I like arbitrary lists...

[lady_heather]

Here's my list of the quintessential anime movies/OAV that any self respecting anime fan must see. If you haven't seen the majority of these, and you dare to call yourself a fanboy, you should hang your head in shame.

1. Akira: Ok, this is a no brainer. It still deserves a mention.

2. Ghost in the Shell: The original, not the sequel or the series

Comments

[lady_heather]

I agree that Akira and the original Ghost in the Shell were over rated. Still though, they serve their purpose, like you said, as bench markers and that was all I was trying to say with their inclusion on my list.

I also agree that they really aren't the best movies for someone who's never seen anime. I was thinking that something that's easy for anyone to enjoy without being confused or disgusted would be better suited as a starter. Perhaps a Miyazaki movie, like Mononoke or Spirited, would be best for that purpose. If they show interest, then it's ok to move onto the harder stuff...I would probably suggest Ghost in the Shell. I always liked it better than Akira, but that's just my opinion.

I guess what I'm saying is that Akira and Ghost serve as classic examples of anime outside of the cute girl w/jumbo breasts/giant robot mold that mainstream tries to shove it in. They also serve as evidence that animation can be used for serious adult-demographic films and not as a kids-only medium. While they seem dated now, they still hold their places as classics