Your 1st Anime Experience

Pendragon · Post by **Pendragon** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:10 pm

A relative who isn't into anime recently asked me how I got into it. I gave him a quick answer because I knew he was only asking to be polite and wasn't really interested however his question gave me a lot to think about.

Do you count series that you didn't know were anime at the time like how at the time I didn't know Transformers or Voltron were since I was just a kid and didn't know any better? Do you count the first show that made you realize this isn't your typical 'cartoon' show like when I first found Vampire Hunter D while channel surfing at my grandparent’s house? Or do you count the first viewing once you actually know and understand what anime is like when I fist saw DBZ?

I've always given the nod to Vampire Hunter D since even though I didn't know what anime was at the time I knew I was seeing something different and far better than what I'd known, as opposed to Transformers which I enjoyed as a kid but had always just assumed it was just another cartoon like any other.

This one simple question made me go back and reflect on my transformation from a naive kid to a rabid fan for more than a decade. So now I ask all of you, what was your first experience and how did it change you?

Yuka · Post by **Yuka** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 7:25 pm

Hmm.

I'm going to have to go with the 'This is a really good cartoon' approach.

The first Anime that I ever watched was Gundam Wing back when they showed it at a decent time on Toonami.
It might have been the whole mecha thing that appealed to me. I started to watch it religiously, until they cut it to only one episode a day at 7am. Despite Yuka loving her sleep, I still got up to watch it.

Then it got moved to 3am, then not shown at all, and that made me sad.

Of course, I wasn't an internet junkie back then, so I thought it was just a cartoon.

Fast forward a few years, and Yuka discovers the internet (to SG 4's horror

) and registers at a Gaming Forum belonging to a UK magazine company.

After a while, Yuka discovers what anime is, and spends many a long time on AIM talking to a proper anime fan.

Said fan recommended Excel Saga, so one day, when I was in Leicester, I went and bought Excel Saga Vol1, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away.

And it just got better and better since then really.

MegaManX · Post by **MegaManX** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 12:48 am

While I was brought up on Voltron, Thundercats, Ronin Warriors, ect...

The first show I ever saw that I recgonised as an Anime was Ghost in the Shell. That movie still fucking owns. I have the movie on VHS, DVD, and then I have the DVD Special Edition(I was going to buy the sculptuers but I just never had that kind of cash.) I think it's still my #1 Anime of all time.

Questionmarktarius · Post by **Questionmarktarius** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 4:34 am

Speed Racer.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 10:32 am

when I was a kid most of the 'cartoons' (as in, 80 or 90%?) I used to watch were in fact animes, so even though I didn't know it back then I see it as watching animes all my life. I never 'got into them' as they were already the norm when I was a baby. One of the first song from my childhood is the opening of Cat's Eyes, which I used to watch when I was like 3...

CDestroyer · Post by **CDestroyer** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 6:53 pm

My uncle rented Guyver, and we watched all we could find. Then Akira, Fists of the North Star and a few others I've since forgotten. I dont know how young I was, but it was waaay back in middle school. I took a long break with only a few rentals here and there, then later in high school, when I realized the massive cache the local Blockbuster had, I rented all they had in a few weeks, then moved on to the next Blockbuster, then the next...and then I had to find my own stuff. I've gone from there, though it seems I spend a few years as a rabid fan, then a few years as a casual observer, only watching something every rare once in a while or if somebody else is watching it and I join them. I think I'm in the middle of one of those phases now

I had a chance last year to watch some more anime with the same uncle, the first chance since he first exposed me to the genre all those years ago. He's stuck in the past, big time. Still looking for the same stuff. Not that thats a bad thing, but he wasn't interested at all in any of the newer stuff I had. He's really missing out.

Garbo · Post by **Garbo** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:05 pm

DBZ.

Like, 15 years ago before it was cool.

Pendragon · Post by **Pendragon** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:20 pm

CDestroyer wrote:I took a long break with only a few rentals here and there, then later in high school, when I realized the massive cache the local Blockbuster had, I rented all they had in a few weeks, then moved on to the next Blockbuster, then the next...

My friends and I did the exact same thing with all the local Hollywood Video's when we were in high school. Those were some great times.

Doom · Post by **Doom** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 6:31 am

Garbo wrote:DBZ.

Like, 15 years ago before it was cool.

before WHAT

Plaztik · Post by **Plaztik** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 4:16 pm

Transformers!

after that Akira and Guyver

man of txt · Post by **man of txt** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 5:35 pm

Plaztik wrote:Transformers!
after that Akira and Guyver

Exactly the same as you, though I dont really count transformers. I'm suprised Akira didnt made me give up anime all together.

The 1st anime film I fell in love with was Fist of the north star,

I also found tank police and project ako amusing.

Pendragon · Post by **Pendragon** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:34 pm

man of txt wrote:I also found tank police and project ako amusing.

The Sci-Fi network used to have Saturday Anime many years ago where very early in the morning they would show anime like Dominion Tank Police, Projeck A-ko, Tenchi Muyo in Love 1, Demon City Shinjuku. I concider myself very lucky to have caught on to it when I did, everything was pretty new to me and those were all great titles.

man of txt · Post by **man of txt** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:45 pm

Pendragon wrote:
man of txt wrote:I also found tank police and project ako amusing.
The Sci-Fi network used to have Saturday Anime many years ago where very early in the morning they would show anime like Dominion Tank Police, Projeck A-ko, Tenchi Muyo in Love 1, Demon City Shinjuku. I concider myself very lucky to have caught on to it when I did, everything was pretty new to me and those were all great titles.

agreed

I really liked battle angel alita and also er... i cant remember its name but its about three criminals forced to police cybercity. And theres a camp guy called benten who is the shit!

Channel 4 used to show animes late night on fridays. So I used to stay up religiously to watch legend of the four kings, doomed megatropilus, 3x3 eyes and others that I cant remember. I loved the 1st few Legend of the 4 kings, but this series must have the worst ending in anime history

[spoiler]Its all a dream. And worst of all, the dreamer isn't even the girl who's narating the story.

[/spoiler]

Asaroth Larot · Post by **Asaroth Larot** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 5:09 am

Devil Hunter Yohko

I loved it when I was a kid, but when I grew up I realized it was quite a pile of crap. However, I did get a lot of better stuff as I got older. Now I have 2 whole movie racks full of the stuff.

Pendragon · Post by **Pendragon** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 5:47 am

Only 2 racks?

I've never seen the whole series. My friend and I rented the episode where Yohko's grandmother becomes young again, and that's all I've seen.

Garbo · Post by **Garbo** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 9:33 am

Doraemon

WaWard · Post by **WaWard** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 3:50 pm

DBZ. I just watched it cuz it sucked.

but really i watched goldorak when i was a kid.

lesson is anime doesn't suck when you're a kid, but it sucks when you aren't.

Doom · Post by **Doom** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 4:31 pm

wrong

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 4:57 pm

Wrong indeed, you just have to pick those that aren't targeted at kids...

Oh and Goldorak's real name in Grendizer btw.
Did you watch Albator/Captain Harlock as well?

Mitsurugi CP · Post by **Mitsurugi CP** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:59 pm

I wonder if Thundercats counts...

The first anime I ever watched and actually knew that it was anime was Megazone 23. We watched a subbed-VHS that I found in an indie music and video store in Virginia, which carried a lot of anime VHS's because one of the guys that used to work in the store was recording them and then sending them to the store. I guess after the guys there were finished with it, they'd try to sell them. It was actually the first place that I'd ever seen that carried any anime, but they also had a lot of TV series and live-action movies from Japan. (I remember going back there a few years ago, and they had a live-action DBZ movie. Needless to say, I didn't buy it.)

I remember it being a good anime, but we had to keep readjusting the track to keep the picture, and sometimes, the sound would blur out so the voices sounded like one of Charlie Brown's teachers.

Questionmarktarius · Post by **Questionmarktarius** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 9:11 am

Mitsurugi CP wrote:I wonder if Thundercats counts...

I don't belive Thundercats should be counted as an actual anime, but more as one of the earlier "western" cartoons that were obviously influenced by Japanimation.

WaWard · Post by **WaWard** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 2:07 pm

Calbrena wrote:Did you watch Albator/Captain Harlock as well?

Nah, those aired here only when I wasn't bored.

And anime not geared toward kids like RoD am i rite? Still sux.

Entr0pi3 · Post by **Entr0pi3** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 1:15 pm

So many anime on French TV in the early 80s...
Sci-Fi stuff like Albator/Harlock, Goldorak/Grendizer, Space Adventure Cobra (my favorite anime when I was 4 or 5 year old

), but also anime inspired from classic european literature books, like "Rémi sans Famille" and girl-anime like Candy (which I didn't really like - too much violence!), as well as anime that appealed to both boys and girls (but for different reasons) like Cat's Eye. And quite a lot of "anime" involving a mixed french/japanese staff too (the most famous example probably being Les Mystérieuses Cité d'Or, but also Ulysse 31)
At first I didn't see much of a difference between anime and other cartoons (part of the reason being the limit was indeed somewhat blurry in some cases). It all started to change in the late 80s with St Seya, Dragon Ball, or Captain Tsubasa, or Ranma 1/2, which introduced a clearly distinct style (that most adults started to disapprove of).

During my early teenage years I didn't watch much anime series on TV anymore (kid stuff...). The first anime movie I was introduced to (by my big brother) was Akira, I think. But around the same time I also got to see some Ghibli movies like Nausicaa (at first) then Laputa. And in 1995 I also started reading the Dragon Ball manga (offered with the 2nd SNES fighting game). That's when my interest for all these japanese stuff (including video games) really started growing, I think.

Renge Ishyo · Post by **Renge Ishyo** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 6:16 am

An entropie post

I don't remember the first anime I saw to tell the truth (mostly because I wouldn't have known what anime was when I saw it). I remember the first anime I ever *purchased* though...and it was (drumroll please)....Samurai Showdown: The Anime! It's amazing that I even stuck around to see other anime after that.

Entr0pi3 · Post by **Entr0pi3** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 9:13 am

I finally finished writing my thesis

First anime I ever bought? Now that's a tough one, coz the first anime movies I saw where on pirated VHS of course, and I'd watch the series on TV.
I think the first anime I personally bought was the original Vampire Hunter D. And probably shortly after that the Records of Lodoss Wars OVA.
I don't buy much anime, though (much, much, much more manga)

ruroken · Post by **ruroken** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 2:40 am

My virgin anime was Rurouni Kenshin, hence the nick.

I heard about "anime" from my cousin and he lent me his CDs... I remember watching 10+ episodes back-to-back in those nostalgic days. Ahh

edit- And oh of course I've watched cartoons when I was younger.

X-Men, Iron Man, Batman, DBZ, Hurricanes, Wild Katz

:D:D, TMNT, Biker Mice...

Impaler · Post by **Impaler** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 2:17 pm

I think my very first anime that I really got into was Kimagure Orange Road. I remember staying up till 2 a.m. during my junior high days to watch animes.

Then came Record of Lodoss War OVA, and then I was hooked.

Pendragon · Post by **Pendragon** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 3:46 pm

They used to air Record of Lodoss War when they had Saturday Anime, but only the first 2 episodes. It'd would be years later before I'd finally see the entire OVA. Luckily it was worth wait.

I've only seen half of the TV series though. It didn't seem nearly as interesting as the OVA so I don't think I'll bother with the remainder.

WaWard · Post by **WaWard** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 4:45 pm

Entr0pi3 wrote: "Rémi sans Famille"

That show was awesome.

Les Mystérieuses Cité d'Or

My 2nd or 3rd anime. And the best ever.

Doom · Post by **Doom** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 4:59 pm

http://www.boxtorrents.com/details.php?id=11924

And anime not geared toward kids like RoD am i rite? Still sux.

strike 2

Pendragon · Post by **Pendragon** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 6:01 pm

Questionmarktarius wrote:I don't belive Thundercats should be counted as an actual anime, but more as one of the earlier "western" cartoons that were obviously influenced by Japanimation.

How would you categorize Aeon Flux? On one hand Peter Chung created it, but (unless I’m mistaken) it was specifically released to an American audience. If that’s indeed the case then which side of the fence does it belong?

Either way I really enjoyed the show when it originally aired on MTV and I pray that the upcoming movie doesn’t do anything to ruin it.

Mitsurugi CP · Post by **Mitsurugi CP** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:30 am

Aeon Flux was worthless. Well, we could also talk about Reign...

Oh wait. Reign sucked ass, too.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 8:24 pm

Of course you count Voltron! How can you not count Voltron?! Voltron is the best anime evar!!!

Also....

I've always given the nod to Vampire Hunter D since even though I didn't know what anime was at the time I knew I was seeing something different and far better than what I'd known

Vampire Hunter D? Better? You're serious? Sorry, but I'll take "Leonardo Lightens Up" over that anyday.

WaWard · Post by **WaWard** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 12:07 am

anime...

Lavos Spawn · Post by **Lavos Spawn** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:29 am

During the summer after I graduated High School I just watched TV all day, I started to watch Pokemon and Sailor Moon in the after noon, I also saw Tenchi Muyo In Love (the title drew me to it) and Tank Police on the Sci-fi channel, and Bubblegum Crisis and Urusei Yatsura (both subbed) on a local PBS station the used to show anime. I suffer from a severe case of can't remember shit, so I don't know which of these came first (embarrassingly, its probably Pokemon), but it really got me into anime.

Thinking back I also recall seeing Armitage on Showtime some time before, and possibly Kiki's Delivery Service on the Disney channel. A ways back I have vague recollections of shows like Sailor Moon, Thundercats, Transformers, The Lost Cities of Gold, and the Little Prince (that was anime right?), but I was not aware that they were from Japan.

Cybernetic Empire · Post by **Cybernetic Empire** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:47 am

Back when the sci-fi channel showed anime early in the morning is when I was first exposed. They would show Akira, Vampire Hunter D, Iria Zerum(sp?), etc, and there would be these random anime shorts. That was probably like 10 years ago. Now the only anime I watch is usually what I've bought on dvd from the "glory years". Basically before all these American studio drawn animes started popping up which solely focused on the more annoying cliches found in Japanese animation. Maybe there's good stuff out there but I can't be asked to go look for it now can I?!

Renge Ishyo · Post by **Renge Ishyo** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:46 am

I used to watch anime on the sci fi channel. I was always pissed that they always showed it so early in the morning though (normally I was too lazy to get up). I remember Robot Carnival on the sci fi channel (and Akira and Vampire Hunter D and all those other streamline films too)! I really do think the 80's up to the mid 90's had some of the best anime (others would say the real glory days was the late 70's but in my mind it didn't start peaking until around Akira was released and we got all those great movies and the OVAs coming out).

Cybernetic Empire · Post by **Cybernetic Empire** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 6:54 am

Ah yes Robot Carnival was the name of it! That's been bugging me for awhile now.

Mitsurugi CP · Post by **Mitsurugi CP** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:02 am

You know, the more anime I watch, the more I appreciate how much better dubs have gotten since Slayers. Still, nothing tops Speed Racer dubs.

Pendragon · Post by **Pendragon** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:23 am

Cybernetic Empire wrote:Ah yes Robot Carnival was the name of it! That's been bugging me for awhile now.

How could anyone forget Robot Carnival? It easily holds the record of having the most "over the top" introduction in the history of animation.

Impaler · Post by **Impaler** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:11 am

What about Gem?

Killey · Post by **Killey** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:59 pm

My first exposure with anime is back in the days of Astroboy. However, I really never took notice of anime until my cousins came over from Vancouver bringing with them City Hunter, and Ranma 1/2.

Endless-Rain · Post by **Endless-Rain** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 10:42 pm

Sailor Moon

I still like it to this day.

My first true exposure to anime was probarbly Bubblegum Crash and Akira, which I liked alot.

mz · Post by mz » Sun Mar 19, 2006 12:31 am

Impaler wrote:What about Gem?

You mean Jem?

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 2:35 am

dragonball z

dcom · Post by **dcom** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 4:36 pm

First ever anime i saw was Angelic Layer, someone burned the lot and gave it to me so I watched it, since then i've been hooked.

Chi · Post by **Chi** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 9:12 pm

Akira was the first one I saw, but Ninja Scroll was the first one I really enjoyed (either that or some other Manga Video release, cyber city Ueno 20somethingorother I quite enjoyed too), and Street Fighter the Animated movie, natch.

I'm not really big into anime though. Actually, I'm rather an anime nub, to be fair.

Cartoon-wise, it was all about Transformers, ESPECIALLY Transformers the movie. Good to see that classics such as Ulysses 31 and The Mysterious City of Gold have been mentioned, but why no <3 for Jayce and the wheeled warriors...?

brace · Post by **brace** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:39 am

I can tell you of my step brother and sister's first anime experience~ Their dad works in a movie packing center and he brought home some movies. Saw a japanese animation movie called Magical Twilight or somesuch. He leaves the videos out for his kids to check out when they come home after school. They were 'bout 9 and 10 at the time. And the kids were hanging out in the living room and started watching the tape. Turns out that it's a hentai video.

Best gift of the year~!

sudduth · Post by **sudduth** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:43 am

MegaManX wrote:While I was brought up on Voltron, Thundercats, Ronin Warriors, ect...

Same the first anime I ever saw was Thundercats never have seen Voltron though the first anime i saw that i knew was actually anime was Full Metal Alchemist and that show still owns and i still cannot comprehend its greatness