I need an anime that's a replacement for crack

[DJChacranajxy]

So I'm watching Fist of the North Star, and I'm like "holy shit, this is addictive." The show's simple, but really entertaining and keeps you constantly in need of your next fix. I want another show like that. I've seen a lot of the newer stuff that'd fit the bill like Fighting Spirit/Bleach/Naruto, etc... but I'm wondering if there's something a little more obscure or perhaps older that's equally as addictive. I'd prefer a longer series. Any suggestions?

[Mank]

Not exactly obscure, and this certainly won't be true for everyone, but I found Ranma ridiculously addictive even when the episodes were of... questionable quality.

[Njr Scrawl]

Newer. Black Lagoon. Plenty of gratuitous violence, but no fisting.
The Dragon Ball shows I guess. Older & characters bashing each other.
Crying Freeman is a short show but has choreographed killing.
Apart from those, Baki the Grappler is rough.

[Fawul]

Saint Seiya, though not all of it is localized.

[Glamrgrl104]

Yu yu hakusho I saw the entire series in like 4 days or something XD

Gintama- Hilarious and sort of a spoof of bleach and other animes. Gin likes reading Shonen Jump LOL

Tenjho Tenge- Haven't watched this one yet, but it is a fighting anime of sorts.

[russ869]

Hunter x Hunter is super addictive for me. Even my family got addicted to it. Every episode gets smarter and more epic than the last.

Definitely check it out.

[One Vorlon]

Hmm. . . . have you tried Street Fighter II V yet? Based* on the Street Fighter line of video games, it follows Ken and Ryu (ca. early to mid-twenties) "road tripping" around the world in search of new challenges (i.e. strong opponents to fight). For a video game adaptation, its surprisingly good - the plot line isn't terribly original, but its still very fun in a MacGyver/A-Team way, and it avoids the cliche of just being a "monster of the week" series.

Oh, and the 15-year-old Chun-Li is just darling, regardless of whether she's working as a tour guide or beating the tar out of people.



*its been a while since I played the games, but I believe it uses the cast of Super Street Fighter II - with Cammy, Fei-Long, etc.

[Bilis]

It seems you're into the "shonen" variety of shows. Simple, but highly addictive shows with ongoing plots (my kind of shows)...

I'd definitely recommend:

Saint Seiya (the first 60 or so episodes are the only ones available in R1, so it's incomplete, but it's older with lots of action and "manly" vibes.)

Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z (the two series follow right into each other, and from my personal experience, it's one of the longer and most addictive anime titles out there, but it's actually a finished series and is relatively easy to find and pick up.)

One Piece (similar to DB/DBZ, but way better storyline and quite a bit longer, but the cartoony aesthetics may turn off some people. I personally love it.The first 200 or so episodes are out on DVD, and many of the current episodes are available streaming online.)

I also liked Street Fighter II V, once you got past the mediocre early episodes. It's only 27 episodes though.

[Faris Kalin]

How about City Hunter? It has several movies/OAVs and over 200 episodes. It's about a cool yet lecherous private eye. He's kind of like Kenshiro in that he's one of those characters that always seems to be doing something that makes you say, "yeah, that's awesome!". It's got some funny comedy moments in it too. These tend to deal with the lecherous side of his personality.

I'd definitely recommend it. ADV released all of it (except for 1 movie) several years ago on dvd. I'm sure that you can still find it used, though.

[JacksonHoltorp]

- Golgo 13 (somewhat short)

- Claymore (short)

- Dragon Ball (lengthy)

- Dragon Ball Z Kai (ongoing, somewhat lengthy)

- Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple (somewhat short)

- Case Closed (ongoing, LONG)

- Yu Yu Hakusho (lengthy)

- One Piece (ongoing, LONG)

- Death Note (short)

- Basilisk (short)

- Slayers (short but multiple seasons/series)

- Highschool of the Dead (short)

[russ869]

How about City Hunter?
Definitely recommend City Hunter! I need to watch a lot more of it...

[One Vorlon]

Yu yu hakusho I saw the entire series in like 4 days or something XDYu Yu Hakusho is a good show. I'm not sure I could watch the whole thing in four days (its four season long, after all), but definitely worth seeing - and paced better than the Dragonball franchise.

Tenjho Tenge- Haven't watched this one yet, but it is a fighting anime of sorts.I have Tenjho Tenge, and its a good series. However, its a show where different time lines tie together to explore the nature of free will vs. destiny, and the last storyline (the Imperial Tournament Arc) hasn't been animated yet. So - while it does have an ending - its kind of open ended, and doesn't answer the big questions.

Beyond that, Tenjho Tenge is kind of a low-fantasy, R-rated version of Naruto. It features events at a high school (with all of the rampant hormones/nudity/sex that implies) for elite martial artists, where the usual school elements (such as dating and homework) mix with the arts of war. Some of the characters might have one (maybe two) supernatural tricks, but most fights are resolved with standard martial arts techniques, and those who do have special attacks often have to cope with some sort of serious flaw/side effect of those same powers.

[monkeebiz]

-

- Case Closed (ongoing, LONG)

-

Ditto for Case Closed (Detective Conan).

[General Hentai]

Yu yu hakusho I saw the entire series in like 4 days or something XDYu Yu Hakusho is a good show. I'm not sure I could watch the whole thing in four days (its four season long, after all), but definitely worth seeing - and paced better than the Dragonball franchise.

Tenjho Tenge- Haven't watched this one yet, but it is a fighting anime of sorts.I have Tenjho Tenge, and its a good series. However, its a show where different time lines tie together to explore the nature of free will vs. destiny, and the last storyline (the Imperial Tournament Arc) hasn't been animated yet. So - while it does have an ending - its kind of open ended, and doesn't answer the big questions.

Beyond that, Tenjho Tenge is kind of a low-fantasy, R-rated version of Naruto. It features events at a high school (with all of the rampant hormones/nudity/sex that implies) for elite martial artists, where the usual school elements (such as dating and homework) mix with the arts of war. Some of the characters might have one (maybe two) supernatural tricks, but most fights are resolved with standard martial arts techniques, and those who do have special attacks often have to cope with some sort of serious flaw/side effect of those same powers.

Tenjho Tenge - manga = R-rated, anime = PG13-rated

[BigPants]

Hunter x Hunter is super addictive for me. Even my family got addicted to it. Every episode gets smarter and more epic than the last.

Definitely check it out.

1000 times this for me; especially if you're a shounen fan.

[Njr Scrawl]

How about City Hunter?
Definitely recommend City Hunter! I need to watch a lot more of it...

A shame Angel Heart has never been released. Its better.

[Jimmie M]

How about City Hunter?
Definitely recommend City Hunter! I need to watch a lot more of it...

A shame Angel Heart has never been released. Its better.

Is it really? I'll definitely check it once I finish all of City Hunter (I'm watching City Hunter '91 now with the movies & OVAs to follow).

[Faris Kalin]

A shame Angel Heart has never been released. Its better.

Yeah, it seems like everyone says that. I've yet to actually see it, though. Unfortunately, its likelihood of being picked up for a US release is close to nil.

[ComSR]

A shame Angel Heart has never been released. Its better.

Yeah, it seems like everyone says that. I've yet to actually see it, though. Unfortunately, its likelihood of being picked up for a US release is close to nil.
I'd recommend Cat's Eye as well. It did see a release (http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/-xXZtBFYrhgU1QYVSV/browse/item/75981/4/0/0) in the US, but it's long gone. Outside Japan, most likely only Italy has the the series readily available (http://www.amazon.it/dp/B0041KYM2M). Of course, these come with their own issues, if you don't know any Italian or Japanese that is.

[Renzo]

Another vote for Hunter X Hunter. That show IS crack. Unfortunately, you have to support Viz to buy it.

[Njr Scrawl]

A shame Angel Heart has never been released. Its better.

Yeah, it seems like everyone says that. I've yet to actually see it, though. Unfortunately, its likelihood of being picked up for a US release is close to nil.
I'd recommend Cat's Eye as well. It did see a release (http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/-xXZtBFYrhgU1QYVSV/browse/item/75981/4/0/0) in the US, but it's long gone. Outside Japan, most likely only Italy has the the series readily available (http://www.amazon.it/dp/B0041KYM2M). Of course, these come with their own issues, if you don't know any Italian or Japanese that is.

Only the first season of Cat's Eye sadly.

[russ869]

Another vote for Hunter X Hunter. That show IS crack. Unfortunately, you have to support Viz to buy it.
Not an issue. The real unfortunate problem is that there's more of it not release in America yet. (That's not good for crack withdrawals!) Plus the excellent second opening animation is missing... boo!

Still a must watch though!

[Njr Scrawl]

Both Bubblegum Crisis OVAs & Tokyo 2040 are full of action.

The classic BGC has better character designs, & more shocks, but
2040 (although a slow start) heats up when the Galatea story starts.

Masamune Shirow; GiTS SAC (perhaps more LSD than crack) & Appleseed + Ex Machina movies are cyberpunk masterpieces.

For sword slinging, there's Beserk...

[Sephrim1]

I think you should definitely watch Naruto, Bleach, ONe Piece. You should also check out FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Yu Yu Hakusho, Vampire Knight, and Inuyasha. These are just a few great ones that I watch and I think they will definitely get you hooked like crack. I can't wait until they start streaming on Netflix.com and sephrimmedia.com

[Innocent Bystander]

Outside Japan, most likely only Italy has the the series readily available (http://www.amazon.it/dp/B0041KYM2M). Of course, these come with their own issues, if you don't know any Italian or Japanese that is.

Only the first season of Cat's Eye sadly.

Both seasons came (http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B000FS9JYA/) out (http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B000FS9JYK/) in France some time ago.