Topic: Anime & Manga (NO SPOILERS PLEASE)

I just looked it up and in an interview from last June, Kishimoto said “how the story will end has already been set in my mind, so the story is just ‘racing headlong in that direction.’” about Naruto.

@DarkNinja9

That's Kirito from Sword Art Online - http://media.animevice.com/uploads/1/18405/574843-sword_art_o...

Started watching Ouran High School Host Club. Why is it I always somehow manage to find the weird animes? (Then again, almost all anime is strange to me). And almost every single series I've watched so far (which is not many to begin with) has a homosexual character in it, with Ah! My Goddess being the only exception. Not that I care about it though. But are the twins in OHSHC completely acting for the host club? I hope so, because otherwise, that would mean... (shudders).

Japanese people can be so messed up sometimes... Not that we aren't either, but I'm just saying.

just to avoid the nightmare you could turn this thread into, I assume you mean characters who are homosexual to the point of at least being half a stereotype. Which yeah...yeah...sigh...

It could be worse. It could be Kiss X Sis.

Kiss X Sis. Oh man. /shudders

Sgt. Frog is on Netflix. That's awesome, I think I'll finally watch it. Just need to watch two more episodes of Usagi Drop first.

The Unlimited Ended up being picked up by Crunchyroll after all. This is good news for me. Now I have at least two things I really want to watch this season.

For Lupin The 3rd fans, you may be interested to hear that Bakumatsu Gijiden Roman was also picked up by Crunchyroll. While it only shares Lupin's character designer(s), it does sound like a good show in its own right.

Is the ending to Future Diary (Mirrai Nikki) the same as the manga? I was reading the manga and near the end and apparently they stopped coming over? I was thinking of just continuing with the anime from where I left off in the manga.

Sgt frog is on Netflix now!?!?

Crap, I knew I shouldn't have stopped my subscription.

Anyhoo, has anyone watched Angel Beats?
I just started watching it and it is, VERY VERY weird.

Weird? Angel Beats? Well, it gets better, at least.

@Retro_on_theGo

I just looked up the changes. It sounds as if the Manga version of the ending is much more expanded upon, while the anime leaves some stuff out. I don't see any huge changes, but I still think you'd want the Manga version if you can get it. Not sure how specific I should be, but it's all right in the Wiki.

@Konata Angel Beats first impression on you is weird? Well I suggest to keep watching. It's really good and has a fantastically touching ending.

@CanisWolfred (wow, I believe that's the first time I've typed out your new username...) Huh, I didn't think that kind information would be on a Wiki for some reason. I don't like checking those, so I don't go to those often. (not sure why myself.) Thanks!

Oh yeah, that info is always on Wikis. They're also filled with incredibly detailed, spoiler-y synopsises, though, and even the "Anime and Manga differences" part is full of spoilers, so it's kinda best if you don't read them, provided you actually have any intention of watching/reading the actual show/manga. Which in this case, I didn't. So I was free to help out this way.

@Retro_on_thego You could read the rest here.

ok yey thx

Well now I think it's super funny/ really sad.

Im enjoying It, I don't usually watch depressing Anime's though, it makes me all depressed.

Hey guys, I'm trying a free trial of Hulu Plus, and I see there are tons of anime on there.

Are there any anime's I should watch?

I don't know if they are on there but look up Hikaru No Go and Vampire knight, both series are truly amazing.

Ugh...

That out of the way, there a tons. By Genre:

Action Adventure:

Trigun
One Piece
Black Lagoon
Magi (also on CR, I think)
Hellsing
Lupin The Third
Jormungand

Tournament:

None...maybe Monster Rancher...

Super Natural:

Persona 4 The Animation <- especially this!
Is This a Zombie?
Black Blood Brothers

Science Fiction:

Guilty Crown <- Definitely recommend this
Ghost in the Shell
Robotics;Notes
From The New World
Lagrange
Eureka Seven (slowest show ever, though)
Stien's;Gate (watch out for the ending)
Armatage III (Kinda old and short, though)
Kiddy Grade
Psycho-Pass

Fantasy:

Tenchi Universe
Tenchi Muyo OVA
Tenchi Muyo: War on Geminar
A Certain Magical Index
Madoka Magica (also on CR)
Slayers
Bakemonogatari
Humanity Has Declined
Guin Saga
Pretear

Drama:

Waiting in the Summer <- Gotta see this! Though, it is on Crunchy roll as Ano Natsu de Matteru
Kids on the Slope (Also on Crunchyroll)
Habanai Renmei
Ai Yori Aoshi
Haganai

Comedy:

Binbogami-Ga <- Funniest show I've seen in a long time
Arakawa Under the Bidge
...I'm picky about my comedies.

Romance:

Ah My Goddess (Gotta search for this)
Toradora (also now on CR)
Kimi no Todoke (Think this is also on CR now)

Damn, they must've lost some shows. I remember them having a lot more than this. I had a hundred shows written down before...and those were just the ones that stood out...oh wait, some of them are still there, but you can't really access it from the main page. You gotta search for it.

Those lists are in order of most recommended, btw.

To continue with discussions that've already been dropped, here are my favorite things that I watched in 2012, such as they were:

Came out in 2012:

Kids on the Slope (One of my favorite things ever.)
Mysterious Girlfriend X (This is mostly here because I think it's the only other anime I watched that actually aired in 2012 lol.)

Came out before 2012:

Monster
Welcome to the NHK (I still haven't gotten around to finishing this; I was completely in love with it, but then scary real life things happened midway through and I just haven't managed to get back to it yet.)
Ghost Hound
Casshern Sins
Princess Jellyfish
Redline
The Secret World of Arrietty
Sword of the Stranger
Trigun: Badlands Rumble

Continued in 2012:

One Piece (Films aside, this was pretty much the only anime I watched from March through June. You can almost split last year in half between whatever new-for-me obsession was consuming my time - the 1st half of 2012 was all about One Piece, the 2nd half was all about A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones.)

Admittedly, I rarely seem to watch anime the year it comes out, which is something about me that isn't limited to just anime. I tend to just throw things that sound interesting onto my "Plan to Watch" list and then get around to actually watching them whenever I'm in the mood (be it later that same day or, in some cases, well over a year afterwards).

Do you mean that whole icky RinXDaikichi plot that develops in the manga? No, thankfully, the anime never includes that bit.

Oh hells yeah, I am.

Noein 24 episodes Anime
Lots of action. Relatively short, but better than most shonen shows, such as DBZ, Bleach, or Naruto, in my opinion. A sci-fi tale that explores existential motifs and time travel paradoxes. The main villain is fairly unique. A unique aethestic and production, especially during the fights. Lots of good orchestral/choral mix music. Fast-paced, relatively cohesive plot.

Maison Ikkoku 96 episodes Anime; Manga also available
My personal favorite. Directed by Rumiko Takahashi in the 1980s, who also directed Inuyasha. This is a slice-of-life and romantic comedy. Very amusing to watch all the characters interact. A quasi-realistic 80's Japan setting. Many characters are very well fleshed-out. Even if you don't typically like romance, this is definitely one to give a try.

Barefoot Gen 10 volume Manga
If you only read one manga series in your life, LET IT BE THIS ONE. A historical fiction detailing the main character and his family after surviving the atomic bomb blast of Hiroshima, Japan during World War 2. Lots of realistic representations, many of which are very gut-wrenching. Definitely an eye-opener to anyone who still believes that using atomic bombs or any nuclear weaponry could ever possibly be justified. Focuses on how the main character does his best to help others while surviving a nuclear aftermath- not something most normal people could do. Very poignant story.

Tokyo Godfathers Movie
Directed by Satoshi Kon. The story is about 3 homeless Japanese people who find an abandoned baby, and set out to find the baby's parents. Very touching, a fitting alternative Christmas tale. Realistic representations mixed with plenty of hilarity and introspective philosophy, characteristic of Satoshi Kon's works.

The Last Exile 23 episode Anime
Amazing "postapocolyptic" sky civilization and great production values. A very political tale, with a sister and brother being the central characters. War, sacrifice, and battle tactics are featured, handled well. Very interesting twist at the end. Big emphasis on the family conflicts, for both protagonists and villains.

Now and Then, Here and There 13 episode Anime
NOT for the faint of heart. Starts out seeming cliche in episode 1, but everyone thereafter has some very brutal themes, such as child slavery/warfare, military fanaticism, rape, genocide, and a crazed lunatic who is exalted as ruler due to culture. Takes place in an alternate dimension. Really highlights the sheer resilience, humanity, and willpower of main character.

Eiken 18 volume Manga
For 18+ only. Don't be fooled by this! DO NOT look at the anime, it is terrible! The manga, while downright "abusive" of the female anatomy, has one interesting perk in it's characters. The "Eiken club" is a band of misfits. A poor family's teenagers, an orphan, a teenage genius who lives alone with parents overseas, a blind British/Chinese heir of a corporate empire, a midget who hides in a bear suit, a failure klutz teacher, and a country girl. Seeing how this band of misfits works together to accomplish amazing achievements with the assistance of a pansy, shorty, very average and shy teenager, who ironically is the most normal of the bunch, gives a hidden deeper meaning to this slapstick bonanza. Unfortunately, the author focused a bit too much on "abusive" female anatomizing...

Full Metal Panic! Manga, Anime also available
Short but sweet. Story of international anti-terrorism group, and one of it's members protecting a feisty high school girl who is believed to hold a unique strand of DNA in her body, which a certaIn terrorist group wants to utilize. Some slapstick humor, some mecha, but overall a solid plot. Plenty of espionage and action.

Metropolis Movie
Based off of the famous Osamu Tezuka's works, including Astro Boy, the issues of controlling citizenry through moral manipulation is the main theme. Tons of details. Lots of classic meets modern eye candy. Definitely dramatic, in an almost Hollywood-esque way.

The Law of Ueki Manga and Anime
A very interesting shonen show. Kind of reminiscent of The Hunger Games, in a way. However, this came out in 2002, six years before The Hunger Games was first published! Basically, a worldwide tournament decided upon by God, whoever of 100 teenagers defeats the rest becomes the next "God of the Celestial Realm". Sound strange? Ueki is a VERY strange show. Has lots of familiar shonen elements you've probably seen before; except everyone has very unique abilities! Fun to watch unfold.

Strange Dawn 13 episode Anime
Moreso serious and heavy-hearted than strange. Don't be fooled by the cover characters, and the starting story of two teenage girls warping into an alternate dimension filled with dwarfs. Lots of believable drama, despite the fantasy setting. Seeing the culture of the dwarfs, and the ways the two girls, seen as gods, culminates into a territorial war is surprisingly politically charged. Instilling a sense of overcoming our core survivalist nature as humans seems to be the core theme of this show.

Princess Mononoke Movie
A modern classic by Studio Ghibli. An attractive tale of man vs nature, man vs man, and industry/technology vs nature colliding into an everyone-for-themselves fatal war. Highlights the resilience of matriarchal societies, the frailty of nature, and the personification of industrial greed's ultimate result. Quite violent, with heads severed by arrows and bleeding animals, but not overtly grotesque.

Oh god. OH GOOOOD!! THAT'S what happens in the manga!?!? OH GOD! >_< Oh nonononononono. Gotta mentally block that out now. Thank goodness that never happens in the anime. I'll take the cute innocent anime instead thank you! D: I still need to watch the last two episodes too. I'll do that right now.

Edit: NOOOO! Finished Usagi Drop. I don't want it to end. That was really cute, touching and fun. Rin and Kouki were so adorable and it was heart warming seeing Daikichi growing as a parent. I will avoid the manga like the plague and burn any and all copies I see, but I wish there was more to the anime. It was too short but I enjoyed what was there. Cute and heart warming.