Forum - View topicBest Introduction Episode?
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ElementSun
Posts: 106 |
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You all know what I'm talking about. There are some animes where it starts off kind of slow, and you have to watch around 4-5 episodes before the story becomes a little bit interesting.
THEN, there are those animes where it just grabs you by the first episode and just literally pulls you through the entire series. The first episode of an anime is like the introduction of an essay, there has to be some kind of hook to make the audience curious and want to watch more. Which anime series do you think the has most effective introduction episode? I think Fullmetal Alchemist has a really nice intro, giving us some information on Alchemy and introducing the personalities of Ed and Al, but not going in too deep to depict their entire past, just enough to keep me interested. |
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Key
Moderator
 Posts: 18443 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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Wow, lots of good options to go with here, so I'll just choose a few of the strongest.
I cannot think of a series which more quickly grabs you by its throat and makes you its bitch (or more quickly turns you off) than Elfen Lied. Its opening sequence is just stunning if you're not expecting, and before the end of the first episode it has shown most of the series' key elements, including the decided contrasts between the lighter and darker sides of the series and some of the potential relationship issues. One series I have always thought got off to a terrific start is Noir. It sets the interesting style and premise for the series, invokes various mysteries, draws you in with a fantastic action sequence, and offers a great hook with its line, "make a journey to the past with me." Another series which really sells itself with its first episode is Koi Kaze. It's an extremely rare example of a first episode that can actually be emotionally compelling enough to bring tears to your eyes, and it beautifully establishes the characters before dropping the key plot hook on you. And honestly, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better start to a comedy series than Excel Saga. But killing the title character multiple times in the first episode, and having her try to spoiler[kill her manga creator] will do that for you. There are several others I could name, but I'll let others have a crack at it. |
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Vortextk
 Posts: 892 Location: Orlando, Fl |
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And it's funny how it slowly turned me off the farther it got in  . Not bad, but it could've done more!
For a newer series, Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann really strutted its stuff. I saw an art shot of it and was a bit questioning. However the level of animation and totally over the top characters like Kamina and the endearing Simon pulled me in. For some of the same, one of my favorite anime FLCL pulls this off as well.(Gainax and a lot of the same people that just did TTGL, correct? Probably why I like that show so much so far) That quite normal boring town intro followed by a crazy vespa riding guitar wielding maniac smashing the main character in the head was great. And the slow motion scene with the "cast shot" poking fun was humorous. This truly isn't an anime where you anticipate it's next move and I loved that the first time I watched. Ack! I have a pretty good memory if you were to say the title of an anime or movie or something, I can usually remember a lot about them. But I'm horrible with picking names out of the air and My Anime lists seem to be down for maintenance right now. Maybe I'll post some more later. |
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ryokoalways
Posts: 562 |
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While Higurashi's first episode wasn't spectacular overall, there were just enough key moments from it that draws the viewer into it completely. The first scene, the contrasting tone of beginning and ending to the middle parts, and the slowly unraveling background information about the town all served as pretty good build-up.
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Zewerr
 Posts: 539 Location: Tacoma, WA |
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I think the first 2 minutes of Azumanga Daioh where spoiler[Miss Yukari steals the the unnamed male student's bike] was enough for me to realize I was really going to enjoy the show. The rest of the episode just made sure that I was sure.
I'm also recently mentioned in the "What are you watching now" thread that I started watching Utawarerumono. Though the first episode didn't really bring out where the story was going, just the sheer overall quality of the anime made me look forward to the rest of the series. The scenery and artwork were absolutely beautiful. The dub and soundtrack was amazingly realistic. It had a perfect balance of CGI thrown in, which wasn't blantantly obvious. And the characters were very lively. |
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Master_M2K
 Posts: 127 Location: UK, London |
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I think the best 1st episode will have to go Death Note because most people go into it not knowing what to expect. Then it brings us one of the most cinematic 1st episode with a unique and compelling protagonist that will have you wondering " Is he good or bad"
I also have to agree about Elfen Lied because I had no Idea of what to expect because I found out about it from some advert, then I tuned in to watch the most gory 6mins of any anime beginning. 
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larinon
 Posts: 992 Location: Midland, TX |
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The first one that comes to mind for me is Rahxephon.
It starts out innocently enough, as Ayato is simply on his way to school, taking the subway, when the city of Tokyo is suddenly attacked. Seeing the subway car lurching with people being thrown about, and then having Ayato emerge from the tunnel to see a city in the throes of combat...these are very powerful moments. The anxiety and tension from just not knowing what is going on draws you in as well. After I watched the first episode on a Newtype preview disc, I had to go out and buy the first volume immediately. By the time I got to episode 19 or 20, whichever episode ended the fifth disc, I ended up downloading fansubs for the rest of the series because the delay was killing me (of course I still bought the rest of the discs). It's a masterpiece, at least in my opinion. |
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bonbonsrus
 Posts: 1537 Location: Michigan, USA |
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Wow, some good ones have been named already, so I only have a few to add...
I will say Nerima Daikon Brothers for a comedy, one that is more to my taste than Excel Saga which has already been named. When watching you are quickly indoctrinated into the mad cap musical about daikons and singing aspirations and if the first episode doesn't grab you, shut it off as the rest is more of the same, although I have to think you will be clamoring for more. Another I will name would be Kurau: Phantom Memory, which I think starts off very strongly, getting you exposed to a nice little family life and then showing how it changes so drastically and how it effects the family involved. Honestly, I was very moved only a bit more than half way into the first episode watching the father's reations, that alone hooked me and made me want to see more. Maybe that affected me more than others as a parent myself, so perhaps not everyone would feel that way. |
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Key
Moderator
Posts: 18443 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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Yeah, KPM is another series I should have mentioned.
But let's keep in mind, people, that ElementSun is asking for the most effective first episode, not necessarily the best and certainly not just your favorites. I see that as an episode that sets the stage and tone for a series, gives you a good sense of what the series will be like, and either hooks a viewer or repels them (for clearly not being to their tastes). Ideally it should also be compelling. Just moments ago I finished watching the first episode of Welcome to the NHK for an upcoming review, and boy, what a compelling first episode that one has! Not necessarily the kind of thing that will get you all fired-up excited about a series, but it's still an immensely intriguing start. |
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marie-antoinette
 Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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I think DNAngel has a very good introduction episode, which is why I've been keeping with the series even though I found some of the middle episodes to be a bit dull.
Secrets of Cerulean Sand is the same way: amazing beginning which keeps you watching even in the not so amazing middle section (it also has an awesome ending, I have never cried as much during an anime). Gunslinger Girl is another one that just grabs you right away (though the second episode isn't so wonderful). |
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Cow-Boy_Be-Bop
 Posts: 670 Location: In front of the computer |
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First off the plural of anime is anime. You do not add an 'S' So lets see, I think Bleach had a good opening episode. It introduced the characters pretty good, and it also explains the show and how it works when rukia shows ichigo the pictures. It goes good for the episode and it helps us understand everything instead of leaving us blind sighted about how things work and being confused for episodes to come. So I think it was a good opening episode to get the ball rolling. |
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Zerreth
 Posts: 210 Location: E6 |
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Futakoi Alternative
You started off with an opening that's a bit unexpected. Then you have the first episode which has an amazing flow of story, humor, and action. The pace isn't too fast, and learning the main and secondary characters doesn't take that much time. Honestly, I felt that Futakoi Alternative had one of the best, if not the best, pilots as there weren't any cliff hangers, or too much of anything. I can't say that it fit well with the rest of the series however... |
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blueblack_88
 Posts: 6 Location: NJ |
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i think the best introduction episode i have seen was for um...Hellsing or Vampire Hunter D. ( sometimes i forget what its suppose to be called.) it was really really good.
one of my favorite animes... 
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Xenofan 29A
 Posts: 378 |
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Hiroyuki Imaishi, who directed Gurren-Lagann, was one of the storyboard artists on FLCL. He shaped some of its crazier sequences. He also did storyboards on some of Hideaki (Eva) Anno's Kare Kano adaptation. The people who were director, character designer, and script writer on FLCL were not on Gurren-Lagann's staff, though. (FLCL's director was working on Aim for the Top 2!, followed by the new Evangelion remakes.) Gasaraki had a great introduction episode. It was well animated and got right into the style of the show, with its political intrigue. Like it or hate it, Texhnolyze certainly had a...different first episode. It had little dialogue, and its dark tone drew some in, but left many more out. Out cold, in fact, because they were sleeping from boredom. |
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CommunistHamster
Posts: 51 |
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Haibane Renmei has a great first episode, The pacing of its events culminates in exactly the right spot, leaving it with a calm ending. In a way, it could stand by itself, but it leaves you wanting to see more.
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