I just finished watching Tenkuu no Escaflowne again, who knows how many times I’ve watched it now? It’s such a great series. I feel like my dad saying it, but seriously… do they even make them like that anymore?
My interest in anime has waned over the years. When I first started watching (about ten or so years ago), my favorite titles were Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon, Fushigi Yuugi, and other shoujo and bishounen titles. Back then, acquiring anime wasn’t so easy as it is now, and it seemed like I loved every title I came across. I remember driving forty minutes to see Mononoke Hime, and begging my mom to take my friend and I to see Escaflowne: The Movie.
Then I started getting into the classics; all of Hayao Miyazaki’s movies, Cowboy Bebop, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. I’ve watched quite a few titles, but it seems like it is harder for me to like new anime that I come across these days. I loved Azumanga Daioh!, Fruits Basket started good but the manga was better, same for Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou. Berserk freaked me out, Trigun made me laugh, so did Full Metal Panic! and its sequels, and Fullmetal Alchemist made me cry (I still haven’t gotten around to watching the remake). InuYasha dragged, as did its predecessor Ranma 1/2 (both based on manga from the same author).
Samurai Champloo revived my interest in the genre. It was a great series, but I wouldn’t have expected anything less from the creators of Cowboy Bebop. I started watching Naruto, but it keeps dragging on and on. One of the things I originally liked about anime was that the creators had a storyline in mind, they animated it, then ended it. It wasn’t like the American TV shows I was used to, that seemed to go on and on until the powers that be decided they were no longer profitable and ended the series unsatisfactorily. Naruto reminds me of that kind of mentality, so I’ve kind of given up on it.
If I watch anime these days, it tends to be movies, probably because they require less time to be invested in. Unlike when i was a teenager and in college, I don’t have hours and hours of free time anymore to watch anime in. I loved The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Gake no Ue no Ponyo. I’ve seen all of Miyazaki’s films and most of Studio Ghibli’s as well, I wish there were more for me to watch. It seems like those are the only ones I like any more.
Any suggestions for a jaded anime fan?
Have you seen… Peach Girl, Tenchi Muyo/Universe, Outlaw Star, Paradise Kiss, Skip Beat!, Please Teacher! or Ayashi no Ceres, Ouran High School Host Club?
I tried to think of some anime that are short, so they’re like 20-50 episodes each, and maybe some that are slightly different from the list you already have in the post. 😀 Hope this helps some at least<3
I definitely second Ouran High School Host Club. It’s a classic.
The Melancholy of Haruhi of Suzumiya is also pretty good, but some people I’ve recommended it to were not all that into it, so I think it’s a hit and miss, depending.
I also really loved Princess Tutu and Honey & Clover!
H&C is a bit of a slice of life type show, so there’s no real plot, but it’s funny and charming. And Princess Tutu sounds like an awful title but trust me, it’s adorable.
Thanks for the suggestions! I read the Peach Girl manga and liked it, I watched Tenchi Muyo, it was OK, same with Outlaw Star and Please! Teacher. Haven’t seen Ayashi no Ceres, Skip Beat! or Ouran HS, I’ll have to check those out. Thanks!!
OK I’ll have to check out Ouran High School then! And I’ve always been curious about Haruhi Suzumiya, so I’ll add that to my list. And I love cute animes, so Princess Tutu and Honey&Clover sound great. Isn’t H&C by CLAMP?