showing an anime movie(s) to a first timer

jaredstar

Well-Known Member
#1
so i need some suggestions.

at the moment i am partial to showing him the first two rebuild of evangelion movies or summer wars and a movie to be determined

any opinions
 

Contrabardus

Well-Known Member
#2
What sort of movies do they normally watch? It's hard to recommend without knowing a little about taste first. For a first timer, I'd avoid anything attached to a series that came before it. Movies like that are better if you've seen the show prior to watching them, even though they often work as stand alone films.

Eva is best after you've seen the original series I think. I'd hold off on that until then. Especially considering Rebuild is not complete.

Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Appleseed, for the Sci-fi fan.

Lupin the III: Castle of Cagliostro, Nasicca, Steamboy, Paprikia for adventure fans.

Ninja Scroll, Princess Mononoke, Redline if they're into action movies.

Any fan of FF VII should probably see Advent Children at least once.

Miyazaki is hard to go wrong with if they're into drama or art house film, The Girl Who leapt Through Time, or Millennium Actress are both good alternatives.

For horror/suspense Perfect Blue, Blood the Last Vampire, or Vampire Hunter D, the sequel to VHD is decent as well. Vampire Hunter D especially if they're into Gothic Vampire stories.

There aren't a ton of great comedy movies that aren't attached to a series someone should watch first. Though, there are plenty of anime movies with funny moments.
 

jaredstar

Well-Known Member
#3
his taste seem all over the board at least from what i have seen of his collection
 

Contrabardus

Well-Known Member
#5
raedric said:
Any Miyazaki film
Not "any" they are all great, but some are not best for first timers. Spirited Away, My Nieghbor Totoro, Castle in the Sky, Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, Steamboy, Porco Rosso, or Kiki's Delivery Service are all great films for first timers.

If you really want to give them feels, go for Grave of the Fireflies. That movie is amazing at making grown people cry.

Some of the rest are beautiful and well done, but slow and relatively mundane in setting or just outright strange. I personally think his lesser known work is best viewed after some experience with Anime as a medium.

If you're going to start with Miyazaki, go big with one of his more exciting or interesting films.

If I had to recommend just one I'd say go with Princess Mononoke. It's a great example of what Anime is, hauntingly beautiful, brutal, and is simply a great example of Anime as film overall.

Barring that, if you just want to show something completely badass, do Ninja Scroll or Ghost in the Shell. Ninja Scroll is less introspective and philosophical, but it's visually amazing and brutal.

Ghost in the Shell is honestly a better put together movie though, and a better choice to show a movie buff. Someone who is really into film will appreciate the nuance and dialogue of that film more.

If none of those work for some reason, Akira. You really can't go wrong with that one for showcasing the range of what Anime can be. It's very adult and hard edged, very similar to Road Warrior in it's sensibilities. It also has moments of comedy in it and as a contrast to Road Warrior is very colorful throughout.
 
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