The Hidden Gems of Anime

[Aix]

I've been watching a lot of less well-known anime lately and currently have on my next-to-watch some stuff that a lot of people here might not even have heard of. So what shows do you think are under-appreciated but definitely something that people should watch? Stuff that you never really hear mentioned here or otherwise. Mostly here though. Maybe we can pin this with sufficient support.
 
[spoiler=Sci-Fi]
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
This is praised as godly in anime communities elsewhere but as far as I can tell on this site, only Zai-Guard the old anime fanatic has really watched any decent amount of it. I'm only halfway through this series at Episode 54 out of the 110 episode total, which it is a decent midpoint for a pause and I can already say that this is one of my favourites. It's wholly unique in its execution, if I were to say anything about it, despite its flashy name, it doesn't dramatize anything. Legend of the Galactic Heroes is a story about two geniuses fighting on opposite sides of a grand centuries-long galactic war, each tugging the reins of history and the anime plays out almost like an exciting historical documentary reporting on the effects that these men have on the course history will take, but at the same time it manages very good characterization and insight. Except possibly in some of the science fiction detail which can be easily excused and the animation which is really good for its time, there isn't anything I can really say is wrong with this show. A solid 10 out of 10 from me thus far, something I've only ever given out very early on to two anime I really liked. For those of you who refuse to pirate anime, the entire series, including prequel movies and etc., can be found on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNyY2F1OurUbDBCtILijHYI52YAiIvSX5

~Recommended by Aix

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Adventure]
Katanagatari
Yeah, we've discussed it in the Akatsuki of YCM club, but none of you have watched it, I think. Done in a Bakemonogatari style storytelling with its long and fun dialogue as well as wholly unique art style, it certainly puts itself apart despite its very generic plot. The story is really a side thing, they even comically time-skipped past what was early on one of the most plot-important and hyped up events in the show. What's really important here are the characters, and their interactions and motivations. Togame remains one of my favourite characters in anime. "Cheerio!"

~Recommended by Aix

Allison & Lilia
What can I say... this is still pretty fantastical, but the action is nowhere near as over the top as most other anime, I'd say. Though that could just be because it is very different, but I really like it. Sure, like a lot of other things, it pulls out something last episode like the masterminds behind the plan that took place during the last few episodes (well, we get to know who one of them is after seeing them the episode before), but I'm not going to say it doesn't really make sense. At first I was exhausted from the awesome, but then I was quickly able to marathon it (a few times I guess, the number of episodes I could watch at a time, could have honestly marathoned the last 24 episodes after the first 2, given the opportunity) it remains a decent watch that's for sure, and it's definitely better than the first 2 episodes lead me to believe. Which was still very decent.  It really makes me get the feeling that it knows about the real world, despite the world it takes place in being entirely fictional, but like I said, it is pretty out there at times (mostly the important times, but by out there, I can not mean it in a bad way). Of course the action being the way it is, really setting itself apart from most anime, being not so over the top, and incredibly realistic in terms of weaponry and... uh... I guess I have to say feeling, is why I prefer it so heavily over the crowd. But let me fix something here. You are going to find a very many, many anime out there that are fantastical and not very realistic, even if only in a few moments, because it is hardly possibly for most to begin with, but I thought of this as more senseful and realistic than that for pretty much all of the time, at least. It will feel unreal at times but the only reason I could personally say I felt that was the case was because the world didn't even try to be near like this Earth, and every place is fictional. This is the very embodiment of why I was disappointed with The Pilot's Love Song. That too was in a fictional world, but they chose to go with very generic action once it finally surfaced, and they had waaaay too many named characters to be developed properly in its time span.

~Recommended by Ene

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Psychological]
Aoi Bungaku Series
It's not exactly a really accessible anime, but it is definitely a beautiful work of art. Adapting some of Japan's most well-known classic novels, it is a journey of multitude of feelings. Though, due to different directors, some part's quality might be different with others.

~Recommended by Ain

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Comedy]
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
The series doesn't get the kind of credit it deserves for subtle writing and direction based simply on the fact that no one seems to understand how faulty the main character is supposed to be.

~Recommended by Agro

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Idol]
Aikatsu
They don't really develop the characters a whole lot, but I would assume by now that would be expected for a kids show. It does however do some development, over the very gradual course of the many episodes it has, and that's what puts it over every other idol anime I have yet watched. That, and the fact that I do believe it went to a fair better detail about some of the aspects of being an idol than others, and it's really heartfelt. Trust me, I wouldn't care so freaking much about the vast number of other kids shows.

~Recommended by Ene

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Magical Girl]
Precure in general

Considering this is what YCM doesn't watch, I very clearly know WHY they don't watch it, but I can try to come across from multiple angles here. The yuri subtext is what seemingly gets a lot of the male crowd swarming to it, if you like that, you should eat this up... that is absolutely not why I love this. It is a magical girl franchise, which very rarely seem to have actual action, let alone anything decent out of it, but get this: Pretty Cure bucks the formula in other ways. The girls are very physical when fighting: leaping, punching and kicking their foes and reserving magical attacks for the final blow. Both girls possess super-strength and agility, making them far more formidable in hand-to-hand combat than the usual magical girl. It's worth noting at this point that the director of Pretty Cure was Daisuke Nishio, whose resume also includes Dragonball Z.
That was about the original, but the physical fighting very well holds true throughout all of it.
This as well as what I mentioned about Aikatsu actually knowing how to come across as heartfelt, is why I'd so heavily recommend it. These girls are awesome fighters. I don't know about what too many others think about it, but overall I found Suite to be the worst for it's constant arguing between the 2 leads, a very obvious "not so obvious" setup, and pretty rushed overall.
 

~Recommended by Ene

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Movies]
Grey: Digital Target
A decent anime about a guy living in a future where the people have to earn citizenship by going to war and killing an X number of human soldiers. Protag's girlfriend dies in battle, so he goes to war to avenge her.
 
Grey's an addictive character. He's a real jerk, but it's not a defining trait that's forced down our throats like other anime, and it's justified without telling us.
 
California Crisis
Visually, it's a very different-looking anime, and it's worth the watch to see what I mean.
 
It's about a guy who meets a girl, and it turns into an action movie. Nuff said.
 
Really fun.
 
Crying Freeman
A naked assassin guy kills people, and his girlfriend later becomes a naked assassin. Lots of naked. Lots of violence.
 
Also, the manga is gorgeous.
 
Also, there's a live-action movie starring the Iron Chef guy.
 
Cyber City OEDO
The only problem with this anime is that it's only 3 episodes, but each episode is 45 minutes long. It's a cyberpunk anime about 3 criminals who have taken out of prison to hunt down other criminals.
 
The dub is incredible. They replaced the soundtrack, for the better, and Sengoku in the dub is Morikawa-level hilarious with all the swearing.
 
Starship Troopers/ Uchū no Senshi
It's based on an old sci-fi novel about a guy who joins the military to fight an alien invasion.
 
If you saw any of the live-action movies, this is worth a watch.[/spoiler]

[Makο]

I'm a big fan of Utawarerumono, an adaptation of a Visual Novel. It was an earlier animu that I watched, and one of the first where I had to go look up the wiki just to know what happened. I was left baffled.

 

Spice and Wolf, while perhaps not HIDDEN, per se, is horribly underappreciated. Everyone needs to watch at LEAST season 1.

 

For being one of the most adorable anime I've ever watched, I'm surprised Acchi Kocchi isn't talked about more. Granted, it's fairly recent, and a lot of people are getting tired of the slice-of-life formula, but it's still a very good watch.

 

I'll get back to yah if I can remember more.

[Maeriberii Haan]

Maybe I've talked bits or pieces of it times ago, but Aoi Bungaku deserved a mention. It's not exactly a really accessible anime, but it is definitely a beautiful work of art. Adapting some of Japan's most well-known classic novels, it is a journey of multitude of feelings. Though, due to different directors, some part's quality might be different with others.

[Agro]

Does Kokoro Connect count? Show pulls some major Hitchcock s***.

 

Oh and Gatchaman Crowds... 's soundtrack.

 

I think My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU doesn't get the kind of credit it deserves for subtle writing and direction based simply on the fact that no one seems to understand how faulty the main character is supposed to be. :\

 

Senyu is one of the greatest comedic anime we got. It's also only 4 minute episodes, so it's easy to catch up (doesn't hurt that you can't just watch one)

[Nicο]

Gee, I know no one else is watching it, because it has the unfortunate combination of being a Shoujo, a long runner, and not a magical girl series, but I really feel as if Aikatsu deserves some mention. Or I guess that would make it definitely worth mentioning here. 

 

Aikatsu

They don't really develop the characters a whole lot, but I would assume by now that would be expected for a kids show. It does however do some development, over the very gradual course of the many episodes it has, and that's what puts it over every other idol anime I have yet watched. That, and the fact that I do believe it went to a fair better detail about some of the aspects of being an idol than others, and it's really heartfelt. Trust me, I wouldn't care so freaking much about the vast number of other kids shows.

 

Precure in general

Considering this is what YCM doesn't watch, I very clearly know WHY they don't watch it, but I can try to come across from multiple angles here. The yuri subtext is what seemingly gets a lot of the male crowd swarming to it, if you like that, you should eat this up... that is absolutely not why I love this. It is a magical girl franchise, which very rarely seem to have actual action, let alone anything decent out of it, but get this: 

 

 

 

Pretty Cure bucks the formula in other ways. The girls are very physical when fighting: leaping, punching and kicking their foes and reserving magical attacks for the final blow. Both girls possess super-strength and agility, making them far more formidable in hand-to-hand combat than the usual magical girl. It's worth noting at this point that the director of Pretty Cure was Daisuke Nishio, whose resume also includes Dragonball Z.

 

That was about the original, but the physical fighting very well holds true throughout all of it.

This as well as what I mentioned about Aikatsu actually knowing how to come across as heartfelt, is why I'd so heavily recommend it. These girls are awesome fighters. I don't know about what too many others think about it, but overall I found Suite to be the worst for it's constant arguing between the 2 leads, a very obvious "not so obvious" setup, and pretty rushed overall. 

 

Allison & Lillia

Allison & Lillia

 

 

What can I say... this is still pretty fantastical, but the action is nowhere near as over the top as most other anime, I'd say. Though that could just be because it is very different, but I really like it. Sure, like a lot of other things, it pulls out something last episode like the masterminds behind the plan that took place during the last few episodes (well, we get to know who one of them is after seeing them the episode before), but I'm not going to say it doesn't really make sense. At first I was exhausted from the awesome, but then I was quickly able to marathon it (a few times I guess, the number of episodes I could watch at a time, could have honestly marathoned the last 24 episodes after the first 2, given the opportunity) it remains a decent watch that's for sure, and it's definitely better than the first 2 episodes lead me to believe. Which was still very decent.  It really makes me get the feeling that it knows about the real world, despite the world it takes place in being entirely fictional, but like I said, it is pretty out there at times (mostly the important times, but by out there, I can not mean it in a bad way).

 

4.5/5

 

Of course the action being the way it is, really setting itself apart from most anime, being not so over the top, and incredibly realistic in terms of weaponry and... uh... I guess I have to say feeling, is why I prefer it so heavily over the crowd. But let me fix something here. You are going to find a very many, many anime out there that are fantastical and not very realistic, even if only in a few moments, because it is hardly possibly for most to begin with, but I thought of this as more senseful and realistic than that for pretty much all of the time, at least. It will feel unreal at times but the only reason I could personally say I felt that was the case was because the world didn't even try to be near like this Earth, and every place is fictional. This is the very embodiment of why I was disappointed with The Pilot's Love Song. That too was in a fictional world, but they chose to go with very generic action once it finally surfaced, and they had waaaay too many named characters to be developed properly in its time span.

 

Minami-ke

Now, as a slice of life, it is a great but very seldom looked at piece. There is very clear reasoning as to why it was able to get 4 seasons, as even though it does get repetitive at times, mostly the 4th doing over a few of the chapters, I think, it very rarely misses the mark on a joke and is pretty grounded into reality for a very comical show. Granted, the humor is more Japanese than most of the more popular stuff, and the 2nd season was a bad time for Minami-ke, it is very good. You could even skip the 2nd season as many find it to have an annoying original character, and the upping of fanservice is undoubtedly unwanted and out of place. 

 

I suppose Acchi Kocchi is another good mention, Mako. it seems like I'm the one who even brought it what little attention YCM gave it when I made the thread.

[Rodrigo]

Ben-To is not an anime I hear much about, and I really enjoyed it. The plot idea is amazing, the fight animations are good and the fanservice is top notch.

[Shradow]

Man, do I love me some Katanagatari. Been years since I first saw it, though, which is why I'm rewatching it.

 

Maybe it's just me, but I don't feel like Katekyo Hitman Reborn! gets as much attention as it should. I'd consider it one of the better shounen series out there.

[Fusion X. Denver]

I'll second Kokoro Connect, SNAFU, and Ben-To. Kokoro was a great character drama, SNAFU is getting a 2nd season it righteously deserves (love the main character and the writing in general), and Ben-To had a zany premise with awesome action that could have risen to even greater heights with a 2nd season.

 

Kids on the Slope is such a great show. I remember people were into it and it received an overall positive response while it was airing, but nothing's come up afterwards. It even has music composed by Yoko Kanno, and it's jazz. If those aren't music to your ears (heh), I don't know what would be.

Silver Spoon too, I don't really know many other people reading/watching it, but this is the same lady that made FMA, you'd think there'd be some more interest. If anyone's read Bakuman, Silver Spoon does for farming what Bakuman did for manga. Even if you're not into farming or agriculture (that would be me), it's worth checking out.

And My Little Monster. Everything about this anime is unconventional and quirky and it's all so endearing. This needs a 2nd season too.

Man, do I love me some Katanagatari. Been years since I first saw it, though, which is why I'm rewatching it.

 

Maybe it's just me, but I don't feel like Katekyo Hitman Reborn! gets as much attention as it should. I'd consider it one of the better shounen series out there.

It felt a lot huger and popular a few years back when I first joined YCM. I think the lackluster ending put some people off of it, sadly.

[Shradow]

I've been meaning to read/watch Silver Spoon, it looks interesting.

 

Also, it has Armstrong.

 

Also, I feel like a lot of people don't know about Gungrave. It's based on this third-person rail shooter game, but while the game focused primarily on the action, the anime is all about the characters; their past, their development, stuff like that. It does get into some sweet action whenever there's not a flashback, but the series consists of 70% of them, I'd say. The ending to the anime is much more depressing (but still very good) than the game's, though.

 

I didn't think KHR's ending detracted from the rest of the series. It kind of makes sense, really. It started off meant as a pure comedy, before it eventually transitioned its way to shounen, and the ending just had it return to its roots once all the major conflicts were over and done with.

[Fusion X. Denver]

I've been meaning to read/watch Silver Spoon, it looks interesting.
 
Also, it has Armstrong.

A hidden gem within a hidden gem, if you will.

EDIT:

I didn't think KHR's ending detracted from the rest of the series. It kind of makes sense, really. It started off meant as a pure comedy, before it eventually transitioned its way to shounen, and the ending just had it return to its roots once all the major conflicts were over and done with.

The problem I had with it (and a few others I can think of) was that the ending was canned, most likely because the series was cancelled.

[spoiler=For those who've read it]

You have this cool, awesome arc that has some great action and other stuff with the Arcobalenos, but then the final bad guy folds over in a second and then everything wraps up neat and nicely almost immediately, then they announced the manga has 3 more chapters before finishing, catching readers off-guard in an upset.

The last arc was great, but it didn't feel like it was the last arc and things felt really rushed in order to get finished.[/spoiler]

I didn't mind the actual last chapter either, just wish it hadn't come for at least another few years (really liked that manga).

[Just Crouton]

Grey: Digital Target

A decent anime about a guy living in a future where the people have to earn citizenship by going to war and killing an X number of human soldiers. Protag's girlfriend dies in battle, so he goes to war to avenge her.

 

Grey's an addictive character. He's a real jerk, but it's not a defining trait that's forced down our throats like other anime, and it's justified without telling us.

 

California Crisis

Visually, it's a very different-looking anime, and it's worth the watch to see what I mean.

 

It's about a guy who meets a girl, and it turns into an action movie. Nuff said.

 

Really fun.

 

Crying Freeman

A naked assassin guy kills people, and his girlfriend later becomes a naked assassin. Lots of naked. Lots of violence.

 

Also, the manga is gorgeous.

 

Also, there's a live-action movie starring the Iron Chef guy.

 

Cyber City OEDO

The only problem with this anime is that it's only 3 episodes, but each episode is 45 minutes long. It's a cyberpunk anime about 3 criminals who have taken out of prison to hunt down other criminals.

 

The dub is incredible. They replaced the soundtrack, for the better, and Sengoku in the dub is Morikawa-level hilarious with all the swearing.

 

Starship Troopers/ Uchū no Senshi

It's based on an old sci-fi novel about a guy who joins the military to fight an alien invasion.

 

If you saw any of the live-action movies, this is worth a watch.

[Agro]

Also, Boku no Pico

 

Watch it in a crowded room of people who don't watch anime for full effect.

[Dr. Cakey]

Oh and Gatchaman Crowds... 's soundtrack.

Fixed that for you. Gatchaman Crowds was probably the best anime of 2013, imhotbqhbbq

[Agro]

Fixed that for you. Gatchaman Crowds was probably the best anime of 2013, imhotbqhbbq

From the New World was airing in 2013 tho

[Dr. Cakey]

From the New World was airing in 2013 tho

1. Gatchaman Crowds

2. Monogatari Series Second Season

3. From the New World

 

(I assume Eccentric Family would be in there somewhere if I'd watched it)

[Aix]

e.e there needs to be reasoning to go under each title.

[mitchermitcher]

Some of what's mentioned isn't really that under appreciated or unknown, but ehh...

 

Anyways, Denpa Teki na Kanojo, a two-episode OVA adaption of a three-volume light novel series(skipped the second LN), it's short, it's gritty, it's mysterious, and it's just downright very well-done. It's like a combination of Monogatari's directing and Kalafina's godly ED songs, although to my knowledge neither SHAFT or Kalafina were involved. It's a well-done murder mystery that's well aware of how little screen time it has(An episode is less than an hour, so yeah), and makes the most out of it. Has a lovable stalker girl that's actually not a yandere for once, so that's one appeal point.

 

Other than that, I don't know anything THAT obscure, I guess. Tempted to throw in Kara no Kyoukai, but Type-Moon and it got eight movie adaptions, so doesn't count. Maybe, the ongoing Ping Pong? That needs more love, regardless of how much love it has right now anyways.

[vla1ne]

Steam Detectives is pretty amazing even if the soundtrack is 60% of the reason. not sure about how well known it is though. While the story is good, it's a bit on the older side of anime, so don't go expecting HD quality images.

Not sure if this one's famous, but another old one that i happen to like is Edens Bowy. the soundtrack is forgettable imo, and the story is generally generic, but it's done in a refreshing way.

Last on my list is probably far more well known, but just to put it out there Sorcerous Stabber Orphen I can't say much about this anime without spoiling it, but it has that classic feel, with far better story, comedy, and characters than I see in most anime today.

[Nicο]

lol I said Aikatsu isn't a magical girl. But the one I followed it with may have made it misleading or maybe it was just misread.

[BANZAI!!!!]

I'm an old anime fanatic, am i? Well then let me drop some oldschool mecha goodness on y'all. Not sure how well known these are, but i'm fairly certain not too many people here have seen these.

 

Space Runaway Ideon is a late 70's-early 80's (i don't remember the year, actually) super robot mecha show directed by Yoshiuki Tomino (The guy who did Gundam, for all of you not in the know). It's about a group of space colonists who get attacked by genocidal aliens called the Buff clan, and fight back using a super robot called ideon. It gets very, very dark (Evangelion ripped a good deal of this show's plot off, so you know what we're talking about here) and its rather well written and very unique. Just don't expect it to end well, and try to tolerate the main protagonist's bright red afro. Also ended like eva's tv broadcast, with it running out of money and shoehorning everything into five minutes. Hence it too has a few compilation movies to wrap things up.

 

Mobile Police Patlabor is about as realistic as giant robot shows get (Unless you're armored trooper VOTOMS). Its an action/comedy about a (very dysfunctional) unit of cops who use giant robots called Labors to put a stop to labor-related crimes. Its honestly hilarious at times, and all the action is very well done. Plus, depending on the continuity (there's the original ova which is connected to 2 movies, as well as a tv series taking place in an alternate universe but still running through a lot of the same plot points), theres a rather well written mystery arc surrounding mysterious military robots that keep wanting to use the cast as punching bags.

 

Aim for the Top! Gunbuster! is that one Gainax super robot show that not as many people have heard of. I really need to say nothing about it other than the fact that you need to watch it if you even remotely enjoyed FLCL or Gurren Lagann. Boobs, big robots, and one of the most heartwarming (and heartfelt) finales in anime history.

 

Getter Robo Armegeddon is what would happen if you got Quentin Tarantino to direct a super robot show. In case you don't know what Getter Robo is, its the other OG super robot mecha show (alongside Mazinger Z), and it pioneered the idea of combining robots (So all you TTGL fans go thank Ken Ishikawa for making this right the Eff now). While the tv show was lighthearted(ish) and kid friendly, the manga is known for over-the-top violence and its sociopathic protagonists. Armegeddon is an alternate universe take on Getter that takes place after some skewed version of the first two tv series combined with the original manga. It takes the hotbloodedness and the brutality/gore up to eleven and throws all subtlety (along with a tiny bit of plot consistency attached to it) out the window in favor of being as awesome and violent as possible at all times. You need to know nothing about getter robo to enjoy this (Though it makes it better if you research it a little bit first), and from what i've seen both the ADV english dub and the Japanese voice actors are there simply to chew scenery and scream attack names, so pick your language.

 

EDIT: Machismo beat me to including it, but Starship Troopers is very fun. also this one below

 

Super Dimension Century Orguss is Big West's other awesome transforming jet 80's mecha show (alongside macross). Unlike the very mainstream Macross though, Orguss is quite honestly one of the most unique anime i've ever seen. It starts off fairly standard, but then slowly sneaks in some fatalistic undertones as you learn exactly what is happening with the plot (i'm being vague here because its difficult to go into any detail without spoiling things). As it approaches its finale it covers subjects like unrequitted love, living life to the fullest, and heroic sacrifice, and i have to include here that it is one of the only anime i've ever seen to actually bring tears to my eyes. Go hunt this down to see what i'm talking about.

[Shradow]

I'm not sure if I would say Getter Robo is not well-known as much as it's just really old. Same with Gunbuster, though it came a bit later.

 

Heck, they're pretty much some of the most well-known mecha shows out there because of their influences.

[BANZAI!!!!]

I'm not sure if I would say Getter Robo is not well-known as much as it's just really old. Same with Gunbuster, though it came a bit later.
 
Heck, they're pretty much some of the most well-known mecha shows out there because of their influences.

Entirely true. My rationale for mentioning them is that im fairly certain a lot of people here dont know about them. Id love to be proven wrong though since theyre really great.

[The Amazing Avian]

I kinda feel like Saint Seiya doesn't get enough love. In North America at least. I mean I know it was huge worldwide, but then it got a really bad dub like 10 years after it aired everywhere else and nobody really talks about it.

 

I also rarely hear anyone talk about Big O even though it was on Adult Swim and starred Steven Blum as Bruce Wayne Roger Smith.

 

Cromartie High School is another one I rarely hear anyone talk about, even when it has Freddie Mercury (who has an amazing theme and Raoh's horse) and a gorilla who goes to school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_skhTIY_Ik

Other than that, I think most of the really obscure stuff has already been mentioned here.

[Shradow]

Cromartie High School is hilarious, I definitely recommend it if you like random, off the wall humor. I think it might be the most ridiculous thing I've watched.

 

Though I didn't like its dub that much. But the sub has Norio Wakamoto, and that's all you need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWNY4XXlRj0

[Makο]

I also rarely hear anyone talk about Big O even though it was on Adult Swim and starred Steven Blum as Bruce Wayne Roger Smith.

You know, I was reading Big O a while back. Really enjoying it too. Batman with giant robots? What's not to love?

 

...Until it switched from Right-to-Left to Left-to-Right

 

I kinda got offended and stopped reading it