I enjoy a bit of anime, but I don’t follow all the news and shows - I just pick up stuff by recommendations or a bit of searching.
So, people who actually know what they’re talking about - are any of these actually good? Are any so bad they’re worth completely avoiding? Any of them have particularly off-putting / offensive “fan service”?
Teppen!!!,
Akudama Drive,
Black Lagoon,
Akatsuki no Yona,
Chikyuu Shoujo Arjuna,
Appleseed
Only one I’m familiar with is Black Lagoon. Great show, high recommend. It gets pretty dark, particularly in the latter half, so just be aware of that if that tone is off-putting. Absolutely watch in the English dub–one of the best dubs out there, and it feels like the dubbed version is really the intended version rather than the other way around. Just be aware the dub is filthy.
Cool, I’ll give the dub a go on that then!
(It might be blasphemy, but the dub of Spirited Away is far better than the original IMO, so I’m not morally opposed to the idea)
If I can blaspheme with you I honestly generally prefer dubbed to subbed across the board. Bias aside, Black Lagoon really is a special case where you’re really watching two different shows in dubbed vs. subbed. The dubbed voices are so excellent and the English dialogue is so ingrained with the show’s identity that you’re really missing a large part of the show without them. It’s kind of an interesting case where it actually fits the substance of the story better anyway–the characters are canonically speaking English, and the fact that most of them don’t speak Japanese is actually an essential plot point through one of the arcs.
Cool, I’ll give it a twirl for sure … I can’t stand the dubbed Akira though, so it’s not a blanket ban for me, lol
I will also add in support for Black Lagoon dub. I normally opt for subs, but Black Lagoon really shines with the dub with how it takes full advantage of the diverse backgrounds of the cast and setting. It was a very Western feeling show to me compared to other anime with the violence and crassness of the characters.
It does draw a lot of influence from Western media moreso than it does other anime or eastern sources. The original manga author has said he was heavily influenced by directors like Robert Rodriguez, Quinten Tarantino, and (I think particularly) John Woo and other Hong Kong Cinema/Heroic Bloodshed style filmmakers. It definitely shows. It’s in anime style, but a lot of the time feels more like a “John Woo Cartoon” than it does anime.
I haven’t been caught up with Akatsuki No Yona in a long time but I know its an example of a manga with a pretty darn cool protagonist. Definitely ranks up there in terms of good examples for other manga authors to by inspired by.
Cool, that’s two positives for Yona so far … it must be good
I really enjoyed watching Yona. Normally, my wife and I warn people that Yona is kinda annoying the first episode or two so people don’t give up on it too early. However, it’s clear from the start that Yona is going to go through character growth quick. My main complaint is wishing there were more episodes.
Wishing there were more episodes is quite the ringing endorsement! I might just bump it to the head of the que!
Appleseed is decent Scifi. If you like it though you should definitely check out Ghost in the Shell which is by the same author.
Thanks, I’ve already seen the original Ghost in the Shell movie, are there any other good ones?
If you like those, it is likely that you might also like:
BLAME! - really wonderful world setting
No.6 - story about a dystopian future. an underrated gem.
Paprika - a classic. futuristic psychological horror. it is pretty scary in the way black mirror is scary.
Thank you! I’ve added those to my watch-list :-) Paprika used to be on an old watch-list years ago, not sure how I forgot about it!
Black Lagoon is big on action, violence, and gore. Despite that, it’s got some decent writing and characterization in places. Not terribly much fan service as far as I can remember (and the main cast are adults, so no schoolgirl upskirt shots or any of that nonsense), although it’s been a while since I watched it. Recommended with reservations, if you like violent action movies. Avoid if you have a weak stomach when it comes to violence.
Akatsuki no Yona is a fairly standard shoujo action fantasy with reverse harem overtones. I think this was one of those shows where the manga was still ongoing and so the anime ended before the story did. I watched it once when it first came out, and it didn’t make all that much of an impression, so I’d say it was neither terrible nor brilliant of its kind. Not heavy enough on fan service to make an impression that way either (probably some topless bishounen in there somewhere, though), but shoujo usually isn’t.
The others on your list, I haven’t seen.
Thank you, that’s a very thorough reply! Me and my partner don’t find gory stuff nearly as off-putting as sexism, so it sounds like we’ll be ok with Black Lagoon.
We’ll watch Yona with expectations suitably muted … TBH if I watch an Anime with low expectations and it turns out ok then I’m happy!
Yeah, Black Lagoon has its nasty bits, but it isn’t especially sexist—the female lead is pretty kickass.
Oh, wait, I have seen Akudama Drive (25 years of anime means that I misplace titles now and again, heh.) Action again, less gore than Black Lagoon. I don’t remember about fan service either way, so it probably has a low to average amount. The female characters were more than trophies for the males, at least. It was good enough to stand out among the other stuff that was airing that season, not so brilliant that I remembered the title three years later. Make of that what you will.
Cool, thanks :-)
I can’t remember the titles of most of the Anime I’ve seen TBH!
Yona of the Dawn (Akatsuki no Yona) is fantastic. It’s a two-cour adaptation of a fantasy story (with some inspiration from Korean history/myth I think?) with some coming-of-age undertones. While it didn’t adapt the whole story, what it does have is still excellent.
IIRC it is a shoujo story, with the sorts of attractive male characters and suggestions of romance you might expect. But it’s definitely appreciable even if you’re not here for those things. There’s the politics and intrigue, the drama and adventure of the journey, and the character development.
Incidentally, it actually aired during the same seasons as another two-cour series that partly shares its core premise – Cross Ange. (And the composer for Cross Ange even wrote one of the theme songs for Yona, specifically ED2.) However, Cross Ange is a very different show, in tone, content, plot, and more. I also (unironically) consider it an excellent show with a gripping plot, but for rather different reasons. That said, if you specifically prefer to avoid sexual fanservice, this probably won’t be your cup of tea, despite being a solid story in its own right.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply! Since posting I’m about halfway through Yona and really enjoying it for the adventure and action … less fussed about the romance TBH (I like a nice slow-burning romance, but this feels a bit forced).
I might have a look at Cross Ange, it depends on how intrusive the fan service is!
Your reply made me go wiki-walk the fandom wiki for Yona of the Dawn…and remember some of the more dramatic moments, the memory of which nearly brought tears to my eyes. Indeed, it’s excellent.
Cross Ange is…quite different an experience, to say the least. Its “fanservice” – more like sexual elements, more generally – is integrated into its plot, with at least some of it an intentional portrayal of the demeaning circumstances that horrible people force onto others. More generally, the show doesn’t at all shy away from particularly harsh storytelling, themes, and social commentary. In stark contrast to the subtleties and elegance of Yona of the Dawn, Cross Ange’s storytelling takes a more aggressive, uncompromising, and at times savage style. The result is a much more viscerally emotional experience, which I’ll admit isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Opinions on it vary between those that hate it, those that think it’s hot garbage but ironically awesome, and those (like myself) that unironically think it’s an excellent work.
Ok cool, I’ve added Cross Ange to the list and I’ll have it a fair crack :-)
Sorry I just spouted a lot about it by accident, haha.
To be clear, I don’t mind if you don’t like it. :)
FWIW I did read all of it!
Sometimes it’s good to get a whole string of consciousness off one’s mind :-)
