Throwing in a vote for Log Horizon. It's really dialogue heavy and expect some filler, but it covers some pretty interesting subjects and handles itself well. A lot of people make comparisons between it and Sword Art Online (which I do -not- recommend) but they are very different from one another and I'd argue that Log Horizon is much better for people who actually play MMOs and generally understand what online communities are actually like.
Lots of it is drawn from the writers real experiences and are based on people you might even know in your current social circle. Season 2 has far more filler but much more 'heavy' episodes towards the end. The visuals are really budget, cept for large fights so expect to listen more than to watch. It's still a favorite of mine though.
Another vote for Samurai Champloo, if for no other reason than it's music. Nujabes, rip. But honestly it's a very solid animation that will likely stand the test of time. The presentation is understated and focuses on delivering emotions through music and 'movement'.
Ouran Highschool Host Club somewhat challenged my ideas on what could be considered 'silly' and actually outright impressed me sometimes. It also features a few episodes that stand out in my memory as being much better than any other series. It possible stems from my love for jaded romances, but I think certain aspects in the story really stand out and earned my respect.
Speed Grapher is pretty solid, but like Yssen mentioned it's got some mature subject material that might not be for everyone.
![[Image: 1365411451_yondemasuyo.azazel-san.full.1308404.jpg]](http://animelife.ya1.ru/uploads/posts/2013-04/1365411451_yondemasuyo.azazel-san.full.1308404.jpg)
Yondemasuyo Azazel-san! is the series I'm going to recommend because it's different. Even people who don't normally watch it anime. All you need is a sense of humor and a strong stomach. So long as you don't mind incredibly vulgar humor and it even helps if you hate certain tropes in anime. It's violent, it's gross and it's really funny and you might even cry a little.
It's about demons, the people who summon them and why angels are actually awful and how stuffed animals shouldn't be fucked with. There's OAVs and some short series. Watch them in release order and curb any expectations. It's just going to throw you for a ride anyway. I went into this expecting a bunch of fan service and dick jokes and came out with orbital sides. Highly recommended.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and it's 2nd Gig is pretty excellent. You've likely heard a lot about it and maybe even seen an episode or two. A lot of people find it pretty boring but I'm a fan of the cyberpunk genre and things related to it. The stories are all tropes of such and do them very well. I find it to be one of my favorites and I don't think that will ever change.
Following that up, Psycho Pass is another you may want to try.
A cyberpunk world in which all emotions and criminal activity is monitored by the Sibyl System. The color of your 'psycho pass' determines your level of danger to yourself and others around you and a special police force is employed to enforce this.
Just remember that they are trying very hard to 'replace' GitS in a lot of ways. The promotional art features the female lead in the same style as the Major and sometimes plots of episodes are outright references. It's the same studio unless I'm mistaken and tries a little harder to 'shock' the audience but I think it has real shining moments and can sometimes make a good point. The characters are sometimes overly stiff and constantly contradict themselves but the setting and villains are really compelling.
One thing can't be denied, it has some of my absolute favorite intros for any show ever.
https://youtu.be/PmE0bJTdCCQ?t=5s
https://youtu.be/irqFRZqptWg?t=5s
And...
Space Dandy.
Just watch, it doesn't need to be explained. Most people either hate it or love it, but it also has one particular episode that stands out above all anime I've ever seen.
It's a spoiler to watch this, but this scene sold me on the series. I could never speak ill of it, even if I tried.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAWzPTSMoxI
Lots of it is drawn from the writers real experiences and are based on people you might even know in your current social circle. Season 2 has far more filler but much more 'heavy' episodes towards the end. The visuals are really budget, cept for large fights so expect to listen more than to watch. It's still a favorite of mine though.
Another vote for Samurai Champloo, if for no other reason than it's music. Nujabes, rip. But honestly it's a very solid animation that will likely stand the test of time. The presentation is understated and focuses on delivering emotions through music and 'movement'.
Ouran Highschool Host Club somewhat challenged my ideas on what could be considered 'silly' and actually outright impressed me sometimes. It also features a few episodes that stand out in my memory as being much better than any other series. It possible stems from my love for jaded romances, but I think certain aspects in the story really stand out and earned my respect.
Speed Grapher is pretty solid, but like Yssen mentioned it's got some mature subject material that might not be for everyone.
Yondemasuyo Azazel-san! is the series I'm going to recommend because it's different. Even people who don't normally watch it anime. All you need is a sense of humor and a strong stomach. So long as you don't mind incredibly vulgar humor and it even helps if you hate certain tropes in anime. It's violent, it's gross and it's really funny and you might even cry a little.
It's about demons, the people who summon them and why angels are actually awful and how stuffed animals shouldn't be fucked with. There's OAVs and some short series. Watch them in release order and curb any expectations. It's just going to throw you for a ride anyway. I went into this expecting a bunch of fan service and dick jokes and came out with orbital sides. Highly recommended.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and it's 2nd Gig is pretty excellent. You've likely heard a lot about it and maybe even seen an episode or two. A lot of people find it pretty boring but I'm a fan of the cyberpunk genre and things related to it. The stories are all tropes of such and do them very well. I find it to be one of my favorites and I don't think that will ever change.
Following that up, Psycho Pass is another you may want to try.
A cyberpunk world in which all emotions and criminal activity is monitored by the Sibyl System. The color of your 'psycho pass' determines your level of danger to yourself and others around you and a special police force is employed to enforce this.
Just remember that they are trying very hard to 'replace' GitS in a lot of ways. The promotional art features the female lead in the same style as the Major and sometimes plots of episodes are outright references. It's the same studio unless I'm mistaken and tries a little harder to 'shock' the audience but I think it has real shining moments and can sometimes make a good point. The characters are sometimes overly stiff and constantly contradict themselves but the setting and villains are really compelling.
One thing can't be denied, it has some of my absolute favorite intros for any show ever.
https://youtu.be/PmE0bJTdCCQ?t=5s
https://youtu.be/irqFRZqptWg?t=5s
And...
Space Dandy.
Just watch, it doesn't need to be explained. Most people either hate it or love it, but it also has one particular episode that stands out above all anime I've ever seen.
It's a spoiler to watch this, but this scene sold me on the series. I could never speak ill of it, even if I tried.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAWzPTSMoxI
