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

** This troper has a love/hate relationship with Rosario+Vampire. Why? Because it breaks my heart knowing what the girls, Mizore and Kurumu in particular, are going through over their unrequited love. These aren't "just characters in a manga" - they are ''people.'' And goddammit I love them all too much -- especially Kurumu -- to see them hurt. But I read it anyway because it's too good not to.

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

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

** Indeed! It is such a classic.

* 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.

* ''[[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''.

*** Thirded. Simoun is just... incredible, truly go watch it. While yes there are certain things about it that turn people off if you can just let Simoun take you away you'll be in for a story you will never forget.

*** And pulls no punches about what that requires of a person, either, which makes it that much more remarkable.

* I'm enjoying ''[[Rose of Versailles]]'' way more than I imagined. I knew it was good, but ''damn''...even knowing it has a [[Downer Ending]] I wanna stay with it till the end and read the manga if I can find it anywhere.

* ''[[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 this dude has recently seen. You said it, ''grand epic fucking magical battles''. And don't forget the very good soundtrack, the high quality animation and [[The Woobie|woobie]] antagonists, and the weapons that deliver [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|CMoA]]'s just by talking (or transforming). Apart from the epicness, it also had [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]] / [[Tear Jerker]]'s. It's ''that'' brilliant. [[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS|StrikerS]] is also awesome, though. And both [[Dark Magical Girl|Fate]] and [[The Berserker|Vita]] are wonderful!

*** Not to mention the greatest fucking opening song ever.

** [[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS]] gets even better. Some people complain about the characters getting older and new characters introduced and sometimes taking the spotlight, but it fits in perfectly with the tone of the series: People grow up, old friends sometimes grow apart, new bonds are made, people get new responsibilites. Also, more great characters, cooler and darker villains, and, coolest of all, even more epic befriendings.

*** And who could ever forget Quattro's jaw-droppingly awesome defeat?

*** Seriously, [[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS|StrikerS]]. [[User:Marvel Girl|This troper]] was shocked at first when they added the new characters, but then you see the ''whole plot revolves'' around these people and where they come from. Brilliant, from the opening rescue scene (which sets up a shocking wham moment in episode 17) all the way to the very end, which even has a callback to the opening scene that made me cry.) And Quattro getting her ass kicked is still one of my most favorite moments in anime.

* 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.

* [[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.

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

** 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.

** This troper admit that he watched it at the beginning only because of the [[Fan Service]](it was the first manga he started reading seriously), but he started falling in love more and more with the characters, the great story and the amazing scenaries, a great work that deserves all the love it got!

* ''[[Mobile Fighter G Gundam|G Gundam]]'' is the best anime when it comes to fight scenes, the thrilling battles, the Hot Blooded action as friends battle friends for the right to be named Gundam of Gundam. In particular the Master Asia vs. Domon Kasshu fight is the finest in anime history. Just a teacher and student with a father and son relationship fighting to see who was right. Countering each other's moves until the finally use Sekiha Tenkyoken, where Domon and Master Asia give a teary farewell to each other before Master Asia dies from his injuries.

** Watching the last episode of [[G Gundam]], I fervently believe that Yasuhiro Imagawa was to the 20th century what [[Hans Christian Andersen]] was to the 19th. It had all the merit of a great fairy tale.

* [[Berserk]] is the best manga ever made. Gorgeous artwork, beautiful story and character development, and a badass main character who completely avoids [[Badass Decay]].

** Seconded. This troper has only read eight volumes so far, and every one has been enthralling. He can still clearly see Griffith's shocked expression at the end of the eighth volume when {{spoiler|Guts defeats him and leaves}}. He needs more!

** 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.

* [[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.

* 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.

* [[Eureka Seven]] is, bar none, the greatest mecha series This Troper has ever seen. Everything from the universe, to the characters (including one of the most compellingly detestable villains ever in [[Big Bad|Dewey Novak]]), to the epic plot itself is nothing short of sheer grandeur. It manages to espouse on [[The Power of Love]] repeatedly without ever degenerating into [[Narm]] territory, and ends on what may be the single greatest [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]] in its medium. Admittedly, it dawdles a bit in the beginning, but stick with it and you will be amazed.

** Thirded! I was completely sold on the show just from first ten seconds of opening theme. The rest of the show just gets more awesome after that.

*** Many call it the greatest anime ever made. This troper doesn't know if he'd go quite that far, but this series is still excellent on every level. The animation and (especially) the music are amazing, the story and characters are written very well and the English dub is easily one of the best ever. Many fantastic episodes such as any episode featuring Vicious, Black Dog Serenade, Ganymede Elegy and Pierot Le Fou. OH. MY. GOD. In 20 minutes Pierot Le Fou had an intensity far greater than more than 95% of Hollywood horror schlock. Whether it's the greatest anime or not, everyone interested in anime and manga needs to check this series out. And few will be unimpressed with it. Oh yeah. And I shed manly tears at the end. I don't know why anyone wouldn't.

* X the TV is so good that I am AFRAID to read the manga and see how much was left out and shuffled around. The art, the music {{spoiler|(well, not the opening theme, it's kind of grating)}}, the character development... all of it is just gorgeous. The first time I watched it, I had to pause it every three or four episodes and just ''cry'' at how damned sad and beautiful it was. The clincher? The proof that it is truly one of the greatest tales of [[The End of the World as We Know It]] [[Because Destiny Says So]]? I am not a fangirl of any of the characters. Yes, you read that correctly. '''I watch this show for the plot.''' Not for the Kawaii quotient (though it does have that) but for the actual storyline. That is a powerful anime right there.

** This Troper doesn't like the anime, but has a similar opinion on the manga. :D

* 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.

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

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

* [[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.

* 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

** 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?

* 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.'

** 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]].

* 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 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!!

* ''[[Ame-iro Kouchakan Kandan]]'' is the most adorable and fluffy and [[WAFF]] and amazing yuri EVER. It doesn't go into [[Ecchi]] territory like [[Iono the Fanatics|one of Fujieda's other works]] (which is good for the unique demographic of people who love the gay but are otherwise morally conservative, like This Troper, though I liked ''Iono-sama'' well enough anyway) and Sarasa is so wonderful, I wish I was Seriho-san...

** Totally agree. It's one of the most Squee-inducing things I have ever read. I'd go so far as to say the setting is a [[Sugar Bowl]] because everything is so idyllic and lovely. I can't wait for the next chapter, and the next, and the next...

* [[Basilisk]]. How has this not been mentioned yet? It is amazing. So amazing. It made my best guy friend cry [[Manly Tears]]. I mean twenty seriously badass ninjas engaged in a fight to the death, coupled with potentially the most beautiful soundtrack in existence (it's like the music is having sex with your ear drums). Not to mention the quality of art makes me cry tears of joy.

** That barely begins to cover its awesomeness. Twenty badass ninja sounds like an army of [[Mooks]], but I have never seen a show with such a large cast make you know and care about each character so fast and so effectively. Anyone who has seen this show can list every ninja and his technique; none are minor or forgettable. Their powers are all bizarre. You might expect that superhero comic books have covered every imaginable superpower at least once, if so then you haven't seen Basilisk. In an incredibly deadly ninja war, you'd expect death to be cheap, but you feel it each time one of your favorite ninja dies. It is sad, beautiful, satisfying, and will stay with you forever. On top of that, it has a very clever story, [[Fan Service]], and three cute romances that are each special in their own way, inviting you to make comparisons and try to decide why each one ended the way it did. That's the best part: It ends. It tells a single story in an appropriate number of episodes, then it wraps everything up perfectly.

* One year, I spent New Year's Eve watching ''[[Haibane Renmei]]''. I could have gone to a party, but I'm glad I didn't. The combination of well-earned emotional intensity (every episode building gradually on each one that came before, right up to the ''devestating'' finale), complex layers of symbolism and meaning with no one "correct" interpretation, gorgeous animation, superb music, and a storyline that's ultimately life-affirming and optimistic without papering over the difficulties or complexities of life... I spread out the watching of the episodes as much as possible, and by the end I was in floods of tears. It remains my # 1 anime of all time.

* ''[[The Big O]]''. Lavishly animated! Stylish noir atmosphere! Masterfully composed soundtrack (This Troper owns both soundtracks; they set him back $60 altogether but were worth every penny)! And a main character who is, more or less, Batman plus James Bond plus GIANT ROBOT PILOT. Add in the ontological mystery, ''Schwartzwald,'' and the thought-provoking [[Gainax Ending]] and you have a winning combination. BIG O! ''SHOWTIME!!!''

** 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.

* 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.

** 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.

** 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.

* What? The list is this long and still no mention of one of the most awesome and hot-blooded anime and manga ever ''[[Getter Robo]]''? Yeah, Gurenn Lagann is cool and all but do they have giant robots fighting demons or ancient gods? Do they have guys that can crush a dinosaur's skull WITH HIS BARE HANDS? Do they have giant robotic dinosaurs that is piloted by humanoid dinosaurs? This series just oozes awesomeness with great characters, simple plot yet have complex development and have very,very great opening themes.

* As an MMA fan and Brazilian jiu-jitsu enthusiast/practitioner, I am deeply in love with [[All Rounder Meguru]]. It's the first realistic manga about [[Mixed Martial Arts|MMA]] that I've found; it's also the first I've seen to incorporate my beloved BJJ, to the point where I learn about new techniques and positions by reading it (I'm still kind of a beginner, so there's still quite a bit I don't know). But that wouldn't matter if the plot and characters fell short. To my delight, that's not the case. The characters are [[Rounded Character|rounded]], which makes the relatively simple plot (guy likes doing MMA, trains, competes, etc.) enjoyable and engaging. Add an [[We Used to Be Friends|estranged]] [[Old Friend]] with serious skill and ties to the [[Yakuza]], and you've got plenty of material to move the plot forward. New characters, when they're introduced, are also interesting and showcase new aspects of the sport. There are also plenty of comedic moments. At the time of writing, I'm 18 chapters in, and I'm hooked. If you're an MMA/Shooto fan, you owe it to yourself to check out this manga.

# Devoid of fanservice

# Well-voiced all across the board

* [[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]].

* [[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.

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

* ''[[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.

* ''[[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!

* ''[[Mouryou no Hako]]'' is, sadly, very much under the radar. It's beautifully illustrated and animated (courtesy of [[Madhouse]] and [[CLAMP]]), full of horror, [[Mind Screw]] and [[Psychological Horror]], and effectively betrays your expectations of what is ''supposed'' to be a supernatural series. Deep, thought-provoking and mysterious, this is detective anime unlike you've ever seen before.

[[Category:Gushing About Shows You Like (Sugar Wiki)]]

[[Category:Anime And Manga]]