# What do you think is the best Anime? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 30, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059 "2003-04-30T02:30:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kid\_Czarcasm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kid\_Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/1 "2003-04-30T02:30:09Z")
For me, I would have to say Inuyasha and Trigun.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/2 "2003-04-30T02:44:05Z")
I’d say **Dragonball** , for me at least. It had lots more characterization, humor and plot than DBZ. I’m also reading the manga. A typical episode of DBZ would be a like this: Goku: Hahaha, I have the power to destroy 5 planets when I power up to super ultra golden dosiosnsoksdkdoedko-asjhionashio mode! ::grunts and powers up while giant drops of sweat appear above face: Kryllin: Haha, Goku! When I power up to super hasdokenryufireballripoff mode, I can destroy 6 PLANETS!!! HAHAHA!!! ::grunts and powers up while giant drops of sweat appear above face: Cut to: FIreball being thrown from both hands Then it shows Goku being blwon off into space Goku reappaears Goku: Haha, your puny effort failed to do anything What will happen next? Find out next time in “Goku will never, ever be defeated by anyone. See ya next week”. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_Czarcasm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kid\_Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/3 "2003-04-30T02:50:51Z")
Suddenly, Kryllin shows Goku the one thing that he is afraid of…A NEEDLE! ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/4 "2003-04-30T02:53:43Z")
I’m not much of an anime fan, but of the various series I’ve seen, my favorties are Lupin III and Ranma 1/2. I also enjoyed Yu Yu Hakusho right up until the Dark Tournament series. Incredily long and, in my opinion, pointless storylines that are nothing but extended fight sequences are what turned me off Dragonball Z. Though I could certainly see that sort of thing going on in Yu Yu, I could handle it and was quite enjoying the show, but a 30+ episode story arc revolving around a fighting tournament? Blech. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_Czarcasm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kid\_Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/5 "2003-04-30T03:02:35Z")
I agree ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/6 "2003-04-30T03:13:47Z")
Kaze to ki no uta (song of the wind and trees). But I don’t recommend it, because it’s a very particular taste. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_Czarcasm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kid\_Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/7 "2003-04-30T03:40:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ava \* > \*\*Kaze to ki no uta (song of the wind and trees). But I don’t recommend it, because it’s a very particular taste. \*\* ??? ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/8 "2003-04-30T05:07:56Z")
Unless we’re talking about dubbed anime, I’ll go with _Rurouni Kenshin_. And though exceedingly bishoujo, Fushigi Yugi does a remarkable job from a story-telling point of view. I mean one story spread over 52 episodes with no true “filler” episodes is really quite a feat. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/9 "2003-04-30T05:29:15Z")
**Tenchi Muyo**. Not **Tenchi Universe** or **Tenchi in Tokyo** , just **Tenchi Muyo.** Oh, and hey, a slight highjack, has anybody here seen anime more intense than the **Now and Then, Here and There** and **Berserk** series? My wife and I have rented quiet a few Anime tapes, and I can’t think of any that get more dark and brutal. ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/10 "2003-04-30T06:01:27Z")
I am a huge **Neon Genesis Evangelion** fan. Is it **the best**? Well, heck. Are any of them? I also totally dig **Trigun** and **Cowboy Bebop**. ---
**Author:** ![gorillacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@gorillacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gorillacus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/11 "2003-04-30T06:23:21Z")
Must…Have…Giant…Robots… The whole **Robotech/Macross** opus works for me. Don’t get me started on what version/edition is best. It still confuses me. Sure its appeal is mostly nostalgia, but that works too. Robotech taught me that as long as the Earth has giant robots and teenagers to pilot them, we need not fear any aliens. ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/12 "2003-04-30T06:50:45Z")
For romance OAV, “Ah My Goddess: the movie” Comedy series: Ranma 1/2 Weird Sci-fi tear-jerker: Chobits Best Soap Opera: Mysterious Play Robots: Evangelion Best Samurai Anime: Ninja Scroll ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/13 "2003-04-30T06:59:53Z")
I’ve only seen a few, but _Metropolis_ has everything I look for in a show! ---
**Author:** ![torben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@torben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torben)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/14 "2003-04-30T07:57:13Z")
My favorites have to be \*\*Princess Mononoke \*\* and **Fist of the North Star**. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/15 "2003-04-30T08:06:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Achernar \* > \*\*I’ve only seen a few, but _Metropolis_ has everything I look for in a show! \*\* Bleh. I saw Metropolis, and it was all I could do to watch it to the end. Don’t get me wrong, I like _most_ anime that I’ve seen. It was just something about the artistic style that really turned me off. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/16 "2003-04-30T08:17:21Z")
Oh, that’s fine. I admit it is a little bizarre, the hand-drawn Tezuka characters on the art deco cyber-noir CGI cityscapes, but that’s what I like about it, I think. I wouldn’t say it’s a culty love-it-or-hate-it kind of thing, but of course, there’s no film that _everyone_ likes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Optihut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/edb3f5/32.png) [@Optihut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Optihut)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/17 "2003-04-30T10:11:08Z")
_Gasp_ X-Slayer’s in the Cafe Society Board? Well, you guys listen to good uncle X-Slayer, he apparently knows what’s good animé 🙂 My personal favourite is **Orguss 02**. This one has got everything: It’s nicely drawn, it has got interesting characters, cool mecha action, was the best anti-war movie I have ever seen (and I’ve seen them all, mind you) and a message to boot. Seriously, it doesn’t get better than **Orguss 02**. ---
**Author:** ![pcarney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ea5d25/32.png) [@pcarney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pcarney)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/18 "2003-04-30T12:45:44Z")
I really liked Princess Mononoke, and look forward to seeing other films by this guy- I guess Disney owns US distribution, and they just released a few of his films. I really liked Ninja Scroll and perhaps the most impressive anime I’ve seen so far is Blood, the Last Vampire. As far as series goes…I still get a lump in my throat when I hear the Star Blazer’s theme song. Someone recommended Cowboy BeBop to me, I guess they play it on Cartoon Network. I’ll have to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/19 "2003-04-30T13:50:30Z")
> [@](#): > > And though exceedingly bishoujo, Fushigi Yugi does a remarkable job from a story-telling point of view. I mean one story spread over 52 episodes with no true “filler” episodes is really quite a feat. IIRC, episode 26 was a filler flashback episode. 🙂 But you’re right, and the last five or six episodes felt kind of jammed together to me. I would have liked the show to continue so that the later volumes of the manga would have gotten better treatment than they did in the OVA’s. > [@](#): > > Oh, and hey, a slight highjack, has anybody here seen anime more intense than the Now and Then, Here and There and Berserk series? My wife and I have rented quiet a few Anime tapes, and I can’t think of any that get more dark and brutal. I’ve been watching anime for fifteen years and Now and Then, Here and There shocked me. The only thing I can think is directly comparable in raw emotion is some of the other more direct anti-war anime like Grave of the Fireflies. Brutal, but not the same kind of brutal. There’s moments in other anime series that approach that same kind of emotional intensity (a few episodes of Evangelion), but that show pushed the needle off the scale. Comparable to the brutality of Beserk is a bit easier to do since I see moments like those come up all the time, though most shows don’t push the line constantly like Beserk did. Trigun (especially toward the end), Ruroni Kenshin (particularly the Kyoto arc and the OVA series), and Evangelion immediately jump to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059/20 "2003-04-30T23:39:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Oh, and hey, a slight highjack, has anybody here seen anime more intense than the Now and Then, Here and There and Berserk series? My wife and I have rented quiet a few Anime tapes, and I can’t think of any that get more dark and brutal. > \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Just Some Guy \* > \*\*I’ve been watching anime for fifteen years and Now and Then, Here and There shocked me. The only thing I can think is directly comparable in raw emotion is some of the other more direct anti-war anime like Grave of the Fireflies. Brutal, but not the same kind of brutal. There’s moments in other anime series that approach that same kind of emotional intensity (a few episodes of Evangelion), but that show pushed the needle off the scale. > > Comparable to the brutality of Beserk is a bit easier to do since I see moments like those come up all the time, though most shows don’t push the line constantly like Beserk did. Trigun (especially toward the end), Ruroni Kenshin (particularly the Kyoto arc and the OVA series), and Evangelion immediately jump to mind. \*\* Thanks for answering my little hijack. Also, as to this thread, I really liked the way **The Heroic Legend of Arislan** started, the first tape was excellent. The second tape, while not as good, was still pretty good, but the third tape, episodes 3 and 4, just plain sucked. So if it wasn’t for each episode getting worse than the last, Arislan would also be in my favorites. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-best-anime/172059.md?page=2)