I posted this reply in that other thread, but it seems approiate to post here too
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mmm . . . hard to say. My standsouts though:
Sci-Fi
Two series here stand out above every single other in my opinion. Those are:
Series Expirements Lain
(I probably don't need to comment about this)
The Infinite Ryvius (
amv link - Dark Side of the Moon)
This series is incredible, but need some intro. First of all - a lot of people don't get far enough to see it shine. There are about *20* very important characters, and the first 3 episodes are basically introducing all of them, which means they crawl. After that though it picks up speed really fast, and doesn't stop. Also, there comes a point where you really wonder if they can pull off any sort of ending, but they exceed all expectations.
Romance/Comedy
Fruits Baskets I think 99% of romantic comedies in anime are overrated crap, or so full of fanservice its stupid. This is a huge exception. The episodes vary from ridicluous comedy to serious drama, but it does it all very well. The premise is so ridicluous I won't even put it here because it will turn you away -- but somehow they make it believable since the characters are done so well. Also, one note, you really want the fansubs of these (done by furuba) or read the linear notes carefully. Some of these episodes are incredibly confusing without some background on the Zodiac calender. One quick example - one character's alter ego makes zero sense unless you know that in Japanse folklore horsefish are considered baby dragons. The fansubbers have a note on this, but if you (ahem) just watch the DVD's without reading the linear notes it will just fly right past you.
Love Hina (
amv link -- Tarzan and Jane)
I really hesistate to put this here. This falls more under ecchi comedy then romantic comedy, but it makes the list for three very important reasons. First, the fact that none of the characters take it seriously at all somehow makes it seem more real . . . you'd have to watch it to see what I'm getting at. Secondly it is excuted masterfully. Third, the characters actuially change and grow throughout the series. Urishima and Naru are very different people at the beginning and the end of the series.
Action
Berserk
Epic storyline, great battles, deep characters, probing themes. No other action series comes close. Too bad they never finished it. The 25th episode even has a next episode preview -- but there is no episode 26.
Noir
I have very mixed fealings about this anime. If it was 13 episodes it would be right up there with Berserk, but at 26 there is just so much filler. You could go from the first episode, to the episode about the stray cat, to the three episodes surrounding Chloe (This takes 14 episodes) and miss almost nothing. Besides that though, I just wanted to put it on the list because the first episode is, in my opinion, the best opening episodes of any Anime. Get it, and see if you want more
Drama
Shingetsutan Tsukihime (only avaliable on fansub as of right now)
This also needs a little bit of background. Tsuki-hime is based around an entire series of doujinshi (of the non hentai type) done by one of the best circles in Japan. The story in the anime is just a small slice of it, involving a boy who can see . . . well . . . its complicated, and hard to communiate without massive spoilers. Just watch it.
Comedy
FLCL
An absolutly insane comedy by GAINAX. Another series that is hard to talk about without giving away spoilers, just watch it. One important note -- this series also has the absolute worst dub I've ever seen. You really want to watch this in the original japanese.
Azumanga Daioh
You will absolute love or complely despise this series. I don't know anyone who has an opinion in between. It basically follows 12 schoolgirls through their highschool lives. Yes, I know this is the premise of a lot of anime, but Azumanga is very special. It was masterfully put together, and has a tendancy to point out the comedy in mudane things. Highly recomended.
Mecca
RahXephon (
amv link - Euphoria)
First a note. I hate meccha. That's why I decided to point this series out. The best description of it I have heard is "Evangelion done right." In fact, the first time I saw it I stopped watching after the first episode, because the first episode of RahX and Eva are almost completly identicle. Things start to get much more interesting though, and I won't spoil it. This also definatly falls under the brainf*ck category, very minute details that come up earlier become very important later, blink and you miss them.
The Most Underrated of the Last 3 Years
Haibane Renmei I won't spoil it, just watch it.
here is a link to the first episode One note though, the first 4 epidsodes or so are in the same vein, but then the story start to get much darker. It also has an incredible ending. The character design and much of the story was done by ABe, most famous for S.E. Lain and Niea_7.
Also, since I had the space, here are three more AMV's I like for the heck of it:
Battle Athletes - Believe
.hack//SIGN - Kunstliche Welten
AMG - Shining
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