If I were to school a newbie to anime...
Jun. 7th, 2004 11:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
timepiececlockIf I were to meet a person who has only just started anime and wanted to know what the best was, this is what I'd tell them to watch, and the order I'd tell them to watch it in.
1. Cowboy Bebop - I think this is one of the most accessible shows to watch from the perspective of an anime newbie or hopeful anime inductee. It's themes are more familiar and accessible to Western audiences, and it's character designs are stylish, and it's considerably less weird-scary than some other shows. And the music holds your attention until you've seen enough that you're convinced you want to stay.
2. Trigun - Because this is my favorite, and also because of the reasons above. It's a good show by which to introduce someone to the wackyness of anime and the drama, and to slowly get them used to the inherent sillyness too. Also introduces the philosophical element common in so many anime series.
3. Fruits Basket - Unlike the the other two, this would expose the viewer to the less action, more personal type of series out there. FB displays a stellar range of comedy and drama, and represents many of the most enjoyable elements of anime as a flexible art medium. Also, it proves that anime can do sitcoms, and do them damn well, so well you never want them to end. It teaches the lesson of anime humor and irony.
4. Naruto - Time to introduce the newbie to fighting anime! By now they should be used to action and comedy, drama and sillyness. Time to show them the best fighting anime out there. And teach them that anime is crack and that crack is called Naruto.
5. Neon Genesis Evangelion - now that you've got them exposed to all of the above, it's time to introduce them to the "weird & disturbing shit" category. Eva, what a way to start down that road. It also rounds out their education nicely with a very-frequently discussed title that is always good for strongly opinionated conversation-starters.
6. The Vision of Escaflowne - And here is where they get the culmination of everything they've seen before - perfect music, perfect character development, perfect plot, perfect writing, perfect romance, perfect drama, damn near perfect everything.
And now that your basic education is complete, time for the fun excursions. Like electives in high school.
7. Full Metal Alchemist - Angst. comedy. angst. action. angst. magic/alchemy. angst. brain-exploding plot that makes you wibble. And very very smartly interwoven.
8. Ranma 1/2 - Because Rumiko Takahashi is a household name for anime fans. And there's a reason for that, absurd as that reason may be.
9. FLCL - Best experienced when one is well and deeply into anime fandom already and are more emotionally prepared to deal with it's beautific and metaphoric psychotic randomness.
10. X, the movie - Because they need to know how bad the bad can be. It's a horrible experience they'll hate you for, but it's a harsh lesson that must be taught: some anime really sucks.
Ultimate Anime Rec List:
or
How to go about educating someone into otakudom, through anime showings
or
How to go about educating someone into otakudom, through anime showings
1. Cowboy Bebop - I think this is one of the most accessible shows to watch from the perspective of an anime newbie or hopeful anime inductee. It's themes are more familiar and accessible to Western audiences, and it's character designs are stylish, and it's considerably less weird-scary than some other shows. And the music holds your attention until you've seen enough that you're convinced you want to stay.
2. Trigun - Because this is my favorite, and also because of the reasons above. It's a good show by which to introduce someone to the wackyness of anime and the drama, and to slowly get them used to the inherent sillyness too. Also introduces the philosophical element common in so many anime series.
3. Fruits Basket - Unlike the the other two, this would expose the viewer to the less action, more personal type of series out there. FB displays a stellar range of comedy and drama, and represents many of the most enjoyable elements of anime as a flexible art medium. Also, it proves that anime can do sitcoms, and do them damn well, so well you never want them to end. It teaches the lesson of anime humor and irony.
4. Naruto - Time to introduce the newbie to fighting anime! By now they should be used to action and comedy, drama and sillyness. Time to show them the best fighting anime out there. And teach them that anime is crack and that crack is called Naruto.
5. Neon Genesis Evangelion - now that you've got them exposed to all of the above, it's time to introduce them to the "weird & disturbing shit" category. Eva, what a way to start down that road. It also rounds out their education nicely with a very-frequently discussed title that is always good for strongly opinionated conversation-starters.
6. The Vision of Escaflowne - And here is where they get the culmination of everything they've seen before - perfect music, perfect character development, perfect plot, perfect writing, perfect romance, perfect drama, damn near perfect everything.
And now that your basic education is complete, time for the fun excursions. Like electives in high school.
7. Full Metal Alchemist - Angst. comedy. angst. action. angst. magic/alchemy. angst. brain-exploding plot that makes you wibble. And very very smartly interwoven.
8. Ranma 1/2 - Because Rumiko Takahashi is a household name for anime fans. And there's a reason for that, absurd as that reason may be.
9. FLCL - Best experienced when one is well and deeply into anime fandom already and are more emotionally prepared to deal with it's beautific and metaphoric psychotic randomness.
10. X, the movie - Because they need to know how bad the bad can be. It's a horrible experience they'll hate you for, but it's a harsh lesson that must be taught: some anime really sucks.
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no subject
Date: 2004-06-12 03:10 pm (UTC)Trigun has my heart, but my brain I give to Escaflowne.
I think it is simply the best anime I've ever seen. Unlike most shows, even teh good ones, where they excel in some areas, and fail in others (Cowboy Bebop, for example, excels in characterization but falls short in continuity writing), Esca rules across the board. I just have so much amazing respect for that series.
It's kind of like Farscape for me, in that way. It was so good that I've never felt a need to write fanfic to fill up the in-between spaces. I don't even read Esca fic. Esca just remains this shiny untainted presence in the back of my mind against which I judge all other anime.
So...welcome to my LJ! I used to talk about Buffy all the time nonstop, but lately with a lack of either Buffy or Angel anymore I end up talking about anime a lot.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-14 12:06 am (UTC)I am currently in the throes of passion concerning Trigun. I think it's brilliant. Not without flaws, but the characterization and dialogue drive me wild (and in the good way).
I think it is simply the best anime I've ever seen. Unlike most shows, even teh good ones, where they excel in some areas, and fail in others (Cowboy Bebop, for example, excels in characterization but falls short in continuity writing), Esca rules across the board. I just have so much amazing respect for that series.
I couldn't have said it better.
So...welcome to my LJ! I used to talk about Buffy all the time nonstop, but lately with a lack of either Buffy or Angel anymore I end up talking about anime a lot.
It's all good! I'm glad I stumbled over here--your interests are very similar to mine.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-14 07:59 am (UTC)Yep. The main flaw I saw was the art... at times it could have used a bigger budget. But the characterization is so...ddaaaaaaamn.