Can you suggest a great long-running anime show for my son and I to watch on DVD?
January 8, 2010 12:32 AM Subscribe
Can you suggest a great long-running anime show for my son and I to watch on DVD?
My son and I watched the entire Full Metal Alchemist a few years ago. Somehow I caught the first episode by accident when it was in reruns, so we watched the whole thing from beginning to end. He was probably a little young for it... 9 at the time. He's 11 now.
It was a good bonding sort of experience for us. So I'm looking for a new one to start watching with him through Netflix. DVD's, not Instant.
Any suggestions? Something borderline age-appropriate and not childish.
Thanks.
My son and I watched the entire Full Metal Alchemist a few years ago. Somehow I caught the first episode by accident when it was in reruns, so we watched the whole thing from beginning to end. He was probably a little young for it... 9 at the time. He's 11 now.
It was a good bonding sort of experience for us. So I'm looking for a new one to start watching with him through Netflix. DVD's, not Instant.
Any suggestions? Something borderline age-appropriate and not childish.
Thanks.
- The Vision of Escaflowne
- Neon Genesis Evangelion
Also instead of a single long-running show, you may consider running for a movie night, where you would show your son several (or all) of Miyazaki's works. They are stunningly beautiful, both in art and in the stories.
posted by knz at 1:08 AM on January 8, 2010
- Neon Genesis Evangelion
Also instead of a single long-running show, you may consider running for a movie night, where you would show your son several (or all) of Miyazaki's works. They are stunningly beautiful, both in art and in the stories.
posted by knz at 1:08 AM on January 8, 2010
Gurren Lagann is all you need. It is what happens when Studio Gainax makes a Saturday Morning cartoon.
It is a Giant Robot show where the universe very literally runs on Rule of Cool.
Also handy, it is legally available on Youtube & Hulu.
posted by CrystalDave at 1:36 AM on January 8, 2010
It is a Giant Robot show where the universe very literally runs on Rule of Cool.
Also handy, it is legally available on Youtube & Hulu.
posted by CrystalDave at 1:36 AM on January 8, 2010
Cowboy Bebop is my go-to answer for anime. Long running series about a bounty hunter team in space. For most of its run it's pretty light fun, though you should be aware that the overarching story that spans the series is a classic greek tragedy.
Read or Die is not long-running (I think it's maybe 4 hours?) but it's really fun. The main character is a librarian whose super power is ... paper. Turns out that a paper superpower is pretty awesome.
posted by kingjoeshmoe at 1:40 AM on January 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
Read or Die is not long-running (I think it's maybe 4 hours?) but it's really fun. The main character is a librarian whose super power is ... paper. Turns out that a paper superpower is pretty awesome.
posted by kingjoeshmoe at 1:40 AM on January 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
I'd mostly recommend Trigun as above.
Rurouni Kenshin would be good and has a much longer run.
I don't think Neon Genesis would be a good fit.
posted by pseudonick at 1:53 AM on January 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
Rurouni Kenshin would be good and has a much longer run.
I don't think Neon Genesis would be a good fit.
posted by pseudonick at 1:53 AM on January 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
He's too young for Evangelion. Cowboy Bebop is a solid choice, Gurren Lagann is the best show of all time but the dub is horrendous, whereas Bebop's dub is decidedly watchable. Your kid is probably the right age to love Bleach, but you might not enjoy it as much - the characters are kind of flat, in my opinion. If you wanted to start in on some serious classics, you could try Ranma 1/2. It's silly, of course, but still great. I know people who treat Ranma 1/2 like anime chicken soup - they watch it when they are sick to make them feel better!
Unfortunately, what I'd come in to rec isn't available on Netflix, which is basically anything in the Macross canon. Macross consists of a bunch of different shows all in the same universe, and each one is basically 1/3 awesome robot space battles with aliens, 1/3 humorous love triangle, and 1/3 saving the universe through the power of song. It really never gets old. The most recent Macross series that came out in Japan is called Macross Frontier. It was glorious.
posted by Mizu at 2:10 AM on January 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
Unfortunately, what I'd come in to rec isn't available on Netflix, which is basically anything in the Macross canon. Macross consists of a bunch of different shows all in the same universe, and each one is basically 1/3 awesome robot space battles with aliens, 1/3 humorous love triangle, and 1/3 saving the universe through the power of song. It really never gets old. The most recent Macross series that came out in Japan is called Macross Frontier. It was glorious.
posted by Mizu at 2:10 AM on January 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
It's easy to recommend good anime - turns out slightly harder to recommend ones that make good parent/son watching.
One Piece I think. It's very, very long-running. According to wikipedia its episode count is currently in the mid 400s and it's still going. It's also very, very popular, being based on the probably the most popular boy's manga in Japan.
It's about pirates. The fun adventurous sort. They often meet the bloodthirsty nasty sort. They go through hardships, beat up the villains and then have a party. It has a unique style - the art, world and story embrace ludicrous ideas.
Reservations:
It looks a lot more cartoonish than you may be used to from anime, and it's primarily for children. It'd be very easy to dismiss it as childish (I know that eleven-year-old me would have turned my nose up at it for being too silly and not cool enough). But! what seems like childish silliness is actually a totally unironic sense of fun. And there's no shortage of cool badassery if you make it past first impressions.
In common with most anime adaptations of ongoing boys' manga, the episodes can be very slow-moving, padded out with dramatic pauses and unnecessary dialogue. I don't think a young viewer would mind - they get caught up in it - but it could frustrate an adult.
posted by Lorc at 2:20 AM on January 8, 2010
One Piece I think. It's very, very long-running. According to wikipedia its episode count is currently in the mid 400s and it's still going. It's also very, very popular, being based on the probably the most popular boy's manga in Japan.
It's about pirates. The fun adventurous sort. They often meet the bloodthirsty nasty sort. They go through hardships, beat up the villains and then have a party. It has a unique style - the art, world and story embrace ludicrous ideas.
Reservations:
It looks a lot more cartoonish than you may be used to from anime, and it's primarily for children. It'd be very easy to dismiss it as childish (I know that eleven-year-old me would have turned my nose up at it for being too silly and not cool enough). But! what seems like childish silliness is actually a totally unironic sense of fun. And there's no shortage of cool badassery if you make it past first impressions.
In common with most anime adaptations of ongoing boys' manga, the episodes can be very slow-moving, padded out with dramatic pauses and unnecessary dialogue. I don't think a young viewer would mind - they get caught up in it - but it could frustrate an adult.
posted by Lorc at 2:20 AM on January 8, 2010
Looks like we lost a lot of answers here, but I was watching this thread pretty closely and the gist of it all was something along these lines - cowboy bebop, evangelion and FLCL were judged too adult for an eleven year old. Naruto and and Bleach were mentioned, as was the original run of dragonball. A few people reccomended Avatar the last Airbender (including me).
posted by Rinku at 3:01 AM on January 9, 2010
posted by Rinku at 3:01 AM on January 9, 2010
Rurouni Kenshin is truly excellent, and would be a good choice.
Seconding the notion that he's too young for Evangelion, and will likely be bored by it.
Also, they don't get much more long-running than the Robotech saga. I think all of the classic eps were reissued on DVD a couple of years ago.
posted by jbickers at 3:17 AM on January 8, 2010
Seconding the notion that he's too young for Evangelion, and will likely be bored by it.
Also, they don't get much more long-running than the Robotech saga. I think all of the classic eps were reissued on DVD a couple of years ago.
posted by jbickers at 3:17 AM on January 8, 2010
I will wholeheartedly second One Piece, and throw in a suggestion for Keroro Gunso. It's silly but really, really good.
posted by d13t_p3ps1 at 3:21 AM on January 8, 2010
posted by d13t_p3ps1 at 3:21 AM on January 8, 2010
If you try a Miyazaki film, I recommend Castle in the Sky. I first saw it at around age ten and it stayed with me for the 15 years it took for it to be shown in the UK again.
posted by permafrost at 3:32 AM on January 8, 2010
posted by permafrost at 3:32 AM on January 8, 2010
Evangelion has kids, but it's not for kids.
Nthing Bebop, Ranma, Trigun, Read or Die. Aand super Nthing Macross.
Also: Last Exile - I think he would love it; steam punk w/ kids. It's a great show.
The Lupin series would probs be a hit - it's been a while so I can't remember how racy they are.
Abenobashi = Magical Shopping Arcade, also about kids. Fun, cute, lots of game and other show references you would probably both get a kick out of.
Hmmm, I'll keep thinking.
posted by smoke at 3:32 AM on January 8, 2010
Nthing Bebop, Ranma, Trigun, Read or Die. Aand super Nthing Macross.
Also: Last Exile - I think he would love it; steam punk w/ kids. It's a great show.
The Lupin series would probs be a hit - it's been a while so I can't remember how racy they are.
Abenobashi = Magical Shopping Arcade, also about kids. Fun, cute, lots of game and other show references you would probably both get a kick out of.
Hmmm, I'll keep thinking.
posted by smoke at 3:32 AM on January 8, 2010
Long running + good = Star Blazers / Space Cruiser Yamato / Uchuu Senkan Yamato.
OR
Macross
OR EVEN
Robotech (American mashup of Macross, Southern Cross, Genesis Climber Mospeada) (also this was classic 80s tv)
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:48 AM on January 8, 2010
OR
Macross
OR EVEN
Robotech (American mashup of Macross, Southern Cross, Genesis Climber Mospeada) (also this was classic 80s tv)
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:48 AM on January 8, 2010
Outlaw Star is pure space western fun, it has a good dub and is pretty age appropriate throughout. It's kind of like Cowboy Bebop's less serious and less polished cousin but has its own quirky energetic charm. There's a somewhat risque hotsprings episode near the end but otherwise nothing of much concern.
If you are looking for action/comedy, FLCL is in the same awesome robot lineage as Gurren Lagann but is a quick watch at only six episodes; the only real "downside" to the show is that its overarching plot is borderline incomprehensible and also the themes of growing up might go over his head a bit in favor of gags and fight scenes but neither of those would stop me from recommending it.
Excel Saga is another great comedy show whose premise is that each episode pokes fun at a different anime genre - it's still very enjoyable even without much knowledge of the stuff it is parodying or of the japanese cultural references, mostly because it is so relentlessly ballisticly frenetic. There's some suggestive sexual humor in it and the very final episode tacked on after the plot is resolved deliberately takes all of the shows running gags one step too far, but given the irreverent nature of the whole thing it's about at the same level of concern as watching a Monty Python film.
Despite meaning to I've never seen the next two shows but will tentatively recommend them. Record of Lodos War is a Lord of the Rings style fantasy series played straight, and Slayers is fantasy with a comic edge. Pretty sure both would be fine and they're classics.
Finally, three oddball recommendations to possibly consider: Mushi-shi is essentially a medical mystery show set in a vaguely fantasy setting, gorgeous and deep but might move too slow to hold his attention (haven't finished watching it to give a fuller opinion). Big Windup is a show about a high school baseball team and is the only thing sports related to ever grab my attention and keep me interested (again, have sadly only seen the first DVD yet).
Third is Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. What it is is the Count of Monte Cristo in space - and despite how much that sounds like it would suck it actually ends up working surprisingly well and stays fairly faithful to the book. I recommend it any chance I get because it's a very unique show both in story and in the way it is animated, but it is thematically far more mature than the other suggestions here and would be a real judgment call, falling somewhere beyond Cowboy Bebop since there is much less comedy to break things up but not going so far as to reach Evengelion's level of intentional artful unpleasantness. Contrariwise it's a fascinating story of intrigue and adventure and its level of maturity is because it's being faithful to the source material.
Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli can do no wrong and Last Exile is a great suggestion. Bebop and Trigun are solid classics who deserve their reputations. Evangelion is classic too but really won't mean anything to someone who hasn't been a teenager yet and is violent in ways that are often disturbing. If you're going to go with one of the never ending show, One Piece is the best bet. Naruto, Bleach, Dragon Ball, and Inuyasha are all somewhat endless as well and from what I understand drag quite a bit. Ranma and Lupin are also essentially endless but so episodic that it's less of a problem, and Ranma is harmless if you don't mind some nudity.
This website can give you some ideas about the contents of various shows, but is many years out of date and tends to be overly concerned with specific occurrences of things being shown onscreen while often ignoring the thematic appropriateness of a show.
posted by CheshireCat at 5:44 AM on January 8, 2010
If you are looking for action/comedy, FLCL is in the same awesome robot lineage as Gurren Lagann but is a quick watch at only six episodes; the only real "downside" to the show is that its overarching plot is borderline incomprehensible and also the themes of growing up might go over his head a bit in favor of gags and fight scenes but neither of those would stop me from recommending it.
Excel Saga is another great comedy show whose premise is that each episode pokes fun at a different anime genre - it's still very enjoyable even without much knowledge of the stuff it is parodying or of the japanese cultural references, mostly because it is so relentlessly ballisticly frenetic. There's some suggestive sexual humor in it and the very final episode tacked on after the plot is resolved deliberately takes all of the shows running gags one step too far, but given the irreverent nature of the whole thing it's about at the same level of concern as watching a Monty Python film.
Despite meaning to I've never seen the next two shows but will tentatively recommend them. Record of Lodos War is a Lord of the Rings style fantasy series played straight, and Slayers is fantasy with a comic edge. Pretty sure both would be fine and they're classics.
Finally, three oddball recommendations to possibly consider: Mushi-shi is essentially a medical mystery show set in a vaguely fantasy setting, gorgeous and deep but might move too slow to hold his attention (haven't finished watching it to give a fuller opinion). Big Windup is a show about a high school baseball team and is the only thing sports related to ever grab my attention and keep me interested (again, have sadly only seen the first DVD yet).
Third is Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. What it is is the Count of Monte Cristo in space - and despite how much that sounds like it would suck it actually ends up working surprisingly well and stays fairly faithful to the book. I recommend it any chance I get because it's a very unique show both in story and in the way it is animated, but it is thematically far more mature than the other suggestions here and would be a real judgment call, falling somewhere beyond Cowboy Bebop since there is much less comedy to break things up but not going so far as to reach Evengelion's level of intentional artful unpleasantness. Contrariwise it's a fascinating story of intrigue and adventure and its level of maturity is because it's being faithful to the source material.
Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli can do no wrong and Last Exile is a great suggestion. Bebop and Trigun are solid classics who deserve their reputations. Evangelion is classic too but really won't mean anything to someone who hasn't been a teenager yet and is violent in ways that are often disturbing. If you're going to go with one of the never ending show, One Piece is the best bet. Naruto, Bleach, Dragon Ball, and Inuyasha are all somewhat endless as well and from what I understand drag quite a bit. Ranma and Lupin are also essentially endless but so episodic that it's less of a problem, and Ranma is harmless if you don't mind some nudity.
This website can give you some ideas about the contents of various shows, but is many years out of date and tends to be overly concerned with specific occurrences of things being shown onscreen while often ignoring the thematic appropriateness of a show.
posted by CheshireCat at 5:44 AM on January 8, 2010
Well I grew up watching Saint Seiya so I had to throw that in there. The initial anime was produced between 1986 and 1989 but it was revived a few years ago and more has been added since.
posted by xqwzts at 5:49 AM on January 8, 2010
posted by xqwzts at 5:49 AM on January 8, 2010
Original Dragon Ball was a fun story that riffed on the Monkey legend, with a perpetually hungry kid with a tail that rode a cloud and was searching for magic spheres. It's been a while since I saw it, but I have fond memories of it as neat, relatively innocent (with a few boob jokes but nothing beyond what you'd find in most "comedy" animé) and self-contained. Emphatically not the tedious perpetual fight-fest that Dragon Ball Z became.
posted by Shepherd at 6:34 AM on January 8, 2010
posted by Shepherd at 6:34 AM on January 8, 2010
I watched a good chunk of Gundam SEED via fansubs a few years ago, but I understand it has since been released in english. Giant space robots piloted by young boys is a concept I would have found awesome at your son's age, so it might be worth a shot. It ran 50 episodes, and there was even a sequel series (Gundam SEED Destiny) if it's a hit.
You could also get into building those plastic models of the Gundam suits if he is so inclined, which could add a brand-new bonding activity to the mix.
Glue-based bonding activity. Heh.
posted by joelhunt at 6:37 AM on January 8, 2010
You could also get into building those plastic models of the Gundam suits if he is so inclined, which could add a brand-new bonding activity to the mix.
Glue-based bonding activity. Heh.
posted by joelhunt at 6:37 AM on January 8, 2010
My first thought was Naruto, although I don't know if it's easy to get the episodes legally, I think they're coming.
posted by carmen at 6:38 AM on January 8, 2010
posted by carmen at 6:38 AM on January 8, 2010
jeffreyclong I sent you a mefi mail
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 6:44 AM on January 8, 2010
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 6:44 AM on January 8, 2010
Nthing Slayers! It's an oldie but goodie. I also think it would be very appropriate age-wise, as I stumbled across the first and second series at my local Moovies around your son's age.
There are several seasons, the most-established being Slayers, Slayers Next, and Slayers Try. (There are two other Slayers series currently out, Slayers Revolution and Slayers Evolution-R, but I'm not as familiar with them.) There are also a handful of movies and OAVs.
One fun thing about Slayers is that it treads the fine line between comedy and drama. The beginning of each season is decidedly silly. There are usually standalone episodes with goofy--but funny!--plots. (Lots of magical explosions!) Then the overarching theme of the series comes into play, and the drama sets in. Of all the Slayers series, Slayers Next is my favorite.
Some heavy themes include controlling death, racial genocide, and black magic. Lina is subjected to boob jokes as a running gag. I think if your son handled Full Metal Alchemist, he'll be fine! :)
Also: Detective Conan. It's known as Case Closed in the States. It's extremely long-running and doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. (How many movies are there now? 13?) However, if both of you enjoy detective stories and murder mysteries, it's top-notch. The protagonist is a high-schooler turned elementary school kid. There are some great overarching plots, though you won't see big payoffs unless you stick with it.
Most of the episodes are episodic, spanning one or two episodes. The murders are occasionally grisly, but not too graphic. Some of the explanations are super-scientific, so it might go above your son's head. I think it started watching it when I was around 14 or 15.
On preview: Nthing Cowboy Bebop (classic!), Ranma 1/2, Dragonball, Bleach, One Piece, Naruto. A lot of the shounen (young boy's) series are a perfect fit for him. It's more about whether they fit your taste. ;)
Have fun!
posted by ElectricBlue at 6:57 AM on January 8, 2010
There are several seasons, the most-established being Slayers, Slayers Next, and Slayers Try. (There are two other Slayers series currently out, Slayers Revolution and Slayers Evolution-R, but I'm not as familiar with them.) There are also a handful of movies and OAVs.
One fun thing about Slayers is that it treads the fine line between comedy and drama. The beginning of each season is decidedly silly. There are usually standalone episodes with goofy--but funny!--plots. (Lots of magical explosions!) Then the overarching theme of the series comes into play, and the drama sets in. Of all the Slayers series, Slayers Next is my favorite.
Some heavy themes include controlling death, racial genocide, and black magic. Lina is subjected to boob jokes as a running gag. I think if your son handled Full Metal Alchemist, he'll be fine! :)
Also: Detective Conan. It's known as Case Closed in the States. It's extremely long-running and doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. (How many movies are there now? 13?) However, if both of you enjoy detective stories and murder mysteries, it's top-notch. The protagonist is a high-schooler turned elementary school kid. There are some great overarching plots, though you won't see big payoffs unless you stick with it.
Most of the episodes are episodic, spanning one or two episodes. The murders are occasionally grisly, but not too graphic. Some of the explanations are super-scientific, so it might go above your son's head. I think it started watching it when I was around 14 or 15.
On preview: Nthing Cowboy Bebop (classic!), Ranma 1/2, Dragonball, Bleach, One Piece, Naruto. A lot of the shounen (young boy's) series are a perfect fit for him. It's more about whether they fit your taste. ;)
Have fun!
posted by ElectricBlue at 6:57 AM on January 8, 2010
My first thought was Naruto as well, though it loses a little in comparison with the manga. I enjoyed the anime immensely, though some of the filler was a little frustrating after reading the manga. If you want long-running, Naruto is pretty long; between the original series and Shippuuden, it's in the neighborhood of 380 episodes. Surprisingly, it looks like most of the uncut box sets are available on Netflix in addition to the more recent shippuuden dvds.
Rurouni Kenshin is another fantastic series, really can't recommend that one enough.
posted by ashirys at 7:06 AM on January 8, 2010
Rurouni Kenshin is another fantastic series, really can't recommend that one enough.
posted by ashirys at 7:06 AM on January 8, 2010
I am surprised that nobody has recommended you check out Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood yet.
It is essentially a rewrite of the second half of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime series to reconcile it with the source material. I was not a fan of Fullmetal before mainly due to how boring it got towards the end, but watching this series has been a revelation for me.
It is currently airing in Japan and is available on hulu.
posted by BobbyDigital at 7:10 AM on January 8, 2010
It is essentially a rewrite of the second half of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime series to reconcile it with the source material. I was not a fan of Fullmetal before mainly due to how boring it got towards the end, but watching this series has been a revelation for me.
It is currently airing in Japan and is available on hulu.
posted by BobbyDigital at 7:10 AM on January 8, 2010
Try Naruto or Bleach, two of the biggest and for good reason, although the filler can drag, especially in Bleach.
posted by tumples at 7:12 AM on January 8, 2010
posted by tumples at 7:12 AM on January 8, 2010
I really enjoyed Samurai Seven.
It's based on the old Kurosawa samurai classic The Seven Samurai, so it could serve as a good springboard into watching Japanese samurai movies, if there's any interest there.
posted by utsutsu at 7:41 AM on January 8, 2010
It's based on the old Kurosawa samurai classic The Seven Samurai, so it could serve as a good springboard into watching Japanese samurai movies, if there's any interest there.
posted by utsutsu at 7:41 AM on January 8, 2010
I think he's probably too young for Cowboy Bebop.
I've only seen bits and pieces of it, but maybe Tsubasa: The Reserve Chronicle. It seems fairly age-appropriate, as far as I can tell, but not necessarily immature.
Otherwise, one of the Gundam series would probably work.
posted by darksong at 7:42 AM on January 8, 2010
I've only seen bits and pieces of it, but maybe Tsubasa: The Reserve Chronicle. It seems fairly age-appropriate, as far as I can tell, but not necessarily immature.
Otherwise, one of the Gundam series would probably work.
posted by darksong at 7:42 AM on January 8, 2010
My first thought was Naruto, although I don't know if it's easy to get the episodes legally, I think they're coming.
Nth-ing. This is a show aimed at his age, where the main character gets ahead through hard work and determination.
The entire series is available on hulu so you can watch an episode or two to check it out.
posted by anti social order at 7:57 AM on January 8, 2010
Nth-ing. This is a show aimed at his age, where the main character gets ahead through hard work and determination.
The entire series is available on hulu so you can watch an episode or two to check it out.
posted by anti social order at 7:57 AM on January 8, 2010
I'll nth Cowboy Bebop. I don't think he'd be too young for it if he's at all precocious and he's watching it with you.
posted by haveanicesummer at 8:16 AM on January 8, 2010
posted by haveanicesummer at 8:16 AM on January 8, 2010
Cowboy Bebop has a "punch the audience in the gut" ending. Not recommended.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:35 AM on January 8, 2010
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:35 AM on January 8, 2010
I second Naruto. It used to be completely free (just a couple years ago), so I doubt you would have any trouble finding torrents.
posted by chbrown at 9:38 AM on January 8, 2010
posted by chbrown at 9:38 AM on January 8, 2010
I second Rurouni Kenshin, and nth Naruto
If you're looking for a looonnng anime, try Ranma 1/2 and (by the same person) InuYasha, they're both about 160-ish episodes long (not counting the movies). They're from the 90's but people I know still watch 'em and like them.
posted by patheral at 10:01 AM on January 8, 2010
If you're looking for a looonnng anime, try Ranma 1/2 and (by the same person) InuYasha, they're both about 160-ish episodes long (not counting the movies). They're from the 90's but people I know still watch 'em and like them.
posted by patheral at 10:01 AM on January 8, 2010
2nd'ing Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, though I don't think it's out on DVD yet (see it on hulu as mentioned).
Plot wise the remake has a much better plot line (the manga is still running) with a central villain far more sinister than Dante in the original anime..
posted by chalbe at 10:28 AM on January 8, 2010
Plot wise the remake has a much better plot line (the manga is still running) with a central villain far more sinister than Dante in the original anime..
posted by chalbe at 10:28 AM on January 8, 2010
COWBOY BEBOP!!!!!
posted by Large Marge at 10:34 AM on January 8, 2010
posted by Large Marge at 10:34 AM on January 8, 2010
I don't have much experience outside what's been suggested her, but I still remember very well being 11 and setting interested in anime.
Cowboy Bebop is arguable one of the greatest shows ever. I think he'd be a few years too young for it. There's lots of gray-area morality, drugs, blood, and sexual innuendo. Nothing too racy, but over his head, I might think.
Dragonball is everything everyone has said and more. Yes on Dragonball. THE BEGINNING of Dragonball Z is almost as good. It achieves its own stereotype of taking several episodes od grunting and grimacing for someone to throw a punch at the end of the first (Vegita/Radditz) saga. He might like it after that (I did) but you won't. All of the associated movies are self contained and quick. There are maybe a dozen of them and all of them that I've seen are good. I haven't seen Dragonball GT.
Gundam Wing. The plot is a little space-opera, but they won't go too long without an epic space robot battle.
If I remember correctly, Ranma 1/2 might be a little titillating to watch with his father, though still age appropriate. It's worth checking out because you'd enjoy it too. InuYasha is about the same.
Evangelion was boring for me at the time.
FLCL is completely awesome, but maybe not for an eleven year old. But it's short and probably very educational if he gets into it.
No one's mentioned Van Helsing? Alternatively wacky and cool vampire gun battles. I think it'd work.
posted by cmoj at 10:40 AM on January 8, 2010
Cowboy Bebop is arguable one of the greatest shows ever. I think he'd be a few years too young for it. There's lots of gray-area morality, drugs, blood, and sexual innuendo. Nothing too racy, but over his head, I might think.
Dragonball is everything everyone has said and more. Yes on Dragonball. THE BEGINNING of Dragonball Z is almost as good. It achieves its own stereotype of taking several episodes od grunting and grimacing for someone to throw a punch at the end of the first (Vegita/Radditz) saga. He might like it after that (I did) but you won't. All of the associated movies are self contained and quick. There are maybe a dozen of them and all of them that I've seen are good. I haven't seen Dragonball GT.
Gundam Wing. The plot is a little space-opera, but they won't go too long without an epic space robot battle.
If I remember correctly, Ranma 1/2 might be a little titillating to watch with his father, though still age appropriate. It's worth checking out because you'd enjoy it too. InuYasha is about the same.
Evangelion was boring for me at the time.
FLCL is completely awesome, but maybe not for an eleven year old. But it's short and probably very educational if he gets into it.
No one's mentioned Van Helsing? Alternatively wacky and cool vampire gun battles. I think it'd work.
posted by cmoj at 10:40 AM on January 8, 2010
I loved FMA as well, I'd recommend Black Cat since no one's mentioned it. Not totally sure how kid-friendly it is.
And though it's not Japanese and made by Nickleodeon, I highly highly recommend Avatar: The Last Airbender. The whole thing is on DVD now (I think). Your kid will love it and so will you.
posted by exhilaration at 12:01 PM on January 8, 2010
And though it's not Japanese and made by Nickleodeon, I highly highly recommend Avatar: The Last Airbender. The whole thing is on DVD now (I think). Your kid will love it and so will you.
posted by exhilaration at 12:01 PM on January 8, 2010
Cowboy bebop, FLCL and Neon Genesis are all great shows that you should see. If I was 11, though, I wouldn't really enjoy any of them - Cowboy bebop is (the best anime of all time, but) rather slow for an 11 year old, FLCL (is the other greatest anime of all time, and is beautiful and surreal and deeply poignant, but) is deeply illogical and hard to understand, and Eva (has great robot fights and really interesting mythology) drags on and on and the ending... isn't something an 11 year old would appreciate. Hell, it's something very few people appreciate - I've heard that show described as a practical joke on all Japan.
Right now, Japan has three long running serial shows that are kind of the dragonball z's of our decade - Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece. Bleach is about death-gods, Naruto is about ninjas and One Piece is about pirates. They're all wildly popular and all more or less squarely aimed at your son's age group. I haven't seen any of them, but they're all very, very long and very, very popular. All good choices, probably.
The first thing I'd recommend, though, without any reservations, is Avatar the last airbender. It was made in the west, but has an anime feel to it. He'll love it... because it's an incredible show with great characters and a good story. It is the pinnacle of the saturday morning cartoon universe. You'll love it because it's an incredible show. It's smart and funny and there are a lot of rapidfire jokes adults will be able to catch that maybe kid's won't.
My friend was on AIM last night, and he was chatting with me as he was watching through the second season of Avatar. He kept saying that he "couldn't stop watching" and how the show was "surprisingly smart" and messaging me incessantly with jokes from the show. He ended staying up until 2:30, which is way later than he usually does.
I'm in college and my brother is in high school, and we watched through the whole show in a matter of weeks over the summer. At first we just watched it when our parents were out because it was a saturday morning cartoon we felt way too old for, but then my dad watched the finale of the first season and really enjoyed it. "This is amazing, he said. It's so... Jungian." My parents never sat down and watched it with us besides that, though there were a couple evenings where they were in the next room playing cards and I could hear them laughing at all the jokes.
tl;dr Avatar the last Airbender is the show for you.
posted by Rinku at 12:36 PM on January 8, 2010
Right now, Japan has three long running serial shows that are kind of the dragonball z's of our decade - Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece. Bleach is about death-gods, Naruto is about ninjas and One Piece is about pirates. They're all wildly popular and all more or less squarely aimed at your son's age group. I haven't seen any of them, but they're all very, very long and very, very popular. All good choices, probably.
The first thing I'd recommend, though, without any reservations, is Avatar the last airbender. It was made in the west, but has an anime feel to it. He'll love it... because it's an incredible show with great characters and a good story. It is the pinnacle of the saturday morning cartoon universe. You'll love it because it's an incredible show. It's smart and funny and there are a lot of rapidfire jokes adults will be able to catch that maybe kid's won't.
My friend was on AIM last night, and he was chatting with me as he was watching through the second season of Avatar. He kept saying that he "couldn't stop watching" and how the show was "surprisingly smart" and messaging me incessantly with jokes from the show. He ended staying up until 2:30, which is way later than he usually does.
I'm in college and my brother is in high school, and we watched through the whole show in a matter of weeks over the summer. At first we just watched it when our parents were out because it was a saturday morning cartoon we felt way too old for, but then my dad watched the finale of the first season and really enjoyed it. "This is amazing, he said. It's so... Jungian." My parents never sat down and watched it with us besides that, though there were a couple evenings where they were in the next room playing cards and I could hear them laughing at all the jokes.
tl;dr Avatar the last Airbender is the show for you.
posted by Rinku at 12:36 PM on January 8, 2010
Assuming the sexual humor (which is pretty light) isn't too much, Ranma 1/2 is a classic. I was around 13 or so when I started watching it and I adored it.
Don't do Neon Genesis for a while. I love that show, but it's way dark and philosophical and sexual in a way that wouldn't make sense to an 11 year old. It's constantly referencing Sartre and Freud; I saw it when I was 19 and I missed a TON of references.
posted by NoraReed at 2:27 PM on January 8, 2010
Don't do Neon Genesis for a while. I love that show, but it's way dark and philosophical and sexual in a way that wouldn't make sense to an 11 year old. It's constantly referencing Sartre and Freud; I saw it when I was 19 and I missed a TON of references.
posted by NoraReed at 2:27 PM on January 8, 2010
Many of these series being touted here, really aren't appropriate for a pre-teen IMO.
For instance, Cowboy Bebop? Hmm... [spoilers ahead] what about the scene where the nude, transgendered guy comes out of the shower and shocks Faye Valentine in a scene where you see the "woman" topless? Suitable for an 11 year old?
Or the very first episode, where the criminal gets blasted on the drug "redeye", then in a drug-induced haze, shoots and kills his adversaries? Or in the end of that episode, where he gets shot in the head, splattering his blood across the windshield of his spacecraft?
Appropriate? I suppose that's a decision for the OP to decide, whether this is appropriate for his boy or not...
How many of you folks actually *have* children?
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 3:02 PM on January 8, 2010
For instance, Cowboy Bebop? Hmm... [spoilers ahead] what about the scene where the nude, transgendered guy comes out of the shower and shocks Faye Valentine in a scene where you see the "woman" topless? Suitable for an 11 year old?
Or the very first episode, where the criminal gets blasted on the drug "redeye", then in a drug-induced haze, shoots and kills his adversaries? Or in the end of that episode, where he gets shot in the head, splattering his blood across the windshield of his spacecraft?
Appropriate? I suppose that's a decision for the OP to decide, whether this is appropriate for his boy or not...
How many of you folks actually *have* children?
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 3:02 PM on January 8, 2010
And on a more positive note, I thoroughly enjoyed 'Lost Universe' and I think it's not too bad on the whole, no sexual content, and violence is not graphic. But has drama, excitement and comedy especially with the dub.
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 3:06 PM on January 8, 2010
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 3:06 PM on January 8, 2010
How many of you folks actually *have* children?
Um, I have four (now grown) kids. I think that the sexual humor in Ranma 1/2 and InuYasha is pretty light and highschoolish enough for a pre-teen.
Naruto, Kenshin, and Dragonball are also appropriate for an 11 year old. After all, if they watched Full Metal Alchemist together, I think that they can handle those.
posted by patheral at 3:21 PM on January 8, 2010
Um, I have four (now grown) kids. I think that the sexual humor in Ranma 1/2 and InuYasha is pretty light and highschoolish enough for a pre-teen.
Naruto, Kenshin, and Dragonball are also appropriate for an 11 year old. After all, if they watched Full Metal Alchemist together, I think that they can handle those.
posted by patheral at 3:21 PM on January 8, 2010
Also, Gundam Wing, as someone else suggested, is pretty good for a pre-teen.
posted by patheral at 3:22 PM on January 8, 2010
posted by patheral at 3:22 PM on January 8, 2010
...one more thing that occurred to me after hitting 'Post' - if you've just seen a series on Cartoon Network - like Cowboy Bebop - you've seen heavily edited versions, including having entire episodes removed from the lineup. Like the "Pierrot le Fou" episode which was not broadcast on CN - it's disturbing and unpleasant.
Unconvinced?
http://www.tv.com/cowboy-bebop/pierrot-le-fou/episode/114122/summary.html
read the comments
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 3:50 PM on January 8, 2010
Unconvinced?
http://www.tv.com/cowboy-bebop/pierrot-le-fou/episode/114122/summary.html
read the comments
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 3:50 PM on January 8, 2010
I would definitely recommend Trigun. I loved that show. Slightly less dramatic then Fullmetal Alchemist perhaps, at least for the first 13 episodes. But very good.
And I would also Nth that you do not want Evangelion. There was a lot of very explicit stuff in the later part of the series.
Also, has anyone mentioned Martian Successor Nadesico? I loved that one when I was in my teens.
posted by Vorteks at 2:02 PM on January 29, 2010
And I would also Nth that you do not want Evangelion. There was a lot of very explicit stuff in the later part of the series.
Also, has anyone mentioned Martian Successor Nadesico? I loved that one when I was in my teens.
posted by Vorteks at 2:02 PM on January 29, 2010
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Full of action and cool characters that I bet an eleven year old will love. Gun-heavy, which may or may not be relevant to you, but death and killing is treated with more than the necessary amount of gravitas.
Much like full metal alchemist it has plenty of comedy and sight-gags. The first few episodes are largely stand-alone but it soon falls into an overarching plot. It does get a bit dark near the end, but I think if he dealt with fullmetal alchemist he'll be fine with this.
posted by Lorc at 12:50 AM on January 8, 2010