We all know "mainstream" anime like Akira, Tenchi Muyo, etc. But are there any sort of obscure anime that's good that I should check out ? I like things like Girls Bravo and the aforementioned Tenchi Muyo and Akira.

I devoted my "Make Your Own Challenge" last month (over on DVD Talk) to obscure anime (all in Japanese / no subs.):

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/11688040-post36.html


Among the obscure titles that actually have come out in English versions (most subtitled, some dubbed), I'd recommend the following (which may or may not be obscure to you), off the top of my head, with a variety of genres represented:

Arcadia of My Youth
Armored Trooper Votoms
Baoh
Cleopatra DC
The Cockpit
Dangaio
Dancougar
Gunbuster (the original, from 1988)
The Hakkenden
A Journey Through Fairyland
The Littlest Warrior
Locke the Superman
Makai Tensho
Midnight Eye Goku
An Olympic Fable: Run for Life
Phoenix 2772
Raven Tengu Kabuto
Space Adventure Cobra
Super Grand Prix
Swiss Family Robinson
Taro the Dragon Boy
Vampire Princess Miyu

Not available in English but I have seen them in fan-subs:
Brave Raideen
Combattler V
Endless Road SSX
The Glass Mask (1984 TV series)
Phoenix: Karma
Queen Millennia
Shurato

There is so much great anime from the 1980s, many titles of which have come out in the U.S., some of which haven't. Most of the titles I listed are from the '80s.

Haven't seen the TV series, but the OVA (or is that OAV) is amazing.

How could I have forgotten Vampire Princess Miyu ? That's one of my favourites. An early role for Kimberly J. Brown (the english dub) of Halloweentown fame...

Oh, and Tweeny Witches is another good one that I forgot....

I've looked up some of the suggestions and there's a lot of good stuff I've never heard of before. I'll have to check it out...

Are you only looking for DVDs? Or do you use streaming services like Crunchyroll, Funimation and Hulu? Are subtitled shows ok, or just English dubs?

DVDs mainly. I tried Hulu but the constant adverts bugged the hell out of me. I prefer dubbed shows, but subbed shows are perfectly fine. I have the 3 90s Gamera movies that are both subbed and dubbed. I've enjoyed both.

Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl
Aura Battler Dunbine
Princess Tutu
Pretear
Hyper Police
Miami Guns

How do you see if you would like an anime before you buy the anime?

Scrapped Princess (not very obscure but under appreciated)
Kakurenbo
Kino's Journey (I think it could have gone longer but I guess there wasn't any demand for it)
Nyan Koi (fun but too short)
Aoi Hana: Sweet Blue Flowers (you can watch all the episodes at Nozomi Entertainment's YouTube page until July 8 http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=ELyrKshMYNBDU)

I've watched clips and episodes online to see if I would like a certain show. That's how I found Girls Bravo and Teeny Witches.

Since you like Girls Bravo and Tenchi Muyo

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If you like most of these I would post more to try

That looks like some great stuff. Now, to find the money to buy all this.....

Wait, there's a Shurato fansub?

Though it won't have the majority of the titles listed here, if you like anime and don't mind it subbed (and have internet access with an ipad, a 360, a PS3 or a computer), I'd say a crunchyroll sub is the way to go. It's got a ton of content, a lot of the latest releases sometimes within a week or so of airing in Japan, and it's improved leaps and bounds (especially from the dubious early days when they were basically stealing fansubs). Of course for classic stuff, there are a lot of great deals, keep an eye out on the Rightstuf weekly deals and sales; just be wary of getting individual discs for old shows, even if really cheap, because filling in the gaps sometimes costs way more than just buying the newer release.