Which Series Had The Best First Episode?

[X10A_Freedom]

School Rumble did it for me. The number of jokes, puns, parodies, cameos and the classic bicycle chase all packed into one episode had me cracking up!

Hayate no Gotoku had a very strong first episode as well, although I dropped this series later on due to it taking a course very different from the opener.

[Spectacular_Insanity]

Originally Posted by X10A_Freedom

Hayate no Gotoku had a very strong first episode as well, although I dropped this series later on due to it taking a course very different from the opener.

I still don't know why so many people dropped Hayate no Gotoku. It's a really funny anime that makes fun of itself and throws around references like nobody's business.

I mean, people complain that the story has no plot, but i don't really think it supposed to have one... it's just for entertainment.

[Echoes]

Let's see what we can do here.

Evangelion. The first episode is splendid, it introduces the characters well and jumps basically right into the action. I'll never tire of seeing this, ever.

Cowboy Bebop. Well, what can I say, every episode of Bebop is awesome.

Claymore. I fell in love with the setting, concept and characters immediately. No second thought needed, I was dragged in instantaneously. It really set the right dark atmosphere.

Shakugan no Shana. Selling this show to people is easy. The first episode gives us standards that are hard to live up to, an explosive start if I ever saw one. Definitely one to remember.

Aria the Natural. The first episode was magical.

Hellsing. The original series might have trailed off and left us with plenty of plotholes towards the end, but the first episode was still bad-ass. What a beautiful night, indeed!

Haruhi. I'll echo what's already been said about it. I watched Haruhi with no knowledge of what it was at all, so I really didn't know what to expect. I really did like it, the narration was amazing, everything felt so cozy. What's more, when I've rewatched the series later, I've been able to enjoy this episode even more since I can now relate better to the characters.

.Hack/Sign. A personal jewel of mine. The music creates such a perfect setting.

[FateAnomaly]

I guess Haruhi is the only one i can think of off-hand. There are probably others but i don't usually watch just the first episode.

[KholdStare]

Originally Posted by Spectacular_Insanity

I still don't know why so many people dropped Hayate no Gotoku. It's a really funny anime that makes fun of itself and throws around references like nobody's business.

I mean, people complain that the story has no plot, but i don't really think it supposed to have one... it's just for entertainment.

I dropped it because I couldn't understand half of the references. Even if I cheat and know what the references are, most of the time I can't relate to the references for it to be funny. Of course, the show itself is funny enough without the references, but without a plot or something else, I cannot watch 52 episodes of it.

[UzumakiW]

Yu Yu Hakusho
Blood+
Hellsing
Inuyasha
Jigoku Shōjo (Hell Girl)
Full Metal Alchemist

[LionsMane]

I have to now add Claymore to my list as I just recently watched it. I went in with nothing on the series and the first episode hooked me in. Another show that had a great first episode in my opinion but perhaps that's only because I had no background of anything Claymore related beforehand.

My HiME is another one I just remembered. I thought it had an excellent first episode. Something that left me very excited for more.

[Ryougi Shiki]

Akagi, hands down.

[Noir_]

I will go with CLaymore, Kenshin, elfen Leid, Baccano is good even though you get to confused the way I did.

[marcon]

Berserk definitely. Even though it's one of the first non-mainstream (adult content, etc.) animes i've ever seen, that first episode just got me going though the whole series. And afterwards, the manga, even if the anime is very very poor compared to the manga.

[patnam]

For the classic, i go for Hokuto no Ken... (ATATATATATATATATA....)
"You're already DEAD!!!"

[Deathkillz]

Originally Posted by Spectacular_Insanity

I still don't know why so many people dropped Hayate no Gotoku. It's a really funny anime that makes fun of itself and throws around references like nobody's business.

I mean, people complain that the story has no plot, but i don't really think it supposed to have one... it's just for entertainment.

The same thing over...and over...and over...and over again does get pretty tiresome after 30 eps

I haven't dropped it yet myself but it doesn't mean that it get many brownie points

I have to say seto no Hanayome and gurren lagann seen as they are the ones that have enough impact for the first ep to stick in my head.

Shigofumi is also pretty zomg near the end.

Black lagoon and elfen also needs a mention ^^

[Shiichi]

Air! Always been Air and always will be Air. To be honest, that was the only episode I liked out of the whole series...

[Khaos]

Da Capo
Noein
Haruhi Suzumiya

[Nenkitsune]

ZOMG *gasps*
Shigofumi episode one was freaking o_O!!!

[Aoi v1]

1.- Death Note (1st episode was just as awesome as the rest of the anime)
2.- Samurai Champloo (it was just so action packed ^-^ )
3.- School Days WTF!!! (i was about to qit watching it after the first 10 minutes, but it went out pretty well!)
4.- Zero no Tsukaima (a 12 eps anime that deserved to have 24 at least :P 1st chapter was more than enough to keep me attached to my screen)

[Fishbait]

Elfen Lied is the show that had the first episode with the biggest impact

Coyote Ragtime Show is the show with the best first episode relative to the rest of the series. Seriously, I was so excited and hyped after seeing the first ep then the rest of the show just went downhill.....

[Supah Em]

REC

Spoiler for episode 1:

romance anime with sex at the first episode. HOW GREAT IS THAT?!

[Alleluia_Cone]

I've always felt that Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo were definitive examples of great first episodes because they seemed to set the nature and tone for both series while standing out individually as well.

[The_Pink_Furby]

The Melancholy of haruhi suzumiya - Funny, light, strange, werid all you need in a show ^_^
Rosario + Vampire - Cute monsters, lots of pantie shots, funny humour, alround greatness
Green Green - hehe what can be said i love sex humour ^_^