Hey, SP.

I like Pokemon... but it takes a lot just to even bear an episode for most people. This is the Japanese version of course. I don't like the music they use in the American dubs.

I'm surprised no one said Code Geass (?) yet. That was a pretty good anime imo.

Um... I second what Kyle and Spidey said. Definitely good watches. IF you kinda like mindf'ucks I guess watching Bakemonogatari won't hurt you... It's pretty awesome in various aspects so... Yeah, watch Trigun and Serial Experiments Lain. That should do the trick.

Don't get me wrong- I find Bakemonogatari a nice watch, but I don't think it's starter material.

Hmm... seconding Black Lagoon. I showed that one to you in your visitor messages some time ago; look a little past page 11 if you need a refresher. Baccano wouldn't be too bad; but you might find episode one odd and it might be a turn off. Give it about 3-5 episodes to see if you like it. As for if you want to watch it in subs or dubs, both dubs are pretty decent; though in Baccano's case, some voices might be a little off.

Also, have you tried Death Note? You seemed to bring up psychological thrillers earlier; and this one's a pretty quality one that's pretty "mainstream". What I mean by "mainstream" is one that a lot of Naruto/Bleach kiddies, starters, non-animu people, and most of the avid anime-watching community all know and like. You JUST might like that one.

Code Geass might feel kind of stupid to you, especially in R2. Check out the summary on that one to see if you like it.

I'll second everything Spidey and Kyle have brought up, especially Ghost in the Shell, Planetes, Mononoke, Eve no Jikan, and Texhnolyze.

If you also would like comedy, Detroit Metal City is what I've got in mind. The plot summary makes it sound like Japanese Hannah Montana with death metal, but that doesn't really do justice to it. Pretty short watch too; 12 thirteen minute episodes; which is the rough equivalent of 6 full episodes in your standard anime.

I'll toss a few Oscar-winning material in here too, if you want to count movies too. Hayao Miyazaki's stuff is critically acclaimed worldwide and his stuff's gets great reviews overseas, and some consider his work to show the artistry of Japanese animation. Not exactly sure if you'd be interested in the stuff, but it might be worth a try. Also, La Maison en Petit Cubes is a pretty nice thirteen minute watch that won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2009; it's a thirteen minutes well spent.

Though it's not finished, I definatly recommend watching Hellsing Ultimate (aka Hellsing OVA). It is pretty gory/action oriented and violent, not childish/moe/etc in any way.

 OH BOY!

*removed*

Kicking off my journey into the abyss at turtle speed.

It is pretty gory/action oriented and violent, not childish/moe/etc in any way.

Elfen Lied.

Drama, repressed childhood memories, blood, limbs, mad scientist, guns, love, nudity, heart break, and long walks along the beach all in 13 episodes. What more can you ask for?

Elfen Lied.

Drama, repressed childhood memories, blood, limbs, mad scientist, guns, love, nudity, heart break, and long walks along the beach all in 13 episodes. What more can you ask for?

Indeed. I think Greg might have a good time. However, I'm going to pull up an old quote from Kyle on this one:

Yes, the manga is way better than the anime. Anime was short, boring and not even that great besides the initial allure from the first episode. Anime covers like...barely half of the manga story. And ironically, the latter half (all the stuff after the anime ends) is my favorite.

I'd recommend the manga way over the anime. The fights were pretty bad in the anime; something that didn't quite hit me when I was reading it because of pacing matters between how it plays out on the screen and how I read it. Art-wise, it was pretty inferior, especially with the gore; but Lilium was pretty neat. Story-wise, it didn't quite go as far; and the direction the story went after where the anime ended was much better and my favorite part of the series as well. There was only one scene that seemed really nicely done in the anime, and that was the very first ten minutes.

However, this wasn't a manga recommendation thread, but an anime one; but if Greg is trying to get into anime and manga, this is a pretty nice manga.

However, this wasn't a manga recommendation thread, but an anime one; but if Greg is trying to get into anime and manga, this is a pretty nice manga.

Baby steps.

I don't know if it was mentioned but you should give Detective Conan a try, it's a nice anime.

I don't know how it'll appear to someone who actually plays music, but you may want to give BECK a try.

V I didn't think of that but that seems likely.

How Greg would probably view BECK: Whiny Engrish faggots.

Yes, the manga is way better than the anime. Anime was short, boring and not even that great besides the initial allure from the first episode. Anime covers like...barely half of the manga story. And ironically, the latter half (all the stuff after the anime ends) is my favorite.

Sums up my feelings for Elfin Lied pretty well actually. I thought the anime was pretty overrated. It was an okay watch, but probably got more attention than it deserved, and it's usually one of the first titles I see popping up as a recommendation if anyone asks for mature anime.