Evening everyone,

I was wondering if those of you out there in CI would recommend some anime for my girlfriend and I to watch.

It has to be something we can legally watch - So not downloads Currently I order anime from Lovefilm, which has what I consider a decent selection.

We have just finished watching Black Butler, and before that Vampire Knight and Vampire Knight Guilty, which we both really enjoyed and have cosplayed from both series. She has also started getting into GITS, which was a pleasant surprise for me, as well as Full Metal Alchemist.

She does not like very child-like ones, as she has seen some Studio Ghibli stuff but didn't enjoy them, so they have been taken off the table. She also doesn't like ultra-violence or zombies, so High School of the Dead is an example of a no show either.

So based on that, would would my fine fellow cosplayers recommend for us?
If it could lead to cosplay we could wear togther, all the better

It sort of depends what genres you like but there are a ton of things that I think are suitable for watching with someone who might have watched less anime: Code Geass is very good, Evangelion is a classic, Planetes is something a bit different but very watchable, Serei no Moribito is pretty with a great plot and I'd also recommend Death Note, although that's a little darker in tone. I think most of these have been about long enough to have a legal release. If you fancy trying out some Clamp stuff I'd also recommend X and Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. The former does have its gruesome moments but I think they toned those done quite hard in the anime and is quite dark toned. Tsubasa is more light-hearted but is quite referencial to other clamp stuff (not that's its necessary to understand the plot). I've tried to suggest things that are quite plot driven.

I'm going to back up Carmina on the CLAMP suggestions. Cardcaptor Sakura is another old favourite and a nice way to ease yourself in on their different series which more often than not tie together. It might be that you caught the dub of it about a decade ago?

Fruits basket is another classic. Probably aimed more at the ladies but my fiance enjoyed watching it with me - as did quite a few of the lads at my anime society.

If you want to buy things legally an absolute gem is being released this February. It's called Puella Magi Madoka Magica and it's been a bit hit since its release earlier on in the year. It is indeed a magical girl anime, but not as you may have ever seen one before. It is considerably darker and changes the whole perspective of the genre. Everyone at my society loved it along with Durarara which was another favourite.

Oh yes, Durarara is also very good, as is Baccano a series based on a set of novels by the guy who wrote the Durarara light novels.

A lot of newer anime have references to old classics.
If you watch GITS, watch the movies and the series.

Here's a few oldies that'll give you a base;
Revolutionary Girl Utena (TV and Movie)
GaoGaiGar(TV and 12 part additional OVA)
Mobile Suit Gundam (TV)
Trigun


As for newer stuff;
Baka to test to shokanjuu
Deadman wonderland
Highschool of the dead
Madoka Magika
Tiger and Bunny <<< This one is hot bananas right now. Watch if you can.


Not so newer but popular stuff
Eureka 7
Welcome to the NHK
Claymore
Trinity Blood
Full Metal Panic
Full Metal Panic - Fumoffu



And if you're feeling experimental or need something darker, or even wanna watch something so balls out insane;
Ergo Proxy
Casshern SINS
Heat Guy J
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
G Gundam



As a side note for Gundams, many follow the same format. But there are different "Universes" and timelines. So you can watch one series alongside another as they have completely different characters and histories. Some are more popular than others, it just depends what you like. My current favourite is G Gundam, as it's just so fabulously wrong in every way it's good.

Also do watch Baccano and Durarara as suggested above, they're really good and well scripted.

Here are a few of my recommendations:

Berserk
Ghost on the Shell: SAC
Zeta Gundam
Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
Darker than Black
Azumanga Daioh
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
Fate/ZERO
Ben-to
Gunbuster
Hellsing Ultimate
Kaiji