 | Ergo Proxy: Box Set
Buy new: $50.49 / Used from: $29.70 1. This is by far the best anime series I've ever seen. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic era. The characters (in japanese version) are absolutely charming once you get to know them. This anime is one of the few animes that translates the search for oneself into an epic yet mind boggling adventure. Fantastic art style and hand drawn making it absolutely gorgeous makes it that much more perfect.
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 | Baccano! The Complete Series Box Set
Buy new: $36.99 2. It is set in the 1930's era in New York. One of the weirdest things about this anime is the way it's told, jumping from beginning to the end, to the middle; from 1931 to 1930, etc. If you're really looking for something different, this is it. Just about everyone plays an important role to progress the story despite it being about 16 episodes long (13 if you don't count the epilogue-like ones).
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 | Claymore: Complete Series Box Set
Buy new: $41.99 / Used from: $44.29 3. This anime is like a medieval story of Claymores who are female knights, with monsters as their opponents. Although kind of stale, the characters do become likeable over time. This isn't because of poor writing; it's actually part of the story if you're wondering. I also love the art style in this anime, especially the use of colors. Definitely worth checking out.
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 | Trigun Complete Collection (Vols. 1-8) - Amazon.com Exclusive
Buy used from: $149.93 4. Goofy, comedic and serious all at once. The main character Vash is outgoing and loud, yet in the later episodes we can see his pain to the point he cries. I mean no characters achieve such a perfect balance as Vash. Not only does it have great characters with different and conflicting opinions, but it also has a fantastic philosophical commentary on the world and its people.
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 | Gungrave: The Complete Series Box Set
Buy new: $42.49 / Used from: $36.86 5. What does it mean to never betray? Is it the idea or the face that we pledge our allegiance to? This anime takes that idea and twists it into Brandon Heat's life. Despite being based of a manga that was based on a game, this anime definitely stands out. A story of friendship, love, and betrayal. I will say no more.
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 | Cowboy Bebop Remix: Anime Legends
Buy new: $39.99 / Used from: $29.98 6. This anime is the definition of cool. Jazz clubs, cigarette smoke, and space ships! It certainly has a certain feel that few other animes achieve. Although there is no concrete storyline to follow except for jobs that come and go for these cowboys (bounty hunters), we explore each character's mysterious past until we reach a satisfying conclusion. Very memorable and cool.
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 | Black Lagoon: The Complete Series Set
Buy new: $62.49 / Used from: $34.70 7. There is no real word to describe this anime except "bada**". This anime portrays a world of guns, pirates, mafia, etc. But what makes it so great is how we are introduced to it. Via on of the main characters named Rock. He ends up becoming a part of this world. He is my favorite character in this anime because he changes and becomes stronger internally as a result of coming to this world.
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 | Twelve Kingdoms Complete Series
Buy new: $51.49 / Used from: $34.71 8. This anime is not that well animated and sometimes even hard to watch, but talk about a story! I really hated this anime in the beginning, but after much crying (you'll see what I mean), you end up really liking the characters and how they learn to think differently about themselves and their surroundings. This is a story about peace, war, hate, power, wisdom, and overall understanding.
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 | Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad - The Complete Series
Buy used from: $42.89 9. No magic or monsters, just guitars and people. A story about growing up, taking responsibility, believeing in oneself, and doing what's right. Although sometimes vulgar with words, this anime has an amazing underlying theme; live your life!
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 | Ghost Hunt: The Complete Series Box Set
Buy new: $49.99 10. Within the genre, it is one of the creepiest animes I've ever seen. It's not scary, don't expect that, but if you enjoy getting goose bumps this is definitely worth checking. It's entertaining and one of the only animes that actually has characters that change their clothes everyday (mind that two episodes can be one day). Worth checking out if you're into ghost stories and the paranormal.
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 | Basilisk: Box Set
Buy new: $38.49 / Used from: $20.00 11. This is what ninja's should be. Well, nobody can pull of tricks like the ninjas in this anime, but this anime has great visual themes as well a moral theme. To me, it's mostly a love story, despite it being so bloody. It is a love story parallel to that of Romeo and Juliet. Nough said.
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 | Paprika
Buy new: $16.49 / Used from: $7.13 Paprika is very inventive in its visuals, as expected from director Satoshi Kon. What appealed to me in this movie is how magnificent the ideas presented in this movie are and how shallowless it is. It makes me wonder, just how much heart some people have.
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 | Millennium Actress
Buy new: $12.49 / Used from: $3.68 A story of chasing your true love. Very well done, stunning music, and really makes you think, just how much heart do people have.
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 | Tokyo Godfathers
Buy new: $16.49 / Used from: $5.71 Serendipity without the love story factor. A very well told story, almost on par with Paprika. This one too makes you wonder just how much heart do some people have.
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 | The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Buy new: $20.49 / Used from: $21.68 Animation is fluid and extremely well done. Other than that this movie is pleasant and charming.
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 | Sword of the Stranger
Buy new: $22.49 / Used from: $17.54 Bones did such a good job on this one, I don't know what to say. The animation is as fluid as "TGWLTT"'s one. Although the story may seem kind of redundant at first, you really have to think about the characters' role over the overall theme. It gets bloody, but still doesn't stray from the story. It's not really an action anime either. It's your basic build up and climax that you would expect.
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 | Princess Mononoke
Buy new: $18.49 / Used from: $8.17 Best anime movie of all time (IMO). I think this movie has the greatest theme. An epic story with hate as its main theme. Most importantly it feels like it's told like a fairy tale rather than your typical anime. Hayao Miyazaki's prime. This movie is a must own.
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 | Grave of the Fireflies
Buy used from: $14.16 The saddest anime you'll ever see. If you seriously sit down and watch this anime, I think you'll cry. That's how powerful this movie is. Set during World War II in Japan. Worth buying.
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 | 5 Centimeters Per Second
Buy used from: $84.80 Referring to the speed that sakura petals fall and the speed at which people fall in love, this movie is first and foremost a love story. I felt that it was more like a poem. I would say worth buying, but since this DVD has been discontinued by the manufacturer the prices have soared. My advice though is that such a wonderful movie should not be passed by.
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 | The Place Promised in Our Early Days
Buy new: $22.49 / Used from: $10.60 I thought this movie was done better than Shinkai's "5 Centimeters per Second" because it actually feels like you're watching a movie. Although the poetic aspect is interesting, I think this movie gains on what "5 Centimeters per Second" lacks. This movie is a must watch.
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