Fresh Question #4: Best Anime Series

[Nightwing]

Hey people. Don't forget, we are able to manage but if anyone has an on-topic FQ they want to submit let me know. Fresh Questions....speak of the devil! It's time for a new one! Here's one for you anime folks.....and, in a way, for you non-anime people as well:

What is the best anime series ever, that fans would/should use to introduce anime to those who are unfamiliar with anime completely??

[Naraht]

From what I hear, NG Evangelion is excelent....I've only seen the 1st ep....dubbed...

to introduce anime to someone..I dunno..I just sorta got into it, but I'm not a hard core fan

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Well, there are fanboy series, and then there are series' that attract general audiences. I tend to lean more towards niche series, so my tastes differ from what many like. In my opinion,

Armored Trooper Votoms--Favourite "fanboy" series.

For family audiences, Little Princess Sara. Though this isn't available in the U.S.

Tarantino/film buffs: Cowboy Bebop

Historical Romance: Rose of Versailles.

[Elven Moon]

Well, I don't really think there's a best anime series. It's all a matter of opinion. Some people might think DBZ is the best anime ever, while others may lean toward Cowboy Bebop. I would however, recommend these series as a good start for certain genre:

Fantasy: Slayers, Vision of Escaflowne, Inuyasha

Comedy: Ranma 1/2, Tenchi Muyo

Shoujo (Girls Anime): Hime-chan no Ribbon, Saint Tail, Cardcaptor Sakura, Hana Yori Dango (not available in the US), Akazukin Chacha (not available in the US)

Action: Trigun


There are other series but this is completely off the top of my head, you understand. Maybe I'll list more later

[Batgirl_2005]

My friends introduced me into anime with Here is Greenwood (still my second favourite... period...) Please Save My Earth (probably around my fourth favourite.... this one kinda confused me...) and Sailor Moon (ALL TIME FAVE!!!)

I myself would use Tenchi (and HAVE used it with someone who didn't like cartoons PERIOD and now loves them) or Sailor Moon. ANother one I would use is Shamanic Princess... <3 I love Leon.... <3
(i love the new smileys..!)

[Batmex]

Well, Eva's one of a kind too complex and dark for fisrt timers, a good start is:

The Tenchi Series
Saber Marionette J
Robotech
Getter Robo
Saint Seiya
Ronin Warriors

[JustJack]

I'd say Cowboy Bebop has the story line, & isn't too "waked out". So, if I wanted to "hook" someone, I'd probably start with CB.

[Calhoun07]

The favs and best on my list:

Cowboy Bebop, Star Blazers, Robotech, and while I haven't seen it, I think Captain Taylor is good enough from what I read on it to be included. I plan on picking up that series.

[oranthal]

i also liked evangelion(my avator) a lot but this may not be the best series to begin with. i would recommend Record of Lodoss War; the 13 episode OAV's. i haven't seen RoLW: Chronicles of the Heroic Knights but i heard it is not as good as the OAV's.

[Kal-el]

My list would have to include Robotech, Gundam Wing, Mighty Orbots (older and a bit obscure), G-Force (sentimental value for me).

[The Mad Hatter]

Hmmm... I'd say that Cowboy Bebop is pretty accessible, so I'd use that.

[don Jaime]

I'd probably start with a complete movie, like Akira or Princess Mononoke or even Kiki's Delivery Service.

[Fish]

POKÈMON!

He he guys! take it easy - Just kidding!!

I'd go with Cowboy Bebop,Hand Maid May, Tenchi Muyo, Akira, Ghost in the Shell and Perfect Blue.

<>< F I S H ><>

[Kathy Kane]

Hands down it's gotta be Revolutionary Girl Utena.
But I think my innner child is calling and she says it's Transformers.
Man, I feel so old because I can remeber all those old cartoons, for the 80s, 70s and even older because of the repeats.
Say has anyone here ever seen a movie call Rock N' Rule???
It's been on my mind latey.

call me kane.

[Daughterof_Evil]

If you're trying to get someone previously not interested in anime interested, it takes A LOT. For older, less sensitive audiences, I would recommend Cowboy Bebop, Sol Bianca, Blood: The Last Vampire, Gasaraki, the Utena Movie. For kids or people critical of anime content, I would recommend Utena (the early series, NOT the movie, very important there), Kiki's Delivery Service, Cat-napped, the third season of Digimon (Japanese version).

[Lepodactylous Man]

I'm not a die-hard fan of anime, (although when I was a kid I used to watch the Robotech series on TV religiously every morning) I really liked what little I saw of that miniseries they ran awhile back on Toonami called Blue Sub 6 (? ?) I dont know I only saw it once, but I loved the animation and the mixing of 3D animation in with the action (like they do on Zoids and Futurama; although I don't care much for "Zoids" storylines)

[JustJack]

Originally posted by don Jaime
I'd probably start with a complete movie, like Akira or Princess Mononoke or even Kiki's Delivery Service.

Akira or Princess Mononoke, defenitly.

Honestly, I do NOT classify them as "Great Anime Movies"...Whenever I describe either of those, I always justs say "great movies...in general". Those are two of my most favorite movies of all time.

In the end, I would suggest to stay clear from movies like "Ghost in the Shell", ANYTHING "Utena", orthe like. Anything with nudity, or of which is really obscure, because basically..you dont want to give people the wrong idea. Like, in GITS, most newcomers would spend more time watching "naked chick, kicking high", over the actual story line. And GITS is a great movie, but I would fear most people would think "All anime has great nudity..must buy" or "animated nudity...eck". So...
And in the case of Utena & other such obscure shows..I'd wait till they have gained the title "Otaku" before showing that. Unless they, themselves, are really obscure or artsy. Cus Utena is WAY out there. If I didn't understand the concepts behind Utena, I would have probably hated it..but I LOVE IT!

so...there I went. talked too long. hehehe! my bad!

[Batman 80]

Cowboy Bebop,Teknoman(1st series),and the Guyver(even though they never finished the whole series). And the Robotech series with Scott Bernard.

[Lachesis]

Lessee:

Best series overall would probably be Neon Genesis Evangelion or Lain.

Best thing to use as an intro would be something like Bebop, Slayers or Escaflowne, depending on who it is that's watching. Kiki's definitely the perfect film for kids.

My personal favorites are Utena, Child's Toy, and Trigun

[Lodoss War Fan]

For starters : Akira , Ghost in a shell , Gundam , DBZ the movie ones.
Lodoss war definitely !