Board 8 > must-watch anime / looking for recs

(+) Yeah! (+)

hello, i would like anime recommendations. in that mood again. dug up my old lists and now looking to add anything i missed that people think are 'must-watch' before i go through the backlog. looking forward to be "finished" with anime. this is just for shows, not movies. think i can actually actually finish off the old backlog and such this time.

started Chainsaw Man like two days ago

shows that for some reason were on my "to-watch" list before i stopped watching anime: (can tell me if these are indeed worth watching or whatever)
Utena
Kareshi Kanojo
Lain
Princess Tutu
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
Shiki
Tatami Galaxy
Barakamon
Drifters
Mo Dao Zu Shi
SSSS Gridman
Eizouken

stuff i like:
Haruhi
Code Geass
Steins;Gate
FLCL
Madoka
Ishuzoku Reviewers
Fate/Zero
Nozaki-kun
Houseki no Kuni / Land of the Lustrous
Kill la Kill/TTGL
Black Lagoon
Monogatari
Shirobako
Evangelion
WataMote

it's been years since i've rewatched some of these and i have no idea if i'd still like them, but i was looking over an old list and i at least felt comfortable saying i still like these. whether it be because of nostalgia or otherwise.

interests: big overdramatic reveals and (sometimes nonsensical) plot twists, flamboyant characters, inventive animation, focus on niche interests/hobbies, unapologetic trashiness/degeneracy, getting mindfucked, silliness, gay (M/M) romance, fem-pov romance

Baccano is definitely a must watch that's missing here, especially giving the time frame of a lot of these.

If you want some inventive animation in the vein of Land of the Lustrous, Beastars and Trigun Stampede are from the same studio, and Girls Band Cry is a new all time fav of mine that just finished, and I think is the best looking 3D anime to date (you would have to pirate this, not licensed yet), and it fulfills both the drama and niche interest categories.

Banana Fish is good gay drama from what I've seen, but have not finished. Bang Brave Bravern is funny and explosive M/M Mecha.

GlFate UBW is an obvious pick if you liked Fate/Zero. They're still making new Monogatari. Don't watch new FLCL.

While it doesn't seem to hit too many of your listed interests, I'll still rec Frieren: Beyond Journey's End simply because we share a lot of anime your "likes" lists so I feel pretty good about that!

Maybe throw in Kaguya-sama: Love is War for a romcom rec. Maybe Mob Psycho 100 (...shonen, I suppose?) as well.

UshiromiyaEva posted...

Don't watch new FLCL.

I actually think FLCL Alternative is pretty legit. It's not OG FLCL but it also didn't feel like it was trying too hard like most of the others were. Also the core cast is a quarter of girls so that's a new take on it.

forgot to link my MAL whoops. i would imagine some of the scores are outdated at this point.

https://myanimelist.net/animelist/kateeeee

Baccano i remember being just annoyed watching it and dropped it. but it's been like 10 years at this point so i could try again.

will def check out Girls Band Cry and Bang Bang Bravern.

have seen Beastars and Trigun Stampede and liked both though they're not favorites like the ones listed.

i think i dropped banana fish because of the rape but not completely sure about that

I think Boku no Pico might be up your alley

Our interests don't really align, at least not enough that I can wholeheartedly suggest anything that hits a bunch of what you listed, but I want to rec at least one.

Akudama Drive is a great sci-fi action anime that I think would appeal to most people.

Oh, it's not finished (in fact a new season just started, though you're watching Chainsaw Man so...), but also definitely check out Oshi no Ko if you want some major drama. Wild and definitely seems up your alley. Would NOT recommend looking too deep into what it's about, though.

Seeing that list of interests, first thing that comes to mind is No Game No Life

greengravy294 posted...

I think Boku no Pico might be up your alley

already watched obviously

fine with hentai recs. but i don't think anything's beating Viper GTS. not because Viper GTS is an amazing show or anything but because i've never been impressed with hentai as a whole. better shows for so-bad-it's-good story and dialogue, mainstream anime actually does fanservice better, for the actual porn parts manga/doujins are like 100x better, etc.

Thorn posted...

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

i've heard this is good and it's the top ranked show on MAL right now so i imagine i would have checked out at least 1 ep at some point. the promo visuals/character design don't really appeal to me at all but that really isn't much to go by so yeah i'll def check out at least an ep

dropped Kaguya after 1 ep iirc around the time it came out. but something recent had me thinking about it again so i might put it back on the list

have seen Mob. very good. never got around to watching S2 though because my interest falls off for sequels 90% of the time now.

and yeah i have no interest in FLCL sequel

kateee posted...

already watched obviously

fine with hentai recs. but i don't think anything's beating Viper GTS. not because Viper GTS is an amazing show or anything but because i've never been impressed with hentai as a whole. better shows for so-bad-it's-good story and dialogue, mainstream anime actually does fanservice better, for the actual porn parts manga/doujins are like 100x better, etc.

Bible Black?

Mobilezoid posted...

Akudama Drive

this pink hair lady in the lab coat. i'm fucking in there

UshiromiyaEva posted...

Oshi no Ko

added!

PrinceKaro posted...

Seeing that list of interests, first thing that comes to mind is No Game No Life

seen! probably would end up maybe in my top 30 or so. i can't list it with my other favs because RIP. remember thinking the last two eps weren't as good. the shiritori sequence is possibly one of my favs in all of anime tho. the movie they made later i did not care about at all tho

kateee posted...

will def check out Girls Band Cry

https://i.ibb.co/vhFfMZy/tenor-1.gif

Made in Abyss might be something that'd do it for you. It fits most of your categories there. Note that it goes S1 -> Movie -> S2

If you want big reveals and twists, Attack on Titan is top tier.

UshiromiyaEva posted...

https://i.ibb.co/vhFfMZy/tenor-1.gif

lmao my interest has increased tenfold

greengravy294 posted...

Bible Black?

how dare you

think that i haven't already seen this (it sucks). angel blade is better

My personal anime tiers:

Loved it, seen it more than once

Ace Attorney
Attack on Titan
Clannad
Cowboy Bebop
Full Metal Panic!
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
Hyouka
Kaguya-sama: Love is War
Kanon
Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
Persona 4 The Animation
ReLIFE
Sailor Moon
School Rumble
Steins;Gate
The Disappearance of Yuki Nagato
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Toradora!
Tsuredure Children
Working!!

Really liked it, will watch again

A Place Further Than the Universe
Angel Beats
Baccano!
Eureka Seven
Fate/stay night
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
Mob Psycho 100
Planetes
Psycho-Pass
Usagi Drop
Violet Evergarden

Liked it, but probably won't watch again

Air
Azumanga Daioh
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball Z
Fate/Zero
Great Teacher Onizuka
Love Hina
Mai-HiME
Mobile Suit Gundam 00
My Love Story
Ouran High School Host Club
Sailor Moon Crystal
Sonic X
Sweetness & Lightning
The World Ends With You: The Animation
Trigun
Tsukigakirei
Your Lie in April
Yu Yu Hakusho

Didn't like it, definitely won't watch again

Beyond the Boundary
Code Geass
Persona 4 The Golden Animation
Persona 5 The Animation

Dropped it, never finished

Fullmetal Alchemist
Gurren Lagann
Monogatari
The Slayers

kateee posted...

how dare you

think that i haven't already seen this (it sucks). angel blade is better

Bruh...that's an og

Yuri on Ice
Free! (kyouto animation)
Yosuga no Sora

Bible Black is trash.

It's popularity does not reflect it's quality.

Watamote -> Bocchi the Rock, Welcome to the NHK
Gainax stuff -> Gunbuster, Diebuster, maybe Re: Cutie Honey
Black Lagoon -> Gungrave

Heavenly Delusion
Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru/And Yet the Town Moves
Haibane Renmei
Girl's Last Tour
Birdy the Mighty Decode
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu

okay here we gooo

Ace Attorney - dropped
Attack on Titan - dropped
Clannad - finished, cried; have no interest in watching again. i think the first part (Clannad) kind of gets worse in my memory if i think more about it.
Cowboy Bebop - on rewatch list
Full Metal Panic! - never seen or so i thought until i checked MAL and realized i have it dropped after 1 ep
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun - fav
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni - one of the first anime i saw, liked
Hyouka - dropped
Kaguya-sama: Love is War - spoken about
Kanon - never seen.
Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior - never seen
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU - watched until S2; was fine at the time, no interest in revisiting
Persona 4 The Animation - liked a lot. the fact that Narukami's personality shines through is the best thing about it even if animation is shoddy
ReLIFE - watched. 6 or 7/10. was fine. strong start, remember getting bored by the midpoint
Sailor Moon - do want to watch more but the first couple eps are tough to get through for me
School Rumble - read manga and hated the ending, have no interest in watching the anime
Steins;Gate - fav
The Disappearance of Yuki Nagato - hated it
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - fav
Toradora! - very good. 8/10
Tsuredure Children - dropped i think.
Working!! - never seen

A Place Further Than the Universe - never seen
Angel Beats - dropped
Baccano! - dropped
Eureka Seven - have heard of it before. might check out; no expectations
Fate/stay night - seen.
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works - seen. liked
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - have watched 20 or so eps. always debating whether i should finish it or just reread manga instead
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo - never seen. might check out
Mob Psycho 100 - seen. very good.
Planetes - never seen
Psycho-Pass - seen. 1st season in my top 25 maybe. second season is one of the worst things i've watched to completion
Usagi Drop - seen. liked. that manga ending tho...
Violet Evergarden - dropped

Air - never seen
Azumanga Daioh - watched a couple eps iirc. have read manga. kind of 50/50 on whether i'll go back to it
Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z - would rather read manga again and just watch highlights for anime because of the fucking pacing
Fate/Zero - fav
Great Teacher Onizuka - never seen, might check out
Love Hina - read manga
Mai-HiME - never seen
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 - too intimidating as a franchise. i've seen a couple eps of spinoffs here and there
My Love Story - never seen
Ouran High School Host Club - classic. dropped.
Sailor Moon Crystal - dropped
Sonic X - no interest
Sweetness & Lightning - dropped i think
The World Ends With You: The Animation - no interest
Trigun - no interest
Tsukigakirei - never seen
Your Lie in April - was a fav once upon a time. mixed feelings now.
Yu Yu Hakusho - no interest

Beyond the Boundary - never seen
Code Geass - fav
Persona 4 The Golden Animation - trash
Persona 5 The Animation - trash

Fullmetal Alchemist - ///
Gurren Lagann - fav
Monogatari - fav
The Slayers - never seen

GranzonEx posted...

Yuri on Ice
Free! (kyouto animation)
Yosuga no Sora

YOI - seen, really liked. 8/10. RIP
Free - seen like 2 or 3 seasons. good.
YnS - seen

Watamote -> Bocchi the Rock, Welcome to the NHK - Bocchi added, dropped NHK like halfway through
Gainax stuff -> Gunbuster, Diebuster, maybe Re: Cutie Honey - yup. forgot about these. added
Black Lagoon -> Gungrave - added

Heavenly Delusion
Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru/And Yet the Town Moves
Haibane Renmei
Girl's Last Tour
Birdy the Mighty Decode
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
Princess Jellyfish

added everything to check out

threw some tittles into randomizer

watch order for now (maybe at same time? still watching chainsaw. or could just do 1 ep of everything):
frieren -> bang bang brave -> princess jellyfish

My first thought from the first post was Re:Creators, but I have no idea if there's any official way to watch it anymore.

Edit: Frieren is basically always a good choice though imo

i dropped re: creators after 4 eps. i remember thinking there were some interesting concepts (as seen by the fact that i actually watched 4 eps) but apparently not interesting enough to continue at the time hmm

Re:Creators is indeed excellent and is indeed completely gone now. Just like Girls Band Cry it would have to be downloaded.

You might like Himouto Umaruchan

i absolutely hated Himouto Umaruchan lol

watched 3 eps of Frieren

it's fine. comfy yet somber at the same time. lot of reflection about the inevitable passing of time and death which is constantly on my mind actually.

standout moment so far is when she unseals the demon who developed a killing spell and was difficult for them to deal with being no trouble at all now and how the spell has turned into just a normal spell now

don't know if i'm going to end up finishing it, but i'll continue watching for now

i'm wondering if there's a spoiler at some later point that reveals how old Frieren actually is.

she casually mentioned 1000 years just now at this point. in an earlier ep, one legendary mage was mentioned and finding out now that our MC was actually a student of her was pretty cool

most media that has elves i haven't seen go over those 1000 years

lmao all right they got me

love it when the bloodshed starts

Katee I think you would love Devilman Crybaby and, at the very least, like Fruits Basket based on your listed interests. Try the first one out please!

seen Devilman Crybaby! liked it a lot.

i've tried Fruits Basket like two times i think. couldn't get into it. =/

kateee posted...

lot of reflection about the inevitable passing of time and death which is constantly on my mind actually.

yeah this is why I put off watching Frieren when it first aired, but I'm going to watch it soon too.

I don't have any better recommendations to give then what others have & my favourites wouldn't fit what you're looking for, but when I spotted:

kateee posted...

unapologetic trashiness/degeneracy

I have in my possession but haven't watched it yet so can't confirm if it's worth watching: Prison School?

Prison School rocks

Good Night World fits a lot of your criteria and I never see it get mentioned on B8. Very entertaining show that went so far off from what I thought the premise was going to originally be.

MartinFF7 posted...

my favourites wouldn't fit what you're looking for,

What are they? For curiosity sake. I might have already seen them

I've read manga for Prison School. One moment made me laugh probably the hardest I have at any manga.

Anime adaptation is great as well

Chaeix posted...

Good Night World fits a lot of your criteria and I never see it get mentioned on B8. Very entertaining show that went so far off from what I thought the premise was going to originally be.

Will add to list!

Mm well I'm just gonna rec these catch-all anime that I would rec to anyone because they're two of my faves: Parasyte: The Maxim and From the New World

kateee posted...

What are they? For curiosity sake. I might have already seen them

#1: Legend of the Galactic Heroes - normally I would recommend it by default but trying to respect your interests and how it doesn't align with any of them, lol. Animation is from the late 80s so certainly not 'inventive', show is very straight-laced so no zany hijinks and virtually no romances. Very compelling characters but none especially flamboyant. Just really well written and gripping the whole way through.

#2: Monster, which like LotGH is played super straight and serious so don't think it'd fit your interests!

FMA Brotherhood is my #3 and I saw you got a few episodes of that under your belt. Would recommend revisiting that, anime is very loyal to the manga the whole way through and the English dub is pretty good the whole show too, if you prefer dubs

You've watched everything I went to recommend apart from Hell's Paradise and One Piece.

for recent Gundams, the two Thunderbolt movies are goodies. first is easily better than the second but hey gotta keep it going.

Nichijou
Daily Lives of High School Boys
Humanity Has Declined

Wanglicious posted...

for recent Gundams, the two Thunderbolt movies are goodies. first is easily better than the second but hey gotta keep it going.

Nichijou
Daily Lives of High School Boys
Humanity Has Declined

Add Asobi Asobase to this list, specifically.

Asobi Asobase is a masterpiece.

In that same vein, Plastic Neesan.

oh it definitely belongs with that trio.
those 4 collectively round out a nice group of silly, plot twists and nonsensical but entertaining stuff.

also will recommend Brave Bang Bravern with the list of interests.
the end of every episode alone will make you keep watching.

https://youtu.be/oGKgBssiPyA?si=Kr1UZMi-ANoGR-W4

https://youtu.be/I4vIVJsK1NE?si=ZyqYmYUnzQbOI1t7

Future Boy Conan. Very early Miyazaki, before he even made a feature film. Brilliant.

man i confused plastic nee-san with something else. def another comedy one of an era.

Aria the Animation/Natural/OVA/Origination (past that is optional but still fine)
Initial D (First/Second/Third/Extra/Fourth/Fifth/Final Stages, anything else is optional/not recommended including MF Ghost)

Dub not recommended for aria, either is fine for initial d though tbh

pending reception to aria i'd easily bring up a lot of of other big iyashikei stuff but aria is the real benchmark there (yurucamp is flawed and horribly overrated though)

also supporting the existing to-watch list picks of Princess Tutu and Tatami Galaxy especially (and also seconding gunbuster etc. on comedies, i'd also second Nichijou/Daily Lives of High School Boys/Asobi Asobase, though i'd also add that Wasteful Days of High School Girls also fits in the same vein as an also decent side rec)