Animation Domination

[Bulzeeb]

Animation was, and still is, such an integral part of my life, I could probably swap out a vital organ with it and still be fine. I remember the first cartoon I could understand was Rugrats. Arlene Klasky managed to perfectly convey the budding imagination of a toddler through her wild adventures and everyday locations turned into a sprawling wilderness. I wouldn't understand how any kid couldn't be drawn to it (pardon the pun.)

I never really grew out of animation compared to my peers who enjoyed ESPN and so forth at an early age. Real life programming just didn't click with me, and it felt much more limited compared to the world of Animation. My preference of animation over reality annoyed my mom, telling me to "Grow up and watch something real." Normally, parental ridicule is a sad situation, but the silver lining for this moment of abuse was the irony of an artist telling me not to watch still pictures be brought to life through animation.

My world views were strongly shaped by certain shows like Hey Arnold! A simple show of a boy with a peculiar shaped head taught me plenty of things about people and treating others with decency, sometimes tackling real life issues with a symbolic character:

Pigeon Man - Just because someone lives differently doesn't make them any less of a human being.
Eugene - Being the friend to the one who has none.
Chocolate Boy - Drug Addiction

All these characters and more with their own personal struggles are highly similar to what regular people in the real world face everyday. If I feel a connection to the character and sympathize with them, that's real enough for me.

Animation has clearly come a long way, not just through art style, but demographic as well. For the past few decades, animation has also catered more towards adults with raunchy humor or suggestive art styles. (As I type this up, I had an episode of Persona 4: The Animation loading on Anime Media. On both sides of the player window were anime girls in bikinis.) Walls were being torn down as to what popped in people's minds when they heard the word "Animation." Today some walls that seemed to last forever have been leveled into dust, and you probably know what I'm about to lead into, but I feel it should be addressed as part of my post, not just for my own history, but for society as a whole.

As most of you here are all well aware of, I was sucked into the craze of FiM last summer. I'll admit, on first hearing about what kind of following the show had garnered, I was skeptical and somewhat dumbfounded. Those two feelings bred curiosity, and I became one of the herd. I don't want to convert this thread into something that already has a thread, so I'll just leave this here:

Why Adult Men Like My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
(I posted the same thing in the actual thread, but I figured the fellow forum goers who frequent that thread already knew why they were there.)

What does an article about the fanbase have to do with animation? Everything really. To take a piece from the article,

The fascinating thing about the phenomenon, and the reason why non-Bronies are perplexed, is that never before has something in the entertainment world been so passionately embraced by the demographic it was never intended for. And therein lies the enigma.

Animation continues to grow and prosper, much like the kids who originally watched cartoons and still do today. Animation is a form of art, and the idea kids should "grow up" from art they continue to enjoy is just absurd.

[HeyRiles]

Current list of anime shows airing this season that I'm watching

Hyoka
Kore wa Zombie
Medaka Box
Acchi Kocchi
Sankarea
Upotte!!

So far I can definitely recommend Sankarea for its excellent story, and Hyoka has really excellent drawing and artistry, as well as interpretation. I'd recommend both if you're looking for anything airing this season

[darkwinterbeast8]

Love that show, along with early Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Frisky Dingo, and Metalocalypse from that Adult Swim lineup. I really enjoyed Home Movies as well, and Archer on Fx is hilarious. I also highly recommend any Kim Possible episodes on YouTube; that's easily one of my favorite series.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force is hit or miss. If they write a funny episode, it's awesome otherwise it's rather meh. I've heard good things about Archer but have only caught bits and pieces of a couple of episodes.

Metalocalypse is probably my favorite show on Adult Swim. Between the dark animation style, the absurd amounts of violence, and all of the references to Metal bands, songs, and albums that go over most people's heads but are added easter eggs in the show to Metalheads such as myself. Not to mention the real life Metal musicians that are guest voices in episodes (one episode had Ihsahn from Emperor be the voice actor to the murderous fashion designer and anther episode had King Diamond as the voice actor to the manager of the fast food joint appropriately named "Dimmu Burger").

Animation-wise, I loved the styles of Samurai Jack and The Boondocks. Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Dexter's Lab, and Ed, Edd n Eddy were some fun shows from the early 90s to mid 00s on Cartoon Network. Aeon Flux was fun as part of MTV's failed Liquid Television, along with Ren and Stimpy from Nick. And of course all the old classics from Hannah Barbara, Warner Brothers, and Disney. Not to mention Animaniacs, Tale Spin, Duck Tales, and all those from the 90s.

Ah the good old Disney Afternoon block from the late 80's early 90's, I remember those shows well. That was Disney at it's best, post death of Walt Disney.

Also, MTV had some pretty good animation in it's day between Liquid Televison, Beavis and Butthead, Daria, and Downtown. It's a shame that they basically closed the doors on that instead of making a channel called "Liquid Television" specifically for their Animation.

I was never hugely exposed to Anime when I was younger, so I'm kind of catching up on all of it now. So far I've enjoyed Samurai X, Ghost in the Shell, the Gundam Series, Evangelion, Grenadier, Read or Die...pretty much all the popular ones that crossed over. Luckily I can find a ton on Netflix, so I'm going through those now. Currently working on Elfen Lied, Gunslinger Girl, and Death Note.

I've enjoyed Basilisk, Cowboy BeBop, and Hellsing as far as Anime goes. Still have lots to catch up on.

Oh, and M.A.S.K. >>>> G.I. Joe. Yeah, I went there.

Siverhawks >>>> M.A.S.K. and G.I. Joe combined.

[CJHobbes]

Current list of anime shows airing this season that I'm watching

Hyoka
Kore wa Zombie
Medaka Box
Acchi Kocchi
Sankarea
Upotte!!

So far I can definitely recommend Sankarea for its excellent story, and Hyoka has really excellent drawing and artistry, as well as interpretation. I'd recommend both if you're looking for anything airing this season

Sweet, thanks for the recommendations Riles. I'll have to check these out.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force is hit or miss. If they write a funny episode, it's awesome otherwise it's rather meh. I've heard good things about Archer but have only caught bits and pieces of a couple of episodes.

I enjoyed the early seasons (1-3) of ATHF much more than their more recent stuff. It's always a completely off the wall show, but somehow that early stuff just feels a bit more cohesive. Actually, anything post-movie has been kinda bleh to me. All in all, though, I agree: the show is very hit/miss.

If you ever watched Frisky Dingo, you'll enjoy Archer. It's the same team doing the show; they had to halt production on FD because Adult Swim didn't renew their contract (which completely sucks because Season 2 ended on a huge cliffhanger, and now season 3 will probably never come about). Plus H. Jon Benjamin is just hilarious to listen to and my second favorite modern voice actor (Patrick Warburton being my favorite). That might be sacrilege to admit, because there are tons of great voice actors out there, but those two are definitely my current favorites.

Also, MTV had some pretty good animation in it's day between Liquid Televison, Beavis and Butthead, Daria, and Downtown. It's a shame that they basically closed the doors on that instead of making a channel called "Liquid Television" specifically for their Animation.

I've enjoyed Basilisk, Cowboy BeBop, and Hellsing as far as Anime goes. Still have lots to catch up on.

Siverhawks >>>> M.A.S.K. and G.I. Joe combined.

Yeah, I was bummed when they just cancelled the show. It might have been a bit too early for its time; I'm sure had MTV tried it the past decade it might have grown some stronger legs.

I never did catch Silverhawks, but I've heard good things about it. I'll have to check it out.

[LoopyChew]

Only one mention of Avatar and none so far about Korra? I am disappoint. Avatar and Korra have some incredibly fluid animation--particularly during the fighting scenes--and manage to be incredibly deep (and dark!) for something that would normally be written off as kid's stuff. I think of them as this generation's Batman: The Animated Series.

My anime tastes rest squarely in the '95-'05 era, between Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Hellsing, Full Metal Panic!, FLCL, Kodocha, Beck, Black Heaven, and Rurouni Kenshin (both the TV show and its OAV), amongst others. My older brother introduced me to other things like Macross Plus and Ah! My Goddess, as well as showed me the improving quality of English tracks to the point where I started listening to the dub more often than watching the sub.

For me, though, Batman: The Animated Series will always be my go-to for great animation, voice-acting and storytelling. Not every episode was a hit, but those that landed were excellent. Not to mention, every single episode having a unique score--something unheard of even in bigger-budget television shows.

[darkwinterbeast8]

Only one mention of Avatar and none so far about Korra? I am disappoint. Avatar and Korra have some incredibly fluid animation--particularly during the fighting scenes--and manage to be incredibly deep (and dark!) for something that would normally be written off as kid's stuff. I think of them as this generation's Batman: The Animated Series.

Funny that you make that comparison considering the guy who voiced the Big Bad of Avatar: The last Airbender was none other than Mark Hamill, who voiced The Joker in Batman: The Animated Series.

For me, though, Batman: The Animated Series will always be my go-to for great animation, voice-acting and storytelling. Not every episode was a hit, but those that landed were excellent. Not to mention, every single episode having a unique score--something unheard of even in bigger-budget television shows.

Good points, always thought more shows should do the unique scores. Also Mr. Freeze's tragic backstory and Harley Quinn originally were from this show before being adapted into the comics.

[FloodOne]

Cartoons I can't stop watching right now would consist solely of Regular Show. Love it.

My favorites though, are much farther reaching than just that.

Venture Bros, Boondocks, and Metalacolypse are by far my favorite western shows still in production.

As far as anime goes, there are a ton that I've watched and enjoyed. Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Berserk, Baccano!, Durarara, Mnemosyme, Disgaea, Yu Yu Hakusho, GunGrave, Code Geass, Trinity Blood, Trigun, Full Metal Alchemist (as well as FMA Brotherhood), Death Note, and I also have Hellsing on docket to watch next, as well as a recommendation from a friend to watch Angel Beats.

To me, an animated show only needs one of two things for me to watch and enjoy it. Outstanding writing or outstanding artistic aesthetics. Animation itself isn't a killer for me, otherwise half of the anime I enjoy wouldn't be on this list. Berserk, in large part, is terribly animated, but the story and characters are so amazing that I easily look past the shoddy production.

[88sBand]

Basically you will watch whatever AS will show you...the best show Berserk could never make it to AS due to the eclipse though. lol. I haven't enjoyed a anime since Berserk tbh. Champloo was alright I guess. All of these other animes seem very DBZ to me and I got over that by elementary. Bad guy attacks, good guy loses. Then later he comes back and still loses but finds a power and beats bad guy after talking straight for 3 episodes...ugh.

[BohemianMatt]

I find it amazing to watch Archer. I know some people younger than me who love it, but haven't seen any of the shows that the staff made previously.

It's amazing to see the differences in animation between Archer and their previous programs, notably Frisky Dingo and Sealab 2021. While still maintaining their flash animation style, they've evolved a lot.

[Dangimarocker]

animation has also catered more towards adults with raunchy humor or suggestive art styles. (As I type this up, I had an episode of Persona 4: The Animation loading on Anime Media. On both sides of the player window were anime girls in bikinis.)

I love animation, but for people to stare at half naked or naked drawings to me seems weird... :\