Non-Mainstream anime.

[3rdstar]

I noticed that the majority here watches the typical anime stuff, but I really wonder how many of you have explored the stuff that isn't that common. How many of you have seen the brilliance of Last Exile? How many of you have watched any of Yoshitoshi ABe's series? Has anyone ever watched the Macross Plus film? How about the extremely disturbing Perfect Blue (Earns it's R-ish rating, without doubt!)?

Seriously, give me some faith in your tastes so that I may be able to get recomendations from you.

 

[TheManeki]

I like Macross Plus and Perfect Blue, but you may want to try to put forth exactly what you mean when you say "non-mainstream." Do you mean stuff that isn't readily available (TV, video rental, video store, etc) in your particular area?

I knew some hard-core fansub traders a decade ago (back when trading fansubs meant mailing people VHS tapes) who would call anything commercially available in the US mainstream -- kinda like the mentality of certain indie music fans.

 

[LadyGarnetRose]

Macross I liked .. a lot. As well as Southerncross. Robotech wasn't all that bad really...



The ones I really like that come to mine are, Spacebattleship Yamato, the multiple Captian Harlock series, Galaxy Express 999, Lupin the 3rd(the original not the new one so much), Starblazers, Vampire Princess Miyu...

The lists goes on ...

 

[fuzzyjesusfreak]

I buy my stuff straight from Japan so I know what you are talking about. I liked Perfect Blue, yes it did earn its rating but its good.

 

[3rdstar]

Basically...I dispise anything Dragonball or similar. It's generic crap really, and it bores me to tears. Similarly, Bleach is terrible.

 

[TheBeautifulFoxChild]

Perfect Blue was entertaining, but it's not really something I'd go and get out over and over. Blood: The Last Vampire, yes. Armitage the Third, yes. Studio Ghibli films, yes. Earth Girl Arjuna, yaaaay. I don't particularly like Vampire Princess Miyu, but I like it over the sunshine-and-gumballs anime out there.

I like Dragonball and that sort of stuff. It doesn't require deep thought or for you to really pay attention to the plot*. And it's very cute.


*Which usually makes such slow progress an Ent would complain about it.

 

[willard3]

"Mainstream" probably means anything available on Adult Swim. Examples are Dragonball, Inuyasha, Full Metal Alchemist and Naruto. In addition, there's the madly popular ones, such as Death Note, Evangelion and Bleach.

I personally liked Full Metal Panic, Noir, Avenger, and Cowboy Bebop (yes, Bebop is mainstream-ish, but I don't care). I saw the first episode of Last Exile during a sampler night, and it looked mildly interesting.

 

[The Theory]

Probably the stuff I like would be considered mainstream-- Naruto, Studio Ghibli, etc. But that is largely due to not being exposed to the less mainstream stuff. And the lack of expose is probably due to not being sure HOW to be exposed... at least, not without spending a small fortune in a hit-or-miss import exercise.

 

[Dying2Live4Christ]

Probably the stuff I like would be considered mainstream-- Naruto, Studio Ghibli, etc. But that is largely due to not being exposed to the less mainstream stuff. And the lack of expose is probably due to not being sure HOW to be exposed... at least, not without spending a small fortune in a hit-or-miss import exercise.

I feel the same. I am not sure how to get involved in less than mainstream anime

 

[ShinigamiMommy]

I feel the same. I am not sure how to get involved in less than mainstream anime

Look around fansub groups or site that keep up-to-date on new animes in Japan. There's always new stuff coming out.

 

[Swordslingerchristaintwo]

I've been looking at Last Exile as well. I loved Akira (Not really mentioned much anymore but it helped redefine anime).

 

[Alice the Sister]

I don't really know how to answer this...cause there's the mainstream in this thread being described as "what's not on Adult Swim" but then there's also the "mainstream" anime for people who don't watch Adult Swim. (Robotech was on toonami age ago, btw).

Anyways, specifics aside...I suppose you could say that Lucky Star, Kashimashi, School Days, Genshiken, Speed Grapher, Goldenboy, Here Is Greenwood, Pale Cocoon, and others are non-mainstream ones that I like. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya isn't really a mainstream 'type' of show, but it's pretty well-known. It's a good show too.

As far as movies go, I'd recommend Angel's Egg, Paprika, Millenium Actress, Perfect Blue, or Air (or the tv show, air..although it kinda dragged on..Too summer-y)

 

[The Theory]

I finally can say I have valid answers to this topic.

Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi
Elfen Lied
Zombie-Loan

and stuff still showing:
Nabari no Ou
Amatsuki
Soul Eater

 

[fuzzyjesusfreak]

There are alot that I enjoy:

Full Metal Panic
Lucky Star
Haruhi Shizumiya
Elfen Lied
Hikaru No Go
Roroni Kenshin (Im not sure if this is mainstream or not really)

And others I cant think of right now really.

 

[NeoScribe]

I'm guessing non-mainstream means anything not on TV here. So my suggestions would be:

FLAG
Samurai 7
Scrapped Princess

Since none of these have been mentioned yet I guess you can't get more non-mainstream than that.

 

[BlessedLYT]

Last Exile... add on my list to watch

 

[Busoni]

My favourite is Gankutsuou: the Count of Monte Cristo. The animation was just crazishly amazing with all of those patterns. The plot was a nice twist on the classic novel, too. Tokyo Mew Mew ( not Mew Mew Power, which is the American version ) was also pretty good. Otherwise, folks here have listed the others I like. x3