Anime
Anime is bad. You could say…
But still, some people still insists in asking recommendations of anime from time to time. They didn’t get the memo of the true nature of anime!
So from time to time I post more or less the same list of recommendations that I always do.
I thought how practical would be to actually make a thread for it, and then just link to the thread the next time they ask! And If I make a thread, I can put it all nice and dandy, with labels, pictures and everything. Genius!
—In no order in particular—
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Suspense, Drama
Perhaps of one the best shonen adventures out there. It starts traditionally, but soon the author uses his knack to plan interesting scenarios where things doesn’t seem what appear, or where he can play mind games and present atypical challenges. He also has a predilection to play with typical stereotypes within the genre and then apply his own twist. And later it goes into directions you can not imagine at first, from suspense with mafia families and underworld crime to political plotlines to nerve-cracking suspense to surprising romance stories.
Level E
Comedy, Science Fiction, Adventure, Episodic
From the same author as Hunter x Hunter, it shows a good range of stories from the horror ones to outlandish fantasy to, most commonly, full-on comedy. One of my favorite anime comedies.
Mob Psycho 100
Comedy, Action, Supernatural, Character growth
From the author of One Punch Man, it also uses a mix of comedy and action, though this time the comedy role is minor, and it succeeds in telling a more serious story of a family, power, responsibility and accepting feelings. Don’t disregard the visuals, the art style can look simple and plain, but it’s actually very polished and cohesive, apart of having spectacular animation in the action scenes.
Mushishi
Supernatural, Fantasy, Episodic, Medic, Drama, Romance
One of the most delicate, evocative series you can find. The slow paced story focuses on the cases a medic finds in his dealings with conditions provoked by supernatural beings, but this is an excuse for a journey examining human nature in the frame of a supernatural encounter, with dramas, little tragedies, tales of hope or little romances stories. All surrounded of the most magnificent nature backgrounds.
Attack on Titan
Action, Mystery, Military, Suspense, Horror, Fantastic
A great mix of an original and intriguing post-apocalyptic setting, kinetic action, lots of mysteries and twists and some suspense. While it doesn’t have the deepest characters, it compensates with a big ensemble cast. It really combines well the hopelessness and cruel situation with the heroic hope given by the protagonists. The first season falters in some places in the pacing, but it isn’t as bad as some people say, and the second season cements its quality with great scenes, more complex characters and good surprises.
Fate Zero
Fantasy, Action, Drama, Suspense
A fantasy thriller of a supernatural war fought in secrecy between factions. Thrown some very cool action fights, mythological figures, charismatic characters and some drama parts that may surprise you in the end and you have the best thing of the Fate series.
Haikyuu!!
Sports, School, Comedy
Straightforward school sports series about volleyball, with three seasons. But straightforward doesn’t mean bad, it has a likeable protagonists, intense matches where you will want to cheer for them, humor, good animation and an attractive art style, making in the end one of the best sport series.
One-Punch Man
Comedy, Action, Parody, Science Fiction
A comedic take on superheroes, where a superhero is just too powerful, falling depressed because he can’t fight exciting fights anymore. Of course, there are still spectacular fights here, while at the same time the series laughs at some of the stereotypes of the genre. But more importantly, it in the end it still remembers what a hero is, and their role in being a beacon of hope and humanity.
Ping Pong
Sports, Drama, Character growth, School
With an atypical art style, it presents the intimate story of friendship and rivalry between two ping pong players, and it explore their characters and their relationship in an interesting manner.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Fantastic, Drama, Magical Girl, Tragedy, Romance
What would happen if you take a genre like the Magical Girl and turn it into its head applying a more realistic approach? What if the setting would be more gritty? What if you can’t trust others? Well, you can see it now. Lots of surprises await, so I won’t say anymore.
Shinsekai Yori
Science Fiction, Mystery, Drama, Romance, Tragedy
A mysterious future where people started appearing with psychic abilities provoked a great war that sweeped the planet. After this Apocalypse humanity survived in small stringent societies with some kind of mutated animals are a servitor race. A group of child grow in that environment and with time discover the dirty secrets of their society.
Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjou
Drama, Historical, Romance, Art, fake Biopic
A fake biopic, in the sense it has the structure of a biopic, following the life and work of someone noteworthy (a professional of a obscure art, Rakugo) from his childhood to his end. Historical, too, as the setting is the pre and post WW2 in Japan. This anime is a total success in characterization, in drama, in establishing the vibe of an historical era, and in showing off the love and passion of a craft, Rakugo.
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagan
Action, Science Fiction, Adventure, Epic, Comedy
Big robots in a science fiction action series that redefines the word epic. It starts small, and grows and grows… until incredible lengths. It’s perhaps the poster child of hot-heated, willpower can do everything attitude in anime, and it’s true it utilizes it to very good effect.
The Eccentric Family
Fantastic, Magical Realism, Drama, Adventure, Family, Comedy
The adventure of of a family of supernatural tanukis, that live as humans in modern Kyoto while they mess with the dangerous and also mythological Tengus. A great tale that feels both familiar and unique, with some adventure and comedy vibes that intertwines with family drama, all seen from a different point of view that we are accustomed of.
Tsuritama
Adventure, Family, Comedy, Science fiction, Character Growth
A great little fun story of superation, fishing and friendship… And also aliens. And people with funny hats. And more craziness. It does the happy adventure style that puts you a smile on your face really well.
Steins Gate
Science Fiction, Romance, Drama, Otaku, Comedy
While it has some fixation on otaku stuff that in truth aren’t relevant to the story, I recommend this as a very good science fiction romance with some drama. It starts a bit slow, it needs some episodes to get going… but when shit hits the fan, you will see the light. The direction is a bit plain but the story beats are executed perfectly, creating great empathy with the characters.
The Tatami Galaxy
Fantastic, Episodic, Character growth, Romance, Comedy
Quick, witty and wordy coming of age story in college, where our protagonists live different wacky situations, and love start to slowly blossom, and things go into bizarre directions. It actually has good psychological moments, too, and a surprising end.
Full Metal Alchemist
Adventure, Fantasy, Action, Drama, Mystery, Comedy
One of the most well known and recognized adventures in anime. Very solid. From the action and comedy, to the intriguing mystery and reveals, to the interesting setting with their own nations and past, to the well realized human drama.
Mouryou no Hako
Mystery, Crime, Psychological, Thriller
A pure detective crime story involving mutilated high school girls; it’s complex, haunting, and very moody.
House of Five Leaves
Historical, Mystery, Crime, Drama
A weak samuari ronin and a group of thieves end up in a weird arrangement that in the end it will discover a hidden past. A more slow paced, personal drama than you may think at first.
Ghost in the shell Stand Alone complex
Science Fiction, Military, Police, Episodic, Thriller
A modern classic of science fiction, separating itself from the original manga and the famous film to create its own style. It has both standalone episodes with plots related to crime or spies or whatever that are self contained and offer a nice variety of stories, and other episodes with a greater, more complex and poignant narrative arc. In summary it succeeds in both fronts, taking the best of both worlds. Cool science fiction setting, good military action, thought provoking fiction, and tense thriller parts.
Planetes
Science Fiction, Slice of Life, Drama, Comedy, Character Growth, Romance
A ‘realistic’ science fiction story about astronauts of a small company that take care removing garbage (space debris) to they don’t endanger satellites or spaceships. It starts as charming comedy but soon the characters start to open up and show a deeper characterization, and thing eventually turn more serious, exploring the dreams and ambitions of the characters.
Legend of Galactic Heroes
Science Fiction, Epic, Military, Political, Large cast
A military space opera epic, with fake XIX c. Prussians in space and the clash of empires vs democracies as one of the core concepts. The series follow military geniuses in both sides, without judging either faction, and stand out for having a interesting mix of both epic space battles and a documentary vibe and some good reflections about human nature, history and philosophy.
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
Drama, Science Fiction, Revenge, Mystery, Based on Historical Fiction
This is a good Count of Montecrist adaption in anime form. A story that is a classic, the charismatic characters, the intriguing setting mix of science fiction and historical, and the distinct art style makes it an easy recommendation.
Serial Experiments Lain
Science Fiction, Psychological, Mystery, Character Growth
One of the most known science fiction animes from the 90s. The foreboding, oppressive atmosphere, the cyberpunk influence of the story and aesthetics, and how it plays with reality and illusion makes a trademark style that isn’t easily forgotten.
FLCL
Adventure, Action, Comedy, Science Fiction
Crazy adventures with crazy aesthetics, strange robots, unforgettable characters and an epic finale, a rock band as the constant soundtrack and an overall intensity that traps you, for many it’s a highlight of what anime can or should be.
Cowboy Bebop
Science Fiction, Episodic, Action, Drama, Tragedy
Do I need to write a summary for this one? Oh well. Western influenced space adventures with with good characters, good variety of episode storylines that go from comedy to tragedy, good kinetic animation and direction and to top it off a great Jazz soundtrack by Yokko Kanno.
I personally don’t think it’s the best anime tv series ever, as others think, but it’s pretty good!
Moyashimon
College, Adventure, Educational, Comedy, Slice of Life
Are you tired of silly teenagers in animes? I can’t blame you. Try then people in college, exactly follow the fermentation specialists of a agricultural university. Lots of crazy adventures, people trying to make alcohol (and even learning something scientific about the process), nice group dynamics and some unexpected surprises with the characters.
Gunslinger Girl
Science Fiction, Action, Tragedy, Military
In an undetermined future, we follow a special and experimental military team specialized in counter-terrorism against secessionist groups (kind of based in reality in that regard!). However, what I haven’t told is that the team operative a cybernetically augmented and conditioned people, and the experimental technology for that works best for little girls.
You may thing ‘ugh another little girls anime’ but it isn’t like that, the serious treatment of their issues and their relationships with the rest of the agency is great, the action is solid, and all ties together beautifully.
Texhnolyze
Science Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Tragedy, Slow Paced
Cyberpunk inspired drama of a fighter whose fall out of grace with his promoters and lose some limbs, replaced by prosthetics. He is involved with several factions that vie for the city’s control. The mysterious city, Lux, that will open up its secrets in ways you can’t imagine.
Fantastic Children
Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama, Romance
One of the series with the most charm, mystery, adventure and aesthetics that remind me of adventured done by Ghibli, so that’s already high praise.
A group of enigmatic white-haired children has been spotted at different times and places in Europe for over 500 years. Always with the appearance of 11-year-olds, they behave far more mature than they should be, never grow old, and seem to have supernatural power. What they have been seeking is a girl, and the only clue they have is a picture with a crescent moon.
Golden Boy
Comedy, Sex, Slice of Life
Maybe the nostalgia affects me, but I remember this 90s sex comedy miniseries as hilarious. The protagonist, Kintaro, is a wandering part-time worker that though willpower is able to do everything. Though maybe, his sex drive helps that will power!
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Science Fiction, Mechas, Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Action
What would happen if someone would try to do a more realistic, more serious, more gritty and more complex mecha series? What would happen if the stars align and you had an incredible group of people working on it? What happens in Neon Genesis Evangelion, a totally monumental and seminal work. It actually transcend mere fiction and talk of the human condition, of the fears and insecurities of its creator, and does it in a brilliant way. Watch End of Evangelion film too!
Paranoia Agent
Mystery, Police, Drama, Psychological, Supernatural
A mysterious assailant, the Shounen Bat, is attacking people in the city, and two detectives will try to stop him. But there is something different in him, and it’s a mystery the relation between the victims. Are they random? The victims even seem glad to be attacked. Something is not right, and paranoia will extended in the city.
It starts normal, but eventually it grows more and more stranger, and the limits of reality are not as firm here as you could expect.
Princess Tutu
Magical Girl, Mystery, Romance, Comedy
A magical girl series with fairy tales as background, first it will please you with lots of nice humor, later the mystery behind everything and how characters are deeper than it seems will surprise you. Don’t let the magical girl theme bother you, there is a reason why if you google ‘princess tutu meme’ this appears…(just don’t take it literally)
Kemonozoume
Fantastic, Drama, Romance
A love at first sight story between a man and a woman, whose families are trying to kill each other so they will fight against everything for their love. Oh yeah, I forgot, they are respectively cannibal monsters and monster hunters, that would explain why the killing.
A unique anime to watch, with a very unique direction and flair.
Kaiba
Science Fiction, Episodic, Mystery, Drama
In the very far away future, people can change easily bodies, memories and death isn’t permanent, but humanity is in clear decadence, losing any kind of direction and aimless rotting away. In that situation we have an amnesia-suffering protagonist, with only a pendant with a picture as possession, who is being chased. He will travel though different places and meet different people, in this very strange but intriguing future.
Haibane Renmei
Fantasy, Slice of Life, Mystery, Drama
A group of girls live tranquil days in a mysterious city of unspecified purpose, they live as good as they can. Mysteriously, they have wings in their back, and strange flashbacks bother them. Pure slice of life, but mixed with an original and intriguing setting and pleasing aesthetics and soundtrack, it makes for something more special
Kino’s Journey
Fantastic, Episodic, Drama, Adventure, Psychological
A strange beast to describe, an very episodic series where a tough, armed girl called Kino travels to many places, each with their different customs and problems. A atmosphere of mystique and fairy tales is juxtaposed by oppression, tragedy and loneliness.
Ouran High School Host Club
Comedy, School, Gender-bender, Romance
Pure romantic comedy anime, full of hijinks and slapstick comedy, anime exaggerations, school tropes and more. But it’s seriously good, I think the secret is that is truly much more a comedy than just another romance series.
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi
Fantasy, Surreal, Adventure, Comedy
Two good friends, a boy and a girl, are depressed because they have to move out and will lose contact. But before that happens, lots of crazy adventures and fantasies as if they had fallen into Wonderland assault our poor young couple. They have great chemistry and additionally there is a poignant coming of age story behind all the slapstick comedy.
