Anime recommendations for the EvaMonkey

[The Eva Monkey]

So here's the deal, I've been out of anime for a bit, so I'm looking for something new to watch, but I don't want to dick around and waste time on something that might not be up my alley.

Here are some of my favorite series:

Evangelion
Tsukihime
Haibane Renmei
Serial Experiments Lain
Elfen Lied
Gunbuster
Diebuster
FLCL
Millennium Actress
.hack//SIGN

Typically, I like stuff that is more artful, serious, and geared towards characters and their interactions with each other.

Here are a few things I'm considering watching:

Full Metal Panic
Boogiepop Phantom
Texhnolyze
RahXephon
Space Runaway Ideon

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to sell me on one of the series listed above, or one more awesomer.

And don't say Ergo Proxy. That show went from awesome to suck half way through. Unless of course it goes from suck to really awesome and redeems itself in the process.

Starto.

[Mr. Tines]

Well, of the series I've already listed in this thread, I would go straight for Mononoke as something artful, serious etc, and awesomer than those listed.

OTOH, Ideon and RahX are pretty much obligatory for the Eva fan, though the former is clearly Tomino from early Gundam days, and the latter is very BONES.

Boogiepop is an intricate set of interlocked stories built around what felt like an empty shell.

FMP is entirely fluff (dropped after 1 DVD), and Texhnolyze starts off as pure artwank (dropped halfway through the first DVD) -- it is nothing at all like Haibane Renmei nor Lain.

[master_lloyd]

FMP is entirely fluff (dropped after 1 DVD).

Now when you say fluff, is it really THAT bad? I realise there's a high school comedy element to it, but is it so excruciatingly painful that it would put off even a hard-core mecha fan such as myself?

I'd like to know as it's also on my 'considering' list.

[BrikHaus]

Now when you say fluff, is it really THAT bad? I realise there's a high school comedy element to it, but is it so excruciatingly painful that it would put off even a hard-core mecha fan such as myself

It's not really that bad. The first season has terrible animation, and the plot kind of drags, but the character interactions are fun enough to keep you engaged. The second season got a lot better, and the third was sort of in between the two (although it had incredible animation). I actually own all three seasons, and I hate pretty much everything. If you want to know more, here are some shitty reviews.

Season 1
Season 2
Season 3

[ZapX]

Tines is a very harsh critic. Just look at his anime list.

Monkey, I'd try Voices of a Distant Star or The Girl Who Leapt Through Time if you haven't seen those. The former is only 20 minutes long.

[master_lloyd]

I actually own all three seasons, and I hate pretty much everything.

High praise indeed.

You have persuaded me, Brick-man.

This series shall remain on my consider list, to be torrented at time unknown.

[Zaque]

There's no Tsukihime anime :P

However, something by the same people (author) that you may consider checking out is: Kara no Kyokai. The artwork in it is quite amazing. :)

[The Eva Monkey]

Aww, Tines made me my own thread. I feel teh special.

Well, of the series I've already listed in this thread, I would go straight for Mononoke as something artful, serious etc, and awesomer than those listed.

Will check it out. Especially if you give it a stamp of approval.

OTOH, Ideon and RahX are pretty much obligatory for the Eva fan, though the former is clearly Tomino from early Gundam days, and the latter is very BONES.

That's the thing, I'm not sure if I want to watch something simply because of obligation. I want to enjoy something.

FMP is entirely fluff (dropped after 1 DVD)

I like Fluff on occasion. I enjoyed Tenchi Muyo, Love Hina, and Onegai Teacher in particular. I've only seen the first several episodes of FMP, which I did enjoy.

Monkey, I'd try Voices of a Distant Star or The Girl Who Leapt Through Time if you haven't seen those. The former is only 20 minutes long.

I adore Voices, and I really like Shinkai's style. Place Promised put me to sleep, and I honestly don't know what the fuck was going on. I remember nothing from that. Just a lot of blue skies and puffy white clouds. I'm curious about 5 Centimeters Per Second and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. I'll definitely check them out if I come across a copy. Movies are easy for me to knock out. I'm always trying to watch something new, it's series that I have trouble committing to.

There's no Tsukihime anime :P

Yes there is. And it is awesome. Or at least... I thought it was.

[Guyver Spawn]

It depends on what you like? If you like action animes then Bastard!! (Read the Manga since the Anime is short as hell), Vampire Hunter D, s-CRY-ed and Berserk. I hear Demon City Hunters is pretty good.

[Shiro]

I actually haven't seen any of the series' that you're considering, but I would like to highly recommend Cowboy Bebop. While it has a plot, the plot is rarely touched on in favour of standalone episodes that favour character interaction. The animation is excellent for a 90s series, and the dub and sub are equally well voiced. (Kaji's Spike in Japanese) The characters are definitely the strongest point of CB, and in fact what drives the show. It's light-hearted at times but is also very serious at others, and the ending is exceptionally memorable and not a let-down.

I'm sure you've probably seen it, but if not, you really should.

[The Eva Monkey]

It depends on what you like?

Which is why I listed and described what I like. Maybe you should read that. And no, I generally don't like action anime.

I actually haven't seen any of the series' that you're considering, but I would like to highly recommend Cowboy Bebop.

Nope, didn't like Bebop.

[NAveryW]

Nope, didn't like Bebop.

I think you're mistaken; everybody likes Cowboy Bebop. You must be misremembering something.

I'm just guessing that you might like these, but, ah...

Welcome to the NHK, perhaps
Code Geass, perhaps
Denno Coil, perhaps
Chaos;HEAd, perhaps

[NemZ]

Boogiepop is an intricate set of interlocked stories built around what felt like an empty shell.

The actual main plot is too convoluted for it's own good, yes. The sidestories along the way are great though.

[Zaque]

Yes there is. And it is awesome. Or at least... I thought it was.

Well, I guess you were one of the odd few who liked it...

Anyway, those that ZapX mentioned are good. Hmm... I've heard Eve no Jikan was also good, although I've only seen one episode.

[Guyver Spawn]

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and Fullmetal Alchemist are also good choices if you have not seen them.

Which is why I listed and described what I like. Maybe you should read that.

I did but you never said any type of anime such as like Action or Comedy ;) .

[ZapX]

I'm gonna throw Honey and Clover in the ring just so that I mention a TV series as well. It may not be your cup of tea but it meets all your criteria. I think it's easily one of the best anime I've ever seen. Melodramedy about a group of college art students. Nothing special about the story as it's mostly just about them going through college, but the characters' relationships are what drive the show and the comedy and seriousness blend seamlessly. Some of the character designs may take a bit of getting used to but the show is amazingly well done. Drinian and Ornette both gave the show a 10 and they have great taste in anime. It's 36 episodes plus 2 OVA eps.

[oOoOoOo]

Along with most of your favourites, Mister Monkey, I really liked Tsukihime (just listening to the soundtrack, whee~) and I will also recommend Kara no Kyoukai, written/birthed by the same people. I think it is actually the inverse of the Tsukihime world, alternate version. It has a serious tone, really moody artwork, super atmosphericly delicious music from Yuki Kajiura. The characters are interesting as well, and there's a lot of mystery, mind-fucking, etc. The fifth movie has one of my favourite fight scenes ever. I think seven movies is a wonderful format, because it avoids excessive "monster-of-the-week" syndrome, making everything more epic in my mind.

Let's put it this way, Kara no Kyoukai is a gamajillion times better than Shingetsutan Tsukihime, which we both agree is good.

[UrsusArctos]

Well RahX isn't too bad, but it's not the greatest. Rah's strengths are its OP and ED songs and very pretty art. It also has some pretty good aerial combat scenes in a couple of places, although the mecha combat is subpar compared to NGE.

Hoshi no Koe (Voices from a Distant Star) is truly remarkable for a one-man job. It was made by the same guy who would later go on to create 5 Centimeters per Second. Both of these anime are very watchable. I enjoyed 5 Centimeters in particular because the story and the setting are so wonderfully matched.

The Vision of Escaflowne is far better than most fantasy anime out there and I think it might be worth a try.

Last but not least, production I.G. has Seirei no Moribito (Guardian of the Spirit) and the Ghost in the Shell SAC series. GitS can be a little confusing and messy at times, but Moribito is straightforward, plain, pretty and has some excellent combat sequences to boot.

[Fazmotron]

Why has no one suggested Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei yet?

[LeoXiao]

See Monster. It's a lot like NGE in the way that the characters are really well fleshed out, and I would even go as far as to say that in this respect it is even better than NGE.

Oh, and Full Metal Panic.

I personally liked Ergo Proxy for its atmosphere and total vagueness, but...