Required Viewing

[Joshua Christopher]

Put up any animes that you think every anime fan needs to watch...I'm not saying just post ones you like, post any that you honestly think is required viewing...

5. Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz
4. FLCL
3. Cowboy Bebop
2. Astroboy
1. Giant Robo: The Animation

[agasfas]

Required viewings.... Well I'll split them up into different categories. "In general" is probably good for almost any anime fan, while the sports, drama and comedies are broken down for certain genre fans-- must sees.


In general:
Grave of the fireflies
Cowboy bebop
Outlaw Star
Gundam 0080
Trigun
yu yu hakusho

Required viewings ______

For the Sports fans:
Princess Nine
Slam Dunk
Fighting Spirit**

comedy fans:
Great Teacher Onizuka

Drama fans:
Ceres
Kanon

[mitsuki lover]

1.Inuyasha
2.Cowboy Bebop
3.Dual!Parallel Trouble Adventure
4.Serial Experiments:Lain
5.Dragonball
6.FLCL
7.Ghost In The Shell:Stand Alone Complex
8.Silent Mobius
9.Sailor Moon
10.Case Closed/Detective Conan
11..hack//sign
12.Crest/Banner/Banner of the Stars II
13.Rurouni Kenshin
14.Outlaw Star
15.Gundam Seed
16.Lupin III
17.Ranma 1/2
18.Read or Die/ROD The Tv
19.Gad Guard
20.Gungrave

[Nate]

Uh...off the top of my head...

Ghost in the Shell

Ranma 1/2

Record of Lodoss War

Trigun

Saber Marionette J

I would say Kenshin, but being that I haven't seen it yet... ^^;;

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Naruto
Full Metal Alchemist

[Godly Paladin]

Cowboy Bebop
Trigun
Rouroni Kenshin
Neon Genesis Evangellion
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing

Yeah, Endless Waltz, but it might not mean much to you if you haven't seen the show proper.

[Kisa]

Gundam (any)
Fruits Basket
Trigun
Cowboy Bebop
Rurouni Kenshin
Sailor Moon
Dragonball Z
Cardcaptor Sakura
.hack/sign
Inuyasha
Ah my goddess
Those are the ones I can think of that are well known and pretty much every anime fan has seen ^^

[Rocketshipper]

Tenchi Muyo
Sailor Moon
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Perfect Blue
Cardcaptor Sakura
Slayers

[Kenshin17]

1. Rouruni Kenshin
2. Last Exile
3. Gundam Seed

[Gypsy]

If you're of appropriate age for some of them, I would consider these must-see titles:

1. Akira
2. Record of Lodoss War OVA
3. Robotech: The Macross Saga
4. Ranma 1/2
5. Tenchi Muyo
6. Ghost in a Shell
7. Saint Tail
8. Princess Nine
9. Vampire Hunter D
10. Princess Mononoke

Of course there are many other wonderful titles that I'd suggest, but this list has a monster hit from each genre that's either stood the test of time or become an instant classic.

[Godly Paladin]

Ah yes, Tenchi Muyo. Should have put that on.

[Kokhiri Sojourn]

1. Cowboy Bebop
2. Neon Genesis Evangelion
3. Akira
4. Perfect Blue
5. Inuyasha
6. Serial Experiments Lain
7. Something in the Gundam Dynasty...
8. Grave of the Fireflies
9. Spirited Away

and personally, I would want this one required, though it probably doesn't count:

10. Voices of a Distant Star

[Hephzibah]

I'm going to see that one soon! (Voices of a Distant Star) Yay for libraries!!!

Anyway, required viewing:

Gundam Wing

That's it I think Lol. A pretty clean anime in all perspectives, and it contains themes that make you think, as well as (possible) Revelations undertones.

[Rogie]

The must-sees for anyone and everyone boil down to the titles that have had enormous influence on anime overall. I've picked more modern ones that more people have access to (which would exclude Astro Boy, for example):

Mobile Suit Gundam -- The original series. The definitive mecha anime, more so than Macross, in my opinion.

Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, or Castle of Cagliosto -- In other words, a film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the epitome of anime film mastery. These are his 3 best films currently available in the U.S.

Sailor Moon -- Although many hate it, any anime fan should at least appreciate its significance as the shoujo title that defined the "Magical Girl" genre.

Rurouni Kenshin -- One of those rare anime titles that gets nearly everything right: action, comedy, romance, drama, not to mention beautiful animation and superb character design!

Marmalade Boy -- A shoujo title that proves that animation isn't why anime is so great. Well-written characters and plot (and tons of love triangles) can make a show memorable, addictive, and a lot of fun to watch.

[Bobtheduck]

Considering the wide variety of tastes and convictions, the only thing I can think of really is Grave of the Fireflies... Even that isn't, really, because it is so sad...

For those who like Stupid humor, Excel Saga is required viewing, but it does you good to stop about episode 15, but watch episode 17 in Japanese... I say that because Excel is played by the seiyuu that voiced Usagi (Sailormoon) and... Well, it's just too darn funny... She makes fun of herself.

For comedy-drama, I'd say Marmelade Boy (nothing fantasy) or maybe Martian Successor Nadesico.

For serious, tearjerker drama, Grave of the Fireflies

For pure beauty, provided you don't have a hard time with Japanese mythology (gods and demons) Princess Mononoke

For history, the original Tetsuwon Atom, though you likely won't find the original in the US... You can find the 80's remake well enough as Astroboy. More history can be found in Jungle Emporer, which I had heard was finally being released subtitled (otherwise you'd have the horrible edits circa the 1960's american TV to worry about) as Jungle Emporer Leo. Just try to get the show before you get the movie... The movie is really the end of the show, [spoiler]Seeing as Leo dies at the end[/spoiler]

[Yojimbo]

Princess Monoke
Spirited Away
Cowboy Bebop
Ghost in the Shell
Akira
Robotech: The Macross Saga
Samurai X
Trigun
Fruits Basket
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Gundam Wing
FLCL
Macross Plus

[termyt]

What is required viewing? And required for whom? Just because I found a show to be of great value, doesn't mean it's required viewing. For example, I consider Azumanga Daioh to be on of the best anime series available, but I also wouldn't consider it required viewing. Highly recommended, but not required.

Most people just want to watch what they want to watch. So I would say there is no required viewing for most, save what is in their favored genre, and that would change based on individual.

Now, if you wish to be a true otaku and reveal in all that is anime, there are certainly some titles you will want to be able to speak on, to know how anime came to be what it is today. Here, I will attempt to lay out the course to true anime geekdom, or lay out How to Impress the Elitists at Your Local Con. (Note: Not all titles are suitable viewing for all audiences. Some content is definitely not for children and may offend many adults. I, personally was very offended by Escaflowne, but that’s a story for another time )

Understanding Anime History - the trend setters:
These are all from the “early daysâ€

[Jeikobu]

1. Grave of the Fireflies (a movie everyone, not just anime fans, should see. It shows how horrible war is)
2. Trigun (excellent combo of action, humor and drama)
3. Pocket Monsters (everyone needs to see the Japanese version so they know the dub isn't how Pokemon's meant to be)
4. Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X (RK has some humor, and alot of great action, and is a good entertaining series with deep characters. SX has the best animation I've ever seen, and some of the best music, and plenty of action, drama and romance)
5. Ai Yori Aoshi (if you like romance, this is the anime for you)

[Kireihana]

A.zu.man.ga. Dai.oh.

Seriously, it's the cream of anime comedy! Out of all the anime I've seen, it's at the top of my list for must-see.

[mitsuki lover]

I'll make it simple,just about any anime that airs on either Toonami,
Adult Swim or Anime Unleashed ought to be on the list especially:
Inuyasha
Cowboy Bebop
Rurouni Kenshin
Dual!Parallel Trouble Adventure
Serial Experiments:Lain
Boogeipop Phantom
Gundam Seed
.hack//sign and .hack//legend
all of the Dragonball series,etc.

[Cracknut]

My recommendation:

Anything with BIG eyes which speaks Japanese or incomprehensable ingurish...