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Bango



Joined: 06 Jul 2013
Posts: 1122
PostPosted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 2:03 pm Reply with quote
Another topic got me thinking of this. As new anime comes out past kings no doubt get knocked off the monkey bars. What's the history of your favourites?

For me it was likely Tenchi -> Read or Die -> Scrapped Princess -> Nanoha -> Madoka

In my case a favourite doesn't mean "best". For example, I saw Lodoss War and El-Hazard around the same time as Tenchi and I feel both of them completely kick Tenchi's butt in every way possible. Yet Tenchi brings extra fond memories which put it above Lodoss or El-Hazard on this list.

But list your's under whatever criteria you please.
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Sohma_Curse



Joined: 07 Dec 2012
Posts: 512
Location: New York
PostPosted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 6:46 pm Reply with quote
Elfen Lied (first anime I ever watched) -> Fruits Basket -> Angel Beats -> Ouran High School Host Club -> Clannad/After Story -> School Rumble -> Kanon/Lucky Star

Honorable mentions (purely based on emotional response and not actual quality of the show): Steins;Gate, Ghost Hunt, Air, Bamboo Blade, Mushi-Shi, Spirited Away, Dusk Maiden of Amnesia XXXHOLiC, Last Exile, Kaze no Stigma, Canaan, Gunslinger Girl, Speed Grapher, Moonphase, Black Butler

In the midst of watching at the moment (and could potentially become new favorites): Hellsing Ultimate, FMA Brotherhood, His and Her Citcumstances, Full Metal Panic

In the queue (and highly anticipating): Madoka, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Serial Experiments Lain, Penguindrum, Gurren Lagann, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, Another, Kino's Journey, Haibane-Renmei, Princess Tutu

As you can see, my tastes are pretty all over the place. But when a show finds a connection with me, it can be for any reason; compelling/entertaining characters (Ouran, Fruits Basket), intensely emotional moments (Elfen Lied, Clannad), or just plain ridiculousness (School Rumble, Lucky Star).


Last edited by Sohma_Curse on Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:54 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Rhyono



Joined: 03 Dec 2011
Posts: 1039
PostPosted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 6:57 pm Reply with quote
I don't quite have a solid progression. There are many things I love, and if you asked me what my favorite was, I wouldn't know.

The closest I can say is that many things I watched 3-4 years ago (most/all of which did not come out in that time frame but are 8+ years old now) became among my favorites.

The most recent to be a contender for the top for me would be Steins;Gate, which was a solid 2 years ago.

Sohma_Curse listed quite a few things that are in my favorites. Albeit they were almost exclusively not part of the first list.
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Ferian



Joined: 10 Feb 2009
Posts: 162
PostPosted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:43 pm Reply with quote
Slayers + Slayers NEXT -> Kara no Kyoukai and Aria.

And really, between those two points, no other series stood at the top, except maybe Rurouni Kenshin - Tsuiokuhen, which is the most likely title you'll hear from me after asking a question of, "what is the best anime you've seen?"

Slayers are the first anime series I have seen... Well, that isn't entirely true; to be accurate, I'd need to add "consciously" to that sentence. There were several better series that I have watched since but all of those... lacked love, my love, that is. Cool I guess part of it is my positive bias towards the show due to it being my first but more than that, I just happened to be lucky enough to find a series which fit me like a glove, so to say; as if made specifically catering to my tastes. After reading some of the novels, my love for the anime diminished, though very slightly. I simply prefer the novels' style; flanderization doesn't do the anime any favours, either.

My current favorites are Kara no Kyoukai and Aria. These two are very different but if I was forced to decide between the two, Aria would blow away any semblence of a competition. I can honestly say that I am genuinely in love with that series. Aria is simply... beautiful, there are no better words to put my thoughts in.

Kara no Kyoukai benefited strongly from my prior experience with the Nasuverse. If not for that, I'd have to deduct points for the story and it would likely fall out of its current place. The movies are made for Type-Moon fans, catering to nearly every whim imaginable. ufotable's efforts are greatly appreciated - KnK is the closest thing to a perfect Nasu work adaptation I can imagine.

In-between, there were numerous contenders for the top position, most notably, Great Teacher Onizuka -> Haruhi Suzumiya no Yuutsu -> Kanon -> Baccano! -> Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

A special mention goes to Shinsekai Yori, a series which was as if tailored to my wishes - a story driven by the mysteries of the world, the dystopian setting, the central conflicts; in a single word, everything. Had characterization been stronger and more consistent, the story's pace a bit more steady and balanced, and animation just a bit better, this series would stand for a long time at the top of my list. Alas, its numerous flaws prevent me from thinking more highly still of this magnificent story.
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Tony K.
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Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 11447
Location: Frisco, TX
PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 2:38 am Reply with quote
Bango wrote:
list

Teh Rules wrote:
3. Discussions should carry some measure of intelligence to them. Consider if what you are writing is relevant or important to others. If it does not contribute to the discussion, then do not post it. Please post detailed answers to questions; lists and one-liners do not contribute.

Unless all of you put some kind of reasoning in a little paragraph or something underneath your choices, then consider your posts deleted.
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Bango



Joined: 06 Jul 2013
Posts: 1122
PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 11:21 am Reply with quote
I did. In the paragraph that follows the list. While it's not a review of the items in the list (which isn't the goal of the topic) it does highlight how the list came to be, why certain things aren't on it and opens up for others to evaluate their choices similarly.

Actually, I'd say just firing off reviews for the shows would be boring and wouldn't help discussion at all. By touching on why things -aren't- on such a list it builds a much more interesting inventory. This is reflected in some of the other users' lists too.
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Ignatz





PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 11:54 am Reply with quote
Bango wrote:
Actually, I'd say just firing off reviews for the shows would be boring and wouldn't help discussion at all.

But what exacly should we discuss? Why a certain anime is and is not in a person's list? Kinda pointless, don't you think? We already have a thread like this - Top 10 best / Top 5 worst anime.
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Bango



Joined: 06 Jul 2013
Posts: 1122
PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 12:09 pm Reply with quote
Because "best and worst" isn't the point of the topic. It's inspecting how our favourites change over time and seeing how far in-between some favourites last.

Does a long gap between two favourites signify anything? What factors might have effected such a gap? Has one series stood on top for a very long time and hasn't been dethroned yet despite other shows appearing that maybe "should have"? What insight can be gained from other people's progression and do we learn anything about our own progression from it?

So yeah. Not a simple "best and worst" topic.

These are things this topic seeks to explore. It was never meant as a rating list topic and right from my first post wasn't advertised as one unless you don't read past the list itself.
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TsunaReborn!



Joined: 08 Sep 2012
Posts: 4713
Location: Cheltenham UK
PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 4:16 pm Reply with quote
Dragonball (original) > Gurren Lagann > Girl Who Leapt Through Time > Anohana

I loved the original Dragonball series when I was growing up I would still hold it within my top 5 and Launch and Bulma are 2 of my favourite characters from any series.

Gurren Lagann was the first non "gateway" series I watched and I loved the twists, how unexpected events like spoiler[Kamina's death] kept me guessing and on my toes.

Girl Who Leapt Through Time - still my second favourite anime - I can re-watch over again at any time and no matter how may times I have watched the film I always manage to ball from where spoiler[Chiaki states he has to leave through to the end of the film].

Anohana is hands down my favourite series. The show makes me feel so many emotions. I have watched this show countless times and still feel the same emotions I did when I first watched. I cried multiple times throughout its run and still do. Whenever I hear Secret Base I begin to well up even as I think of spoiler[firework and the "found you" scenes] I am beginning to well up now... Maybe I'm just a sucker for a cry fest ha.

I do want to mention that if I hadn't seen Anohana my favourite could possibly be Big Windup. I finally got around to watching it last weekend and I manager to some how watch 26 episode of the first 2 series in under 48 hours - I have never been able to do that before. That series gripped me for some reason I still cannot quite put my finger on... Especially as I new nothing about baseball.
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P€|\||§_|\/|ast@



Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 3498
Location: IN your nightmares
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 12:32 am Reply with quote
Bango wrote:
As new anime comes out past kings no doubt get knocked off the monkey bars.
Actually this does not happen for me. As new anime comes out, my favorites list just keeps getting longer. From what I can tell most people's favorites seem like they are anime from within the past 5 years because newness somehow seems to be a contributing factor to how good they rate a show.

Perhaps if I list only the years that my top 5 favorite shows were made, this would help demonstrate my perception of what favorites mean to me.
1) 2001
2) 2007
3) 1995
4) 2012
5) 2003

I don't understand how there is supposed to be a chronological progression or any sense of time in placing value of one series over another. Of course that's not to say everyone else isn't completely different on this matter.
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Bango



Joined: 06 Jul 2013
Posts: 1122
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 1:00 am Reply with quote
Ever since the digital era If I do ever dip back in time it's usually only a season or 2 so that's why my list is chronologically progressive. Prior to the digital era I had no clue when shows came out because it was whatever Blockbuster Video or the local anime club had and many series at the club were out of order when we got them (like I remember seeing Lamune 40 Fire before the rest and Iczer 3 before Iczer 1) but that was just a by-product of the no/low-internet VHS era

I wonder if I'd somehow seen Madoka BEFORE seeing say, Read or Die if RoD would've ever become a favourite. I don't think it would have toppled Madoka for me.
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Bread_Sticks



Joined: 10 Mar 2013
Posts: 16
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 10:10 am Reply with quote
Yu Yu Hakusho > Inuyasha > Welcome to the N.H.K

I absolutely loved Yu Yu Hakusho as a kid. Really went for the tournament style as a kid, loved the storyline and character relationships. i was obsessed with that show, i learned how to use the VCR to record episodes i couldn't catch. Only show i ever remember using the VCR for, i refused to miss an episode. i remember my mom yellin at me once for erasing one of her shows for my "cartoons" Laughing

Inuyasha - Always a sucker for a good romance anime, also had alot of fighting and action perfect mix for me at the time. Kagome was defiantly my first anime crush Surprised . Though i never finished the show unfortunately, it ranks becuase of the the nostalgia factor and obsession that lead me into other anime and manga (was also my first manga). It came on tv really late where i was, i was sleep deprived for years because of inuyasha & case closed.

Case Closed has to get an honorable mention, was a tough choice as i saw it side by side with inuyasha. Gave the nod to inuyasha becuase it really sparked an obsession for me. If you asked me now i would rank Case Closed above inuyasha. Case Closed for me defiantly still in my top 5 all time.

Then there was a long hiatus from anime for me. Just got back into it about 7 months ago. saw about 2 or 3 anime then i caught Welcome to the N.H.K. That show was absolutely brilliant for my taste, very relatable characters and a great storyline. Hit the whole range of emotions for me from beginning to end . a real work of art, an example of what can really be done with the medium.


@Tsuna
I like your taste, i loved the girl who lept through time. was my favorite for about a week, then i saw N.H.K. didn't think was long enough time as my favorite to put on the list Laughing . i haven't seen Anohana, but i will defiantly check it out now Very Happy
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Aylinn



Joined: 18 Nov 2006
Posts: 1684
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 11:16 am Reply with quote
Slayers > Serial Experiments Lain > Monster > Rose of Versailles > Princess Tutu > Nodame Cantabile > Mawaru Penguindrum

Slayers is the first series that really made me interested in Japanese cartoons. I also watched Dragon Ball Z on TV at that time, but even than its endless fights bored me and while I liked Magic Knight Rayearth, which was also on TV, I didn't like it as much as Slayers.

After that I was actively looking for more anime and found out the remaining series. Serial Experiments Lain was very different from any cartoon that I have seen and I found it very interesting, than there was Monster and Rose of Versailles, which blown me away. Princess Tutu, which turned out to be far better than I expected. Nodame Cantabile with its fantastic characters and Mawaru Penguindrum, which, as far as drama is concerned, is a tour de force.

I would also like to mention Pandora Hearts. The anime covers only around 7 volumes and there are some other issues that prevent me from considering it my favourite anime, but the manga is so good and unfortunately, the anime stops long before the really awesome part of the story begins. It's such a cleverly plotted series that it's a pity it doesn't have a proper anime.

I don't know if there are any interesting conclusions that can be drown from my timeline of favourites other than that I have an excellent taste Razz
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TsunaReborn!



Joined: 08 Sep 2012
Posts: 4713
Location: Cheltenham UK
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:39 pm Reply with quote
Bread_Sticks wrote:
@Tsuna
I like your taste, i loved the girl who lept through time. was my favorite for about a week, then i saw N.H.K. didn't think was long enough time as my favorite to put on the list Laughing . i haven't seen Anohana, but i will defiantly check it out now Very Happy


Thank you very much! N.H.K is on my ever growing list of series to obtain but I am not sure if I will grab the anime or the manga... we will wait and see. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the Girl Who Leapt Through Time its the film I turn to when I'm bored and can't be bothered to do anything, it's too good!

if you watch Anohana make sure to have plenty of tissues - I was still sobbing at 20 minuets after the final episode finished... embarrassingly there is no exaggeration in that statement. Cannot wait for the film!

P.S. loving Senyu - my favourite 4 minuets of the week Cool
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Bread_Sticks



Joined: 10 Mar 2013
Posts: 16
PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 11:14 am Reply with quote
You've got to check it out, personally i'd recommend the anime. The dub is excellent. I would say though if you prefer subbed you would be better off reading the manga. I think the anime loses some of its character through stale-"ish" translations.


Haha, i love the honesty. I'll be sure to keep them handy. I'll watch it next after i finish His and Her Circumstances.


Well i guess i'll check out Senyu as well, seems easy enough to digest
Laughing
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