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Essential Anime
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· Score: 1
Of course, everyone's taste differs... but it really boils down to as what kind of anime are you looking for? Japanese Anime, unlike historic American anime (read: Disney) doesn't just feature the cutesy animal stories... there's a lot more variety in the Japanese anime world.
The two main "categories" of Anime are "girl-type" and "boy-type" Of the examples given, Cowboy Bebop and Trigun fall into the "boy-type" while "Battle Athletes" falls into the "girl-type", for example. Obviously, the boy-type focuses more on action, violence, etc. The girl-type is more story and relationship driven. When I list my favs at the end of this post, I'll put a (b) or a (g) (or a (bg)... figure it out:o) )to indicate the type.
Most people, however, enjoy both sides of the fence, just be aware that there is a fence there... the Japanese equivalent of "My Little Pony" vs. "GI Joe".
Also when looking at Japanese Anime, you need to determine whether or not you're interested in movies, or series... with the series, if you get hooked, you could end up paying through the nose to get the entire series. Some of the Anime vendors, such as Viz (who makes the aforementioned "Ranma" and "Pokemon" animes) sell tapes/dvds with only 2 episodes per disk/tape. And sells 'em for about $30 per. There is 8 seasons of Ranma, I believe... imagine paying $30 per 2 episodes for the entire 8 years. It gets pricy.
You mentioned that you prefer DVDs over VHS... a very wise decision. The quality is much better, and the fact that they usually come subbed AND dubbed, with options to turn either one on/off as desired, makes the market less splintered than the VHS tapes and you always get what you want.
Some companies are doing limited runs of the anime that they can get licensed for... I'd suggest checking out websites such as Animeigo... they will be doing the Macross (aka Robotech) series very soon... not the butchered American version that most of us are familiar with, but the original Japanese version... and as such, there can't be an English track included, because they would have to re-record the English track to cover all the sections that was cut out of the original when the American version was made. They're also going to be doing the "Oh, My Goddess" anime, as well... check 'em out, good stuff.
The definitive source of information about Anime available on DVD is Anime On DVD They've got reviews of just about everything released in Region 1 DVD (including the Hentai stuff), and they're working on the Region 2 and 3...
Purchasing your anime is a whole 'nother topic, however, you really can't go wrong with DVD Express. They've got a very large selection of anime, and ships fast... be aware that they, more than other companies, pay attention to street dates, so don't expect to get your pre-ordered anime days/weeks sooner than everyone else! Though they sell all types of DVDs, anime typically makes its way into their "Top 15" list each week... this week I think it's Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gundam Wing in the Top 15, at spots 3 and 4... very not bad. Now, on to the actual Anime (all on DVD)...
5 Star Anime: Ghost in the Shell (b) Macross Plus, Vol. 1 & 2 (b) Trigun Vol. 1 (b) Armitage III (b) Cowboy Bebop (b) Fushigi Yugi (g) Revolutionary Girl Utena, Vol. 1 & 2 (g) Neon Genesis Evangelion 0:1 (b) Lain, Vol. 1-4 (bg) Iria, Vol. 1 (bg)
4 Star Anime Ranma 1/2 OAV (bg) Tenchi Muyo! (bg) Record of the Lodoss War (b) Trigun Vol 2 (b) Battle Athletes Victory Vol. 1-8 (g) Blue Submarine, Vol. 1 (b) El Hazard: The Alternative World, Vol. 1-4 (bg) Dominion Tank Police (b) Bubblegum Crisis (b) Ninja Scroll (b) Sol Bianca (bg)
3 Star Anime The Venus Wars (b) Eatman 98 (b) Battle Athletes OAV, Vol 1-3 (g) Ninja Ressurection (b) Ranma 1/2: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China (b) Ranma 1/2: Naiho, My Concubine (b) Tenchi in Tokyo, Vol. 1-8 (bg)
2 Star Anime A Wind Named Amnesia (bg) Ninja Cadets (b) Cybernetics Guardian (b)
1 Star Anime Fist of the North Star (b) Project A-KO (g) Green Legend Ran (b) Kite (too much cutting) (bg) MD Geist (no plot) (b) Darkside Blues (b) Demon City Shinjuku (b)
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Of course, everyone's taste differs ... but it really boils down to as what kind of anime are you looking for? Japanese Anime, unlike historic American anime (read: Disney) doesn't just feature the cutesy animal stories ... there's a lot more variety in the Japanese anime world.
... figure it out :o) )to indicate the type.
... the Japanese equivalent of "My Little Pony" vs. "GI Joe".
... with the series, if you get hooked, you could end up paying through the nose to get the entire series. Some of the Anime vendors, such as Viz (who makes the aforementioned "Ranma" and "Pokemon" animes) sell tapes/dvds with only 2 episodes per disk/tape. And sells 'em for about $30 per. There is 8 seasons of Ranma, I believe ... imagine paying $30 per 2 episodes for the entire 8 years. It gets pricy.
... a very wise decision. The quality is much better, and the fact that they usually come subbed AND dubbed, with options to turn either one on/off as desired, makes the market less splintered than the VHS tapes and you always get what you want.
... I'd suggest checking out websites such as Animeigo ... they will be doing the Macross (aka Robotech) series very soon ... not the butchered American version that most of us are familiar with, but the original Japanese version ... and as such, there can't be an English track included, because they would have to re-record the English track to cover all the sections that was cut out of the original when the American version was made. They're also going to be doing the "Oh, My Goddess" anime, as well ... check 'em out, good stuff.
...
... be aware that they, more than other companies, pay attention to street dates, so don't expect to get your pre-ordered anime days/weeks sooner than everyone else! Though they sell all types of DVDs, anime typically makes its way into their "Top 15" list each week ... this week I think it's Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gundam Wing in the Top 15, at spots 3 and 4 ... very not bad. ...
The two main "categories" of Anime are "girl-type" and "boy-type" Of the examples given, Cowboy Bebop and Trigun fall into the "boy-type" while "Battle Athletes" falls into the "girl-type", for example. Obviously, the boy-type focuses more on action, violence, etc. The girl-type is more story and relationship driven. When I list my favs at the end of this post, I'll put a (b) or a (g) (or a (bg)
Most people, however, enjoy both sides of the fence, just be aware that there is a fence there
Also when looking at Japanese Anime, you need to determine whether or not you're interested in movies, or series
You mentioned that you prefer DVDs over VHS
Some companies are doing limited runs of the anime that they can get licensed for
The definitive source of information about Anime available on DVD is Anime On DVD They've got reviews of just about everything released in Region 1 DVD (including the Hentai stuff), and they're working on the Region 2 and 3
Purchasing your anime is a whole 'nother topic, however, you really can't go wrong with DVD Express. They've got a very large selection of anime, and ships fast
Now, on to the actual Anime (all on DVD)
5 Star Anime:
Ghost in the Shell (b)
Macross Plus, Vol. 1 & 2 (b)
Trigun Vol. 1 (b)
Armitage III (b)
Cowboy Bebop (b)
Fushigi Yugi (g)
Revolutionary Girl Utena, Vol. 1 & 2 (g)
Neon Genesis Evangelion 0:1 (b)
Lain, Vol. 1-4 (bg)
Iria, Vol. 1 (bg)
4 Star Anime
Ranma 1/2 OAV (bg)
Tenchi Muyo! (bg)
Record of the Lodoss War (b)
Trigun Vol 2 (b)
Battle Athletes Victory Vol. 1-8 (g)
Blue Submarine, Vol. 1 (b)
El Hazard: The Alternative World, Vol. 1-4 (bg)
Dominion Tank Police (b)
Bubblegum Crisis (b)
Ninja Scroll (b)
Sol Bianca (bg)
3 Star Anime
The Venus Wars (b)
Eatman 98 (b)
Battle Athletes OAV, Vol 1-3 (g)
Ninja Ressurection (b)
Ranma 1/2: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China (b)
Ranma 1/2: Naiho, My Concubine (b)
Tenchi in Tokyo, Vol. 1-8 (bg)
2 Star Anime
A Wind Named Amnesia (bg)
Ninja Cadets (b)
Cybernetics Guardian (b)
1 Star Anime
Fist of the North Star (b)
Project A-KO (g)
Green Legend Ran (b)
Kite (too much cutting) (bg)
MD Geist (no plot) (b)
Darkside Blues (b)
Demon City Shinjuku (b)