Classic Episodes

[Fighter Volk]

So what do you think are some 'classic' anime episodes? That is, episodes of a particular series that you won't forget for a long, long time, or that you think are particularly beautiful. I don't want replies that tell me *series* you think are classic, but solitary episodes. So please put down the episode number, series, and your reasons when replying. Also, spoiler tags would be appreciated.

Gungrave - Episode 14 - Die

Spoiler:

Anyone who's seen this episode is bound to agree with me. One of the most amazing and beautifully coordinated death scenes I've ever seen. It wasn't as much of a sad, tear-inducing episodes, but rather an episode that just made you go 'wow'.

Stand Alone Complex - Episode 16 - The Gap of the Heart / Ag20

Spoiler:

Since the titles of SAC episodes are always rather vague, I'll remind you all that this was the Batou boxing episode. I really don't know what exactly it was about this episode, but I simply thought it was amazing, in every aspect, for all 24 minutes of it. It tells a whole story, start to finish, flawlessly, with amazing music and animation to back it up... definitely my favorite SAC episode.

More to come when I'm not falling asleep and can think clearer. That is to say, tomorrow.

[wnkryo]

The episode of fullmetal alchemist where lieutenant Hues died was memorable, because it was some thing that made me give up on this shitty series.

[Kyuven]

Narutaru episodes 11 and 12
if you have to ask, just look it up under "most disturbing moments" thread

[Fox]

Fighbird, ep 32 I believe it was

Spoiler:

The first merge of Great Fighbird.
"MIRUGAI, SEIGI NO CHIKARA O!" 'Nuff said.

Also GaoGaiGar ep 30

Spoiler:

The whole battle agaisnt EI-01, and then when it looks like they sacrificed themselves, they manage to come back

[dreamless]

RahXephon episode 19 Ticket to Nowhere

Spoiler:

IMO the greatest emotional death scene ever, the whole episode has this very depressing and bleak atmosphere, and the death scene at the last part simply makes me speechless.

Saikano episode 9 Akemi

Spoiler:

Two great death scenes, maybe the most painful and detailed ones ever, they don't want to die, they have maybe the strongest wills to live on to see their loved ones, but despite how strong their wills are, there's no miracle and they die slow painful deaths in the end.

Cowboy Bebop episode 26 Real Folk Blues Part 2

Spoiler:

a perfect conclusion to a great series, the final scenes are just some of the best ever made, in any form of media, the montage is perfect, the music is perfect, everything to the very last are just perfect.

Scryed episode 17 Ayase Terada

Spoiler:

a great death scene, followed by IMO the best fight scene ever. Although it's just one single punch, but the strength, the music, the details, and all the emotional buildup leading to this one single punch. just so powerful!

[Kamui4356]

I'd have to say nadesico ep 24.

Spoiler:

After Yurika, Akito, Ruri, and the rest of the crew steal back the ship, they head to meet the jovians to discuss the possibility of a peace treaty. The jovians send an ambassador to help smooth out the negoation process. The crew of the Nadesico celebrates the impending peace talks with, of all things, an anime convention.
When they actually begin the negoations, however, things quickly go wrong. The jovian admiral in charge of the peace talks is a firm supporter of the contionuation of the war. To make the pacifist factions in the jovian government see things his way, he proposes terms that non negoatiable and extremly harsh for earth, including, a complete disarming of earth, jovian control of all major industry, disolution of all financial conglomerates, and conversion to jovian ideology.
Of course this is met with anger from the crew of the nadesico, and the jovian ambassador who was sent ahead. When he demands that the terms be withdrawn, he's branded a traitor and shot. In the next episode, his death would be blamed on the earth, and used to gain support for the continuation of the war.
After everyone escapes, we see Yurika, on the bridge of the nadesico, give the order to fire the Nadesico's ultimate weapon, the phase trasition cannon at the jovian fleet, which she had previously said was too horrible a weapon to actually use.

[Mcdonalds]

FMA ep 25 and 7

Spoiler:

Where Nina is turned into a chimera and Hughes dies. Why, it showed something unexpected yet realistic events. Made me think about what happened afterwards and gave me emotions of hate and sadness which is what made it great.

[anthonyxscotland]

RahXephon Episode 19

Remember watching this for the first time, and being close to tears. No matter how many times I watch it, its still the most moving episode in any anime I have ever seen.

[hooliganj]

Fruits Basket eps 8 and 15

Spoiler:

Its always makes more of an impression on me when a comedy suddenly goes in for some gripping drama, so the episodes about Hatori's ex and Momiji's mother became some of my most vividly remembered episodes. Like the man says, the Sohmas are dark, mysterious, and cursed.

Demon Detective Loki Ragnarok ep 13 (I think)

Spoiler:

I mean the episode where they are investigating the wedding, and Mayura disappears. When Loki finds her, she's been possessed by Odin, who delivers the first warning. To me, at least, this episode was memorable as proof of how incredibly cool this show could have been, if they hadn't wasted most of their time on very silly filler.

[sperry]

Ones that have already been mentioned that I agree with:

RahXephon 19
Fullmetal Alchemist 7
Saikano 9
-

X TV 12 and 24:

Spoiler:

Episode 12 was just amazing, because we had gotten hints about how Fuuma was "the other Kamui", but not much else had been said about that. Then, all of a sudden, as Kamui finally chooses the Dragons of Heaven, Fuuma turns evil, beats the crap out of Kamui, and kills Kotori. I wasn't aware my jaw could drop that far until I saw that episode.
As for 24, simply, because it was the end of this great series, and one of the few endings I've seen in a long while that was actually satisfying.

RahXephon 25:

Spoiler:

When about 80% of the characters in a series die, you remember it. There's not much more to say about this one.

Scrapped Princess 23:

Spoiler:

For this one, it was really just the last few minutes that wowed me. Or, even more secifically, Forcis stabbing Pacifica, which was completely unexpected. The shot was beautiful, especially when you saw the split-second reactions of Shannon, Raquelle, Leo, and Winnia right as it happened, and they were still smiling, their brains not yet caught up to what their eyes were seeing.

Gundam Seed 49:

Spoiler:

This ep was great, for good and bad reasons: Natarle's death was very sad, since she really was on the right side in the end, not to mention my favorite character. It pissed me of though, how there was no way for Murrue to know that Natarle did the right thing, and it wasn't her that killed Mwu. On a lighter note, Yzak destroying the Forbidden like it was nothing was just spectacular.

Gunslinger Girl 13

Spoiler:

Just such a beautiful ep, with whatever his name was finally doing something nice for Angelica. The last few minutes were wonderful, you can't do much better than end with Beethoven's 9th. It was the perfect song to accompany Angelica's death, and the end of the series.

That's pretty much all I can think of at the moment.

[Joe Dalton]

FMA ep 7 - 25

Spoiler:

Not so much Nina's death but Ed crying and screaming, and episode 25 is clear enough

Cowboy Bebop ep 26

Spoiler:

like said above... Bang

Naruto ep 19

Spoiler:

Im not a naruto crazed fanboy but I thought Haku's death was done splendidly

There are so many other shows with episodes I won't soon forget. However remembering the exact number of the episode can be tricky.

Now let's look forward to many more of these episodes to come.

[TerryMathews]

Yep, I'm going to fourth RahXephon ep 19.

Spoiler:

The look of horror on Ayato's face as he realizes that he killed Asahina as he was trying to defend her is probably one of the best animations in the whole series.

Now and then here and there ep 13

Spoiler:

So much greatness happens in this episode. You get to see Nabuca come back to humanity and give Shu his stick back, Shu straps the stick onto his broken hand (Ouch!) and goes to kill Hamdo and save Lala Ru, Sara comes to terms with the evil things that happened to her, and Lala Ru comes to realize that there is still hope for the human race. Not to mention that Shu is one of the best-designed male teenage protagonists ever drawn into anime - so much better than Shinji.

[Fighter Volk]

Originally Posted by TerryMathews

Now and then here and there ep 13

Spoiler:

So much greatness happens in this episode. You get to see Nabuca come back to humanity and give Shu his stick back, Shu straps the stick onto his broken hand (Ouch!) and goes to kill Hamdo and save Lala Ru, Sara comes to terms with the evil things that happened to her, and Lala Ru comes to realize that there is still hope for the human race. Not to mention that Shu is one of the best-designed male teenage protagonists ever drawn into anime - so much better than Shinji.

Ahh, how could I forget? Yes, this is undoubtedly one of the greatest anime episodes ever. The series itself is one of the three greatest anime I have ever seen. It's a shame so few people have seen it or heard of it. And I completely agree with what you said about Shu.

RahXephon 19 has been mentioned four times! This gives me really high hopes for the series, especially since I've only started watching it and 9 is the last one I saw. I'm glad I picked up such a seemingly good series.

I agree with Fullmetal Alchemist 7 and 25.

I also have to say

Wolf's Rain 28 and 29

Spoiler:

Anyone who has seen these episodes knows exactly what I am talking about. Here we are presented with the death of two main characters, in one beautiful death scene. This is undoubtedly one of the most moving death scenes I have ever seen in any anime, second only to Grave of the Fireflies. I was crying uncontrollably for the duration of both episodes. The pinnacle of Wolf's Rain.

[TerryMathews]

Originally Posted by Fighter Volk

Ahh, how could I forget? Yes, this is undoubtedly one of the greatest anime episodes ever. The series itself is one of the three greatest anime I have ever seen. It's a shame so few people have seen it or heard of it. And I completely agree with what you said about Shu.

RahXephon 19 has been mentioned four times! This gives me really high hopes for the series, especially since I've only started watching it and 9 is the last one I saw. I'm glad I picked up such a seemingly good series.

I hope you've managed to avoid the spoilers about RX 19, if it catches you off-guard it's one of the best-designed anime scenes ever. If you're the kind of person who gets attached to characters, it'll rip your heart out and hand it back to you.

The more and more I think about it, the more I think Shu is one of the more well-thought-out protagonists. Simple to a fault, bluntly honest, and hopelessly optimistic. The perfect character to save the world?

BTW, is Hellywood a mistranslation by chance? It's an odd name for a flying battleship...

[Wolfsbane68]

Saiyuki Reload Gunlock ep 10 "Snowdrop/Buried Dream".

[Fighter Volk]

Originally Posted by TerryMathews

I hope you've managed to avoid the spoilers about RX 19, if it catches you off-guard it's one of the best-designed anime scenes ever. If you're the kind of person who gets attached to characters, it'll rip your heart out and hand it back to you.

The more and more I think about it, the more I think Shu is one of the more well-thought-out protagonists. Simple to a fault, bluntly honest, and hopelessly optimistic. The perfect character to save the world?

BTW, is Hellywood a mistranslation by chance? It's an odd name for a flying battleship...

Indeed, I have avoided the spoilers like a plague, but I'm glad it's getting so much loving anyway!

I wholeheartedly agree about Shu. He's definitely one of the greatest protagonists ever, and brings a new twist to the all-too-common 'angsty teenage male protagonist' thing. As for Hellywood... heh. I've always considered it to be some kind of clever pun.

[TerryMathews]

Make sure you post back once you watch ep 19 of RX. I'm curious to know what you think.

[kj1980]

There are many memorable scenes that I would like to mention (especially from the "World Masterpiece Theatre" series - i.e.: Nero & Patrash's death from "Dog of Flanders" TV series), I will restrain myself to one particular recent anime instead:

"Kaleidostar" Ep. 50 & 51

Spoiler:

50: "Ray of Light" music as Layla-san turns around to see Sora as an angel.
51: Layla seeing Fool fade away, "Yakusokuno Basho e ~with Kaleidostars" music, Sora with a big proud smile

[leongsh]

There are a number of anime episodes I want to list but here's the one that I remember most vividly as it is seared deeply in my mind and psyche:

Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen OVA - 4th (and last) episode

Spoiler:

Kenshin goes off to look for Tomoe in the snow through the forest and with each and every step he takes, he ruminates over what he has done. In the end, Tomoe sacrifices herself so that Kenshin lives and before she dies, she completes the cross scar on his face. The epilogue features probably the most beautiful and heartbreaking scene that I have seen in anime, the ghost of Tomoe wrapping her arms around Kenshin who is wearing her indigo scarf and napping under a tree in the rain. Taku Iwasaki's soundtrack for this OVA brilliantly enhances the scene and the whole OVA. The whole episode is sheer brilliant poetry.

Other episodes that have made a very significant impression:

SDF Macross - Episode 27

Spoiler:

The last ditch EPIC space battle. Macross and the small Zentradi fleet allied with it going up against one of the main Zentradi fleets numbering in the millions. Towards the end, Hikaru Ichijo being forced to enter Earth but then gets a distress signal. The distress signal is from Misa Hayase and he goes to safe her while "Love Drifts Away" is being sung by Lynn Minmay in the background. Anime space opera does not get any better (except probably in Macross: Do You Remember Love? :P)

Ashita no Joe 2 - Episode 49 (last episode)

Spoiler:

Brutal fight between Carlos Mendoza and Joe Yabuki with both sides bloodied and wearied. After the end of the fight as the results were announced, Joe Yabuki passes away quietly at his corner seat slumped while everyone focused on the result announcement. The very first time I truly felt for an anime character and his death was a bludgeoning sledghammer hit to the gut. Unforgetable ending.

Aim for the Top! Gunbuster OVA - Episode 6 (last episode)

Spoiler:

The episode done nearly entirely in black-and-white. Some said it was due to Gainax running low on funds for the project but my opinion is that Hideaki Anno made a conscious decision to go black-and-white to give the episode the look of a historical record. The 3rd Buster Machine is created and is sent to finish the job. We look at the sacrifices made and the long term effects of time dilation. At the very end of the episode, the episode changes from black-and-white to colour signifying the change in time from the past to the current time - "Welcome home" - a brilliant ending and a promise kept.

And dare I bring this up to bait the anti-Eva? Aw hell, why not? *evil grin* But to be fair, this episode really made the difference and gave it the kick it needed and highly memorable too:

Neon Genesis Evangelion - Episode 18

Spoiler:

Dummy plug, gratitious amount of blood splattered everywhere, and Shinji letting out his anguish in his scream to end the episode. This is where the series really started and made its reputation.

[kj1980]

Originally Posted by leongsh

Ashita no Joe 2 - Episode 49 (last episode)

Spoiler:

Brutal fight between Carlos Mendoza and Joe Yabuki with both sides bloodied and wearied. After the end of the fight as the results were announced, Joe Yabuki passes away quietly at his corner seat slumped while everyone focused on the result announcement. The very first time I truly felt for an anime character and his death was a bludgeoning sledghammer hit to the gut. Unforgetable ending.

Yes indeed that is a very memorable scene where

Spoiler:

Yabuki Joe turns into ashes

But, I consider the scene from the first "Ashita no Joe" where

Spoiler:

Rikiishi Tooru collapsed on the stage dead as he was about to shake Joe's hand

on equal par.

In Japan, they actually held a real funeral for him where hundreds of thousands of fans came to say their final good-byes to him.

Originally Posted by leongsh

Aim for the Top! Gunbuster OVA - Episode 6 (last episode)

Spoiler:

The episode done nearly entirely in black-and-white. Some said it was due to Gainax running low on funds for the project but my opinion is that Hideaki Anno made a conscious decision to go black-and-white to give the episode the look of a historical record. The 3rd Buster Machine is created and is sent to finish the job. We look at the sacrifices made and the long term effects of time dilation. At the very end of the episode, the episode changes from black-and-white to colour signifying the change in time from the past to the current time - "Welcome home" - a brilliant ending and a promise kept.

Great choice once again. We will probably never see an OVA or any other anime at that level of extravagant all-star animators that worked on that project.

And yes, the black-and-white sequences were intentional.