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#1 Feb 12 2012 at 5:41 PM Rating: Excellent
Now, fellow friends, help me find animes I might like! I'm watching Harihi Suzumiya and Card Captor Sakura (really!), anything along those lines I might like?
#2 Feb 12 2012 at 7:04 PM Rating: Excellent
Welcome to a larger universe.

So, here's a guide to help you navigate a bit. Anime is a medium that has many different genres within it. These genres can be broken down into two VERY broad categories:

(Apologies if you know this stuff already: I don't know if the kana in your sig is something you wrote yourself or not....)

- Shounen: Aimed toward males, or published in magazines geared toward boys ages 10-14 or so. (Shounen literally means "young boy.") Also includes action adventure children's cartoons that involve giant robots or cute monsters and which are liked by both genders. Shounen that is aimed for older audiences is called seinen. Haruhi Suzumiya is a shounen series based on a series of novels. An example of a seinen series is Golden Boy. (Seinen also generally includes more mature content, but straight up **** is a separate category called heintai or "echii" - Japanese pronunctiation of "H" for hentai.)

- Shoujo: Aimed toward girls, but includes a broader age range, as shoujo for little girls is shunned by most boys. Card Captor Sakura is classic shoujo. Shoujo aimed for females in their twenties is called josei. A very nice example of josei is the series Hatorakiman!, which is about a young woman who is an editor for a weekly men's journal and her foibles.

A long time ago we came up with a list of "top twenty stuff you probably ought to have watched." Everything mentioned in that list is a great jumping off point.
#3 Feb 12 2012 at 7:05 PM Rating: Excellent
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What do you like about those shows?

I guess in the same line as Sakura, I'd recommend Tsubasa Chronicle (though it was criticized for being kind of slow) and Madoka Magica.

Tsubasa Chronicle and Sakura were both created by CLAMP, so if you like those, xxxHolic is definitely something to look in to. Then if you like that, there's Bakemonogatari*.


It's tough to really recommend anything that's like Haruhi since it's like everything else, but yet it's completely different. Lucky Star is probably a good start, maybe Ouran High School Host Club? If you like weird, then I can't recommend anything other than FLCL.


*Not produced by CLAMP, but an absolutely amazing show.
#4 Feb 12 2012 at 7:30 PM Rating: Excellent
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Give Clannad a shot, it's a comedy/romance series.
It tends more toward drama/romance in the second season (Clannad: After Story), which makes it better imo.

Like xypin said, what do you like about the shows you're currently watching? It'll help us recommend more series for you.
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#5 Feb 12 2012 at 7:34 PM Rating: Excellent
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You have to see FLCL. This is nonnegotiable.
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#6 Feb 12 2012 at 7:49 PM Rating: Excellent
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There's a sub-genre of shoujo called "Mahou Shoujo", or "magical girl" shows, of which Card Captor Sakura is one. If you like CCS, then chances are you'll find many of the more famous ones in this genre appealing as well. Examples: Sailor Moon and Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha. Despite what others may say, there is seriously no shame in liking this stuff. Some of it is seriously awesome.

Haruhi is different in that it's really a genre buster series. It's technically shounen, I guess, but damned if it isn't all over the map.

Cowboy Bebop is an excellent one I recommend you check out, and as an added bonus, I would actually recommend watching the English dub on this one. This show is the exception to the rule that the original Japanese is better. I found the English dub superb. This one is another one that kind of has no genre. If I had to categorize it, I'd say "Jazz Western with an IV steadily dripping awesome into its veins." It's excellent.

If you're into classic Giant Mech animes, I can't really help you there. I'm pretty unfamiliar with it. However, I've always heard good things about the Gundam series, even though there's about sixty different ones.

If you like deconstructions of genres (that is, if you like watching someone take a genre and proceed to twist the "rules" of that genre into a dark tale or showing what would happen in a more realistic situation), then there are a few different series to check out.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a classic, and is required reading for almost any anime fan. It's a deconstruction of the Giant Mech genre that was wildly successful and influential on the genre on the whole. Before NGE, the genre was fairly lighthearted. Serious, but the hero would usually win, villian got his comeuppance, etc. After NGE? Holysh*t the whole genre went grimdark. At least, this is what I've been able to gather. This was all a little before my time. It's also one of the trippiest animes you will watch, especially towards the end when the studio ran out of money. Has a movie to watch afterwards, and is currently doing a remake of the series in the form of 4 movies.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Madoka for short) is a deconstruction of the Mahou Shoujo genre. It's been described as NGE with magical girls. It's a lot more recent, and deconstructs the genre pretty well, going grimdark fast.

For more lighthearted, really good animes, check out FLCL, pronounced in English as "fooly-cooly" (it's short, only 6 awesome episodes), and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.

Death Note
is an excellent one to watch if you are in to intellectual thrillers/mysteries. It's about a guy who finds a notebook that kills whomever's name is written in it. Told from the killer's point of view.

If I had to pick one anime from this list I feel is most required to watch, it's FLCL. No doubt.

Edited, Feb 12th 2012 8:51pm by IDrownFish
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#7 Feb 12 2012 at 8:16 PM Rating: Excellent
Additional "deconstruction" series to consider are the two big Ikuhara series: Revolutionary Girl Utena, which was one of the first to pick apart the shoujo genre and leave its bones and feathers scattered on the ground, and the brand spanking new delicious ******** that is Mawaru Penguindrum.

Warning: Both of these series are not really for beginners. (Actually, Puella Majika Madoka isn't for beginners either.) That isn't to say they're not good, but they're deliberately deconstructing what goes into a shoujo series and coming to a different, quite disturbing conclusion. I'd go through a few more CLAMP series before you tackle the big guns of the shoujo genre.
#8 Feb 12 2012 at 8:44 PM Rating: Excellent
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Serial Experiments Lain
Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni
School Days
Elfen Lied
Berserk

Bah, anime virgins. Come back to me once you've watched those.

Note, all of those are very good, but very much NOT recommended for initial anime folks. Especially coming from magical girl stuff. Smiley: nod

Honestly, I mostly gravitate to more mature series now. Psychological and horror are probably my favorite genres. Echoing what other people have said, go for other CLAMP titles (xxxHolic, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles). Madoka is a pretty good intermediate step from magical girl to psych/horror. Then, when you really feel like freaking out, jump right into the Higurashi or School Days. Do it. You know you want to Smiley: grin

Edit: Bah, I can be nice too. Some fun ones: Ouran High School Host Club was actually a surprise gem. I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. Fruits Basket is worth watching once. If you like comedy and fan service, Love Hina is one of my favorites (though the manga is better than the anime). Some more recent ones like Mawaru Penguin Drum and Bakemonogatari are good. While there's a decent amount of violence, I really enjoyed Angel Beats. And one of my current favorites is The World God Only Knows (light-hearted, romance/comedy, and TONS of hilarious gaming references).

Edited, Feb 12th 2012 9:48pm by LockeColeMA
#9 Feb 12 2012 at 9:02 PM Rating: Excellent
Some other CLAMP series to consider as a kinder, gentler introduction to anime include Angelic Layer, a fun and fluffy fighting show, followed by Chobits, a show about humanoid computers that takes place in the same universe about thirty years later. Both are considered shounen, due to the magazines they were published in, but they have the lovely shoujo designs of CLAMP.

Magic Knight Rayearth is probably the closest to Card Captor Sakura in spirit. The girls are a little older, the animation and storyline are a lot cheasier, but the story takes a big 180 near the end and makes it all worth it. Just don't get creeped out by ephebophiles because they abound in the CLAMPverse Smiley: lol CLAMP also likes subverting familiar storylines with all female casts because they can.

Edit: Oh, can't forget Princess Tutu.

Edited, Feb 12th 2012 10:02pm by catwho
#10 Feb 12 2012 at 9:09 PM Rating: Default
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I never understood the appeal of FLCL. All the creators did was throw darts at board covered in anime tropes and then build a series around what they came up with. There is no point in trying to make sense of the story, because it was designed to make no sense. I can see the appeal if you were really high and wanted something to keep you amused, but aside from that it's just schlock.
#11 Feb 12 2012 at 9:14 PM Rating: Excellent
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IDrownFish of the Seven Seas wrote:
Haruhi is different in that it's really a genre buster series. It's technically shounen, I guess, but damned if it isn't all over the map.

Harem anime.
LockeColeMA wrote:
Bah, anime virgins. Come back to me once you've watched those.

I think the goal is to suggest shows he'd probabilistically like. I could recommend Tehxnolyze, but I won't.



People have given you a lot of suggestions Ikkian. Based on the shows you've already seen, and assuming you liked those, here is what I'd recommend.

If you liked like Haruhi:
Ouran Highschool Host Club

If you liked Card Captor Sakura:
Princess Tutu

For something a tiny bit different, but I think you have a fair chance of liking:
Toradora!

Edited, Feb 12th 2012 9:30pm by Allegory
#12 Feb 12 2012 at 9:35 PM Rating: Excellent
Turin wrote:
I never understood the appeal of FLCL. All the creators did was throw darts at board covered in anime tropes and then build a series around what they came up with. There is no point in trying to make sense of the story, because it was designed to make no sense. I can see the appeal if you were really high and wanted something to keep you amused, but aside from that it's just schlock.


That's because it's Studio Gainax, which went through some pretty ****** up phases when Anno Hideaki was on medication for his depression.
#13 Feb 12 2012 at 9:44 PM Rating: Excellent
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Turin wrote:
I never understood the appeal of FLCL.

It's fun to watch? Does it have to be something more than that?
#14 Feb 13 2012 at 3:10 PM Rating: Good
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Kirby, Star Breaker wrote:
Give Clannad a shot, it's a comedy/romance series.
It tends more toward drama/romance in the second season (Clannad: After Story), which makes it better imo.
Prepare a box of tissues.

Allegory wrote:
Turin wrote:
I never understood the appeal of FLCL.

It's fun to watch? Does it have to be something more than that?
I have to agree with Turin, actually. I didn't find it fun. It was far too random for me to really enjoy.
LockeColeMA wrote:
School Days

Bah, anime virgins. Come back to me once you've watched those.
Have I told you lately that I love it when you pimp the School Days?

Edited, Feb 13th 2012 2:11pm by Poldaran
#15 Feb 13 2012 at 3:58 PM Rating: Excellent
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The One and Only Poldaran wrote:

LockeColeMA wrote:
School Days

Bah, anime virgins. Come back to me once you've watched those.
Have I told you lately that I love it when you pimp the School Days?

True story: I was just checking the website the other day to see if it had been released with English translations yet.

Answer: Not yet, but this year it will be!
#16 Feb 13 2012 at 4:31 PM Rating: Good
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Allegory wrote:
Turin wrote:
I never understood the appeal of FLCL.

It's fun to watch? Does it have to be something more than that?


I think he's suggesting that it wasn't fun for him to watch.

It wasn't for me, either. As a very general rule, things that are deliberately absurd and nonsensical don't typically hold my interest. I guess I tend to appreciate a unified vision and a logical design process more. I gather that the show was, at its core, a coming of age story, but it was buried under 10 tons of meaningless craziness.

I found the dude with the big fuzzy eyebrows kind of funny, though.

Edited, Feb 13th 2012 5:32pm by Eske
#17 Feb 13 2012 at 4:35 PM Rating: Excellent
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Like it or not, it's still an experience every anime, and potential anime fan needs to partake in. Kind of a "Welcome to the club, this is where the crazy line is."
____________________________
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#18 Feb 13 2012 at 4:51 PM Rating: Good
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On the subject of random anime, I would highly recommend Nichijou. It's hilarious and often very cute.

I would also recommend Golden Boy (I love you for mentioning it catwho, I always think it is an over looked anime that was very influential). That doesn't seem like your taste though. The same goes for Berserk, which, along with Hellsing Ultimate, is probably my favourite anime. Again, probably not your genre. I would check them out anyway!
#19 Feb 13 2012 at 7:38 PM Rating: Good
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Recent anime I watch was C3 was ok, basic harem, magic girl, fanservice with a couple dark moments. Zombie loan is another one that is a fun watch darker then C3 but not much. Those might interest the OP.

But really having him watch Elfen Lied is like giving a boy a Hardcore S&M mag before he even knows what playboy is. Hes at the victoria secret stage can't rush it it might leave scars.

#20 Feb 13 2012 at 8:54 PM Rating: Excellent
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RavennofTitan wrote:

But really having him watch Elfen Lied is like giving a boy a Hardcore S&M mag before he even knows what playboy is. Hes at the victoria secret stage can't rush it it might leave scars.

Scars are manly! Smiley: bah

Besides, Higurashi is totally worse than Berserk. At least with Berserk you expect it... and it's more violence than messing with your psyche.

I like it when my psyche is abused Smiley: drool
#21 Feb 13 2012 at 9:32 PM Rating: Good
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With Elfen Lied its not so much just the violence but pair it with mind sex it does with it that might put off new comers. It took me a couple of times before I could sit down and watch it though but it was worth it.
#22 Feb 13 2012 at 10:49 PM Rating: Excellent
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To be fair, I put Elfen Lied in there because it was the first thing that came to mind for "shock value" >_>

School Days and Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni. Those are the best.
#23 Feb 13 2012 at 11:10 PM Rating: Good
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lolgaxe wrote:
Like it or not, it's still an experience every anime, and potential anime fan needs to partake in. Kind of a "Welcome to the club, this is where the crazy line is."


I thought the crazy line was that "other" ending of NGE.
#24 Feb 14 2012 at 1:52 AM Rating: Good
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LockeColeMA wrote:
The One and Only Poldaran wrote:

LockeColeMA wrote:
School Days

Bah, anime virgins. Come back to me once you've watched those.
Have I told you lately that I love it when you pimp the School Days?

True story: I was just checking the website the other day to see if it had been released with English translations yet.

Answer: Not yet, but this year it will be!
I linked to its entry on rightstuf a while back, actually. I've been keeping an eye on it as well and can't wait.
#25 Feb 14 2012 at 9:03 AM Rating: Good
Thanks for all the great ideas. I'm keep track of this thread and will check them all out. :)
#26 Feb 14 2012 at 2:27 PM Rating: Excellent
Eske Esquire wrote:
lolgaxe wrote:
Like it or not, it's still an experience every anime, and potential anime fan needs to partake in. Kind of a "Welcome to the club, this is where the crazy line is."


I thought the crazy line was that "other" ending of NGE.


Human Instrumentality Project? Smiley: sly

Bored animators making a hentai of their own series can never end well.

Edited, Feb 14th 2012 3:31pm by catwho
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