Essential Anime
Sometimes, love em or hate em, there are shows you just have to watch.
Just as it is essential to eat certain healthy foods to maintain life, and it is essential to study if you want to score well on tests, there are certain anime that, as an anime fan, are essential to watch. (shit analogy, I know.) They aren’t necessarily shows everyone will love, as there’s really no show that everyone will love, but are shows you’d have to give at least a try lest you miss outon something you’d potentially love. In this post I will not be mentioning any Hayao Miyazaki, Satoshi Kon, or GAINAX shows because, well, that’s just too obvious. Here are some other anime that anyone and everyone should give a shot for one reason or another (in no real order).
1. Macross
I am not nearly as qualified to talk about Macross as, say, ghostlightining, but it needs to be mentioned. Macross has influence and popularity second only to Gundam in the history of anime culture. This 80s anime from director Shoji Kawamori fused epic space battle with a romance love-triangle – a fusion that was totally alien to anime at the time. Macross, like Gundam, has spawned an assload of series over the years (though not nearly as many) and is widely regarded as a classic. The show was only just recently released in it’s original form in America thanks to copyright issues involving the dub version, Robotech. Robotech was brought to America in the late 80s (I believe) on Toonami and was a slightly different version in which both of the female leads were total bitches.
Whichever version you see, though, Macross is a show that’s hard not to love. The story is engrossing and interesting with plot elements that feel fresh even by today’s standards and classic characters you will never forget. I had first gotten into Robotech when I was a newbie anime fan years ago and even though I usually strayed away from older-looking anime I still fell in love with Robotech. I even bought some of the games, though the Gamecube ones kind of sucked (and I sucked at them). Also like Gundam, Macross is so integral to anime’s backbone that it is near impossible not to find it’s influence and references in modern shows.
2. Rose of Versailles
Most of the best anime of the 70s and 80s can be attributed to the genius directing of Osamu Dezaki (Rose of Versailles, Space Adventure Cobra, Ashita no Joe) who has since only directed the Air and Clannad movies (which is so very strange.) Somehwere in the midst of all the kids shows and space operas of the time, Dezaki directed what remains one of the most original anime ever. Well, while original for anime, the story is classic – being that of Marie Antoinette. Rose of V is a very surprising show in that it is definitively shoujo but has badass sword fights, a super-GAR heroine (who is referred to as a man so much that it’s hard not to think of her as one) and puts all the drama and catfights into historical and political context. There is a little something in this show for all viewers, and Oscar is just such an insane badass everone will have to fall in love with her (even if it makes you feel oddly gay).
3. Turn A Gundam
Telling you that you need to watch Gundam would be too obvious. When it comes to anime, Gundam is the very definition of classic. If you want an easy guide to watching Gundam, start with the original movies, move onto Zeta Gundam, and go from there on the path that unfolds. However, if you don’t really like Gundam, watch Turn A. Turn A Gundam is definitely the black sheep of the universal century gundams (if you don’t know what UC is, they are the gundam shows that all follow a story starting from the original series. the non UC Gundam shows are all the ones with pretty boys like Wing and 00.) Other than being strange for Gundam, it’s just a strange show altogether. It is set in a post-apocalypse world where society has been reset to the place we were in the 1800s, until invaders with future (or rather, past) technology come from the moon colony to reclaim earth and simultaneously, earthlings stumble upon this great old technology underground. Turn A Gundam is full of eccentric and memorable characters who create an endlessly fun experience. The show is just pure fucking chaos. Over 50 episodes there is non-stop going in circles between war, peace, and what the fuck as people continually make things better and worse at the expense of everyone. The show is full of thrills and fun and is sure to bring a smile to the viewer’s face all the time.
4. Mushi-shi
Mushi-shi is possiblyy the most well-done monster of the week show about someone who can see spirits ever made and certainly the widest appealing. Mushi-shi is a rare show that mixes a somber and melancholy experience with a fun and always amazing atmosphere. There is enough variety between episodes to never really get old and the stories are always both intelligent and amazing. Even someone who’s seen a bunch of shows about Japanese spirits and the like will be interested by the stories in this show. In addition, the main character manages to wrap a cool, mysterious atmosphere around a knowable and attractive person. Even though we aren’t given much info about Ginko early in the show, one will instantly feel like they know him and want to see more of him. The animation and art are breathtaking beyond almost any other TV-anime as well.
5. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
I’d almost say this was too obvious, especially since just about everyone has seen it, but I really wanted it on the list because many seek to discredit it’s importance, despite it possibly being the most important anime of the best five years. Haruhi is the ultimate fusion of genres and anime styles and if it was less popular I doubt there would be next to any haters. Haruhi definitely raised the bar for the current generation of anime and left everything else struggling to compare.
6. Revolutionary Girl Utena
I’d actually have a pretty tough time telling you exactly how insanely boss Utena is. For starters it is BY FAR the most well-directed and thorough anime ever created. Every damn second of it was carefully crafted with symbolism, double-meanings, and background info. The imagery is constantly creative, and the story is outright zany. The cahracters are all hilarious and fun and interesting and… and… dammit watch Utena! It’s got one of anime’s most inventive and fun soundtracks and lots of great voice acting, too. There’s like, NOTHING wrong with this show. If you don’t mind spoilers, you can read this ingenius in-depth review of it, but if you haven’t seen it, fucking take my word for it and jst go watch the damn show.
7. Otaku no Video and Genshiken
(photobucket is being strange all of a sudden)
Otaku no Video and Genshiken are defining otaku shows of two different generations. OnV, released in 1990, shows everything about the lives of otaku from the old days of worshiping Gundam and Macross and Maisson Ikoku. Genshiken is a modern version with the eroge and moe obsessed nerds of today. Both are very insightful, very worth watching, and sure to get any anime fan even deeper into their hobby as well as understanding the vulture even better. Both anime were major advancements in my fandom personally as they introduced me to more of the anime world. Besides just being fun for anime fans, tough, both are also just damn fucking good shows.
8. Cowboy Bebop
(this post will so be updated when my comp stops being a fuckstick)
This is another anime that is almost too obvious though as we move further toward 2010 more and moe anime fans have goen without seing it. Even I have not seen it in quite a while and would do damn well to rewatch it. Bebop is an episodic anime entirely in a class of it’s own. Yoko Kanno definitely eliverse the most diverse and interesting soundtrack in anime history and the show’s style is outright incomperable to anything before it and has never been matched since. It’s classic cool that really stays with you. I couldn’t even picture my anime fandom without Cowboy Debop and it’s hard to imagine that some have gone without it.
9. Escaflowne
To be honest, I really despise Escaflowne for being the most disappointing anime I have ever seen. However, I am in the extreme minority with that opinion and even though there are things I hate about the show there are others I absolutely love. It’s a perfect fusion of shounen and shoujo, mech and fantasy, and great perks like animation and music from champs (Yoko Kanno for the 3rd time on this list, she really just turns everything she touches into gold.) Escaflowne has all the makings of a classic, which is how most people will see it, as we who hate the second half are a lesser breed.
10. Haibane Renmei
I think it is pretty much mandatory that at leas tone of Yoshitoshi ABe’s works be seen by everyone, and the most accessible is certainly Haibane Renmei. This is another show that had a lot of heart and soul poured into it’s creation. For a 13 episode series, it is absolutely incredibly engrossing with a deep world that the viewer can’t help but feel like a part of. The story is riveting drama with an ending that none can find unsurprising. Every character is a world unto themselves – 13 episodes have never been so thorough. Haibane is one of the few shows I could watch again and again and just fully immerse myself in.
11. Honey and Clover
This is almost an odd choice for this list because I don’t think it has the same wide appeal as everything on this list. Hachikuro is definiteively aimed toward an older audience and is a good bit more realist than more anime. That said, you can’t beat it in terms of introspective rom-com slice-of-life mastery. Some episodes are the funniest episodes of anime I’ve ever seen, some are the most heart-wrenching, and some are the most true-to-life. It has one of the most respectible casts ever and they slowly become something like your own family as you go along. The only other show I could compare to this is Nana, but that one is way more aimed for girls whereas Hacjikuro can be enjoyed by anyone who is familiar with the ways of, well, life.
12. Martian Successor Nadesico
Finally, the most important on this list, the king of the crop, Nadesico. The definitive post-Ea mech craze anime that so brilliantly stands for everything that it is within itself. Ermm, it is what it is. Nadesico is fundamentally infallible and thus could be considered one of the greatest anime of all time. But don’t take my word for it, read this insightful quote fro the Almighty Omoikane.
“To make a lofty and senseless analogy, Nadesico is like a man’s heart. Deep, subtle, but very real. On the surface it’s superficial and it can be really funny at times, but each passing wave is just a shadow of the profound inner workings that lies beneath. The uncovering of that is what made Nadesico my favorite ever since I watched it through the first time. It managed to be funny, easy to swallow, but my mind chews on it like tough jerky, releasing plesant “flavors” each time I think back to it.”
Wiser words are rarely spoken.
So anyway, that’s my list of Absolutely Essential Anime. If you have any more you’d like to add, lets definitely discuss them in the comments.
awesome post. most important one i need to see on this list is definitely nadesico.
You forgot the best part of Utena, 13 year olds blatently having sex, bishies obviously pimping (whatshisface has like 5 girls at one time, in the same episode he banged piano-boy’s slut sister).
Oh and Anthys brother whos name I forget. Most GAR man to ever walk the earth. He had sex with EVERY female on that show at least once, INCLUDING utena, despite being twice their age, and probably half the males, while at it, oh, and random shirtless convertable hood riding.
But yes, badass GAR heroine, random yuri, a student council that settles it’s problems with fucking SWORD DUELS, everyone sexing everyone, and Utena’s AMAZING lunge that always killed everyone, always.
13 – logh
I guess there are classics which constitute the “standard” library of the post-millennial fan of anime, and this list would be subjective but already relatively vast. Things like NGE, Geass, hell even stuff like DBZ, G Gundam, Sailor Moon, are essential for the internet based fan of anime, for understanding tropes and such. Geass is definitely up there – I even remember someone saything they had to watch it just to be in on all the in-jokes during the summer.
Rose of Versailles I’ve heard is a classic, though I’ve yet to watch it, along with Maison Ikkoku and various Ghibli films (like, all of them….). [and I still need to watch bebop]
Turn A Gundam was not a universal century series and U.C also had it’s share of pretty boy characters leading right back to Garma Zabi.
lelangir, I can’t call logh one to watch because while it’s likel a asterpiece, it isn’t at all accessible to all audiences. If I was accepting all masterpieces, this list would be much longer.
As for the anime that got a lot of people into anime, those are important but only to the people they got in for the personal importance it has to them. I’d never tell someone who’s already into anime to watch DBZ. Naruto and Bleach will be/are the next gen of those anime.
Code Geass isn’t important enough. It’s only about as popular as Death Note and such things, which while are hugely popular don’t have a real impact on the anime industry as a whole and aren’t something everyone should see. In five years, no one will care about Code Geass. They will remembre all of the shows above, especially considering a lot of those are old.
EDIT: Kaoishin, yes, it WAS UC and it was even directed by Tomino.
“The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya”
Whats essential about this overhyped mediocrity ?
Well, it’s not the most systematic of criteria but this is what I take away and appreciate about your post: the idea that if you don’t watch these shows, you may miss out on something you potentially love. I can really get behind that.
My apprehension for lists like these is trained into me by my education. I took up literature both in my undergraduate and postgraduate studies, and it becomes painfully obvious how established canons (best-of lists, required reading lists for students) dangerously exclude way too many works to retain credibility.
I studied Douglas Adams but not Charles Dickens, and this will outrage
somemost educators and scholars. I took up Vladimr Nabokov but not Anton Chekov (the former wrote Lolita while the latter well, didn’t. British and American university lit departments would perhaps not think much of the degree I earned. Even so, my own university’s lit department frowned upon the fact that I spent waaay too much time studying J. R. R. Tolkien, Frank Herbert, and Isaac Asimov instead of studying the literary output of over 50,000 years of Philippine culture spread over 70 languages, to say nothing of other Asian literary traditions, and then there’s the rest of the world.Don’t get me started on literary theory and criticism. Who you don’t read/study may say more about you than who you do read/study.
So it must be for the consumption of anime. We’re not talking about earning degrees here, but we do often ascribe expertise or authority on those who consume more than those who don’t. I don’t consider myself an expert on Macross nor am an authority that can say who’s qualified to speak about it or not. My credentials (so to speak) is that of a lifelong fan. Man I’m almost 32 years old and I’ve been a fan of Macross for at least 24 of those years. Yep, I’m one of those you can call a Macross lifer. That said, I have only seen 1 episode of Macross 7 even though my avatar is Basara.
Back on topic: The problematic idea here is that of ‘essence’. The concept of essence is that thing without which the the whole idea cannot exist. This is what it is to be essential. So taking the logic to its extreme, if someone like Mechafetish goes through life saying he is an otaku or a hardcore anime fan having only watched Pokemon, Yugi-oh, Naruto and Bleach (but he reps hard for those shows, buy tons of merchandise, and cosplay to the embarrassment of his relatives) he is a fucking liar.
Therein lies the problem. It will become a ‘your list is superior to his list’ issue, and I don’t think anyone really wins that argument. By winning I mean one or both sides genuinely grow in/from the exchange.
The anime in your list is definitely noteworthy, though in what precise terms we all still need to define and agree on. However, you hit the right note and it is a beautiful note when you said the words to the effect that if I go through life not checking out these shows, I may really miss out on something that I will truly love.
What about ghost in the shell? The movie deserves considerable mention.
I think that Baccano! may deserve to be on this list. It’s not realy relegated to a specific genre as it blends elements of noir, fantasy and some other things I can’t accurately describe at the same time has some amazing writing. Testament to this fact is that it manages to develop its cast of around 15 characters relatively well while still keeping the viewer interested in the complex but engaging storyline, all over 16 episodes (NEED SECOND SEASON).
I’ve only seen 1 anime on this list, so I fail lol.
I am sure there are a “Top 3″ from each genre….even the archtypal shounen shows (dare I say Naruto, Bleach, Dragonball etc etc).
As long as people don’t forget about “Slice of Life” as a genre, I am content.
All I’m missing is a Makoto Shinkai works.
Decent list is decent.
Out of all the anime on your list, I have only watched Haruhi and H&C.
I have to agree that both of those anime change my life, and both of them are anime tha everyone must watch.
people please remember, I purposefully put NO GENRE SPECIFIC ANIME. Gits and Baccano don’t appeal to EVERYONE. The anime n this list, NO ONE should miss. Those of you who haven’t seen any on there, watch them NOW.
ghostlightning, interesting and insightful post. As far as my list goes, I’m kind of really pretentious, and I honestly don’t take people as seriously when they haven’t seen the great anime. It’s the logic that if I have seen more than you, there is nothing you can teach me, and if you are really behind, we can’t really speak on equal grounds. There are a LOT of anime fans in my school, but none who have seen any considerable amount. When they try to talk to me about anime it is made of phail and I just end up recommending them things to watch.
But mech anime isn’t genre-specific at all, and it appeals to everyone? Furthermore, shows where 60+% of the draw is derived from pandering to otaku/moe fetishization (such as Haruhi) are hardly appealing to most people… mostly, they appeal to people who’ve seen a crapload of bad anime.
So I’m not really feeling the reasoning in that comment of yours.
That aside, where’s Aria? Everyone needs to be brainwashed to be more pleasant.
most people don’t consider your average anime to be bad, and I am one of them. considering Haruhi is one of the biggest modern bridge anime, you are coming from nowhere. and mecha anime is not even slightly genre specific in any of the cases I have mentioned.
As for Aria, I find it mind numbingly fucking BORING.
I’d say Evangelion is a million times more “essential” than Haruhi or Rose of Versailles, even if it is “obvious”, and prefer Tylor to Nadesico, but then again I don’t agree with the whole “essential anime” concept to begin with, so…heh.
But as long as this is about mentioning quality shows, I second Baccano! and Legend of Galactic Heroes.
lelangir:
I don’t think Code Geass is on that same level, but just for the heck of it…I liked that show and, surprise surprise, it wasn’t for the overused internet in-jokes and retarded memes. More like in spite of those.
It was Correct Century actually. At one point the Universal Century calendar may have been used as were possibly all of the previous possible calendars, but the predominant part of the series took place under the Correct Century calendar.
I’d also have to suggest that if Haruhi is somehow essential then so is something like Code Geass, the popularity of which would ultimately eclipse Haruhi’s by the end of 2006. Dragon Ball Z is more iconic than either of them though and as much as I think it’s just about the most overrated series ever, Evangelion needs a place on that list as well for sheer staying power. Mazinger Z, Gundam, Macross, Dragon Ball Z, Evangelion and like Lelangir suggested, you might want to make room for LOGH. Those are just a few examples of your epochal series whether you like them or not. Though I suppose every genre could have their entry if you want to recognize personal preference.
Regardless of my issues with this list it’s interesting to see somebody else who found Aria to be rather uninspiring and boring. Everytime I see somebody with that series on a top 10 list (which is often) I’m left wondering why or if I’m missing something. I mean I understand that Slice of Life is supposed to be this be all end all genre to
manysome, but all I got from what I watched of Aria was that in this show life is an idealized laid back dream and that’s about the extent of it. Also props to the poster above me who managed to enjoy Code Geass on it’s own merits without having to subscribe to the internet meme machine in order to convince himself of a reason to enjoy it. My enjoyment of it was in spite of certain “happenings” as well.classic? who defines what is classic? the people who thought the shows are revolutionary, obviously…
to me, the whole Macross/Gundam franchise thing is an overstatement. I tried forcing myself to see the “classics” many times, each time failing to pick out what’s epic about it. I liked Minmay’s “Do you remember love”… and that’s about it.
besides, incorporating love triangles with war/battles… isn’t exactly an animation breakthrough. It’s been done many times before in real films. These “classic” anime series may just easily taken ideas that they liked and placed them next to the main plot.
choco, I said you didn’t have to like them.
Caioshin, i will put forth that Haruhi is an amazing show and Geass isn’t. Also glad to see others preplexed by Aria.
ABCD: No shit, that’s why I said it’s obvious, come on now. I really wanted to put Tylor on there but I haven’t seen it.
Most people think they’re of above-average intelligence. Most sweeping meaningless statements sound like they mean something. Etc.
Is there any way in which they’re less genre specific than GitS? There’s shit in them that does not appeal to a significant portion of people, same as… uh, most shows. If you’re making the argument against including GitS on the premise that it doesn’t appeal to everyone, then I’m not sure where Macross or Utena hang in the balance, for instance.
Or, like I said, Haruhi.
Almost all non-animebloggers I know in real life (with a single exception) get either nothing out of the show or are actively turned off to various extents (”bad show” to “shit show” etc.). This group of people includes both less-avid otaku and non-otaku. I don’t know how that makes it a bridge anime, much less a big one. It appeals to a fairly specific demographic. One that unfortunately seems to have numbers at this point in time, but those numbers are nothing more than a very vocal minority.
Anyway, I thought that bridge anime was stuff like Bebop and even that fails to pass the “appealing to everyone” test you invented.
Also, clearly you need to be forced to watch more Aria. You haven’t been successfully brainwashed yet!
I am just going by the sweeping generalizations of the many forums I visit where I read hundreds of posts by people saying Haruhi go them into anime. My data is all from experience. And honestly, I just don’t give a fuck about technicalities. This is my post. Nothing matters except my opinion.
I am so sorry for you. Did you know that there’s a real world out there beyond animesuki.com and chibi-osts.net, forums where people make multiple accounts in order to agree with themselves and hold one-player fanboy circle jerks? In any event, I should hope that you only skimmed ninety-nine of each of those hundred identical posts, because they sound “mindnumbingly fucking BORING.”
But eh. For what it’s worth, Naruto got me into anime.
Doesn’t mean it’s good by any means, nor that I like it.
SCOTT IS THAT YOUUUUUUUUUUUU
More seriously, though, why engage in discussion of something you seriously believe in if you’re not going to discuss the most important question (why)? Oh. That’s probably something you won’t want to discuss, either. Never mind!
Well, different strokes for different folks, so suit yourself
If I might make a parting shot, though, it’s not a technicality if it’s integral to your stance. Contradicting oneself when trying to make a point generally makes it harder for critical thinkers to accept that point.
Cheers!
Even though I do believe in the idea that these anime are essential, I have a hard time actually taking the post seriously myself just because I know I’m posting it on yukan, I know no one will actually watch the shows just because I told them to, I know most of the comments I get will just be people bitching about my post, and I know there’ll be misinterpretation (right on all accounts).
So I might as well just say fuck all you guys, my word be law, and leave it at that. I make posts like this in the vain hope that one guy will actually not bitch and just watch the fucking shows.
I guess I’m full of surprises for you. Breaking news: I was bitching about a comment of yours, not your post. More breaking news: Also all the shows on here I’ve either watched, watched parts of and dropped, or intend to watch. Take your low expectations,
stuff them in a wooden building, and smoke’em. I fail metaphors. But you get what I mean, right?I hope you don’t really want me to reply to that.
I always encourage discourse.
WARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
Tried most of those, didn’t like them. Have yet to see The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya though.
And it becomes what I like is better than what you like…
That statement assumes you have watched everything the others have, and concludes that these are crap shows that have nothing for you.
Dangerous assumptions there, my friend. As little as I care for Naruto, Bleach, Key Game Adaptations, I’m prepared for the day when someone breathing awesomeness just clubs me over the head and shows me what I or even the regular fans of those shows are missing.
This could’ve been a list of “interesting shows you haven’t watched” – but it is presented as required implying that I am less of an anime fan if I don’t watch them, not worthy of respect, etc.
You can also explore distinction between amassing (watching lots of anime) behaviors and expressive behaviors (doing EPIC things related to anime). If I see a guy training for a martial arts meet dressed up as Tenshinhan from DBZ trying to stop a waterfall with PURE AWESOMENESS, I only have awe for him. I remember Carlos Newton doing a KAMEHAMEHA before his match started in the UFC… fucking awesome.
So yes, this is a problematic thesis whose framework is under-theorized. Be careful what you wish for!
Dbz was awesome and I still consider it to be quite an entertaining show, even though its quite old now its still remembered for its gigantic energy beams and fighting action thats so fast you can barely see it.
Author 21st Century Digital Boy:
I’m not talking about likes or dislikes. I’m talking about how to judge – what do you call it? – “essential” anime. Personality, I thought that Suzumiya was the most annoying series of the season, but it is rightfully judged in that it has brought in wit with anime tradition with some scientific marvels that makes it acceptable to be judged very highly. Mushishi is another great example (I literary fell asleep every episode but its rending quality (notice how I didn’t say animation quality) is superb.
Most of the things on here are ON here because of their age and popularity and not by what they actually are.
Is this yet another fight that I am an indirect cause of?
I’d love it if the author would explain to my why Haruhi is an amazing and “important” show. No seriously, I would love to hear the reasoning on this one, because I have a theory that the author is mixing an “I liked this and demand you watch it” message with a “This is the kind of anime anybody could like” message, which I would think is more in tune with discussing “essential” anime. So is this a plug for the author’s personal favourite series or an attempt to discuss “essential” anime? That’s another question I’d like to hear answered.
If we’re thinking of shows which everybody should at least try, needs moar Princess Tutu and Kodocha.
@Lambda: I loved Kodocha, one of the funnier anime I’ve ever seen (and you’ve also gotta say something for the “Ultra-Relax” as well). It makes me sad that they just don’t make them as funny as they used to on a frequent basis, but I would suggest that it’s spirtual succesor in comedic style is…….no it’s not FMP: Fumoffu, I don’t really find that one funny at all….it’s the dynamic duo of Keroro Gunsou/Gintama. Those are the only two anime series to actually make me laugh on a frequent basis this decade.
[...] Essential Anime. [...]
@ghostlightning: But Chekhov made me cry, it was just that good T_T I love his plays, hmm.
Now, if I ignore the pretentiousness and take this list as a suggestion and a ground for discussion, I actually think this list is actually pretty decent and a great attempt at formulating something like a “canon” of animes to watch. Just like ghostlightning, I have grown up with lists like these too, and I love making them (rankings too!). So for an “essential list of anime”, I think I would enlarge this list to 20, kick some out (Utena?) and add some Ghiblis, Planetes, Kino no Tabi and a few others I surely have forgotten now. To me, it sounds like lots of fun.
Sasa: hmmm, Planetes is delicious, but depending on what you get out of it, The Wings of Honneamise is pretty tasty too if you haven’t seen it. Gainax as well!
[...] More nonsensical madness. Sources here and here. [...]
@ Sasa
Too many good stuff, so little time. Alas I forsake bragging rights having not completed my ‘Russian authors’ tour. That’s all.
Maybe someday, they’ll actually stage his stuff here in Manila. But I won’t be holding my breath.
“As for Aria, I find it mind numbingly fucking BORING.”
I can totally understand how ARIA can be boring for many people, or too idealistic for others. But does it really hit you that hard?
@Sasa
I’d keep Utena on the list, IMO. A lot of stuff to think about wrapped in a unique and entertaining (though usually baffling) show.
Keroro needs a spot there!
@lelangir: Wings of Honneamise is one of these titles that I have always wanted to watch but never came around to. (Back then, the version I got had such horrible subtitles that it made me stop watching the movie after 10 minutes.)
@ghostlightning: “Too many good stuff, so little time” is so true! Especially within the realms of russian authors, I too think that there’s so much more I could (or should) read. So we’re in the same boat.
@TheBigN: Ok, I admit never watched Utena, because I thoroughly disliked the manga and everything I heard about the show rather goes into the direction of facepalming rather than admiration. Hmm…
@sasa: The manga is notorious for sucking a hard dick but the anime is OMGWIN. It’s secon only to Nadesico in this list’s importance.
Also, to any Yukan author, is Blissmo the only one who gets the emails or somethig? where the hell is she?
I sometimes watch shitty animes when I am bored and have nothing to do and oh also for the lulz.
@21st Century Digital Boy: if your referring to the e-mail displayed in the contact page then most likely yes, I think she is just temporarily afk lol.
As a reviewer, blogger, writer, whatever floats your boat, don’t let people’s ‘zomg I HATED that show, it’s for ****’ get to you. Childish ranting and different opinions are always going to be daunting but it’s your post and your own opinion. It’s best just to ignore the ones that annoy you.
But after reading some more of your comments it’s kind of obvious you’re just the same as them.
[...] Essential Anime [...]
[...] weeks he completely made the equivalents to blogging faceplants, with posts and commentary like Essential Anime, which caused some drama; and on the Nonexistence of Objectivity, which led to a complete RECANT. [...]
[...] else. Once you’ve seen enough to actually distinguish what you want to see from what you think you have to see to be classed as an anime watcher (yes, I’ve gotten over it enough to joke about it. The drama is dead ppl.), you start to [...]
Well, I’m a bit of an anime addict but every once in a while I have to plunge into various chatrooms and blogs to get an idea of what to watch next. So thanks for posting this, even though I can tell I won’t like some of the videos (i mean it is “your” essential anime, we all have our own taste). I just watched Nadesico, loved it and I guess I should catch Macross at some point. The other blog postings are great too!!! and just btdubs, I feel like Gurren Lagann, Noein, and for gods sakes FLCL (Fooly Cooly , Furi Curi whatev) need to get attention. I wouldn’t call Noein “essential” but the other two should go into that Anime Canon someone mentioned.
Hm… no mention whatsoever of an extremely popular anime category– sports? At least 5 major animes come to mind in this genre (Captain Tsubasa, Slam Dunk, even Prince of Tennis, etc)
It’s probably a personal thing, but I’d have Takehiko Inoue’s seminal work, Slam Dunk, on this (already fantastic) list of yours simply because of its undeniable influence of those who grew up in the 90s.
I agree with you about the Rose of Versailles, Mushishi, Honey and clover and Haibane Reinmei (my favorite). I’d also add Serei no moribito (beautiful drawings, great story).
Leave your response!
Navigation
Comments
Categories
Poll
Authors
Links
Meta
Affiliates
Recent Posts
Most Commented
Most Viewed