In my opinion, Evangelion is exceptionally bad about that kind of stuff. They took what seemed to be like a fun premise and totally garbaged it. In particular, it's abhorrent at trying to be philisophical as it fails miserably. I actually enjoyed the series up until about 3/4 of the way through when they tried to get into the whole stuff, at which point I just gave up. So yeah. NGE is totally not indicitive of the anime genre at all.

In general, I like the ":censor: and giggles" type animes (think Azumanga Daiyoh. If you don't know what that is, you should look it up) and really the only deeply "philisophical" one I like is Ghost in the Shell, 2nd Gig (GitS). I suppose FMA gets into it a -little- but.... meh. Don't spoil it for me

I think also a big part of it is that individual animes vary incredibly wildly from each other, but depending on the show, I get the feeling that useless time is also the exception rather than the rule.

Well, I know from experience that I can't stand anime-style humor in any show (it just gets on my nerves), so if I were to actually start watching anime (pretty unlikely) it'd be confined to the more serious stuff.

I like some anime...I mainly just go by what's on TV or what people suggest. The serious kinds are interesting but I like some silly/pointless ones as well. I guess some of my favorites have been Hellsing, Love Hina, Escaflowne, Samurai Champloo, Paranoia Agent and Trigun.

I don't really watch anime much any more though, I mainly just went through a phase in my teens.

If you can get past the technobabble you might enjoy ghost in the shell. There are a couple of scarce comic elements (the tachikoma) but everything else is pretty serious and worthwhile watching. I dunno what you define as anime-style humour though. The humour in something like Naruto and that in SHNY or Genshiken is totally different.

And I wouldn't go with Evangelion as a great example of the genre. There are people who are enormous fans of it, but I found it to be one of those mind:censor: anime where you have to think about it (see also GITS, Paranoia Agent) gone wrong and with mecha. Couldn't even make it as far as Tervic before giving up.

I really enjoy anime, but I only ever watch the ones that are classified as "on Western TV."

I like Trigun, Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne, Rurouni Kenshin, Fullmetal Alchemist, Vampire Hunter D, .hack, and I was quite a big DBZ fan back in the day.

Ooh I forgot about Rurouni Kenshin. Spriggan was a good movie too.

And My Neighbor Totoro, anyone? .

We still have more yes than no, and all the Americans should have had time to vote now...hmm.

Well, you have more "no" than "yes" if you don't count the minor dabblers (people who watch Cartoon Network but don't really go any further than that). That seems more like a third state between "enthusiastically for" and "completely against".

Just looked it up, and Spriggan looks awesome.

I remember seeing My Neighbor Totoro advertised, and I wanted to see it but didn't. Funny story about that movie though, I remember the name because a local Chinese restaurant, the family who owns it have a toddler named Totoro.

Other favorites: Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away.


EDIT: @Xenthos: I might watch more non-mainstream anime if it wasn't so expensive to buy.

This is true, but I was expecting more people like Stangmar and old Terentia who are violently against it for whatever "reason." You're probably better off interpreting the stats your way though, makes sense.

Decided I'd actually place my vote since I'm chatting in the thread. Chalk one up for the "middle of the road".

If you don't count the middle of the road at all, "yes" and "no" are almost even, too.

Yep, they are. I was just pointing out that it was slightly weighted that way.

It's not really weighted - there are more options for yes than no, but that shouldn't affect the voting patterns, it's just that I saw more reason to spread out the categorisation of 3-5 than of 1-2. The difference is mostly in where you count 3.

I got into animes like DBZ and that is what started it for me. Hiyao Miyazake is a freaking genuis. I love his movies. Also, I like watching Animes on Veoh. Like Elfen Lead...(think I spelt that right. Been a while) Hellsing. Kira. And I so need to find some new ones to watch. My new two favorites are Bleach and Deathnote. If you got any suggestions, please let me know either way. I'm always looking to expand my collection of Animes.

EDIT: Rurouni Kenshin is an awesome anime that I need to watch again. Never saw the whole thing. Thanks for reminding me!!!! Oh yeah, I loved Evangelion. Then again I love any anime that makes me think. I can't get into Naruto to much. I just watch when the fights are going on. *shrug*

Mainstream Japan for me. Praise Haruhi!

I didn't like NGE's ending (that is, not WHAT happened, but HOW they realised it) - that is, the 2 last episodes, apart from one hilarious scene almost at the very end. The movie was also a giant middle finger shown towards the viewer, but I understand Hideaki Anno - if I got so much hate-mail from fans for running the show the way he wants and, le gasp, NOT THEM! I'd be pissed too.
The rest of the show I greatly enjoyed. The characters act in an angsty way because they were supposed to be portrayed realistically - if a real person was to be put in Shinji's or Misato's place, they'd act in a similar fashion. Don't lie to yourself about acting more hyper or heroic when you are facing monsters - some of them inside your very own organisation.

The funny parts were still hilarious, by the way. Asuka Strikes would be my favourite episode.

My top three favourite anime (stolen from the anime thread):
1. Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu
2. FMA
3. FLCL
(4. NGE)