I recently recieved a Netflix account as an early Christmas present from my grandparents, and have wasted no time going about to satisfy my long simmering anime fixation. Sadly, I have found Netflix’s reccomendations to be singularly unhelpful, so I was wondering if the other anime fans on the SDMB could help me locate titles of a particular genre of anime.
I’m really looking for lighthearted comedy anime, preferably shows that are largely innocent (I don’t generally care for blood or crude humor in shows, though there are exceptions). For instance, at the moment, I’m really enjoying Azumanga Daioh, and have found myself checking my mailbox several times a day in hopes that the next DVD came in. Another anime of the type I’m looking for is Ranma 1/2, which I watched portions of with my sisters years ago (in fact, I’m saving watching that series for my vacation, so they can watch it with me should they be so inclined). I’ve heard good things about Slayers, and hope to check it out in the reasonably near future. Finally, I absolutely adore Galaxy Angel, and have been buying more or less every piece of GA paraphanelia that gets released stateside (and some that hasn’t).
On the other hand, while it fits the criterion of “light-hearted”, “cute”, “comedic”, and “innocent”, I was repulsed by the first episode of the Di Gi Charat series, proving that one can have too much of a good thing. Also, I have heard many people reccomend Excel Saga to me, but for whatever reason, that series touched something of a raw nerve, and I’m not interested in it at this time.
Warning: repeated exposure may cause sword fixation. Can be violent, but is always philosophically sparing, and has enough silly humor to balance out the darker bits. The OVA episodes, though - two or three preludes and one epilogue - are very dark, but very, very good.
Oh, and another one I am just finishing up now: Angelic Layer.
Both this and CCS are cute, lighthearted, but not overly so. Strong characters you like, simple storylines, bright colours. Nothing violent, lots of fun.
Love Hina = generic light harem comedy, gets crappy during the OVA and specials, but the series is pretty decent.
Fullmetal Panic = giant robot anime, the serious stuff is fairly decent action, but fairly forgettable. The show shines when during the filler episodes, though–it can be very funny. The second series is all filler, without all the series plot stuff and is highly recommended.
Rune Soldier = light comedy in the same vein as Slayers. Very underrated and really damn funny. Done by the same folks who did Record of Lodoss Wars, set in the same world, but all comedy.
Just off the top of my head. I mostly hate all anime I’ve seen lately, but these were all surprisingly watchable.
Some of mine have been named already. Love Hina and CLAMP stuff are good choices. Castle Of Cagliostro, part of the Lupin the Third series mentioned earlier, would probably be good to watch. I’ll also throw in Onegai Teacher/Please Teacher. Standard romance anime with the guy landing in awkward situations all the time.
Oh and I know you asked for series, but since people are recommending Lupin III I will recommend them too, especially the Castle of Cagliostro and other movies by Studio Ghibli (which includes some not made by Miyazaki like the Grave of the Fireflies).