The Cream of Each Studio's Crop

[Otakufan]

Originally Posted by dragoon

Yeah Noir and Madlax are great suggestions, seconded.

I'd have said Angelic Layer and the supremely excellent Princess Nine as well, but based on what he mentioned above, I'm not sure he'd enjoy these. That's why I offered Gantz up. But if all else fails, get all? :D

Yes, you're probably right. The same would be true for my Twelve Kingdoms suggestion, probably not enough action for a dragonball Z fan. Threw them in mainly because he wanted the best from each studio and they're definitely among the best.

I'd have suggested "Gilgamesh" as well strictly for the atmosphere and unique look, but again, probably not enough action? But maybe "Godannar?" Heckuva lot of humour and giant robot fighting in that one!

J. A.

[Tenkyoken]

Just a quick interjection here: I am not an action only fan. I love character development. I love slow-paced series a la Mushi-shi. It just so happens that many of the anime I own are the ones I watched many years ago on CN, so they were a tried and true buy for me. Also, not a DBZ fan, as much as a nostalgic man for an old favorite. After I watched it again on the orange bricks, I realized I didn't like it as much as I used to. I still haven't watched Season 9.

So please do not restrict yourself to titles with action, just fire away with what you feel is the best.

[Otakufan]

Originally Posted by Tenkyoken

Just a quick interjection here: I am not an action only fan. I love character development. I love slow-paced series a la Mushi-shi. It just so happens that many of the anime I own are the ones I watched many years ago on CN, so they were a tried and true buy for me. Also, not a DBZ fan, as much as a nostalgic man for an old favorite. After I watched it again on the orange bricks, I realized I didn't like it as much as I used to. I still haven't watched Season 9.

So please do not restrict yourself to titles with action, just fire away with what you feel is the best.

Oops......., forgot that you had listed Mushi-shi. Saw all your DBZ listings and well.........

Then I'll add:

ADV:
Gilgamesh One of the most visually unique & atmospheric series that I've ever seen. The first couple of episodes would be perfect for a Halloween night party.

Godannar A perfect parody on giant robot series like Eva and FMP. Imagine if Shinji were married to Misato! Does get serious at times as well.

Princess Tutu Magical girl meets ballet. No really. Absolutely unique with a dead serious underlying plot. Every episode is rife with references to western classical music.

Kaleido Star No aliens, harem, etc. Just a girl trying to be the best performer she can be. Think 26 episode animated Cirque du Soleil.

Gasaraki I know this gets a bad drubbing from some, but the first half is well worth acquiring, think of it as another FMP. The first couple of volumes are really good and the weapons are real. i.e. - An Abrams is really an Abrams, an Su-27 is the real deal.

Geneon
Ai Yori Aoshi The best harem anime ever made.

Bandai
.hack//SIGN A great looking and sounding mystery set in a virtual world.

I'd also add to the movies list:

Akira
Blood, the last Vampire

and I'd also add an OVA list:

Macross Plus Four 45 minute episodes. Better than most movies.
R.O.D. Superb 3 episode ova.
Blue Submarine No.6 ditto
Mezzo-Forte (Either version) Superb godfather type action.
Kite (uncut only, other is butchered) ditto plus even more graphic.

J. A.

[One Vorlon]

The old Anime on DVD site maintained the "Essential Anime Collection" list. I'm not sure if it was updated since the late '90s, but the following titles made the cut:

• Battle Athletes Victory
• Castle of Cagliostro (a Lupin III movie)
• Cowboy Bebop
• Fushigi Yugi
• Ghost in the Shell (movie)
• Grave of the Fireflies
• Macross Plus
• Princess Mononoke (movie)
• Record of Lodoss War
• Serial Experiments Lain
• Tenchi Muyo
• Pokemon (for kids)

[Buckeye]

Here is my list.

Geneon: Gankutsuou, Last Exile, ROD
Bandai: Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Cowboy Bebop, Code Geass
ADV: Full Metal Panic, Evangelion, Le Chevalier d'Eon
Funimation: Full Metal Alchemist, Samurai 7, Fruits Basket
Media Blasters: Genshiken, Midori Days, Rurouni Kenshin
Nozomi: His and Her Circumstances, Aria, The Third
Viz: Death Note, Bleach, Inuyasha
CPM: Slayers, Utena, Descendents of Darkness
Manga: GITSSAC, Noein, Karas
Disney: Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke

That is my take on this.

[Otakufan]

Originally Posted by One Vorlon

The old Anime on DVD site maintained the "Essential Anime Collection" list. I'm not sure if it was updated since the late '90s, but the following titles made the cut:

• Battle Athletes Victory
• Castle of Cagliostro (a Lupin III movie)
• Cowboy Bebop
• Fushigi Yugi
• Ghost in the Shell (movie)
• Grave of the Fireflies
• Macross Plus
• Princess Mononoke (movie)
• Record of Lodoss War
• Serial Experiments Lain
• Tenchi Muyo
• Pokemon (for kids)

I agree with most of this, but I'd make a couple of changes to the list.

I'm currently working my way through Fushigi Yugi and I think it's a bit over rated. A little too angsty and definitely too melodramatic. Twelve Kingdoms is Fushigi perfected and is better in every respect, animation, writing, characters, etc. I'd put it in Fushigi's place.

As for Pokemon, steer the kids to Ghibli fare like Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service or the currently showing Ponyo. Parents and kids alike will thank you.

J. A.

[something]

You've already got a good deal of stuff on there, a lot of them good shows. I'm not going to do a detailed list, but I felt like looking through my most recent Top 10 Favorites and seeing what companies had them. You either already have some of these listed or already own them though:

Bandai Ent:
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (#1)
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (#4)
Lucky Star (#7)
My:Otome / My:HiME (#8)

ADV
Clannad (#2)
Kanon 2006 (#6, now Funimation)

Geneon
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha (#3)

Rightstuf/Nozomi
Aria (#10)

Unlicensed
Toradora! (#5)
Touka Gettan (#9)

Looks like Bandai still dominates my top 10. At any rate those are the titles I'd say are the best, though I can see some of them probably won't be your thing (e.g. Clannad, Kanon, Aria).

[mashimaro]

I will be very literal to your question (the titles without which a collection is incomplete). You may very well own many of these titles, but my take on the essential titles from each studio:

ADV/Sentai:
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Grave of the Fireflies
Full Metal Panic!

Geneon:
Card Captor Sakura (good luck here)
Tenchi Muyo! OVA
Serial Experiments Lain

Funimation: (including titles absorbed from Geneon)
Gunslinger Girl
When They Cry
Rumbling Hearts

Bandai:
Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Lucky Star
Gurren Lagaan

Viz:
Ranma 1/2
Saikano
Death Note

Media Blasters:
Genshiken
12 Kingdoms
Magic Knight Rayearth

CPM:
Shadow Star Narutaru
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Alien Nine

Right Stuf:
His and Her Circumstances
Aria
Comic Party

Manga:
Noein
End of Evangelion
Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro

[TornadoTatsumaki]

Originally Posted by Tenkyoken

Well, this is going to be my end-all-be-all list of what I really need to get from each major studio to add to my collection. I think I have a decent albeit small collection of fairly good anime. But I want to expand what I have, and for that I want to ask for your help. For my must get list, I want just that, titles from each studio that would leave any anime collection incomplete without them.

As of now, I have put enough cash aside that I can get about 3 series from each studio, but I want to spend my money well, and for that is why I am asking for recommendations. If you want to know my tastes, I have enjoyed character driven, action inclusive series. I can't say I have a particular likes or dislikes aside from that I have not enjoyed ecchi, harem, or romance-centric anime. But I don't think the must gets from each studio will infringe on my dislikes. No genre is a must for me, as I have loved samurai to steam punk, to cyberpunk. In the end, I hope I am placing as little restrictions on your recommendations as possible, as I want what you feel is the best of what each studio has to offer.

This is my current list of the top 3 titles to get from each studio. As you can see. there are -------- in some places meaning I haven't decided what to get. The titles I have already put down are my thoughts on what I need to get from each studio, but if enough people recommend something else, I am more than happy to put down those titles in the places of what I currently have down. Also, please restrict your recommendations to anime tv series and OVAs only, no standalone movies please. If there is a movie for the shows that are recommended I plan to get them as well as the show.

I also put up a second should get list, in case there are shows that are recommended often, but I can't buy this year. You can recommend shows from each studio, or just one, its up to you. Fire away, people, as I plan on making some huge orders before 2009 runs out.

Must Get Before the Year Ends
ADV
Rahxephon
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
Kino's Journey
___________________

BANDAI
Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion
Gurren Lagann
Eureka Seven
___________________

Funimation
Baccano
Beck
Darker Than Black
___________________

Geneon
Ergo Proxy
Black Lagoon
Samurai Champloo
___________________

Manga Ent.
Ghost in the Shell
Noein
------------------
___________________

Media Blasters
Moribito
Berserk
Genshiken
___________________

Nozomi
Irresponsible Captain Tylor
His and Her Circumstances
Shingu
___________________

VIZ
Monster
Death Note
Naruto
___________________

Should Get Some Time Soon
ADV
Martian Successor Nadesico
Now and Then, Here and There
Noir
Bandai
Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Mobile Suit Gundam, 0080
Wolf's Rain
Fantastic Children
Funimation
Ghost Hunt
One Piece
Geneon
Shakugan no Shana
Media Blasters
Magic User's Club
Nozomi
Boogiepop Phantom
Shingu
Viz
Hunter X Hunter
InuYasha

OOP Titles
Martian Successor Nadesico
Cardcaptor Sakura--lol if I can afford it--
Fighting Spirit
Texhnolyze
Serial Experiments Lain
Haibane Renmei
Paranoia Agent
Requiem from the Darkness

Movies--Since people were insistent about it
Revolutionary Girl Utena

Getting on the Side
Cowboy Bebop
Escaflowne

ADV In Print.

Kaleido Star.

Gantz.

Kanon 2006.



Funimation

Keichi: The Mightiest Disciple

Full Metal Alchemist

BECK


Bandai

Cowboy Bebop

Mai-Otome

Eureka 7

Media Blasters

Magic Knight Reyearth

OOP

Tenshi in Toyko

Gundress

Dirty Pair Affair on Nolandia

[Tenkyoken]

I think this may very well be my finalized list:

Must Get Before the Year Ends
ADV
Rahxephon
Kino's Journey
-------------
BANDAI
Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion
Gurren Lagann
Eureka Seven
Funimation
Baccano
Beck
Darker Than Black
Geneon
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
Ergo Proxy
Black Lagoon
Samurai Champloo
Manga Ent.
Ghost in the Shell
Noein
Karas
Media Blasters
Moribito
Berserk
Genshiken
Nozomi
Irresponsible Captain Tylor
His and Her Circumstances
Shingu
VIZ
Monster
Death Note
Naruto
___________________

Should Get Some Time Soon
ADV
Martian Successor Nadesico
Now and Then, Here and There
Noir
Bandai
Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Mobile Suit Gundam, 0080
Wolf's Rain
Fantastic Children
Funimation
Ghost Hunt
One Piece
Geneon
R.O.D.
Shakugan no Shana
Media Blasters
Magic User's Club
Nozomi
Boogiepop Phantom
Shingu
Viz
Hunter X Hunter
InuYasha

Movies
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Already own many Miyazaki titles.

Thanks for all your help. Now time to drop some pretty big orders .

Of course, if there's anything else I just gotta have, tell me please!