AnimeSuki Forums

KeroKai · 2009-08-02, 19:02

Weird search I know. I'm basically pulling a Misaki from Welcome to NHK and looking for anime where the protagonist is essentially useless but grows throughout the series.

Welcome to NHK captured that exactly. It'd be nice to have suggestions that are somewhat realistic scenario - Not Kaiji. But if there aren't any others, I'm open to suggestions.

blewin · 2009-08-02, 19:53

Probably Genshiken. The main protagonist has certainly grown a lot (character development-wise) by season 2.

qwertyuiopz · 2009-08-02, 21:05

overdrive
history strongest disciple kenichi
beck
tengen toppa

Lio · 2009-08-02, 21:12

I was gonna say Evangelion 'till I read the protagonist has to grow throughout the series part.

Cipher · 2009-08-02, 21:47

BECK- plain loser guy turns to guitar.

Sackett · 2009-08-03, 08:17

Maison Ikkoku

Maison Ikkoku

Maison Ikkoku

Really, Maison Ikkoku

It perfectly fits your description.

Theowne · 2009-08-03, 08:20

I agree that Maison Ikkoku fits the written description, but it definitely does not fit the comparison with Welcome to the NHK.

Kafriel · 2009-08-03, 11:49

Hmm...KIBA is good, although it's of the fantasy/shounen style.

deathreape98 · 2009-08-03, 12:02

Clannad. It's a romance where the main male lead is a useless delinquent that has terrible family relationships, but as the series goes on, he grows with the help of the main female lead. If there are too many episodes in the two seasons for you, you can watch the movie. However, if you plan on watching both, absolutely do not watch the movie before episode 16 of the second season.

EDIT: As for "emo-ness", it is very depression-heavy, starting from episode 16 of ~After Story~. It is more heavy in the movie, however.

Haak · 2009-08-03, 13:43

^ Geez must you recommend Clannad for everything?

You're seriously lowering my average post rate.

Kafriel · 2009-08-03, 15:00

^ As long as it fits right?

After all Clannad is the most popular tear-jerker out there atm.

deathreape98 · 2009-08-03, 21:03

Hakk-Yes, I must. As long as it fits the request in some way, I *shall* suggest it ;p

I suppose Beet the Vandel Buster could fit your description somewhat. In the beginning he's a little kid, but after a time skip, he's much more powerful, and he continues to learn and mature as he fights monsters called Vandels.

EDIT: In Black Lagoon, the main male lead is a total loser, atleast in the beginning.

npcomplete · 2009-08-03, 21:35

Are the other shows recommended here really like Welcome to the NHK? As in real morally gray, plz halp WTF am I doing, life-is-rubbish? The characters in the other shows here seem to have underdog quality where we know very early there is hidden potential and we root for them. That is, we know they aren't real losers inside so to speak..

I'd recommend:
Gantz <-- seriously; the guy not likable at all, but you really come to empathize with him at the end when the shit hits the fan, things fall apart and he has a sort of self-realization experience, when he reflects on his past thoughts and behavior, regrets them and finally develops a better inner character (edit: actually, he does grow through the help of a friend and 3 girls he eventually meets, becoming likable in the end, when he redeems himself as the tragedies pile up)

Texhonolyze
Infinite Ryvius
Shadow Star Narutaru
Bokurano (well, doesn't fit your description, but it's tragic and has to be recommended whenever Narutaru is

)

none of these take place in any realistic setting though. I'd also recommend Genshiken 1 and 2 for that. It's realistic, very fun, and reflective of real people and real situations. However it doesn't involve as much drama or moral and psychological exploration.

MeoTwister5 · 2009-08-04, 10:54

If perhaps you haven't seen it... Grave of the Fireflies. Despite being old... well nothing will turn you into a blubbering emotional mess of a human being than that.

Oh and Saikano.

synaesthetic · 2009-08-05, 11:59

Now and Then, Here and There. Not as much the "loser" part but definitely the Crapsack World part.

sothis · 2009-08-05, 12:46

I'm going to be the unpopular person by reccing something most people seem to not like: Gedo Senki. Most people seem to dislike it because 1) it's not like the books, 2) it's not a typical Ghibli film - but I found it captivating. Arren, the main char, pretty much hates himself and doesn't see the value in living, but throughout the film he grows and matures.

I dunno, I found it to be amazing. It won't fit your request for realism, but you might give it a try.

Sasano · 2009-08-05, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by blewin

Probably Genshiken. The main protagonist has certainly grown a lot (character development-wise) by season 2.

Seconded

If you are going for the NHK feel, then definitely Genshiken & Black Lagoon is not bad either.

Full Metal Coast · 2009-08-05, 22:03

Could check out Gantz and Black Lagoon as both main characters start off as weak and depressed and develop pretty well into strong willed characters. but the only thing is these series are heavy on action

some others i think you might like are:
Martian Successor Nadesico
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
Beck
Love Hina

2009-08-02, 19:02	Link #1
KeroKai Member Join Date: Jul 2004	Anime about losers and life being rubbish... Something to match my emo-mood. Weird search I know. I'm basically pulling a Misaki from Welcome to NHK and looking for anime where the protagonist is essentially useless but grows throughout the series. Welcome to NHK captured that exactly. It'd be nice to have suggestions that are somewhat realistic scenario - Not Kaiji. But if there aren't any others, I'm open to suggestions.

2009-08-02, 19:53	Link #2
blewin Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007	Probably Genshiken. The main protagonist has certainly grown a lot (character development-wise) by season 2. __________________ Chrome Shelled Regios

2009-08-02, 21:05	Link #3
qwertyuiopz Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009	overdrive history strongest disciple kenichi beck tengen toppa Last edited by qwertyuiopz; 2009-08-02 at 22:12.

2009-08-03, 08:20	Link #7
Theowne 耳をすませば Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Age: 34	I agree that Maison Ikkoku fits the written description, but it definitely does not fit the comparison with Welcome to the NHK. __________________ My Site - Reviews collection, Sheet music, and etc. Anime reviews/blog, piano arrangements, Studio Ghibli..

2009-08-03, 12:02	Link #9
deathreape98 Clannad Preacher Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: In my fantasy dreamworld called Clannad Age: 30	Clannad. It's a romance where the main male lead is a useless delinquent that has terrible family relationships, but as the series goes on, he grows with the help of the main female lead. If there are too many episodes in the two seasons for you, you can watch the movie. However, if you plan on watching both, absolutely do not watch the movie before episode 16 of the second season. EDIT: As for "emo-ness", it is very depression-heavy, starting from episode 16 of ~After Story~. It is more heavy in the movie, however. __________________ Last edited by deathreape98; 2009-08-03 at 21:09.

2009-08-02, 21:12	Link #4
Lio Presence Join Date: Jun 2009	I was gonna say Evangelion 'till I read the protagonist has to grow throughout the series part.

2009-08-02, 21:47	Link #5
Cipher ..... Join Date: Jul 2009	BECK- plain loser guy turns to guitar.

2009-08-03, 08:17	Link #6
Sackett Cross Game - I need more Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: I've moved around the American West. I've lived in Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Oklahoma Age: 44	Maison Ikkoku Maison Ikkoku Maison Ikkoku Really, Maison Ikkoku It perfectly fits your description.

2009-08-03, 11:49	Link #8
Kafriel Senior Guest Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Athens (GMT+2) Age: 35	Hmm...KIBA is good, although it's of the fantasy/shounen style.

2009-08-03, 13:43	Link #10
Haak Me, An Intellectual Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: UK Age: 33	^ Geez must you recommend Clannad for *everything*? You're seriously lowering my average post rate. __________________ MAL \| AnimeSuki Choice Awards 2020 Winners

2009-08-03, 15:00	Link #11
Kafriel Senior Guest Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Athens (GMT+2) Age: 35	^ As long as it fits right? After all Clannad is the most popular tear-jerker out there atm.

2009-08-03, 21:03	Link #12
deathreape98 Clannad Preacher Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: In my fantasy dreamworld called Clannad Age: 30	Hakk-Yes, I must. As long as it fits the request in some way, I shall suggest it ;p I suppose Beet the Vandel Buster could fit your description somewhat. In the beginning he's a little kid, but after a time skip, he's much more powerful, and he continues to learn and mature as he fights monsters called Vandels. EDIT: In Black Lagoon, the main male lead is a total loser, atleast in the beginning. __________________ Last edited by deathreape98; 2009-08-03 at 21:51.

2009-08-03, 21:35	Link #13
npcomplete Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008	Are the other shows recommended here really like Welcome to the NHK? As in real morally gray, plz halp WTF am I doing, life-is-rubbish? The characters in the other shows here seem to have underdog quality where we know very early there is hidden potential and we root for them. That is, we know they aren't real losers inside so to speak.. I'd recommend: Gantz <-- seriously; the guy not likable at all, but you really come to empathize with him at the end when the shit hits the fan, things fall apart and he has a sort of self-realization experience, when he reflects on his past thoughts and behavior, regrets them and finally develops a better inner character (edit: actually, he does grow through the help of a friend and 3 girls he eventually meets, becoming likable in the end, when he redeems himself as the tragedies pile up) Texhonolyze Infinite Ryvius Shadow Star Narutaru Bokurano (well, doesn't fit your description, but it's tragic and has to be recommended whenever Narutaru is ) none of these take place in any realistic setting though. I'd also recommend Genshiken 1 and 2 for that. It's realistic, very fun, and reflective of real people and real situations. However it doesn't involve as much drama or moral and psychological exploration. Last edited by npcomplete; 2009-08-04 at 04:06.

2009-08-04, 10:54	Link #14
MeoTwister5 Komrades of Kitamura Kou Join Date: Jul 2004 Age: 39	If perhaps you haven't seen it... Grave of the Fireflies. Despite being old... well nothing will turn you into a blubbering emotional mess of a human being than that. Oh and Saikano. __________________ Medical Student vs. Anime Last Exile - Fam the Silver Wing -

2009-08-05, 11:59	Link #15
synaesthetic blinded by blood Author Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oakland, CA Age: 40	Now and Then, Here and There. Not as much the "loser" part but definitely the Crapsack World part. __________________ Indie science fiction author and all-around weirdo: Check out my original fiction here! Read an excerpt from my sci-fi novel Binary System!

2009-08-05, 12:46	Link #16
sothis Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003	I'm going to be the unpopular person by reccing something most people seem to not like: Gedo Senki. Most people seem to dislike it because 1) it's not like the books, 2) it's not a typical Ghibli film - but I found it captivating. Arren, the main char, pretty much hates himself and doesn't see the value in living, but throughout the film he grows and matures. I dunno, I found it to be amazing. It won't fit your request for realism, but you might give it a try.

2009-08-05, 22:03	Link #18
Full Metal Coast -Gantzer- Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia - Down Where The City Meets The Sea Age: 35	Could check out Gantz and Black Lagoon as both main characters start off as weak and depressed and develop pretty well into strong willed characters. but the only thing is these series are heavy on action some others i think you might like are: Martian Successor Nadesico Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Beck Love Hina __________________