Looking for suggestions please

[Gold_guardian]

Lately I've been having trouble picking out what series I should get next. These days I like to go for cheap boxsets,thinpacks and complete collections when ever possible to both save money and space yet.

I think the problem is that I've gotten alot of the series that I've already been exposed to in some fasion wither from fansubs, tv or conventions and that it's harder for me to basicly buy a series blind.

Keep in mind I only download fansubs for things that aren't comercial available in north america uncut and with good subs so unless the series pops up on tv or I read and like a manga It's hard for me to get a taste for it.

I currently have what I consider to be a medium sized collection as can be seen here
Gold's Collection

Now currently Full Metal Alcimist is on tv but I'm waiting for it to be boxsetted. Full Metal Panic Fumofo isn't on tv but I've seen the first series and am also waiting for it to be boxsetted. I meen why pay around $80 for it when the inevitable thinpack will be half the price or less with shipping. Anything else I want like .hack//roots won't be out in R1 for a while yet if ever.

On the Gundam front I own pretty much all the stuff released in R1 with the exception of Wing and G. Wing I didn't like much on tv and G I'm unsure of becuse it's so different.

Right now I'm thinking of getting the first of two Dragon Drive complete collections from Bandai since I saw the first couple of episodes at a convention a few years ago and thought it was ok.

Other then that I'm not sure what to pick up in the near future. I'm going to be going to anime north soon so I'll be taking into consideration anything that catchs my intrest their in compination with what you guys have to say.

As for my dislikes. I've seen most of Evangelion and found it highly overrated. I also don't like overly gorry shows like Elven laid or Grantz which have too much blood for my tastes.

Any suggestions you guys have would be highly appricated!

[Captain Impulse]

I could give you several reasons why you should buy these series, but you should just trust me instead. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Planetes
Rune Soldier
Patlabor
My-Hime
Scrapped Princess
Full Metal Alchemist
Galaxy Angel
Urusei Yatsura (you seem to be a big Takahashi fan like me. I know this series is intimidating...but just do it! Take the plunge!) [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
Cowboy Bebop
Trigun
Outlaw Star
Master Keaton
Wolf's Rain
Battle Athletes
El-Hazard
Heat Guy J
Orphen
FLCL
Puni Puni Poemy

I just listed series regardless of their packaging status (thinpacks, etc), so you can keep an eye out for them in the future if priced-down collections come around.

All of these are good series and seem to fit in with what I believe to be your tastes, considering the list provided. Hope it helps!

[ape2020]

Hmm, well sticking to mecha I would think about
Dual: Parallel Universe: Been discribed as a Tenchi/Eva hybrid, but I thought the results was very good. Also fits into your romantic comedy I see a lot of in your collection. Has a cheaper boxset.
Dai-Guard: High energy mecha show will a lot of comedy about a corporation that defends the earth with a mech for profit. Has a brick release that you can usaully get cheap.
ZOE TV/OVA: Ova is much more serious then TV but is pretty good. TV is fun fast action with a disfunctal family and pink girly robot. I think you can get it all in a econo box set.
Maze TV/OVA: Fantasy Ecchi Comedy with mechs ala Escaflowne. Girl changes into leech guy after dark and petit princess that love/lust after them both. Uber cheap 26 episodes for under $20.
Silent Mobius: Kind of a Bubblegum Crisis type show with but well done. Both the indivual release are cheap and they have a econo boxset as well.

All have discounted boxsets or have been lowered in price. None of them really seen much expose on TV or the Con scene as far as I know.

Might like to check out Blue Gender & Argentosoma but both are very much a either loved or hate type of shows.

-chimp1010

[Gold_guardian]

Wow I'm going to have to set aside some time tommrow to look up most of the series you guys listed a bit to get an idea about what they are about.

Truth be told I'd like to get Urusei Yatsura but the sheer price point is a bit prohibative. At 50 dvds for just the series with out the movies and Ova's I'm looking at paying about $16 per dvd before shipping at www.dvdpacific.com which is one the cheaper places around.

That's $800 right their plus about another $78 for the ovas and and another $120 for the movies. All before shipping and duty. As much as I love Rumkio Takahashi-san's work $1000 for any one series is a pretty darn big pill to swallow.

I mean yah Ranma 1/2 was pretty expensive back in the day at about $230 per box set after tax but I got almost all of that between mowing the lawn,birtday and christmas something that probally won't work well anytime soon since I've already asked for Wii related stuff (The new nintendo video game system)

[itsuka]

OK, you have a collection with a lot of comedy...

What I'd definitely would add to your list now are series that already out in cheaper versions, which will give you more bang for your buck.

Super GALS - thinpack boxset, not expensive at all. Very humorous show with good character stuf. One of those titles that I missed because I thought I couldn't possibly relate to a show about a bunch of fashion oriented girls - was I wrong...

Rune Soldier - Fun fantasy comedy series. It's a bit episodic, but the characters are great.

GokuSen - This is one of those series that has an extremely cheap set coming up ($12.79 for 13 episodes at DVDpacific for instance), and is a great comedy about a yakuze heiress that decides to become a teacher. For that price, you really can't go wrong.

And just in case you want to branch out a bit to non-comedy quality series, I'll name a few you might want to consider:

RahXephon - You didn't like Evangelion, but if you want to try another show in this genre, you might want to try this one, which I personally consider better than Evangelion. Since you have a lot of Gundam, angsty teenagers on average don't make you flinch, probably [img]/images/graemlins/happy.gif[/img]

Twelve Kingdoms - Epic fantasy series of a very high quality. Premium boxes are out now, and economy will surely follow some day. It's my favourite series of all time.

Last Exile is a great series, and one of the few from Geneon that got a slightly cheaper set.

[Captain Impulse]

[ QUOTE ]
Gold guardian said:
Truth be told I'd like to get Urusei Yatsura but the sheer price point is a bit prohibative. At 50 dvds for just the series with out the movies and Ova's I'm looking at paying about $16 per dvd before shipping at www.dvdpacific.com which is one the cheaper places around.

That's $800 right their plus about another $78 for the ovas and and another $120 for the movies. All before shipping and duty. As much as I love Rumkio Takahashi-san's work $1000 for any one series is a pretty darn big pill to swallow.


[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, it's a bit intimidating I know. I throw around a bit more money than the average anime collector does I think, so I made quick work of the entire series (I think I got it all in a month). Here's a suggestion for you, that'll make it easier on you to collect and give you the feeling that you're actually accomplishing something.

Start with buying either all the movies (6 discs) or all the OAVs (6 discs). Then, the next time you're up for it, do whichever you didn't do before hand.

Once you've got those out of the way (you'll actually feel like you accomplished something), start by buying the series in 5 disc blocks, as if you were collecting the now out-of-print boxes. Eventually before you know it, you'll have it all.

Or, if you're really lucky, watch for the boxed sets on Ebay. Sometimes (rarely) you can get lucky and get them for cheap like me. Othertimes, it's like a feeding frenzy for them, and you'd be better off buying the singles. The boxes are kinda flimsy anyway.

...and I will second every other series that has been mentioned so far by someone else, as they are all great shows as well.

[jecca-neko]

[ QUOTE ]
Itsuka said:
Super GALS - thinpack boxset, not expensive at all. Very humorous show with good character stuf. One of those titles that I missed because I thought I couldn't possibly relate to a show about a bunch of fashion oriented girls - was I wrong...


[/ QUOTE ]

I second this suggestion. I noticed you have several ADV thinpack sets but you don't have this. Definitely recommended. Also buy to help support it so maybe season 2 will get licensed.

[Gold_guardian]

While considering that Urusei Yatsura would basiclly eat up my entire monthly anime budget for almost a year I may want to wait until I have more money or something so that I get a bit more verity in.

Right now I'm aiming mostly at the cheaper boxs that will probally cost around $30 to $35 canadian after shipping. Which meens that stuff like Rahxephon at $60 and Dual at $70+ will have to wait (That much for 14 episodes what the fudge?)

While Captain Impluse listed alot of intresting series most of them are either a) still singles and thus too expensive or the complete collection is still too high priced at this time with no economy version around like with Heat guy J.

My main idea is to sweep up the cheap stuff that I'm intrested in first then start working on the bigger slightly more expensive stuff

I've set my budget to around $150 canadian a month.
This is a preliminary Idea of what I'd like to get so far

May
Crest of the stars
Dragon drive 1(of 2)
Dia-guard
Rune Soldier
Gundam Seed Destiny 2(of 12)

June
Galaxy Angel
Galaxy Angel A
Maze
Banner of the stars 1
Banner of the stars 2


July
Dragon drive 2(of 2)
Gokusen
Giant Robo
Gundam Seed Destiny 3(of 12)
Maison Ikkaku Box 8

Aug
Galaxy Angel Z
Rahxephon

Now Gundam Seed destiny is one of the few exceptions I'm willing to make at the monent towards not buying singles. Mostly becuse I want to get the fansubs I've been saving off my computer and becuse It'll take way too long for a good priced box or two to come out. Hell the orginal Seed still hasn't seen a good priced box or two yet.

Now this list is by no means final since I have yet to decide or spend a coin so please keep your suggestions coming since I'm finding them extremely helpful especially for my long term planning.

[cjed]

I second the recommendation for Dual!, I enjoyed it very much. Also currently available in low cost collections from TRSI are Hand Maid May, Gokusen and Sabre Marionette J collection.

[Chloe]

I absolutely think you need to stick with Crest/Banner. Great show, reasonable prices, and the sets are OOP though still available...for now. I think they are OOP now, I may be wrong on that point, but still, go for that show!

Going to second some of the ones Captain Impulse mentioned:

Patlabor- Very good cop/mecha/comedy show. Cheap sets, and not too many of them either. If you do bite on this be sure you are getting the cheaper price; CPM repriced this along with other shows in it's catalogue recently, or is in the process of doing so.

Rune Soldier - In your price range, and I see you are a big fan of Slayers! This is a bit different, but the same genre.

Cowboy Bebop - Highly episodic, but great sci-fi and not a lot out there to compare it too. You really need to see this one at some point if you want a well-rounded collection.

Outlaw Star - OK, you can make some comparisons to Bebop with this show, but it is definitely some good sci-fi. With a Cat-girl! [img]/images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif[/img]

Master Keaton - Really good detective/action/slice of life. Tons of variety, and an interesting adult cast, almost no angsty teens to be found! Robert's Anime Corner store had this insanely cheap in it's bargain bins last time I checked. Well, like $7.50 per disc.

Battle Athletes - Older, but you don't seem to be leery of older animation. A really good story. Both the OVA & the TV version are viable. Not connected in any way though.

Edit: Some more recs of my own, not going to go into the whys as I don't want this to be too big a post:

Gunslinger Girl
Noir
Kino's Journey
Lost Universe - A bit like Slayers! in space...

A question: You are not interested in movies or OVAs much?