Three to Five Essential Anime

The real heart of CAA; discuss specific series, issues, and things related to anime here.

Postby ShiroiHikari » Wed Feb 22, 2006 3:30 pm

If you're talking about anime that represent the phenomenon of anime in America, and not necessarily the best anime of all time, I'd say...

Dragonball/DBZ
Sailor Moon
Pokemon
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Robotech (or Macross, whichever you want to call it)

My personal list of favorites would be different.
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Postby Radical Dreamer » Wed Feb 22, 2006 4:26 pm

In no particular order:

Spirited Away (classic Miyazaki)
Cowboy Bebop (for out-of-the-ordinary action...not to mention that it is somewhat of an anime landmark)
Sailor Moon (for magical girl shoujo)
Gundam Wing (for mech)
Rurouni Kenshin (for shounen)
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Postby freerock1 » Wed Feb 22, 2006 10:37 pm

[quote="termyt"]No collection would be complete with out a solid shojo title, either. An excellent example which probably won’t bore male audiences to tears is Princess Nine. The key difference between shojo and shonen anime is the handling of relationships. The heroes in shonen anime handle their relationships like guys do (picture DBZ). Shojo titles handle the relationships like girls do. Princess Nine takes a story familiar to all – a baseball team striving to win a championship – and tells it form a girl’s point of view. Kind of the anime version of “A League of Their Own.â€
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Postby ClosetOtaku » Sat Feb 25, 2006 8:58 am

I wanted to thank everyone who took the time to seriously think and reply. A special thanks to Kokoro Daisuke and termyt (among others) for some very insightful comments that made me think twice (or thrice or.... what comes next?) about what titles might be saved for posterity. And, in the voting, some patterns clearly emerged.

One thing I realized shortly after the responses started coming in was that there was a significant difference between what you would put in a time capsule and what you might recommend to your friends who had not seen anime. I guess I should have noted that before, and maybe that's a good topic for another discussion sometime.

However, based on your suggestions, if I were placed in charge of deciding which five (it's gotta be five now) movies or series "made the cut", here's what they would be:

1. A Tezuka Osamu series.

Since it's history we're dealing with, we need to start at the beginning, and Mighty Atom / Astro Boy is the origin of the anime species. While not as captivating as later anime, and certainly not as refined in the artistic style, Tezuka Osamu laid the groundwork for all anime to follow. Influenced by Dinsey and other Western cartoon artists, he deliberately departed from the concept of the "short" based on American Vaudeville, and instead incorporated the epic narrative into his manga and animation. This is what makes anime unique among art forms. If there ever was "essential" anime, this is one of them. Answer: Astro Boy.

2. A Hayao Miyazaki film.

Just as we can't discuss Japanese film without mentioning the likes of Kurosawa or Ozu, it is impossible to discuss anime without considering Miyazaki (although he himself might be insulted that his works would be classified differently from those of other 'live action' directors). But which film? Spirited Away was by far the most frequently mentioned title in this survey, and given its Oscar-winning performance is certainly high on the list. Nevertheless, we should not set aside Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, or even My Neighbor Totoro lightly. Admittedly somewhat derivative - all are tales of a young girl thrust into difficult circumstances who must overcome her ordeals through courageous action - Miyazaki's success in Japanese cinema (both financial and critical) means he resonates well with his audience, and the popularity of his films outside Japan suggests he has transcended the cultural barriers as well. Answer: Spirited Away.

3. A Mecha series.

There is something about giant robots that seems to inhabit the sub-conscious of the Japanese culture. Even outside of traditional anime, series like Ultra Man and Power Rangers (and by corollary the entire Godzilla story arc) maintain their fascination, so there's more than meets the eye here. Again we're faced with the question: which one? Tetsujin-28 and Mazinger Z are historically important, but having already made our homage to history with Astro Boy, we would probably set them aside. More modern titles might include Vision of Escaflowne for romance or Mobile Suit Gundam for drama. We might instead go with RahXephon, but the character and timeline guide we'd have to include for our future friends to be able to follow that convoluted plot would exceed weight limitations in the capsule (sorry, just had to throw that in). However, given the history of fan reaction to anime, and amount of interest paid to any given particular series, there is one that is very well-inclusive of the angst, violence, and just plain weirdness of many of these offerings, and that is the one that will go into the box. Answer: Neon Genesis Evangelion. (Any further discussion of this choice should probably be conducted via PM...)

4. A Shoujo series.

Time and space do not permit discussing all the permutations of big eyes and technicolor hair that inabit the universe of shoujo. But we can't understate the importance of shoujo to the culture of anime as a whole. Not surprisingly, this also makes it the toughest category to choose in. One immediate (almost knee-jerk) response is Sailor Moon. Again, this is another epic narrative that includes history, drama, and some really drawn-out transforming sequences. Shorter, and perhaps more satisfying for a future viewer might be Angelic Layer. For slice-of-life teenagers in Japan angst, any one of Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou, Boys over Flowers or Marmalade Boy would fit the bill. If it is the mystical side of anime we like, Fushigi Yugi is one of many - but I would not subject our poor friends in the future to the likes of Revolutionary Girl Utena. Princess Nine is a very inspired suggestion, and I'd almost be ready to bury it in the capsule, but I need to finish watching it first. So, in the interest of time, one title that does manage to capture slice-of-life, traditional Asian mystical elements, comedy, and drama -- despite its weaknesses and conclusion prior to the end of the related manga series -- will go instead. Answer: Fruits Basket.

5. Cowboy Bebop.

First, because it was the most frequently voted for title. Second, because it encapsulates almost all aspects of many other series (drama, comedy, action, martial arts, science fiction, mystery, the epic narrative, and just plain old commentary on human nature). Third, because it has really great music. And, finally, because it is one of those series I'd share with friends without hesitation -- friends now, or friends in the future. I'll make sure the first disc is already in the DVD player when the lid of the box is closed (I wonder if they'll have 110V outlets in 2306 A.D.).

Interestingly, many other titles I would have liked to have gone in the box didn't make it. My personal favorite, Haibane Renmei, is just too much of an acquired taste; Ruroni Kenshin, which was another popular choice (but not my favorite by far, except for the Samurai X series) was a little too repetitive; and Fullmetal Alchemist isn't done in its Region 1 release (and might not stand the test of time from what I've seen so far). You, of course, are welcome to assemble your own boxes...

And, for what it is worth, my 300th post. Thanks again for a terrific discussion.
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Postby Godly Paladin » Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:49 pm

Most of the ones I would consider for selection would be the edgier, more mature titles. (I mean, come on - the world of the future doesn't need Gundam Seed or CardCaptors.) Here's my pick:

1) Neon Genesis Evangellion
2) Akira
3) Ghost in the Shell
4) Samurai X (all of them except for The Movie)
5) Cowboy Bebop
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Postby Debitt » Sat Feb 25, 2006 4:01 pm

ClosetOtaku wrote:1. A Tezuka Osamu series.

Since it's history we're dealing with, we need to start at the beginning, and Mighty Atom / Astro Boy is the origin of the anime species. While not as captivating as later anime, and certainly not as refined in the artistic style, Tezuka Osamu laid the groundwork for all anime to follow. Influenced by Dinsey and other Western cartoon artists, he deliberately departed from the concept of the "short" based on American Vaudeville, and instead incorporated the epic narrative into his manga and animation. This is what makes anime unique among art forms. If there ever was "essential" anime, this is one of them. Answer: Astro Boy.

:) This looks like the one major difference between my list and yours, and I would like to say again that if 6 were the magic number, Astro Boy would have made it into my box as well. In retrospect, if we were basing things on what would endure the "test of time", as you mentioned later in your post, I'm tempted to toss out the stereotypical shounen/shoujo series in favor of this title. :lol:

ClosetOtaku wrote:Fullmetal Alchemist isn't done in its Region 1 release (and might not stand the test of time from what I've seen so far).

Putting aside my personal distaste for the series, I was thinking about adding this to the mix as well but decided against it for the same reasons you have listed there. For some reason I felt the need to put in that point since I've seen FMA on a lot of other people's lists. To me it strikes me as a "fad series"; of course, by that token I might have to throw out my own pick of Naruto/One Piece, though I think these series might endure longer than FMA.

And something else that struck me: since quite a few people have mentioned they're not going with their personal favorites...so if you were to put together a time capsule of 5 series that you enjoyed most, or have had the most impact on YOU, what would it be?

I myself would probably go for something along the lines of: Gundam Wing, Saiyuki, Tactics (the manga, ASDF), Gravitation (=3 as with Eva, please no discussion), and Digimon 02.
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Postby BrandonHeat » Sat Feb 25, 2006 4:56 pm

Cowboy Bebop
Fullmetal Alchemist
Gungrave
Princess Mononoke
Steamboy
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Postby tripperdan99 » Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:46 pm

[quote="Kokoro Daisuke"]Putting aside my personal distaste for the series, I was thinking about adding this to the mix as well but decided against it for the same reasons you have listed there. For some reason I felt the need to put in that point since I've seen FMA on a lot of other people's lists. To me it strikes me as a "fad series"]

I'd seen FMA when it was first out (sub'd version, before license in US). The whole premise of it is too close to witchcraft for my pesonal taste. I concur with the "fad series" and also, imho, after watching the whole series, it's not one you would watch more than once. Plus, not to be a spoiler, the ending is as lame as any I've seen. But that, in it self, is an anime tradition.

Based off of this thread I do plan to go back and view some animes listed in this thread that I've not seen.

Favorite list (not historical)

1. Aria the Animation (slice of life)
2. Last Exile (great music, good anime)
3. Noein (playing with theory, mind candy)
4. Ah! My Goddess
5. All of Miyasaki (hee hee, got to make it fit I tell you)

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Postby uc pseudonym » Sun Feb 26, 2006 5:44 pm

I will put in an official word mildly discouraging debate over specific series. This thread has more or less served its purpose, and discussion over Fullmetal Alchemist is a topic all its own (I certainly have a variety of opinions, anyway).
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Postby GrubbTheFragger » Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:20 am

Rahxephon
FMA
Akira
Iria
Rurouni Kenshin and samuria X
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Postby Sennin » Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:14 pm

1. Inuyasha (There needs to be an anime set in the past where the protagonists fight yōkai and oni.)
2. Rurouni Kenshin (It's a great historical samurai anime.)
3. Full Metal Panic (In my opinion, it's the best mecha anime ever and has a great deal of humor.)
4. Fruits Basket (There must be a shōjo anime, and this is the best one I know of.)
5. Vampire Hunter D (There needs to be a dark vampire anime with a happy ending.)
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Postby Doe Johnson » Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:23 pm

Kokoro Daisuke wrote:And something else that struck me: since quite a few people have mentioned they're not going with their personal favorites...so if you were to put together a time capsule of 5 series that you enjoyed most, or have had the most impact on YOU, what would it be?

Hmm...
1. Outlaw Star - the first anime I really got into
2. Cowboy Bebop - just too awesome for words (okay, you could put it in words)
3. Gundam SEED - I just love it, the only Gundam I've really liked
4. .hack//SIGN - loved the music and the story
5. Fruits Basket - why wouldn't you love it!?

*wishes she could have fit in Trigun, Ghost in the Shell: SAC and maybe a Miyazaki film*
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Postby Kisa » Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:23 pm

Fruits Basket
Cardcaptor Sakura (CLAMP, need I say more?)
Gundam (any)
Any Studio Ghibli title (since its a major face in anime)
Dragon Ball (any)
These showcase the different styles and storytypes of anime while giving the viewer a taste of different artists and directors of the time who were major.
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Postby jon0 » Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:17 am

Spirited Away
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
Steamboy
Paranoia Agent
FLCL
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Postby Netbug009 » Sun Aug 06, 2006 12:21 am

Okay, here are a few that represent the anime world.

1. Pokemon
2. Digimon
3. Salor Moon
4. Fullmetal Alchemist
5. Fruits Basket
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Postby jon_jinn » Sun Aug 06, 2006 7:55 pm

fullmetal alchemist
cowboy bebop
yu yu hakusho
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