edit: feel free to reply no matter how old this thread gets!
I’m not particularly into anime, I like it just as much as live action shows or other types of animation. Having said that, I feel like watching some and I’m not sure what to pick.
Here’s a list of other anime shows I’ve watched/manga and novels I’ve read, so you can better judge what to recommend. ( would greatly appreciate the story to be completed, I hate waiting years for closure) :
Full Metal Alchemist, Naruto : both great stories, I’ve read the mangas and loved them. They wouldn’t be a priority to watch because I already read them.
Attack on Titan: started with the anime, it was great, switched to the manga, got extremely disappointed with the story development and its ending. It felt a bit like nonsense for me.
Dragon Ball/Z : probably my favourite, I’ve rewatched it recently. I don’t like GT and Super.
Overlord: I’ve read good part of the novel and manga. I’m liking it so far
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: please No thanks. Not for me.
Death Note: loved the first arc, not a fan of the ending but no hate for it unlike with AOT.
I also recall Escaflowne and Inuyasha, they were alright but not something I’ve loved or hated. Cowboy Bebop also in this category, excellent visually and great OST but the story wasn’t as gripping.
Other than that… Feel free to suggest any other titles! Extra thanks if you are specific about any versions and why is the show so great.
TIA
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I’ve collected almost all Ghibli films and love to watch them with the family!
Haven’t seen these mentioned yet:
- Terror In Resonance
This is one of the newer shows made by Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo). Follows the crew of a small terrorist organization as they implement their various plots - lots of intrigue that makes you want to keep watching.
- Megalobox
Follows a boxer’s journey in a semi-dystopian future. Very mature and themes of adulthood, especially season 2. And I mean real life mature, not gore and titties. I’ve never watched an anime that I found so relatable as an adult human being. Music is also extremely top tier and I’m personally a huge fan of it’s animation style.
You are right, I think you are the first one suggesting these two. Thank you!
Inuyashiki: The Last Hero is a great short story, 11 episodes with a cool premise.
Parasyte: The Maxim has great action and premise as well, also finishes relatively quick.
Fairy Tail has kinda a DBZ vibe, but the fights are over with in one or two episodes, not 45. (Funimation)
If you like suspense and psychological thriller, and don’t mind subtitles, Kaiji is an excellent watch. It’s about a man who cosigned a loan with a friend, from a bunch of loan sharks, and has to play increasingly deadly games to try to regain his life. It will take you for a ride. (Crunchyroll)
I really enjoyed Dr Stone. An apocalypse occurs, petrifying the entire world. Humanity starts to slowly awaken, and they try to rebuild the world while fighting against an opposing group trying to start a new world order. At least for season one. I haven’t cought up recently cuz my depression has been kicking my ass. (Funimation)
That’s all I got off the top of my head, and I hope it helps.
Edit: If you like Kaiji, it has two separate side stories.
Akagi is set in the 70s, I think, and is about a man who is apparently a savant at Mahjong, and ends up playing against a mob boss. wagering his blood against the bosses fortune. The show is really good at trying to explain the rules to the uninitiated without being condescending, and still keeping it suspenseful and engaging.
The other is Mr. Tonegawa’s Middle Management Blues, more of a slice of life workplace comedy, centering around one of the antagonists of Kaiji, and trying to manage his employees while pleasing his boss. I didn’t finish this one, cuz I got the point about halfway through, but I had fun while it lasted.
And I just remembered Cells At Work, also subbed, but an excellent romp which I would call “edutainment,” but don’t let that dissuade you! It anthropomorphizes different cells of the human body, describing their functions in kinda a slice-of-life meets monster of the week format. The white blood cells are the knife-weilding defence force of the human body, cutting down Power Ranger monsters that never were. Again, don’t get put off by the edutainment label, cuz the edu and the tainment both hit hard.
Thanks for the thorough recommendations! Will keep in mind. Cells at Work makes me think of Ozzy and Drix, which I liked ha. Cheers!
I will warn you, just in case you are sensitive, there is literally comical amounts of blood when a WBC cuts down a virus. Like, ten foot tall blood spurts, with them drenched in blood. No gore or viscera though.
Thanks, I see it has a Tarantino touch to it. No problem
Feel you with Attack on Titan - goes into some weird places and I lost interest.
Have you tried Initial D? Old school 90’s early 2000’s teen comedy drama about street racing. It’s really funny and touching at the right moments.
You’re the second to mention Initial D and I had no idea it existed before making this post. I’ll keep in mind!
Kiminonawa
Purists may hate the suggestion of an American studio but… Avatar, legend of aang and korra are both great
Nick just opened a whole studio devoted to making more series in the universe so maybe a good time to check them out. The first series is perfection and Korra has some amazing highs (and lows that aren’t really the series’ fault but the exec’s fault)
Fun fact: People in the industry say that Avatar has such great animation and choreography that they are heavily ripped off, I mean, referenced, in the making of other western animated action shows. I should definitely check it out
Oh interesting thanks I’ll definitely look that up! loved the world building, progression and growth from aang to korra
Totally agree on the highs and lows, Amon was such a good introductory antagonist and the suspense at the end of season 1 was something else, some things just seemed resolve themselves a bit too quickly!
Yes, I heard good things about Avatar! Cheers
Cowboy Bebop: Space noire, get to Jupiter Jazz part 1&2 before forming an opinion
Berserk (The 1997 version): A long burn, twist for the last two episodes
One-punch man: Comedy, overpowered main character but it’s handled very well. Kinda a criticism of other animes.
Evangelion
Two guilty pleasures: Code Geass (mechs), and Future Diary (Battle Royal/Hunger Games)
I think I’ve watched most Bebop episodes a while ago. I was never hooked but I really enjoyed the finale and how Spike’s arc was handled. I consider the series a work of art really, it’s on another level. But in spite of that it doesn’t excite me as much as other shows. The two cars meme comes to mind… Thanks for the recommendations!
I can’t believe no one’s recommended My Hero Academia! What a great show.
There’s a few that mentioned it I’m sure! Thank you
The latest anime that wowed me was to your Eternity, especially if your into Eastern philosophy and stuff.
Hells paradise also wowed me as a straight battle Shonen that is quite beautiful, with lots of spiritual themes.
One Piece holds a special place in my heart. Watch up until time skip, then read manga.
Vinland Saga is amazing. Straight up. Great study of politics and humans search for power and inner peace.
For the record I consider HxH and FMA:b to be Shonen high water marks.
Assassination Classroom - Just finished watching this series and it’s one of the most heartwarming meditations on teaching and education wrapped in a batshit crazy premise of junior high kids being forced to kill their teacher before he destroys the world at the end of their school year. Made me cry a few times.
I see a lot of recommendations here, but here’s a couple that are off the track.
Sound! Euphonium
Silver Spoon
Terror in Resonance
Planetes
Texhnolyze
Kinos Journey - both series are great the 2nd is more like the original source
Mushishi
+1 for Planetes
And Mushishi too
These two show might not be like the other shows that your have watched yet these two or definitely my favourite.
Odd Taxi - Generally anime cast has this typical behaviour where their talking or behaviour would not be realistic like irl (for example, Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood). You might not notice it now or might have noticed it but odd taxi is totally different from all the other anime that I have watched in regards to this. The plot is simple yet the way it moves is totally interesting. The characters are written well for a 12 episode anime. You will definitely like it.
Ranking of Kings - I have not completed it yet but this anime is so wholesome and kinda moving ngl.
Since you have watched death note, watch Code Geass too. When I started watching anime, Assassination Classroom and Violet Evergarden were one of the anime that totally bought me in. You may like these too.
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Haikyu is great. It’s about volleyball and follows the same sort of theme of DBZ about constantly pushing to improve.
If you liked the environment and feel of Cowboy Bebop you might enjoy Samurai Champloo. Same director but replace jazz with hip hop and space with feudal Japan. I think it’s a masterpiece.
I have heard so much about Haikyu, I could not care less about volleyball, but I have read it, somehow does not matter to enjoy it.
That’s interesting, I usually eschew when a sport is the main theme in a show. But you’re saying it’s enjoyable regardless of the volley?
That is what I have been told, I couldn’t say for sure because I haven’t watched it, but it is sitting in my backlog though.
Completely agreed on Samurai Champloo, I’m yet to watch something else that floored me as much as that show did. I watched it several times over the years. It helps that I’m a massive trip-hop head and the soundtrack is made by legendary producer Nujabes (RIP).
