I try to post as few polls as I can, but this one I can’t resist
First, what differeciates between anime and regular animation. Like Micky Mouse isnt called anime like Akira or DBZ
Anyway, I just wanna know What everyones favorite Anime movie or series is?
In general I don’t like Anime. A cartoon isn’t something I can take seriously, no matter what the context.
That being said, I do enjoy one anime, Vampire Hunter D. I’m not a Goth or even interested in vampires, but I liked something about that movie.
But most anime is crap.
Anime is Japanese animation. In Japan, all animation is called anime, but elsewhere, it’s Japanese animation in particular.
Some people define anime further as Japanese animation made specifically for a Japanese audience, otherwise you get into stuff like co-American and Japanese productions for both countries. It’s all a bit confusing.
Mickey Mouse isn’t anime because it was made in America. Akira is anime because it was made in Japan for a Japanese audience.
Anyway, my favorite title right now is Cowboy Bebop, though my tastes change every few weeks.
jessica
I’ll agree with Jess on what anime is, though it’s honestly not something that I’ve given much thought to.
As for my favorites, I’ll have to say Rurouni Kenshin for series and, hm, either Akira, Metropolis, or Perfect Blue for my favorite movie.
OTOH, they’re all kinda dark movies, so I don’t watch them all that often (well, that and Metropolis is only available for viewing in theaters, atm). If we’re going by number of times watched, my favorite movie would be Ninja Scroll.
I’m not sure exactly what you’re saying here, but if I read you correctly, this one has been discussed on the board many times. But given the current state of affairs backup-wise…
The only really meaningful definition of anime, IMHO, is simply to say that Japanese animation (mindful of globalization, let’s define that as animation produced in Japan for a Japanese audience) is anime and non-Japanese animation isn’t. Anime tends to have a distinctive style, particularly WRT the drawing of the eyes. However, much of this style was borrowed from much earlier American animation, so this may not be the best way of differentiating. Then too, anime tends to be geared toward a wider audience than American animation, with many shows featuring adult-oriented (and frequently, but not necessarily, sexual or violent) storylines. However, witnessing Fox’s Sunday night lineup, there’s definitely room for some (admittedly toned-down) mature storylines in the USA.
As to favorites: It’s difficult to pick just a few, but I’d say that the three series which really got me into the genre are Tenchi Muyo, Fushigi Yuugi, and Slayers. There are a million more I could add to that list though - Neon Genesis Evangelion, Outlaw Star, Irresponsible Captain Tylor, El Hazard (OAV’s), Those Who Hunt Elves, Yamamoto Yohko, and lots of others.
Because Micky doesn’t fight evil in a 60 foot tall flying robot.
Walt, have I got an idea for you!
My best friend turned me onto Sailor Moon (no pun intended) and I enjoyPokemon, but they aren’t exactly true anime.
Well, animation makes sense, and anime is geared toward drug-addled, alienated American teens with no future. That’s how I see it.
Drug-addled, alienated American teenagers with no futures, huh?
Well, I’ve got the American teenager part down, possibly even the alienated and no future part. But drug-addled? Only if you include the occasional caffeine overdose.
Most of the anime I’ve ever seen is not the post-apocalyptic stuff. It’s bright, cheerful, and geared towards 12 year old girls. So, exaggerating much?
jessica
My first eposure to Anime came late one night when I was channel surfing. The movie, which must have been on the Sci-Fi Channel, was Project A-Ko. Since then, I’ve only seen other A-Ko movies when they’re shown on cable.
“Anime,” although orginally a French word, refers specifically to Japanese animation.
Since Mickey Mouse is American and not Japanese (although Osama Tezuka cited early Disney films as amongst his strongest influences), he does not qualify.
Generally, in order to qualify, the whole production, and not just the actual animation, has to be a product of Japan; although I’d make exceptions for dubbed work that has been repackaged, such as Robotech or Battle of the Planets.
Favourite movies:[ul][li]Lupin III and the Castle of Cagliostro - IMHO, the best animated movie ever made, bar none.[]Patlabor: The Mobile Police - An outstanding movie which has giant robots and a good plot; although it bears the question: what would be the point of immobile police?[]Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind - This is Miyazaki’s finest work if you don’t count Cagliostro (and you really shouldn’t).[/ul]Honourable mentions: Sol Bianca, Princess Mononoke, Crusher Joe, Riding Bean, Jo Jo’s Bizarre Adventure, Black Magic/M66.[/li]Favourite series:[ul][]Bubblegum Crisis - BGC is the orginal cyberpunk rock-and-roll classic. There are explosions, car/motorcycle chases, and women in powered armour. I don’t think it could get much better.[]Cowboy Bebop - Beleive it or not, you can actually see Bebop on Cartoon Network’s “Adult Swim.” It’s great, and I’m not just saying that because it seems like a futuristic re-hash of Lupin III. The soundtrack is awesome, too.Neon Genesis Evangelion - This series is action-packed, deep, mysterious, and has giant robots and weird “aliens” (or should I say “Angels”). Just like The Sixth Sense, you’ll love it as long as nobody spoils the ending for you.[/ul]Honourable mentions: Gunbuster, anything featuring Captain Harlock, any older Mobile Suit Gundam titles (not Gundam Wing), Dirty Pair.
Favorite series, eh? Let’s try this:
Slayers: Very silly, fun anime that manages to sneak in a serious plot now and then. Very appealing to a D&D players with a taste for randomness.
Ranma 1/2: Another very silly title with running jokes starting from day one. An odd martial arts and relationship series.
Fushigi Yuugi: A great anime dealing with relationships a great deal. Watches sort of like a soap opera.
Rurouni Kenshin: A funny and also serious show(depends on the current story arc) deals a lot with people finding their own ways through life.
Looking back at the list, there really aren’t many truly dark shows(or any at all). So the stereotypes about anime being all sex and violence geared towards dark-minded teens don’t really hold true, in my experience.
Favourite movie - “Ghost in the Shell”, although I would like to track down a sub version rather than the dub.
Series, “Neon Genesis Evangelion” - I’m about a third of the way through, with no clue where this is going, so I’m going out of my way to avoid spoilers on it. Classic series, “Battle of the Planets” (recut and redubbed from Gatchaman, which I have got to see one of these days).
Did I have a post in here?
Anyhoo serious - Cowboy Bebop. Just a fascinating series.
Comic - Dragonball. The series is every bit as funny as I remember the books being, well the unedited version is. Roshi’s antics never failed to crack me up, granted I was 15 when I was reading them but so what.
Easy. If it follows the standardized anime conventions (big-eyes-small mouth, sweatdrops, facefaults, exaggerated expressions for some emotions, etc.), it’s anime. I don’t know why, but there’s a maddening amoung of sameness in the look of anime, no matter what manga or other source it’s derived from (cf. the You’re Under Arrest and Ranma 1/2 mangas to their anime counterparts, for example, esp. the early volumes).
Beyond that, there really aren’t any rules governing anime. I get tired of hearing that’s it’s invariably “more serious” and “more adult” than American cartoons (I’ve seen several episodes of Samurai Pizza Cats and Pokemon, and I can tell you with some confidence that this is not true). It’s really a lot like “conventional” cartooning, in that there are plenty of styles and genres for various tastes.
Wow DKW, read your homepage, sounds like we have a lot in common. For instance I’m only 2 weeks older then you and also still in school. Tell me this, that symbol that looks like this
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That’s a symbol for anger right? I think so. I saw it on the Daily Show tonight and needed to know for sure. Also did you think Kamehameha was the Hawaiian king when you heard it first too? My friend and I about died.
To me, if anyone cares, anime is anime like Hollywood is Hollywood. So I wouldn’t be above calling “The Mysterious Cities of Gold” anime, even though it’s Franco-Japanese in production. I see now it’s main title is “Taiyô no ko Esteban” BTW great series I wish somebody would not only replay but continue. I’m adding this to my two mentioned above. Great fun to watch for a pre-teen, which I was at the time.
Sadly American animation has become about 95% aimed at pre-teens. There are still those cartoons out there like Duckman, the Oblongs, Fritz the Cat (never watched it), Heavy Metal etc. which aren’t though. Ok I had to reach far back for some of those.
I was watching the first couple episodes of Dragonball (1986) and was astounded by how much it looked like Looney Tunes. I don’t think the books were like that, or maybe you just couldn’t tell, but in the series at one point a tiger runs off a cliff and pulls a classic Tex Avery eye popping gag.
I’ll have to go take a look at 'em again, but I’m pretty sure that the manga was very much the same as the anime. Or vice versa, even.