need anime/manga recommendations
David Luu
I am just getting into anime and manga--i was wondering if you could
recommend some for me...like what is popular...i am interested in
all kinds so far.
thanks in advance!
Keeper of the Sea
First off, anything by Miyazaki... Most are only available fansubbed.
His directions include
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Mononoke Hime (Coming to theatures in Oct., really!)
Kiki's Delivery Service (I didn't care for this one too much)
Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most popular series out there, and
is the best I've seen.
These are just a couple. Many excellent series are coming out soon, such
as Serial Experiments Lain (July) Magic Knight Rayearth (October) and
Nadesico (Late 1999)
Alan D. Peters
My Neighbor Totoro
manga: try Battle Angel Alita, Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind,
Sanctuary, and Outlanders
--
Alan D. Peters
animem...@xoommail.com
For a complete listing of all commercially available
Anime and Manga in English, visit AnimeMania
Purchase thousands of Anime and Live-Action Asian
(Japanese, Hong Kong and Mainland China) videos and DVDs
http://members.xoom.com/animemania01/
Brandon 5.02
>Hello,
>
>I am just getting into anime and manga--i was wondering if you could
>recommend some for me...like what is popular...i am interested in
>all kinds so far.
Blade of the Immortal is a must.
It's the story of Immortal samurai trying to make up for past sins by
working for a girl seeking revenge for the death of her parents. The art
is gorgeous and the story takes interesting turns. It's from Dark Horse
comics and you do a search for the title at their website
http://www.darkhorse.com/. You can also order single issues from the site.
Three TPB's have put put out and you can order those from amazon.com
(search under Blade of the Immortal). Its a great series.
--
-Brandon
Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.
Rob Kelk
David Luu <lu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I am just getting into anime and manga--i was wondering if you could
> recommend some for me...like what is popular...i am interested in
> all kinds so far.
>
> thanks in advance!
Anime and manga are storytelling styles, not genres. There's a great
deal of different types of stories avalable in both media, and I'd
hesitate to recommend anything without knowing what kinds of stories you
like. (For example, I _could_ recommend "You're Under Arrest", but if
you don't like quirky police dramas, you'd think I was nuts.)
That said, I'm going to give you my "canned" reply to this question
whenever it pops up in the anime newsgroups anyway... <grin>
A lot of people think anime is made up of three kinds of shows: shows
about giant robots (a.k.a. "giant mecha" shows), shows about girls with
secret identities and mystic superpowers (a.k.a. "magical girl" shows),
and X-rated shows (a.k.a. "hentai" shows). However, there are a lot of
different anime that don't fall into any of those categories.
My favourite "mecha" shows are "Gunbuster" and "Macross Plus".
"Gunbuster" has some great action sequences, and the 'Buster mecha are
possibly the toughest war machines ever shown in any anime, but that's
the least important part of the show - the pilot's progression from
awkward teenager to confident soldier is told wonderfully. "Macross
Plus" is a story about two test pilots and the woman they both love. (A
sub-genre of this is the "battlesuited warriors" story. The best known
one in North America is "Bubblegum Crisis", an eight-episode series
recently re-released on three tapes. People tell me the dub isn't worth
watching, but the sub of "BGC" is great fun...)
"Magical girl" shows are becoming more and more common nowadays. There
are two types:
* The "older" type has the heroine using her powers to make the world a
happier place (or maybe just to help her boyfriend). There aren't a
lot of commercailly-available anime of this type in North America, but
one of my all-time favourite shows fits this category: "Oh My Goddess"
tells how a university student gets a Norse goddess to become his
girlfriend. (This show also counts as a "romantic comedy" story.)
I _highly_ recommend this five-episode series.
* The "newer" type has the heroine using her powers to kick butt and
make the world a less unhappy place. The most famous of this kind of
"magical girl" show is the first one, "Sailor Moon", but I like
"Magical Project S" better - it's much funnier that Sailor Moon is.
Don't bother asking me about "hentai" shows - I tend not to watch them.
As I mentioned, there are other categories of shows:
* Martial Arts shows are relatively easy to find. One of the more
successful Martial Arts comedies in North America is "Ranma 1/2".
Chances are your local Blockbuster has at least a few of the literally
dozens of tapes in this series.
* Every so often, somebody will translate one of the "everyday life"
shows. (I put the term in quotes because there's usually something
very unusual about the characters...) I have two of these in my
collection: "You're Under Arrest" is a police show, and "801 T.T.S.
Airbats" is a show about a Japanese Air Force aerobatics squadron. I
recommend both, if you like those kinds of shows.
* Fantasy shows are popular - many of them seem to have plots straight
out of role-playing games. "Record of Lodoss War" is probably the
first "straight fantasy" show most people will think of, while the
various "El Hazard" stories are good to excellent "cross-universe
fantasy" in the style of Edgar Rice Burroughs. A sub-group of this is
the Fantasy Parody, where they take the genre conventions and poke fun
at them. Two of the best of these are "Dragon Half" and "The
Slayers". I _highly_ recommend "El Hazard, the Magnificent World"
(seven episodes on four tapes) and "Dragon Half" (two episodes on one
tape).
* Occasionally, you'll find a western-style super-hero anime. The only
one in my collection is "Moldiver".
* Space Opera is a big genre in anime. The one I usually recommend is
"Tenchi Muyo!" (It's "old style" space opera with more in common with
E.E. "Doc" Smith's stories than with the newer "Star Trek" style space
opera, but it's still space opera...) Get the original series
(recently re-packaged as the "Tenchi Muyo Collection" - fourteen
episodes on seven tapes). Pioneer likes re-using these characters and
plotlines, but the first one is probably the best. (The next best,
IMHO, is "Magical Project S", which I mentioned when discussing
"magical girl" shows. Pioneer _really_ likes re-using these
characters...)
* And how could I forget the "Cute Android" sub-genre? It's part
sci-fi, part "magical girl", and part "mecha", so you'll probably find
at least one that you'll like. There are three that I recommend: "All
Purpose Cultural Cat-Girl Nuku Nuku", "Saber Marionette J", and "My
Dear Marie". ("Saber Marionette J" might also qualify as space opera,
depending on your definition of the term.)
I hope this helps.
--
Rob Kelk
rob...@ottawa.com rober...@pemail.net
"I'm _not_ a kid! Nyyyeaaah!" - Skuld (in "Oh My Goddess!" OAV #3)
Animeg3282
>I am just getting into anime and manga--i was wondering if you could
>recommend some for me...like what is popular...i am interested in
>all kinds so far.
>
>thanks in advance!
>
Commerical realese: Slayers, Gunsmith Cats, Here is Greenwood, Magic Knights
Rayearth(when it comes out), Ghost in the Shell, Ah, My Goddess, and Dirty Pair
Flash
No commericial realease: Onii-sama E(Brother Dear Brother),Marmelade
Boy,Hime-chan's Ribbon, St Tail, and Maho Tsakai Tai!(if there is going to be a
commercial realease, get it, but I don't know if there is going to be one)
Chisa Tori
Co-defender of the Scouts, AOL, and Relm
AGFF Goddess and Guru of Cute, Diminutive Mistress of Leather and Lace, and of
Small Words
Yaoi Brigade Member
Pledged to the Way of the Wimp
Animeg3282
>"Magical girl" shows are becoming more and more common nowadays. There
>are two types:
>* The "older" type has the heroine using her powers to make the world a
> happier place (or maybe just to help her boyfriend). There aren't a
> lot of commercailly-available anime of this type in North America, but
> one of my all-time favourite shows fits this category: "Oh My Goddess"
> tells how a university student gets a Norse goddess to become his
> girlfriend. (This show also counts as a "romantic comedy" story.)
> I _highly_ recommend this five-episode series.
Not to mention, Creamy Mami, Pelsia, and Pastel Yumi and Fancy Lala.
>The "newer" type has the heroine using her powers to kick butt and
> make the world a less unhappy place. The most famous of this kind of
> "magical girl" show is the first one, "Sailor Moon", but I like
> "Magical Project S" better - it's much funnier that Sailor Moon is.
>
I like Wedding Peach of this type too.
Chris
the Slayers-TRY series, 26 episodes...also Lost Universe, Cowboy Bebop
are very good too...Infact, if anyone is reading this aside from the
person i am replying to, let me know if u have any of the above for
sale!
Chris.
icq 19494617
David Luu wrote:
> Hello,
Christopher
>Hello,
>
>I am just getting into anime and manga--i was wondering if you could
>recommend some for me...like what is popular...i am interested in
>all kinds so far.
Well, for anime one of the unparalleled masters of the form is Hayao
Miyazaki. He does works that are simple on the surface, but have
enormous depth and beauty. I see a few other people have recommended
his work to you already. Anyhow, I recommend checking out his work,
and the work of his studio "Studio Ghibli". My favorites are:
Laputa: Castle in the Sky (Coming on Video from Disney This Fall)
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Availible as a badly editted movie
called "Warriors of the Wind".)
Grave of the Fireflies (Availible on video from Either Manga
Entertainment or ADVision)
also coming to theatres from Disney and Studio Ghibli is a film called
"Princess Mononoke", which, while I haven't seen, is creditted as
being his best film ever.
Also check out the seminal anime classic "AKIRA". Fantastic,
high-speed anime with reasonable amounts of neat stuff.
In terms of ongoing series of Anime, the best, by far, is "Neon
Genesis Evangelion". It's rapidly becoming my favorite piece of
entertainment of all time, so wonderful is it. It's nearly perfect,
and I can't recommend it enough. Availible through ADVision as 13
tapes of 26 episodes.
In terms of manga, I'm not as well read but I can recommend you a few
titles.
Dark Horse is currently publishing two rather good series. "Blade of
the Immortal" is a Samurai tale with fantastically detailed and
kinetic artwork. There are three trade paperbacks currently availible,
with the fourth coming out in august or september. It's aimed at an
older audience, and it's very violent.
The other series is aimed at a teenage audience, and it's very
'fluffy" :). It's called "Oh! My Goddess" and it's a wonderfully drawn
and touching piece of manga, and it's really saccherine sweet all the
time. Still endearing at points. Rather nice.
Viz is putting out 4 manga I'm buying, and 3 only in Trade Paperback
format. "Banana Fish" and "Black & White" are two mature-readers manga
that are serialized in a monthly magazine called "PULP". Banana Fish
is about the only Shounen-Ai manga on the stands, so I think it makes
a great counterpoint to all the idealized lesbian stuff popping up at
CPM and Ironcat. It's really interesting, and the second tpb came out
a few weeks back. Black & White is a really good bit of insanity that
will turn what you think manga is on it's ear. A challenging piece of
work that's rather rewarding.
The last trade paperback is "Pokemon", which has become a disturbingly
addictive habit over the last little while. The artwork is just so
CUTE. The story is far edgier than the cartoon also. It's very cool.
The first trade paperback will be out in either July or August. The
last title is "Dragonball" (NOT 'Z'). It's just so damned funny. I
mean, it's a cute with decent artwork, it's really enjoyable. :) And
it moves a damn pace faster than 4 issues for one battle. I'm only
buying this in single issues because apperantly Viz doesn't want to do
trade paperbacks for this series...
I think that's it for now. Cheers!
- Christopher
The Adventures of Evil & Malice
- coming this June from Image -
http://www.evilandmalice.com
Howard M. Shum
> >I am just getting into anime and manga--i was wondering if you could
> >recommend some for me...like what is popular...i am interested in
> >all kinds so far.
If you like action movies, check out "Gunsmith Cats" from Dark Horse.
Howard
--
Howard M. Shum
Intrigue (from Image Comics) web site at:
http://members.tripod.com/~howard_shum/comics.html
Simon James Palko
:>Hello,
:>I am just getting into anime and manga--i was wondering if you could
:>recommend some for me...like what is popular...i am interested in
:>all kinds so far.
Just throwing out some of my favs I haven't seen mentioned yet.
El Hazard: The Magnificent World
My fav OAV of all time
Giant Robo
Vision of Escaflowne
__&__
/ \
| | Simon Palko (sjp...@engin.umich.edu)
| (o)(o) University of Michigan
C ,---_) http://www.personal.engin.umich.edu/~sjpalko/
| |,___| DNRC Minister of Intelligence and Surveillance
| \__/
/_____\ "I am Homer of the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance
/_____/ \ is futile. Preparation is futi...MMMmmm...doughnut!"
Hernan Espinoza
>I am just getting into anime and manga--i was wondering if you could
>recommend some for me...like what is popular...i am interested in
>all kinds so far.
I may have missed these among the excellent recommendations I
have already seen in this thread, but I've always been partial to Rumiko
Takahashi's work: Maison Ikkoku and Ranma 1/2 in particular (the former is
much better).
One thing to remember is that manga covers a huge variety
of subject matters & styles (much more than is actually translated, alas).
It's definitely worth poking around a bit to find the kind of stories you
like. It might be worth picking up a few issues of some of the magazines
to get some sample chapters and find which artists, stories, and genres
appeal to you.
-Hernan, loves manga as much for the variety as anything else
------------------------------
PS - OK, it's not technically manga, but I liked Lea Hernandez's
"Cathedral Child" and "Clockwork Angels"
DivaLea
>PS - OK, it's not technically manga, but I liked Lea Hernandez's
>"Cathedral Child" and "Clockwork Angels"
>
Thanks, Hernan.
For anyone curious, there is an online preview of Clockwork Angels at:
http://www.divalea.com/ca1.html
and Cathedral Child
http://www.divalea.com/cc1.html
1999 Eisner Award Nominee
Lea Hernandez
CLOCKWORK ANGELS, intro by Warren Ellis, Image Comics
www.DivaLea.com
Bob Toomey
Akira
Patlabor 1, Patlabor 2 (the OVA and TV episodes are also very
good)
Kiki's Delivery Service
My Neighbor Totoro
Tales of Mystery (a compilation of 6 Miyazaki Sherlock Hound
episodes)
Outlanders
Gunsmith Cats (Bulletproof contains all three episodes on one
tape)
The Irresponsible Captain Tylor (8 tapes, 26 episodes, hilatious)
Enjoy.
BobT
David Luu wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I am just getting into anime and manga--i was wondering if you could
> recommend some for me...like what is popular...i am interested in
> all kinds so far.
>
> thanks in advance!
Pax
David Luu wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I am just getting into anime and manga--i was wondering if you could
> recommend some for me...like what is popular...i am interested in
> all kinds so far.
>
> thanks in advance!
I'd ever seen. Then they came out with the 4 volume trade paperbacks.
You can get them on Amazon I think. Has any other comic ever matched
the creation of a setting so rich and "real" that it's almost a character unto
itself? Has any other comic ever made you care so much about the protagonist?
If so tell me what! Cause I want to read it!
Duncan
Pax <app...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:3775064A...@bellsouth.net...
>
>
>
> > David Luu wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > I am just getting into anime and manga--i was wondering if you could
> > > recommend some for me...like what is popular...i am interested in
> > > all kinds so far.
> > >
OK, if you like hard sci-fi, try 2001 Nights (1-10, VIZ) or Grey (1-10, VIZ)
or if you prefer post-apocalyptic, threre's always Akira (1-38, Epic),
Legend Of Mother Sarah (three vols so far, approx. 1-8 each, Dark Horse,
unfinished) and Otomo's two doorstoppers, Domu and Memories (both Mandarin
in the UK - there's a smaller Dark Horse version of Domu). Best cyberpunk I
guess would be Shirow: Black Magic (1-3, Eclipse), Appleseed (1-16,
Eclipse), Ghost In The Shell (1-7, Dark Horse) and Orion (1-6, Dark Horse)
or Tony Taksomething (I'm terrible with names): AD Police tpb and Genocyber
(1-5, VIZ, unfinished - trans. by J Hudnall, btw). I really liked the two
sci-fis Dark Horse did most recently: Two Faces Of Tomorrow (1-13) and
Chronowar (1-9). Another goodie from earlier on in Dark Horse's reprint
campaign was Version (two vols, approx 1-8 each, unfinished). They also did
Venus Wars and Outlanders, taking them both over from Eclipse (I think), but
these are more yer sci-fantasy. Probably the very best in that genre is
Nausicaa Of The Valley of Wind but be warned, there are millions of them!
Horobi's good, I believe (adapted by Len Wein), and you could also check out
3x3 Eyes. I haven't read it but the anime is enjoyable.
Then there's yer Yakuza stories & the like: easily the best is Sanctuary
(see how intentional you think the gay undertone is), which runs to 5 vols
at an average of 1-9 each (VIZ) except 1-13 for vol.5. There's also Crying
Freeman in a similar vein (not as good). Best place to start for this sort
of thing is VIZ's PULP magazine - some of the best comic stories around are
running in it but you do need to get in at the ground floor, sts, to know
what's going on.
Way back when Frank Miller introduced the ronin epic Lone Wolf & Cub for
First Comics.You could do worse than check that out (approx. 50 issues,
mind); in a similar vein are Dark Horse's recent Blade Of the Immortal
(endless) and Rebel Sword (1-6-ish). I'm less keen on them. Also worth
checking are Area 88 (approx. 50 issues, Eclipse/VIZ), about pilots and
Pineapple Army (same) about mercanaries.
If you like funny animal manga, by far the best is Stan Saki's Usagi Yojimbo
(Fantag. dark Horse etc. etc.), although What's Michael is supposed to be
good, if you like that sort of thing. Or Gon. You could also try some
manga-influenced stuff like Skeleton Key or THB. there's a whole wrld of
'cutie-pie' manga too, but my fingers hurt...