Code Geass
Death Note
Mushishi

Whats yours? 

It was recently shown on the big screen again at selected cinema's as it's been re-dubbed. Not bad for a movie made in 1988 and the only Anime I know of to be shown in a cinema in the UK.

Anyway for me, in order; Spirited Away, Akira, Ghost In The Shell, Patlabor and Princess Mononke.

Also TB2086 aka 科学救助隊テクノボイジャー (whatever that means).

They're more kids/teen shows but I'm not into what most western people classify as anime.

Also it goes without saying that the Japanese versions of these may not be quite what I have seen. eg. They often seem to have very different intro songs there that bear no resemblance to what I heard. This matters since I really like the audio and music work in both.

Naruto Shippuden - Naruto all grow'd up, the writing is impeccable

Bleach - Death gods society. Wish they concentrate more on earth though

Death Note - So high concept, so smart

Mushi-shi - it's pokemon, but the art style is so good

Full Metal Alchemist - really good actions

Dragon Ball (not Z) - Sci-fi Monkey's Tale. Who wouldn't love that?

InuYasha (& Final Act) - Demons, big swords, school girls, nuf said?

Robotech - What boy's mind wouldn't be blown by transforming robots?

Cowboy Bebop - Friggin' cowboys in friggin' spaaaaace

Case Closed - Murder mysteries... for kids lol

Akira - Love the neo-punks

Pricess Mononoke - Great animations from the master

2 hours ago,W3bbo wrote

This thread is symptomatic of Japanese animation exceptionalism. Why single out Japanese cartoons in particular? Why reinforce the myth that other countries are incapable of producing cartoon animation that doesn't cater to children? AniRecs, I'm going to call you out as a weeaboo.

In that case, the Flintstones über alles!

2 hours ago,W3bbo wrote

This thread is symptomatic of Japanese animation exceptionalism.

The OP asked about anime, which is simply the Japanese word for cartoon (animation); it's used for any animation, including western. It's you who read it to mean only Japanese.

Anyway, some of my favourites:

The Vision of Escaflowne - the series, not the movie; best anime soundtrack ever.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - especially 2nd GIG, which had a more cohesive story than the first season

Code Geass - though I hated how half of the battles went like "oh no, there's no way we can win; but wait, we have an ace up our sleeves: this new technology that no one has mentioned before!" Deus ex machina, anyone?

Love Hina - pretty girls and lots and lots of physical violence at the expense of the protagonist; what's not to like? Plus I get to go "ooh, I know where that is" in all the episodes set at Tokyo University

On the western side: Animaniacs and Freakazoid. Nothing will ever beat the WB/Spielberg cartoons of the 90s!

2 hours ago,Minh wrote

Death Note - So high concept, so smart

I kind of wish there were a Death Note drama series. Each episode would be the main character trying to discretely get out of a mess.

I forgot to mention Yu Yu Hakusho,Rurouni Kenshin, Cowboy Bebop, Tenchi Muyo, Card Captor Sakura, Naruto Shippuden, and Digimon (seasons 1-3)

West side: Family Guy, Dexter's Laboratory, Animaniacs, The Batman, Batman Beyond, Spiderman, Ghostbusters, Magic Schoolbus

15 hours ago,Minh wrote

Princess Mononoke - Great animations from the master 

Excellent movie. Pretty much every Studio Ghibli production is worth seeing.

13 hours ago,Sven Groot wrote

Love Hina - pretty girls and lots and lots of physical violence at the expense of the protagonist; what's not to like? Plus I get to go "ooh, I know where that is" in all the episodes set at Tokyo University

My wife's roommate in college was big into that one. I enjoyed the pretty girls and the humor.

My wife also likes Fruits Basket, fun teen romance/comedy.

@AniRec- I'm amazed that you haven't seen Akira. It's still my favorite sci-fi anime.

Most recently, I've been watching Angel Beats. First few episodes were nothing special, but it's starting to get good.

Demon King Daimao seemed interesting until the girls' skirts kept flying up or getting torn off. Sadly this is probably 80% of anime I've tried in the past few years.

The last series I watched was Planet of the Beast King. Really cool idea, entertaining storyline, and then super-rushed in the last 3-4 episodes. It was 11 episodes and could have easily been 20 and had better pacing.

1 day ago,Sven Groot wrote

*snip*

On the western side: Animaniacs and Freakazoid. Nothing will ever beat the WB/Spielberg cartoons of the 90s!

Tch! Whilst such epic series such as Dangermouse and Count Duckula are still widely available the '90s WB/Spielberg stuff will have to reluctantly accept second place to the sheer awesomeness that was Cosgrove Hall.

50 minutes ago,AndyC wrote

*snip*

Tch! Whilst such epic series such as Dangermouse and Count Duckula are still widely available the '90s WB/Spielberg stuff will have to reluctantly accept second place to the sheer awesomeness that was Cosgrove Hall.

If Andy is taking part in this thread, I might as well share my favourite pieces of animaiton:

• Monkey Dust - Very dry, wry, and subtle.
• David Firth - Whilst most people know him for Salad Fingers and Burnt Face Man, I think his other works, like Alan and Devvo (not an animation) are much underrated.
• Daria - One of the very few intelligent things to come out of MTV. I will mark it down for the small number of one-dimensional and simplistic characters (such as Jake) but fortunately they aren't protagonists.
• Superjail and Ugly Americans are good as well.

4 hours ago,W3bbo wrote

*snip*

If Andy is taking part in this thread, I might as well share my favourite pieces of animaiton:

I was unaware my blessing was necessary. I'll partake of a few more threads, just to help out.

21 minutes ago,AndyC wrote

*snip*

I was unaware my blessing was necessary. I'll partake of a few more threads, just to help out.

I see you as my moral superior, Sir.

Superjail is incredible whe you can freezeframe and look at all of the intricate detail going on behind the action.

Also, Venture Bros. and the short lived but awesome "Lucy, Daughter of the the devil".

East: Ninja Scrolls (film and TV series, including the unofficial "sequel"), Heat Guy J, Ghost In The Shell (TV Series & films), Blue Submarine No. 6, Cowboy Beebop, Read Or Die, Akira and Everything by Studio Ghibli.

West(ish): M.A.S.K., Thundercats, X-Men: the Animated Series, Mysterious Cities of Gold,... loved Dangermouse and Animaniacs

And of course Transformers and Voltron (Lion Force)

I'll probably thing of more.....