Sci-Fi Anime Essentials Arc

Support and Suggestions Podcast Arc Suggestions
#1

I had an idea and just thought I’d throw it out there(much apologies if this has been suggested already)

I was thinking it’d be interesting to do an arc on some of what are considered Sci-Fi Anime Essentials. What immediately came to mind are the two following

Akira
Ghost in the Shell

And possibly one or two others that i might not be thinking of this late at night =P
(perhaps we can add in Appleseed Ex Machina to this as well given Sean’s recent blog post and mention in 'cast 121(i think its a really interesting piece too actually, and enjoyed it greatly))

Lemme know what you think

#2

Great idea!

#3

That does sound like a good idea. I sort of want to try anime, but it seems like it encompasses material with such a broad range of tone and subject matter (so broad I’m leery of even calling it a “genre”) that it’s hard to know where to start. I tried out “Cowboy Bebop” after it got a mention on the 'cast long. long ago, and I’m really enjoying that so far. Anyway, yeah–an “essentials” arc would be a great way to introduce newbies like me to the good stuff.

#4

I have to throw in Spriggan. Because it’s so cool. Not cause it’s like an essential. But it’s really good.

As for essentials though. What about Mononoke?

You couldn’t have picked a better place to start. CB is definitely top tier anime. I’d also recommend Gundam 08th MS team and Gundam 00 if you like mecha. Outlaw Star if you like a little more magic and over-the-top ness than the pretty realistic CB. Gurren Lagann, no explanation, just watch it. Neon Genesis Evangelion if you like existentialism and giant mecha. Ghost In The Shall: Stand Alone Complex if you like the movie and anime in general. Trigun if you like your anime a little lighter than CB and western. Um…Helsing if you like vampires.

Anything else you guys can think of as far as recs for this bro-dog?

#5

Well my initial thought was to restrict it more to the Sci-Fi aspect of anime to keep it narrow and keep it mostly to this groups greatest shared interest, and i’d put Mononoke in fantasy moreso than sci-fi, if we wanted to include non sci-fi anime we could drop in a great number of movies, ninja scroll for example.

You’re right in that its very broad, I think most anime fans would agree with me when i say, Anime isn’t just a genre, its a format that can(and does really) include every genre (sci-fi, fantasy, drama, comedy, gangster/crime films, etc.)

#6

Here are a few threads with similar discussions.
Anime fans post here!
Classics of Sci-Fi Anime

Lets get RMHPH to announce Sunday Frak Party as Official Anime Rewatch Day. :smiley:

P.S. Naruto is the Greatest anime series ever. Just thought you would all like to know what that empty feeling is. It is the hole left in you heart from not watching Naruto. :smiley:

#7

I’mma backhand you Uchiha. Don’t be dissing my Bebop or 08th MS Team

#8

hey that second one looks familiar! lol
But anyways, yeah those threads are discussing anime, but they didn’t suggest doing an arc, what I’m trying to accomplish here.

I’ll take Evangelion, GitS: Stand Alone Complex, or Robotech over Naruto any day, sorry bro =P

#9

Did someone hear something? Sounded like a Mouse scurrying around the watercooler. Maybe it is my intense Chakra that is making you defensive but I didn’t dis anything. Many things can be excellent but only one can be the best. :smiley:

That’s okay, if you only have a day then those are good choices. If you want a richer, more in depth story, then watch Naruto (Japanese with English subtitles).

Here is a scale so you guys know just who your messing with: :cool:
10 = Most Powerful 1 = Rodentia

10 = Ninja
09 = God
08 = Angels
07 = Soul Reaper
06 = Machines
05 = Demons (Hollows)
04 = Hiro Nakamura
03 = Pirates
02 = Cowboys
01 = Digital Pimps :wink:

Thanks for the push buddy. I just thought there was enough good stuff mentioned already it would be worth linking to. I am up for some Frak parties or rewatches because it may be some time before they make it to anime.

#10

Whatever you do, don’t watch Neon Genisis Evangelion, I swear, it leaft a hole in my soul that will never fill. I could see it causing suicidal thoughts in the weaker-minded. It was terrible…but so good.

#11

Aww… I liked Evangelion, it definately starts out relatively standard for an anime series, but halfway through it takes a turn and it gets really crazy (<3 philosophy)

#12

The first anime i ever saw was Robot Carnivale. Its a movie consisiting of a bunch of short films done by some of the best anime directors of the time. It came out in the late 80’s early 90’s. Its mostly set to music but it is oh so beautiful. I have yet to find it on DVD though.

I would also recomend

TV:
Outlaw Star
Gundam Wing
the original Robotech
Ramna 1/2
or
Dragon Half (which is one of the funniest parodies of Anime)
Now and Then, Here and There. (i watched half of it before and it was cool. Its coming to me VIA Netflix as we type)

Movies:
Spirited Away…(I know its not Sci Fi but it is one of the best movies ever made…so awesome it took my breath away and almost made me cry)
Vampire Hunter D (i saw it on the same night that i saw Robot Carnivale)
Akira
Ghost in the Shell
…
…
…
I know i have more that are awesome but i cant remember them…

#13

The film has never received an official Region 1 DVD release, most likely due to complicated rights issues. At one point, Super Techno Arts, an American division of Studio A.P.P.P., announced plans to release a Region 1 Robot Carnival DVD, but this release is generally considered to be on indefinite hiatus.

A Limited Edition Region 2 DVD of Robot Carnival was released in Japan, but it is now out of print. (Source: Wikipedia)

I’ve seen the first three(although not all of Gundam i think, wasnt there like 5 different series or something?) and I can also recommend them as fun shows to watch, though not terribly deep =P
I’ve also heard of Ranma, haven’t had a chance to check it out yet though, but the other two i’ve never heard of. I’ll have to take a look at those

I agree with Spirited away, they’re not necessarily sci-fi, but I recommend a lot of Miyazaki’s films(Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, Nausica)

Vampire Hunter D rocks… 'nuff said

#14

Dragon Half only made it to Two episodes. I think it was planned that way so it might be more considered a Movie. Its on DVD

Now and Then HEre and There is the old style of Anime and kind of has a Miyazaki feel as i remember. The first disc is coming to me tonight so ill try and have an update in the next day or two

#15

Also Two cool movies

Miyazaki’s Castle in the Clouds is kinda Sci Fi

and Steam Boy (which is technically steam punk but i consider that a sub genere of Sci Fi)

#16

Yup, especially if you watch in all in a day or 2, kinda gets in your mind, trust us. But because of that it’s so good.

#17

That’s how I felt after watching Grave of the Fireflies. I wrote my senior thesis in high school on reflections of ancient Japanese creation myth in contemporary Japanese media, so I watched a bunch of classic anime and read some manga and also all the academic work on the subject that I could find, including GotF. I bawled like a little baby afterwards for about an hour and a half, at least. It was a pretty awesome senior thesis, though.

#18

Oh, I love Grave of the Fireflies, and it’s tied with Shadowlands for the title of “movie most likely to leave me a sobbing, blubbering mess.” The subject matter is obviously really, really tough, but I think what gets me most is how Setsuko [sp?] is one of the most realistic little kids I’ve ever seen in a movie. Usually, children in movies end up acting more like mini-adults, very concerned with the “plots” of their lives, whereas Setsuko has all these lovely little moments where reality and the chain of events take a backseat to whatever is immediately on her mind. Oh dear, I’m tearing up just thinking about it…

Also, I love Miyazaki and I can’t believe I forgot about him in reference to anime. However, this does bring up a question I’ve wondered about for a while: how exactly does one define anime? Is it any animation from Japan, only animation from Japan with the distinctive “big eyes, tiny nose, and amazingly elastic mouth” visual style, animation from anywhere that uses that style, or something else entirely?

#19

i think its just something you know when you see it. Its normally the angular face maybe kinds spiky hair. But there are even many different styles of anime. In dragon half they even use two styles in one show.

Here is one look for the characters

And here is another look

They switch back and forth between the two styles within the same episode/show

#20

For different characters, or the same characters? The first is common, the second would be news to me.