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Anime introductions
	Topic by: Pussinboots Posted: June 25, 2003 - 8:56 AM PDT Last Reply: September 12, 2003 - 3:15 PM PDT

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author	topic: Anime introductions
Pussinboots	post #1  on June 25, 2003 - 8:56 AM PDT   I've seen a fair bit of anime by now, but I still often ask myself - What titles would I recommend to someone to introduce them to anime? This is subtly different from hneline1's posting regarding people's favorite anime. For example, FLCL, while interesting, might not be entirely representative of what anime has to offer. Right now, I'd lean towards starting people off with either Crest of the Stars, or maybe Escaflowne, but I thought I would throw out the question to the masses!
Cinenaut	post #2  on June 25, 2003 - 10:54 AM PDT   I'm still an anime newbie, but I think it would really depend on the person's interests and inclinations. Does she like science fiction? fantasy? giant robots? I would recommend some Miyazaki.
RHorsman	post #3  on June 25, 2003 - 11:25 AM PDT   Urotsukidoji? More seriously, it really depends on the person. Th' wife, for instance, was indifferent to Cowboy Bebop, enjoyed Miyazaki, loved Ranma, and hated Urusei Yatsura. I'm bored to tears by the Gundam stuff I've seen. Some people could be won over by Lain, others would run screaming from anime forever. The thing to remember is that anime is a medium, not a genre. So introduce a comedy fan with a comedy anime, a science fiction fan with science fiction, etc.
Pussinboots	post #4  on June 26, 2003 - 8:21 AM PDT   You're absolutely right when you say that anime is not a genre, and it definitely does depend on the tastes of the individual. But I was thinking more along the lines of someone coming to the site thinking "What is this anime stuff anyways?" and being able to find some interesting titles to start off with. Lain is certainly a good example - If I didn't know the tastes of the person really well, I wouldn't recommend it as an option. But I think that just like one might put down Star Wars or maybe the Godfather from the mainstream as opposed to... I don't know... Blue Velvet? There are probably some staple anime series out there as well. That's not to say that mass appeal is best, but it just comes back to recommending series that in general people have found interesting. (P.S. as a bizarre side note, I once hooked someone into anime using 'F3' of all things...)
Pussinboots	post #5  on June 26, 2003 - 8:25 AM PDT   Hayao Miyazaki's films are a good example I think of good 'break in' anime. They are very well drawn, and have themes that appeal to adults and kids alike and won't leave you twitching from psychological damage the same way Perfect Blue might... ;)
Pussinboots	post #6  on June 26, 2003 - 8:35 AM PDT   One last item (and then I promise I'll stop replying to my own thread!) Some of this discussion has already taken place under the Anime that make you go hmmmm... / Serial Experiments Lain vs. Boogiepop Phantom Deathmatch : ) thread. Not exactly where I would have expected to find it, but it's there nonetheless! :)
syntax	post #7  on June 26, 2003 - 10:22 AM PDT   It seems that most of the anime folks here at GC like Rurouni Kenshin.
larbeck	post #8  on June 26, 2003 - 10:41 AM PDT   >won't leave you twitching from psychological damage the same way Perfect Blue might... ;) > --------------------------------- If it is some who thinks all cartoons are for kids, try "Barefoot Gen". They deserve a bit of psychological damage. If they like scifi and powerful female images, yet a certain amount of psycho-drama, try "Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040". If they have a warped sense of humor and appreciate the female form, try "Agent Aika". It ain't hentai, but a rediculous amount of white cotton panties are exposed as a running gag and it is hilarious. Another good one is "Twlight of the Cockroaches". It is about a depressed man who lost the love of his life and the civiliation of cute cockroaches who live in his filthy apartment. Then he falls in love again. Poor Naomi - the cute cockroaches with her mini-skirt, go-go boots, and helmet of chitin. If they ever were in a garage band and are now going into middle-aged or love someone who fits that describtion, then you can't beat "Legend of Black Heaven. Unless they absolutely hate hard rock. Then show them "Prefect Blue" and "Demon Warrior Koji" . Keep the restraints and tranquilizer gun handy. Almost everyone seems to like a "Cowboy Bebop" episode or two. If she like silly love stories, then you can go wrong with "Ah! My Goddess". Say away from "Serial Experiment Lain", "The Excel Saga" "Neon Genesis Evangelion", "Maze of the Megaburst Space" or either of the "Bible Black" or "Cool Devices" series. Not for the beginners. Wait until she has been thoroughly addicted to otakudom before you graduate to the hard stuff.
jeffs	post #9  on June 26, 2003 - 12:47 PM PDT   I completely agree that Lain is not the first anime series anyone should see, but you wouldn't recommend Excel or Eva? I'm fairly new to anime myself, but I have to say that my favorite series to date are: Key the Metal Idol Eva BGC 2040 Excel Saga I think if someone is more of a stupid comedy type of person, Excel might not be a bad series. As for Eva, even though the ending might be a little out there for people that watch traditional TV, I thought the beginning would be excellent to suck them in. It has a little of everything, and personally I thought the characters were a refreshing change from what you normally see. Then once they are sucked in they get to experience something really out there. I also agree with Crest of Stars. I don't think you can go wrong with that, but I do disagree with Cowboy Bebop. Apparently it's just me, but I really totally unimpressed with what I've see so far. Thankfully that wasn't the first anime that I ever watched. > Say away from "Serial Experiment Lain", "The Excel Saga" > "Neon Genesis Evangelion", "Maze of the Megaburst Space" or either of the "Bible Black" or "Cool Devices" series. Not for the beginners. Wait until she has been thoroughly addicted to otakudom before you graduate to the hard stuff. > ---------------------------------
dwhudson	post #10  on June 26, 2003 - 12:51 PM PDT   > But I think that just like one might put down Star Wars or maybe the Godfather from the mainstream as opposed to... I don't know... Blue Velvet? It was right about here that an idea hit me: "Anime Introductions" (or some similar title) would make a great list if, um, anyone got the urge. Something along the lines of... If you like... [live action movie] ... you might like... [anime title] Or, if you like... [live action movie] ... you might like... [anime title] I'd do it myself if I had a mere fraction of the anime expertise most of you have (though many of you have turned me on to some great stuff - it's just that I've probably got years of viewing to catch up with!). Anyway. Just an idea I thought I'd toss out there. Could be fun.
RHorsman	post #11  on June 26, 2003 - 2:18 PM PDT   > On June 26, 2003 - 12:47 PM PST jeffs wrote: > --------------------------------- > > I completely agree that Lain is not the first anime series anyone should see Actually, if Lain had been the first thing I'd seen or been shown, I would've gotten into anime a lot sooner. But maybe that's just me. Also I think maybe I came off a lil' harsh above. Sorry PiB! I'd definitely go with the Miyazaki recommendations here, or maybe Only Yesterday", to show how anime can enhance a simple "real life" story. HK bootlegs of the LD abound on eBay, but I've also heard rumors of a DVD release next year.
AviusViator	post #12  on June 26, 2003 - 7:28 PM PDT   Well, until someone gets around to making the list dwhudson suggested, perhaps this will help. Anime News Network has a list in their forums: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/bbs/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1628 Why reinvent the wheel right? Its a good list, with suggested anime for each genre. If nothing else, its a good start. Hope that helps!
larbeck	post #13  on June 26, 2003 - 9:15 PM PDT   > On June 26, 2003 - 12:47 PM PST jeffs wrote: > --------------------------------- > > I completely agree that Lain is not the first anime series anyone should see, but you wouldn't recommend Excel or Eva? I was thinking that all of the cultural references in "Excel Saga" would be waste on a newbie. But then, you have a point, there is So Much in "Excel Saga" that is funnier, maybe... I dunno about Eva. It is so unique, so weird and perhaps the fact that I am an older person and so many members of my age group are so damned closed mind, pig headed, and mundune, I was thinking it might be better to get the newbie more indoctorinated before setting them up for Anno, uh, Big Artist Mind Rape, to curb my language a bit.
markhl	post #14  on June 27, 2003 - 3:47 AM PDT   Hmmm... i wonder.. if Lain is what the person gets sucked into anime by, they may be sorry to find out that it really is more like an exception to the category than representative of what most anime are like. Excel... just keeps popping up left and right for me somehow yet I manage to avoid it - my head is still dizzy from the 1 minute trailer that I saw of it. But, parody series like Excel... and Nadesico are really for audiences who've seen more anime first - otherwise, you wouldn't get 1/2 of the jokes no? I'm with larbeck regarding Eva being perhaps not thebest introduction to anime to most people - although the right 'newbie' may be completely blown away by it. (for e.g. a person who liked Robotech as a kid but never have seen other anime - there are more of these people than you think actually) So, we come back to the 'know your newbie' theory of anime introduction. Be pretty careful in your selection however as first impressions are hard to get over if they are bad and anime has some rather negative misconceptions to it already - it's either cartoons for kids or have naked girls running around all the time (according to one of my friends from a while back :))
markhl	post #15  on June 27, 2003 - 3:54 AM PDT   you know.. i keep forgetting about RK during these discussions (weird no? considering my current icon :) I emphasize 'current' since a new icon may be coming soon to a store near you ). It'd probably be a great intro for people who liked some of the samurai-type of films or have some interest in that type-frame of japanese history. > On June 26, 2003 - 10:22 AM PST syntax wrote: > --------------------------------- > It seems that most of the anime folks here at GC like Rurouni Kenshin. > ---------------------------------
dwhudson	post #16  on June 27, 2003 - 4:52 AM PDT   >>>http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/bbs/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1628 > > Why reinvent the wheel right? Thanks, AviusViator! It is a job well done, no doubt about it. Maybe I'll keep playing with this idea, though; it'd be fun to have a list somewhat along these lines here. I'm thinking of someone who comes to GC for the indies or the Bollywood or etc., etc., etc., and sees that a major topic of conversation is anime and thinks, "Ok, where do I get started?" So I'll keep the idea simmering...
dwhudson	post #17  on June 27, 2003 - 5:18 AM PDT   > Urotsukidoji? > Actually, this actually was sort of my second introduction to anime. First time around, I didn't realize that what I was watching religiously was anime. I think Cinenaut mentioned in another topic that he'd watched Gigantor as a kid; I did, too. And Speed Racer. Loved 'em both and I still remember finding a pile of scrap metal in our neighborhood and deciding to build my own Gigantor. Can't remember, though, how long it took for me to give up. Anyway, though I knew these shows came from Japan, at that age -- and I mean, really, really young -- I didn't really think of them as being in a genre separate from other shows I watched; they were simply my favorites, that's all. So many years pass and I'm in Munich and go to a party in maybe... 91 or 92. And there, being projected on the wall was some of the wildest animation I'd ever seen. I got the host to write down the title: Urotsukidoji. I think I found the manga, too (in German, probably), but the point is, it didn't scare me away from anime, to say the least. On the contrary. I've since read that a lot of otaku hate that film for what it did to anime's rep in the US for several years there, so I kind of cringe to admit it, but there it is. But before I could really pursue this new interest, another distraction came along: the Internet. I was lost not only to anime but to just about everything else for quite a while after that...
larbeck	post #18  on June 27, 2003 - 12:17 PM PDT   I think the most important thing that I would want all newbies to understand about anime is that is so varied. Almost as varied as film-marketing itself. "Know your newbies" is sooo right - although it does sound like a bad David Letterman routine (heehee, sorry, could not resist, I've watched ViewAskew and they do warp you a bit). But "Pokemon" is not "Spirited Away", "Evangelion" is not "Slayers", "Card Captor Sakura" is not "Cardcaptors", "Agent Aika" is not "dotHack//SIGN", but "Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040" is the BEST! Apologies to the late, great Frank Zappa.
markhl	post #19  on June 28, 2003 - 10:02 AM PDT   Hmmm.... just out of curiosity, if you HAD to choose between Lain and BGC, what would you choose larbeck? what would you choose...
Pussinboots	post #20  on June 28, 2003 - 1:11 PM PDT   Hmmm... Since there's some of this thread in the Lain vs BP thread, I suppose we can have the reverse... I must admit I preferred Lain over BP (*gasp*) yes, yes, it's true... Both were pretty far out there in their own way, but I'd say I was able to connect a little bit more with the techno-cyber/getting lost in the virtual reality side of things rather than... (how DO you describe it?)... er... the unique experience that was BP. All in all, I must admit I tend to go for lighter fare!

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