So, the most recent anime I've watched to completion is AKB0048; the second-most recent is Madoka Magica. I gave Attack on Titan the 3-episode test and found it boring. (Please don't bother telling me it gets better later on; I'm not a student anymore, so if it takes more than three episodes to get good I don't have time for it.)
What anime of the last couple of years should I be watching? Nothing more than 30 episodes please, see aforementioned time constraints.
I recommend Fate/Zero, also by Gen Urobuchi.
ReplyDeleteAdded to the list!
DeleteBaccano, Bebop
ReplyDeleteI've seen Cowboy Bebop. It's good, but spends too much time on Spike's nonsense, not enough on Ed, Ein, and Fay.
DeleteI've seen the first episode of Baccano! and have NO IDEA what happened in it. I probably should not have tried to watch it while doing dishes, it clearly requires actual paying of attention. I did note it has the greatest character names in anything ever. I will add it to the list.
Watch Baccano in the english dub. Trust me. It's worth it.
DeleteBodacious Space Pirates is a ton of fun and, perhaps contrary to appearances, one of the most progressive anime in recent years. Psycho-Pass tackles the question, "What if Madoka Kaname was a young adult who didn't have night-omnipotent potential?" Gatchaman Crowds turns the superhero genre inside out and explores the future of social media, and has a blast while doing so.
ReplyDeleteAll three added to list (and I should have noted from the start, by "added to the list" I mean "gets the three-episode test").
DeleteIve been really into Kill la Kill of late. I will also second Psycho Pass, that show blew my mind. And Eccentric Family.
ReplyDeleteI saw part of the first episode of Kill la Kill and found it disturbingly molest-y. But I will give it the three episode test.
DeleteI saw the first episode of Eccentric Family and quite liked it, but it was the same day I saw the first episode of Breaking Bad and then watched nothing else for a week. I really should go back to it.
Clarification: The day I watched the first episode of Breaking Bad, and then watched nothing but Breaking Bad for a week, which is how long it took to watch all of Breaking Bad.
DeleteI just finished Madoka Magica recently, and loved it! I also felt similarly about SNK - I got 6 episodes in and found it extremely tedious. Buuut I've also been enjoying Kill la Kill, it's very entertaining imo
ReplyDeleteIf you want heavy, pre-Madoka Urobuchi, then try Fate/Zero. If you want a popcorn series (entertaining, but not much substance), try Bodacious Space Pirates or Sword Art Online.
ReplyDeletePersonally, though, I would recommend Kokoro Connect. Good drama and near-perfect pacing.
Sword Art Online and Kokoro Connect added to list!
DeleteI personally like Maoyuu Maou Yuusha (sp?). It's a bit more intellectual than most anime, and I like how it takes a different look at the fantasy adventure set-up by pointing out how having the hero assassinate the demon king wouldn't fix the politico-socio-economical issues which brought about and were brought about by war.
ReplyDeleteThe anime doesn't seem particularly popular, though. Maybe I have weird tastes?
My recommendation is for the anime Log Horizon. It's still ongoing, recently having episode seventeen come out on Crunchy Roll, but it's a very good series, especially since I believe it has a large amount of Post Modernist leanings, meaning I think you would rather enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI haven't actually watched too many recent anime...
ReplyDeleteSerial Experiments Lain is from the late 90's, and it's a trippy cyberpunk type deal. TV Tropes describes it as the seinen equivalent to Evangelion's shonen and Utena's shojo. It's 13 episodes, so not an enormous time investment.
Psycho Pass has an interesting premise, and it's definitely not brainless or anything (heh), but I'd say it's weaker than Madoka Magica.
Hello there. Love your Madoka analyses.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of suggestions, if you're willing to consider them: Sankarea and White Album 2. As for why I would suggest them, I have a review or two that you should read when you get the chance:
http://myanimelist.net/profile/ZeroReq011/reviews
Girls und Panzer. It's short (12 episodes, not counting recaps), has some interesting things to say about gender, and has been a huge hit.
ReplyDeleteI also second Bodacious Space Pirates. But it's also more than twice as long as Girls und Panzer.
Both are available for free on Crunchyroll. I've got short and mostly (but not entirely) spoiler-free reviews of both of them here:
http://marianlh.livejournal.com/92571.html
http://marianlh.livejournal.com/93136.html