Forum - View topicGood "Crossover" Anime?
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Iritscen
 Subscriber Posts: 797 |
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I have a friend who is fairly into anime (not hardcore, but not a total newbie). He just got married, and I can tell his wife is not likely to eagerly jump into anime on her own without coaxing. Got any recommendations for good anime that both genders can enjoy that I can pass on to him?
He owns Planetes, by the way, which I think is good crossover stuff because, although being sci-fi, it's really about a relationship. Agree, disagree? He also owns Crest/Banner of the Stars. I think this might be a good candidate, but it does move pretty slowly and frankly I felt the relationship part was actually pretty weak. By the way, they're not young, so she won't be interested in something just because it's got bishies in it. |
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Tony K.
 SubscriberModerator  Posts: 11442 Location: Frisco, TX |
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The relationship in Crest/Banner is very subtle, but also quite dialogue heavy. Not to mention the dub sucks, so I wouldn't recommend it. If she's not a fan of anime, then I'd at least get something with a generally acceptable dub because most people just don't like subs.
I mean, back when Miramaxe released Hero in the U.S. and people thought it'd be a cool Jet Li kung fu flick made by Quinton Tarantino, they noticed it was in Mandarin with English subs and started walking out  .
Then again, I don't know this woman, so her preferences might be different from what I've come to surmise among the general, movie-going public. A good suggestion would be to ask your friend what kind of live-action movies she likes, then find some parallel genres and titles within anime that would fit some of her criteria. |
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Enjeru
 Posts: 221 |
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From my experience, I have found that OVA's and movies are a great for someone new to the world of anime. Rather than having to watch 13-26 (or however long the series is), they can have everything in a much shorter amount of time.
A title I have used on a number of occasions is Princess Mononoke. Of all the studio Ghibli films, I feel this one has a more adult(ish) storyline and deals less with Japanese mythology. Someone new to the world of anime would have a hard time dealing with something that feels so foreign to them. Another title that I feel might be good is Macross Plus, not the OVA but the episode format. This is a title that both meets the male and the female viewer in my opinion. True, it does have more of a sci-fi feel to it, but it is less over-the-top than most. It also have a nice storyline and a great soundtrack. Each of these have a pretty good dub, not top of the line, but it works. If you want to introduce a series to them, I feel that Onegai Teacher might work. Let's face it, the bulk of anime deals with highschool students, and there is some harem element to it. Onegai is subtle with these and doesn't overload the viewer with panty shots and dirty old men. There is also a very nice story and a great cast of characters. The story is also not very complicated, but at the same time not spoon-fed to the viewer. I am sure I could continue to compile a list, but let's just leave it at that for now and if you feel none of these would work, then I can try again. |
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Iritscen
Subscriber Posts: 797 |
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Good suggestions so far. I'll post more of a response in a lttle bit, but I wanted to add that she's probably going to be turned off by anything "perverted", which is not always the same as what we as anime fans consider perverted (we actually have a distinction between ecchi and hentai, she probably doesn't). Try to think "new and potentially prejudiced" and you realize that any fan service may be a bad thing in a starter series.
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dormcat
Encyclopedia Editor
 Posts: 9902 Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC |
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I've made a few recommendations in the Australian General forum. Hope it helps.
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Iritscen
Subscriber Posts: 797 |
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Yes, Tony K., the dub does bite in Crest/Banner. My friend actually heard it first and then played part of an episode in English just so we could laugh at its badness before changing it to the Japanese. w/ subtitles. And you're right that simply playing the sub usually isn't an option for newbies. Some people just don't like "reading" movies and shows, and although that mindset frankly puzzles me personally, she's probably in that category.
Enjeru, I think she would be put off by the grossness in Mononoke, but Macross Plus is a good idea (I just wonder if someone who hasn't seen Macross will get it). He actually owns Macross, by the way -- the newly-subbed Japanese-only release. Hmm, now we come back to the sub problem. And dormcat, I like your recomendation of Ghibli. *smacks forehead* I don't know why someone needed to remind me of Ghibli, but yes, most of those movies would be great intros to anime. I noted that you contraindicated Kino's Journey... why, specifically? You listed it with "heavy" anime, but Kino didn't strike me that way (nor did Nausicaa). Are you referring to heavy here as in "heavy with the moral"? The only reason I would hesitate to use it as a starter is that it's not really very representative of anime. |
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dormcat
Encyclopedia Editor
Posts: 9902 Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC |
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Certainly. Kino dealt with many philosophical issues, and several of them were quite uncomfortable: 1) spoiler[Kino saved three "travelers" who turned out to be human traders who had even devoured their "cargo" when trapped in deep snow.] 2) spoiler[The two formerly bitter enemy nations now compete with "wars" by literally hunting a less advanced village in order to vent out youthful rages and prevent the real war. Ironically, those villagers found Kino and tried to kill her in order to vent their own futile anger, until Kino was forced to kill one of them.] 3) spoiler[In Kino's hometown, the way of "becoming an adult" was in fact an advanced brain surgery and becoming an emotionless pawn of the government.] Compared to Kino, the ethical elements in Nausicaa were much milder, although some people still brand it as a movie for tree-huggers. Last edited by dormcat on Wed Apr 04, 2007 2:27 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Iritscen
Subscriber Posts: 797 |
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Yeah, the points you mention were pretty rough, actually.
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bonbonsrus
 Posts: 1537 Location: Michigan, USA |
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A fairly standard choice would be something like Cowboy Bebop I think. I hear time and again people saying that was their "gateway anime" and it has a good dub. It's pretty broad in it's fan base.
Something like Fruits Basket as well might surprise. It's a sweet story and not too dark, I can't think of anything objectionable. Some people will NEVER like anime no matter WHAT it is. My husband (and father, and mother) are of that sort, and that's ok. I am never gonna love watching most sports, but we do other things together. |
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Ryvius213
Posts: 291 |
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Miyazaki films are a great way to get into anime. Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke are probably the best choices. It depends on what your friend's wife likes to watch. If she's into dramas, then I'd suggest Planetes, since it focuses on character relationships. If she likes novel-based stories, then Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo would be a good idea.
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Ouroboros
 Posts: 7 Location: Washington |
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The last anime I've tried that worked in getting a girl into anime was Eureka 7...not one of my top shows but it presents an interesting premise, very likeable characters, and a fast paced and entertaining story. I think everyone can also find some kind of appeal in shows like Cowboy Bebop and Trigun. Also, a film such as FF7 Advent Children (though not technically anime) can be something of a gateway as it is animated and can certainly find solid ground on a lot of levels with other anime. Finally, like many others said, anything by Miyazaki, namely Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Laputa: Castles in the Sky.
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Rakushun
 Posts: 116 Location: Hawaii |
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I heartily agree with Tokyo Godfathers. It's an excellent movie that could be done with live actors just as easily. For Ghibli, I would suggest Porco Rosso as a crossover, especially for adults. The fantasy and action elements in this movie are not overpowering, but they still display the quality of animation. Michael Keaton and Cary Elwes FTW! Great Teacher Onizuka uses a familiar formula for comedy: the idiot with a heart of gold that you can laugh at and cheer for at the same time. It is very easy to get into and translates very well to live-action. I don't know about the quality of the dub, though. |
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Treetastic
 Posts: 164 Location: Canada |
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I second (or should it be "third"?) R.O.D. I found that my family members, who aren't really into anime, liked Kino; but I suppose it depends on what sort of story the person likes. There is definately objectionable content.
Really, any good show with nothing too objectionable should make a good impression. Say, Kaleido Star, Stellvia... my mother likes Maison Ikkoku. Galaxy Railways is a good bet, if you can suspend disbelief for awhile. Oh yeah, and AzuDai, even though it's been mentioned at least twice. |
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Cloe
Moderator
 Posts: 2728 Location: Los Angeles, CA |
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A great anime film that will already fit into your friend's taste and likely appeal to his wife is The Wings of Honneamise, widely regarded as one of the "classics" of the medium. It's very realistic SF in a similar vein of Planetes, and contains solid story and animation through and through. I can't comment on the quality of the dub, though, since I've never watched it (despite the fact that I own the DVD).
I've successfully used Memories and Millenium Actress as "anime recruiting" titles on several occasions, but you run into the subtitle problem there, as both of these titles (and the aforementioned Tokyo Godfathers), were released sub-only, akin to foreign film, on US DVD. It's really a shame that this subtitle barrier exists for so many Americans, since there are so many great titles they're missing out on. And I agree with the Cowboy Bebop suggestion; it's easily one of the most accessible titles in animedom and has proven to be a "gateway drug" for thousands of fans already. |
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ryokoalways
Posts: 562 |
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I wonder if Honey and Clover would fit. I don't know if it would appeal to that age group, but everyone should be able to identify with at least one of the themes explored in the series. It's fairly serious with bits of humor through out.
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