Quote:
Originally Posted by TheHuffers
Thanks, I'll have a look. I found HiME a bit offputting given the fact that it has the same characters in an entirely different storyline that seems to pit friends against each other, but OK!
Am I daft, though, for thinking that the people who make these series are going slightly above and beyond the call of duty on them? I mean, presumably, Mai Otome was not intended to be great art. There is lots of fanservice. It's designed to appeal to a demographic that's pretty narrow even in Japan, let alone internationally. But... someone cared.
Is that why people like this stuff, or are they just into schoolgirls?
TH |
Mai HiME is the original. It is Mai Otome that's weird for messing up the characters personalities and story lines.
Otome completely destroyed Natsuki's complicated character, the best character of the series. Mashiro has a 180 personality change same as Midori. Lol Reito isn't even human in Otome. Could never get into Otome mess after HiME series.
So yeh, watch Mai HiME. Also Otome has a sequel in 4 OVA episodes in case you missed them.
Otherwise there is also
Madoka Magica, an improved version of Mai HiME story line. Kinda a mix of HiME and Otome. Music done by Yuki Kajiura as well.
Otherwise I'm guessing you are into an idea where series take a dark turn hmmm...
Akame ga Kill - manga would be better since anime messed up the ending but series start as casual action that suddenly takes a dramatic turn. Dark, nice animation and fun characters.
Angel Beats! - not exactly going dark but series explore human tragedies, covering topics like abuse, disabilities, accidents and etc. Not to mention beautiful animation and soundtracks.
Baccano! - a very unique way of story telling that turns simple train robbery into something exciting and new. Some plot twists and dark elements.
Boku dake ga Inai Machi - MC has an ability to time travel. Usually just by couple minutes. But because of big shock he travels years into the past, in a past where several children got mysteriously killed including his classmate and now he is determined to help. Family abuse and things like this are covered.
FMA - has 2 versions. One that has anime original story and one that follows manga. Both are good and have tons of great characters. Great soundtracks and animation. Anime original has a darker tone so fits with your light to dark criteria better but over all they both fit.
Ga-Rei Zero - has a unique way of story telling. To start with, episode 1 took me completely off guard. I thought I knew how it would end and I was wrong. First 2 episodes are a tragic present and then series go into cheery flashback mode that shows us how things ended up the way they did. Dark and some unpredictable turns. Highly recommend.
GTO - just lots of different character backgrounds that cover lots of different topics like mother complex, bullying, suicide and much more. All done in entertaining but emotional way. Anime is a shortened version of manga so manga would be better but anime is great as well.
Hunter x Hunter - starts as cheery adventure series that starts to take darker tones. The original series is darker over all and has more prolonged arcs while 2011 version slightly skips through things and keeps it more fast paced until it reaches new material. I enjoyed both. New one might be easier to get into cause of pace and newer animation.
Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi - beautiful soundtracks and animation. Has it's problems but over all I enjoyed. I think everyone loved first arc, even those who disliked the series. Idea is that God left our world and as farewell gift fulfilled everyone's last wish. Not all of them went well. Starts all nice and innocent and then BAM!
Kokoro Connect - nothing too extreme but series do take some dark turns and deal with multiple issues like sort of split personalities, fright of men and etc.
I think this should keep you busy for time being. If you'll like anything of the list, I'll be able to recommend more.