Topic: Anime & Manga (NO SPOILERS PLEASE)

@Link245 Do NOT watch One Piece! While I don't know if the show is any good, I do know this; there are currently over 500 episodes in the series, which roughly translates to somewhere over 190 hours. Yes, One Piece has more than a week of animation and spreading all of that out in a timely manner will take months before you finally catch up. Also, the guy with the stretchy powers is the main character.

As for anime I would recommend, there are always three that keep popping up;

#1. Now & Then, Here & There

This is an absolute masterpiece. It's only 13 episodes, but it uses them so well that it doesn't need any more or any less. The one-sentence plot summary is that a boy gets transported into an alternate dimension (or possibly the future) where the Earth is a desert wasteland and the most powerful person in the world is a psychopathic with a god complex. It's brilliant, and one of the best things about it is that it's 100% free on Hulu. No loopholes or google-searching for illegal streaming sites is required; if you live in America you can view it free of charge.

#2. Baccano!

It's the story of an American crime-thriller set in the 1930s and it is glorious! It's not an intelligent anime nor is it philosophical, but it is just great in almost every other aspect. It's suspenseful, it's exciting, and it even has two comedy relief characters that are actually funny. It also has the best English dub I have ever heard in any anime.

#3. Durarara!!

Some would say that this is a "Light" version of Baccano! and I wouldn't argue with them. However, it's still got it's own set of characteristics that make it unique and still suspenseful. In many ways it tries to be a more intelligent Baccano! and it succeeds...in a few parts. The other parts don't quite live up to the ones that are done right, but those other parts are still enjoyable. Also, this anime is a lot less violent and bloody than Baccano!, so you might want to give this a watch or two if you are squeamish.

@V8_Ninja I do realize it's long. Don't worry though, it's not like I'm going to watch the whole series!

@Link245 Thank goodness. Also, if you get any ideas about watching Bleach, DON'T. It is one of the most spectacularly promising train wrecks in the anime world. Don't be enticed by it.

I watched the first episode of One Piece, and it was awesome!

Hey I like Bleach a lot!!

Yeah, I used to like Bleach too. But the problem is that the series refuses to end and almost everything beyond the first Soul Society arc is either filler or feels tacked-on.

Meh, my interest in Bleach has waned over the years. I still enjoy watching it, yes, but the seasons showing on Adult Swim now are kind of boring me. I still like the show and can actually track everything that is going on, but I'm not as big as a fan as I was before.

Maybe its because I'm late to this party and only on episode 49!

Well I finished Claymore the other day and loved every minute of it! Don't expect to laugh even once in this one. Straight action drama all the way. Maybe that's why I like it so much. I do like a good laugh from time to time but this series was just well written from beginning to end! If your looking for a good medieval type anime along the lines of Berserk then I don't thing this will disappoint!!

@Link245: Glad you like it. If you're up for some variety, check out Death Note (almost universally loved), Baccano or Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.

Claymore was miles better than I expected it to be. Definitely something I'll watch multiple times.

As for Bleach... after the first soul society bit in seasons 1 - 3 it's like watching the same characters in a different anime.

I agree, Bleach was awesome at first but then rapidly decreased in quality after the Rukia retrieval arc.

The latest episodes of One Piece have been terrific. I'm glad to see the wait paid off...

After reading this, I felt the need to start watching Madoka Magica and tell the internet how it doesn't deserve to win awards left and right. But after watching 3 episodes, the show deserves the hate that I wanted to give it. It's surprisingly good. Of course, I'm still not a huge fan because it's a magical girl show and those shows tend to not make any sense whatsoever when you force the conflict into the realms of logic, with Madoka Magica not being an exception. Anyways, I'm not sure if I'm going to watch more of it just because I have other things to watch, but the show doesn't deserved to be hated.

from what I understand, Madoka is basically magical girl Evangelion, except without the things that made Evangelion a complete joke to me.

still hate deconstruction series unless they have reconstruction as well

OMG, Shakugan No Shana lll is coming out this fall!? YES!!! This is going to be great! Finally a real canon ending to the series! If you haven't seen Shakugan No Shana you have to give it a chance. It's really well written. There's action, love, and comedy. The plot is pretty unique too even with the cliche elements. The animation is really well done and the other two seasons only have 24 episodes. It's a great series.

/home sweet home o.o

I literally just started watching The Mystic Archives of Dantalian Episode. So far I like it.

Man, I can't believe the Blue Exorcist anime is over. It was just getting started.

Anyway, if Hollywood wants to have another Harry Potter style blockbuster series instead of just digging into tried and true worn out American Comics they need to take a serious look at the gold standard of anime in Captain Harlock, The Mystical Archives of Dantalian, Gosick, Voltron, Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere and Un-Go as those could make for some rock solid hits at the box office.

unfortunately, I think only complete hacks ever get to make Hollywood live action adaptations of anime (I still hope the upcoming American Death Note movie changes that)

I know many of you would scoff at the notion that monster rancher is even anime but I've really been enjoying that series as of late. I starting watching it many years ago and it got canceled in my area and was bummed I never got to see it to the end. It way better then Pokemon and has much deeper story lines! Just the fact that the monsters actually talk alone make it better then Pokemon! Say what you will but for me this series is awesome! !