Gushing About Shows You Like (Sugar Wiki)/Anime and Manga: Difference between revisions

Gush about [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] here.

* This series [[Needs More Love|hardly ever gets talked about]], which is a true shame...but hands down one of the best animes I've ever seen is ''[[Cyborg 009]]''. The fact they kept remaking this series three times AND a movie really shows how much Japan loved it. And I was so happy to see it hit the states back when [[Toonami]] was still around. Sadly that was short lived too...:'( And they haven't made any dvds to be released for the 2001 series, that's my biggest heart break. But you can still find episodes circulating around Youtube and other parts of the net. Cyborg009 has so many loveable characters, a great plot, a unique art style, and special mention goes to the opening and credit songs of the series, the music is downright beatiful! Look them up on youtube, "What's the Justice" and "Genesis of Next". The intro alone has beautiful and surreal images. It is a very under-rated series in the West and it deserves more attention than it gets :(

* I don't care what anyone says, ''[[Shakugan no Shana]]'' is a wonderful series that, while flawed in quite a few ways, manages to come together brilliantly. The premise is very dark, and the action is excellent, and yet it manages to be funny and lighthearted at times as well. Most (I won't say all) of the characters are very unique and compelling, especially Shana, the greatest [[Tsundere]] of all time. Here's hoping the third season finishes the story well.

* ''[[Shingeki no Kyojin]]'' is a great, great new series. It's filled to the brim with suspense and emotion, there are honest to god RISKS in this series. Another thing I'm very fond of is that it's the mangaka seems to have thought to himself that "If the character's aren't interesting, why should anyone care?" because he is constantly trying to improve his characters and make them more fascinating. And I'm happy to say that for the most part he's been succeeding so far. It's a LOT darker than your typical Shonen, which may understandably put some people off but I would have to say the dark tone works well with this series. Very good series that is sadly underrated in the States.

* ''[[Rosario + Vampire]]'' is beyond awesome. It is sexy, funny, dramatic, intriguing, beautiful, compelling...absolute perfection. All the characters are lovable and they have incredible development. Akihisa Ikeda, the creator, is a saint in this troper's eyes.

* Why hasn't anybody else mentioned ''[[Inuyasha]]''? The unique characters, the captivating art, the lovable characters, the unforgetable fight scenes and the story are all reasons why its no wonder the show remains an [Adult Swim] staple.

* I recently started watching ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' on Youtube again, and I absolutely love the way it goes from hilarious to awesome to touching and I want to give all (Well, most) of the characters hugs.

** You know what I love about Tezuka? I love how incredibly ''deranged'' he was. The man essentially created the modern manga and anime industry single-handed, inventing a dozen genres because he felt like it; he is the God of All Manga. And his stories are absolutely ''nuts''. He wrote an epic, serious drama about ''a disease that turns people into dog-like creatures'' that features a subplot with a freakshow where a woman gets ''dipped in batter and then deep-fried'' (and survives). That was ''Ode to Kirihito'', one of his ''less'' bizarre manga. And with it all, he never sacrifices his humanistic vision or his rock-solid plotting or his fluid, intensely ''alive'' art. The man had the most unrestrained imagination I've ever had the good fortune to encounter.

*** LONG LIVE TEZUKA!!!

** Seconded. ''[[Spirited Away]]'' was my [[Gateway Series]] into the wide, wonderful world of anime, and oh what an introduction it was. When my mom bought it home, I said, "Huh? What's this? It's animated but it's not from Disney?" After watching it, my thoughts were running something like "Oh my god that was absolutely great and wonderful and a ''perfect'' trip of the imagination and I've never heard of this Miyazaki guy but I ''must find the rest of his works pronto.''"

*** The train ride sequence is one of the most beautiful anime sequences ever. There's just a sweet melancholy to it that touched this troper. Beautifully drawn, very moving and Joe Hisaishi's music is [[Crowning Music of Awesome|just. guh. gorgeous]].

** ''Porco Rosso'' is amazing. The protagonist's war flashback has {{spoiler|the most beautiful portrayal of afterlife}} in any fiction This Troper has ever seen. Also, ''The Castle in the Sky'' is a great adventure film with downright [[Crowning Music of Awesome|gorgeous soundtrack]].

** When this troper feels down or weepy, she just picks up ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]'' - there's something about its simplicity, its faith in what the eye can't see and the way it's made that always brings her back to the good old days of childhood. Pure magic. She would like to meet a Totoro, just once.

** Don't forget ''[[Only Yesterday]]''. The ending of that movie caused this troper to burst out in spontaneous tears of joy.

** Not to mention that it does an excellent job of [[Genre Shift|shifting]] from an [[Unwanted Harem]] in to a Shonen series. And the fights are some of the best ones out there.

** The best part is the variety, unlike other shonen series that have only a few types of fighters, Negima has mages, swordswoman, Ninjas, Ninjas who are also mages. Also the recent chapters have put in excellent world building, and Fate has become an incredibly interesting character. Its easily the best weekly shonen series being made today, excellent art, beautiful writing, and well balanced between comedy, and drama without derailing the characters for the comedy. When comedy occurs the characters act in character, you don't feel that the comedy is being forced.

* ''[[Ranma ½]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]''. What's not to love? Three's Company plots, called attacks, [[Wig, Dress, Accent]] disguises, people wielding giant spatulas and umbrellas, on and on...

** What I love about ''Ranma 1/2'' is that even the [[Loads and Loads of Characters|loads and loads of supporting characters]] like Ryoga, Shampoo, Mousse, Ukyo, Happosai and Pantyhose Taro are really distinct characters (several of them are quite sympathetic despite all the [[Comedic Sociopathy]] going on). A lot of them could legitimately star in their own manga series, but Takahashi manages to tie them all together in a never-boring web of love and rivalry. And for a [[Gender Bender]] comedy, the fight scenes are legitimately awesome. Who didn't get chills when Ranma reversed the Hiryuu Shoten-Ha against Herb? Or when Ryoga, seemingly pinned to the ground by Ranma, launched them both into the air one-handed and revealed just how [[Made of Iron]] he was?

** Everything is the Biggest. Discovery. Ever. -- because, well, it's all new to her. The world hasn't looked so sparkly since I was that age. Only it wasn't nearly so side-splittingly hilarious back then.

** Oh, how do you ''not'' love Yotsuba? [[This troper]] showed it to her fiance, and three volumes later he dissolved into [[Squee|Manly Squeeing]].

** This troper is pretty sure that if Yotsuba were a real little girl, world peace would occur right then and there, the moment she popped into existance. She would give a half-wilted dandelion to a horrible dictator, say, "Enjoy everything!" and walk off acting like an airplane and singing. He would "awwww" so deeply, [[How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (novel)|his heart would grow three sizes]], he'd call off every war or imposition he'd ever made, free the wrongly-imprisoned, and start giving out puppies. Air-lift her to the next country with issues, lather, rinse, repeat. In fact, I'm starting to think this is a pretty good strategy. Yotsuba Not Bombs, anyone?

*** Yotsuba & World Peace? I'd read that chapter.

** If someone doesn't absolutely adore Yotsuba with every cell in their body, they are a soulless husk. That is all.

* Dragon ball deserves gushing, but now that I think about it, I can't put what I love about it into words...

* ''[[Outlaw Star]]''. This Troper grew up on [[Macekre]]d dubs, and was determined to find the originals after learning that those shows I loved so much sucked compared to their original versions. It's been nearly a decade, and I'm still determined to find out what I missed.

** Just recently finished watching the entire [[Avatar: The Last Airbender|Avatar]] series and [[Tsukihime]] anime ([[Fanon Discontinuity|I know, I know]], but I had to find out), am about to finish watching the [[Fate/stay night|Fate Stay Night]] anime (getting my father interested in the [[Visual Novel]]), and have just discovered their cache of [[Slayers]] DVDs. I will second your notion.

** Strongly thirded. Living in a small town, finding anything besides major releases in video stores before Netflix, especially anime, was tough if not impossible. The number of great series and movies I've watched since joining Netflix has been worth it all by itself. Now with the advent of streaming... currently watching ''[[Clannad (visual novel)|Clannad]]'' this way and just loving it.

** This troper agrees with you wholeheartedly, and adds - this was ''the anime'' that saved his vision of comedy anime in general. Actually, scratch that - this was ''the anime'' that reminded him "oh, so ''this'' is why I like this stuff". It's just too awesome to put in words.

* This troper first saw ''[[Cyborg 009]]'' when they were 11, and still considers it one of the best shows they've ever watched. An anime with ''nine'' main characters, all of whom are intensely likeable? An anime where everyone gets character development, not just the main character, and all of their backstories are plausible and well presented? An anime where heartwarming day-in-the-life episodes are comfortably slotted next to epic (and I mean '''EPIC''') fights against malevolent robots without giving viewers [[Mood Whiplash]]? Yeah. It's no wonder that Cyborg 009 has stayed alive since the 70's.

* ''[[Sonic X]]''. The [[Macekre]] is an abomination, but the original, subtitled anime is pure awesome (you can find it on [[YouTube]], just look for Setsna2's channel), and an excellent imagining of the characters.

** Also, despite coming off as a fairly light-hearted series, it contains some of the saddest and most poignant moments this troper has ever seen in an anime, thus making her love [[The Woobie|certain characters]] more than ever. [[Tear Jerker|Episode 77]] anyone?

* ''[[Digimon Savers]]'' was epic, especially with a tough street-fighting trainer, woobie Ikuto and a masterful soundtrack.

* ''[[Digimon X Evolution]]'' from the makers of the CGI ''TMNT'' and ''Astroboy'' in full CGI. It may look outdated, but it lacks the soundtrack of whiney humans, and has some of the most badass Digimon with close-to-saviour status in Alphamon. It also has some interesting contemplations and a heart-filled ending.

** I read this is a manga series when it first came out YEARS ago before its recent re-release and even own most of the Japanese novels. I love it because with all the [[Wangst]] out there, what's wrong with something lighthearted that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling? Absolutely nothing.

* I've been up and down this list several times....no love for [[Trigun]]???

* I CANNOT believe that ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' isn't on here. Tsukino Usagi may just be the kindest character in existence and if ''only'' the world had people with hearts as large and unbreakable as hers. The other characters are all incredible as well (''even'' Chibiusa, in this troper's humble opinion.) The Sailor Senshi are heroes in every sense of the word and we would all be so blessed to have friends like them.

** Aww, as I neared the bottom of the page I wasn't sure whether I'd rather it be mentioned already or I be the first. But yes, you've hit the nail exactly on the head—it's the characters, above all, that make it such a wonderful series. And the way they go through so much and still keep fighting—how can that not inspire you to do the same? And I love the depth and detail given to their everyday lives; it makes them into real people and not just magical girls.

* [[Soul Eater]]. It was this troper's [[Gateway Series]] into the world of anime obsession, the manga I picked up later was my gateway into the world of manga, and it remains an absolutely bitching series. The worldbuilding is creative and original, the plot is intriguing, and to the characters, the only thing I'm capable of saying is "als'd;asdkj'sdkasdajsdjad". Mad love for all of them. It's not a particularly well-known fandom, which is sad. It deserves more.

** Any story that delivers such great morals about friendship and teamwork is excellent, and [[Soul Eater]] delivers it perfectly without [[Narm]], just warm fuzzies all around. The characters of Maka and Black Star have so much determination and willpower that they are impossible not to cheer for, and the viewer gets pumped up just watching them, infused with their spirits. It really delves into the mind, and the inner psyche of the characters, what makes them tick. Plus the music is AMAZING, and the style of humor is just so hilariously awkward.

* This troper thinks ''[[The World God Only Knows]]'' is made of awesome. That it manages to simultaneously [[Affectionate Parody|parody]] the [[Unwanted Harem]] and [[Dating Sim]] tropes and play them completely straight gives it a unique charm, and all the characters are memorable in their own right. The [[Character Development]] is surprisingly well-written, and the fact that it doesn't rely on [[Fan Service]] like so many other series of its genre is commendable. Despite being primarily a comedy series, it knows how to be heartwarming at the right moments, and the recent arcs have actually begun to develop a fascinating underlying mythos. To seal the deal, this series might have more [[Shout-Out|Shout Outs]] than ''[[Lucky Star]]'', and they're actually quite well executed in a way that doesn't detract from the story.

* ''[[Eve no Jikan]]'' was a very short series, but it resonated in this troper's heart long after the last scene had ended. It takes a fascinating new look at the possibilities of A.I., and pours a lot of heart into its surprisingly believable characters and their various circumstances. Although it does have a strong [[Humans Are the Real Monsters]] undertone, it nonetheless comes together as an optimistic and hopeful piece. It definitely deserves a sequel, because honestly, it's too good of a story to just leave hanging.

* ''[[Toriko]]'' is criminally underrated here in the States. It might not be the most intelligent manga series ever written but it's definitely one of the most MANLY!!! So manly that when the main hero's arm is bitten off, he won't hesitate to beat his opponent with his bloody stump! The world they live in is vast, packed to the brim with deadly monsters and powerful forces of nature! Just like any real Shonen; [[World of Badass]] at its fineset. I said it wasn't the most intelligent but the series does constantly use science to explain the various affects of the characters abilities. [[Needs More Love]].

* Nobody has mentioned ''[[Steins;Gate]]''? What a shame. Probably the most mind-blowing anime of Spring and Summer 2011, and is a time-travel series that is extremely emotionally gripping. Together with Madoka, this anime is, to this troper, one of the best animes of the year.

* [[The Lucifer and Biscuit Hammer]]. This series [[Needs More Love]]. Far more. This troper would even go so far as to say this is the most touchingly-written piece of character study he's ever read. Despite the rather silly English title, this manga is a delightful inversion of the classic "save the world" motivation behind so many plots. It deconstructs things, but not in an attempt to simply be as dark as possible, a la Evangelion. The Protagonist Yuuhi decides that wants to save the world for his only love... so that she can destroy it herself. This is played to be a positive trait; a man's simple desire to fulfill a girl's final request. In fact, the whole thing is wonderfully subversive. Yuuhi doesn't want to get involved, not because he's spineless, but because he simply can't be bothered. He doesn't win because he's the good guy and he has the willpower to beat up the bad guy - he's devious and crafty and he knows it. [[Anyone Can Die|Characters die]] due to their positive attributes. But they all still have hope, everyone's still optimistic, and {{spoiler|it eventually all pays off for them}}. But, above all, this is simply a touching romance about coming to terms with the fact that you're not going to live long, and so you should make the most out of how you live.

* This troper is no newbie in anime and manga, so he knows high school romance mangas very well, but no other manga has touched this troper heart as much as [[GE - Good Ending]], lets see, it works with common tropes and stories and gives them a twist to keep you entertained? Check, it includes very human and relatable characters? Check, you can actually say: "That same thing happened to me" many times? Check, it has MANY cute and beautiful moments? Check, a great artwork? Check, I dont get tired of saying it, [[GE - Good Ending]] is simply great.

 

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