Recommend a first ANIME to me :)

[jread]

I know absolutely NOTHING about anime and have never watched one in my life. There are many places in my city, however, where you can rent or buy anime movies. I've decided that I would like to start learning more about it and maybe start getting into it. Could someone recommend a good "introductory" anime for me to watch? Maybe some classic or something? I'd like to watch one that really shows me what it is all about.

Thanks!

 

[cheapshot]

ghost in the shell

or

Spirited Away,

depending on which angle you want to come at the genre from

 

[mizerable_d]

GTO o yes tis SO good.

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

"COWBOY BEBOP"
I recommend it.

 

[Jo Rose]

Escaflowne, cos its great

 

[Dekamaster]

It depends on what genre you would want to watch.

Romance/comedy: Ah Megami Sama !, Boys Be
Suspense/action : Noir, Ghost in the Shell:Stand Alone Complex, Cowboy Bebop (yup)
Mecha : Voltes V, Macross, G Gundam, Gundam Seed
Drama : Graveyard of the Fireflies
Samurai : Rurouni Kenshin (nothing tops this one !)

Honorable mention:
Sakura Wars, You're Under Arrest (this is funny)

 

[SkippyDaStudent85]

Anime I recommend:

Romance/comedy: Ai Yori Aoshi, Love Hina
Action/comedy/"drama": Naruto
Action: Cowboy Bebop
Samurai: Samurai X (better version of Rurouni Kenshin)
Horror: Doomed Megalopolis
Action/mech: Anything Gundam
Futuristic: Akira, Jin-Roh, Ghost in the Shell

Honestly, it all depends on what you are into. What sort of stuff do you like? Maybe we can help you out more if we know that.

 

[jread]

I'm really into fantasy as far as that goes. I saw an anime rated #1 for fantasy on another site called "(something) Princess". Is this one any good? I'm not so much into sci-fi/futuristic type stuff... but very into fantasy.

Thanks for the replies so far!

 

[Dekamaster]

I'm really into fantasy as far as that goes. I saw an anime rated #1 for fantasy on another site called "(something) Princess". Is this one any good? I'm not so much into sci-fi/futuristic type stuff... but very into fantasy.

Thanks for the replies so far!

The popular series I know that has a princess in the title is Princess Mononoke. Fantasy ? Supernatural type ? The genre of YuYu Hakusho ? How about Zenki ?

 

[SkippyDaStudent85]

Are you perhaps thinking of Shamanic Princess? I have not seen it, personally, but I have heard that it is very good.

And if you are into fantasy, you should look at:
1 - Escaflowne
2 - 3x3 Eyes
3 - Record of Lodoss War

 

[Mycernius]

First anime I saw was Akira. Excellent film and a good intro for me. Ghost in the shell is good as well, just bought the manga

 

[Kiyomi]

Angel Sanctuary or Fudhigi Yuugi

 

[jread]

Also, what is manga? Sorry, lol!

Thanks again for all the good recommendations!

 

[Kiyomi]

manga is a japanese comic. it is read from right to left. i think

 

[SkippyDaStudent85]

It depends, actually.

Lots of places are producing manga in both right-to-left (like it is in Japan) and left-to-right (like in the United States). It depends on the title, to be honest.

 

[Kiyomi]

only left to right manga i read was kingdom hearts abd the comic in my country. some chinese person makes them. but if its a translated one its right-to-left

 

[Sinspawne]

I'm surprized nobody has mentioned Azumanga Daioh ^^ It's a must!
Even though these are not fantasy, I really think you'll like Macross Zero, Wonderful days and Appleseed.

.hack//SIGN is really good and I think it goes under fantasy (everything goes on inside an RPG game)

 

[lexico]

First anime I saw was Akira.

O, I'm glad somebody said that. Akira was the first anime that made me think, I have just found something that is greater than the simple Japanese version of Disney animation.
It is a full-fledged art form that has the full potential of expressing anything that humans can imagine.
Anyway the point about Akira is; mono will not do!
At least have the stereo lines connected to an amp with decent speakers with boomers, and make sure nobody can interrupt you for being noisy.
Akira is made to be appreciated LOUD. period.

For a little lighter stuff, I could suggest "Crying Freeman," the anime original. I think you have to be 18 to watch that one, but not that violent.
These are my recommendations.

 

[Dekamaster]

For a little lighter stuff, I could suggest "Crying Freeman," the anime original. I think you have to be 18 to watch that one, but not that violent.
These are my recommendations.

Yup. Definitely. At least a mature sense of mind will do.

 

[TwistedMac]

I'm surprized nobody has mentioned Azumanga Daioh ^^ It's a must

agreed. but as an intro to the whole shebang, he probably wouldn't want an entire series.. I say go with one of the major movies suggested... Like spirited away, princess mononoke, Ghost in the shell or Akira. For me it was Mononoke.

Maybe I'm not exactly an expert on the subject though as there have been many suggestions here I have never heard of but those *are* among the major, more known movies in any case.

 

[Flashjeff]

I'm really into fantasy as far as that goes. I saw an anime rated #1 for fantasy on another site called "(something) Princess". Is this one any good? I'm not so much into sci-fi/futuristic type stuff... but very into fantasy.

Well, if you're interested in fantasy, you can't beat the king of the genre, Fushigi Yugi!

 

[Kiyomi]

Well, if you're interested in fantasy, you can't beat the king of the genre, Fushigi Yugi!

i suggested that as well

 

[smoke]

well, one film that hasn't been mentioned and is one of my favourites (infact, it may have been the first one i saw...but not totally sure) is Ninja Scroll!
otherwise,
akira, g.i.t.s and my girlfriend loves spirited away (it is beautiful, but it depends if you want blood and guts...which this doesn't have...still cool though!)

you could always try Urotsukidoji, but i can't tell you what that's about, i think you have to experience it for yourself (when a friend lent it to me the only way he described it was "sick" but with a smile on his face...!)

 

[pinkkillerkisou]

It all really depends... here's a few favorites I would recommend

Vampire Hunter D
Vampire Hunter D : Bloodlust
Akira
Spirited Away
Princess Mononoke
Rurouni Kenshin
Fushigi Yugi

 

[kuntow]

Something that defined the 1 Guy: Multiple Girls genre for me and will continue to be a favourite of mine, even now that I'm not really into anime any more is Tenchi Muyo. Personally, I liked The Tenchi Universe series better than the OVA series, but both are pretty good in my mind.
Also, I echo any and all calls for checking out Azumanga Daioh. Anime crack!
Another rather wacky series that I've never really heard much talk of was the original Master of Mosquiton series. It's hard to describe beyond it being a slapstick vampire comedy.