Should I try Anime?

Lorri_L

Hi
My boyfriend is a self confessed anime addict, and keeps trying to get me to watch them. I haven't as yet, and to be honest have very little interest. I like films but the idae of watching something that looks like pokemon doesn't really appeal to me. Should I give it a shot?

Retr0gamer

You shouldn't be put off by how it looks. It may be a animated but the films can be just mature as anything live action. There is a lot of anime drivel but there are a lot of classics as well 9 just like 'ordinary cinema'. You might also be surprised by how much modern cinema has ripped off anime recently. Watch some of the true classics such as princess mononoke, ghost in the shell, spirited away, wings of honneamise and perfect blue before you watch any obscure stuff. I'd particularly recommend Grave of the Fireflies, it will certainly change your opinion.

Crucifix

I agree, try watching the well-known, acclaimed ones mentioned above.

Jimi-Spandex

To add to Retro's movie suggestions, I'd suggest a few tv series to watch

Cowboy Bebop
Samurai Champloo
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Trigun

kyp_durron

Would you be able to rent anime from xtra vision/ chartbusters and the like?

honru

Watch a Studio Ghibli film (such as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Grave of the Fireflies, etc.) and see what ye think. They'd make a great introduction.

Lorri_L

Ok I actually have decided to watch one and give it a try. Thanks!

Hugh Hefner

Tell us if you liked it.

maquiladora

Spirited Away would be a good introduction.

Pugsley

Spirited Away would probably be the best anime film to start with, but as for anime series, Full Metal Alchemist is probably the best series of anything to date, a better story line than any acted series, and the charecters are simply brilliant.

Lorri_L

Believe it or not I have spirited away at home because he lent it to my little sister, so I might watch that on my own.

monkeyfudge

Satoshi Kon's stuff is great too.

Tokyo Godfathers would be another film I'd recommend for a new-comer. Even my mother watched and enjoyed that one.

Lorri_L

There is meant to be one that is quite emotional and very sad. I think I would enjoy that one, anybody know what it is?

monkeyfudge

Lorri_L wrote:

There is meant to be one that is quite emotional and very sad. I think I would enjoy that one, anybody know what it is?

That might be Grave of the Fireflies. It's about 2 kids trying to survive in the aftermath of the firebombing of Tokyo.

Lorri_L

No it wasnt that, it was one thats meant to be even funnier

monkeyfudge

My Neighbour Totoro has some funny bits and some sad bits in it.

It's about 2 girls and their father who move to the countryside while their mother is sick in hospital. There they meet strange creatures known as Totoro.

Beruthiel

Ghost in a Shell is by far my favourite, first one I ever watched and was hooked after that

Makaveli

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series is far better than the film imo. You should check it out if you haven't already.

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=506 for those that don't know.

Kur4mA

First series:

Fullmetal Alchemist imo. Great fun but quite emotional too at times which sounds like what you're after and then move onto something like Last Exile then Twelve Kingdoms. All of these have really great characters and story lines with some emotional highs and lows.

First movie:

I would advise Spirited Away as a first, and then move onto other classics such as Akira then Ghost in the Shell and also Jin Roh.

Retr0gamer

Last Exile got far too dull for me about a third into the show. I enjoyed it but some of the characters were annoying and it didn't live up to the excellent beginning.

~Rebel~

yeah for films the ones everyone is mainly recommending i can only second. All great movies which anyone should like regardless of their opinions of anime, simply because they're fantastic! Ghost in the shell, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Perfect Blue would all be enjoyed by pretty much everyone i assume. Might even find a cinema still showing Howls moving castle which is also pretty good. For series i personally love cowboy beebop, samurai champloo and ghost in the shell stand alone complex. these are the only series have seen so cant comment on others but i hear great things bout Evangelion.

Retr0gamer

Evangelion promised lots but didn't go anywhere. You feel cheated by the end of it. Still liked it.

Pugsley

Makaveli wrote:

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series is far better than the film imo. You should check it out if you haven't already.

Agreed, didnt think much of Ghost in the Shell the film (have only seen the first one mind), but the series was excellent. The Patlabour series was also excellent, the films for Patlabour were very good too, if quite slow moving.