Anime Recommendation and Suggestion Query

[shinta|hikari]

If I had to rate Dennou Coil according to its progression, it starts at around 6, then slows down to 5, then slowly builds up to 10 (climax) during the latter half, 10 being the highest. This show is quite underrated, mainly because people don't get past the first few episodes. I definitely recommend it.

Princess Mononoke is very good, with great art, imagination and premise. Whether you will like it or not will probably be decided by the plot and its brevity, but you should give it a try.

I've been meaning to watch the ARIA series, but I couldn't get past the first few episodes. Does it get much better? Why is it worth watching?

[Kraco]

Aria is a bit special case. My sig probably reveals already whether I liked it or not personally, but it's certainly not a series for everybody. It's entirely driven by a quite a limited cast of characters, offering little greater plot, no action whatsoever, kind of repeating humour, very little in the way of romance... What it does offer is positive attitude, solid friendship between the characters, everyday adventures and exploring, quite a few funny moments, believable character development, and above all strange kind of warmth.

However, if you were totally disgusted after watching a few episodes from the beginning, I'd guess you won't like it, because the pace of the series won't change that much at all.

[Ryllharu]

Quoting shinta because I can address all three questions.

If I had to rate Dennou Coil according to its progression, it starts at around 6, then slows down to 5, then slowly builds up to 10 (climax) during the latter half, 10 being the highest. This show is quite underrated, mainly because people don't get past the first few episodes. I definitely recommend it.

Princess Mononoke is very good, with great art, imagination and premise. Whether you will like it or not will probably be decided by the plot and its brevity, but you should give it a try.

I've been meaning to watch the ARIA series, but I couldn't get past the first few episodes. Does it get much better? Why is it worth watching?

As for Dennou Coil, I actually think it's closer to the opposite. Starts very strong and goes weaker. It starts around 8, moves down to 6, goes up again to 10 much earlier, and then settles down around 6 through the climax of the series. Part of this may have been because the show was released very slowly, and I simply lost interest in it, but I was expecting something a little more out of the main character, and I never really got it. It is worth watching, but it's not a series I will ever think about watching again.

Mononoke is a Miyazaki film. It's certainly not my favorite (maybe my third or fourth favorite of his films) but as usual, it has that hidden message of some sort or another buried in all his films. Mononoke's message (like Nausicaa's) is just a lot more overt than the other ones. I'm sure everyone ranks Miyazaki films differently.

Kraco answered it very well. ARIA is a special case, as are all slice of life series. You will either love it beyond measure, or wonder how the hell it was given funding and airtime for 52 episodes and an OVA. I might say that if you happened to get through the first season, you just might become attached to the characters enough to want to watch the whole thing. But ARIA is certainly not for everyone, and you shouldn't force yourself to watch something that doesn't really interest you.

There is a manga series often quoted as being incredibly similar to ARIA, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. But for the life of me, as much as I loved ARIA and love cyberpunk series, I can't get into it. At all. The Slice of Life genre has always been a case-by-case basis.

[Xrlderek]

I'll probably try Toward the Terra, Slam Dunk, Rozen Maiden, Pumpkin Scissors, Outlaw Star, Golgo 13 and Capeta.(already watched Code Geass, Berserk, School Days and Claymore, forgot to put a list).
Thanks a lot, I have a lot to watch now.

[shinta|hikari]

I loved Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou, but in its manga form, since I can speed through parts that are less interesting.

I watched Dennou Coil in a batch. so I may have had a different experience from Ryllharu.

[Ryllharu]

I'm just going to throw this out there, since we brought up Miyazaki (and therefore Studio Ghibli) films as well as the slice of life genre.

If you've enjoyed some of Miyazaki's films, and have enjoyed at least one slice of life series in the past, I cannot more strongly recommend you see Omoide Poro-poro (Only Yesterday).

Written and directed by Isao Takahata, one of Miyazaki's peers in Studio Ghibli, it focuses on a series of flashbacks of a woman who has returned to the rural hometown of her relatives. It's an excellent film that doesn't always get the credit it deserves because Miyazaki's name isn't on the title. Very much slice of life, but I caught it during a film "festival" of sorts featuring Studio Ghibli movies. Definitely worth the watch.

[// Malice]

Death Note
Great Anime. Man the ending is so sad on a scale to 1-10 I would give it a 8.9. Death Gods love apples lol.

And also what about Afro Samurai! Samuel L. Jackson ftw. Even tho its only 5 epis its a good 5 worth your time and bandwith.

[Archangel]

I just finished D. Gray-Man, and i'm looking for something else along the same lines as that anime. Anything comes to mind?

[Ryllharu]

So dark, supernatural shonen?

You will probably have seen at least some of these:

Witch Hunter Robin
Gungrave
Darker than Black
Le Chevalier D`Eon - more seinen, some parts are very slow and political
Arc the Lad - tough to find these days
Noein - more sci-fi
Chrno Crusade
Elfen Lied
Ergo Proxy
Hellsing Ultimate
S-cry-ed - more of a typical super-power shonen series, but has much dark elements as the series progresses
Narutaru -Shadow Star-
Claymore
Berserk - of course
Kurau Phantom Memory - heavier sci-fi elements here
Pumpkin Scissors
Tsukihime - TYPE-MOON love
Kara no Kyoukai - a little bit more TYPE-MOON love
Fate/Stay Night - the game gets much darker in the other two arcs the anime didn't cover


as for a series starting this season, you may want to check out
Kuroshitsuji

[Archangel]

Hmmm maybe if i narrow my search: Something not too old with a cool looking dude as the main character ( no naruto "i suck at life" bullshit ) and constant powerups. If i add that which one of those you just mentioned would you recommend Ryllharu?

[// Malice]

Air Gear
Minami “Ikki” Itsuki, is a student and a delinquent. Also known as the “Unbeatable Babyface,” Ikki is the leader of the youth gang by the name of “East Side Gunz.” Upon his return home after being humiliated by a street gang of Storm Riders called the Skull Saders Ikki discovers a secret hidden from him by his benefactors, the Noyamano sisters. The sisters belong to a group of Storm Riders who go by the team name of Sleeping Forest. Keen on helping Ikki to regain his confidence and pride, they supply him with a pair of Air Trecks (abbreviated as “AT”). Ikki eventually settles his grudge with the Skull Saders, but in the process he receives more than the simple satisfaction of revenge. Determined to experience the sensation of “flight” for as long as he can, our headstrong protagonist is quickly sucked into the mysterious, yet irresistible world of Air Treck

The plot doesnt sound so intuitive but recommend watching it.

[Ryllharu]

Hmmm maybe if i narrow my search: Something not too old with a cool looking dude as the main character ( no naruto "i suck at life" bullshit ) and constant powerups. If i add that which one of those you just mentioned would you recommend Ryllharu?

S-Cry-ed is exactly what you're looking for, except for the "recent" stipulation. But if you want more recent, you'll have to go with Darker than Black, which isn't as strong on the "constant powerups."

Shonen series with constant powerups that have darker plot elements usually are not that popular. Of course, now I will also have to toss in Hunter x Hunter, which does get darker believe it or not, though again, not that recent.

[// Malice]

I havent watched much anime so I was hoping to get a few suggestions on what to watch next. And i have read the sticky for recommendations and Im just wondering which ones would fit my style before I waste time getting an anime i wouldnt like.

The ones in red i hated!

What I Have Watched:
Air Gear
Afro Samurai
Death Note
Elfen Lied
Beserk
Ninja Scrolls
Ruroni Kenshin (OAV & TV Series)
Samurai Champloo
Mushi-Shi
Kiba
Full Metal Alchemist
Yu-Yu Hakusho
Bleach
Hunter x Hunter
Hellsing

From what i read in the recommendations sticky this seems to fit what i would enjoy let me know if im wrong.
GunGrave
Hajime no Ippo
Ghost in the Shell
Samuari 7
Full Metal Panic

[Animeniax]

You hated Ninja Scroll? Bad start man.

There's already a thread for this, it's the first sticky on this page.

[// Malice]

Couldnt really get into ninja scrolls....I know there was a sticky for this i read all the pages and i listed the ones that seemed interesting from it and im just asking does it fit my style that i listed.

[The Heretic Azazel]

I'd recommend Mnemosyne, which has lots of monsters/gore/loli yuri (my personal favorite). It's a 6 episode stretch at about 45 mins apiece. Darker than Black was just suggested a few posts ago, it's a pretty good one as well.

And I want to mention Shigurui again. Awesome samurai anime. Though there might be little hope for someone who hated Elfen Lied and Berserk (though Berserk's manga is much better). I just can't imagine.

[Death BOO Z]

From what i read in the recommendations sticky this seems to fit what i would enjoy let me know if im wrong.
GunGrave
Hajime no Ippo
Ghost in the Shell
Samuari 7
Full Metal Panic

now, in order (top is better)
Hajime no Ippo
Ghost in the Shell
Full Metal Panic
Samuari 7

I never watched Gungrave.

Samurai 7 is the only one that I wouldn't recommend you to watch, since it a pretentious pile of graphics.

Full metal panic is very funny, but lacks a bit in plot consistency.
Ghost in the shell is serious business, so watch it in full concentration.
Hajime is just awesome, so watch it.

then watch berserk again, and make sure to turn your brain on, since you were clearly taking some bad stuff last time.

[MFauli]

i just finished Kanon (2006 series), and i wonder if there is more from the same producers. I already saw Clannad and am watching season 2.

[Ryllharu]

i just finished Kanon (2006 series), and i wonder if there is more from the same producers. I already saw Clannad and am watching season 2.

AIR - If you want KEY stories produced by Kyoto Animation (same story and visual style) the only one left for you to watch. AniDB
Munto: Toki no Kabe o Koete - Another similar series produced by KyoAni with at least a similar feel (I can't say I've seen it though). You'll notice the similiarities to Misuzu from AIR. AniDB

For a full list of KyoAni series, see this list:
http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl...oducer&prid=20
However, you might notice that a lot of the series are not quite in the same...vein as the KEY series. Lucky Star and Fumoffu aren't quite the same...

As for the same type of series, there are a few more options.
Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito - a light yuri series, but very much the same supernatural elements to the series that KEY series have. Lots of intertwined stories leading toward each other and back to a single individual. Good animation too.
sola - demons instead of schoolgirls, has a writer from one of the KEY series
ef - a tale of memories (or now airing but neglectfully subbed ef - a tale of melodies)
Uta~kata - similar feel, supernatural air to the series, emphasis on art styles, etc
Okusama was Mahou Shoujo - magical girls grow up to be 25-30 eventually.
Onegai Teacher - aliens and strange diseases
Onegai Twins - same style as above, but less sci-fi vibe
Aishiteruze Baby - somewhat more down to earth issues addressed in this series, but I found it has a similar vibe to the KEY series

[The Heretic Azazel]

I also neglected to mention Claymore, about an organization of women who fight demons. It's a good one.