Shows that bring back memories?

[Fenris21]

What shows would you consider as being nostalgia for you? You may have probably moved on after the "early days" of anime-watching, but are there any anime series that you watch just to bring back old memories?

Gundam Wing and Dragon Ball Z are two shows that I remember quite fondly, having started watching anime through Toonami. At the time I never bought an anime DVD or even heard of there being an option to watch a show in Japanese, but it was fun to catch an episode on one day and then discuss them with my middle school friends in the next (all the cool kids back then watched Gundam Wing, lol).

I do miss the simple days where I didn't have too much anime at my disposal, nor have the luxury of buying anime. Having to watch whatever anime airs on television was enough to satisfy me, and those two shows sort of remind me of that.

[something]

I sort of jettisoned a lot of my nostalgia a year or two ago when I totally revamped my top 10 favorites and knocked out almost everything that had been on there for awhile in favor of better shows that had aired since, so I actually don't have much.

And a lot of the early shows I saw and loved were, while amazing at the time, subsequently blown away as I've started getting exponentially more anime under my belt and experienced a much wider range of stories. Things like Outlaw Star and Tenchi and Gundam Wing and Cowboy Bebop are hardly bad, but they haven't held up to the higher standards set since either.

And there are some slightly older shows I've only seen the past couple years, so I can't really feel nostalgic for them per se (like Slayers or CCS).

There's still a class of shows that I look really favorably on, though, even if they're no longer in my top 10. Some of the prime examples are Serial Experiments: lain, Escaflowne, and Nadesico being quite high up there. Evangelion as well, which had waned a lot before I got excited about it again thanks to the new movies.

Though I'll say I have zero nostalgia for "the old way": cut TV dubs, expensive three episode single DVDs (I managed to almost completely miss the VHS era, thank god), everyone's top 10 lists containing the same 15-20 early Toonami era hit shows in America (Bebop, Trigun, Berserk, Escaflowne, Evangelion... all good shows, mind you) etc. Now that I've seen hundreds of shows rather than tens I have a much deeper appreciation, I feel, for what I watch. So nostalgia doesn't tend to get much traction with me on the "experience of fandom" side either.

[Fencedude]

Thinking about this a bit, I don't really have all that much nostalgia.

I have a bit for Evangelion, my first "real" anime, and a few other things I saw early on (such as Lodoss and Lain), but...anime just keeps getting better. There is always something new, each season brings at least one show that does something different, something better, than any show I've seen before.

Nostalgia is nice, but whats even better is discovering something even more amazing than what you knew before.

[Betenoire]

Most of the shows that give me that feeling are ones that were adapted years back and on TV like Gatchaman and Mysterious Cities of Gold and the various VHS super robot shows I vaguely remember watching on VHS growing up. Though between my childhood and my getting back into anime there is a significant gap of space. I guess I do have a certain fondness for some of the early shows I saw on DVD but the memories are more tied to where and with who I watched or purchased the show (say with a certain friend or the con I bought it at) than necessarily the show itself. I've done a fairly good job of adjusting my tastes and impressions retroactively in that regard.

If I miss a period it is the early/maturing days of the anime boom where it seemed almost anything could be licensed, the mediums potential seemed enormous and there were almost too many choices. Then there were also the LE/boxes and the like that tried to compete for my attention along with so many other extras thrown in to try to make the decision harder and various other tie in merch that the companies attempted to bring out (Toys, CDs T-Shirts and the like).

[Serial Experiments Nobue]

The shows that were my stepping stones to becoming an anime fan are the ones that hold the most nostalgia for me: Sailor Moon, Gundam Wing, and Tenchi Muyo.

It's been years since I last watched any of those shows, but whenever any of them make it around for a rewatch in my viewing rotation, I know it'll be a throwback that I'll look forward to experiencing again.

As much as I still enjoy the shows that I cut my anime teeth on (the three that I mentioned, along with others), I also enjoy discovering new shows and branching out into types of shows that I never could have envisioned nearly a decade ago when I was just getting my feet wet.

[Suwako Moriya]

My nostalgia level is high enough that I have older series that I'm still fond of and low enough that I am not a prisoner of the past. I guess that's the best way to put it. I should note the following however.

In the case of some older shows the fondness is based on vague memories. I can't be sure if I'd still end up enjoying the said series if I were to try them today.

Sometimes a re-watch confirms that a show is still enjoyable enough for me to remain a fan of it.

Other times a re-watch makes me realize that I no longer care that much for the show in question.

Also, older is a vague term for me. Both stuff from 2006 and stuff from 2001 can be considered older.

[EmperorBrandon]

The first shows that seriously got me into anime were Sailor Moon and Tenchi Muyo. I started collecting various DVD's (starting with things that weren't on Toonami like movies and such, and gradually building collection of the series since I wanted to own them unedited too) and was really into them for a while.

I started on Sailor Moon on S, surprisingly (I knew some of the background to the series thanks to a friend who was a fan of it and also the fan-translated version of the SNES RPG), so I tend to feel more nostalgic about it than with the earlier series. I really just am not into Sailor Moon much anymore, though. Having gotten into several different magical girl series that I like more since then, it just doesn't hold up as well on rewatch. I used to be fine with the dub, but I can't really stand it (except for a few performances) much now, having heard better there too. Not to say I don't still enjoy it to some extent, but isn't really a favorite anymore.

Tenchi Muyo is something I still watch and enjoy at times, as I still like all of the characters. I'm kind of let down in a few ways with the newer series in the mid 2000's - not bad, but they didn't really turn out good enough either. In some ways, I've watched through most of the Tenchi stuff (even Magical Project S, my absolute favorite piece) so much that it feels old watching most of it even though unlike Sailor Moon, it holds up well. Same thing goes with Magic User's Club, which was one of my first series I got into without seeing on television beforehand. I'm still crazy over it and continue to have fond memories of these shows, but I tend to focus on rewatching shows I haven't worn out as much.

Cardcaptor Sakura is another thing I got into early on and I really haven't worn it out as much, simply because it is so long and holds itself up well over its length. I come back to it ever so often and don't really tire of it. I always have a lot of good memories about the series too.

Before Sailor Moon and Tenchi, I think I barely saw much anime, though I've always liked watching animation (saw lots of cartoons in my childhood and my parents collected many of the Disney animated features for us). I was really into all things Pokemon around when that was out, including watching the anime. I stopped watching it after the Indigo League, but the early episodes still bring back memories. I collected Viz's first DVD collection not too long ago and I actually did rather enjoy watching it in (have nostalgia for the show and the dub, and still like them). Haven't gotten around to getting more, but I do want to. It's a shame I have to buy them from Viz, though, one of my least liked anime companies. :P

[Mitsuki]

Definitely Sailor Moon. I watched it as a kid and then totally forgot about it until the first part of the first season briefly aired in 2002. I realized then that I'd forgotten how good it was and then I got into anime "for real" and never looked back. So some of those first shows (Evangelion, Fruits Basket, Real Bout High School) have strong nostalgia value for me. (Yes, I like RBHS and it's because it was the first anime I ever completed in singles.)

I really miss those days of being so excited to see a huge anime (and manga!) selection in Suncoast. I can remember before I discovered online shopping, going in there at the beginning of the month and preordering new releases from the list the clerk had. And of course, those were the days when everybody was licensing everything so I obviously miss that.

One of the strongest memories I have of a license announcement was FUNi getting Kiddy Grade because it was the first show whose Japanese release I followed and then it got licensed. Those damn cards were the first pack-in item I got really excited about!

[pathos]

I got into anime while working at my last job. I worked 12 hour shifts at the time, from 6pm till 6am. On the days I didn't work, I wouldn't switch my schedule around, so at 2am Tuesday morning, I'd be awake and looking for something to do.

After I exhausted all the american vhs tapes at video express that looked even halfway interesting, I found the anime aisle. Probably the very first video I rented was Project Ako. After that, I rented alot of tapes I loved - Plastic Little, Dagger of Kamui, Devil Hunter Yohko, Dominion - Tank Police, Vampire Hunter D, to name a few. Found several I couldn't stand too, although I have trouble remembering the names of those. Neo Tokyo, perhaps?

After switching jobs, I stopped renting them, and then got back into the hobby 4 or 5 years ago, now buying dvd's to own. I have gone back and picked up some of the stuff I rented way back when, like Project Ako. I still enjoy those shows, but it IS probably nostalgia more than anything. I really enjoy shows from the last 9 or 10 years (with some expections, Tenchi for example) more than the old stuff.

[mashimaro]

I too cut my teeth on Toonami, and so Sailor Moon and Tenchi Muyo! definitely fit the bill.

When the DVD revolution came around, the first show that I thought enough of to collect on disc in its entirety was Battle Athletes Victory. In retrospect, it's a little cheesy and corny sometimes, but I will make a point to go back and watch parts of it from time to time. So, cheesy or not, I still rank it as one of my all time favorites.

For pure sentimentality though, my sentimental favorite has to be Card Captor Sakura. I was in grad school at the time, and every eight weeks or so when the newest volume of the DVD would arrive in the mailbox, it gave me an excuse to slow down for an hour and a half or so and enjoy some warm, feel-good anime.

[Keith Palmer]

Every so often I do try and rewatch a show I've already seen... well, I do have to admit that Macross brings back memories of how I managed to stay obsessed with Robotech's story for a decade (despite not having even seen all of the show when it was actually on the air) until I got to university and joined the anime club there. Macross Plus would certainly bring back memories of the club, as that was the title that attracted me to my first showings there, but Escaflowne would also remind me of my later years there; in fact, most of the shows in my collection I first saw there would have some effect on me. So far as "post-university" memories go, having found Haibane Renmei through unusual means (spotting all the DVDs discounted at my local Wal-Mart) would probably make it a nostalgic experience too.

[Glamrgrl104]

I wouldn't have really gotten into anime if it wasn't for my old friend Wendy she moved away unfortunately. Anyways she introduced me to FMA and I rented that and loved it, later on I bought it. After that I experimented with new titles, and that's what really got me interested into anime.

Azumanga Daioh- It reminds me of my middle school/high school days. I use anime to de-stress from the day whether it be work or school.
Although some of the time I don't get to watch it, I just like relaxing with an anime or manga.

Speaking of which I have to go to work now and I have homework *sigh*

[EmperorBrandon]

For pure sentimentality though, my sentimental favorite has to be Card Captor Sakura. I was in grad school at the time, and every eight weeks or so when the newest volume of the DVD would arrive in the mailbox, it gave me an excuse to slow down for an hour and a half or so and enjoy some warm, feel-good anime.

Think it was mostly late high school and early college for me. I always looked forward to the new volume coming in. Other than earlier on in the series (when I fell behind once), I kept up with them and watched them as they came in. I think one of my fondest memories of the whole thing was when the second movie was announced by Geneon, along with an accurate dub from Bang Zoom. That was one of my early "most wanted licenses" (heard good things about, so I was REALLY hoping it would come), and finding out about that announcement was one of the happiest anime news occasions for me ever. Vol. 18 and Movie 2 coming close together was such an awesome moment. I think I felt kind of sad that it was all over, though it retrospect, it's nice that I continued to enjoy watching the series over the years (like with our big CCS discussion thread at one point).

[Fenris21]

Nostalgia is nice, but whats even better is discovering something even more amazing than what you knew before.

As much as I still enjoy the shows that I cut my anime teeth on (the three that I mentioned, along with others), I also enjoy discovering new shows and branching out into types of shows that I never could have envisioned nearly a decade ago when I was just getting my feet wet.

Yeah, it's nice to also look back and see how you've changed as a fan since then. When I first watched anime on Toonami, I never imagined that I'd get the opportunity see some really innovative anime later on, nor would I thought to have developed an appreciation of anime in general. Compared to the shows I watch now, the older shows that I once obsessed over are definitely much more inferior when it comes to the quality of the animation and storytelling.

But for some reason, they still don't have the same sentimentality as the older shows. I suppose with all things nostalgic, it's simply a matter of also appreciating the other things that have happened during the same time. After all, nothing beats the feeling you once got of setting aside your junior high assignments just to catch a rerun on Toonami. :)

[Serial Experiments Nobue]

I suppose with all things nostalgic, it's simply a matter of also appreciating the other things that have happened during the same time.

Exactly. I have a feeling that whenever I do get around to watching, say, Gundam Wing again, the part of my memory that is devoted to the year 2000 will come bubbling to the surface again. Not only will I remember watching the series for the first time, but I'll also remember all of the other things that I was up to at that time.

(great avatar, btw. :cool: )

[Fenris21]

I suppose with all things nostalgic, it's simply a matter of also appreciating the other things that have happened during the same time.

Exactly. I have a feeling that whenever I do get around to watching, say, Gundam Wing again, the part of my memory that is devoted to the year 2000 will come bubbling to the surface again. Not only will I remember watching the series for the first time, but I'll also remember all of the other things that I was up to at that time.
Yep. It's kind of like looking at old photos and suddenly remembering other random and unrelated events. Weird how memory does that through any kind of association, whether it'd be from photos or watching an episode of an old series.

I'm guessing that's part of the reason why some of us like to revisit old anime shows from time to time.

(great avatar, btw. :cool: )
Haha, thanks. Richard Bucket's the man. :)

[Mazinkaizer]

I enjoy watching both new & older shows because regardless of their age (new or old) a good show is a good show for me.

Yet i have to admit that i have a soft spot for older shows, actually most of my favorite shows in the last decade are either reincarnation of older ones (ex: Shin Mazinger), alternative retelling (ex: Angel Heart), or adaptions of mangas from the 70s or 80s (ex: Hajime No Ippo) or even before (like Black Jack).

[Garasharp K7]

I've found the more shows I've watched over the years, my tastes have certainly broadened but I still love a lot of the older shows. Most of my favourites are titles from 10, 20 or even 30 years ago, but there's a fair few recent series I like too. It's not just a case of nostalgia for me either - Astro Boy and Gigantor are well before my time, but I liked those, and there are plenty of series from the '70s, 80s and '90s I've only seen in recent years, like Casshern, Daimos, Votoms, Patlabor, GunBuster, GaoGaiGar and Nadesico, among others - those are some of my favourite shows now.

Battle of the Planets and Robotech bring back a lot of memories, (I've come to enjoy 'em more since watching their original versions too) and while I saw very little of Mazinger Z growing up, it's become one of those shows that often reminds me why I'm a fan of the medium. I've a few fond memories of watching Ulysses 31 and Harlock as well. Those shows still hold up very well in recent viewings, though the only one that didn't stand the test of time was Voltron. Loved it back in the day, but it's hard to watch now.

If there's anything I miss from back in the day, it's the style of older series, particularly from the '80s and '90s - Ichiro Mizuki and Mitsuko Horie songs, synth music, cel-painted animation, Kenichi Sonoda, Haruhiko Mikimoto and Keiji Goto's earlier character designs, the monster of the week format, that sort of thing. Sure, there's some amazing stuff out there nowadays, but I still miss the style and conventions of older shows.

[vanfanel]

Robotech/Macross and Star Blazers always take me back to elementary/Jr. high. Of Macross, I'm still not tired of it, and despite having seen all the sequels...I quietly refuse to acknowledge any of them.

I've also got some nice memories of certain theatrical and con showings. Seeing Kiki's Delivery Service for the first time on the big screen with some friends, me and my best friend watching Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust at an art theater on Halloween. Laughing hysterically at con showings of Kodocha. A City Hunter movie I've never seen since, but will always associate with a certain con and the friends who were with me that day. Anime has been a nice friendship-catalyst for me. Not a foundation for any friendships, but a nice catalyst.

Interesting thing, though: nowadays, watching a 70's or 80's anime that I've never even seen before can make me feel nostalgic too.

[Mazinkaizer]

If there's anything I miss from back in the day, it's the style of older series, particularly from the '80s and '90s - Ichiro Mizuki and Mitsuko Horie songs, synth music, cel-painted animation, Kenichi Sonoda, Haruhiko Mikimoto and Keiji Goto's earlier character designs, the monster of the week format, that sort of thing. Sure, there's some amazing stuff out there nowadays, but I still miss the style and conventions of older shows.

And don't forget Isao Sasaki's songs as well ;)

That's why i still enjoy watching older shows ! If you add to that most of my favorite seiyuu roles/shows that made them famous are from this era (70s-early90).

[njchobitsfan]

Although I grew up watching Speed Racer and Gigantor, it was Laputa that kickstarted my love of the genre. In the mid-80's I was heavy into comics. When Viz then Dark Horse started putting out manga in comics-form I was hooked. I bought everything that came out, (Area 88, Crying Freeman, Outlanders, etc.). I was so into it, I wanted to go to Japan just to check out the country and the culture. I started to take Japanese lessons at night. After the courses were thru, I took private lessons at her home with a few other students. One night she handed me a videotape and told me it was a very popular movie that just played in Japan and she wanted me to watch it unsub-titled. It was Laputa. I was enthralled! I wish I can say this started my watching of all things anime back then, but dating got in the way followed by marriage/children. Fast-forward to now and it's a whole new ballgame. But anytime I watch Laputa alone or with my daughter, I remember those days in the 80's and a warmth flows over me :beatingheart: