Anime Recommendation and Suggestion Query

[DDBen]

What can you guys tell me about this anime called D-Gray man ?

D Gray Man is essentially about a organization of Akuma(Demon) hunters called the Black Order. They use a substance called innocence that only a chosen few Exorcists can wield to kill the Akuma. A Akuma is made when someone grieving over the death of a loved one uses a device provided by the Earl to attempt to resurrect a loved one the result is it basically kills the person that brought them back and wears their skin.

Anyway the series is overall very good. The biggest downside is they inserted a LONG filler arc in the middle of the show. If you can make it past that speed bump the series is very good. Its not the kind of show where the good guys always win. People die constantly and its mainly about Allen Walker and him being forced to continue walking his path no matter what the costs because nobody else can.

I just can't seem to get into it, I don't find the characters associate well with each other, except the Noah clan and the Millenium Earl, and they haven't given me the urge to continue this past 20 episodes.

And that lady with black rings around her eyes is just fucking hideous, I almost skipped whole episodes because of her. She freaks the shit out of me.

Your still in character introduction then they are establishing the Exorcists that exist and attempting to find new ones. The "lady" your talking about Miranda is designed like that because she's going through a repeating hell day after day. She goes away for a while and upon returning is completely redesigned and no longer looks well extremely. Keep watching the pay off in season 3 and beyond is well worth some of the filler and fixes all of your complaints.

[The Heretic Azazel]

Where is the filler exactly? Maybe I'll delete those eps and give it another go. I really do hate series that take 20 episodes to introduce. It's why I don't watch One Piece.

[DDBen]

Where is the filler exactly? Maybe I'll delete those eps and give it another go. I really do hate series that take 20 episodes to introduce. It's why I don't watch One Piece.

Well thats the thing its not like One Piece in that aspect. A character or a new Exorcist they found doesn't simply join Allen. They simply all work for the order and are sent out in teams depending on the job. One of the main jobs being to find new innocence and the people compatible with it who are sent back to the order to have a weapon forged from the Innocence. Most of them are reoccurring characters instead of main ones.

As for the exact filler episodes thats a bit harder to explain. They intermingle filler with the plot. The sometimes introduce people with later importance early to flesh them out for later. The vast majority of the nonmanga content is in season 2 and is any episode that contains the random Maid Akuma those are between 27-50 but I don't know the exact episodes.

[Archangel]

So this filler, are we talking about naruto filler quality here? Because if we are i don't know if i'll be able to bear with it.

[Death BOO Z]

I'm looking for an anime that ends well.
a series that doesn't send me looking for the manga (I'm looking at you, soul eater!) or makes me wait for another season and leaves me with unanswered questions.

something that ties down the plot and puts all the storyline in a nice little box, so I feel satisfied in the end, and not completely pissed off.

length: 13- 26 eps, maybe 52. not more. completed only.
genre: comedy, maybe action. not sports.
notes: something without too much filler crap and repeating plot lines, and not something filled with fanserviece.

[animus]

Toward the Terra, which is quite an overlooked, rather recent series might be something you like if you haven't watched it already.

[Ryllharu]

ARIA - Three seasons (13, 26, 1 OVA, and 13). It's light comedy, covers the manga in the entirety.

Mahoromatic - Two seasons of 13 episodes each, not the best ending, but there is with out a doubt a conclusion. A little fanservice, but nothing that compares to today's standards.

Kono Minikukumo mo Utsukushii Sekai - 13 episodes total, listed right below Mahoro because...the cast is entirely the same plus one additional member. Intentionally similar to Mahoro, better ending.

Busou Renkin - Self-deprecating shonen. Either assaults or outright calls out conventions in shonen and makes fun of them. 26 episodes, covers manga in its entirety.

Hyper Police - Well defined ending, 26 episodes, action and comedy. Monsters and humans living together, bounty hunters, super powers, what more could you ask for?

Outlaw Star - Some comedy, but lots more space combat action!(tm). Coincidentally, Ayako Kawasumi's debut role. 26 episodes.

Mahoraba - Think Love Hina, but with more insane residents, and a landlady with a particular issue. Ends in a comporable way to the manga, the only difference being the manga ends the plotlines of all the side characters and the anime does not. On second thought...maybe you'd enjoy the manga more. 26 episodes.



This request is a lot harder than it sounds. Everytime I think of a good series, with a good mix of comedy and action I hit..."but the manga goes further/does it better," in my head.

[Archangel]

I'm looking for an anime that ends well.
a series that doesn't send me looking for the manga (I'm looking at you, soul eater!) or makes me wait for another season and leaves me with unanswered questions.

What are you talking about?? Soul Eater is a fucking awesome anime and so far it has only reduced the gore a little bit and modified 2 scenes from the manga (the tsubaki panties shot and the rabbit turning into a dragon). I was a little disappointed with the removal of both those scenes but i completely understand the lighter content, this way younger people are also allowed to enjoy this great anime.

Anyway, i'm watching D. Gray-Man now, which is the best group currently subbing this show?

[Death BOO Z]

no idea what you're talking about. (following rumbel uncut episodes, by the way)
thing is, that after a few episodes of soul eater. it hit me.

this is not going to end well. they'll finish the arc and call it season 1, and continue doing a season once every two years, and each season will have more 'junk' episodes (no idea if the episodes were in the manga or not, they're still junk) to fodder between episodes regarding the plot.
there is no way that soul eater will end well in 26 episodes, we won't see all sorts of storylines reaching a decent conclusion, we won't see any character 'growing' into something. it's a tease anime that will leave me with another manga that I'll have to read to 'get' all the story.
it's awesome, sure, but it's a cocktease.

edit: it seems that I was wrong, I falsely assumed that SE will end after 26 episodes, Ryllharu corrected me, so everything I said earlier (highlight for super-rant) is no longer valid.

god dammit.


(note: didn't start the manga yet, waiting to finish anime first)

[DDBen]

Anyway, i'm watching D. Gray-Man now, which is the best group currently subbing this show?

Black Order is the best group that did it but they have disappeared off the face of the Earth. Shinsen's IRC is likely the easiest way to get a good quality sub these days.

[Ryllharu]

Soul Eater is a straight run of 51 episodes (like FMA or similar shows). I actually imagine it will end the same way as FMA. They will end up shortening the storyline and using some ending that is somewhat of a concluding episode, but ultimately leaving it somewhat open.

You know, like practically every series romance, shonen, or otherwise.

[Archangel]

Soul Eater is a straight run of 51 episodes (like FMA or similar shows). I actually imagine it will end the same way as FMA. They will end up shortening the storyline and using some ending that is somewhat of a concluding episode, but ultimately leaving it somewhat open.

You know, like practically every series romance, shonen, or otherwise.

Well i'll be very pleased if they can come up with as a satisfying conclusion as FMA did.

Anyway isn't there a chance they'll keep publishing more episodes if the success of the show continues?

[lelouch]

Lelouch, you want something like a chess-game series? Watch Hikaru no Go if you haven't already seen it. Great series with both depth in story, fighting power and awesome music that creates an unreal atmosphere, you wouldn't believe (unless of course if you've already watched it) :P

Or if you just want good fun watch golden boy or those who hunt elves.

Shinji, when I said chess-like anime, I meant something like where the protagonist and antagonist are like chess players, using a lot of thought and strategy to reach their goals. Something very similar to Death Note or Code Geass. I didn't mean literally a chess anime lollllllll (actually a chess anime wouldnt be bad, but this isn't even chess, its "go" or w.e lol)

I've actually decided to take "thought provoking" animes off my wanted list. I'm just looking for anime very similar to Death Note or Geass.

Thank you everyone for all of those previous suggestions, however I'm not sure which are thought provoking and which are chess-like. It would be really great of I could get some more suggestions, thanks!

[Ryllharu]

Well i'll be very pleased if they can come up with as a satisfying conclusion as FMA did.

Anyway isn't there a chance they'll keep publishing more episodes if the success of the show continues?

They are still most likely going to catch up to the manga by the end of the 51 eps, so there will not be a wealth of material for them to use.

By the sound of things on other forums (not that I can give any details because I simply didn't recognize any of the names they were throwing out) there is a spot that Soul Eater will end at that will make for a sufficient conclusion.

That's why they will end up creating a FMA-style ending (slightly original ending or truncated to make it look like an ending). This is the cause of Death Boo Z's request. He wants to see something that decisively concludes.


EDIT:

@Lelouch:

Go back to my suggestions, and check out Higurashi and RD Sennou Chosashitsu. There are also no literal "game" series in my list, because I don't really find the majority of them all that interesting. The former of this short list will keep you guessing for nearly 36 episodes of 48, and the latter is a mindfuck and a half because it's almost all techno-philosophical.

[shinta|hikari]

@Lelouch - Try the anime Spiral - Bond of Inference. It actually got released before Death Note, so when I was starting to read the Death Note manga, I found myself comparing it a lot to this anime. It is around 25 episodes, and focuses on the main characters solving mysteries. There are also several one on one strategical matches in this show, which I believe is what you are looking for. Death note still has more mind games, but this has its own appeal. Unfortunately, it does not have a "real" ending, and just ends with most of the main plot points unanswered.

[Xrlderek]

Is there anything out there that is similar to Kaiji or Akagi? Other than that I'm looking for anime with strong lead characters. Or an anime with great plot twists. No comedy or romance. There can of course be some comedy and romance, but not as the main plot..
Some of my favorite series:

Kaiji
Akagi
Legend of The Galactic Heroes
Major
Death Note
Hajime no Ippo
Gantz
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
Paranoia Agent
Gungrave

I'm also looking for a good sports anime. Already watched Ookiku Furikabutte, Whistle!, Hikaru no Go and Shion no Ou.

[Death BOO Z]

Slam Dunk.
it's a tad long, and gets carried away with the pacing of each game, but you can't get much better than it. strong lead, quite funny.
that's all I can say for sports.

[animus]

Toward the Terra
Code Geass (Plot twists galore)
Ergo Proxy (might not be your cup of tea)


You have most of the more recent, popular sports watched.
For sports off the top of my head

Maybe Overdrive, it's a bicycle racing anime.
Capeta (Heard good things, haven't watched it myself)
Bamboo Blade (It's about Kendo, haven't watched it either beyond the first 2 episodes)

[Ryllharu]

Strong lead characters and big plot twists:

Kiddy Grade - strong female leads, no romance, super powers and space combat. Plenty of plot twists too boot.
Arc the Lad - A decent lead character, stronger side characters, and some very nice plot twists midway.
Scrapped Princess - Strong male lead character, stronger female side characters, weaker (but certainly well developed) female lead character. Quite a bit of plot twists here and there, in a fantasy setting that is far from what it seems. A tiny bit of romance, but far more action.
R.O.D. (OVA and TV) - Predominantly strong female lead characters, but tons of plot twists, even between the two series. OVA goes first.
Outlaw Star - Headstrong male lead character, close combat spaceship dogfights, strong side characters, and enough twists (but not nearly as many as Kiddy Grade) to keep you interested.
Rozen Maiden - One moderately weak male lead, 4-5 strong female leads in one very strange, living-doll fight to the death. (RM:Traumend and RM:Ouvertuere follow).
Claymore - While the manga is better, the series in no way disappoints. Strong female leads, twists galore in an ever expanding awareness of a world rife with monsters and the warriors that slay them.
Iria: Zeiram the Animation - Short OVA series following the exploits of the bounty hunter apprentice Iria as she tracks down the merciless killer Zieram.
Pumpkin Scissors - Again, strong female lead. Now, Postwar recovery period, where the shadows of war still linger over the country. One military squad, the Pumpkin Scissors, works to alleviate the suffering of the common people.
Berserk - So there's a little bit of romance in this series, but for once on this list, there are more strong male leads than female ones. Medieval war series following the life of Gutts, perhaps the greatest warrior of his time. A classic series that should not be missed by any anime fan. Twisted plot beyond measure.

Strong characters, less plot twists:

Golgo 13 - Series following an infamous assassin of uber-manliness.
Murder Princess - Two strong (in different ways) female leads in a short, 6 episode OVA that's at least amusing, and has some pretty nice combat sequences. Body-swap one Bounty Hunter with one deposed Princess.
Cowboy Bebop - Another space opera of sorts, with an incredibly laid back, but harsh beyond measure when he needs to be protagonist. Another must see in the catalog of anime.

Plot twists, weak characters:

School Days - Yes, outwardly it is a romance series, but I assure you, there are few series as deep and twisted as this.


While I apologize for creating a list of overwhelmingly strong female leads, it is a trend that has been fairly steady in anime. They put strong female leads in the series without a heavy focus on romance, and put either the wishy-washy weaklings or otherwise indecisive strong male leads in the romance series.

[animus]

I've been meaning to redownload the rest of Dennou Coil after episode 4 I guess/, but it kinda just didn't happen since I was a bit underwhelmed. I've heard some good things about it though, does it really get that much better?

And I've never watched Princes Mononoke, which ends up on a good amount of best of lists. How is it?