life that I've had to come to terms with. I just wish it was solely entertainment that makes people hate so passionately

ps expand your little worlds then you're mind's!!!

@ first post, I assume you're talking about Tenjou Tenge?

Nah, he was talking about the horror that is Ikkitosen.

From my personal experience the only mature, intelligent, no fanservice, no combat anime i can honestly watch without being embarrassed everytime somebody enters the room are:

- death note
- monster
- detective kindaishi

i even got my ultra old-fashioned uncle to watch monster and he was impressed that there exists an anime that isnt meant to please 13yr old nerds with panty shots or superpower fantasies

Damn Dirty Ape:
@ first post, I assume you're talking about Tenjou Tenge?

Humm, Tenjou Tenge is one of the more...fanservicey anime around. Still, I found the fight scenes quite enjoyable, though the series didn't really go anywhere and stopped after 20 or so episodes.

As for anime in general. I agree with those saying not to generalise it into one lumped group, i.e. Anime:Not Anime. It has it's genres as any other form of entertainment media.
Personally, I watched anime as a child as any other cartoon or tv show, I never really made it a separate distinction in my mind as anything other than 'this is here to entertain me'.
And it's only in later years that I became aware of the distinction, which was the small one: Anime comes from Japan.

And had cause to seek it out, and at first, being unsure of it I decided to purchase whatever look good to me. This was Fullmetal Alchemist. Hey, action, adventure, some comedy, this is cool ^^ Then, some more comedy? Not a genre I normally go for, so I pick up Azumanga Daioh, weird schoolgirl surreal funny show. Hey, I loved it :D

Now, Tejou Tenge, this was my first purchase outside my...safety area I guess, I was still unsure a teeny bit about anime, and this seemed to have all the hallmarks of what I'd read anime to be, violence, big boobs, panty shots etc. And, indeed it did, and then some. However, although I was initially a little put off, I found a pretty decent show in there, not the best, but not the overzealous porn yet not porn fest I was...well not expecting else I would not have bought it, but rather not what I had thought it to be I guess.

Damn, I think I had a point there somewhere *shrug* I'll find it later I guess.

Kill anime with swords...