Most Underrated Animes & Manga

Lyrs · Post by **Lyrs** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:02 am

Romeo X Juliet

People are immediately put off by the title, but it's quite entertaining and unlike what you think it should be. While the same characters and names are used, this anime can be best described as inspired by the story and events rather then an interpretation of what occurred in the classic story.

iDolmaster Xenoglossia

It takes a dozen episodes to start seeing a coherent and exciting plot, but looking back, the first half was very much an effort to get you to know the characters and to come to like each for their distinct traits. But don't worry that it's all girly, mecha cuteness. The anime has very hard hitting events that are epic due to the relationship built in the early episodes.

Boompass · Post by **Boompass** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:54 pm

Harlock7876 wrote:Legend of Black Heaven

Sykes

Aurealis · Post by **Aurealis** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:48 pm

hand maid may.

Millenear · Post by **Millenear** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:31 am

I've had some time to think about it..

Roujin Z I think deserves a mention, dirty old men, government corruption and drunken nursing students.

Parodic Productions · Post by **Parodic Productions** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:16 pm

Zoids Just Kidding

Actually, I've always enjoyed a series called Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko. Granted the story is kinda cliche, there're only six episodes, and there was little characterization. Other than that, I liked it. Short and sweet, about a group of girls transported into the future to pilot spaceships; one of these girls, Yamamoto Yohko, is exceptional in videogames (eg. arcade shooters), and thus interested in the opportunity. It tries to spoof the old "ordinary girl pilots futuristic vehicle" formula, and it would have been better if it had pushed itself better in terms of comedy and character development. You could say it had potential if expanded upon, similar to another short series Ayane's High Kick. Otherwise, a good short series, I felt.

Illia Sadri · Post by **Illia Sadri** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 2:07 pm

Okay some of my picks... a few old, a few new and

Now and There Here and There- is equally surreal and depressing. It is hands down one of the most brutal shows as far as depicting warfare, particularly child warfare.

Monster- It is a show for those who typically like psychological horror or suspense shows which have been lacking for awhile save for Paranoia Agent. The art style is far more realistic than most shows and the European atmosphere is a bit off kilter for anime. It is also 70 some odd eps long and thus will probably never be released here.

Key the Metal Idol- It is the mother of shows like Lain and Kino's Journey. Just be prepared for angst in spades.

Kino's Journey- Awesome, awesome, awesome. Enough said. Nice part is that the story itself is almost self contained short stories and thus can cover a lot in 13 episodes.

Legend of Black Heaven- Probably the one show that lacks a major teenage character. Yes it does exist. Despite incredibly low production values, the show is a lot of fun to watch as it never takes itself too seriously.

Hare+Guu- Was popular for a brief period and was pretty much forgotten about. It is the crack show with quite possibly the most addicting opening ever. It's one of the better bizarre options to come out of japan.

Last Exile- Children growing up in war in a world that resembles 17th-19th century Europe. The show though is a real gem as it pushed the animation of its time and told a plot with good characters and actual development. It never really picked up stateside even though it ended up on TV.

Anything by Leiji Matsumoto- He is the father of the 80's space dramas even though most of his major series started in the 70's. Captain Harlock is the original badass along with Ray Amano.

Genshiken- It is the new school Otaku no Video. It makes more sense to those who are at least familiar with the Japanese side of fandom, but a lot of the jokes do carry over. Incredibly dialog heavy, it is a comedy that does not give a laugh a minute but takes the time to build the scenario.

Irresponsible Captain Tylor- Anybody who has been into anime for a decade or more is going to raise their eyebrow at this one, but most people now have never heard of it. Character driven show that is equal parts intelligent wit and slapstick. I still can't call if Tylor is a genius or an idiot.

Katsuhiko Jinnai · Post by **Katsuhiko Jinnai** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:51 am

I agree on Death Note, the Irresponsible Captain Tylor, and Hand Maid May. I thoroughly enjoyed all three, but I hear them rarely discussed outside of a few people.

I would add Kiddy Grade.

Kiddy Grade probably sufferred from starting out in a very episodic way, but gets really good around episode 10 of the anime. It picks up from there, and gives you three outstanding story arcs and a great conclussion.

Ginger Gouki · Post by **Ginger Gouki** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:24 am

Anyone said Zombie Powder? If not, let me just wave a big-ass flag with the ZP logo on.
Its also a shame Bleach become so popular, mabe we would have found out where it would have gone *sigh*. But yeah, an awesome manga, well worth your time and, in some respects, still better than bleach. ^_^

CrazyLee · Post by **CrazyLee** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:44 pm

Illia Sadri wrote:
Monster- It is a show for those who typically like psychological horror or suspense shows which have been lacking for awhile save for Paranoia Agent. The art style is far more realistic than most shows and the European atmosphere is a bit off kilter for anime. It is also 70 some odd eps long and thus will probably never be released here.

I was just about to mention this and found out someone got to it before me.

Monster is an awesome and very very unknown and underrated anime as far as I know, as I have yet to meet almost anyone who has ever heard of it. If you like Death Note, if you like Paranoia Agent, you'll love this, because it's similar to both anime involving mystery, death, a murderer at large, and horror.

It starts out with this celebrated brain surgeon, Dr. Tenma, who's about to get promoted, and is going to marry the hospital director's daughter. When he's about to start operating on a young boy with a gunshot wound to the head, the director demands he stops working on the boy and saves the city's mayor instead, because the mayor is making sure the hospital gets lots of free government money. Tenma does what his consious tells him to do, and saves the young boy, only for the mayor to die. The director is about to ruin his whole life when him and several other doctors ahead of Tenma die. The police suspect Tenma but can't prove anything.

10 or so years later and Tenma is once again a renouned doctor. Suddenly a rash of murders happens around him and once again Tenma is suspected. He confronts the murderer only to find out it's the kid he saved years ago, now grown up, and now with a fetish for murder and violence. This same kid was the one who killed the director and doctors years ago after Tenma has saved him. Now Dr. Tenma must destroy the 'Monster' he had created.

BTW I didn't realize the thing had 70 episodes, I only caught the first season or so.

MadScientist · Post by **MadScientist** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:23 pm

Yes Monster is a great show. Probably in my top five. Had me on the edge of my seat until the climax. Such great characters and suspense had me hooked. The villain is probably my favorite villain currently.

As far as my picks go
Manga:
Yotsuba - It's such a lighthearted and fun manga. The cuteness of the main character doesn't hurt either. More subtle comedy than Azumanga, but I think Azuma has done an excellent job with it.

Anime:
The Legend of Galactic Heroes - Although because of the setting and length it doesnt have appeal to everyone out there, the story is well done and the characters complex and interesting. If you like Sci-Fi and battle tactics, this would be a good one.