IGN's Top 100 Animated Series

[Teuthida]

I don't want to one to defend manga given the sorry state of the American comics industry, but here I go. (And turns into a rant on the industry.)

First off manga is comics and anime is the cartoons, most of which are based off manga. Most of the manga found in stores like Barnes & Noble is mainstream crap. There's actually a semi-decent manga that started running in Japan I've been reading that explains the industry over there and why so much of it is the same. That particular series follows a lot of the same conventions every other one follows though, so it's hard to tell if it's being tongue in cheek or just doing them to stay in print.

In Japan 40% of printed media is manga. There are comics aimed at every single age demographic and counter-culture. What comes to America is mostly aimed at young boys and girls.

I hate manga fans more than the medium itself because they'll blindly only read manga and never even glance at American comics...or European which are also quite good. The American comics industry is on a downward spiral. Some of the best comics are coming out these days and very few people are reading them. The price for single issue is too high (and rising) for joe schmoe to consider picking up one read on a whim. To even buy a single issue you'll have to venture into a comics shop. Trades are going to be the only thing to keep the industry alive. The average comics reader is in their 20s to 40s. Manga has completely captured the youth market in this country.

I reluctantly went to an interview for Tokyo Pop last year through one of my professors. It was an odd experience telling me my stuff needed to be more vague and hard to follow. Tokyo Pop translates manga and publishes American comics that resemble manga...which they call OEL (original English language) manga...I don't even want to get started on that.

And now to get onto cartoons. I can see why there's more anime these days. A hellua lot cheaper to just dub something. I recently watched the making of Mike Mignola's animated short of his comic The Amazing Screw-On Head. The amount of work to go into a 30 min cartoon is insane. So much work to do before it's even animated...and the actual animation process isn't even done here. It's shipped over to Korea...as was Batman TAS and most superhero toons I believe. I admit I watch a LOT of anime. Mostly stuff currently airing in Japan that folks are kind enough to subtitle. I wish there were more decent U.S. made cartoons but there just aren't. And kids need their cartoon fix.

I think I had a point...but I lost it. So there's my poorly written rant and a lot of time wasted.

[Seth]

teuthida, what are some anime's that you're currently into. I don't have time to try and get into a series that's only so-so.
The only manga that I seriously followed was Blade of the Immortal. Not much for availability here.

[Angrist]

Strangler, did you try Ghost in the Shell? I really like the anime series.
But I don't know how it compares to other animes.

[Teuthida]

Originally Posted by Seth

teuthida, what are some anime's that you're currently into. I don't have time to try and get into a series that's only so-so.
The only manga that I seriously followed was Blade of the Immortal. Not much for availability here.

I've only watched the subbed versions of the following. No idea if the dubs are any good.

Paranoia Agent - Believe this aired on Adult Swim. Werid goodness with some really nice animation. Check out the director's movies too.


Beck - A Japanese band trying to make it. The only thing is a number of characters are American but the English pronunciations are so bad it might take you out of it a bit. Good series though.


Boogiepop Phantom - Weird and very disturbing.


Mushishi - A pretty peaceful series. A guy travels around solving problems caused by spirits called mushi. There's a live action movie by the director of Akira too, though I have yet to watch.


Welcome to the NHK - A recluse who flees college and holes himself up in his apartment. Tries to reenter society.


KIBA - I really can't explain why I like this one. It's like most anime aimed at young boys in Japan and was even based off a card game. Perhaps because it's more serious than every other one. You won't have someone calling another a pervert or much face distortions. A hell of a lot of bloodshed too.


Honey & Clover - Probably my favorite series. Follows a group of art students through college and little beyond. Couldn't find a trailer and the intro doesn't resemble the show at all...but it references Beetle Juice so yeah...


If none of these strike your fancy I got others.

[Fyacin]

I just finished watching Ghost Wolf and Fullmetal Alchemist and liked them alot. Know of anything good along those lines?

Also, I'm not a big fan of nudity and such (I'm looking at your Ghost in the Shell) .

[BlueFire]

Manga/Anime in America is pretty bad. I agree, most of the shit you find in Barnes and Noble is just awful, and I honestly haven't seen/read a good series in a while, but not all of it is crap.

Just to list some that I particularly enjoyed:

Neon Genesis Evangelion- The characters, the story, the themes.. it's all good. Action is really secondary to substance in this series. I think my favorite part of the series is reading/discussion/interpreting various aspects of the show- especially the ending (The End of Eva, haha)

Full Metal Alchemist- Characters are lovable, story is engrossing and mostly tragic in the end-- you definitely develop a connection with the characters in the show and you want to see it through to the end, no matter how grim it may be.

Death Note- this is the most recent series I've seen. I finished it during the summer 2007. This is writing at its finest. The premise is so ridiculous, yet executed perfectly so it keeps you wanting more. I've gotten people who think anime is a social taboo to watch the entire series and actually enjoy it.

Cowboy Bebop- Music + atmosphere + 4 great main characters and that lovable corgi, Ein. I think I read somewhere, possibly in a magazine, saying "Bebop made anime cool"; I think I have to agree.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex + 2nd GIG- I saw this through adult swim. The story can be hard to follow at times, but the writers went through great lengths to envision our world where cyborgs and humans with mostly cybernetic bodies are common. Animation is great, too. I generally don't like the sci-fi genre (which is where I think Ghost in the Shell falls) but this is a great series.

FLCL- so bizarre, the music is awesome. I loved it.

Paranoia Agent is also awesome. Lil Slugger is creepy.

As for manga, I haven't read any since like.. sophomore-junior year of high school, but there are some good ones out there. Azumanga Daioh is pretty funny and simple.. enjoyed it a lot. The Evangelion manga is really good, too.. follows the anime (which came first, I think) but differs at some points. It's definitely a different take on the series (for example, Shinji actually has balls in certain parts of the manga).

My guilty pleasure in manga is Love Hina It was also the first series I ever read.

Anyway, those are most of my favorites. I haven't watched a new anime since Death Note and I haven't read manga in ages, but I don't really go out of my way to find them. Animes are just cartoons/animations and mangas are comics.. I don't view them as separate categories, but that's just me.

edit: i think I'm going to watch Gankutsuou now. It's an anime series based on The Count of Monte Cristo but set in the distant future. Seeing as The Count of Monte Cristo is my probably my favorite novel, I'm going to give it a shot.

[Teuthida]

I gotta agree with you on those BL. Although I never finished Full Metal Alchemist and I only read the Death Note manga. Curious to watch the live action series and see how the shimigami are portrayed. And never saw the Ghost in The Shell series. Just the first movie.

Heh, Love Hina was the very first anime I watched (other than those airing on tv as a kid that I wasn't aware were from Japan...there was one with these koalas...) That, Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Trigun were the series than hooked me.

[TheSlyMoogle]

BlueFire and Teuthida:

Don't know if you guys have heard of these animes but they are definitely worth a watch.

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann - This anime is the first full length (27 episodes, but one of the episodes is a recap) anime by the director for FLCL. I enjoyed it a lot. Follows the struggles of humanity to be free. Personally I enjoyed this anime a lot just because it made me feel like I was a little kid again. Seriously.

Fate: Stay Night - Very good anime about some young mages and a tournament for the holy grail.

Tsukihime(Think I spelled that right) - This is an anime based off a video game that is a playable graphic novel. There is a very popular fighting game in Japan called Melty Blood that is also based on the other video game. The people who made this made Fate.

Shakugan No Shana - Follows the story of a young man who technically doesn't exist. If you can get past the occassional sex bullshit, actually this has a pretty good story, and some cool characters. Two Full Length seasons and I'm hoping for a third eventually.

The Familiar of Zero - Made by the same people who created Shana, follows a girl magician at a magic school and her familiar. Kinda quirky and funny sometimes, but also kinda dark at some points. 3 Seasons so far.

Guyver - They redid the guyver anime from the early 80s, and it's updated and gorgeous. I hate the way it ends a lot, but other than that it is very awesome.

Read or Die - I really enjoyed this anime, though I know a lot of people wont. I found it very fun, and it gets pretty serious too. Follows 3 sisters and their adventures with their protection agency.

Blue Seed - Follows the story of Momiji Fuujimiya and is about Japan basically getting fucked up by demons. Watch it! It's old as shit, and you can find it dubbed online streaming, if you're into shitty american voice acting that is.

Elfen Lied - Kinda Science Fiction based, about an evolved race of people kinda. Don't want to give anything away. A lot of bloodshed.

Gantz - Really fucked up anime, just watching the first 2 episodes should be enough to either keep you hooked or for you to decide that it's fucked up. A lot of bloodshed and action. If you're really interested there is a manga as well.

Gundam Wing - This used to be on Toonami. I don't think Gundam anime is good, I generally don't like Mech Anime. Gundam Wing is very good though. I thoroughly enjoyed it when I was younger, and again recently. Pretty political, and there was even a gay character! Hooray!

This is American made, but does anyone remember Reboot? Amazing show. I cannot believe it wasn't on that list. FUCK IGN!


About Death Note: I think that the anime should have ended at episode 26. Those who have seen it know what I'm talking about. After that it was stupid and it made me lose respect for the show. The first 26 episodes were amazing.


Anime that isn't worth your time:

Dragonball Z or GT, but don't let that stop you from enjoying the shit out of dragonball which is throughly enjoyable.

Naruto in any form.

Sailor Moon.

Bleach.

One Piece.

The list goes on, but generally I would say if it goes past 26 episodes, it's going to suck. There are exceptions, but for the most part shows lose it after that. Generally those anime that go past 26 episodes are created for children anyway.

Full Metal Alchemist isn't that great... Sorry FMA lovers. like 10 episodes of the show were decent, the rest... Not so much. Then they also made a movie that completely killed the sweet ending... Lame!