Gushing About Shows You Like (Sugar Wiki)/Anime and Manga: Difference between revisions
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* [[Gushing About Shows You Like (Sugar Wiki)/Bleach|Bleach]]
* [[Gushing About Shows You Like (Sugar Wiki)/Haruhi Suzumiya|Haruhi Suzumiya]]
* [[Gushing About Shows You Like (Sugar Wiki)/Full Metal Alchemist|Full Metal Alchemist]]
* [[Gushing About Shows You Like (Sugar Wiki)/Naruto|Naruto]]
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* 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.
** Indeed! It is such a classic.
** I loved it so much I bought the DVDs. The commentary on the last few episodes is hilarious!
* ''[[To Aru Majutsu no Index]]'' is one of the bestest anime I ever seen, it involves [[Magic VS Science]], [[Alternate Universe]] and features a [[What If]] of: What if the scientific advanced population encounter Magic from the same dimension? Add Chibi Index and [[Crowned With Awesome]], and you've got yourself a must see~! Squee!
* [[School Days]] is often said to have an [[Idiot Plot]], but this troper appreciates the [[Downer Ending]] that he felt was deserved.
** Yeah, [[Downer Ending]] paired with [[And There Was Much Rejoicing]].
* And don't forget the brilliant [[Revolutionary Girl Utena]] which is the deconstruction of ''[[Wake Up, Go to School, Save the World]]'', [[Darker and Edgier]] version/ ''Deconstruction'' of magical girl series and fairytale motifs and ''[[What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic]]'' and you've got one hyper cool show! My fave is Utena
** The Utena Movie owns my soul. There are scenes in it that, [[Stevie Will Show You|I]] can say without hyperbole, will never be bested in terms of animation quality and artistic (and emotional) impact by any other film, animated or otherwise.
*** [[Goodyfun|I'm]] with both of you! And the manga is beautifully written/illustrated. All the characters are highly developed and enjoyable to read.
* ''[[Simoun]]'' is absolutely the most brilliant thing ever. Great world-building, a huge ensemble cast with amazing voice acting, managing to make the characters memorable even with the limited screen time that a big cast affords, a well-done [[Jigsaw Puzzle Plot]] that goes in very different directions than the obvious cliched approach, a distinctive and pretty art style... and the music. Oh, the music.
** Seconded big time. I usually watch dubs, because I feel like shades of meaning can get lost in the change to text, but this was great in the original. This is one show that proves that animation is ''art''.
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**** Indeed. I can see way some circles would call ''Vinland Saga'' the [[Spiritual Successor]] of ''[[Berserk]]''. In fact, I put ''Vinland Saga'' on a scale of how Shonen-y ''Berserk'' could possibly get. ''Vinland Saga'' would be at the extreme end (since I think that one of the more negative things about this series is how one-dimensional Thorsfinn is), then would come ''[[Claymore]]'' in the middle somewhere, and then at the opposite end, ''Berserk''.
* ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'' is quite possibly the best [[Seinen]] show ever animated: it's got [[Magical Girl|Magical Girls]] who [[Wise Beyond Their Years|act responsibly]] and get into [[Romantic Two-Girl Friendship|ambiguously cute relationships]] with each other, grand magical battles on the scale and detail of [[Humongous Mecha]], [[All There in the Manual|supplemental material]], [[Techno Babble]], [[Power Levels]]... And it has Nanoha, the girl who will <s>blast</s> befriend you to smithereens for your own good... and ''you'll love it''.
** ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]] A's'' is definitely the best fighting-anime
*** And don't forget [[Lady of War|Signum]]! [[Tropers/Koveras|This troper]] is part of her personal fanclub.
*** Not to mention the greatest fucking opening song ever.
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* Tezuka, just... [[Osamu Tezuka]]. He's one of the most creative comic artists I've ever seen and as far as I'm concerned deserves every bit of popularity he got. His work had a huge influence on my art style and almost singlehandedly changed how I see manga.
** Not only do I agree with you, but I am compelled to elaborate further. [[Osamu Tezuka]] had more art styles than hairs on his head and by the end of his life he had perfect control of them all. He could write, plot, and pace as well as any of the old masters in any genre. He can draw any angle and any level of realism/abstraction in any style. He could be wacky, sad, scary, touching, and beautiful. He had infinite faith in his audience. He could talk about the cruelty of the world and the beauty of mankind without contradicting himself. He never failed to tell a story, never forgot humor in drama or drama in humor. He wasn't afraid of controversial subjects, but he was never self-consciously edgy. Words cannot describe the breadth and depth of his output. [[Osamu Tezuka]] was a great artist and ''is'' an inspiration for us all.
** 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!!!
* Everything everything EVERYTHING by [[Hayao Miyazaki|Miyazaki]]. Seriously, that is some of the most creative and exciting animation I've ever seen. These films are beautiful, and I could watch them over and over and over again.
** 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]].
*** YES. ''Spirited Away'' was my favorite movie even before I knew what "anime" was. Long before. As in, every time I went to Blockbuster I wanted to rent it. My ultimate favorite song from that movie, "The Sixth Station" is my favorite "I'm so strung out I can't sleep" music. No matter what kind of mood I'm in it always relaxes me. Oh My Effing God this movie is the most Effing Gorgeous thing Ever.
** Thirded. [[Princess Mononoke]] is one of his best works EVER. Epic music, gorgeous art, and fantastic characters. [[Big Badass Wolf|Moro and her biological sons]] help a lot.
** This troper broke down into Epic [[Squee|Squees]] of [[Department of Redundancy Department|Epicness]] when she heard that ''Miyafreakin'zaki'' was bringing one of her favorite [[Howl's Moving Castle (novel)|semi-obscure children's books]] to gorgeous anime life. Even if it's not the most faithful adaptation, and even if it [[Deus Ex Machina|doesn't explain its ending well]], it still awes this troper for the wonderful job it manages to do of bringing its ''characters'' to life--Sophie, Howl, and Calcifer are everything they should be, and everything else she considers part of a lovely [[Alternate Continuity]]. Plus, the animation is awesome as ever--she literally gasped when she saw the castle for the first time.
** ''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.
** This troper isn't much of an anime fan but will heartily agree about the awesome of Miyazaki. I hear stuff like, "Well I don't like anime but ''[[Spirited Away]]'' was awesome!" alot too, its a testament to how wonderful his works are! And since it hasn't been gushed about, ''[[Ponyo]]'' is just a million different kinds of adorable. You can't help but want to hug everything in that movie.
* [[Hayao Miyazaki|Miyazaki-sensei's]] colleagues are wonderful, too. Honestly, [[Studio Ghibli]] can do no wrong. [[Isao Takahata]], Ghibli's other genius, directed the amazing and [[Tear Jerker|heartwrenching]] ''[[Hotaru no Haka|Grave Of The Fireflies]]''. But this troper's personal favorite is ''[[Whisper of the Heart]]'', a charming, coming-of-age story about the trials and tribulations of adolescence, first love and finding out what you really want in life. Nothing is sugar-coated - just a collection of perfectly timed, exquisitely scripted moments that had this troper saying "that is ''exactly'' what it feels like." There's a little scene, where the main character sings that is just a [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|pure joy to watch]]. Plus, it features the best use of John Denver's ''Take Me Home, Country Roads'' ever! Just a shame that director Yoshifumi Kondou died young.
** Don't forget ''[[Only Yesterday]]''. The ending of that movie caused this troper to burst out in spontaneous tears of joy.
* [[Mahou Sensei Negima]]. I'm still in shock that this manga is that good. [[Ken Akamatsu]] took more than thirty characters, and made every single one of them unique and interesting. Then he created an awesome setting with ridiculously awesome magic. And then he added awesome writing and fantastic humor to the mix, and combined it with absolutely beautiful art. I loved [[Love Hina]], but Negima takes it to another level.
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*** It's even more impressive that he manages to give every character ample [[Character Development|development]] without [[Spotlight-Stealing Squad|focusing on them too much.]] He's currently working with 40+ major characters, and he manages to keep them all well-defined without losing the focus of the story. It's a really incredible balance of plot and characterization.
** The entire Negi vs. Rakan battle is one of the most [[Rule of Cool|ridiculous]] and [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|awesome]] fights that this troper has ever seen. It has excellent buildup, tons of character motivation, and the fight itself takes such an epic scale that it must be seen to be believed. The excellent artwork doesn't hurt either.
***
** This troper didn't think he would particularly gravitate towards Negima at first and found it very difficult to get through the early chapters. But once they got to Negi's backstory he became intrigued. When they got to the Mahora Festival he found himself genuinely enjoying the series. And when they finally got to the Magical World: He was in love. So many great, great characters most notably Jack Rakan; possibly the most epic character in manga/anime history. Fantastic fights and artwork, good worldbuilding and story, and even memorable comedy and romance (at times). I do have my issues with it, but I still say it's worth checking out. It could very well become one of your favorites!
** This is the most wonderful thing this troper has ever read. It developed in the same way a character would develop - starting off with undesirable traits (in this case, too much fanservice) before refining those traits while still keeping enough to make the individual in question recognisable as who they are. It was this troper's introduction to the world of ecchi manga, and in its later editions became the most fun, action-packed series to ever be printed, with huge, hot-blooded fights that [[Dragon Ball]] would be envious of - Negi Vs Rakan in particular. Every character (of which there are many) is well-developed and relatable with just tons of character development, the [[Applied Phlebotinum]] feels mroe like hard science than magic, and the manylocations involved [[Scenery Porn|are simply beautiful.]] Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou Ken kamatsu. It's just such a shame you're ending such a beautiful, epic story so early.
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*** ''[[Princess Tutu]]'' is a wonderful anime. The charaters are interesting and you can't help but love all four of the mains. Its makes you cry, laugh, and want to learn how to do ballet. This lurker wishs there was more merchandise for it, and thinks the dub is good too. This lurker found her favorite charater on this show too, Rue-chan. I hope more people watch this anime. Its a must see for anime fans, and you don't have to like magical girl shows to like this one.
*** Reiterating the above because it's Sugarwiki. ''[[Princess Tutu]]'' sounds like a ridiculous and highly childish show, and the adorable round-cheeked character design adds to that, but it is actually quite inherently baddass. Before I saw it I did not understand how a [[Magical Girl]] series that involved people fighting for bits of a prince's heart by [[Buffy-Speak|ballet-ing]] at each other with flowers and sparkles in the background could possibly ''not'' be [[Narm]], but Tutu proved me wrong. It's got deliciously dark themes mixed seamlessly into the lighthearted fairytail-oriented premise, the characters make you want to hug them to death ''constantly'', it's probably one of the most original and well-executed plotlines I've seen for a long time, and the art is pretty. I am proud to like this show, and I would recc it to anyone in an instant.
*** All the [[Metafiction Demanded This Index|meta]] about stories and writing makes it even ''more'' awesome. It cheerfully smirks at the foruth wall at times and yet its characters remain so thoroughly engrossing. it's like Revolutionary Girl Utena without the Mind Screw.
*** Agreed. All the character arcs are well solidified and while the ending is bittersweet, you can't see it ending any way. All the foreshadowing in the beginning can't hurt. The Shipper in me squees at Fakir/Ahiru. Also, it's [[Princess Tutu Abridged|Abridged series]] is one of the best that I've seen, with delightful homages and great humor.
*** Besides the meta and amazing characters, I love the new take on ''The Ugly Ducking''. In other stories, a girl worries about being a duckling, but inevitably turns out to be a swan. In this story, Duck ''really is'' a duck, and only looks like a swan. In the end, when {{spoiler|Duck returns to her original state}}, we learn that this is perfectly OK. Being a duck doesn't mean you can't be amazing. That message just feels so much more believable and honest than what you find in other stories for girls. You may not be able to change who or what you are, but that doesn't mean you have to give up your dreams.
** And ''[[Chrono Crusade]]''...ahh, Chrono Crusade. Like Tutu, lots of juicy character development. An unusual setting for a manga series--1920's America. The theme of the passage of time handled expertly well. The shining idealism in the series, even when things start getting really dark. The clean, well-drawn art. The badass action sequences. The absolutely whacked-out ending and origin of the demons that still somehow makes sense when taking the whole work into account (...for the most part, it's not without its flaws). But particularly the characters--I care about those characters so much it almost hurts. (Of course, I'm talking about the manga. The anime is decent, but pales in comparison, but those complaints aren't for this page.)
* ''[[Mononoke]]''. Seriously. Just look at it. It's like having sex with your eyes.
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*** thirded :D this troper is in love with the series. the fact that ALL the characters are grey morality makes them feel far more human than in a lot of other series. I mean the characters actually respond the way you would expect real people to, selfishly, self-centered, but will also do good things sometimes. no character is designated to be good or bad from the start, they gain those positions based off of their actions. I highly reccommend this series if you don't mind heaping ammounts of violence and other adult themes. this series is definatly not for the kiddies.
** Fourth. Berserk is so completely fucked up (in a positive way) that the entire [[Crapsack World|crapped up universe]] that it takes place in deserves its own nickname: hence, I have begun calling it the ''Berserkerverse''. Let's see how far that [[Fan Nickname]] goes...
*** Guts is easily one of the best characters this troper has ever seen in manga/anime. Miura never, ever cuts him a break but Guts never gives up or even really angsts he keeps fighting on and continuing his mission. The art is some of the best in the history of manga and The Golden Age arc is one of the pinacles of manga/anime storytelling. Guts and Casca's relationship is developed very well... so what happens to them later is... heartbreaking. To say the least. After the Golden Age arc the series didn't have *QUITE* the same writing caliber but because of how well developed Guts had become it didn't matter. I'd follow his adventure for the rest of my life if I had too. It also helps that his new allies are also very interesting and likable characters and plenty of badassery is to be had! Amazing series.
**** It's my life's mission to see this series through to the end, my friend. I REFUSE to die (or, to let MIURA die), until I see this saga resolved!
*** What makes Berserk so great is that it can alternate between high brow philosophical themes, pulse pounding action sequences, soul devouring horror, exeptionally real feeling romance, slapstick comedy and sticky pornography wile also building a detailed and gritty fantasy world. With EPIC results.
* ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' and its sequel ''[[Dragonball Z]]'' are the greatest action adventure anime/manga series of all time. It's got explosive over the top fighting scenes, cool interesting characters with unique and distinctive looks and and a storyline that is both straightforwardly simple yet surprisingly complex at the same time. There is just so much wrapped into this one series. There's aliens, robots, demons, it's like they just a smorgasboard. The series just keeps reinventing itself over and over again.
** Seconded. What I find best about Dragonball/Z is how many unusual and unrelated elements are packed into it... and it still all ''works.'' Guilty pleasure, maybe - but still completely awesome and nostalgic.
** It's basically [[Kinnikuman]] meets [[Journey to the West]]. It pays tribute to a huge pool of influences spanning all media (most notably [[Superman]]), and receives tribute from an equally large and diverse group (only [[Alien]] had a comparable influence on video games). Yet somehow, there's nothing quite like it.
*** Indeed, Most of modern [[Shonen]] [[Anime]]/[[Manga]] have been inspired by this series in one way or another. One could call it one of the [[Trope Codifier|Trope Codifiers]] of the genre.
** This troper was told to read the original Dragon Ball manga but he resisted at first for despite its influence he always saw Dragon Ball as schlock. Then he began reading the manga and he couldn't believe how wrong he was. The series isn't deep BY ANY MEANS but that doesn't matter because it is in fact FUN PERSONIFIED! It doesn't matter whether you take it seriously or not, what matters is just having a good time with the adventure and with the new fun concepts Toriyama comes up with. Now granted I'm not nearly as fond of the "Z" part of the series, things kind of just got out of hand there. But still the manga is definitely worth checking out because on top of everything else: It created modern Shonen. And we all owe it a lot for that.
** A special mention has to be given to ''[[Dragonball Z Kai]]''. Take out all the ''filler'' (and therefore nearly all of the show's flaws) and you are left with the greatest action-adventure anime/manga of all time. Nearly 20 years since debut, no anime has ever had as much passion, adrenaline and all-around fun as this series. Its sheer originality and influence on anime/manga has yet to be duplicated by anything else since (only ''[[Evangelion]]'' rivals it in those categories.), and along with ''[[Saint Seiya]]'' it remains one the two biggest [[Trope Codifier|Trope Codifiers]] for the [[Shonen]].
* [[Legend of the Galactic Heroes]] is the greatest and most epic science fiction series of all time and has probably the most three-dimensional cast in all of anime.
** Greatest science fiction series ever? Greatest anime ever? You haven’t giving this series nearly enough credit. As far as I'm concerned [[Legend of the Galactic Heroes]] is the greatest '''piece of fiction''' ever. Pretty much the entire cast is well developed and likeable. The story is a fantastic case of [[Grey and Grey Morality]]. The soundtrack is wonderful. The scale of the stetting is epic. The plot is compelling and intelligent. It's filled with [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|awesome]], [[Tear Jerker|sad]], and sometimes [[Crowning Moment of Funny|funny]] moments. This is one of the few shows where I can honestly say that I enjoyed every single episode (yes all 110 of them). Seriously, give it a look.
* [[User:Ri L|This troper]] is mad, MAD for [[Victorian Romance Emma]]. The anime's pretty good, but the manga! If you're not swooning by the end of Book 7, you have no heart. Oh, it is perfect. Just perfect!
* [[User:Figment Jedi|This troper]] loved ''[[Kaiba]]'' and finds it a serious shame that it's so underrated. Yes, it's a bit of a [[Mind Screw]] getting in and towards the end, but if you pay attention enough, it isn't too hard. Part of the point of the beginning being confusing for first timers is that they essentially know as much as the then-amnesiac protagonist. The first half of the series does very well in exploring the setting, getting into a borderline [[Crapsack World]] that results from the line between rich and poor being even larger from digitized memories tech. The second half then gets back to the plot and it is awesome. The series unique art style also helps it in standing out from most other modern anime, having a look resembling [[Astro Boy (manga)|Astro Boy]] and "The Little Prince", the latter of which is very fitting considering various aspects of the plot. Seriously, give it a shot.
* The manga version of [[Akira]]. Even though the film constantly overshadows it, the original is bigger, actually coherent, and just more ''epic.'' Katsuhiro Otomo's artwork renders everything from individual facial expressions to ''[[Sphere of Destruction|the psychic leveling of entire cities]]'' with meticulous, stunning perfection. And let's not forget the best thing the movie left out - Kei's aunt [[Mama Bear|Chiyoko]], AKA two hundred pounds of heat-packing, tank-driving [[Badass]] in an apron.
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** Agreed, agreed, AGREED! This series gave me ''bad'' [[Awesomeness Withdrawal]]. I have yet to see any series that has had such a strong emotional effect on me, particularly in the [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]] department. I'm usually pretty reserved emotionally, but this series managed to evoke strong responses on a regular basis, especially toward the end. It was so powerful that I actually felt an irrational urge to...hug someone. It was weird. But it felt good. I especially liked the portrayal of relationships between characters; it's so rare to find a work these days that gives us even ''one'' portrayal of what a truly loving relationship should look like, but E7 has loads. Of course theres Renton and Eureka, then there's also the Beams (including and ''especially'' their relationship with Renton), William Baxter & his wife, Dominic & Anemone (though of course it takes Anemone a while to catch up), even Holland and Talho by the end.
* [[Cowboy Bebop]]. This Troper's first exposure to it was in the first days of the [[Adult Swim]] lineup. After a night spent furtively watching late-night TV unbeknownst to his parents, he was feeling tired and ready to go to bed; when God himself pointed down at the TV and with a "BADDAP BADDAP BADDAP BADDAP ''BADOW''" he was exposed to pure, undiluted awesome for the first time in his life. We could go on about the writing, the animation, the music...but honestly, we can sum it all up in one word. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6zDfxZ4NcE TANK!]
** Seconded, and ''hard.'' Bebop is one show I think anyone can enjoy, regardless of their prior experiences with anime. I defy anyone to find fault with the series on a purely objective basis.
*** ...and don't say "it was too short," either.
*** I had a similar experience, except it was ''Trigun'' that did it for me. =3
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*** It's well written, the ends tie up perfectly, it makes you think about morality in a frustrating way, and each character has its faults and best features. All in all the plot is great and ti's well worth your time.
**** Though he wasn't particularly impressed with the second half this troper still considers the first half of Death Note to be near-genius in terms of writing. The intellectual battle between Light and L was constantly exciting and intriguing, the animation and manga art were both amazing and the series was genuinely thought provoking. I still wonder whether I would have done what Light would, his motivation was actually very easy to get behind at first. Of course things started to become much more complicated later on. Is it overrated? Probably if only because I feel there are more complex series out there. But this series is still intensely fascinating and definitely worth watching/reading.
* No matter how gloomy
** Talk about [[Superlative Dubbing]], too! With literally nothing to work with, they did a top-notch job.
** Brad Swalie as Light was ''fantastic''. I'm proud to say that I loved the English Dub more than the Sub, ''because'' of him and Alessandra Juliani as L was ''amazing''.
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* ''[[Ranma ½|Ranma 1/2]]''. 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?
** '[[Ranma ½]] is one of my favourite shows. [[Martial Arts and Crafts]] left right and centre, an excellent diverse cast, an amazingly cool urban fantasy setting and some of most interesting relationships ever. The [[Takahashi Couple|couple]] are also so... Dynamic while being so well meant for each other, that I'm not sure any other romance could top them. People acting stupidly, destroing things and making almost all their fight both ridiculous and epic. The [[Gender Bender]] part is also well done, but there's so much else going on that this show is always fun to watch.
* I absolutely love ''[[Yotsubato]]''. The quirkiness of the characters, the excitement Yotsuba expresses when she discovers something new... it's like experiencing childlike innocence all over again.
** 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.
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** How awesome is ''[[Darker Than Black]]''? If you do not know how to use your powers, you can GTFO. If you can reality warp the area around your body, you had better put your powers to better use than only summoning a ''shotgun and twin swords.'' If you know how to use your powers, come and stay. If you have pyrokinesis, you will use it to spontaneously ignite people. If you have ice powers, you will not use it to make the "ice block around a person" gimmick, you will use it to ''freeze the blood of their veins.'' And if {{spoiler|you have the power to "change structures on an atomic level, you won't be changing bullets into rubber, or some of the more immediate effects that come into mind- no, you'll be altering a particle stream on your very first go.}}
* ''The [[Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service]]'' deserves to be better known,if only for reviving some old tropes and making them fresh again. The [[Monster of the Week]], the [[Five-Man Band]] and nearly all the [[Horror Tropes|tropes associated with horror]] are passed through the [[Widget Series]] mangler to give something that's creepy,funny,[[Squick|squicky]] ''and'' uniquely Japanese. Coupled with superlative art (no [[Barbie Doll Anatomy]] here) and '''the''' best translation [[User:Ack Sed|this troper]] has ever read,it's no wonder it's on his list of "Possible [[Gateway Series|Gateway Manga]] for recommending to non-fans".
** Hells yeah! And the fact it has the best translation EVAR is thanks to the legendary Carl Gustav Horn. It's so good you won't believe it was originally written in another language.
* ''[[Gintama]]'' is the best damn shounen series I have ever watched.
** Definitely seconded. It alternates perfectly between hilarity, parody, and badass action and fighting scenes - from the epic Benizakura Arc to stuff like the [[True Companions|Yorozuya]] completely ruining the Shogun's haircut.
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** This Troper, while not outright loving the original movie, loves ''Innocence'' to death. IT IS SO AWESOME! And so is Stand Alone Complex, although he did prefer the plot of Season 1 quite a lot.
* [[Code Geass]] made this troper weep like a little girl, it was so awesome. Especially the ending.
** One of
** This troper just can't put [[Code Geass]] in his [[Guilty Pleasures]] category. I mean, he watched it after listening its name around, and didn't even expect anything from it. He. Freaking. Loved it. And yes, he's aware that the anime has flaws in logic, but honestly? He didn't even notice them without overanalyzing. It's pure fun! And about being hammy and cheesy? Well, this troper loves ham, and doesn't have anything against cheese. So there you go.
*** I couldn't have said it better myself.
**** Actually, Four watches gone, i've found logic explanations of most of the unlogic facts. No one of the japanese audience makes questions about Euphy {{spoiler|massacre}} turn? It was Britannia's way to annihilate The Black Knights with a trap, and they DON'T care about civilian lives.
** So true. I was sad for quite some time after {{spoiler|Euphie}}, {{spoiler|Shirley}}, {{spoiler|Rolo}} and, of course, {{spoiler|Lulu died}}. Uwaaaaaaah!!!!! Plus I'm glad that I can read all the spoilers for at least ONE anime. ;)
** This trooper is unashamed to admit that she cried at ''all'' the death scenes. Yes, even {{spoiler|Rolo's}} death. And she hated him for {{spoiler|killing Shirley.}} Talk about OTP ''sunk''.
** This troper ranks [[Code Geass]] as up there on the ''Peak of Anime Greatness'' alongside Brotherhood, Bebop and Evangelion.
** Code Geass is one of my favorite works of fiction ever. Yeah, it has has a ''lot'' of flaws (gratuitous fanservice, logical inconsistencies, a few ridiculous/superfluous supporting characters...), but everything else is pulled off so well and with so much ''style'' that it kept me hooked to the very end, even as things went waaay over the top.
* [[Lupin III]] is as funny and awesome today as it was when it was first animated. So what if the animation's a little rough? You've got a [[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass]] [[kaitou]] [[Handsome Lech]] constantly on the receiving end of [[Armor-Piercing Slap|ArmorPiercingSlaps]], a gruff deadly marksman sidekick, a [[Stoic]] samurai [[Badass]] who could give most of the characters of [[Samurai Deeper Kyo]] and [[Rurouni Kenshin]] a run for their money, and a hot <s> double</s> <s> triple</s> quadruple agent [[Ms. Fanservice]]! Did I mention even though she's kidnapped a lot, she's always [[The Lancer]] and never [[The Chick]]? Or that ''all'' of them get to be a [[Deadpan Snarker]] at one point or another? Or that they're chased by the original [[Sympathetic Inspector Antagonist|Zenigata]]? Hell, do I even have to mention the time they ''stole the statue of [[wikipedia:Christ the Redeemer (statue)|Christ The Redeemer]]???'' [[Lupin III]] is, in essence, [[Cowboy Bebop]]'s [[Bottle Fairy]] [[Cool Big Sis]]; all the manic fun, none of the angst. The clincher? ''[[The Castle of Cagliostro|One of the movies]] was directed by Miyazaki-sensei!''
** This Troper's more of a fan of the original manga. It strays away from the established formula all the time. Wildly experimental, ranging from innocent and silly, to raunchy and sexy, to dark and serious. It often breaks down the fourth wall, with the author and the ''freakin' reader'' appearing as characters at one point. Very surreal, action-packed and tons of fun.
** This may be premature as it isn't done yet, but [[Anime/Lupin The 3 rd The Woman Called Fujiko Mine|The Woman Called Fujiko Mine]] has style out the wing-wang. The music is great. It appears that there's a storyline running through the episodes.
* How is ''[[Nodame Cantabile]]'' not on here? It has amazing characterization, realistic plot, and gorgeous music. The main couple is introduced in the beginning, and their relationship somewhat sneaks up on you. The characters are well-rounded, with everyday quirks and emotions, and the main couple is both utterly adorable and stubborn to the point you want to bash their heads against the wall. And the beta couples are always a surprise, but she does it in a way that doesn't feel like it was strangled by the red string. The plot stretches out for a realistic amount of time, and the development comes naturally enough that you don't realize years have gone by until someone mentions it. The music sucks you in and makes you enjoy it even if you don't like classical music. An addicting series that is in no way a typical manga.
* The Suikoden 3 manga is the best video game to manga adaption ever made. Its just a damn shame it didn't get an anime adaption either.
* ''[[Black Lagoon]]''. Fucking ''[[Black Lagoon]]''. It's got extremely awesome gunfights, badass characters, cool drinks and cigarettes, hilarious scenes and copious amounts of [[Cluster F-Bomb|extreme insults]]. Above all, Rock and Revy are great, ''well-developed'' characters and Dutch is just cool. Rock is an idealist who still got enough balls to stand up to Revy and acknowledges that he's pretty crazy. Revy is a nihilistic [[Dark Action Girl]] who luckily doesn't get all "[[Deus Angst Machina|I have a tragic past, wah wah]]", which makes her instantly awesome. When this troper first saw Hansel & Gretel, he disliked them for being too cliché. That was, until he saw episode 15. Honestly, this show is just freaking brilliant. [[Cluster F-Bomb|FUCK]]!
** [[Black Lagoon]] reminds this troper of the early days of his interest in anime and the then world shattering realization that there were animated series that were violent, transgressive, profane, and fun for those reasons. [[Black Lagoon]] may not be perfect, but the fact that its a modern anime that doesn't make this troper feel infantalized while watching it makes it [[Cluster F-Bomb|damn fucking special]].
** What's even better with the series is that instead of the usual [[Filler]], the anime is just as good as the manga, prolly better at times. And Roberta is [[Made Of Terminator]].
** Fuck '''YES'''. ''[[Black Lagoon]]'' is simply [[Cluster F-Bomb|fucking]] incredible. It's the only series I've seen yet that managed to take a [[Non-Action Guy]] and turn him into a [[Badass]] ''without'' removing the [[Non-Action Guy]] status. The fact that the only real weapons Rock has are his brains and his solid [[Cluster F-Bomb|fucking]] adamantium balls just make him that much cooler. Episode 7 showcased that so well it made me want to cheer. And he's just ''one character''. Also, Hansel and Gretel might possibly be the creepiest fucking thing I have ever seen. And if I didn't repeat it already, I second [[Cluster F-Bomb|fucking]] everything eveyone above me said about the show.
** ''[[Black Lagoon]]'''s greatest strenght, in
** Sixthed. (We convinced everyone yet?!) Although I have to second the sheer [[Badass]] awesomeness, it's the emotional punches that keep me coming back. Unlike most action movies I've seen, it reminds you ''why'' violence like this is bad in [[Real Life]] without hitting [[Wangst]] or sacrificing the awesomeness. And the complicated process of watching Revy come to care for Rock ({{Chickification? You mean that trope that's lying in a bleeding heap [[Blown Across the Room|over there]]?) Finally, the philosophical questions raised and discussed by the characters in between battles makes you think, a lot, from perspectives I at least otherwise wouldn't. Awesomeness. Emotion. Thoughtfulness. Characters you love (and characters you [[Perverse Sexual Lust|love]]). No sappiness or wangst. What else could you want? If there is anything, I'm sure I just forgot to list it.
** [[Black Lagoon]] is everything that every anime fan hopes and wants anime to be, and that's just at the surface. Underneath the girls with guns and explosions and ''amazing'' fight sequences and incredible animation (wait, am I actually listing the parts that ''aren't'' the awesome stuff yet?) you have incredibly well-developed characters and stories that are thought out with regards to who these people are. Nobody acts out-of-character just to suit a plot point. Revy is scary good at what she does, but she's much more than just a girl with guns. We are afraid for Rock, because we ''like'' him and we don't want him to get screwed up. And we all want to know how Rock and Revy will end up supporting each other. Balalaika is well-mannered and ''utterly remorseless,'' which makes her entirely too human. Hansel and Gretel are monsters, and how do we feel about them? We feel pity and sympathy because of ''why'' they are monsters. ''There is no black and white'' in this show. It's all dirty and grimy and soot-covered, just like real life. When you put it all together, it becomes even greater than the sum of its parts, and possibly the best anime ever made.
* I loved ''[[Ai Yori Aoshi]]''. By turns sweet, funny, and endearing, not to mention speaking to my hidden romantic side, I really came to care about the characters and root for them to get a happy ending. The anime was [[Cut Short]], so finishing out the series was the first time I've purchased manga. I had to know how it ended.
** I maintain that the manga's only flaw is the excessive [[Fan Service]]. The ''only'' flaw ([[The Scrappy|Mayu]] doesn't count).
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** 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]]'' this way and just loving it.
* [[User:Freezair For A Limited Time|This troper]] cannot spread the love for ''[[Jungle wa Itsumo Hale Nochi Guu]]'' enough--except on this Wiki, apparently, where she can never find things to [[Entry Pimp]] about it. Which is a crying shame--it's one of the ''funniest,'' most-out-and-out ''surreal,'' and shockingly... ''[[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|touching]]'' anime ever. It does [[Mood Whiplash]] ''well,'' going from the surreal antics of Hare and Guu to Weda's outright tragic backstory. She considers the final line of the TV run to be one of the most beautiful things in all film and TV ''period.''
** 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.
* ''[[Potemayo]]'' is like nothing else. Imagine if [[Yotsubato|Yotsuba]],[[Azumanga Daioh|Osaka]] and [[Shakugan no Shana|Shana]] were genetically spliced with a cat... and the result was a foot high and unbearably cute. Do the same splice again,this time using Sakaki and [[Suzumiya Haruhi|Asakura Ryouko]] as the source and giving her worm-things that fire [[Breath Weapon|laser beams from their mouths]] on the side of her head. Place them both in a [[Puni Plush]] anime series,populate it with gently parodic [[Anime Character Types]] and introduce them to the big,confusing world. Have [[The Stoic]] as the oblivious [[Love Interest]] of both the moe-blob and a [[Shrinking Violet]]. Sprinkle with [[Ho Yay]] and [[Parental Bonus]]-style humour. Strain through the pure essences of Japan. Now you're close to the twelve episodes of charm,joy and just plain [[Widget Series|"Wait,]]''[[Widget Series|what]]''[[Widget Series|?"-ness]] of Potemayo. Caveat: the last episode. [[Tear Jerker|Bring tissues]]. - [[User:Ack Sed]]
* ''[[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.
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** This troper has just finished episode 18 of the first season and wants to say it was the best (and one of the most disturbing) stories I've seen, at least so far. I'm ''afraid'' to read the original VNs to see what was left out or shuffled around. The anime as a standalone is just ''amazing'' in every sense of the word...
** This is certainly AMAZING at least. only one thing I hate about it is the dub, but that's irrelevant compared to the plot, characters, insanity, betrayals, and, of course, bloody murders that happen over and over that leaves you guessing-- Who will survive ''this'' time?
** [[Tropers/Zfish 9|This Troper]] absolutely loves Higurashi. The characters, the plot, the time loops, the [[Verbal Tic|verbal tics nano desu]], hell, even the high [[HSQ]]!! He has another week off of school coming up, and he will spend it rewatching [[Higruashi No Naku Koro Ni]].
* Every time This Troper has finished reading ''[[Love Hina]]'', he gets nostalgic about how the series was during book 1, even through he speedread the series in 3 days. The characters are awesome, you not only begin to fall in love with them, you even notice them developing throughout the series. And the entire series is a neverending laughter.
* ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'', in all its flaws, is awesome. Nothing ever managed to make this troper laugh so hard. The [[Ho Yay]] is a plus, too; all the [[Official Couple|Official Couples]] manage to make this troper either giggle or go 'Aaaawwww, they're so cute.'
** This troper seconds the sentiment and adds to it. Before reading Hetalia, this troper lived by the philosophy of "I don't care about news, other countries, or whatever. Who cares?" Hetalia made me realize that the rest of the world is not just hunks of land - they're people, which she had forgotten somewhere along the line. Hetalia made her more interested in history and other countries in general, and, don't ask her how, made her understand and love her own country more. Hetalia actually improved her outlook on life.
** This Troper thinks that half the reason to why Hetalia changed her as much as it did is because she's been in the fandom for so long. The series itself not only managed to educate her, make her interested in history, and get her to start learning and researching on her own, it even gave her hope for world peace, while the fandom and it's contributions, the discussions, and how we all seem to love each other so much, made it a fantastic fandom despite the occasional wank that people forget anyway. (I'm looking at you, Anon Meme. Which is, by the way, also an awesome, fun place thanks to which this troper made some new friends.)
*** You just made This Troper [[Manly Tears|cry with joy]].
**** Seconded. I love this series and the fandom so much!
** This troper never even knew about a lot of the other countries like the Baltic states, Belarus, and for goodness' sake who would've heard of Sealand? I love this series so damn much.
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* I also love ''Zoids: Chaotic Century.'' Again with the more serious elements [they were fighting a war the whole first season] and the [[Status Quo Is God]] aversion, plus some really cool mysteries and heaps of fucking awesome fight scenes.
** Seconded so much. I love it, I got up early to watch it and I remember standing and watching an episode of it in a toty shop next to the model kits. It was that good.
* ''[[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.
* This troper absolutely adores ''[[Aria]]''. After I got my new computer and needed some new anime to fill it up, I browsed the "best rated" list at Anime News Network, and stumbled across Origination. It was 13 episodes, so decided to give it a shot, not downloading the other two seasons on the mistaken impression that it was a prequel (it's called "Origination," after all...) The first episode confused me a little, and it took a while to figure out where President Aria's eyes were, but the pace was kind of refreshing. When I went on to watch the second episode, its beauty and warmth convinced me to finish watching. Then I saw episode 9. Oh. My. God. It was so incredible. I got the rest of the series off bittorrent immediately after watching that episode, and watched from the beginning. When it came time to re-watch the portion of Origination I'd already seen, it was like a completely new experience. Then I got to the ending. It was just so well-done and emotional, I cried out of happiness so much that morning. I then got the soundtrack and rewatched a few episodes after listening to it for a bit. It's even better!
** You're by far not alone. The Internets are filled with gushing reviews of this series. Kozue Amano, the maker of the original manga, is a goddess! And she does it again with ''[[Amanchu]]''. So much talent should be a crime!
** 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]]???
* ''[[Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei]]'' is a great series, and it's amazing that such odd characters come across as fairly likable. On the other hand, I think it works ''because'' the protagonist is such a jerk. If he was the [[Only Sane Man]], it would be tragedy, but in many ways, he is the oddest character.
** Not to mention the fact that it manages satirize modern Japan [[Mind Screw|while making no sense at all]] and not lose any of it's hilariousness.
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* Vagabond. It looks like a historic Japanese ink painting, and has a clearly written story that doesn't lose focus in spite of its 200+ chapter run. Most of its characters are quite deep; they are flawed yet are willing to develop. And the action...wow. It also helps that Takuan the monk is an [[Ensemble Darkhorse]], able to dispense Zen philosophy and direct the main characters without ever being a [[Marty Stu]].
* ''[[Monster (manga)|Monster]]'' is amazing - dark, unquestionably mature, intelligently written and totally unflinching in the way it tackles topics like bigotry, the existence of Absolute Evil and the value of human life. Although loaded with a huge cast of characters and many plot twists and turns, the story manages to make sense and come together without the need to suspend disbelief. The contrast between the [[The Messiah|heroic]] Kenzo Tenma and the [[Magnificent Bastard|chilling]] [[Complete Monster|Johan]] is one of the best hero-villain dynamic This Troper has seen. The anime is also a completely faithful adaptation and managed to [[Adaptation Distillation|enhance this troper's understanding of the manga]].
** Yes. Yes, yes yes yes yes. One of the best manga ever written.
*** Thirded
*** Fourthed. It must be the darkest, most mature manga/anime that This Troper has ever seen, tied with Elfen Lied, and even then [[Monster (manga)|Monster]] and its story will inevitably suck you in and make you explore human nature, its ups and its downs, and several characters (which have excellent backstories) more than Elfen Lied ever did, while giving out different interpretations on a lot of things, and always leaving it open for interpretation of the viewer. Words fail This Troper.
** Knowing full well where it falls on the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]], I still massively enjoy reading and watching ''[[Monster (manga)|Monster]]''. I actually care about the characters and what happens to them-- even Johan. The plot is cool, the huge amount of detail put into character design floors me every time, and I'm constantly recommending it to people.
** This troper agrees with you, 100%. It's gritty, and the [[Cast of Snowflakes|characters are all so unique in their design and in their personalities]], which just backs up the amazingly complex [[Jigsaw Puzzle Plot]].
** [[Pita|I]] don't like Anime much, to be honest. It feels like, much of the time, when a show is bad, people judge it by different standards than they do non-anime, just because it's anime. I hate gratuitous catgirls, I hate watching shows with no understanding of anywhere other than Japan, and I hate having every single relationship loaded with gay subtext. I had nearly given up on the entire platform. This was until ''[[Monster (manga)|Monster]]''. Clever writing, clever plotting, great characters, amazing themes, and none of the things that had irked me about other animes. It's just an amazing piece of fiction. It is, to other animes, what [[The Wire]] is to other TV series, South Park is to other [[Western Animation]] series, and [[Inglourious Basterds]] is to other movies. Truly a brilliant show.
** ''[[Monster (manga)|Monster]]'' pulled [[Tropers/Sunny V|me]] in from the first few episodes, for all of the above reasons.
* No love for [[Devil May Cry: The Animated Series]]? Sure the ending sucked, but the show had absolutely amazing action sequences, which really, is the entier bloody point, and still maneged to have a couple heartwarming scenes that completely avoided Narm. Pure almighty awesome.
* ''[[Twentieth Century Boys|20th Century Boys]]'' is incredible. Written by Naoki "Monster" Urasawa, it's an incredible plot that slowly unfolds, with each reveal drawing you in more and more and you never know where it'll go next. Incredible cast, such amazing tension and at times, incredibly heartwarming or completely frightening moments. A must-read, with one of the best written dystopia stories in manga history.
** Seconded. This was the first manga that this troper actually finished, and it's pretty damn long. All in under a week. It's ''awesome''. The twists, slowly building suspence, and [[Deconstruction]] of many manga cliches are brilliant, and the way it slowly builds in scope is great. Seriously, go to your usual scantilation site, find ''20th Century Boys'', get to at least chapter 20 or so, and see if you're not already hooked.
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* ''[[Claymore]]'' is one of, if not THE best Shonen out on the market these days. Large, but totally developed and superb cast, with a well developed world and story, with some of the best written action scenes in manga today. Clare is one of the best protagonists in Shonen today as well, and one of the most awesome determinators around. Worth a read without a doubt.
** Seconded, the series keeps getting more interesting at every turn. Even Raki, who had lots of haters early on, has become a fascinating, well-rounded and likeable individual. And yes, Clare is made of awesome.
** I rediscovered ''Claymore'' about the same time that I finally acknowledged ''[[Berserk]]'': both were series that I would always see floating about but I just never found the time to sit down and dive into them. I was even more surprised to see how similar the two series were, and they were right up my alley to begin with: [[Dark Fantasy|dark]], [[Darker and Edgier|gritty]], [[Medieval European Fantasy|medieval fantasies.]] ''Perfect.'' And I'm still surprised at how different Claymore is from other Shonen series, not just the fact that damn near the entire main cast is female, but also how serious it is compared to other Shonen. I half expect for ''Claymore'' to just transform into a Seinen in coming publications, but it's still okay as it is. The plot is moving along swimmingly, and THANK THE GOOD LORD that there is no [[Arc Fatigue]] or [[Filler Arc|FillerArcs]]! Even if it turns into a [[Long Runner]] to avoid this, who cares? ''Claymore'' is certainly one of my top picks.
* ''[[Mai-HiME]]'' is simply brilliant. It suckers you in with interesting, sympathetic characters and excellent comedy, and then {{spoiler|[[Tear Jerker|turns]] [[There Can Only Be One|this]] [[Anyone Can Die|completely]] [[Break the Cutie|on]] [[Wham! Episode|its]] [[Growing the Beard|head]] for the Carnival arc}}. That and Miyu is just plain [[Badass]]. The only downside is the (very stupid) fourth episode and {{spoiler|[[Fanon Discontinuity|the utterly mishandled last episode]] ;_;}}, but the rest of the series more than makes up for it.
** ''[[Mai-HiME]]'' is the absolute pinnacle of everything a great anime should be: stunning visuals, beautiful and haunting music, excellent characters and humour, a varied and fascinating world that combines elements of familiarity and mystery, with an atmosphere of intrigue and ancient secrets... this troper was so hooked he finished it in under 72 hours. Also -- it is the most emotionally powerful anime I've seen. The first [[Wham! Episode]] left me utterly reeling, I was reduced to tears more than once, and the ending of the first story arc was so full of awesome that part of me felt I might as well go home, there couldn't be any more to see. [[Serial Escalation|And it only got more awesome from there.]] When it came to the actual final ending I could hardly see the screen through my tears; no [[Fanon Discontinuity]] there for me.
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** I, on the other hand, have a massive amount of experience to draw from. And you are quite right, ''Macross Frontier'' is amazing beyond any right. While we're on the animation... the first movie's is AMAZING. It's clean, it's colourful, it's gorgeous. It's a work of goddamn art.
* ''[[Bokurano]]''. The characters, the plot, the designs of the mechas, the ''drama''. Everything was an emotional twister, with turns and moments that were simply spectacular in formation. Of course, it was quite depressing, but it was the epitome of all those solemn emotions that made it so heart-wrenching. And the ending...it could not have been better. A manga that should always be remembered, honestly.
* The first season of ''[[Weiss Kreuz]]''. Sure, it has it's own stupidity on occasions... but it's a living, breathing world, with characters who actually react ''exactly'' as they would react in such a situation.
** I'll be fair: ''Weiss Kreuz'' has inconsistent and frequently low-quality animation, plot holes, and moments of sheer ridiculousness. But it does boast meticulous character development and, at least in the original Japanese, top-notch voice acting from a collection of the best seiyuu in the business, and for that alone shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. The cast members act the ''hell'' out of every scene, to the point that it can make you wonder what they're ''doing'' to those poor guys in the recording booths. Even the sequel series, often accused of [[Character Derailment]], actually continues gradual development begun in the first season - too bad that most of it plays out in [[Radio Drama|Radio Dramas]] not easily available to western audiences.
* In my opinion, [[Yuu Watase]] is unfairly dismissed as a soapy, [[Bishonen]]-obsessed [[Ho Yay]] [[Word of Gay|fangirl]]. But even 10 years after first watching it, ''[[Fushigi Yuugi]]'' still contains some of my favorite manga/anime characters of all time (Tasuki, Chichiri, Nuriko), still brings me to tears at some points (Suboshi {{spoiler|selflessly giving Amiboshi the memory-wipe drug, knowing his twin will never recognize him again}}), still gives me incredible goosebumps (Yui's final wish). And the manga artwork is ''gorgeous'', an incredibly distinct and richly realized fantasy universe.
** Agreed. The anime absolutely blew my mind when I was 14; I'd never seen anything so emotionally intense before in my life. And now I'm 21 and I just got my hands on the manga for the first time. Needless to say, when I reached the end of volume 13, I was crying ''uncontrollably.'' Just like I did when I was 14. And the same thing happened when I read Ceres. I have a feeling the same will be true for Alice 19th. They may all have their flaws, but damned if Watase doesn't know how to quickly get you emotionally attached to characters and create the most crushing, gut-wrenching situations for them to go through.
** And ''[[Absolute Boyfriend]]'', even though it's mostly seen as a fluff series, legitimately kept me guessing which suitor Riiko would end up with (and normally that kind of plot bores me). The ending was an unexpected and extremely bittersweet punch in the stomach.
** People can call [[Yuu Watase]]'s works hentai all they want, but her beautifully-structured plots and well-developed characters trample on this accusation anytime.
** [[Fushigi Yuugi]] was the first manga I read from start to finish, and even though I barely touch shoujo in favour of more action or comedy-oriented works these days, I will never, ever forget the way it made me cry- not just because of the [[Tear Jerker|heartbreaking]] moments, but also from [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|sheer joy.]] Oh, and Alice 19th was pretty awesome, too. Thanks, Watase-san.- reaperangelique
*** Even I, as a hardcore [[Dark Fantasy]] [[Shonen]] and [[Seinen]] fan, will admit that ''Fushigi Yuugi'' was the first manga that I started collecting. I don't read the original series as much anymore, as I've moved onto liking [[Ayashi no Ceres]] and the prequel Genbu Gaiden a bit more (since those two a bit more mature), and I can sorta see why some people would think the way they do about the original ''Fushigi Yuugi'' series, it will always have a special place in my heart as an anime geek.
** And this just won't finish here! [[Fushigi Yuugi]] was Watase's first early hit... and the epitome of her maturity as an author is ''[[Sakura Gari]]''. You'd think that the "naive uke boy meets older and cynical seme" cliché can't be told in a way that is actually believable, complex and human anymore, since it has been horrifyingly botched up by so many [[Yaoi]] super series (*cough [[Okane ga Nai]] *cough* [[Gravitation]])... and yet when it comes to ''[[Sakura Gari]]'', '''it's not'''. The uke reacts realistically to his terrible surroundings, the seme has believable reasons to be the way he is, and the rest of the story is tragic yet beautiful. --
* ''[[Aoi Hana]]''. Holy schlamoly.
**
* 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.
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** 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.
** Thirded. It's got a charmingly bizarre sense of style in character and story, is funny, has some rather smart moments (e.g Black Star and Mifune in the manga, without question). Most of which carried over into the anime, where the combination of animation style and music made it look all the more awesome. For shounen action, it's fairly well-paced which also helps. Oh, and there's Shinigami. Third best fictional Death ever.
** Fourth'd. I have read far ''far'' too many shonen manga, and this is THE BEST by far. For one, it actually HAS character development, and it just keeps getting better... and better. It's like Bleach was put on acid. It's just... awesome.
** <s>FOOL! Only [[Soul Eater]] can have characters as powerful, amazing, invincible, godlike, and modest like '''''EXCALIBUR!!!'''''</s> [[Soul Eater]] is just pure awesomeness with a side of [[Badass]]. I hope that [[Soul Eater Not]]! will add to the awesomness and show some of the lesser seen characters more.
*** A splendid series with some of the most likeable characters in recent memory. They're all so awkward and certifiable that it's impossible not to love them but when the time calls for action they're completely capable of kicking ass. Extremely dark and creepy at times, but never losing sight of its humor, this series rarely stops being entertaining. And Black Star is one of the most badass ninja ever seen.
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** Allen is one of the most adorable shounen protagonists I've seen. The whole thing's set up so that you cheer for him and hope that he ''does'' succeed in his mission to save everyone.
** I LOVE the way it manages to take the old "dark ancient militaristic organization fights to save world from family of villains in a centuries-old struggle" and make it seem new and exciting. The Black Order is also surprisingly deep and realistic, with the mix of decent, working people, heroes, [[Complete Monster|Complete Monsters]], and religious fanatics you'd expect to find in real life. Overall, it's just a one-of-a-kind series that has this troper squeeing at the release of each new chapter.
** The art for D.Gray-man is AMAZING. It's so dynamic and unique! And the characters are all freaking [[Badass]]!
* I think only one other person mentioned [[Trigun]]. What the hell. Okay, maybe for everybody else out there, it was just another sci-fi western anime. But to me, it was so markedly special because it was not only my [[Gateway Series]] to anime, but it's allowed me entrance into a whole genre of other works I didn't even know about. Hell, from watching Trigun, I got interested in [[Firefly]] and then [[Serenity]], and also [[Gun X Sword]] which VERY, VERY MUCH deserves a mention. The poster of Vash on my wall and the fact I went against my parents wishes and painted the word T.R.I.G.U.N on my wall in red paint only serves as a small testament to how much the series has changed my life.
** Yes Yes and YES. ''Trigun'' was also a gateway series for me, and also led me to other "superhuman gunslinger"-type series, like [[Hellsing]] and most recently, Yasuhiro Nightow's lesser-known (which REALLY needs mentioning) series, ''[[Gungrave]]''. Mafia Drama, chainsmoking, forbidden technology, love, loyalty, betrayal, family, revenge, big-ass guns...I know people are put off by the sci-fi/zombie fantasy stuff in the later half of the anime but that's how the video game was--an over-the-top zombie shoot-em-all-and-let-god-sort-em-out kind of game and while it was short, it has STYLE. Brandon/Grave is one the most interesting (and tragic) main characters, as there's really two sides to him--the relentless, unforgiving killer, but on the other hand he's an incredibly kindhearted, loyal, and selfless man who always puts his friends and loved ones first. I just want to give both Grave and Mika BIG HUGS.
** This was the first anime I watched and I liked it... and then I read the manga and I completely fell in love with it. It is funny, dark, character-driven, and is fantastically well-told and drawn. And even now I can still enjoy the anime even if it does have a [[Gecko Ending]] because it is all just that good.
** ''Trigun'' was a gateway series for me too, but one of many. The better part of a decade later, I watched it again, and was blown away by how much of the awesome I had missed the first time -- the music, the carefully developed mood... and the characters, who in spite of being [[Badass]] are still people you'd like to have as friends. (Except of course for the ones you don't want to share a planet with.) It's kind of my anime comfort food now.
* [[Hellsing]] OVA. One of the most over-the-top, most stylish action anime series I have ever seen. Everything in the OVA is pure, distilled awesome. Special note goes out to the Valentine brothers, who were way too cool to last more than one episode.
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** Seconded so hard. Even though I'm not that glorious of an anime otaku so I don't get half the stuff you said :D But yeah, Norio as the Narrator was the best thing ever. Hell, you gotta love a show THAT ACCUSES THE NARRATOR OF MURDER.
** While the meta and parodic nature of the humor really is a good part of this series, what really attracts this troper is the incorporation of several genres to give later manga arcs more of a fleshed out feel. A bit more drama and action and tragedy when it comes to the whole Greece Arc, but it's all meshed in with the overarching lighthearted silliness that we love so much.
* ''[[Clannad]]'': Why is ''[[Clannad]]'' not yet here!? The story was just ''absofreakinglutely beautiful'': two people with problems end up turning to each other for help. Other friends are roped in; they help each other, forming [[True Companions]]. The second season could only have awesomeness that changed
** Seconded so hard.
** THIRDED. ''[[Clannad]]'' is easily this troper's favorite anime. It's gorgeously animated with awesome development of Nagisa and Tomoya's characters and relationship. Seriously, they are the ultimate couple; like someone said earlier, they literally could not live without the other. Not only that, they were a cute couple that struggled through all sorts of hardships but in the end, were still standing together. They made you care about their romance and if you didn't bat an eye at {{spoiler|Nagisa's death}} or {{spoiler|Ushio and Tomoya's true reunion in the field of flowers}}, then you were truly a hardened person. And unlike other anime, they didn't really focus on the negative, '"emo" aspects (like bad pasts, etc.) as much, and actually worked toward making the best of things and overcoming tragedy, especially through the [[Power of Friendship]]. Finally, an anime that's positive!!
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* ''[[Paranoia Agent]]'': One of the best animes ever created. No, seriously.
** Let's clarify: BRUTAL [[Deconstruction]] of common anime elements like Lolicon fanservice and [[Kawaiisa]], character design and animation that gives a big fat middle finger to the generic anime styles most revel in, an extremely dark atmosphere with some seriously chilling moments, and some great characters. [[Satoshi Kon]], you rock.
** Absolutely. It deconstructs everything and it absolutely deserves the title [[Crazy Awesome]]. You want absolute [[Mind Screw]] distilled with character development and [[Paranoia Fuel]]? Voila.
** I agree; it's very much a [[Mind Screw]] in some parts (... OK most parts), and I think that's probably one of reasons I love it so much. It really looks into psychological issues behind characters, and really shows how they can get backed into a corner far enough to pretty much have a mental breakdown. It's incredibly creepy in some parts too- even the opening was enough to give me chills! I'd definitely recommend it!
* [[Katekyo Hitman Reborn]]: The story gets better, there's [[Art Evolution]], and I can say that it's a very good shonen manga. Tons of hot guys, yay!
** Seconded. Beyond the great character development, the storyline and powerups that keep evolving in logical, awesome ways, and the protagonist, who shows that there are some shounen heroes who are a bit whiny and don't actually like fighting that can still be a great character, what more do you need? The bishies are just a bonus. Kind of.
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* ''[[Baccano]]'', where every episode involves cuts to events taking place minutes, days, months or years before or after the scene you were just watching. Combine that with the 1930s, trains, monsters, immortal alchemists, and a whole pack of wacky, lovable characters and you're in for an awesome series. And if that doesn't make you want to check it out, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Msg8ypnLqaw the opening sure as hell will.]
** Oh, I am one of the many fans who watched ''[[Baccano]]'' ''because'' of the OP. In fact, I first started reading the first novel (1930 novel) and just had to watch the anime. After watching the anime, I can say that I love all the characters, I love Ryogo Narita (I like [[Durarara]] too) , and I love everything about it. Oh, and I became a Graham Specter Fangirl.
** This troper feels like she's in the thirties whenever she watches ''[[Baccano]]''. Also to this troper, the show ''feels'' so realistic that at one point she thought that she's ''with'' the cast when they're doing their crazy antics.
** I love Baccano. Easily one of my favorite anime. It's just pure, unadulterated high-energy fun. Packed to the brim with likable and entertaining characters, it's a series where all you have to do is sit back and have a good time. And you will. You will indeed. It has great animation, a good score that fits it well and an amazing dub to go along with the hijinks. And if you're a fan of 1920's/1930's culture, this will be an excellent series. It's just got that special something to make it shine. Bright.
* ''[[Lucky Star]]'', anyone? Animation is good, drawing style is interesting, references are numerous, characters have some actual depth, seiyuus are awesome, opening is even crazier than in ''[[Tenshi ni Narumon]]'', [[Show Within a Show]] is not irritating, ending is one of the best things in the whole show. Oh, and CV elaborates the main plot. Awesome!
* ''[[Sword of the Stranger]]''. One of the best anime films produced in recent years. Possibly ever. Certainly some of the best action in animated history, with captivating fight scenes and utterly breathtaking choreography, well written characters and so much effort put into the whole thing.
* Despite the astounding amount of [[Internet Backdraft]] it has gotten, this troper feels the need to mention [[Umineko no Naku Koro ni]]. Yes, you heard right. The show so openly criticized by the SN readers/players, and called downright horrible by those who've watched the anime as a stand alone. I'd heard about it by one of those bashing reviews, and out of curiosity, had looked it up and started watching it. Granted, it ''is'' filled with [[Narm]] and the main character is the Largest Ham to end all [[Large Ham|Large Hams]], but it really doesn't deserve the harsh critique it's getting. The characters are colorful, it takes a little unique spin on the [[Groundhog Day Loop]] setting itself apart from it's predecessor, the [[Narm Charm|Narm is just so outright hilarious]], and Beatrice is possibly the biggest [[Badass]] that this troper has seen by {{spoiler|Dragging the resident [[Large Ham]] out into a crowd with Bernkastel nearby, NAKED AND ON A CHAIN, and then proceeding to whip him around by it.}} And this is coming from a fan of the original sound novel.
** This troper is rather unique in that she found out about the series by stumbling on the manga by complete chance, and has never seen the anime/played the game. She loves it, and is somehow unable to explain ''why''...She just ''does''.
* I am SERIOUSLY disappointed that [[GaoGaiGar]] hasn't been mentioned yet! Seriously, I can NOT get enough of that theme song. Every time the theme music starts up, you KNOW awesome is going to happen! So much manly, hotblood and GAR in this series it's insane! Always perks me up to think of the song in my head.
* No love for [[S-Cry-ed]]? Seriously? It was just as hotblooded as [[Gurren Lagann]] and it's not mentioned yet? The opening theme song sold the series for me from the get-go. Both the anime and the manga versions of scryed were just awesome. Just so awesome, hotblooded and so full of yelling!
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* Just wanted to throw out my love for ''[[Kidou Tenshi Angelic Layer]]'' since nobody else has yet. Maybe not a mind-blowingly great show, but definitely enjoyable.
* ''Sola'' is one of this troper's personal favorite anime. The art design and backgrounds of the show are simply gorgeous, as I watch, I constantly end up thinking that they belong in an art museum. The characters are not only memorable, but quite believable. The soundtrack, while simple, is also memorable (I re-watched the series a year after I first saw it and could recall most of the OST). Couple that with a twisting plot, and some truly heartwarming and endearing moments, in only 13 episodes, this is a little series that is truly something great. That much being said, practically no one has seen this series, and although Bandai licenced it, it sadly won't be getting a dub. I'm sure there's a lot of people who just brush it aside as a hentai game adaptation (which it's not), but I'd recommend it to anyone who's just looking for a good story with strong production values all around.
* Munto is a great anime which needs more love here. Its only 9 episodes long and yet has such a good plot and interesting characters. The art is just beautiful and the action scenes amazing. The title character is also pretty hot and this troper is ashamed to admit she squees every time he and the heroine are together as they just go together so well. It has a bit of everything, fantasy, action, comedy, drama, and romance.
* [[Vampire Princess Miyu]] deserves a mention. The anime is very well done with watercolor backgrounds and characters that look Japanese, but the plot is [[Sailor Moon]] meets Hellsing. The shinma keep getting darkerandedgier every episode, pulling [[One-Winged Angel]] after [[One-Winged Angel]]. The plot is episodic, so you can watch it in any order, and the English dub is extremely well done.
* ''[[Hunter X Hunter]]'' is the greatest anime I've ever seen and the greatest manga I've ever read.
* ''[[Martian Successor Nadesico]]'' is a great series. It manages to combine sci-fi, drama, comedy, romance, and a half-dozen other genres into a surprisingly cohesive story. It avoids the pitfalls of trying to be psychological or deeply symbolic that can ruin an otherwise great series. The cast is one of the most memorable I've ever seen. It was one of the first series I'd watched in its entirety, and years later and several (five?) times more shows than I had seen back then under my belt, this is still my absolute all-time favorite.
* There is no doubt about it. ''[[Fairy Tail]]'' ''is'' magic. Any Shounen cliche you can think of...is either subverted, averted, or played straight so wonderfully you'll end up crying at night for ever doubting it. The word [[True Companions|Nakama]] probably has never meant more, and the world is crafted so intricately that you could be convinced that even a mage with [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?|the power of "heart"]] could be the [[Heart Is an Awesome Power|most glorious wizard on the field]].
** SECONDED. So hard. ''[[Fairy Tail]]'' is easily my favorite series out there. It's awesome that it doesn't take itself seriously and can make one laugh even in the serious moments without the [[Mood Whiplash]].
* [[Ninku]], a vestige from an era long before the realisation that the world was a dreary all round grey. No 10 plus filler eps and some nice animation particularly on the faces and fight scenes. Set in a surreal western outback, when power levels didn't leap over 9000 every other episode.
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED|Gundam SEED]]'' should be noted as well. It has all the best things in Gundam, and takes it [[Up to Eleven]]. Great characters, well created Gundams, and [[Beam Spam|Lazers!]]
** Seconded. Bleach and Naruto were what got me into anime, but it was ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED|Gundam SEED]]'' ''and'' ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny|Gundam SEED Destiny]]'' that made me stay. Clever plotting, sympathetic heroes and villains, [[Badass]] combat, and in--in my opinion--did the best job of any of the Gundam series of showing the effects of war on kids. And that's not getting into the characters. There isn't a character in this series I don't love in one way or another, whether for being a great person, for being a total monster I could love to hate, or something in between. The multiple points of view, the [[Grey and Gray Morality]] (and in the case of Seed Destiny, white and grey and black morality) all made both shows fascinating for me, and the reason I'm still watching anime. I've discovered many more since then, but Seed and Seed Destiny will always be my favourites.
* [[Irresponsible Captain Tylor]] is one of the best anime I've ever seen, and has profoundly affected my life. It has ''two'' of the most ''fantastic'' [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|Crowning Moments Of Awesome]] I've ever seen, and despite beginning as a totally episodic show ties everything together beautifully. The main moral of the show is "Do what you want, the way you want to," and that's really not a bad way to deal with things.
* This troper is not at all surprised that not only has neither Crows nor Worst been mentioned yet, they don't even have their own pages on the Wiki, and only Worst has a page on [[wikipedia:Worst (manga)|The Other Wiki]]. Really, Crows and Worst [[Needs More Love|need more love]]. Crows and its sequel series Worst, both by Hiroshi Takahashi, follow a group of Japanese high school delinquents as they get into street fights, form factions, and generally just try to prove they're the best fighters around. They're kind of idealized delinquents; they don't do drugs, commit crimes (exceptions: assault, of course, and the occasional kidnapping by the villians), or even bully people (in fact, it's the opposite: they're more likely to attack the best fighter around than someone who can't or won't fight back). They're pretty much good kids who just [[Blood Knight|really like to get into fights]]. There are no mind-blowing plot twists, no incredible feats of strength/agility/whatever, no world-shaking, far-reaching events, and this troper, without a doubt, [[Proud to Be a Geek|has nothing in common with the characters]]; yet I love the characters and I eagerly await each new chapter, which sucks me into the world of these young warriors and leaves me energetic and in a good mood. It helps that many of the characters are just [[Badass Normal|dripping with awesome]]. Worst is tied for my favorite series (with [[Fullmetal Alchemist]], in case you're curious) and Crows is easily a close 2nd. Please, at least check it out.
* ''[[Spice and Wolf]]''. It has very little [[Fan Service]] (some don't consider those scenes fanservice at all), despite one of the characters being a wolf-girl. Lawrence's business as a merchant is genuinely interesting. The romance is amazing, and the characters are realistic and mature. The character interaction is amazing, and may be the best part of the series.
** this troper agrees fully. the banter between the two is just amazing and it is really surprising how a series about being a merchant that actually teaches you stuff can be so entertaining.
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** Seconded so hard. Fusanosuke is probably the only yaoi mangaka who assumes [[Viewers Are Geniuses]] and will want to try and keep up with the complexity of her work, and yes, we do. The art is gorgeous and the sensitivity and balance of the panel layouts, the movement, and the intercutting of past and present scenes (some of which convey so much without even any words accompanying them) are just amazing. Look no further than the scene of {{spoiler|Klaus aging as he pulls back from the brink of death}} in Volume 2 for how graceful and potent simply her craft can be, further compounded by magnificient storytelling.
* ''[[Grenadier]]''. [[Marvel Girl|I]] started watching it knowing I would hate it because me little brother was watching it and dribbling about Rushuna's large breasts. But then... You have to watch episode 1 to believe it. Rushuna needs to have a shoot-off with Vash to decide who is the greatest gunman in anime. It's only 13 eps, and yet manages to fill in so much backstory and so much characterization, all seamlessly. And the dub is surprisingly good.
** [[User:Zetto San|I]] found the series to be [[Incredibly Lame Pun|very developed]] in terms of it's messages. It has a very well thought out anti-war message that doesn't come off as pretenious, and even explores how the heck one would even use the Ultimate Battle Stratagy practically.
* I am saddened that nobody's mentioned [[Bomberman Jetters]] yet. The relationships between the team members and their family members are just plain heartwarming (especially White Bomber and his brother, I'm a sucker for brotherly love), and then the whole Jetters organization is kind of like another strange family -[[Vitriolic Best Buds|sometimes caring and supportive, other times hilariously violent towards one another]]. The bad guys are frequently funny too, although they have some moments that [[Tear Jerker|can and]] [[Evil Counterpart|will catch]] [[Arch Enemy|you off guard]]. And they visit so many crazy planets! There's plenty of action, lots of adventure, a nigh-unhealthy amount of wackiness, and many moments that will make you go "aww" for many reasons. I probably sound like a rabid fangirl but I don't care.
* How DARE nobody mention [[Fist of the North Star]] yet. It's only the [[Rated "M" for Manly|manliest]] manga ever written! Kenshiro is one of the most [[Badass]] protaganists in Anime/Manga history, why? he can make people EXPLODE just by poking them! Bad. Ass.
** Is that your only reason for enjoying ''Fist''? The art style is so freaking amazing, it not only gushes out the manliness from the heroes but also makes them as diversely emotional as manga's supposed to be. I, personally, feel refreshed every time Ken cracks a smile, something that he only does upon seeing the satisfaction of the people he helps. He's a badass, yet selfless and idealistic hero, and they make sure you remember it for every frame, even when exploding Mook heads. Well, I've only been reading the manga so far, but still it conveys the message in an epic way (which I think is, even [[After the End]], there will still be someone to come along for us in our time of need).
* ''[[Detective Conan]]''. From someone who grew up devouring any decent detective/mystery fiction he could get his hands on (Doyle, Christie, Mc Bain, Hammett, Queen, etc.) I was dubious about a mystery based series dealing with a teenaged detective turned kid. Then I read the manga. It's impossible to get through the stories without seeing how much the mangaka loves the genre and it's various tropes as much as I do, his knowledge and usage from countless mystery sub-genres are impressive as well. And while the filler episodes in the anime generally lack the same quality as their manga counterparts, the Non-Serial movies are surprisingly good.
** I come not to talk about Detective Conan, but about Case Closed. This is THE anime that got me hooked. I've always been a mystery lover, and this had me staying up on a school night just so I could see the conclusion to the Axe Murder Mystery. Even though I was like 9, I still loved the show, and I really wish Funimation would step up and dub more episodes damnit!
* ''Mahoromatic''. This series did it for me. I was 16 when I watched this, and it was just something unreal. I spent following 2 weeks after watching this in some sort of trance-like state, and I was in all seriousness thinking about what should I do now that I've experienced the best moments in my entire life and I'm just 16. I just knew it, this was the climax, brain simply doesn't allow things to get better than this.
* ''[[Inazuma Eleven]]''. I never thought that I'd like an anime about football, but decided to check it out just because of some fanart I'd come across; best decision ever. In a short time, it's become my favorite anime, and I'm just waiting for the games to be exported. All the players are amazingly likable, the music is awesome and the plot is interesting. It has a good mix of comedy and drama, and it manages to keep light-hearted without seeming too silly. Each match is different and unpredictable; the main team has their fair amount of losses, and even the training episodes are fun to watch. The small bits of [[Ho Yay]] sprinkled in are nice to have too...
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* No love for the ''[[Rozen Maiden]]'' seasons/OVA? How could there not be love for the show that spawned the "desu" meme? The costumes are wonderful, so much so that I cosplay Sugintou. The names are even awesome. (So much so that the cat rescue I volunteer at now has a kitten named Rozen and a pretty black cat named Sugintou.) The plot is awesome, the characters are moe to the extreme, and everybody has a decent backstory. The music is just gorgeous in every way. Both the English and the Japanese versions are excellent, and I usually fall on the "sub" side of things.
** Seconded, this troper quite enjoyed both the anime and the manga (which hasn't ended yet!). Like so many good anime, it takes a seemingly absurd concept and pulls it together into an amazing, innovative story with incredible potential. It flawlessly mixes humor and dark intensity, and every single character is intriguing and developed. This troper's personal favorite is the cool, serious Souseiseki.
* ''[[Blame]].'' I was with this manga ever since the first volume came out and I have loved it to death ever since. Every single page is an indulgence in awesome art and [[Scenery Porn]], and the story distills every human-survival and cyber-punk story down to its barest elements and just shows you what it means to be human and far beyond the apocalypse. I know that it's not to everyone's tastes, but for me it is everything I have ever loved about science-fiction and it speaks to me on a universal level every single time.
** Seconding the hell out of this.
* ''[[Serial Experiments Lain]].'' Like ''Blame!'' not everyone likes it, but I have loved and re-watched every episode for so long that it's practically embedded into my psyche. It was ahead of its time by so far, and it continues to speak truer to the reality of human communication and the fabric of reality than anything I have ever known. Some shows, whether they be anime, live action tv, manga, literature, film, or even video games catch you and don't let you go, and for me this was one of these.
** [[Tropers/Sunny V|I]] totally seconding this. Let's see...I love the intro song/sequence, the [[Mind Screw]], the philisophical and psychological commentary, and the minimal [[Fan Service]] (which is somewhat rare for a [[Seinen]] series.)
** Crazy as it sounds, Serial Experiments Lain and [[FLCL]] were this troper's gateway series. Both of them are deep and insane, and the [[Mind Screw]] is definitely worth it. Extra credit goes to Lain for the [[Genius Bonus]].
** Yes, Lain is excellent. I must admit that the very end was a bit predictable (though no less touching and effective for it), but if you're in the mood for a sci-fi series that actually makes you ''think'' about the technology and concepts being described, do yourself a favour and watch the anime. I'm not tech-savvy myself, but I was fascinated by the ideas on interpersonal communication that were put forth.
* ''[[Demon Diary]].'' I typically read fairly violent and graphic, bloody and [[Mind Screw]] Seinen. And I LOVE this mangwha to pieces. It is sweet, funny, and adorable. And once you've read the final volume you get absolutely fucking pissed off that there aren't any more (well at least I do)! Beautifully drawn, surreal and probably the funnest (yes, you heard me grammar nazis) manga/mangwha I have ever read.
* ''[[Deadman Wonderland]].'' This is one of THE most awesome mangas ever. It takes a Shonen protagonist and thrusts them into a Seinen reality. It is, by DEFINITION, [[Crazy Awesome]]. It's like someone took all the best shonen, blended them together, and then distilled the result into some alcoholic substance. I can't believe that someone hasn't mentioned it before, and it definitely needs more love. It's violent, graphic, full of enough horror to blow your brain out the other side of your head, and IT. IS. AWESOME!!! (yes, the capitals were entirely necessary).
* ''[[Kaleido Star]].'' Far and away one of my favourite anime. It has a nice cast of characters, good music and beautiful acrobatic sequences. Additionally, it shows you all the hard work the characters put in, something missing from quite a few shows. Finally, this series at one point made me cry at it's beauty, storywise. Altogether a fantastic series.
* Karakuri Odette, so much. Even though it's not ambitious or particularly groundbreaking, and the art style is a tad off it captivates readers and makes you interested in everyday plights of Odette. Subtly, you can see her change from robot to a more human-like person.
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* There are not enough good things to say about ''[[Kimi ni Todoke]]''. The overall mood of the setting can make even the most hardened stoic melt. The characters are very lovable and entertaining, with the lead in particular having that particular shade of kindness and hope that makes you wish she were real just so you could [[Cool Big Sis|grab her in an armlock and mess up her hair]]. The writing is great, and emphasizes just how special the characters are and how they're better off for it. Overall, it's just one of the most enjoyable experiences you can have with a [[Shojo]] series.
** Seconded, I really enjoy all the characters, ''especially'' Sawako, whose various [[Adorkable|character]] [[I Just Want to Have Friends|quirks]] I found easy to relate to. This was my [[Gateway Series]] into [[Shoujo]] manga (which I was not expecting to enjoy, being a guy and all). It has completely surpassed my expectations and touched me in ways I'd never imagined a manga could, and I'm going to stick with it to the end.
* I will admit that I'm NOT surprised that ''[[Bobobobo Bobobo]]'' hasn't gotten any gushing yet. For a series that was on CN for its entire run, it's vastly underappreciated and bashed unjustly. But consider this: It an [[Affectionate Parody]] of anime ITSELF, concentrated into a 76-episode series, mocking every part of every genre. In reality, it's like the /b/ of anime, and I love it. The English VA casting is surprisingly well done, with each character's personality shining through immediately. But more than that, for me and the many fans I've spoken to, this show is escapism in hilarity, [[Crazy Awesome]] [[Sweet Dreams Fuel]] with enough utterly lovable characters to fuel my Perverse Asexual Cuddlelust into the end of time. Not to mention it has one of the friendliest fanbases I've EVER seen, probably due to the nature of the show. It's not brilliant, it's not the "greatest anime of all time", but it's genuinely bizarre and bizarrely genuine. To anyone who ever watched five minutes of the show and dismissed it (ALL SIX THOUSAND OF YOU), I suggest you give it another try.
* I beg of you, go find and read ''[[My Lovely Ghost Kana]]''. Right now. Stop reading this and go. Still here? You want more reasons? Ok. Do you like reading a story where the characters grow and develop? Are you a sucker for happy love stories that have realistic, unbelievably well-written plots? Do you want to read a story that is so heartwarming and touching that just reading it makes you feel good about the world? If you are feeling depressed, then empathize with the ghost of a girl who committed suicide and a guy who is ready to give up on the world who discover that life is worth living by falling in love with each other. Do you want to smile and then [[Mood Whiplash|suddenly find yourself crying]] by the very next page? Do you like to look at pretty, naked girls? Then go read a story that looks at the growth of a relationship, including all the sexy parts, with a hardcore seriousness that will remind you of the first time you ever fell in love, and leave you warm and happy and glowing and completely in love with Kana and Daikichi.
** Then go read ''[[Virgin Night]]'' and ''[[Ai-Ren]]'' by the same author, [[Tanaka Yutaka]], and feel it all even more. When you are done with those, follow [[Mimia Hime]] for something that is quickly evolving into an epic fairy tale of transcendant beauty.
* [[Pumpkin Scissors]]. This troper, possibly because it reminds her of [[Fullmetal Alchemist]], LOVES this series to death. She enjoys the reversal in gender roles when concerning the main characters, Alice and Randel. Normally, the guy is very distant if he has a [[Dark Mysterious Past]], sometimes bordering on Badass *cough*Sasuke*cough* where as the girl is very naive, weak, and far too cheerful to bear. Or it goes to the opposite extreme and the guy is rambunctious and possibly THE most annoying character on the program and the girl is a [[Shrinking Violet]] or a Tsundere. Alice is reasonably well fleshed out, she's not just there to be the [[Genki Girl]], she's there to be the LEADER. She's not eye candy, she's very much a person with flaws and strong feelings of justice even though she sometimes is naive about it. Randel fits the idea of [[Dark Mysterious Past]] to a T, however, he doesn't let it make him bitter and angry with the world. He's a [[Gentle Giant]] and when he turns on his lantern, that's when he's the definition of Badass. He, like Alice, is also portrayed as a very human character, plagued by nightmares of his past and genuinely not taking too much pride in what he has done. Randel, unlike other anime/manga men of his kind, is the one who seems to need Alice more than Alice needs him. This is what I meant earlier by gender role reversal. They respect one another as (somewhat) equals. This troper truly appreciates that in the two core characters.
** Also, Oreldo, Machs, Stecchin, Hunks, and Mercury, they are also wonderful parts of this misfit unit. They help display that not every anime/manga group follows a specific pattern. For example, Oreldo, though lecherous, is not disrespectful of a womans space and needs; he's actually a gentleman.
* I'm surprised that [[Peach Girl]] isn't up here! This troper did not like realistic, slice of life schoolgirl anime until she saw this one. It's also got a great message about believing in yourself.
* No? No [[Star Driver]]? But it's awesome! It's colourful, the characters are awesome, the fights are spectacular and best of all, it's campy beyond belief. Definately worth watching.
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* No love for [[Kanamemo]]? Want a comedy with an actual Yuri couple, amazingly good slapstick, lovable characters, along wiith some good drama, and a script that is really different from every other anime comedies to the point that it's quite quotable? This show has all that. It needs more love, attention and awareness.
* [[El-Hazard: The Magnificent World]]. This troper first watched it dubbed on the TV at an anime convention years ago, and he absolutely fell in love with it. It's true there are some bad dubs out there, but El Hazard's was just so good, especially Jinnai and his crazy evil laugh. To this date, this troper has re-watched El Hazard's dub many times, and he has never seen it in the original Japanese. Of course, he prefers not to think about Wanderers or the series that came after it...
* [[NEEDLESS]]. It's [[Fan Service|pure fanservice]] packed in [[Up to Eleven|pure fanservice]] served on [[Serial Escalation|pure fanservice]] plate. And it's [[You Keep Using That Word|fanservice]] of [[Taste the Rainbow|any kind]].
* No love for ''[[Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan|Bludgeoning Angel Dokurochan]]''? This show is proof that mindless and needlessly bloody entertainment can be a work of art! [[Tropers/Encrypted 12345|I]] just love how this show doesn't even try to shove an [[Aesop]] down your throat and works completely on [[Rule of Funny]]. Oh, and the [[Superlative Dubbing]] is also [[So Cool Its Awesome]].
* [[Busou Renkin]] remains one of the shounen anime I blissfully return to every year. Terribly cliched, yes, but there's a charm to the characters that just pulls me in. It even has some [[Tear Jerker]] moments.
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* For having [[Awesomeness Withdrawal]] on it's page, it's surprising not to see any love for ''[[Shinryaku! Ika Musume]]'' on here. The hilarious hijinks of our squid girl [[Villain Protagonist]] may not be get her any close to her invasion of the surface world, but she definitely succeeds in invading the hearts of all who enjoy the series. This troper cannot be happier that [[Media Blasters]] is licensing the series, AND a second season is on the way in Japan.
* ''[[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.
* [[LE Xicon 712|I]], who used to frequently edit [[TV Tropes]] all the time, now is back to gush the [[Precision F-Strike|fuck]] out of ''[[Tiger and Bunny]]''. It's atop the best anime this year. Kotetsu is an [[Adorkable]] BAMF and he won me over when he tried to make friends with [[Defrosting Ice King]] Barnaby. The other heroes are also awesome, ranging from the awkwardly cute Japanophile Ivan Karelin/[[Shapeshifting|Origami Cyclone]], [[Camp Gay]] Nathan Seymour/[[Playing with Fire|Fire Emblem]], and aspiring [[Idol Singer]] Karina Lyle/[[An Ice Person|Blue Rose]], among the others. The plot started kind of slow, but soon the heartwarmingness of Kotetsu and Barnaby really made me love this series. The final episodes left me on the edge of my seat. God, please Bandai, dub this series, it deserves to be on [[Adult Swim]]!
* ''[[Yumekui Merry]]'' is easily one of the better series to surface in the last few years. Its fights manage to be engaging without becoming overly drawn-out, and its characters, rather than being inflated anime stereotypes, are three-dimensional, believable and genuinely ''likeable''. The world the author creates is fascinating and imaginative, the villains are unique in that they're malicious without being killers, and best of all, it's only just scraped the tip of the iceberg, with plenty of loose plot threads ready to take this story to the next level of awesome!
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* Personally I consider [[Agent Aika]] as one of the best anime, for [[Panty Shot|more]] [[Panty Shot|than]] [[Panty Shot|one]] [[Panty Shot|reason]]. Other than Aika is certainly one of the best anime women out there.
* [[Pandora Hearts]]. Just [[Pandora Hearts]], dammit! Everything about both the anime and the manga is [[So Cool Its Awesome|brilliant and amazing!]] From its cute but not too [[Moe|sugary]] art style to its dark, Carrol- influenced story, not forgetting, of course, the soundtrack by [[Kajiura Yuki]] in the anime, makes this troper very happy indeed. Then there is the whole matter of [[Perverse Sexual Lust|Vincent]], too.
* I find it terrible that Durarara!! does not have an entry. At first this troper was skeptical, but from the second the first episode aired on Adult Swim she was hooked on the highest level possible. Not long after her computer was loaded with so many Shizuo/Izaya pictures that she needed over ten folders in order to organize it.
* [[Battle Royale]] is my favourite manga of all time. I've read the book and I've seen the movie, but the manga is the best version of the story. The art is beautiful, and all the characters have their own design, their own story and personality. It is a dark, dark story, and makes me cry every time, and I love it. Oh, and one more thing: The English Translation is wonderful. I think in fact it was that translation and the changes it did that made me love the manga so much. And I do love it a whole lot.
* [[Black Butler]] (Particularly the manga). It has style, plot, [[Ho Yay]], style, angst (but not [[Wangst]]) and awesome characters. Did I mention it has style? I am quite sure that Sebastian is the lovechild of Kamina and Jeeves, and that [[Chuck Norris]] was his godfather. Also, the second ending of the anime is set to [[Kajiura Yuki|Kalafina's]] [[Crowning Music of Awesome|Lacrimosa]].
* [[Fan Service]] anime with quite some heavy plot, interesting characters that develop themselves and subvert conventional harem tropes [[Mind Screw|while STILL managing to play up the harem part]]? A whole load of [[Magical Girlfriend]] including loli twins and a [[Cute Ghost Girl]]? Nope, I'm not talking about [[Mahou Sensei Negima]]. I'm talking about [[To Love Ru]] of all things. For all the bad things said about this story, you have a main character who is honestly in love with the female lead(s) and genuinely nice towards everyone, who develops from angsty brat to capable fighter, readying himself to become the new emperor of the galaxy (maybe) while one of his female friends manages the task to build his harem (indifferent of his opinion obviously). This is a story that manages to delve itself into deep questions like "Is it better to get engaged with someone and serve only society or choose for yourself even ignoring what your parents wish?" (Lala) next to having a girl [[Going Commando]] because another girl accidentially destroyed her panties. [[Captain Obvious|And there is a lot of]] [[Fan Service]].
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