What better way to promote and shine a light on anime than to present to you anime animated.
Can you think of a better way to taste the possibilities?
I've listed a combination of my favorite films or series that were influential in my anime diet across time and space for Animate! The Sci-Fi Fanatic BIG 30: Anime.
The thirty (30) best according to The Sci-Fi Fanatic are highlighted in BLUE.
The remainder are not highlighted and are certainly noteworthy and in some cases exceptional as well. My reasons for the best are often tied with exceptional characterization throughout a given series, OVA (a short series) or film. In some cases, like Yukikaze, the visual experience is just as significant as character. Admittedly, a few I have not digested entirely such as Gundam, and as such cannot speak of intelligibly. These are just personal preferences as their hundreds upon hundreds of titles out there.
So those not highlighted should not be discounted. There is something for everyone in anime. I'm certain I've missed some titles worth mentioning. To be honest I've completely omitted Hayao Miyazaki and the family-friendly films of Studio Ghibli because anything he touches is essentially gold and those high caliber pictures are generally well-established fact. Studio Ghibli is like a category unto itself. The only exception I made was Isao Takahata's Grave Of The Fireflies - a Studio Ghibli gem originally released and shown together with My Neighbor Totoro. Now that's one crazy double feature! Please feel free to make note of my omissions.
Enjoy Animate! The Sci-Fi Fanatic BIG 30: Anime in a fun single animated post! So let's take-off and get started.
5 Centimeters Per Second (2007).
Akira (1988).
Attack On Titan (2013).
Battle Of The Planets (1978-1985).
Gatchaman (1972-1974).
Blood: The Last Vampire (2000).
Blue Submarine No. 6 (1998-2000).
Burst Angel (2004, 2007).
Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999, 2001).
Diebuster (Aim For The Top 2!) (2004-2005).
Eden Of The East (2009-2010).
Ergo Proxy (2006).
Eureka 7 (2005-2006, 2009).
FLCL (2000).
Freedom Project (2006-2008).
Ghost In The Shell (1995).
Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence (2004).
Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex.
Ghost In The Shell: S.A.C. 2nd Gig (2002-2006).
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006).
Grave Of The Fireflies (1988).
Gunbuster (Aim For The Top!) (1988-1989).
Gunparade March (2003).
Gunslinger Girl (2003-2004, 2008).
Gurren Lagann (2007-2009).
His And Her Circumstances (1998-1999).
Kimba The White Lion (1965-1966, 1989-1990, 2009).
Jungle Emperor Leo (1997).
King Of Thorn (2010).
Last Exile (2003).
Last Exile: Fam, The Silver Wing (2011-2012).
Millennium Actress (2001).
Mobile Suit Gundam (1979-present; various).
Nadia: The Secret Of Blue Water (1990-1991).
Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995-1997, 2007-present).
Neo Tokyo (1987)
Ninja Scroll (1993)
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Origin: Spirits Of The Past (2006).
Patlabor (1988-1993, 2001).
RahXephon (2002-2003).
Robotech (1985).
Royal Space Force: The Wings Of Honneamise (1987).
Samurai 7 (2004).
Samurai Champloo (2004-2005).
Serial Experiments Lain (1998).
The Sky Crawlers (2008).
Starblazers (1979-1984).
Space Battleship Yamato (1974-1975).
Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (2012-2013).
Steamboy (2004).
Strike Witches (2007-2008, 2010, 2012).
Voices Of A Distant Star (2002).
Witch Hunter Robin (2002).
Yukikaze (2002-2005).
Those in highlights above are anime productions I hope to spend some time on in the future. Keep an eye. If I can elaborate further in comments feel free to ask. If you have a series or film to enlighten me on please do so.
One to look for on US release in 2015 is Knights Of Sidonia (2014) shaping up to be exceptional science fiction series.
Oh, so cool, G!
ReplyDeleteTku.
ReplyDeleteWow a great list and some excellent images to offer a taste of the style. It does remind me that I am woefully behind in my anime viewing. There's plenty on that list that I've never even heard of.
ReplyDeleteBut you've got some great ones on there like EVA, "Millennium Actress" and "Eden of the East" which I really enjoyed.
The only one I wonder about is "Blue Sub 6". I started watching that one way back when it was first released on DVD and it just wasn't clicking for me. Seeing it on your list inspires me to give it another try. But I remember it being a lot of shiny and pretty but not much else going on.
Also good to see "His and Her Circumstances" on the list, that is one really sweet show, and a lot of fun to watch.
Looking forward to further exploration of these shows.
Hi Roman. Always good to hear from you my friend.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun post to assemble and I stayed very focused on the films I had seen or knew to be classics. There are a few I need to check out myself.
I just love His And Her Circumstances which I think my daughter appreciates but it's just a really smart and entertaining coming of age series. Brilliant really.
Blu Sub 6 is all about the visual experience for me. I understand what you mean and character depth is limited on that OVA BUT the visuals and what is achieved on that level still blow me away and it has this bizarre pastiche of moments and kind of creates its own mythology and look.
I really wish it was a FULL series where they had a chance to expand upon it. I LOVE the OVA though. I really do. Yukikaze is a similar visual experience. If you think you would enjoy a sci-fi air combat film it's awesome.
In fact, my hope is to have reviews on both of Gonzo's Blue Sub 6 and Yukikaze in the future.
I get so sidetracked though and the next think you know I'm on to other things.
Thanks Roman.
I really like Gatchaman (which I think was just released on Blu-ray), and Starblazers as well for older style anime. You can't go wrong with Ghost in the Shell too. For some reason I was underwhelmed with Grave of the Fireflies, I don't know exactly why, I think it was just trying to hard for an emotional response from me, and didn't work for some reason. I should probably watch it again at some point in time. Neon Genesis, I've just scraped the top of, and it's a cool series. So many of the anime you've listed I just haven't seen, but I have to admit, you really captured some cool scenes from them.
ReplyDeleteA couple I have seen and enjoyed are: Ninja Scroll, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and Tezuka's Space Firebird 2772. It's gone thru many permutations with the title. I first encountered it in the old VHS days just as Space Firebird. I then read some of the manga on it under the name of Phoenix, which were really cool, but didn't finish the series. They had this on DVD at one time, but I think now it's OOP, which is a shame. You can find it on YT here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlc70ihusac
Don't let the opening fool you, it is SF as it gets deeper into the story, among other things.
Also Robot Carnival is a cool anthology series, if you can find it, and also Lensmen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSDl_t7Lrjo
Hi El Vox. Always good to hear from you as well.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Gatchaman, Starblazers, Neon and Ghost are high in my rankings.
Grave is just a really tragic film that is just flawless in its execution. It's truly disturbing and touching at the same time.
It's a snapshot of history and war that is rarely told - the effect on people in this case children. It's a pretty bold film and still resonates. It's meticulously animated as well.
I loved Nausicaa as well - another terrific film from Studio Ghibli. I actually did write a review on that one some time ago.
I never saw Ninja Scroll. It didn't interest me. I suppose it felt a little too Earthbound and real for me. I mean ninja are terrific if they are in the form of Gatchaman. : )
Space Firebird hmmm. I'll definitely check your links.
Thank you El Vox.