Japanese Animation Recommendations?

Question

Hey. Last night, I was at my friend’s house, and he showed the movie “Howl’s Moving Castle”, a Japanese animation movie. I never knew animated movies could be so cool (and enjoyable to adults!) and I’d really like to try a few more movies like that – classic Japanese animated movies. I looked around on Amazon, but there were so many recommendations I couldn’t tell which ones are the “classics”. Does anyone here have recommendations about which are the best “classic” Japanese animations to start with? I did see that Amazon recommended the movies “Princess Mononoke” and “Cowboy Bebop” – are these good choices? I am ready to change my view that animation is just for kids! Thanks!

Answer 1

You definitely have to watch "Bubblegum Crisis".
http://www.amazon.com/Bubblegum-Crisis-Remastered/dp/B0002TSZME/sr=8-1/qid=1160522993/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-6101192-4068833?ie=UTF8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubblegum_Crisis
Even though it's from the 80's, it was way ahead of it's time.
To me, Bubblegum Crisis has always been the "benchmark" used for judging all other anime.
This is not for kids, because it has R-rated movie content.


Also "Ninja Scroll" is an awesome anime movie (don't get the series because it's not that good) with great
animation.
http://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Scroll-Kevin-Seymour/dp/6305014140/sr=1-1/qid=1160523314/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-6101192-4068833?ie=UTF8&s=dvd
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninja_Scroll
Be warned, this anime has graphic violence, nudity and sex.


The anime movie with the most life-like animation is: "Ghost in the Shell".
http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Shell-Mamoru-Oshii/dp/6304493681/ref=pd_sim_d_1/002-6101192-4068833?ie=UTF8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell_%28film%29
The color is kinda dull, but the movement of the characters and the proportions of the human form are totally realistic.


"Gunbuster" has a deep and thought provoking storyline.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunbuster
The main thing in this anime is about the time traveling that the main characters must go through for a mission of great importance.
The price to pay is the loss of family, friends and all that was familiar.

Here are some more anime titles that you might like:

You're Under Arrest!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_Under_Arrest

Devil Hunter Yohko
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_Hunter_Yohko
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_d/002-6101192-4068833?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=Devil+Hunter+Yohko&Go.x=14&Go.y=18

Macross Plus
http://www.amazon.com/Macross-Plus-Collection-Anniversary-Two-Disc/dp/B0009IOQXK/sr=1-1/qid=1160525177/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-6101192-4068833?ie=UTF8&s=dvd
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macross_Plus

Gunsmith Cats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunsmith_Cats

Oh My Goddess!
http://www.amazon.com/My-Goddess-Collectors-Hiroaki-G%f4da/dp/B000EWBOAO/sr=1-1/qid=1160524628/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-6101192-4068833?ie=UTF8&s=dvd
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh_My_Goddess%21

Answer 2

Princess Mononoke was weird. o.O

Bleach is good, and it's just starting on Adult Swim.

Trinity Blood is also very good, although it's 26 episode run seemed like no time at all.

Case Closed and Inuyasha are on dvd, but Case Closed did get cxld here in the states.

Answer 3

I watched Grave of the Fireflies not too long ago. Not only was a it really good, but it's one of the best movies I've seen in a long time.

Answer 4

some you should check out are teh follwoing(my personal reasons)

1samurai champloo. if you liked cowboy bebop check this out.

2 excell saga. hiillarious. take the three stogges, tom and jerry, and napolean and put em in a show.

3najica: blitz tactics, james bond with a scifi/70's sexplotaion twist.

Answer 5

My neighbor totoro(my favorite)
spirited away
grave of the fireflies
(all by the director of floating castle.)
for a more graphic selection:
Akira
Ninja scroll
fist of the north star
mermaids scar