mercurynin wrote:

I'm actively collecting Gankutsuou, Fullmetal Alchemist and the annual batches of Studio Ghibli movies.

The Ghibli waves are, of course, over and done with now.   Unless of course they get with the program and release Only Yesterday.

And hey, another AoD'er... I post there too, but under a different handle.

Giovanna wrote:

Cerise wrote:

11. Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (will definitely move down with a rewatch and deeper consideration)

I was thinking about watching this since the anime forum at Something Awful is acting like it's the second coming. You sound less enthusiastic.

It has a lot of very vocal fanboys, and that can skew one's perceptions.  I actually did some work on my own rating system today after finish up Princess Tutu, and SHnY moved down to 16th place.  I can only imagine what it'll be like when I start doing my grand re-ranking project that I've begun to scheme up (and also rewatch the series).  It's good, but perhaps not as good as you originally think it is as you're watching.

Actually, the list I put up above has been completely revamped, most notably with Haruhi, Rozen Maiden, and Azumanga Daioh falling down the ranks as shows that had greater depth (and have led to more contemplation on my part) replaced them.  I should have known better than to put up a list--I always change things immediately after doing so.

....I spend entirely too much time thinking about anime.  Oh well, it's better than thinking about grad school projects. ^_-

Anime (in order)

Utena
.Hack//Sign
Inuyasha
Super Gals
Pretear

Manga (In order)

Tsubasa
Imadoki
Alice 19th
Rurouni Kenshin
Angelic Layer

These are my top 5

I can never remember what I like. ;;; This may sound weird but, for the most part, I've been out of the anime loop for a while. I have a bunch of disks with fansubs/bootlegs sitting around that I haven't gotten to watching, and a bunch of series I keep being told I'd like or NEED TO SEE (such as FMA.)

Also, while I love Utena, in recent years my tastes have run to less "DEEP AND MEANINGFUL" and more "SILLY, PRETTY, YAY!" because....Well, I don't know. Just because. I think my attention span has been getting shorter. ;;;

So, in no particular order....

Anime:
Utena
Meine Liebe
.hack//SIGN
Evangelion
GetBackers
Samurai Champloo (which I just started watching...)

Manga:
Bleach ( I'd throw in the anime as well but...while it's spot on for the first few seasons, once the Soul Society arc was over, I stopped watching. ;; They're practically identical, which is good, except that when you've already read the manga, which is slightly better somehow, then watching the anime is sort of...bleh.)
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle
xxxHolic
NANA
Fushigi Yuugi (and anything else that Watase Yuu has done and I have read >>;;;;;; )
Count Cain

And Demon Diary, but technically that one is Korean...

And I'm sure I've missed a million other things...

OK I'll do this!

5. Kaleido Star
4. Read or Die TV
3. Red Garden
2. Utena
1. Koi Kaze

Utena, Eva and Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei.


And... uhh... that's really ALL the anime that comes to mind.

It's impossible for me to make a list, since they keep changing in rank depending on which one I am currently most nostalgic for, though SKU will always be in the number one spot.   for obs reasons.

My favorites:
Yu-Yu Hakusho

Not the deepest shonen anime you'll ever see and it does fall for a couple of time-honored cliches, but the characters, fights and plots are always engaging and the pacing is remarkably tight and action packed for 100+ episode series.  The finale had me in tears because I loved all the characters and felt that the ending did them justice.

Slayers

'Nuff said.  I have peed myself laughing watching Slayers.

Cowboy Bebop

One of the first more adult series I ever watched, it showed me the great things anime could achieve in style, animation and story. 

Trigun

I love the setting so much.  Sci-fi and western, and a moral about pacifism that wasn't half-assed in execution.

Boogiepop Phantom
Creepy, dark, and messed up.  Gorgeous soundtrack as well.

Now and Then, Here and There

THIS BE MY SADFACE.

Azumanga Diaoh

Probably the manga more than the anime, which could get real tiresome, real fast.  But I always loved the characters and the odd sense of humor.  I avoided fandom because Yomi and Tomo were my favorites.  Seriously, they were like the two sides of my personality.

Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi

I haven't seen it in a long time, so I'm not sure how it will hold up to a rewatch, but I remember loving the premise and the satire, and the animation reminded me of FLCL, stunning and varied, easily working for both super-deformed laughs and sunny-afternoon poignancy.

Ai no Kusabi and Fujimi Orchestra for teh obligatory Yaoi-titles

I actually don't like most yaoi, but these two far surpass the rest in terms of depth and thought. ANK has an amazingly well-constructed setting and and well executed mood and story, while FO, despite absolutely terrible animation is a fresh dose of realism for all those fans of the obsessive, controlling traditional seme character and the rape/love dynamic.  I'll also never be able to listen to Wagner without shivering.   

Digimon, Pokemon, Sailor Moon and DBZ

These will always hold places in my heart.  I even still watch newer episodes of Pokemon! (Really only Gym, Contest or Team Rocket related episodes.  Speaking of contests, D&P have been disappointing me a bit.  I mean really, every attack now explodes into sparkles whenever it collides with another?  Boring.)  Also, we do not speak of Digimon Tamers in the house or DBGT.  And aside from a few redeeming qualities Frontier was rather boring.  I WANT KID/MONSTER BONDING, NOT KIDS TURNING INTO MONSTERS.

Berserk

Pop Philosophy and bloody, muscly action at its finest.  Also, Griffith is a Pimp and this series has the funniest bloopers ever, no contest. 

Last Exile

I came for the steampunk and pretties, I stayed for all the endearing side characters.

Fooly Cooly

It's only six episodes, but that animation, music and editing cannot be beat, and haters to the left, I do think it was pretty intelligent to boot.  I guess I just have a weakness for adolescence-themes in my anime. 

Samurai Champloo

Like Cowboy Bebop, it was more style over substance, but the style was done so ridiculously well it fools you once or twice into thinking something deeper is there.  It's not philosophical or metaphorical so much as it is stunningly good at representing and matching mood and subtle emotional in its characters via the music and animation.  Funny, unique and gorgeous.

Full Metal Alchemist

One of the most thrilling, engaging and emotionally evocative anime I have ever seen.  It hits all the right notes at the right times, and the pacing was perfect.  Giving you a lot while still leaving you wanting more with each episode.  Humor, action, philosophy and mystery and chewy, delicious world-building all in one convenient package.

(Though I'm not actually digging Brotherhood that much.  Just feels oddly paced, I guess)

Ouran High School Host Club

HILARIOUS.  Even occasionally thoughtful and touching.  Through all the puns and the satire, you end up caring about the characters, and it really is breath of fresh air in the comedy and shoujo genres.

Chii's Sweet Home! I can't believe I forgot that.
So cuuuute. ;__;

purplepolecat wrote:

Good to see Azumanga getting some love ! (OITL, a lot of people ship Tomo x Yomi. Myself included.)

For reals?  Everytime I hear someone talk about Azumanga all I hear is remarks about how horrible and annoying Tomo is and what a stuck-up, boring bitch Yomi is.

C'mon guys, that's WHY I love them. 

Hmm... I've never been one for flat out saying "I like X more than Y, and Y more than Z" so I'll just list my favorites in no particular order... but of course it goes without saying that Utena is the unwritten top of the list

Hellsing (Love the manga, and I'm glad the OVAs are doing it justice... just wish they'd hurry up and make the next one already)
Berserk (Also a great manga, it's too bad they ended the series so hastily...)
Neon Genesis Evangelion (All I've seen is series + EOE, haven't checked out the manga on this one yet)
Cowboy Bebop (IMO, this series should be on the list of any self-respecting anime fan, no questions asked. It's just that good.)
Trigun (another anime I enjoyed greatly but haven't read the manga yet. Laziness T_T)
Black Lagoon (Someday, they'll continue the anime... someday...)
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (haven't gotten around to seeing 2nd Gig, or SSS yet *sigh*)
FLCL (Action? Check. Characters? Check. Humor? Check. Soundtrack by The Pillows? FUCK YES.)

Can't think of any more atm. It's been a while since I've seen most of these anyway...

It's hard for me to think of a top 5 too..xD  At the moment, this is my list:

1.  Neon Genesis Evangelion
2.  Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon
2.  Revolutionary Girl Utena
4.  Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
5.  Galaxy Express 999

I can't really decide whether or not I like Sailor Moon or Utena better...I love them both so much! xD  I love Digimon (Adventure 01 and 02), Dragon Ball, and Nadia a lot too :3  And of course Azumanga Daioh's great for a good laugh lol

Chrome Homura wrote:

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (haven't gotten around to seeing 2nd Gig, or SSS yet *sigh*)

DUDE how have you not seen 2nd Gig yet? It makes the 1st season look like crap (and the 1st season is awesome.) 2nd gig is def. in my top 10 anime. SSS isn't as good as either series but it's still quite good.