When I was younger, I used to watch a lot of anime. With a kid, and a handful of other hobbies, I’m finding it difficult to march through hundreds of episodes of shounen nonsense, but if you were to recommend me one absolutely must watch show, I might get in on that.
What would you recommend?
Think of this as a simple topic: what has been some of your favourite anime of the last five years or so?
Comments
31 responses to “Off Topic: Favourite New Anime”
The only new anime series I have watched in the last 8 years have been Knights of Sidonia and Girls und Panzer.
Bother were an absolute blast and a bit of light-hearted fun… Well maybe not Knights of Sidonia. That does get heavy in some parts :B
Girls und Panzer was kind of kick-started by the whole World of Tanks craze a few years back. Instead of practicing kendo, or Ikebana, girls form teams of multiple crewed tanks and fight other schools. It’s hilarious and awesome all at once.
Knights of Sidonia has a bunch of write ups already, the one on here was what convinced me to watch it. http://www.kotaku.com.au/2014/07/knights-of-sidonia-is-a-mecha-anime-with-a-realistic-twist/
Give it a whirl!
I’ll agree with Knights of Sidonia. It’s been very addictive.
I scared myself, haven’t sessioned anime that hard since Uni, and that was almost a decade ago 😛
Yeah, I binge watched the first season and half of the second over one weekend. I would have done the rest of the second season except it hadn’t been released at that time lol.
I was nursing a hangover from 3 days of consecutive partying/drinking. It was perfect!
Psycho-Pass and Knights of Sidonia
Psycho-Pass is Cyberpunk/ What is free will sorta stuff done from a crime procedural point of view, with awesome guns and psychology too.
Knights of Sidonia, Humans in massive Robots defending the dregs of humanity from weird monsters. well for the first season anyway. Season 2 is looking to be very interesting
I powered through season 2 in a day. Still recommend it, even though it was much more ‘anime’ esque in season 2! I’m just hoping we get to explore some more of the mysteries of Sidonia in season 3 😀
And both are on Netflix to boot. Been loving these two as well.
Knights of Sidonia
Attack on Titan
Macross Frontier
Sword Art Online
I remembered getting hooked on Robotech back in the 80’s. I’m 35 now and still love watching a good anime.
EDIT: So many I forgot about!
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Code Geass
Deathnote
Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Blade Works
And here I was feeling old at 30. Upvoted for the good feels
Here I was, just turned 29 thinking I was old. Yay for nostalgia infused anime watching 😀
Macross and Robotech for the win
(30 here)
Try out Kill La Kill. YOU PIG IN HIMAN CLOTHING!!
Kill la Kill Official English Dubbed Trailer: https://youtu.be/pLhE2EhuoZ8
Geez, that’s like asking someone to recommend you a movie without specifying any genres or styles.
As a personal list of recommendations though:
* Hellsing Ultimate (I’m counting it as new since 9 and 10 came out)
* Steins;Gate
* Ergo Proxy (Not so much new as just a favourite)
* Fate/Zero, Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works (Series, not the movie)
* Your Lie In April
* From the New World
* The Monogatari series
* Tonari no Seki kun
* I can’t Understand what my Husband is Saying
… It’s actually kind of hard to stop.
Bonus: A Woman Called Fujiko Mine and Mawaru Penguin Drum are worth watching too.
From The New World starts out kinda slow and sloppy, but get itself back together at the half way point. It feels more like a movie than an anime to me. Like you should binge watch it instead of just watching an episode here and there. Really great series though.
Have to admit there has been a tonne of crap lately but its great to see Sidonia getting so much love. That and UBW are all I would really recommend from recent times.
The last 5 years!? God damn that’s a lot of anime to go through… brb!
*Dives like Scrooge McDuck into the vault of watched anime*
Ok… Here we go:
Akame ga Kill – 1 Season/24 episodes
In a fantasy world, fighter Tatsumi sets out for the Capitol to earn money for his starving village, and finds a world of unimaginable corruption, all spreading from the depraved Prime Minister who controls the child Emperor’s ear. After nearly becoming a victim of this corruption himself, Tatsumi is recruited by Night Raid, a group of assassins dedicated to eliminating the corruption plaguing the Capitol by mercilessly killing those responsible.
Akuma no Riddle (Riddle Story of Devil) – 1 season/12 episodes
The story is set at Myoujou Academy, a private girls’ boarding school. The 10th year’s Kurogumi class has 12 assassins with their sights on one target, Haru Ichinose. Tokaku Azuma is a recent transfer student who is also targeting Ichinose, but she gradually develops feelings for Ichinose.
Assassination Classroom – 1 season/22 episodes
The story begins after 70% of the moon was suddenly vaporized in an explosion. The super lifeform responsible for this catastrophe is a strange tentacled creature that can slink around at supersonic Mach 20 speeds. It has a 10 billion yen (US$100 million) price on its head, but for some reason, this creature ends up teaching a middle school class at the beginning of the school year. The students have until graduation to assassinate the teacher, or it will destroy Earth as well.
Bakuman – 3 seasons/74 episodes
Moritaka Mashiro and Akito Takagi are pretty much foils of each other. Mashiro, an average 9th grade student but talented artist, and Takagi, an overall advanced 9th grader and aspiring writer. After great convincing, Takagi convinces Mashiro to join him in becoming the greatest mangakas Japan has ever seen. Takagi, with his gift of writing, hopes to become a successful mangaka, and Mashiro, with his gift of art, hopes to marry the girl of his dreams, Azuki Miho.
Death Parade – 1 season/12 episodes (One mini-episode called Death Billards)
After death, humans are either sent to the void or reincarnated. But for some, at the instant of their death, they arrive at Quindecim, a bar attended by the mysterious white-haired Decim. He challenges them to the Death Game, wherein they wager their lives and reveal their true natures. Decim himself is the ultimate arbitrator of who wins and who loses, who will go to the void, and who will be reincarnated.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure – 3 seasons/74 episodes
Beginning its tale in 19th century England, young aristocrat Jonathan Joestar finds himself locked in bitter rivalry with Dio Brando, a low-born boy who Jonathan’s father took under his wing after the death of Dio’s father. Discontent with his station in life, Dio’s fathomless lust to reign over all eventually leads him to seek the supernatural powers of an ancient Aztec stone mask in the Joestar’s possession—an artifact that will forever change the destiny of Dio and Jonathan for generations to come.
Kill la Kill – 1 season/24 episodes
Ryuuko Matoi is a vagrant school girl traveling from place to place searching for clues to the truth behind her father’s death—the “woman with the scissor blade.” The journey has led Ryuuko to Honnouji Academy. WARNING: Insanity contained within.
No Game No Life – 1 season/12 episodes
The story of No Game, No Life centers around Sora and Shiro, a brother and sister whose reputations as brilliant NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) hikikomori (shut-in) gamers have spawned urban legends all over the Internet. These two gamers even consider the real world as just another “crappy game.” One day, they are summoned by a boy named “God” to an alternate world. There, God has prohibited war and declared this to be a world where “everything is decided by games”—even national borders. Humanity has been driven back into one remaining city by the other races.
NouKome (My Mental Choices Are Completely Interfering With My School Romantic Comedy) – 1 season/10 episodes
Kanade Amakusa is a high school student who is suffering from a curse called “Absolute Choices.” This curse requires him to select an action from a list of two or three options that appear before him at any time, and has no control over what choices appear. Many of them are weird or perverse and as a result, the curse has tainted his reputation with his classmates and other people around him, making his life very difficult.
Ore Twintail ni Narimasu (Gonna be the Twin-Tails!!) – 1 season/12 episodes
Mitsuka Souji is a first-year high school student who greatly loves the “twintails” hairstyle. One day Twoearle, a beautiful girl who comes from another world, suddenly appears in front of him and gives him the power to transform into the twintails warrior TailRed. Now Souji, with the help of his childhood friend Tsube Aika, who can become the twintails warrior TailBlue, must fight in order to protect the peace on Earth.
Sabagebu! (Survival Game Club!) – 1 season/12 episodes
Middle school girl Momoka is dragged into joining one of the strangest associations at her school, the Survival Game Club. Its members participate in various forms of paramilitary training under the watchful eye of charming and alarming president, Miou.
Sekai de Ichiban Tsuyoku Naritai (Wanna Be the Strongest in the World) – 1 season/12 episodes
Hagiwara Sakura and Miyazawa Elena are the leading members of a popular idol group, Sweet Diva. One day, Elena is injured by the attack of a female pro-wrestler Kazama Rio during the recording of a TV program. Sakura gets mad at Rio and gives her a dropkick. To avenge Elena, Sakura enters the female pro-wrestling matches.
Sword Art Online – 2 seasons/49 episodes
In the near future, a Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online has been released where players can control their avatars through brain waves using technology called “NerveGear.” When players enter the game, they discover they cannot log out, as the game creator is holding them captive. To escape, players must beat the game by defeating each boss on all 100 floors; however, if they die in the game, they die in real life too.
(Advice: Watch Season 1 till the end of episode 14. Skip episodes 15 through 25. Move onto Sword Art Online II (aka Season 2) and go from there.)
Tiger & Bunny – 1 season/25 episodes
Sternbild City is home to people called “Next,” who use their special abilities to protect the people as superheroes. These heroes solve cases and save lives so they can wear sponsor logos or acquire “hero points.” Their activities are documented on the popular program “Hero TV,” which picks the “King of Heroes” in a yearly ranking. The veteran hero Wild Tiger has always preferred to work alone, but now he’s been assigned the rookie Barnaby Brooks Jr., who has a different perspective on being a superhero.
Tokyo Ghoul – 2 seasons/24 episodes
The suspense horror/dark fantasy story is set in Tokyo, which is haunted by mysterious “ghouls” who are devouring humans. People are gripped by the fear of these ghouls whose identities are masked in mystery. An ordinary college student named Kaneki encounters Rize, a girl who is an avid reader like him, at the café he frequents. Little does he realize that his fate will change overnight.
Inu to Hasami wa Tsukaiyou (Dog and Scissors) – 1 season/12 episodes
The absurd mystery comedy centers around Harumi Kazuhito, a high school boy who is obsessed with reading books. One day, he is killed in the middle of a robbery—and resurrected as a dachshund dog. Unable to read in his new form, the hapless Kazuhito now belongs to Natsuno Kirihime, a sadistic girl who uses scissors like a weapon.
Now if i have to narrow it down to just one… I’d say Death Parade. It’s one of the most unique concepts to hit anime in the last decade and each episode will keep you guessing.
Finally… Avoid Attack on Titan. It is an overhyped badly done anime.
Only been watching anime since June last year, but here’s what I enjoyed.
*Fate/Zero
Awesomely dark, mature show. Filled with some amazing fight scenes and fantastic characters.
*Fate/Stay;Night
Sequel to Fate/Zero, similar high notes.
*Code Geass
There’s not much I can say that hasn’t already been said. An absolute must watch.
*Knights of Sidonia
Awesome world with some fantastic characters and interesting lore, and the space battles are pretty sweet.
*Psycho Pass
An uber dark Cyperpunk future, a main character who defies all female anime cliches, and an extremely intriguing world.
*Akame Ga Kill
Game of Thrones, the Anime.
*Attack on Titan
Fantastic action, a wicked soundtrack, and likable characters.
*Kill la Kill
The Fight Scenes. are. f*ckin. awesome. Nuff said.
EDIT:
*Log Horizon
If you’ve ever played MMO Log Horizon will be right up your alley. On the surface it has a similar premise to Sword Art Online but instead of been trapped in a VR game players we’re actually sucked into a reality where the game world is actually real. Immensely enjoyable watching the players adapt to their new life and discovering the secrets of this new world and its NPC’s, who are not all they appear to be.
*Sword Art Online
If you can stand it’s mini Harem, SAO is a very cool show with great action, story, and characters. Head up though, like mase said above avoid the second half of season 1 like the plague.
Kill La Kill – If you haven’t watched an anime for a while this thing packs EVERYTHING into a one season show. Every episode just gets more outrageous than the last.
Favourite part is around ep 14 when they do their own ‘catchup’ style of episode.
Knights of Sidonia – ‘Nuf Said ^^
Code Geass – This had one of the most satisfying wrap ups I’ve ever watched.
I don’t understand what My Husband is Saying – An Otaku marries a regular woman, hilarity ensues. Each ep only goes for about 3 minutes.
Psycho Pass would be my suggestion. Mature, no bs Sci-fi thriller and each season is fairly self contained.
@markserrels: what sort of shows have you enjoyed previously? Five years is an enormous amount of time and it’s pretty hard to give any sort of recommendations without any reference point. Anime’s a medium, after all, and not a genre so there’s a lot of variation and there’s no point telling you about some awesome hard SF show if what you really want is a romance comedy or something.
I’ve been enjoying Knights of Sidonia on Netflix quite a bit, and after seeing some recommendations above on Pyscho Pass I might try that next (it’s also on Netflix).
I tried Kill la Kill after hearing so much about it and could barely get through the first episode. It was so…Japanese? I don’t know, I didn’t get it. Should I bother with it or is it clearly not for me?
Probably not for you, which I can completely understand. If you don’t like the first episode you won’t like the rest that’s for sure.
Watch the first few episodes. Kill la Kill is a weird show. It is definitely an acquired taste, but if you can at least put with it’s weirdness you’ll bear witness to the extremely over-the-top, ludicrously badass action scenes. Which, if we’re all honest with ourselves, is the reason so many of us loved it. No one watched Kill la Kill for its incredibly sophisticated, Oscar worthy story *sarcasm
I don’t really have favourites. All depends what I feel like watching at the time.
Psycho Pass is great, one of my favourite new anime.
Barakamon was good, a nice change of pace from most anime and their intellectual lolli kids. (I really hate lolli, kawaii and unrealistically mature kids in anime).
Kill La Kill was hilarious and way over the top but a high quality anime still. A must watch if can stand the fan service.
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood is amazing! Undoubtedly my favourite new anime now that I think of it. It’s just hit 6 years old but I’m putting it here still. I’m gonna start watching it again tonight actually! 😀
I plan on watching Bakuman and Knights of Sidonia next.
an oldy but a goody thats not too long.
Trigun
and also
Heat Guy J
and keep your eyes peeled for One-Punch Man coming later this year (manga is freakin awesome)
and if you start now – you could jump on the new Dragonball Super as its only been one episode, which means if you devote 30 minutes each week, you’ll stay on top of things
I used to watch one about two twins and if they held hands or touched each other, they had some sort of magical power. Can’t remember the name of it.
Don’t watch any these days.
That kind of sounds like Mas y Menos from Teen Titans. When they were touching they could run exceedingly fast.
This aired about 1997 or earlier. I have vague memories of some bad guys that were trying to catch them.
At some point the ended up in a sweatshop with heaps of work left to do. After the owners left, they used their powers to complete all the work (making clothes I think). After the owners came back they were amazed that they had actually done it all and doubled the amount the wanted done.
Most of the good ones have all been said.
I found Log Horizon immensely enjoyable if you come from an MMO background. Even more so then Sword Art Online. There are a few episodes here and there that are just filler, but it stays more true to a game universe than Sword Art Online.
That being said however, Sword Art Online is very good at kicking you in the feels.
@markserrels
Shirobako
Natsume’s Book of Friends
Noragami
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic
Steins;Gate
The Eccentric Family
Yona of the Dawn
Lots of others too, probably.