Forum - View topicUnder Appreciated Gems
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Redbeard 101
Oscar the Grouch
Forums Superstar  Posts: 16963 |
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Since the masses, well it's really just 1 person, demanded this thread be made, he didn't really demand per se, I have heard your cries, more like quiet grumbles, and have brought to you this thread you so desired, didn't ask for, and wanted.
If you need an explanation as to the purpose of this thread then here's a dollar, go buy yourself a clue. If you didn't get that joke, so very sad, here's the idea. You post what you feel are under appreciated series or movies that were not just good, but outstanding (hence the term gem and not cheap fake jewelry). Now you better explain WHY you think this way because if some one lining troll gets my thread locked I'll find you and make you eat hickory smoked horse buttholes, from a cup! I'll get the ball rolling I'll start off with Haibane Renmei. I thought it was under appreciated but after being here I've noticed many people have seen it. For those who haven't this series is the epitome of what a good drama should be like. The character relationships in this movie are one of the best features. Each character is show attention and their interactions, while in a fantasy setting, are very similar to what a modern day Orphanage might face (sort of similar I think). They face every day problems and the emotions of real young teens and adults growing into themselves. The gorgeous visuals and unique designs are just a further driving point of this fact. Not like you wouldn't expect that coming from Mr. Abe though. Besides gorgeous visuals and heart warming characters the music really help set the moments for you. One of the best examples of good placement for music in the show. Once you're done watching the only complaint you'll have is that the show wasn't a full 26 episode series. Well maybe not your only complaint but it's my only complaint. |
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ManOfRust
 Posts: 1935 Location: Seattle, WA |
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It's from December, but this thread had a similar idea. Things didn't work out so well in that one though, so hopefully this will turn out better.
animenewsnetwork.com/bbs/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=30727&highlight=under+rated Also, 3 posts down in that thread, Zalis links to 5 other older but related topics. I agree that Haibane Renmei is a fantastic anime. In fact, along with Kino's Journey it may well be my favorite out of everything I have seen. I'm not sure you can call it under appreciated, though, at least not among the ANN crowd. It is ranked #19 in the encyclopedia's best rated anime list. On the other hand it's not something you are going to see on TV, and I don't think it was ever heavily advertised or anything. Unfortunately, I'm having a hard time thinking of something I really loved but that is truly under appreciated. I pretty much see all my anime from either DVD or TV, so I don't come across too many quality titles that are not also well known. I guess I could mention Midori Days because I don't see it discussed a lot and I thought it was a fun title. The premise was unusual, the characters were truly likable, and while it wasn't a blockbuster type of release by any stretch of the imagination it was one of those titles I picked up on a whim and ended up enjoying far more than I expected. I can't really call it a rare find though.
[Homer Simpson voice] Mmmmm. Hickory smoked....[/voice] |
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Eruanna
 Posts: 451 Location: Canada |
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Glass Fleet is a fairly new show, and I haven't found very many others who have actually seen it, and out of those who have seen it, I have only encountered one other person who actually liked it. And for the life of me, I honestly dont know why it is so unpopular. Arguments against it include; "The animation is horrible" when I hadnt noticed anything really wrong with the animation, "Its too melodramatic and so over the top its funny" and to me, it hadnt seemed much more angsty or melodramatic then your average action-drama anime, "The character designs are terrible" and I had found them really quite nice, and so on and so forth. It isnt that Im not willing to listen to their arguments, its just that I honestly dont see any of the things they are talking about in the show. To each his own I suppose.
In any case, Glass Fleet is a fairly dark, though not dark looking, plotline. that touches on alot of very mature, taboo subjects. Some of the subject matter is disturbing, and its not a "feel good" show, but its very... 'deep' really isnt the word, it's thought provoking, in any case. Even though I really hated the ending, I would still strongly reccomend this show. The characters are so well developed and portrayed, especially Vetti, the villain of the show. Probably one of the most well developed villainsI have ever seen, though certainly not one of the most likable. All in all this show was incredibly well put together in my opinion, and I really dont understand why people dont like it. Witch Hunter Robin on the other hand, I can tell where critics of this are comming from. Its slow, even boring in places. And yes, the first ten or so episodes are plagued by "monster of the week" syndrome. And yes, the artwork is fairly low budget. But this is one of my absolute favourites. Its a gothic mystery-drama-suspence that, once the real plot gets going, keeps you on the edge of your seat. I adore Witch Hunter Robin, and I think people should give it more of a chance. It gets brushed over alot in favour of more action packed shows with cleavage, which is a shame, because its a really good one. |
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Malintex Terek
Guest
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Bartender is one of those excellent tiles that people just pass over simply because it's got an unusual premise. It's sincere, dramatic, and refreshing; admittedly, the only flaw of the show is that there's not enough movement to contrast the dialogue heavy narration (much like Death Note) so it can quickly get boring. Unlike DN, though, Bartender lacks the force of exaggerated hype to keep it in the public eye.
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Redbeard 101
Oscar the Grouch
Forums Superstar Posts: 16963 |
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I wouldn't consider WHR really an under appreciated title. I might be biased but almost anything that gets aired on CN and AS really can't claim that. Just my opinion. A good show, once it got going, no problem with that. Just don't see it as a more under appreciated show compaired to something like Midori Days. That show was very cute. A nice light comedy that wasn't too long. The idea of her being on his right hand was a unique idea too. Bonus points for originality and the obvious "hand" jokes that could be made
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Deltakiral
 Posts: 3338 Location: Glendora, CA (Avatar Hei from Darker than BLACK) |
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Certainly a series on [AS] can be under appreciated, but one couldn't say it didn't have enough press. WHR was pushed somewhat, considering how Sci-Fi really wanted to do a live action version of this series. For me I pick something like Comedy which has a great Bayesian estimate of 42 and but is number 736 as far as been seen, I really like this short (it's only 10 mins long I believe) in particular because of design and feel from the art.....It's almost like I can describe the certain darkness of this anime, anyways check that out if you have a little spare time. |
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Rozzer
 Posts: 344 Location: So Cali |
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I believe Monster to be an under appreciated gem to all of the people who live in the States and the only way they're able to watch anime is when it's licensed.
Rumors are abound about a live action version of the story, but I really do think this title deserves distribution in the States since it's an amazing psychological/suspense/thriller, and who in their right mind doesn't enjoy something like that? 
I thought I might also mention Hunter X Hunter because it's been around for many years, and since spoiler[practically the whole series is about the Hunters exam with lots and lots of fighting, you'd think a teaser/trailer or something might turn some heads to get it licensed.] Of course I know that is not how it works to get something licensed in the states, but come on, it's an amazing action packed series, who wouldn't love Gon Freaks and his friends? Last edited by Rozzer on Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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bonbonsrus
 Posts: 1537 Location: Michigan, USA |
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I admit, I am an almost exclusive "released" person myself. I have been able to see a few other titles, however, I only just recently got off dial-up and haven't yet screwed around with trying to DL fansubs and whatnot. I know my hubby would FREAK out on me if I did anything and messed up any of our comp and being not very tech savy, I have been hesitant, however, I have heard decent buzz about monster. I had never heard of Comedy (which I now want to see) or Bartender. I would have to list Super GALS as an under appreciated anime. Perhaps because it is about a group of gals (without being a harem show) and not really too focused on romantic relationships (at least not too much until later in series, and even then, it's not it's sole drive) and it isn't full of bishi's, although it DOES have GL guys (good looking as any GAL can tell you!) and it's not strictly a comedy, although it does have a lot of comedy in it, and it isn't full of drama, although there is some of that, and it is hard to say "if you like XXX you will like this!" because I can't think of a good comparison to this show. I have heard relatively little about this show for as GOOD as I thought it was. The first season I watched both subbed and dubbed and both were excellent (I really loved the dub, I admit) and was a wee sad I wouldn't have that option for the second season, as it's sub only, but it's a great show either way. |
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JCB
 Posts: 11 Location: Hopewell, VA |
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For much the same reason that I think Bartender was ignored by the average viewer, I think series like Mushishi and Jigoku Shoujo - as well as Kino no Tabi - are all generally underappreciated. They are all episodic in nature, are heavy on narrative, and have a very laid back style. I think anime fans are too often looking for action or a laugh and so they pass up more serious and dramatic shows that focus on real human problems. I admit that they can be boring if the story in one particular episode isn't as interesting as the others, but series like this tend to top my list of favorites.
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Periodeia
 Posts: 28 |
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Fantastic Children, definitely. It seems to get ignored a lot because of its title, the art design, and the fact that it recieved little to no hype. Which is a great shame because I think it has one of the most amazing plots I've seen in anime; a slowly unfolding mystery with an intriguing cast of characters, addressing themes such as the worth of life, death, love, family, and the limits of science.
There are several sides to the story. In the beginning, there seem to be three separate plots. One involves the mysterious Children of Befort, flashing back and forth from late 19th century Europe to the year 2012 in the southern archipelago. The second involves the boy Thoma, who helps two orphans Helga and Chitto, and the mystery behind Helga's drawings. And then there is Detective Cooks and Alice, a duo reminiscent of Mulder and Scully, as they investigate the actions of a secret government organization and its ties to the Children of Befort in the past. Eventually all the plot threads come together and we see how they are connected. The final few episodes are very intense and emotional; I cry every time I watch them. I highly recommend this anime to anyone who enjoys drama, mystery, fantasy, and science fiction. It's one of my favorites, and again, it's such a shame that so few people are aware of it. |
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varmintx
 Posts: 1234 Location: Covington, KY |
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Since Haibane-Renmei was mentioned I feel I would be remiss if I didn't mention the really under appreciated Yoshitoshi ABe/Tomokazu Tokoro show, NieA_7.
I believe a lot of people are lulled into assuming it's just a light comedy by the first two episodes, but I think the show has a lot to say. No, it's not quite as good as Haibane, but the slight quality difference is disproportionate to the neglect it receives. |
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ShootYouStars
 Posts: 37 Location: Kansas |
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Okay, though I'm probably alone in this, Uta-kata. From the first few episodes, the show seems to be nothing special. Slightly shojo-ai-flavored, I suppose, it seems... and it definitely fits in the magical girl genere. (Though we are spared long and repeated transformation scenes, and there is a different outfit each week.) but as the series starts to reach the half-way point, we start to see that this series gets very dramatic. Yeah, it's got some subtle fanservice, and yes, there is both shojo-ai and shonen-ai in the end and the OVA. But it's got some really good points in it. Not to mention, the costumes for each week are designed by different manga-ka/character designers/etc, from some pretty high-profile backgrounds. The original manga artist of FLCL, and the person who did Negima and Love Hina, (who's name I can never remember how to spell, because I don't read his stuff...) You would think at least that would bring some viewers to the show, but it still seems to be pretty unheard of...
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Amethyst Alchemist
Former ANN Editor
 Posts: 312 Location: where it's always a good morning |
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I personally think Eureka 7 is underappreciated. It has great music, mostly great animation, and a nice story. I think it is written well and is quite unique and as original as another mecha anime can be. It sometimes goes into interesting psychological pursuits, sort of like NGE. Overall, I think it is wonderful and deserves to be rated higher than it is.
Another under appreciated anime is Samurai X: Reflection. Granted, Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal are better than the second set of OVAs. However, they are still written very well, have beautiful music, and attractive animation, while maintaining a wonderful story. Rurouni Kenshin the series is pretty much worthless in my mind because it is horribly written. But is you just watch the Kenshin OVAs you have about the best crop of anime you can find--the second ones included. I say this partly because Reflection made me bawl but Reminiscence just made me really sad. |
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CloverKuroba
 Posts: 506 |
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I agree that Haibane Renmei and Kino's Journey are underappreciated gems 100%.
Haibane Renmei is an anime that is relaxing, yet dramatic at times. The characters have their own personalites, the atmosphere is mysterious yet peaceful, and Haibane Renmei makes us think about things like, spoiler[why did Kuu dissapear?]I like how the creators leave us with much to think about and Haibane Renmei is definetly a contempoary masterpiece in it's own right. Kino's Journey is another series that makes you put your thinking cap on. Each vignette has impressive storytelling and shows the dark side of human nature as well as the light side. We question this beautiful world we live in, for the good and the bad, just like Kino. Kino is a heroine that both girls and boys can look up to. Some other gems that I love are Kodocha, Aria the Animation, and Nanaka 6/17. Kodocha is a LOT of fun, with zany characters and plots. You'll laugh at least once every episode. But Kodocha is also a drama that can touch your heart, and even cry (I did once). Aria the Animation is a very gentle and relaxing anime that has gorgeous art and backgrounds. The stories are also very heartwarming and the characters are likable. While nothing is very action-y, Aria intrigues you with it's sublety and peacefullness. Nanaka 6/17 is another anime that's really fun to watch. Nanaka is episodic, and the earlier episodes, while funny, have essentially little meaning to the central plot. But the later episodes explore the older Nanaka's cold nature and Genji battles with himself about who he likes better, the young cheerful Nanaka or the cold and calculating older Nanaka. The drama in Nanaka really pulls you in (it did for me, I was so angry when TAN put up an E's Otherwise episode in place of Nanaka episode 11). Last edited by CloverKuroba on Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:55 pm; edited 6 times in total |
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Amasa
 Posts: 340 Location: Japan |
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Pom Poko is definitely under appreciated and definitely a gem, especially since it's a Ghibli creation! My favorite anime film, mainly because I've never really seen anything like it. Completely unique and different to other Ghibli works and definitely an outstanding creation in terms of anime films in general. So imaginitve, so creative, beautiful, inspirational, influential and fantastic! I've seen every Ghibli film now and Pom Poko is a better enviro saga than Nausicaa, more intricate that Howl's and definitely more breathtaking Mononoke, far more adventurous than Spirited Away and way cuter than Totoro! The first spoiler["invasion" scene where they assaulted New Tama with their wonderful morphing performances is probably the most awed I've been while watching anime]. Definitely not appreciated enough!
Red Garden, sure it's still ongoing but judging from these forums and the torrent seeds it's under appreciated  . It makes me so sad that so many people are missing out on such a wonderful series. People don't be turned off by the awkward animation, you get used to it and eventually you'll love it! I'm on episode 19 and it's already made it's way into my top ten series. It's so touching and it displays the best emotional presentation ever. It's realism to the max with a touch of spoiler[magical schoolgirl and uncontrollable monsters]. I've never seen something which does a task of portraying typical anime genre in such an original and realistic way so that the viewers can completely empathize with every one of the brilliantly acted characters. Hopefully the ending will match up to the sparkling experience I've endured so far. Red Garden is a Red Hot Ruby on the measure of Under Appreciated Gems!
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