4/10/11 - 5 anime series that every knowledgeable anime fan must watch

[mjf314]

If limited to 5, it seems like they would all have to be older, something like:
Original Gundam
Dragonball
Some Tezuka work (Astro Boy or Kimba the White Lion, probably)
Some older Miyazaki work (Laputa or Nausicaa maybe?)
Akira

I limited it to series, so you can't vote for Akira or Miyazaki's films. Also please specify which Tezuka series you're voting for.

I still feel like there needs to be some kind of time constraint on this sort of thing. *Shrug* I guess I'm just splitting hairs, but watching series from the 70s only helps you so much in gaining "knowledge" on many modern shows, and vise versa.

I considered a time constraint, but then I thought it would be interesting to force people to choose between old and new, to see which they think is more important. Or you can force yourself to choose a combination of both, if you'd like. I'm hoping that after many people vote, we'll have a nice mixture of old and new.

[CapnBaka]

Hrm, just series? That makes it a little weirder.

Original Gundam
Dragonball
Astro Boy
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Fushigi Yuugi

Those are the ones that seemed to have started or cemented genres and archetypes that are still very prevalent today. I can't really think of any other basis for making a list like this, so there you go.

[Funkgun]

Well, this will be e first time I nominate this (because I am not nearly a fan of it, but it has to be on here)
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood. (I am going with brotherhood, I am almost done with it, and feel it will be the main show to watch from now on. )
Cowboy Bebop Worlds greatest gateway series.
Neon Genesis Evangelion (if only to argue your opinion on how great or crap it was)
Escaflowne One of the great and few Shonen and Shojo crossovers. If you can spot where the show was aimed at boys and girls you are on your way to knowing the differences in the audiences shows are aimed at.
Dragon Ball Z Outside of Gundam there has never been a series that was more imitated.

[Pidjiken]

Originally Posted by Funkgun

Well, this will be e first time I nominate this (because I am not nearly a fan of it, but it has to be on here)
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood. (I am going with brotherhood, I am almost done with it, and feel it will be the main show to watch from now on. )
Cowboy Bebop Worlds greatest gateway series.
Neon Genesis Evangelion (if only to argue your opinion on how great or crap it was)
Escaflowne One of the great and few Shonen and Shojo crossovers. If you can spot where the show was aimed at boys and girls you are on your way to knowing the differences in the audiences shows are aimed at.
Dragon Ball Z Outside of Gundam there has never been a series that was more imitated.

Oh wow definitely not brotherhood. Massive plot holes and a retarded generic shounen ending make that an awful choice in my eyes. If you have to pick between the FMA's the original is a more solid series and is aimed at an older audience.

[AirCommodore]

mmm...

FLCL
Fullmetal Alchemist
Rose of Versailles
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Maison Ikkoku?

[infinityplusone]

Cowboy Bebop
Mobile Suit Gundam
Dragon Ball
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Rurouni Kenshin

[Kenikki]

Azumanga Daioh
Cowboy Bebop
Dragonball Z
Fullmetal Alchemist/Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (either would work)
Neon Genesis Evangelion

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya almost made it, but personally I think the above are more important.

[LLAMASWILLBEMINE]

1. Welcome to the NHK! - Simply because it's so unique and expansive that everyone who is "knowledgeable" should have seen it.
2. Death Note - Who hasn't seen or at least heard of it?
3. Cowboy Bebop - One of the best series ever.
4. Rurouni Kenshin - A classic samurai series at it's finest.
5. Lucky Star - One of the best representations of "slice of life" to ever exist.

[Funkgun]

Originally Posted by Pidjiken

Oh wow definitely not brotherhood. Massive plot holes and a retarded generic shounen ending make that an awful choice in my eyes. If you have to pick between the FMA's the original is a more solid series and is aimed at an older audience.

Seeing that I have not finished Brotherhood, I will have to go on your hunches, but I have a feeling many manga junkies will go sour if you mention the original in the same breath with one that follows it. Also I think in 5 year you might only see Brotherhood as the one talked about. (but I understand what your saying man, totally.)

I also think that in time Neon Genesis Evangelion, will negate the series soon and just be the movies that are manditory watch.

Originally Posted by AirCommodore

mmm...

FLCL
Fullmetal Alchemist
Rose of Versailles
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Maison Ikkoku?

Hilighted choice is awesome. I am not sure it is as manditory as one might think, but it is a great overall romance, even IF it takes the entire series to leave a lasting impression.

[Pidjiken]

Originally Posted by Funkgun

Seeing that I have not finished Brotherhood, I will have to go on your hunches, but I have a feeling many manga junkies will go sour if you mention the original in the same breath with one that follows it. Also I think in 5 year you might only see Brotherhood as the one talked about. (but I understand what your saying man, totally.)

Would be a sad day if only FMA:B were talked about. The massive plot hole issues can't be denied even by manga lovers, and with the original pretty much devoid of holes and with an ending that keeps the overall tone of the series consistent it's damn near impossible to claim FMA:B > FMA without looking like a mindless shounen junkie.