Schwenkstar

Hi! I unfortunately never watched Anime because I was so closed-minded to that whole entire medium. I thought that all of them are like Pokemon, Dragon Ball Z, and of that ilk causing me to make an unjustifiable stereotype of that medium...

Fortunately, I recently viewed Akira and made this startling discovery: Some anime are actually good!!! I now realize that I was being unfair in my overgeneralizations that I had made in regards to this category of film. I now wish to reconcile this by more fully expanding my knowledge and experience of anime.

I already did research on this subject and compiled a list of Anime Feature Films. I enjoy the more serious films with darker overtones and subject material then the lighter material. Such films I have enjoyed are: Akira, Steamboy, Ghost in the Shell, Ghost in the Shell 2, Neo-Tokyo, Memories, Tokyo Godfathers, and Cowboy Beebop the movie

So I don't really have a problem with locating which anime feature films to watch... Yet I do have a problem locating what anime series to watch. I seem to be unable to find a good database listing good Anime series to view that I could choose from based on my personal taste. Thus, I turn to you...

I enjoy the more serious Anime that is darker in content and tone. I especially enjoy the anime that presents an intriguing mystery and ingenious plot twists and turns.

Do any of you have suggestions for what Anime series I should watch?

Joe Molotov

You might want to check out Kino's Journey. That's one of the few anime series that I've watched in it's entirity, and although it's not for everyone, I thought it was interesting.

The only other ones that I've seen are Cowboy Bebop and Trigun, both of which are also very good, but those are well known.

Mondo Kane

Hellsing

dadaluholla

I think the only one I have watched all the way through was OUTLAW STAR when it was on Toonami. I liked it a lot. Anyone have that dvd set? Any good?

Sweet Baby James

Here are 4 excellent sites that should provide you with a wealth of info-

www.animeondvd.com
www.animenewsnetwork.com
www.animenfo.com
www.animeboards.com

Here is the most reliable anime etailer-

www.rightstuf.com

I highly recommend the following series for more serious fare-

Boogiepop Phantom
Cowboy Bebop
Elfen Lied
Fullmetal Alchemist
Ghost in the Shell:Stand Alone Complex
Gungrave
Last Exile
Neon Genesis:Evangelion(Platinum)
Paranoia Agent
Rahxephon
Serial Experiments:Lain
Texhnolyze
Witch Hunter Robin
Wolf's Rain
X the TV(NOT the movie)

If you don't mind a lighter tone, then I would recommend-

Ah! My Goddess
Escaflowne
Full Metal Panic!
Full Metal Panic! Fumoffu
Heat Guy J
R.O.D. the TV
Samurai Champloo
Tenchi Muyo! the OVA

Welcome to the crazy world of Anime. You're in for a good time, but your wallet is going to hate you.

Kevin M. Dean

Another Anime database site: AnimeDB

Cancer Man

Have anybody heard of the famous series, Patlabour?

And I think it's one of the first anime films I've seen, I think the very confusing plot concerns the Babylon Protect in Tokyo bay and worker robots going on the rampage on building sites. And there is a Police unit that use robot mech warriors to fight patlabour crime or some other crap.

And it was set in the far and distant future of 1999!

slop101

I would highly reccomend Samurai Champloo - if you liked Cowboy Bebop you'll like this, as it's from the same director.

Samurai 7 is also very, very good. It's sort of futuristic update to Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. It has very high production values (it's one of the most expensive anime series ever produced) and it's from the same animation company that did the 2-part rise of the robots Animatrix segment.

Mano

I second most all of the series Sweet Baby James suggested, especially Last Exile, Paranoia Agent, GitS: SAC, and Samurai Champloo (though I wouldn't really consider it lighter in tone as it is very violent and serious, albeit lighthearted at times). One more that I would suggest that is lighthearted, Fooly Cooly.

Also here are a few other really good feature films: Graveyard of the Fireflies, Armitage III Poly-Matrix, Ninja Scroll, Royal Space Force - Wings of Honneamise, and most anything by Miyazaki.

slavetotherave

I have always enjoyed The Dominion Tank Police. I believe it was done by the same guy who did Ghost in the Shell. Be sure it's not the NEW Dominion Tank Police, which I find to be far inferior.

outer-edge

Off the top of my head, for movies, I recommend:
Grave of the Fireflies - very emotional war film, nothing but good characters and storytelling
Patlabor 1 & 2 - more realistic robot movies with political intrigue
Miyazaki films - some lighthearted, but some serious (Princess Mononoke, Naussica, etc.)

Series:
Samurai 7 - I'm loving this, although only three volumes released stateside. Retelling of Seven Samurai, one of my favorite movies
Cowboy Bebop - if you enjoyed the movie, you'll love the series
Trigun - another good series, kind of futuristic old west
Gasaraki - another more realistic robot series with plenty of international politics (and some weirdness)
Record of Loduss War - feels like a Dungeons and Dragons adaption, great fantasy series

RichC2

Serial Experiments Lain
Boogiepop Phantom
Now and Then, Here and There
Cowboy Bebop
Great Teacher Onizuka

Berserk also had its charms.

Also, I know it's a rarity, but I like Spirited Away the best of the Miyazaki films I've seen.. followed closely by My Neighbor Totoro and then Howl's Moving Castle. (Didn't care for Castle of Cagliostro or Laputa. Nausicca and Princess Mononoke had their strong points but weren't the most entertaining movies. Few others I've seen that I can't recall right now)

Also: Grave of the Fireflies

Maxflier

Cowboy Bebop (no-brainer)
RahXephon
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Noir

seisui

I couldn't help noticing that you're missing Perfect Blue in your Anime Feature list. Its a very good psychological thriller (maybe the ONLY psychological anime thriller out there??) directed by the same director as Tokyo Godfathers, Satoshi Kon. If psychological thrillers are your thing then you should also check out his TV series, Paranoia Agent.

Forum Troll

I prefer the old school anime, it may be more to your liking. Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman is a perfect example.

Schwenkstar

Iroincally, I actually already own Perfect Blue since I have read so many good reviews about it... I just haven't gotten around to watching it yet. However, with your added comments it just might have pushed me to watch it now.