Need some anime guidance

[Budfannan]

I have been staffing PortCon for seven years but always in the gaming areas.  That is my geek focus.  I never became strongly attached to anime for a number of reasons (mainly time and lack of knowledge) but I am going to try watching some more this winter.

I enjoy more head and dialog and less action stuff.  I am not opposed to action in anyway but I tend to prefer the other. I also enjoy all genres of film and story from fantasy to modern to scifi.

Any suggestions for a film or series I may like.  I will take any suggestion and give it a try but I will have to consider my time commitments as well.  Please explain what you feel works with your particular suggestion.


Thanks, Ian 

[Moritani]

The first two to come to mind would be Grave of the Fireflies and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, both aren't action based and fantastic films. Grave of the Fireflies is more of a tragedy, while The Girl is a lighter-hearted fantasy story.

[Dukat]

Miyazaki films. Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Porco Rosso, Kiki's Delivery Service, etc. Any of them are all wonderful stories, well suited to all ages. If you want a series to watch, I'd definitely suggest Azumanga Diaoh. It's amazingly funny about a small group of girls' time in high school.

[Budfannan]

Thanks for the references so far.

I have seen all of Miyazaki's films and enjoyed them immensely.  I have also seen Grave of the Fireflies and was blown away by its pain.   They are all excellent films.  I will have to check out the series and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. 

Any suggestions for scifi or fantasy that is more thinking then just blowing up?

I also was wondering about the series that deals with history about WWII through individual characters representing separate nations.

[Knarpulous]

You should try Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo definitely, they have action but are also quite good and not mindless.

And Axis Powers Hetalia is the WWII one, it's very funny and cute, and you should just check out the first episode as they're only about 5 minutes long to see if you'd like it.

[Dukat]

Witch Hunter Robin (another series) is fairly close to fantasy in a more modern setting. Absolutely not about just blowing stuff up. I second Cowboy Bebop, if only because it's a sheer classic standard of anime. Rune Soldier might not be such a bad suggestion, D&D in anime form. Has a similar feel to Slayers, which is good in its own right, but a bit more about the blowing up of stuff...in a funny and random manner at times. I'd also suggest Magic Knight Rayearth, a bit older CLAMP anime.

*continues looking through his DVD shelves*

Scrapped Princess is another good fantasy that turns into scifi series. If you want something with length and depth then I'd suggest Twelve Kingdoms.

[Budfannan]

I just took sometime to check these out online and they look really great.  Time to do some Netflix queuing!

Ian

[Hakuro de Killer]

Actually, if you haven't seen it already, Death Note would be right up your alley. It's about as actiony as a Psychological Thriller and, if you haven't already been spoiled as to the ending of the series or any of the many major plot twists in the story, it'll always keep you guessing. One of those series that actually is well-written, but gets somewhat unappealing due to the fanbase.

That's really all I can recommend since I'm a huge fan of action / comedy anime. Best of luck finding what you're looking for!

[Acerotaa]

Code geass: lelouch of the rebellion is a good mix of psycho (not always short for psychological ) and action. I started darker than black, but that seems more action focused.

[tagaseguchi]

for a historical fantasy (not rainbows and unicorns but more like zombies and the occult) try Le Chevalier D'Eon it's really story based and has beautiful scenery. Trigun has ALOT of action and blowing things up but it's also real funny and has great characters, My hubby liked Mermaid Forest which is about a guy who ate mermaid flesh and now lives forever.

[Budfannan]

Death Note: Added to my Netflix
Code Geass: Added
Le Chevalier :Added

I will maybe be able to finish this list before Portcon 2011.

[Dukat]

Didn't The Man in the Iron Mask have an anime adaptation too?

And don't forget you can always watch stuff on hulu and crunchyroll.

Oh, another suggestion...Ghost in the Shell and all of its offspring. Cyberpunk at its finest, and somewhat complex stories. Much of it is available on netflix.

[Budfannan]

I have seen one of the Ghost in the Shell but I don't remember which one.  It was very good though.

I don't think of hulu because I don't have high speed where I live, we use our cell phones for data, but with my move to a new home in Belfast that will change.  Ah high speed... how much I will love you.

[Junai_no_alex]

If you like mind games and strategy I would recommend "Akagi" or "Kaiji".

[Acerotaa]

I've been watching Soul Eater, which is goofy but the fight choreography is so awesome!