Oh I don't disagree with the first half of the episode - Ledo looking for work. That was perfectly fine. But so far what has made this anime unique is that it *isn't* current day Japan (which is what you'd expect from a modern anime like this). They created a setting and a society that was different. But bikinis and a quasi-beach scene? It destroys that. And the three okama chasing him around? Once again, unnecessary and destroys the setting.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if yukatas and a new year's festival show up at some point.

:facepalm

So much wasted potential.

 

The main "problem" of Gargantia is, that it was marketed as a show written by Urobuchi, so everyone is waiting for the shocking and brutal plot twist - just like with the end of episode 3 of Puella Magi Madoka Magica or the entirety of Fate/Zero. Nobody believes Urobuchi when he says that the main point of this anime is to show young people that entering society is tough but it isn't scary.

 

An anime doesn't have to be brutal and shocking to be good. I've enjoyed anime that haven't been done by Urobuchi - as have most people. A well done story about Ledo trying to transition from child soldier to normal human being in a beautiful pseudo-post apocalyptic world would be great. It's just that so far a lot of it has been painfully cliche.

 

Lol, Ledo went all 'Shinji' in this episode.

That whole scene had a remarkably familiar feeling to it.

Spoiler

Dummy plug

 

Currently I'm catching up on good shows from the last year and change. Right now Psycho Pass is proving to be very entertaining. I know From the New World, A Woman Called Fujiko Mine, Another, and Polar Bear Cafe are worth at least checking out. Any other recommendations from you all?

 

Yamato 2199.

It's an OVA remake of the first anime space opera that aired in the 1970s. If you're into sci-fi you should definitely give a try. Hell, give it an episode or two even if you're not that big of a fan of space pewpews.

There's 18 episodes out so far and another 4 should be out in a few weeks. As a remake, it's pretty much exceeded all expectations. It's got all the best parts of the original, and improved.

 

Just finished Psycho Pass. Was VERY impressed. I had heard it was good, but this was top notch quality.

The writer is obviously a fan of English literature (lots of references) and similarly tries to put a lot of those more complex themes into it. Unlike most anime, it doesn't end up simplifying or dumbing them down either.

The main antagonist is brilliant - chilling, cunning and cold, and yet, you can't help but agree with most of the assessments he makes of their society. At the same time, you can logically see the benefits the Sibyl System brings as well.

Spoiler

Best shown through the way Akane decides to support the system by trying to bring Makishima back alive - despite her obvious disdain and resentment when she realizes the truth of what it is.

Anime often introduce a completely different cultural paradigm, and yet have all characters still acting like normal people would. Psycho Pass doesn't fall into this trap. Examples like the Living Dead sickness, or the inability for people to actually decisively act on their own will in a stressful situation show that people are not quite the same.

The atmosphere set by the animation/artstyle and the OST (which I'm loving at the moment) are great. It creates a mood that works really well to help execution of the plot and concept.


Few minor irks and the one that stood out was that while I can accept a society like that would be quite possible, I find it hard to accept that it would happen isolated in Japan. For people to accept that sort of thing, it would need to be a global cultural change - not just one country that then happily cuts its ties from the rest of the world. I imagine foreign powers would be quite happy to interfere if this was attempted - human rights violations and whatnot.

Edit: Oh, and another thing that was pretty retarded was the way the whole internet chatroom places worked (from the Spooky Boogy arc). I thought that was a pretty poorly prediction on how the internet would evolve.

But yeah, highly recommend.

 

Give Zetsuen no Tempest a try, starts pretty shounen cliche-y but soon diverges from that and turns into something I've not seen often in anime. Characters and character interaction are the focus of the show, and they're damn good. Plot is good too, surprise twists from beginning to end, never lets you sit on a guess long enough for you to justify it for yourself. My favourite from last year without a doubt.

 

I hate to come off like a broken record here, but Tsuritama. Space Brothers is ongoing and pretty good for a slice of life anime featuring astronauts. I've heard great things about Kids on the Slope.

Watch JoJo's Bizarre Adventure if you haven't. Right the fuck away.

 

Just finished it myself, and I have to disagree. Everything about this show, from the characters, to the cases, to the themes and questions presented, and even the dialogue, have been crimped from a long list of science fiction novels and short stories. Psycho Pass is a jumbled mess of literary references, and that is pretty wholly its problem. The complete lack of originality means that even someone who isn't that well versed in science fiction will be able to easily figure what's going to happen in terms of plot and character development and how it's all executed, and once you can do that, why bother watching to the end? I guess maybe the action scenes, but the color palate in Psycho Pass is so dark that you can barely see what's happening on screen to begin with.

I still can't say that Psycho pass is a bad show, however, or even a mediocre one. Disappointing, I think, is the best way to describe it. There are plenty of other anime that cover the same subjects as Psycho Pass (Serial Experiments Lain, Time of Eve, and Ghost in the Shell - both the TV show and the movies - just to name a few) that do a better job. I'd recommend watching those first before coming to this particular work.

Anyway, time to go watch Tsuritama.

 

AoT/Shingeki no Kyojin is following the manga so closely that I've lost all my sense of tension. I've decided to watch the BDs when they come out. But to somebody not overly familiar with the source material, it'd probably be an amazing show.

Among what I'm actually watching this season, Hataraku Maou-sama! has consistently been a very strong contender for the spot of best show of the season. This week's episode certainly doesn't hurt. Simply awesome and fun - compared to the straight-out grimdark post-apocalyptic despair extravaganza that is SnK.

 

I just finished Hanasaku Iroha.

It was a really good anime, and I liked how the ending wrapped it all up.
Personally I think the anime could've been cut down to maybe 14 - 15 episodes like Bakemonogatari. There's some filler episodes that could've been cut out.

But overall I felt the anime was worth watching for me. I really liked all the characters and how they changed at the end.

 

Figured I'd come to the experts for some animated entertainment. I've browsed the thread and haven't yet come across what I'm looking for, though I admit I didn't go through every single link Jarik provided.

So here's what I want:

- A well done story.

Here's what I don't want:

- Massive jiggling tits.
- Cute young characters with furry creatures on their shoulders that sound suspiciously like Togepi from the Pokemon series (I'm looking at you, Suzuki thingy in Gargantia)
- Ridiculously corny internal monologues at times of internal conflict. Applies especially to the star-struck female love interest who awkwardly thinks about the handsome, somewhat effeminate protagonist. (Said female's tits are prone to jiggle at such times).
- Harem.
- Cowboy Bebop (already watched that).
- Cackling villains, often handsome in a sharp features kind of way, surrounded by ugly minions. If villain is female, tits will be massive and jiggling, especially if villain's finger is pointing dramatically in the direction her ugly minions are to attack.
- Wardrobe makeover for battle. Pieces of armor weld themselves to the open-armed character in a white background with heroic music in full swing. If female, said character's tits will jiggle. Ass-crack makes a fleeting appearance.
- Antagonists are discernable upon first look based on shifty eyes, eye patch, uniform, ridiculous hairdo and smooth, cultured speech.
- Male secondary characters in positions of authority (military, teacher, parent, etc.) scream in berserk fury whenever they are on screen, no matter the topic of discussion or his emotional state at the time.
- Oni-chan. Oni-chaaaaaaaaaan. Kawai.
- Giant robots.


I'm aware I've removed pretty much everything that makes an animated series an anime. This is by design. I'm just looking for a good story told in animated form, which may or may not be Japanese in origin. Despite what I said, tits are fine in female characters; I think that's what women have in real life. What I don't want is the tits as a plot arc, theme and doctoral dissertation rolled in one.

I'd be very grateful if someone can point me towards something like this. Thanks!

 

Grave of the Fireflies
Tokyo Godfathers
Spirited Away
Princess Mononoke
Millennium Actress
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Perfect Blue (borderline nsfw)
Ninja Scroll (nsfw)

They're all movies, but movies tend to have the best stories (anime-wise) in my opinion. Series:

Last Exile
Great Teacher Onizuka (only if you can stand decades-old art)
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (first three episodes are horribly misleading)


That's all I've got on the top of my head. You're really missing out if you think that anime only has harems, mecha, etc. There's a lot of good stuff out there.

 

Considering you ticked off stuff that happens in 99% of anime, Ghibli is your only option.

Code Geass would've met your requirements but you had to go and say no giant robots.

Honestly if you're gonna be that picky this isn't the medium for you.

EDIT: By Ghibi I mean: Howl's moving castle, Spirited Away, The Cat returns, Ponyo, Grave of the fireflies, Nausica of the valley of the wind, Princess Mononoke etc. All films.

 

I'd suggest you give Code Geass a go anyway, it's definitely an excellent Anime.

 

Thanks! I know not all anime is harems and mecha (?). That's why I ask for alternatives.

I'll check these out.

The medium? You mean animated films and series? You do know that animation is a little broader than giant robots and blushing, massively-titted schoolgirls, right? Toy Story, Avatar, Final Fantasy. You get the drift.

Animation is an excellent medium that lends itself to limitless uses. Just because most Japanese productions are for 13-year-olds doesn't mean the whole of animation isn't for me.

It's really frustrating to watch a story full of possibility like Sword Art Online go down the drain because it's the anime thing to do.

Meh, I'll give it a shot. It's hard to get into these things. Most stuff with robots I've seen includes long scenes of the protagonist posing for the camera. But I'll watch it and see for myself.

Some people suggested Fate Zero. Based on the cover it's more tits and awkward, super-sweet romantic interests. Here's hoping I'm wrong.

 

I'd say you should give Spice and Wolf a shot, and try not to jump to conclusions about Holo after the first episode, because it is a bit misleading at first glance. The second season isn't as good as the first, but is still well worth watching.

Also try Chobits, it is more than it appears at first glance.

You can find both available for legal streaming from funimation. Chobits Spice and Wofl

And if you're willing to overlook
- Cute young characters with furry creatures on their shoulders.
for a good story and characters, then I would wholeheartedly recommend Cardcaptor Sakura, which is probably the single best constructed example of the Magical Girl show you will ever see. Seriously.

Unfortunately it is not available for legal streaming, so watch it online at your own discretion.