What Anime, if any, is better than Naruto?

[Aaidan]

I was just wondering, I was on a hunt for anime recently and I could never find one that matched or surpassed Narutos' genius-made episodes.

[Kalium]

Define "better".

Do you mean better plot, more mature plot, less angst, less random filler that doesn't come from the manga, what are you after?

Unless you can define this far better than you have, I'll likely lock this as pointless. Nevermind the flamebaiting.

[Aaidan]

Simply put, Naruto, in my opinion offers the deepest storyline. For example with the characters dying off and whatnot, they always add a story behind it to either make you hate or love the character and not want him to die. This is why I think the creators are geniuses, because they have been able to use this kind of aproach with a lot of characters and kept the story going with a lot of feeling.

What I meant was, just an overall better anime. Yes, opinions are different, views on types of anime differ, from sci-fi to medieval ages to fantasy mixed with a bit of history such as Naruto, but from all the Anime I've seen as I was looking for a newer anime to watch, since I heard Naruto was coming to the US, none matched up to Naruto in any aspect, action, plot, characters, etc. So, perhaps I have missed great ones because, well simply put, if there was no greater anime than Naruto, why would people complain of Naruto being used as if it were the next DBZ?

That's why Id like some opinions from other persons on what they think is thee best anime.

[older_gohan]

This is very much so a flaming thread. You'll have people go in adn start complaining about other animes and then others who will retailiate agaisnt those who are against naruto. Insults will fly and feeling will be hurt not to mention enemies made. I say you lock this thread but until you do I'll name some and tell you why it's better than Naruto.

Cowboy Bebop - not just because it has very colorful and diverse characters, each episode has it's own plot with minor characters who are veyr corful as well. Though the plot may seem like it has none, the underlying plot is displayed by the feelings of the bebop crew. Even though it is only 26 episodes long thi anime offers great entertainment and amazing action sequences to quench any anime lover's thirst.

Ghost in the Shell :Stand Alone Complex: - if you want to talk about a anime based purely on plot, take look at this one. The plot behind this anime is based upon finding someone called the laughing man. Much like paranoia agent it leads you to think the laughing man is a certain person who is a amster hacker and assassin. Even though your lead to think he's killed hundreds of people he's infact only killed no one. The laughing man, much like little slugger, was raised in the image of the public to show that the government even has it's own weaknessess. The laughing man caused a craze among people helping further the thought that the governemnt was in a conspiracy. Don't be mistaken by it's slow moving episodes, which you will see every so often. There is plenty of action which is mroe realistic than anything else. Not to mention where episodes will drop off leaving you begging for more.

Paranoia Agent - (there's a thread for this) but paranoia agent is a very vivid yet complex anime. Like Ghost in the Shell, a person is created in the image of the public but really spawns from one girl who wishes to explain the death of animal. After creating this person called 'Little Slugger' two investigators are sent to search and capture little slugger. Later on they find out that little slugger is actually a imaginary person created by the paranoia of those who have nothing left to live for. Like laughing man as well little slugger never kills anyone. But in the minds of those who are emotionably unstable he always lurks in the corners ready to free them from their depression.

Robotech - This aniem is built around the craze over Mobils units. Of course the plot in the first series is much deeper and gets more complex as the series goes on, the animation might be a little outdated for a few. Made back in the 1980's this anime was cutting edge and even offered a view of what humanity much ascend to when hitting the 20th century. The graphics are great for it's time but the characters and plot are something you'll be addicted to.

Ah! My Goddess - A wonderfull romantic comedy about a unfortunate, out of luck college boy who just so happens to get the girl he never knew he wanted. Keiichi is a college student who acidentaly calls the Goddess hotline and gets the Goddess Belldandy sent to his dorm room. When he makes the mistake of wishing for a Goddess, Belldandy gives herself to him. As a result Keiichi gets kicked from his dorm and almost out of college. But thanks to Belldandy and her unusual sisters, they get a palce to stay and eventually Belldandy and Keiichi find that their thrown together friendship may be alot more. If you want a good romantic anime this is definately the one for you.

Those are a few of the one's I think are better than Naruto by far. So there's your answer.

[TheAlmightyShiochan]

well there is the point in how DBZ was popular and all, but some it's viewers who got older lost interst. But Naruto is a great series. It has a different plot that makes it so great. It's sort of out there on it's own level. There will always be ones that are great and possibly better, but Naruto is Naruto. You can't exactly compare it like that. As a matter of fact you can't compare anime to others at all. There will always be be opinions and all, which I understand you want those, but thats about all you can ever give.

[x_rex30]

It's all a matter of opinion. :\

[.:SR:.]

It's all a matter of opinion. :\

x2

Besides, There's the fact that (IMO) Naruto started off as something that could've become in one of the best animes, but then it was getting way to off-topic (I'm not referring to the fillers) and they just wasted it.

Now, IMO, There are simply lots of better animes than Naruto, but then again, It's just my opinion...

[Mystallion]

Older-gohan first off, if you think any of those are better than Naruto, in general, your sorely mistaken.


I agree, it is all a matter of opinion... But atleast a list - no need for description would suit the question well... I havent watched many anime's and I actually, am curious as well.

[EmilLang1000]

Personally, I think there are a LOT of animes that are better than Naruto - most of them older ones.

Don't get me wrong, as far as fighting Animes go, it's one of the best out there (never seen Bleach, really, but from what people say, THAT may be the reining king, with Naruto in second), but I think it may be going the way of DBZ.
I say this because it keeps going on, though at least with a more singular plot, at least, without any real end in sight. That, and I hear people speaking of Naruto and obsessing over it the exact same way that people were about DBZ 5 years ago, and look at it now in the Anime community.

Let's base the idea of "better" on these standards: a more sophisticated and mature plot that doesn't cut into the entertainment value of the show as a whole, and can appeal to a wider audience.
1. Sophistication of plot, themes, and archetypes.
2. Entertainment value of the show.
3. Breadth of appeal to audiences.
Naruto has a pretty interesting and unique plot, though is not very deep or multidimensional, and really only appeals to a limited audience.

If you want my vote for a vastly superior show on all three levels, I'd say Robotech: The Macross Saga. It's plot has many more levels, thematically, including the true origin of humanity, the mindlessness yet necessity of war, what true love actually is, and the question of what makes someone human, just to name a few. In many ways, the show is a sopisticated look at the human condition, and is both philosophical and lyrical all at once.
Despite the weight of the plot and themes, however, it does not interfere with the entertainment value of the show in the least. At it's core, The Macross Saga is still a hard-core, science fiction epic. It has intense and amazing space battles, a nearly invincible and relentless enemy, and some of the coolest giant robots ever created.
Because of this mix, it appeals to possibly the widest audience imaginable. Boys of any age can appreciate the amount of action the show has, and let's face it - guy just love robots, and the bigger, the better. Girls, as well, can identify and like the female characters, and the intricacy of the relationships between characters. Older anime and non-anime fans will also be happy with the space opera aspect of it, harking back the the days of the great space operas like Star Wars, The Lensmen, and Starblazers, and to the great sci-fi authors of old - Asimov, E.E. Doc Smith, and Leji Matsumoto, to simply begin with.

Robotech: The Macross Saga gets my vote for way better, and I'm sure many more names are to follow.

[EmilLang1000]

Holy crap-cheese Batman! Jeez... I started that about 10 minutes ago after only 2 were posted... never imagined that many people'd anser THAT quickly before me...