There were moments of humor and some clowning going on in Kenshin but when I started watching Trigun that is all I saw and remember about it. I can't get the doughnuts out of mind...the stupid hotel and bar fights. It didn't seem mysterious or exciting at all and it doesn't compare to Kenshin. The music and characters were far more interesting to me in Kenshin.

I didn't finish Trigun. I couldn't stand it. THE BIG difference is when Kenshin fought you got a sense of awe, power, mystery and it was very serious. When the guy in Trigun was shooting it reminded of a clown at a birthday party doing retarded things to balloons saying "look at me." Rodger Rabbit with a inflatable rubber mallet was far more serious... Maybe I stopped watching too soon but I am not going to waste good money in hopes the 2nd time around is going to be better.

...it does get better, a lot better.

I've been in the mood for some new anime lately, I wonder what I should start with?

Ditto. Exactly the opposite of mine too. I guess it depends on what kind of TV/movies you like. Berserk is the only "action" show on my list really, but the core of the story isn't really action (IMO it's betrayal and the hunger for power). My favorites tend to be good mind**** shows like Lain and Evangelion and the like. Super-long shows like Kenshin and more popular shows like Bleach I've never been really interested in.

My top-10 list would probably be (off the top of my head) as far as series:

1) Berserk
2) Kino's Journey
3) Crest/Banner of the Stars
4) Evangelion
5) Serial Experiments Lain
6) Cowboy Bebop
7) Fruits Basket
8) Escaflowne
9) Lodoss War OVA perhaps

(#10 would probably be one of the shows I haven't finished yet)

GreenMonkey, from your taste above, I'm betting you would really enjoy "Now and Then, Here and There". Check it out, it's a quick thirteen episode series.

Good call. Me and my wife and my buddy watched about 2/3 of that but never got around to finishing it. It's on the list to sit down and watch again.

Good show but depressing (kinda like Grave of the Fireflies which is great, but depressing).

I wouldn't call it depressing... I'd say it was more "brutal"

Anyone that can enjoy Berserk, can enjoy "Now and Then".

Just Finished

WitchBlade - It wasn't bad...but it was not exactly the best Anime I have ever watched. The characters and relationship seem to be there....but the story seemed to be missing something...The fight scenes were OK but I was not jumping out of my seat. At least it had an ending which quite few Anime Series seemed to have a lot of trouble doing. I would not give this series any more than 3 stars out of 5. It had the potential for more.

Utawarerumono - This series really surprised me. When I saw how fast they blew through the first disc by revolting and taking over the country I thought the series was jumping the gun...that it couldn't possibly keep my interest. I was wrong. I got really into this Anime. The new characters and watching their roles develop the deeper I went into the Anime. They even went deeper into the past of some of the main character's past. It kept my interest from start to finish. I have to give it a 4 1/2 out of five stars and the series just made my top 10 list.

My list changes...didn't think it would happen so soon.

Top Ten Overall:

1.) Rumbling Hearts
2.) Death Note
3.) Rurouni Kenshin
4.) Gungrave
5.) Samurai Champloo
6.) Suzuka
7.) Bleach
8.) Ghost in the Shell
9.) Azumanga Daioh
10.) Utawarerumono (New)

Drops from the Top 10

10.) Last Exile

Honorable Mention:

Last Exile, Fate/Stay Night, Gun Sword, Genshiken, Le Chevalier D'Eon, Fullmetal Alchemist, Getbackers, My Hime, Kaliedo Star, DNAngel, Baki the Grappler S2, Samurai Deeper Kyo, Mushi-Shi, Samurai 7, Hellsing, Black Blood Brothers, Trinity Blood, Basilisk, Witch Hunter Robin, Hell Girl, Gantz, Afro Samurai, Peacemaker

Most Overrated:

Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Trigun, Kyo Kara Maho!, Serial Experiments Lain, Paranoia Agent, Rahxephon, Escaflowne, Outlaw Star, Berserk

The What the Heck Was I Thinking List:

Neo Ranga, Gravitation, ES Otherwise, Samurai Gun, Ninja Scroll

In Progess/Currently Watching List:

Gilgamesh
Hell Girl
Mushi-Shi
Wolf's Rain

The To Watch List:

Beck, Gunslinger Girl, 009-1, Heat Guy J, Phantom Memory Kurau, Madlax, Cromartie High School, FaFner, Solty Rei, Noir, Black Cat, Desert Punk, King of Bandit Jing, Gad Guard, Yugo The Negotiator, Galaxy Angel, To Heart, X, Devil May Cry, FLCL, Shinchan, Black Lagoon, Saiyuki, Saiyuki Reloaded, Saiyuki Reloaded Gunlock, Zipang, Excel Saga, Boogiepop Phantom, Karas, Banner of the Stars, Crest of the Stars, NowandThenHereandThere, Gankutsuou, Argentosoma, Kaze no Yojimbo, Ai Yori Aoshi, Koi Kaze, Full Metal Panic, Full Metal Panic TSR, Chrono Crusade, Dead Leaves, 5 Centimeters per second...(whew!)

Saw a commercial for Afro Samurai Resurrection on Spike. They're showing it on Jan 25th with the unrated Dvd coming out on Feb 3rd. Here's the trailer:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LXDGQA?...89&camp=211189

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So that annoying little sidekick is back!!! Damn it... It's the one aspect of the original I just could not stand. Beyond hatred is probably more apropos. Looks like a rental before a buy for round two.

Seeing the "Top" lists in this thread makes me feel like an old man. When the oldest title on a list is only twenty years old (Nausicaa excepted), it makes me feel a little sad. Whither has the old-school anime viewer gone?

I know this is old, but I just got done watching the complete series of Gungrave. I couldn't stop watching. I finished all 26 episodes in 2 days. I really love it. It's one of my favorites now. I'm going to start with Black Lagoon Season 1 this week. I hope it's good.

Lucky, if you really want to relive Gungrave, pick up the soundtracks. The music by Tsuneo Imahori is simply unforgettable.

Just finished Paprika on Blu-Ray. It was pretty interesting movie - storyline did pretty good job that got me thinking who's responsible for whole thing. I give a

...you don't say?

I'm out of the loop when it comes to anime with the last time I purchased anything being about two years ago. I'm starting to get back into it but looking through the stuff thats come out I'm at a loss for what to start with. Anybody care to chime in regarding recommendations? My tastes tend to be varied with some of the series i've enjoyed being Berserk, Excel Saga, Escaflowne, Cowboy Bebop, Noir, Hellsing, Ghost in the Shell and Full Metal Panic.

Even though I have yet to even get around to watching it myself, I would say to go for Black Lagoon. Have heard nothing but great things about it, just haven't gotten around to starting the series yet.

I rather liked Eureka 7. Unfortunately, Bandai hasn't released an Anime Legends set as yet. If you still have not seen Fullmetal Alchemist, I would highly recommend this series as well. Funimation just recently released two sets that cover the entire run.


Edit: Actually, the Season 1 set for FMA comes out on January 27 and the Season 2 set is scheduled for a March 10th release.

Gungrave is at the top of my list this week. But, I would recommend Elfen Lied, Gunlinger Girl, and one of my guilty pleasures is Naruto.

If you liked Noir, then Madlax should be on your list. It's kinda similar storyline.

Black Lagoon, Gunslinger Girls, and Fullmetal Alchemist are good suggestion.

I'm just a casual anime fan compared to most of you guys so I can't comment on a lot of the newer stuff. But I really enjoyed Gunslinger Girl. Hard sci-fi themes in the form of existentialism revolving around espionage and such. Modifying little girls to be trained assassins. Well fleshed out stories and characters, peppered with violence - but not too over the top (for anime anyway) and some intriguing plot lines. Intelligent series. But it could be too slow and dry for some.

Can't wait for season 2 - which is right around the corner, no?


As far as Elfen Lied ... except for some silliness, I really enjoyed this series as well. But its gratuitous nudity and violence will be off-putting for some.

Yes, I heard that they will release in US in 2009. But not sure when exactly.

I have read all Gunslinger Girls Manga and the second season should be much more exciting. We will see Triela (the older one) get into serious hand to hand battles with highly skilled teenager boy.

MichaelMeyers, from your list of likes, I'd gladly recommend Heat-Guy J. A cop-detective show with a sci-fi element and an excellent story-line. The music is also top notch.

Also, Speed Grapher was pretty good.

I'll second that recommendation. I just watched Heat Guy J this past year, and I truly enjoyed it from start to finish. The freakin' opening theme is still stuck in my head months later.