No wonder you're not feeling anime.

That's so not true I dont know where to begin.

Dont watch that American-friendly localised garbage - get yourself over to anime-suki and watch some proper anime like Death Note. There's an information page for all series on here, just check out random stuff and see what you like (The Skull Man for example).

Also you need to read Jojo - it's important.

http://jojo.highervoltage.net/

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Also if you havent got that Berserk anime boxset - you NEED it, it's tame compared to the manga but that's not difficult. Regardless it's shocking.

http://www.thehawks.org/hawks/bt/index.php?dir=.%2FBerserk

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Check out Macross if you get a chance too;

http://a.scarywater.net/aone/%5BAonE%5D_Macross_Zero_01_05.torrent

All the popular FAT series like Bleach, One Piece and Naruto are pretty fucking brilliant too. I did like "History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi" aswell -

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Paranoia Agent is my recommendation, great psychological drama.

Also, a second nod for Death Note, but I'm barely started with that myself

I'd say Azumanga Daioh and Cowboy Bebop are 'truly worth seeing'. Higurashi ('When They Cry' in the US) was a laugh, Gunslinger Girl seems kinda interesting from the 4 episodes that I've seen, and I haven't really seen anything else that I'd recommend.

edit: and I haven't seen Death Note yet but I've heard nothing but good things about the manga, even from people who aren't normally into that sort of stuff.

The Death Note manga is insanely good - I cant recommend it enough. I'm struggling through Brave Story Shinsetsu in Japanese aswell, fucking Tokyopop licenced it for English but the releases are many months apart - >_<

I'm up to book 15 in Japanese, I cant start againt at book 1 with a 3 month wait in between for the English one! T_T - But if you ever get a chance to pick it up in future I highly reccommend it.

Another shout for Azumanga Daioh - it's hysterical! I cant tell you how I was PMSL at the scene with THAT cat! XD
Great Teacher Onizuka is another excellent series - both the manga and anime.

I have to give a shout for the manga series Cromarty High School aswell;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cromartie_High_School

I was in tears laughing at this one, even on the underground on the way to work I've burst out laughing like a nutter reading this, it should carry a warning!

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I find 90% of all anime to be complete tosh but then you could say that about any medium.

My recommendation: Samurai Champloo. It's absolutely essential - story, animation, music, comedy; it's all perfect.

I'm not big into it, but I do really enjoy the stuff I do get around to watching. I've read all of Love Hina and really enjoyed that, but that's probably not going to be your thing based on this thread.

I'm nuts about InitialD obviously and just love the Manga and Anime. However, if I was to recommend one series out of the few I have watched it would have to be the original Macross. I've got the remastered US release and boy is it something else. It is absoultely essential viewing and frankly is unlike anything else I've ever seen. The term that's bandied around is 'Space Opera' and that pretty much sums it up. If you even half enjoyed Macross Plus (and I hope you watched the series and not the movie adaptation) then you'll love the Macross series.

Looks like I need to check out Death Note. I'm reading the Kandaichi Case Files at the moment, which is fun if a little predictable, still I'm only on book 2 and I like a good murder-mystery . Oh and another vote for JoJo (you have to read it with the book proped in one hand and your fingers contorted into a painfull splayed configuration, but it's worth it)

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"It’s a good time to be alive..." - Nintendo Smashville

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I've got this one:
http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/102618/Macross-Plus-The-Ultimate-Edition/Product.html

Oh and yeah Initial D is heavy!

That's the Macross Plus I have. The transfer of the series is absolutely blinding, I think it must have been remastered. Clean, crisp and vibrant colours. The real let down is the movie transfer which after you've watched the series is essentially unwatchable it's like they've lifted it from VHS or something Infact I couldn't bring myself to watch it even though there are a number of additions above the series.

The original Macross series urinates all over it from a great height though.

History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi is a really enjoyable anime!!! It has far too many GRIME characters for it's own good... they all ooze Ki!

Macross is indeed class nd like Saur says, Macross Zero is definitely worth checking out (it's a prequel to the original series basically). Avoid Macross 7 though, that's acquired taste and only really makes sense if you've seen the rest of the saga (and stick with it until over halfway through the series, it's a slow mover for sure).

Newer anime that are worth checking out are as follows:

The Wings of Rean
Gunbuster 2
FLCL
Overman King Gainer
Code Geass
Beck
Eureka 7
Freedom
Paprika

What proportion of those contain giant robots Cacky?

Did anyone get into Bleach? I've seen half of the first episode and it looks kinda cool. Plus I love the opening titles (I pretty much just keep watching that bit over and over tbh). If anyone can provide me with the opening credits theme music then I will love them forever. I thought it was UVEWworld, but actually it isn't as they did the title music later on in the series. I badly need the first episode title music, legit DRM free download or CD preferably.

I've got the first 4 episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion to watch. That could get expensive if I get into that as I'd have to go for the Platinum releases otherwise I'd feel dirty inside

Ho ho HO! You better get saving then because Evangelion is one of the most influential and important anime of the last 25 years (along with Gundam, obviously).

Bleach was a good series but got sucked into the popularity trap that befalls many manga tie-ins. Basically, the creator ends up padding the anime out as the manga catches up. This translates to a series that has just had its 137th episode and no end is in sight.

One Piece was the same but that was wholly awesome throughout, so I didn't mind. Naruto has also re-invented itself quite nicely too.

The song you're after is "*~Asterisk" by Orange Range and covered the first 25 episodes. I have it knocking around somewhere (some of the OSTs too).

Quite a few of those anime I listed aren't mecha related but you do have to realise that mecha shows are pretty commonplace in Japan.

*Wicked series alert!!!*

You MUST start watching Claymore! O_O
http://eclipse.no-sekai.de/projects/claymore

This series is da shit! Seriously, I'm not saying a word about it - but trust me you'll be totally hooked after 3 eps!

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Cool thanks for the heads up I'll give this one a shot.

You won't be disappointed man -

I just got an email from a friend cursing me for telling him about this because he stayed up all night watching it! XD

I'm not up to date with the latest yet, I've only downloaded 8 eps so far. It seems to start off pretty slowly, but the first episode is just there to set the scene really - but once the character origins and their relationships with eachother kick in you're dragged in completely. It's brilliantly acted and the character artwork is pretty damn gorgeous - even the side-characters look class.

Gotta mention the fight choreography too - she's fucking MINT! I havent watched anime where I've felt compelled to keep re-watching fights in a long time.

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claymore is heavy!!!!!

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Told ya!

I watched up to ep21 over the weekend, it's seriously good stuff! ^^

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Damn I'm halfway through episode 2 at the moment. I have to grab cheaky 5 minute segments here and there when I can. Frustrating way to watch for sure. I need to get to Episode 3 to see how it kicks off, but I'm loving what I've seen so far.

Oh and apologies for the random phone call over the weekend Saur. I'd had rather a lot to drink

What did you say?

I was sitting at home, minding my own business with my evil plotting -

Then I get a call off a lady I don't know, to check and make sure that I exist!
One of Trev's friends follwed by the Madderz himself - at about 12:30am! XD

I want to blow up over Claymore but it will ruin it for those of you still watching. I've seen up to ep21 and it's consistantly top-notch, it's when you get to the Teresa Saga (you'll know when you get there) - THAT'S when it becomes absolutely fucking brilliant.

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I just called to say I luurrvvvv yyyooouuuuu....?

I'm on episode six btw, I love it.
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Well I have most of them downloaded now, used my works laptop which then synced them to the works server this morning when I logged on Ooooops! Hopefully nobody will notice.

Claymore is probably, the best anime I've seen since, er... Death Note.

It's been adapted from the 10-volume series and runs for 26 episodes. I'm nearly upto speed with it, I've been championing it's cause, since anyone who has a passing interest in the genre ought to check it out.

IMO, like.

I didn't like Death Note it's so slow paced for me.

I'm thinking of giving Beserk a tryout next after Claymore I hear they're very similar.

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Well checking stuff out is now a doddle thanks to www.tv-links.co.uk

Yes it's illegal, but frankly fan-subbed anime that doesn't have a comercially available English release is fair game in my twisted morality.

A lot of the time now the worst thing that can happen is English licencing!

Like I love Brave Story to death, since the licencing and Tokyopop release there have been no online translations. Now I have a choice; learn enough Japanese to struggle through the original books, or put up with the 1 chapter every 4 fucking months from Tokyopop! >_<

This is torture!

Berserk is fucking amazing Ginger! Seriously, it's nothing compared to the depths of hell the manga takes you to but that's not to say the anime is not utterly horrific. You'll be dragged all the way through to the end without being able to stop watching.

SINGHO - Send my Berserk DVDs to Ginger will ya!

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Too true. It's not only that, but I take umbridge at the cost of Anime. I know the distribution isn't going to be as hot as the latest crap from Hollywood, but seriously the prices they're asking for are just insane for a few episodes. You have to be seriously addicted with a healthy bank balance to purchase your way through a series on PAL DVD these days.

Finished Episode 2 of Claymore last night and had to control myself not to rack out Ep. 3. The second episode was a bit slow at the end, but fills in a fair chunck of back story, so I can forgive that. Raki or whatever his name is was beginning to get on my tits at the end, but I suppose he's just doing the snivelling child thing for now. Roll on Ep. 3.

Everything will fall into place soon man ^^

Raki has an important purpose, he's not just the typical whiny little shit - trust me as soon as you watch the Teresa saga you'll blow up!

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get me teresa is savage ep 6 is was like

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Yeah, Raki is annoying and he's one of the things that drags the series down for me personally. He was one of the reasons I almost stopped watching the show after the end of episode 4. At that point I couldn't roll my eyes any more if I had tried. But thankfully I carried on and then they decided to do the Teresa arc which as Saurian said is absolutely ace and got me back into the series in a big way. From going from almost dropping it to being totally hooked by episode 8, such is the quality of that little arc. I almost wished they had started the show with it.

The manga is still ongoing too(12 volumes and counting), but like Berserk the chapters come out every month or so. From what I've read it's taken a couple of years to get to its current point in the story and it'll be a couple of years more until it's finished. It also seems that the anime might be heading for an original ending so it might well be worth checking the manga after finishing with the anime.

As for my part I'll make some recommendations on a movie (since most of of those gingerj listed seem to be/are movies). Toki Wo Kakeru Shoujo for an anime movie worth watching. I absolutely fell in love with this movie after seeing it for the first time. Fantastic stuff. Fairly recent too. There's also 5 centimeters per second which is Makoto Shinkai's(Beyond the clouds, Voices of a distant star) latest. Paprika and Tekkon Kinkreet have also gotten good reviews but for my part I haven't seen them yet.

I watch a lot of anime shows which make up most of my viewing nowadays and yeah most of them are bad. I'm gonna recommend a show that I've been enjoying more than Claymore (bearing in mind I'm not as keen on Claymore as some of you, still like it mind you). It's called Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann and it really is one of the most fun shows I've seen in ages. It's a mecha show but not really of the "realistic" variety. I forget the term they have for it... anyway it's colourful, high energy, and well animated (for the most part). It's cheesy but in a good way, like One Piece (has a similar sort of fun adventure feel to it). Seriously just watch it, I'd recommend it to everyone in the thread really. I imagine the people here will lap up characters like Kamina. Saurian in particular if some of his posts on here are anything to go by .

http://www.datorrents.com/download.asp?id=25050 <-- h264 batch of eps 1 - 13

http://www.datorrents.com/download.asp?id=25049 <-- xvid batch of 1-13

It's currently at episode 22 but the group I linked to have only gotten up to 13 at the moment. There are subs available for episodes 14-22 though. Just search for lagann on tokyotosho. There's only about 5 more episodes left.

Nice one for those recommendations ^^

I'm always on such a Fantasy/RPG style flavour that I overlook mecha shows whenever they come along. I'll definetly give Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann a shot - man, I'm trying to read and watch far too many things all at once >_<

When Metroid Corruption arrives it's going to screw up everything even further (in a good way though!)

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Gurren Lagann is a super robot show and it is indeed good, but you should check out FLCL and Top o Nerae 2 as well. It's by the same team.

Hehe. I hear that.

I seem to take on far too many books, games, mangas, anime shows, tv shows and whatever else I'm into at any one time. There's just not enough time in the day to get through all this stuff!

Yeah what we need to be able to do is download stuff Neo style. That would save a lot of time.

Finished episode 4 last night and that was pretty rocking if a little predictable. Looking forward to where they're going to take it in terms of the bad guys now. I mean they've already covered REALLY BIG and REALLY POWERFUL in eps 3 and 4, so topping that is going to be tricky. Maybe some sort of organised Yoma army?

Oi you aint seen anything yet if you think that's really powerful!

I watched up to ep 11 last night round my mates drum, and I was shocked.

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I hear that man - I watched ep22 last night and the guy they're fighting is so overwhelmingly powerful! I can't take watching this one ep at a time so I'm going to have to stop until I have all 26 downloaded, the point they left it at the end of ep22 was so cruel >_<

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Yeah my mates watched ep 22, the second it downloaded I walked out of the house. I was like safe, I aint havin' anything spoilt! ;p

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This brer I know destroyed the whole Teresa saga for me, the stupid titwank told me what happens after I mentioned I'm watching Claymore.

He's such a knob, he always does this! >_<

Like a friend and I were sitting there watching Jojo (the bit when Jojo is playing poker against D'arby), then this idiot walks in and immediately states what Jojo's hand is!

I could kill him!

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Rigardo is all kinds of FILTH!!!1! The ending for Claymore 22 was CRUEL, no two ways about it.

I could've cried... I vant to see more.

AHHH spoilers!!! I dunno who Rigardo is!!!! My eyes!!!!

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Soz, not really a spoiler as such man, although how does one amend post here - can it be done?

You should be able to edit your own posts now. We don't have a spoiler tag, but you can use the color tag ([.color=white]some text[./color] without the dots) to make text white.

e.g. Spoiler This is a spoiler like that.

I don't see an Edit button, mate. Is I doing something wrong?

I think it's disabled if someone has already replied to your post. This prevents things getting out of context I suppose. Just a 'feature' of Drupal.

It's ok bleeders I forgive you!

I can't believe though I have to wait years for this thing to be completed. If the manga isn't done and they only come out once a month, I'll be like 30 till it starts again.

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Oi. Being 30 isn't so bad (or even 31).