Anime Recommendations

[Vantek]

It's because I've been busy with university (and poker yay) for months, and now it's time for a break. Not to say I've done a whole lot of work, but I'm knackered nevertheless. Actually it's not over yet: was supposed to have an exam today... lol now I gotta do that exam next week as well as another one... Nothing critical though. For some reason I simply entered the charge batteries mode a week too early. Just couldn't help it. Didn't have any power remaining I guess. Started punching stuff over the idea of having to do any further little thing whatsoever and gave up. God, feels SO DAMN NICE if you finally let go though XD I remember last year around the same time the exact same thing happened, was utterly and shamelessly laying around for a week, I think I left the house only like once to take out the trash and once to buy stuff so I wouldn't starve. Didn't know about anime back then unfortunately.

I always tage a huge break before rewatching anything. Year at the very least I guess, but usually much longer. If at all possible, long enough to forget almost everything about it, which sadly doesn't happen very often, though I've still been lucky enough to be able to rewatch several great movies without remembering the plot at all so every twist catches me by a surprise again : D I did that just recently actually, but damn, can't remember what the film was.

As for wether it's still good... It depends on the type of film. One that relies heavily on plot twists to create surprise is obviously never as good as the first time (unless you manage to forget everything, which as said has happened a few times to me : D) Other ones can be even better the second time. If you feel like you can enjoy it again, sure, give it a shot.

EDIT: After going over my brothers movies collection to try to remember what the film was I watched recently, I didn't find it, but I remembered another one - The Perfect Murder. I think I might quite possibly had seen it more than once before, but like somewhere withing this year I digged out the VHS and I had seriously managed to forget everything, didn't remember any of the plot, just knew that it was a quite decent thriller. Was very pleased with that one ^^

[Vantek]

Guys I want more lol. Can you recommend anything similar to Claymore? I liked the dark-ish theme.

EDIT: watched like 3 episode of Juuni Kokuki, but it was extremely boring. I kept waiting and waiting for like something to happen, but no. Most of it was just the girl being pathetic and powerless and not knowing what the hell is going on. Even if it does kick off at some point, I really don't think this is going to be what I'm looking for.

[Trikkur]

Similar to Claymore would be Berserk 100%. They are the very "darker" sword wielding animes that people like the most.

[Vantek]

Hahaha, good suggestion, because I'm already at episode 10 ^_^

[Vantek]

Jeesus effin flippin frauding christ, this was the most incredibly humongous cockteaser I have ever seen in my life. After the first episode I was like, YES! THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR! And then it turns to like, some ridiculous medieval chivalry setting?? Okay, well I can take it because this is just the backstory, right? It will turn back to the first episode style againt, right? Okay well this is taking longer than I expected... Okay what the hell is going on, half the series is over, turn back to the damn actual thing! OMG WHAT THE FIRST EPISODE WAS NOTHING LIKE THE REST OF THE SERIES WHICH WAS A NONSENSICAL MESS?!

Oh god, someone must have made this anime solely in order to torture me.

[Trikkur]

The first episode is the last episode of the series actually.

Plus that anime is just the first arch of a much much longer manga, so we miss out on most of the good stuff apparently. It's one of the reasons I hate animes that aren't ended, but it's unfortunately something we have to deal with.

I think you'll probably finish that series up soon, so I've been trying to think of some more to recommend to you. That style of anime isn't actually my favorite so I haven't seen a ton like that. Although I've watched A LOT of anime so I do know some. Hopefully someone else can chime in as well.

Basilisk - This is an anime people on this board recommended me. It's about 2 ninja factions that are trying to kill off the others. They each select like 8 ninjas from their group to kill the other 8 ninjas. All of them have their own special abilities etc. It has an older feel to it like Claymore and Bleach. I thought it was ok, but not spectacular by any means. But since I'm not a fan of the animation style maybe it detracted from my enjoyment of the storyline.

Elfen Lied - This is a bit different than the hack and slash anime you've watched, BUT it's a very dark gruesome storyline that is totally kick ass. Honestly this is the one you should probably watch next. It's one of the more liked animes and ranks pretty highly on most people's list. The first 5 minutes of the first episode are amazing, then it slows down for a few episodes before picking back up, so don't give up right away. Plus it's a short anime anyway so you can get through it in a day or two if you sit down and watch.

GunGRAVE - This is really interesting because the first half of the anime is one style, and the second half is totally different style. The first part is very mob and gang related, but is an awesome story. I actually thought the first half was really amazing. The second half is more guy vs lots of monsters that is also solid, but just not my favorite genre, though it fits yours really good. Be warned, the first episode is actually in the middle of the anime series, so that's why from episode 1 to 2, it makes almost no sense.

[Vantek]

Thanks, both Elfenlied and Basilisk I had already taken note of. I will check out GunGRAVE as well. But my balls are still so bright blue from Berserk, I don't think I'll be able to stomach any action/adventure type or fantasy-heavy stuff for a while.

It's hard to put into words what I liked about Claymore and Berserk (I still liked it despite everything, just it seriously somehow managed to lay me such a groin kick in the end, with everything turning into all-out hysteria and nothing making sense anymore). I guess it was mostly just the dark atmosphere. Code Geass attempted this atmosphere, but everything always seemed just way too absurd to me to the point where I couldn't enjoy it anymore. Especially in Berserk I loved how the charachters were surprisingly credible at times - just like real people who have no clue what they want and are torn between desires. Also they weren't affected by social stigmas of the modern western world. Still it was sometimes absurd as well (which was particularly annoying because credibility was kind of what I liked it for) especially towards the disappointing end.

Oh well. At least I've picked up a few soundtracks. Music is never absurd.

I'm watching Death Note now. Just finished episode 6, enjoying it so far.

[Trikkur]

I thought the music to Berserk was awesome. I have 2 of them as ringtones on my phone right now.

I actually like a lot of anime music. I normally get the soundtracks and then keep the ones I really enjoy on my itunes. Code Geass, .HACK, Berserk, Bleach all have solid soundtracks. I also have picked up quite a bit of individual songs from stuff like FMA, Naruto, Scrapped Princess, FLCL, etc.

Not much to update on my side of things. I'm still trying to get through Bleach. Up to 143 and I think there are like 198 episodes released now. I'll try to finish it in the next 2 weeks and then start watching it week to week like I do Naruto Shippuuden.

Speaking of Shippuuden, this weeks episode was a bit lacking, BUT the fact we finally got some update on the Orochimaru and Sasuke story was awesome. I've been waiting to see them for a while, I really hope we get some of that soon. I think it's so much more interesting than the Akutsuki arch.

I need a recommendation for my next anime after Bleach. I've got pretty much all that people have told me to get, but here's what I'm looking for to watch next.

Either a light hearted comedy. I don't mind even more girly ones like Love Hina or Chobits. Just something that's funny and not super fantasy. Something like Chobits where their are robots is fine, but much past that is too much for now. (I think Full Metal Panic! is a bit too much)

Or a good psychological drama, but something less than 55ish episodes. Pretty much something like Code Geass or Death Note. It doesn't have to be a mystery or extremely dramatic, just something that is more thought provoking than a shounen style anime. I've heard Monster is really good, but I don't want it to be that long right now. Just getting done with Hajime no Ippo and soon Bleach, I want some smaller animes. 26 episodes are preferred, but I'll go up around 50.

If you can match either of those, it would be awesome. Thanks everyone.

[Vantek]

Enjoying Death Note soundtrack right now, but damn, the best tune isn't even on the soundtrack! >_<

I loved the rapid harp tune from Berserk.

Trikkur, have you seen Ghost In The Shell and Cowboy Bepop? For some reason I didn't know about them much but after a recommendation by a RL friend and some research I'm pretty sure I'm going to like them more than anything I've seen so far.

On a side note, digging up something from a few pages ago, has any of you guys ever landed upon anime that was crazy absurd or spoof comedy (uh, like ZAZ or Kurt Vonnegut or Terry Pratchett perhaps)?

[R8tme]

just watched Magic Pacon(Magipako). only 12+3 special episodes, but so funy.
It's about 4 princesses brought to our world and their day by day living
Though I watched with russian guy dubbing it, though you still can hear japanese too. Anime and his dub was just hilarious.
I believe with subs it's still as funny as hell