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If you were asked to recommend a couple animes to "curious" friends...

hosannainexcelsis said:
Like I was saying elsewhere, it depends on what they enjoy watching outside of anime. Anime isn't a monolithic medium any more than live-action film or television is, and I think picking something like Cowboy Bebop as a one-size-fits-all "gateway" anime is simplistic.

Are you into older episodic TV adventure shows such as MacGyver? Watch Master Keaton.
Do you like the Anne of Green Gables book? Watch Takahata's TV adaptation of it.
Do you like BBC period dramas? Watch Emma: A Victorian Romance.
Do you like dialogue-less art films? Watch Angel's Egg.
Do you like martial arts or samurai movies? Watch Sword of the Stranger.

And so on. Whatever sort of media you like, I can probably find at least one piece of Japanese animation that fits the bill.
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Yeah I think it's easier to introduce someone who wants to dip their toes via something that closely resembles a Western work thematically or artistically. That or something people would expect like Redline. If people can just find one or two series they liked that's fine.
 
Psychopass has more in common with gritty 80s and 90s OVAs filled with physical and sexual violence than with the girl-centric slice-of-life shows that the term "moe" is most commonly applied to. More Kite than K-ON.
 
I would need to know what they would want out of the medium.

I suggested LoGH to a friend who likes both history/politics and science fiction and he loved it.
 
Steins;Gate
K-On
To Love-Ru Darkness
Space Battleship Yamato 2199
Gundam Orphans
iDOLM@STER
Love Live
Himouto! Umaru-chan
Clannad+After Story
Robotics;Notes
Kami no mizo shiru sekai
Yuru Yuri
Gakkou Gurashi
Girls und Panzer
Sayounara Zetsubou Sensei
To Aru Index/Railgun

A little bit of everything. Let them decide from there what they like.
 
Depending on what genres they're into I choose one of the following:

Cowboy Bebop
Death Note
Samurai Champloo
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Hajime No Ippo
Trigun
 
Samurai X OVA 1 and 2
These two connect very nicely into a single feature, plus I have a director's cut that specifically connects them into a feature. More importantly, the feature is very good. No weird anime shenanigans, just an interesting story. Dub is inoffensive.

Hellsing Ultimate
Bit of an awkward start and with its share of flaws bedsides, still an easy recommendation for anyone I think can stomach it. Stylish, dark, over-the-top violence that outdoes itself every episode. Also, excellent dub.

Gurren Lagann
This one is a risk, but if they can look past Yoko and the hot spring episode, I think this is a good one to get started with. The scale and insanity of the show is hard to find anywhere else, and there are some genuine touching moments. Dub is also fine and some of the translations resonate extremely well in English.

Hmm. Cowboy Bebop is usually a pretty safe recommendation. Trigun as well, though it's a bit weirder.

What I would love to recommend to everyone but don't is Boogiepop Phantom. My favorite, but requires a lot of attention and/or investment to really get the most out of.
 
Assuming they are adults, Monster. Also Steins;gate if they need the weirdness.
 
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is the only anime and manga you need in life. Its the Citizen Kane of anime AND manga.

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Literally nothing with creepy ephebophile fanservice.

If they want a sports anime, I'd recommend Ping Pong the Animation. If they want Shounen I'd go Jojo.

Death Note may be a good recommendation. Monster would be good.
 
John Kowalski said:
If you're not already knowledgeable on mahou shoujo then you probably won't really appreciate the show as it's meant to. Same with Eva tbh.
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People exaggerate the extent to which Madoka is a "deconstruction" of the magical girl narrative, as if it was the first time a magical girl show got dark. I don't think enjoying Madoka requires being familiar with Sailor Moon.
 
Anything Ghibli - pretty universal appeal.
Baccano! - Fun, great intro, stylish and self contained and nothing really embarrassing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--tfb6Cv7eY
Attack On Titan - Great world, fun action nothing embarrassing other then little melodrama.
CowBow Bebop - Really interesting characters, universal concept, great music and hip style.
Robot Carnival - 80s anthology by 9 different directors. Dark broody 80s sci fi feel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54VEzgkMMsQ
Memories - 3 stories based on Katsuhiro Otomo's (Akira) manga short stories. Dark sci fi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgPS2wRhFxM
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Akria - The sci fi that has wide appeal, and amazing visuals.
Full Metal Alchemist (both versions) - great adventure and not alienating at all.
Mushishi - real laid back folk lore series that is not off-putting or trope filled. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcoZHk3M3io
 
K.Sabot said:
let's not steer newcomers into trap animes

might as well tell them to watch school days
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Comparing Madoka to School Days and calling it a trap is a ridiculous notion. The opening instantly shows you a surreal landscape and by the end of the first episode you should have seen enough (like moustached cotton wool things) to realise it's not going to be a cutesy magical girl show. It may subvert expectations but it's not a trap.

Now sending a friend three video files only labeled Boku. That's a trap.
 
hosannainexcelsis said:
People exaggerate the extent to which Madoka is a "deconstruction" of the magical girl narrative, as if it was the first time a magical girl show got dark. I don't think enjoying Madoka requires being familiar with Sailor Moon.
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Agreed. I don't consider myself well-versed in magical girl anime, but that didn't stop me from absolutely loving the show. I rewatched it with several friends (with anime background varying from "frequent watchers" to "almost none") and everyone enjoyed it greatly.

It's a show that stands on its own merits. It's certainly a twist on the genre, but it's got plenty to offer besides that.
 
Hero Prinny said:
how is it a troll post? I'd consider it an anime too, its clearly inspired by anime. Cause it wasn't made in Japan it can't be considered anime?
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Yes, that's the definition of how the word "anime" is used in English - Japanese animation. Of course, in Japanese "anime" refers to all animation, so Frozen would be considered anime, but that's not how the loanword is used outside of Japan.
 
hosannainexcelsis said:
People exaggerate the extent to which Madoka is a "deconstruction" of the magical girl narrative, as if it was the first time a magical girl show got dark. I don't think enjoying Madoka requires being familiar with Sailor Moon.
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Not for just enjoying, but there are subversions here and there that are more satisfying if you're aware of them being there. It's perhaps not so webbed intro its genre as i suggested but it does give more to those who see the connections than those who don't.
 
K.Sabot said:
let's not steer newcomers into trap animes

might as well tell them to watch school days
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trap anime? Madoka? what?

Also it requires no knowledge of the magical girl genre, or any specific knowledge of its creator or production history (e.g. Evangelion is much better understood with outside information not found in the show itself).
 
Cuban Legend said:
CTRL+F Evangelion

You disappoint me, GAF.
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That's a good example of what I talked about of being careful to not overgeneralize "gateway" anime. I would only suggest Evangelion to people who have interest in a certain kind of sci-fi. For people such as my parents, or friends who primarily watch arthouse films, there are better choices.
 
Thatonemoor said:
Does Fate/Zero get any better? I watched the first 3 episodes with friends and I was bored out of my mind.
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It's very flawed. It's one of those series I disliked except for Emiya Kiritsugu who had one back story episode which was quite good, perfectly paced and story boarded but to understand it you need to see some of his earlier scenes. It's otherwise a pretty mediocre shounen anime with some decent fights. If someone made a thread about mediocre tv series that have an unusually good episode that would be one of my recommendations.
 
jwk94 said:
Madoka

It's a magical girl show that is anything but a magical girl show.
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I don't think it's a good idea to show someone who has never watched a magical girl show, a show that specifically deconstructs magical girl shows. I mean, they'd just end up very confused, no?

Same goes for Evangelion and mecha shows. Austin Walker said something similar in the last Giant Beastcast.
 
Psycho Pass

Akira

Black Bullet (Some may disagree but I liked it) - I'm not sure what I like about this but for some reason it reminds me of maybe another anime I might have watched when I was younger and enjoyed.

Cowboy Bebop - Overall fun anime to watch

Gangsta

No Game No Life - The two main characters are weird but I like their wits.

Ghost in the Shell - I love futuristic things so this filled my niche

Initial D (If they're in to cars) - My favorite anime due to the races and how they're portrayed

Full Metal Alchemist : Brotherhood

Gurren Lagann - Not in to mech animes but I liked the relationship between the two main characters

Pet Girl of Sakurasoa - I liked this anime simply because I could relate to the main characters struggles

Tokyo Ghoul - Just like the action

Ano Hana - Sad drama

Pokemon Origin :D - Loved this better than the main show

Samurai Champloo - Not actually sure what I can say about this, I just liked it.

I just named a few since I don't know the preferences
 
I would personally say Hunter X Hunter

Its not melodramatic, its not angsty, it defies your typical Anime Tropes, have a great writing and characters, and the set piece are ''wow'' wothy.
 
I'm gonna mention the two that got me into it: Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online. I'm not sure why they drew me in, but they did
 
Shai-Tan said:
It's very flawed. It's one of those series I disliked except for Emiya Kiritsugu who had one back story episode which was quite good, perfectly paced and story boarded but to understand it you need to see some of his earlier scenes. It's otherwise a pretty mediocre shounen anime with some decent fights. If someone made a thread about mediocre tv series that have an unusually good episode that would be one of my recommendations.
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Flawed, but safe outside of a couple disturbing scenes and entertaining to follow for someone that likes action/adventure.

Nosgotham said:
I'm gonna mention the two that got me into it: Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online. I'm not sure why they drew me in, but they did
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In full disclosure, this was my gateway drug /anime. I recommend it to friends all the time, but those are people I can actually explain it to, not just random folk.
 
Dont' know if I would consider Psycho Pass as "moe"...then again that depends on the person? or what makes it moe. Then again it's been awhile since i've seen PP

GiTS as well
 
Cory in the House.

Probably The Devil is a Part-Timer. Or Nichijou. Or Samurai Champloo. Hell, even One Punch Man isn't too bad.
 
I'd recommend the Studio Ghibli films as I regard them as the Japanese equivalent of Pixar films with beautiful art direction, a phenomenal music score, and teaches compelling life lessons.
 
Baccano Dub.

I don't try to get people into anime, or watch it if they don't want to or anything, but I have literally a 100% success ratio for that show.
 
I haven't watched anime in 5 years and a friend sat me down and made me watch a episode of High School DXD......awful, but he did put on One Punch Man so that saved his number from being deleted from my phone.

I liked it, straight to the point action without an overarching story I don't care about.
 
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