Need expert suggestions for Japanese Anime
 

Does anyone out there have any suggestions for a great Japanese anime series? I am a newbie, so take that into consideration. The only thing close to Japanese anime I've
seen is Princess Monokoke and I wasn't very impressed
(isn't this supposed to be the highest making movie in
Japan all-time?). Does that mean anything? i.e. if I don't
like Princess Monokoke I won't like certain other things.

I've seen series names out there like Berserk, Ghost in
the Shell, etc. but don't know much about them outside
of what you can read on the box to shell out my hard
earned cash on.

I like sharp graphics, that look somewhat realistic, nothing
that looks too cartoonish.

Also, what's the best place to purchase Japanese Anime?

Thanks!

jarsim

There are so many threads on these forums regarding anime, that you should probably try a search... you will find all of the information you need.

However, what exactly was your reason for not liking Princess Mononoke? I ask this because it may help people when it comes to suggesting other titles. Was it too cartoonish? Was it the plot? Was it the characterisations?

Anime is just the Japanese borrowed (and shortened) word for animation (just as they use parsu-con for personal computer or terebi for television), so of course it is generally going to be cartoonish. You will find that in most anime the eyes of the characters tend to be rather exagerated (large and round) giving them a rather cartoonish appearance. The strange thing I have noticed with Miyazaki is that his main characters seem to have this wide-eyed appearance, yet his secondary and background characters seem to have a more "lifelike" appearance.

Although you didn't like Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke, I would still suggest that you look at other of his titles such as Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbour Totoro etc as these have some of the best illustration work I have ever seen in any kind of animation... just look at the detail in Spirited Away, and particularly the reflections in the shop windows as Chihiro wanders through the town; simply amazing!!

Ghost in the Shell is not a series but rather a single film and is definitely worth a look if you are into sci-fi - I am of no doubt that the Matrix borrowed some of its ideas from this film. Akira, which has been described as the Bladerunner of anime, is also worth a purchase.

If you want to see how an animation dealing with a serious subject such as WW2 can have an impact equal to, or possibly greater than that of real film with real actors, then look no further than Grave of the Fireflies which is being released on a two disc SE on the 8th of this month. Jin Roh is another such anime that I would also highly recommend.

As for series, some are definitely worth getting but be warned, you are setting yourself up for a debt the size of a small third world country as they can tend to build into large collections of discs.

Hope this helps.

regards, Tim...

It seems to be standard practice nowadays to recommend Cowboy Bebop to someone new to anime. I think it's really good, both in story, art, characters, everything. And I hear its a good dub if you prefer that...

It also depends on what genres of normal films you like, as most of those will be mirrored in anime. If you like sci-fi live action, chances are you'll like a sci-fi anime too, for example.

I really like Digi Charat, but it's not something I'd recommend as an introduction to anime. One of my other favorites, Slayers, I would redcommend, it's got a good story and lots of comedy. If a story doesn't have comedy, I tend to not like it. For example, everyone loves Escaflowne, but because it was never funny, I didn't really care for it. Anyway, you just have to find what makes you happy outside of anime, and chances are there will be a similar anime to your liking.

Nyo.

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=153225

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=210998