Fairly recent anime with an actual ending

[AnimeFangirl]

I've been out of the anime-watching loop for a while and I'm looking to get back in again. But it seems like almost everything airing is based on some manga/light-novel/visual novel and is just one big advertisement for the original. That's not a problem in and of itself, but many of these anime are incomplete as well. "If you want to know how it ends, read the manga/book/game" is not what I want to hear after sitting through 26 long episodes.

My request in a nutshell:
- Anime with a complete story independent of whatever the original source was. If it's an anime-original series, all the better.
- No horror, minimal violence, completely safe for work.
- Preferably released within the last 2 years.
- I'm open to all kinds of suggestions otherwise. I'll try at least one episode if I haven't seen it before.

Thanks in advance!

[SeijiSensei]

Sadly the days of the 26-episode anime series are largely behind us. There are the occasional exceptions like the excellent, but still airing, Parasyte, but most shows now appear in 11-13 episode chunks. This gives production committees a way to limit their risk. If a show is popular, they'll produce another installment.

Shingeki no Bahamut Genesis is a good example. It's a twelve-episode adventure based on an online card game, but the anime story is entirely original. Pretty decent mix of comedy and drama with gods, angels, demons, Jeanne d'Arc, and bounty hunters.

Kill la Kill is a complete original story in 25 episodes by Nakashima Kazuki (Gurren Lagann, Oh! Edo Rocket) that parodies many aspects of anime and Japanese life. It has a substantial dose of sexual fanservice, though.

Lupin III: Mine Fujiko to lu Onna reprises a side character from the classic Lupin series in an entirely separate story by Okada Mari. Fujiko often appears in little more than her birthday suit, but the nudity is for effect as much as fanservice. Okada also wrote the script for AKB0048, another original series, this one an advertisement for the Japanese idol singing group AKB48. Despite its origins it's a pretty decent show and runs for two "cours."

Samurai Flamenco is a weird show about superheroes that takes a bizarre turn around episode six. It ran for 22 episodes on noitaminA.

Uchouten Kazoku follows a family of tanuki who live in Kyoto alongside humans and tengu. The tanuki can shape-shift, and the main characters spend most of their time in human form. It's a surprisingly moving slice-of-life comedy from P.A. Works.

Tsuritama concerns four teen-aged boys as they bond over ocean fishing and dealing with aliens. It ran alongside Sakamichi no Apollon on noitaiminA, which I liked, but not as much as Tsuritama. The latter is an original script; Apollon is an adaptation, though it ends conclusively.

Finally I'll mention Gatchaman Crowds. Like Mine Fujiko, it reprises a famous series from the early days of anime, but again it's an entirely separate story. It, too, has a superhero theme, but not in the way you might think. Like Tsuritama, it was directed by Nakamura Kenji.

Here's a good listing of original anime series that might interest you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor...al_screenplays

[AnimeFangirl]

Thanks, that helps a lot. And for the record I'm cool with 13-episode suggestions too, I just mentioned 26 episodes in passing.

[Flower]

- Anime with a complete story independent of whatever the original source was. If it's an anime-original series, all the better.
- No horror, minimal violence, completely safe for work.

This is actually tougher than I first thought.

First thing that came to mind was actually Nagi no Asukara - 26 eps.

You might try Kotoura-san - 13 eps.

Uchouten Kazouku and Gatchaman Crowds are good suggestions, I think.

[Wild Goose]

I'd suggest Girls und Panzer, which is kinda violent, given that it's about tank battles as a sport, but quite fun and heartwarming.

Gundam Build Fighters is a pretty self contained story that's essentially a love letter to Gundam fans and a celebration of Gundam as a franchise. It has a clear beginning and ending while still leaving room for new stories set in its verse. The conceit is kinda love it or hate it, I admit (use plastic toy robots to fight VR battle things), and the first episode is kinda weak, but it gets better as it goes along, and really hits its stride in Episode 15, and then gets better and better and better.

It's a show that's fairly oldish, but try and find Yomigaeru Sora ~ Rescue Wings, which was animated by JC Staff. It's about a JASDF 2nd Lt who wanted to fly F-15s, but instead ends up as a SAR helicopter pilot in training.

[Flower]

Originally Posted by Wild Goose

I'd suggest Girls und Panzer, which is kinda violent, given that it's about tank battles as a sport, but quite fun and heartwarming....

This is an excellent suggestion. ^^

Another possibility might be Hyouka.

[Wild Goose]

For another self-contained story, I'd suggest The iDOLM@STER anime. Yes, it is based off a series of games, but you don't need to play the games to understand it all, and it's a show with real heart and friendship.

Also dat Yakusoku in Episode 20. dat Yakusoku. T_T ALL MY FEELS.

[lmw]

First thing that came to mind was Ping Pong. It's an adaption, but it's a complete story with a satisfying end.

Most original works should fit the "complete story" requirement, you'd just have to weed out the violent ones.

[AnimeFangirl]

Thanks to you all I've got these to start with:

Gatchaman Crowds
Girls und Panzer
Gundam Build Fighters
Hyouka
The iDOLM@STER
Kotoura-san
Nagi no Asakura
Ping Pong
Shingeki no Bahamut
Samurai Flamenco
Tsuritama
Uchouten Kazoku
Yomigaeru Sora ~ Rescue Wings

I'm skipping Kill la Kill and Mine Fujiko for fanservice reasons and I hope Girls und Panzer isn't too vicious. I'll watch them in alphabetical order while sorting through the wiki-link posted above for more things to add to my anime backlog.

[Ravagerblade]

Then you'll be missing out on a cool show if you skip Kill La Kill.

[AnimeFangirl]

I'll take that risk.

[Haak]

Originally Posted by AnimeFangirl

Thanks to you all I've got these to start with:

Gatchaman Crowds
Girls und Panzer
Gundam Build Fighters
Hyouka
The iDOLM@STER
Kotoura-san
Nagi no Asakura
Ping Pong
Shingeki no Bahamut
Samurai Flamenco
Tsuritama
Uchouten Kazoku
Yomigaeru Sora ~ Rescue Wings

I'm skipping Kill la Kill and Mine Fujiko for fanservice reasons and I hope Girls und Panzer isn't too vicious. I'll watch them in alphabetical order while sorting through the wiki-link posted above for more things to add to my anime backlog.

For what it's worth, I heavily second:
Hyouka
Nagi no Asukara
Ping Pong
Shingeki no Bahamut
Uchouten Kazoku.

[cleo]

Let me add Kyousou Giga to your list, a very colorful fantasy series.
If you like slice of life series, than I highly recommend last year's Barakamon: fun and heartwarming.
And I suggest you give Tonari no Seki-kun a try: 7mins/ep of pure fun. There's no conclusive ending, but it's the type of series that don't need it.

Do you only want suggestions for series? Because the (probably) parting works by Ghibli's maestro's Kaze Tachinu and Kaguya-hime no Monogatari are beautiful.

[kco143]

I'll suggest Noragami because it was such a fun show to watch. Tons of action and a bit of comedy mixed in. The reason I liked it so much is because the comedy wasn't over the top, and it actually warranted a few laugh-out-loud moments from me. The main female character definitely helped make the show for me. She wasn't useless and could take care of herself. Qualities that are rare in a female character of most anime.

[thundrakkon]

That's quite a nice list you have already. Limiting violence does make this list harder to fulfill. I would second Shingeki no Bahamut (although it is borderline with your guidelines) and Hyouka (it has an ending, but there are novels still out there not made into anime). Parasyte is a horror and violent, so it does not meet your requirements; however, it's really good. Shinsekai Yori is also a little horror and violent, but it is also very good.

Here are some suggestions:

Bakuman - A story of 2 friends creating a manga serialization together. It ends beautifully, and it is a lot of fun along the way. (75 episodes total)
Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai - A popular anime, but it is harem and heavy on sibling love. You might want to pass if that is not your thing.
Golden Time - A college comedy-romance story. Ok to pass the time.
Ai Tenchi Muyou! - A fun anime, but again, harem antics and occasional panty shots, so maybe not.
Suisei no Gargantia - Kind of like Waterworld.

Older than 2 years, but still fairly recent excellent anime:

Steins;Gate - A mysterious story involving time travel.
Cross Game - Baseball premise, but one of the best animes you'll ever watch. (50 episodes)
Katanagatari - A good story between a warrior and a strategist traveling though Japan. The only issue is that it does get a little violent, with sword fights and all. Then again, half of the anime in your list is just as violent.
Tiger & Bunny - A little violent, too. It's a spoof on the super-hero genre.

There are other complete anime, but they don't fit your criteria. Most fail due to the violence requirement, like Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works, Psycho-Pass, and Kara no Kyoukai. Also, there are others that I just don't recommend, too, like Zankyou no Terror, which started and end well, but has a horrible middle.

[AnimeFangirl]

Thanks everyone. I'm adding all those things to the list except OreImo (which I've seen and hated) and Cross Game (which I've read and liked but wouldn't read again) and Ai Tenchi Muyou (no panty shots, please). I said I would try at least an episode of anything eligible that was recommended and that's what I'm going to do.

[Wild Goose]

I should warn that Gundam Build Fighters has a weak first episode and only really starts to pick up after episode 6, I think.

Girls und Panzer meanwhile starts nice and slow and fluffy, and only really starts hitting its stride in Episode 4, when Miho turns into the moe reincarnation of Zvika Greengold. It's also an amazing show for being able to make clip show filler episodes entertaining and relevant.

One more recommendation: Aria. It's a show about pretty girls working as gondolier tourguides on a recreation of Venice on a terraformed Mars. In the words of one of the seiyuu, "Nothing ever really happens - but in a good way." Very relaxing, very heartfelt. Admittedly it fails the recent clause - it's 10 years old, afterall - but all three series cover the manga and it ends with things full circle.

[AnimeFangirl]

Aria added, thanks. I remember when it was popular, but back then I was into more active series so it always sounded too dull to me. Will give it a try.
I'll be starting Barakamon later today, hope it's good!

[Forsaken_Infinity]

Originally Posted by AnimeFangirl

I'll take that risk.

Honestly speaking, it's Mine Fujiko that you are really missing out on. I am not one to care for fanservice either but you really ought to give it a try. The "fanservice" in that show is less fanservice and more a case of core identity. Her rampant boldness is a defining feature of the titular character. The nudity you will witness in that show is far more warranted than a majority of shows you have taken on in this thread. It is also an anime original take on a longstanding series. All the characters are strong but Fujiko in particular really deserves a chance to be witnessed in all her glory. The ending may or not be satisfactory for reasons I don't wish to spoil but the show is good and I really think you will love it.

[AnimeFangirl]

Alas, I must pass. I don't think I'd get along with any character whose objectification was her defining character trait. In any case nudity and fanservice are dealbreakers for me.