Pardon me for breaking the conversation at hand, everyone, but I just want to see if I could join in on this little social club you have going on. I am joining because I have recently realized how much I enjoy watching animated shows, as if the last couple of years on Newgrounds haven't already shown me that.
However, before I do join as a new member in this club, I want to know a few things, if you wouldn't mind filling me in on them:
1.) What are the requirements to join this club, if any?
b.) Is discussion limited to Japanese animation, or can we also discuss other animated works?
iii.) I'm fairly new to animu and mango in general, what things should I know and what do the rest of you recommend viewing?
Thank you for your input!
Oh, how rude of me - I didn't even introduce myself yet! Well, let's see...
I am ArtDanVal, though you can just call me 'Art' or 'Dan' if you want (but don't call me 'Val'). I have been watching anime on-and-off throughout much of my youth, though I never really got into it until just recently. Much of what I did watch came from the animated television block on Cartoon Network known as "Toonami". Outside of that, I didn't really get a whole lot of exposure to Japanese animation and comic books, though the Internet has certainly bridged that gap since.
I think the very first anime I can recall watching was probably Pokemon (the original generation), though eventually I got acquainted with Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Tenchi Muyo!, and Gundam Wing. Personally, I did not take much interest in them because I did not understand the plots most of the time, but I did enjoy watching them (even if I don't remember anything about them now). It wasn't until I got Internet that I became more aware of other shows and began to gather an interest in watching more anime.
Even then, I didn't watch many shows or read the mangas on the Internet, though it seemed it was the only thing many colleagues of mine did on their lunch break. At most, I'd watch a little short or segment of it on a video sharing site and watch it because of the memes associated with them.
For the longest time, I remember just wanting to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion and how that thought lurked in the back of my mind as an adolescent. I was already a big mecha geek and I had heard many great things about the show, things which seemed right up my alley. I didn't come into it knowing everything and spoiled by reviews, so I really didn't know what to expect.
It was the first anime I watched on my own whim, though by the time I finally got around to watching it, I had already graduated from high school (which was six months ago). Got all the episodes and the "End", watched it all in one sitting on my own and to say that my mind was blown is putting it as an understatement.
I was hooked and it wasn't long before Eva began to work it's marketing magic on me, permeating my subconscious with wacky dreams about ASL and Teh Rei. I hadn't watched a show or a series that had caused that much of a reaction not just on me, but also within me. I began to wonder if other anime could also do the same, and began to look for other ones. However, recent times have proven difficult for me to be enthused in anything at all, so my quest for more good animation has all but come to a halt.
That's about it for me that is relevant to the topic, though just for some insight, I'll share what I've seen and what else...
+Shows I have watched and/or still watch regularly:
Neon Genesis Evangelion, Dragon Ball Z (seasons 1-3, 5-8), and Pokemon (up until season 2).
+Shows that I have watched before, but don't remember or have only seen a few episodes of:
Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, Tenchi Muyo! (and its spin-offs), Outlaw Star, Ronin Warriors, Gundam Wing, and Cardcaptor Sakura.
+Shows that I have only seen in shorts or small segments:
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Azumanga Daioh, Lucky Star, Street Fighter II V, Fist of the North Star, Toradora!, and GaoGaiGar.
+Shows I have heard of, but have not yet watched and am interested in:
The Big O, Trigun, Cowboy Bebop, Full Metal Alchemist, Code GeASS, Hellsing, Gurren Lagaan, Black Lagoon, FLCL, Ghost in the Shell: SAC, Death Note, Lupin the Third, Paranoia Agent, Death Note, Slayers, El Hazard, and Elfen Lied.
+Shows I have heard of or watched and am indifferent to:
YuYu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin, Zatch Bell!, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Naruto, K-On!, InuYasha, Bleach, Rozen Maiden, Chobits, Digimon, and Chibi Vampire.
That's it, I think.
