firehawk12 said:

A low key yuri series adapted from Takako Shimura's manga of the same name. Noteworthy because it doesn't devalue lesbian relationships by fetishizing or exploiting them, nor is the main character "temporarily gay until she grows out of it". It would serve as an interesting companion piece to the upcoming adaptation of Takako Shimura's other (and more well known) work, Hourou Musuko or Wandering Son.

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speedpop said:

This one is probably complicated to define as there are so many factors within it. Most shoujo tend to play around with the love-chase i.e. boy meets girl, girl meets boy, they don't end up together until the very last episode. This one is different in that it breaks that barrier and shows how friendships and the past can affect how much love one can give. It's up there amongst Honey & Clover as one of my favourite slice-of-life dramas.

Length: 26 episodes/

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KuwabaraTheMan said:

Cross Gme is a sports romance which follows the story of a boy and girl who grew up around baseball. It also follows the plight of a group of misfits trying to bring together a baseball team and make their dreams come true on the field. The story mixes together a well written and tender romance with the perseverance and determination of a sports series, and brings it all together into a cohesive whole. The emotional highs and lows are executed brilliantly, but one of the best elements of the series is how reserved everything is, never resorting to melodrama or characters overreacting to situations to tell the audience what to feel.

Length: 50 episodes

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“The United Nations stage the liberation of a less developed Central Asian nation. The country is devoutly religious, formerly ruled over by an absolutist Buddhist theocracy and tribal allegiances. Subsequent reconciliation, reconstruction and nation-building efforts are hampered by a plague of violent sectarian squabbling and seemingly random bomb attacks by insurgent parties. A largely unhindered and pervasive press presence documents the fraying of the peace process.

So it is with gusto that the UN pounces upon a single photograph of a flag-raising celebration taken by a Japanese photojournalist to push as an ultimate symbol of the peace process. They push the photographer into minor celebrity. The flag itself takes on a life of its own, the UN’s sacred cow.

So it is with great, panicked haste that the UN throws together a Special Forces detachment to retrieve the flag when it is stolen by parties unknown. The same photographer is offered a slot as an embedded journalist to the operation. Eager to utilize their newfound media asset, the UN’s goals are twofold: to have a extravagant multimedia documentation of the flag rescue when it goes public, and to have a proper coming out party for their new weapon, the High Agility Versatile Weapons Carrier.” – Mark from Colony Drop.

Length: 13 episodes.

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flawfuls said:

A really over the top comedy anime based on Kousuke Masuda's manga in Jump SQ.Each episode is a five minute short about a completely random cast of characters in a completely random setting. The anime is very similar to Detroit Metal City in direction, I haven't checked, but I assume it was made by the same people. It's quite possibly the funniest anime I've ever read. If you liked DMC this is a must.

Length: Season 1 – 12 episodes. Season 2 – 12 episodes. Season 3 – 12 episode. Season 4 – 26 episdoes.

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cosmicblizzard said:

A couple of guys run a retrieval service known as the Getbackers. They will take any request to get back what is lost or stolen. They must use their wit and strength to retrieve what should not be missing. One can also shoot lightning out of his body and the other can make people see whatever he wants them to see for a whole minute. Over the course of the series, battles take place that involve beast transformations, razor sharp string manipulation, poison control, swords made of blood, bug calling, thousands of needles, and more. When did getting back something become so complicated?

Another adaptation that I can't recommend enough. The amount of creative abilities in this are impressive and the battles are quite fun to watch. The characters are likable and funny to boot. Again, there's kind of a non-ending but it's a much better stopping point than most adaptations that end abruptly.

Length: 49 episodes

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flawfuls said:

The story of a young boy who can see ghosts, based on a manga by Makoto Isshiki the creator of Piano no Mori. Story structure wise it's pretty much the same as Natsume Yuujinchou, but with a very different main character. It's a really charming show. Also the OP and ED are by the Backstreet Boys!

Length: 25 episodes.

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Hcoregamer00 said:

It was an excellent anime series that was made by Junichi Sato, the series director for Sailor Moon. This anime had a great cast of characters, amazing pacing, a great musical score, and insanely high production values.

Unlike many anime seasons out there, both season 1 and season 2 had amazing endings.

Length: Season 1 – 26 episodes. Season 2 – 25 episodes.

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Bebpo said:

The show is a very realistic and thus somewhat dark/grim look at an alternate now where countries are still focused on the space race and all the big powers want to get into space and the moon and start controlling it themselves. The first season of the show is very character focused about the two leads who head in different directions to reach their goal of space. The second season on the other hand is more of the bigger picture, of country politics and ambitions towards space, though the show is still mainly focused on astronauts.

The overall direction of the show is top-notch. The director worked with his budget and the fantastic source material and made a show where every episode felt like Apollo 13 the mini-series. It's very western film-influenced, but very well done. Scenes are powerful, emotional, and moving, and most importantly it keeps you on the edge of the seat enjoying every minute.

Length: Season 1 - 12 episodes. Season 2 - 14 episodes.

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KuwabaraTheMan said:

Based on the manga by Ai Yazawa, and directed by Morio Asaka (Cardcaptor Sakura), NANA features the story of two young women moving to Tokyo at the same time, and the story of two bands with an intermingled history, NANA is a real story about human drama, relationships and loss. The characters all feel like real people, the subject matter is written with a mature audience in mind, and there are no easy resolutions to the problems that characters face. It can be an intense series which can leave you feeling emotionally wrecked at time, but that is just one of many reasons why it is worth watch. The show also features an amazing soundrack, which is fitting given the focus the story has on music.

Length: 47 episodes

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flawfuls said:

A movie and OAV about a cycling based on two of the short stories in Iou Kuroda's eggplant themed Nasu manga. Both anime are pretty short and mainly consists of straightforward races, but they are well made and worth your time at the very least.

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flawfuls said:

A historical anime movie about a blind man who becomes a shamisen player and develops a new style of play. iirc it was based on a real person. It's serious, well made, realistic story which is pretty rare in anime.

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“Hiromichi Kojima, the star batter of the Lycaons, heads to Okinawa to train and bring himself out of a slump. There, he meets Toua Tokuchi, a 134-kmph/83 mph pitcher and the undisputed king of a gambling form of baseball called "One Out." At Kojima's urging, Tokuchi signs up with the Lycaons. His contract differs form the usual, though, in that he gets 5,000,000 yen for every out he pitches, but loses 50,000,000 yen for every point he gives up”

Another crazy-awesome gambling anime, in the vein of Akagi and Kaiji. Although Kaiji is easily the best show in that sub-genre, so I’d recommend starting there.

Length: 25 episodes.

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KuwabaraTheMan said:

Paradise Kiss is the story of a high school girl who decides to leave her typical life of studying and trying to fit in to what society says she should do behind, and gets wrapped up in the world of fashion and modeling. The series subverts typical Japanese views of how people should integrate themselves into society, and approaches the subject matter with a heavy focus on realism and accuracy to detail.

Length: 12 episodes

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Quite similar in tone and content to another great 2000 show, Mononoke this work details the life of a writer attempting to complete a book of ghost stories. But it largely involves his run in with various unpleasant people and the nasty things they’ve done to others, which are uncovered over the course of the episode.

Fantastic art too.

Length: 13 episodes.

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DrForester said:

The main characters are Chise and Shuuji, who have just become boyfriend and girlfriend. In addition to developing their relationship, Shuuji must also deal with learning that Chise is a weapon for the government during a worldwide war. This twist drastically alters how their relationship develop. There is a large supporting cast who's lives are all impacted as the war grows larger and closer to home. Despite the sci-fi twist with Chise being a weapon, the show is ultimately a romantic drama set during a war and looks at the way war affects the lives of everyone from the soldiers to the people at home. While the budding romance between the two main characters is there, the story is often dark with the war always being a part of their lives, even more so as Chise fights and grows stronger. Also has a pretty amazing ending.

Length: 13 episodes.

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firehawk12 said:

Although very recent, it's worth mentioning because it's probably been overlooked. From the director of Aria and the head writer of K-On!!, Tamayura is a show about the power of photography; the still image captures time and is both backward and forward looking - it is a physical manifestation of nostalgia, but it can also represent opportunities and possibilities. Three episodes of the OAV have aired at the moment and they're worth watching if you are at all interested in themes addressed Aria or K-On!!.

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firehawk12 said:

Featuring a character who believes she used to be a boy, Tenshi na Konamaiki is a light-hearted slapstick action comedy that explores how gender roles function in contemporary society. While gender-swapped characters aren't new to anime, what sets this show apart from the others is that it isn't a show predicated on fanservice or ecchi humor. The gags are predicated on the fact that the protagonist acts like a tomboy, not that she is a boy trapped in a girl's body. Beyond the premise, the show has well developed characters that evolve over the course of an interesting 50 episode arc.
Tenshi na Konamaiki, or Cheeky Angel, is recommended for someone who wants to watch a gender comedy that does not rely on the usual gags.

Length: 50 episodes.

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firehawk12 said:

Another member of the noitanimA block that I think is worth mentioning because it is "action" shoujo of the non magical girl variety. Take the shoujo romance cliches of a girl who wishes she could find her knight in shining armor and combine it with assault rifles and you have an interesting mix that scratches both itches. Indeed, by making the heroine a soldier, many of the typical shoujo tropes are reinterpreted or subverted. Definitely worth watching if you like shoujo but want a different take on it.

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speedpop said:

A couple briefly experience the ups and downs of a relationship on the eve of Christmas, a special time for lovers. At times beautifully animated with hints of surrealism, it's a beautiful tale woven in 1 hour and 30 mins altogether showing each side of the tale (one episode follows the male, the other follows the female - it's up to you to choose which one to watch first and then last).

Length: 2 episodes.

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cosmicblizzard said:

An entire civilization of humans with superpowers are living underneath Tokyo. This underground world is pretty crappy, so a teenage girl tries to escape. She is successful and takes refuge at the house of an "ordinary" high school boy. However, people from the underground end up searching for her and the boy gets caught up in a pretty big battle for the girl. Turns out he has powers too (wind manipulation).

I know it doesn't sound very original, but the characters are entertaining and the battles are quite creative. Even if you've seen elemental battles a million times before, I still highly recommend this. There is a pretty crappy ending though due to the anime passing the source material.

Length: 26 episodes

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This is the true tale of the otaku life style. Forget your other otaku-centric works like Genshiken, this tale tells it like it is. The social awkwardness, fear, self-loathing and disturbing habits attached to the true otaku lifestyle.

Luckily the show acts as a (thoroughly) black comedy, so it’s not nearly as depressing as it could be. Based on the manga, based on the light novel, based on the real life experiences of the author, who was actually a complete-shut it. I believe he actually returned to that lifestyle after the work was finished.

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“30 years ago, aliens opened a dimensional gate under Antarctica in prepration of an invasion. Now Earth is under attack. Leading the defence is an air force using the latest fighters, with AI so advanced that one, the Yukikaze, is sentient.

The colour design is also particularly strong, and the Gonzo team pulls out all the stops to make a lushly designed show where the animation flows as smoothly as any movie”

Length: 5 episodes.

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Enron said:

The newest, most advanced destroyer in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the JDS Mirai, sets sail from Japan on a training exercise with the United States Navy. Enroute, they encounter a strange meteorological anomaly. The Mirai loses contact with her sister ships and finds herself sailing by the unmistakable silhouette of a Imperial Japanese Navy battleship, the Yamato.

The Mirai eludes the Imperial Japanese fleet and, reluctantly, the crew realizes that they have traveled sixty years into their past to the early days of World War II. Their first desire is to return home, and to ensure that they have a home to which to return they decide to do nothing that will change history.

Length: 26 episodes.

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