Recommend some anime

[Cogwulf]

for someone who has seen very little of it but has been meaning to get into it for a few years.

[Ilmlas]

If you're pretty new to it... Deathnote. If you've already seen that, I'll have to come back with more answers since I like so many.

[saffyangelis]

*seconds Death Note and adds Elfen Lied to the list*

[UppyDownyMouth]

rahxephon

[Adaire]

If you like anime, then I recommend you start reading manga as well (essentialy the graphic novel form for anime). Here is a good site to start you off for manga and anime. Good manga/anime titles off the top of my head are Full Metal Alchemist, Trigun, Berserk (so I've heard), Angel Sanctuary (manga only), Code Geass (anime only), Soul Eater, Count Cain (manga only), Black Lagoon, Elfen Lied, Gankutsuou (gorgeous art), Darker than Black (not as emo as it sounds ), Hellsing and as ilmlas said Death Note.

You also have the huge titles like Naruto, Bleach, and Inuyasha (and One Piece but I've never watched or read that). They make decent manga, but I always found the anime counterparts painfully slow and immature.

[Kuu]

(damnit I lost my post, stupid flaky connection )

I support Full Metal Alchemist (IMO, this would be the ideal starter), Code Geass, Death Note, Elfen Lied. Other great ones are Cowboy Bebop, Serial Experiments Lain, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and the most infamous Evangelion.

Enjoy

[Anthile]

First, what genres are you generally interested in?

Second, one must admire the Japanese for creating the most interesting stories out of even the weirdest and ludicrous premises. "Better than it sounds" is something like an unspoken rule. And yes, I'm looking at you Onani Master Kurosawa and Bobobobo Bobobo!

However, anime is such a broad field that even I who has seen over a hundred series has only scratched the surface.


Animes are for the most part categorized into four vague groups which are named after the main demographies:

Shounen
Directed at male teenagers.
Assigned genres:

Sports Anime: Mostly the story of a young teenager who wants to become the greatest $sport player of all time. Expect over-the-top duels, lots of never-give-up speeches and a farewell to physics. Can be dangerous for dinosaurs.:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj-nfYMcJpk]

Notable examples:
Prince of Tennis (Tennis)
Captain Tsubasa (Soccer)
Slam Dunk (Basketball)
Eyeshield 21 (American Football)
One Outs (Baseball)
Hikaru no Go (Go - it's really better than it sounds)
Beyblade (top spins - it's really worse than it sounds. Being a complete masochist, I watched all seasons)

Fighting anime: Mostly the story of a young teenager who wants to become the greatest $noun of all time. Expect over-the-top duels, lots of never-give-up speeches and a farewell to physics and common sense. However, while there can be supernatural elements in sports anime as well, they are much more prevalent in fighting anime or it even takes place in a fantasy world.

Notable examples:
Fist of the North Star (the primal father and trope maker)
Dragonball (came after FotNS but was overall more influential and the animation was groundbreaking for its time. However, it's really lengthy with lots of fillers. Still insanely popular)
Yu Yu Hakusho (often called a Dragonball-ripoff but they actually aired at the same time and personally I think it's the superior anime... better characters, better villains and much cleverer; famous for utilizing the concept of hoe yay to attract more female viewers)
Pokemon (yuck! And it's still running!)
Digimon (like Pokemon but with making sense)
Shaman King (followed mostly the rules that Dragonball established... WITH SHAMANISM! Fukyo worships it for some reason >.>)
Fullmetal Alchemist (I love this show simply because it doesn't follow the established rules, a must-see. There are actually two animes, one that is finished and one is currently running but they are both two different continuities. Awesomely enough, they both are great)
Katekyo Hitman Reborn (like Dragonball... WITH MAFIA!)
Soul Eater (like Dragonball... WITH GRIM REAPERS!)
Naruto (like Dragonball... WITH NINJAS! Wait, that's actually a bit unfair. Naruto is except for some flaws (Sasuke....) a really good manga/anime but has quite a bad reputation because of its fans (called 'Narutards'). However, it's clearly influenced by Dragonball and Yu Yu Hakusho but has enough creativity and original ideas. Most popular anime in the USA)
One Piece (like Dragonball... WITH PIRATES! No, wait! Again, One Piece is the logical conclusion of Dragonball but makes everything better. To put it simply, I love this show. It's completely insane and full with originality that would be enough for a full dozen of anime. It's the best fighting shounen you can watch. Tv tropes says it's the show with the highest Holy Shit Quotient in existence, I say they are right)
Bleach (like Yu Yu Hakusho... WITH... uhm... actually it's just Yu Yu Hakusho with extra. I don't really like it but there are enough people who do)
Hunter X Hunter (from the same creator who did Yu Yu Hakusho. Most likely the most intelligent shounen fighting anime/mang in existence)
Fairy Tail (like Dragonball... WITH MAGIC! Well, this one just began to air in Japan and it seems to become the next big thing)
Rurouni Kenshin (set in a historical setting, it differs a lot from traditional shounen. Features the most sympathetic shounen protagonist ever. One of my all-time favourites!
Fate/Stay Night (uhm, heroes from all time gather to fight for the holy grail)
Record of Lodoss War (another genre classic. This anime is based on an actual Dungeons & Dungeons campaign)


Crime anime: Think of detective novels in the tradition of Arthur Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie mixed with modern thriller elements for good measure.

Death Note (contrary to popular opinion, it's not seinen but shounen. Well, it is certainly one of the best anime of the last years and very popular amongst N-types because of its intelliegnt and complex story. Unfortunately, ending fatigue approaches!)
Case Closed (long runner, a junior detective finds himself shrunken to the size of a elementary school kid and uncovers all kinds of crimes. I like it.
Kindaichi Case Files (complex with classic whoddunit and locked room murders. For some reason it's rather obscure)
Lupin III (features the deeds of a lovable master thief)

There is even an anime with the name Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple, however I didn't watch it so far but it seems interesting.


Mecha: The reason why we love anime. Giant robots fight each other while the pilots debate about philosophical questions. Throw physics out of the window!

Gundam (what's to say about Gundam? It launched the whole genre and to this point there are so many series, OVAs and movies that it takes weeks just to watch them all. You better check out the wikipedia entry)
Super Dimension Fortress Macross (almost as influential as Gundam. Also, lots of series and spin-offs!)
Getter Robo (another genre classic)
Neon Genesis Evangelion (the ultimate deconstruction of the otherwise optimistic and shiny mecha genre. Invented mind rape! Every character is completely broken and the whole series is extremely depressing. A must see. Famous for its legendary mindscrew ending)
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (the anti-NGE from the same studio. It's hard to describe it with mere words but 'It's actually more like an experiment to see how awesome an anime can be'. I love it. For great effect, watch this anime directly after NGE, the best therapy one can get)
Code Geass (the Death Note of the mecha genre. A modern classic)

Girls with guns: Exactly what it says. If that's not awesome, nothing is. Expect lots of angst.

Noir
Madlax
El Cazador De La Bruja
Phantom of Inferno (all four by Beetrain. They sure have a fetish there)
Canaan
Gunsmith Cats


Shoujo
Directed at female teenagers.
Assigned genres:

Magical Girl: Girls with superpowers fight evil.

Sailor Moon (THE genre classic. It's what Dragonball is for fighting shounen.
Magic Knight Rayearth (mixes magical girl genre with mecha. Awesome)
Revolutionary Girl Utena (what NGE is for mecha. Magical girl meets feminism, gnosticism and Jungian psychology. Awesome soundtrack)
Card Captor Sakura (yet another genre classic by CLAMP)
Futari Wa Pretty Cure (magical girl meets post-modernism. Lovely)
Mai-Hi ME (magical girl meets even more post-modernism)
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha (magical girl series targeted at seinen audience. Hilarity ensues)

Slice of Life: Life itself is examined. Insanely popular in anime and tons of series are about this genre that is actually not a genre. Often directed at both genders.

The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi (as post-modern as anime can get. Personally, I find it overrated)
Lucky Star ("Like Seinfeld on crack" - agreed)
Azumanga Daioh ("Like Peanuts on LSD" - agreed)
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (suicidal depression has never been funnier!)



Seinen
Directed at male adults

Cowboy Bebop (what Firefly ripped off. Also, Tank!)
Elfenlied (a cute girl takes bloody revenge... or so. Gorn)
Baccano! (Pulp Fiction meets alchemy in the USA of the 1930's. Gorn)
Berserk (Guts seeks for his former friend Griffith to take revenge. The manga is better though. Legendary downer ending. Gorn)
Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni (slice of life meets murder mystery. Gorn)
Umineko No Naku Koro Ni (murder mystery meets mindscrew. Gorn)
Basilisk (Romeo and Juliet... WITH NINJAS! Better than it sounds)
Monster (probably the most mature and complex story to find in anime)
Trigun (actually reminds of a more serious Rurouni Kenshin... but as western)
GunXSword (like Trigun... WITH MECHA!)
Narutaru (what if Pokemon was about killing people?)
Gankutsuou (The Count of Monte Christo... ON LSD!)
FLCL (huh?)
Hellsing (vampire hunting... with lots of gorn)
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (a cyberpunk classic)
Gantz (monster hunting with mindscrew and tons of gorn... the second season is a disaster)
Blackjack (Dr. House as anime but as over-the-top as possible. Epic surgeries ensue)
Excel Saga (impossible to describe... it's everything... and nothing)
Claymore (demon hunting... with lots of gorn)
Serial Experiment Lain
(also cyberpunk with extra deconstruction sauce)


Josei
Directed at female adults. Aka the genre you have never heard of. The problem is that Josei manga get rarely an anime adaption and so I watched only one anime from this genre and that only because my ex-girlfriend liked it.

Nana (at first glance it looks like a typical shoujo wish-fulfillment slice of life but it turns out to be a realistic deconstruction of said genre)



I'm aware that some classifications are debatable but that's not really the point here I think.

[Robert]

Scooby Doo's the best anime I ever saw

[Vegard Pompey]

Like Anthile said, you really should specify what genre you're interested in. If you have no preference, Death Note is the way to go. I would suggest staying away from the standard shounen fare, Naruto, Dragonball, Bleach, etc. that stuff's not ideal for INTPs.

[random extra #7]

If any of you liked death note you should look into one called Monster.
I thought it was amazing.

[Vegard Pompey]

I watched all of Monster. It was consistently good but never great.

[Cogwulf]

All I've seen so far is pokemon and digimon, and howls moving castle, and clips on the internet. As for genres I probably prefer fantasy and science fiction

At the top of my list of starters are death note, full metal alchemist, princess mononoke, Code Geass, gundam and ghost in the shell.

Thanks for the suggestions

[Ranondrugs]

Welcome to the N.H.K.

You'll regret it if you don't watch it as soon as you can.

Also, some movies: Mindgame, Tekkon Kinkreet, Cat Soup, Paprika.

[Toad]

If you're watching death note first, make sure u watch at least 4 episodes...the beginning episodes are really boring.

[Vegard Pompey]

Originally Posted by Toad

If you're watching death note first, make sure u watch at least 4 episodes...the beginning episodes are really boring.

Actually, I found Death Note captivating from beginning to end. The beginning episodes wonderfully set the tone of the series.

[Ombat]

I tend to like girly anime/manga (Ouran High School Host Club, Fruits Basket)

But definitely start with DN, Code Geass, etc. They will mess with your mind, plus, L is the greatest fictional character conceived.

For the big name anime, like Naruto, Bleach, etc., you kind of have to commit yourself. Bleach, for example, has over 200 episodes. You might find yourself obsessed and then never do anything productive again.

I guess this is just a question for me: Is Evangelion really amazing? I watched one episode and kind of fell asleep. From the descriptions, it sounds like something I'd be completely into, though.

[Vegard Pompey]

Originally Posted by Ombat

L is the greatest fictional character conceived.

Really?

[Ombat]

L really is a great character, but I seem to have forgotten to use my "I'm not really being serious font" for that one. I usually use "Rockwell Extra Bold" but it's not supported by this forum.

Nice pic XD

[kubikub]

Oh man, I used to be super into anime back in early high school. I don't think my interest ever really waned, but I don't watch tv anymore and to find a good manga (that I would enjoy at least) it took some pretty intense crap-filters. There is a looooot of manga I find unbearable.
Never saw the anime, but the Deathnote manga was pretty fantastic. I also liked Naruto until I realized there was no way I could afford the ever-expanding collection of books in the series.
FLCL = cocaine, both the show and the books. Trigun I think was what originally got me into anime, it's still probably my favorite show just for its nostalgic value... I would wake up at 4 am everyday to watch it on adult swim before middle school. It got pretty bad. Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo I both enjoyed. Fullmetal Alchemist is also a great show.

[Anthile]

And while we're on the subject of manga:

[Cogwulf]

Some of those sound great. "Space Adventure Cobra" made me lol



And deathnote is excellent, but the themetune is terrible

[Adymus]

Gantz....


Don't ask, just fucking watch it, right now. You can probably stream it online somewhere, it is by far one of the best animes out there. And then when you finish, read the manga.

[Adaire]

The second opening is much better Cogwulf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82sGf5DiNeo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82sGf5DiNeo

[Vegard Pompey]

Originally Posted by Adymus

Gantz....

Don't ask, just fucking watch it, right now. You can probably stream it online somewhere, it is by far one of the best animes out there. And then when you finish, read the manga.

Not really. The animé has horrible pacing and ends right before the best part of Gantz' plot begins. The manga is better, but sort of a guilty pleasure for me: It's not very well thought-out, and, not very good overall by standard criterion, but an interesting read anyway.

[Mr.W]

I cannot recommend Cowboy Bebop more highly.

Cowboy Bebop

Cowboy Bebop

It is the most stylish science fiction anime you will ever find.

And of course there is the obligatory Ghost in the Shell and Akira recommendations.

Akira

Akira

If you have the option, watch them in HD. They're both in blu-ray and they're stunning.

My favorite anime, though, has to be Mushi-shi. Slow paced, relaxing, surreal.

Mushi-shi

Mushi-shi

For fantasy, there's the Vision of Escaflowne series.
And just for its sheer awesomeness, I have to recommend the Samurai X OVAs.

Samurai X OVA

Samurai X OVA

And I'll throw in some FLCL.

FLCL / Fooly Cooly / Furi Kuri

FLCL / Fooly Cooly / Furi Kuri

[Cogwulf]

I've just finished Deathnote. Damn that's a brilliant story, I can't compare it to anything. I'll have to try and get hold of the manga next

[Adaire]

I linked here before, but here is the deathnote manga.

http://www.onemanga.com/Death_Note/

[Mbrk142]

I'd say One Piece is the best overall show I've ever seen. It can be kind of childish, but I think it works because the theme of the story is so simple, yet uplifting and powerful. The artwork is kind of weird, but I much prefer it to that big eyed, cat eard crap that you usually see. Plus Monkey D. Luffy is my hero, and the greatest protagonist ever.

[Azmoreal]

Well, i like my fair share of anime, and this is what i've enjoyed most thus far:

Hellsing
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Gundam 8th MS Team
Gundam Wing (but holy crap does this have some ridiculously bad dialogue at times)
Grave of the Fireflies (Absolute must watch. One of the most powerful anti-war movies you will ever see.)
Princess Mononoke
Battle Angel Alita (there is a 2 episode OVA, but really read the manga, it's phenomenal)
Outlaw Star
Cowboy Bebop
Berserk
FLCL
Elfen Lied
Tenchi (i forget which series was the best, but i enjoyed them all)
Ghost in the Shell (all of them, watch it all)

[Ashenstar]

Oh yes. Death Note. How we all love you. (actually my INTP bf found Death Note boring)

Ok.

FLCL
Samurai Champloo
Paranoia Agent
Perfect Blue
Neon Genesis
Serial Experiments Lain <--- not sure on this one, was a long time ago
.hack//SIGN <--- was rather slow but for some reason I was captivated.
Full Metal Alchemist. I would recommend staying away from the movie though.

If you want something completely horrible and ridiculous. Chobits.

[Toad]

Is it just me, or is it really hard to find anymore good anime? All the new animes from this year and last year has sucked balls. The only thing worthed watching last year was Code Geass 2.

I wish they would make another anime like Naruto. I know most people will put that show down, but the first 50 or so episodes of that show rocked.

[Azmoreal]

Originally Posted by Toad

Is it just me, or is it really hard to find anymore good anime? All the new animes from this year and last year has sucked balls. The only thing worthed watching last year was Code Geass 2.

I wish they would make another anime like Naruto. I know most people will put that show down, but the first 50 or so episodes of that show rocked.

Naruto was entertaining but was pretty shallow. At times is really just felt like DBZ with "ninjas."

I'd like to see more stuff like GitS: SAC, NGE, FLCL and SE Lain.

[nickgray]

Texhnolyze
Cowboy Bebop
Haibane Renmei
Trigun
Now and Then, Here and There
Mushishi
Monster
Samurai Champloo
Planetes
Akagi
Great Teacher Onizuka
Wolf's Rain
FLCL

[Toad]

Originally Posted by Azmoreal

Naruto was entertaining but was pretty shallow. At times is really just felt like DBZ with "ninjas."

I'd like to see more stuff like GitS: SAC, NGE, FLCL and SE Lain.

I'll have to disagree somewhat. Naruto may be like DBZ in that Naruto gets stronger and stronger. But the storyline and characters are actually much deeper than DBZ. The fighting is also based more on strategy than on sheer power.

If you were to compare any anime with DBZ it would be Bleach.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by Vegard Pompey

Really?

Yeah. Really?

[dents]

I'm gonna throw Eureka 7 out there, though the conditions I watched it under probably skewed my objectivity a tad.