Recs?

[brigdh]

Whew, I'm so mood-swingy. But right now, I'm on the upswing, so everything is good.

I finally managed to find a store that carries the English translation of YnM, and I'm going to pick it up this evening. But they're having a "Buy 3 manga, get the fourth free" deal, so recommend some stuff to me. I already need to pick up Gravitation 7 and Initial D 13 (for my little brother), so what should the fourth be?

I don't want Fruits Basket or Petshop of Horror, which I've already tried, and I already have the entire series of Utena. I tried X/1999 and wasn't too taken, but maybe I could be convinced to try again if you really think I'd like it. Other than that, recommend anything! And I'm new to this whole anime/manga stuff, so go ahead and tell me even about the oldest, most well-known series.


Drabbles:
Take Action for the frottage challenge.
Rearranged for the role-reversal challenge, but, um. I'm really not suggesting you go read this, I'm just putting the link here for my own keeping. Did I mention the mood swings?

Comments

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I've been haunting the local video store for the X/1999 anime. They have it, but the first DVD always seems to be checked out when I'm there, and I didn't want to start watching in the middle of the series. I've got to get lucky enough to catch it eventually.

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

When I tried my experiment in pimping X to a friend (which I need to write up one of these days), I actually started her off on Episode 9, which is on Disc 3, I think, for reasons similar to starting off potential Buffy converts with "Hush" instead of "Welcome to the Hellmouth"--it stands alone relatively well and it showcases some of the best aspects of the series, and if it hooks someone enough they can always go back to the beginning and play catch-up. (It doesn't hurt that Episode 9 is devoted to my favorite character. At this point I'm fond of the protagonist of X, poor bastard, but the first time through I thought he was an unmitigated brat for the first half of the series and kept watching for the beauty of the animation and the pleasure of the supporting cast.)

If you do find Disc One, *don't* watch Episode 0 -- this was an OVA made to arouse interest in the anime from the manga fans, evidently (probably to convince them to give it another shot after the horrorshow that was X: The Movie), and it has no plot and spoils most of the developments in the first 12 episodes.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

*nods* Thanks. I had heard horror stories about Episode 0 before, but I'd forgotten them. Since everyone seems to hate it so very much, it's probably much better that I remember not to watch it.

And out of curiosity, who's your favorite character?

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

Sumeragi Subaru.

Terrible things happen to him under a cherry tree.

My friend: Okay, I've seen Yami, I know this: cherry trees bad.
Me: It's, like, the first rule of anime: If you see a tall, handsome, smiling man under a cherry tree in blossom, drop everything you're carrying and run like hell.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

Between Yami, X, and The Last Samurai, I'm becoming convinced that Japan consists entirely of cherry trees. Which are always blooming.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

It's because cherry blossoms symbolize the brevity of life.