Favourite Japanese anime series, anyone?

[GenSec]

Well, i started this so i'll start first!

I'm a huge fan of the anime Strike Witches. If you haven't seen Strike Witches then none of this will mean anything to you... but if you know what i'm talking about, then you'll have seen it for yourself and know what i'm talking about! Not that its illegal or dodgy or anything like that - far from it.

Basically, its set in Europe, when in 1939 a strange alien invasion by what are called the Neuroi overrun the continent. It turns out the only way humanity can fight these invaders is to hire young ladies (lol ) who are also witches with magical powers, to fight these powerfully destructive things which emerge from a huge bee-like hive overshadowing Europe. The young witches are brought together and named the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, and station in 'Britannia'. The main character of the series is a 14 year old Japanese girl called Miyafuji Yoshika but the girls come from all over the world. Yoshika's father (presumed dead) designed the striker units that the girls use to fly around in.

The anime gets alot of stick from some folks, but i find the storyline to be genuinely interesting, with good periods of emotional bonding and deepening friendship between the girls. It gets my thumbs up and remains my favourite anime ever yet seen! And whats best of all, the 2nd series was released (in full!) in my country 3 days ago!I've yet to get my hands on that series as yet.

Here are the beginning and end theme tune to the first series... i will confess that it was this anime that got me into the whole anime/manga thing when i first managed to acquire a copy in 2007!

(Yoshika is the one in the sailor outfit.)

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSaqvhvnAgI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSaqvhvnAgI</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS5VjwZTSRI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS5VjwZTSRI</a>

[losing my mind]

Definitely Lupin the 3rd! Love that series.

Also a fan of the Tenchi series and Neon Genesis. Honestly I haven't seen much anime. I am a big big fan of all of Studio Ghibli's films though!

[thesilentdiva]

Lord...forever in sailor outfits w/ anime. Anime has some of the most random plots i think i have ever seen.

my favs are pokemon (the original only), sailor moon, paranoia agent, and the movie spirited away. i don't know if those are all japanese but those are my fav animes. i used to like speed racer as a kid but not anymore.

[GenSec]

Yes, where would a whole swathe of anime (and anime fans) be without sublime cute girls in sailor outfits? Ha ha.

Like yourself L.M.M, i haven't seen a huge amount of anime neither... but i do like other series like Kouhime Musou (only the 1st series, none of the others), Chokotto Sister, Negima (the original series), Astarotte no Omocha.

Best,
Gen.

[Smoky Jo]

great film; each of the main girls is based on a real life ace pilot from WWII, ( read that much later ).

[GenSec]

great film; each of the main girls is based on a real life ace pilot from WWII, ( read that much later ).

A resounding yes to both observations, smoky jo! Also, each of their striker units are supposed to be based on specific WW2 fighter planes (ie the American girl Charlotte Yeager's striker unit is based on a Mustang whereas the German girl Gertrude Barkhorn's striker unit is based on a Focke Wulf). I bought an official fanbook all the way from Japan and it goes into alot of detail with diagrams and everything. So much detail for what is a fictional story.

So as everyone can clearly see, this isn't just your typical Japanese anime about cute young ladies, lol...

Best,
Gen.

[nopenotme]

Can we get some love for Baccano! up in here?

[GenSec]

Can we get some love for Baccano! up in here?

Hi NNM, i cannot say i'd heard of that one before you mentioned it. I did go off and have a quick read-up on it though; it looks very interesting.

Must say as well, i really like your choice of profile pic, lol! Very cute!

Best wishes,
Gen.

[wolff-ett]

Green green!

[GenSec]

Green green!

Oh yes, agreed! I ended up acquiring that anime series for my small collection too after a friend loaned me a copy! It is a good laugh.

[TheExplodingPsychology]

Naoki Urasawa's Monster is probablly my favorite.

[Forever_yours]

I liked durarara! But it was a short series and isn't on anymore ):

[ite89]

I'm a big fan of Neon Genesis Evangelion as well as the Rebuild of Evangelion.

[JustWant2bWell]

There's soooo many.  But back in middle school a buddy got me into Vampire Hunter-D if you've heard of that one.  More recently via an mmorpg I used to play until they closed it down I found Bleach pretty cool.  And yes, I have seen Akira.  I watched a few episodes of Death Note and one other but I cannot call myself a true Japanimation fan since I can't even recall what all I've taken the time to see.  But that about sums it up.  I like the artwork and wish more would be as fluid as the Japanimation used in Kill Bill 2 with detail.  That makes or breaks a series for me.

[SelfishMan]

i absolutely love angel beats. great story, really no characters that annoyed me, and for having such a short run the character development was fantastic. its a shame that it was so short, but that last episode... those feels...

[Twobittehz]

Bleach is a masterpiece. I also loved Rurouni kenshin and Yu Yu Hakusho.

[howahkan]

Im not a frequent anime watcher because I feel that some get very sexist and creepy ( girls dressed sexy look really young) but I LOVED death note and Elfen Lied. Death note is great, a good wqtch but if you watch elfen lied be warned that there is alot of blood and gore, and nudity and is really graphic at times

[ClassicNerd]

Can we get some love for Baccano! up in here?

YEAH! I love Baccano! 

[Lex54224]

i love naruto and one piece its really cool i like i recomend it.

[GenSec]

Just thought i'd post the opening scene from a favourite recent anime series of mine... Astarotte no Omocha.

She's the young troubled Princess of the Magical realm, and he's her unspectacular human butler (with the official status of "toy", lol) ... its sweet to watch their bond of friendship grow.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlJed3ZTCi4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlJed3ZTCi4</a>

[Justadda]

Favorite Japanese anime ? I have to go with Full metal alchemist because the story made me laugh and cry and it's a great story of life and I learn many things from this anime   . I also watched Naruto , D grey man , Bleach , one piece .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8TVoHtO3nQ

[wolfy]

Black Cat is one of my favorites c: I could watch it over and over again
I also like Ouran High School Host Club, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Shinrei Tantei Yakumo

[hopeyourehappy2]

card captor sakura or fruits basket! They're oldies that are my favourites but, I really like Chi's sweet home, too and Hellsing, they're amazinggg

[tamay138]

I loved Fruit Baskets and wish there were more episodes!!!

[shakymcgee]

Cardcaptor Sakura for sure!