Want to buy anime, so many to choose from...

[DrNic]

Hey guy, could ya help me out, I'm going on a shopping spree and as well as buying a couple of cds and gamecube games I want to buy some anime dvds. I've already decided on Metropolis (I've seen it before and know that theres nothing dodgy about it and its a good film) and I want to buy another but I'm not sure which. Please help me out, suggest some good series' if possible (ones that are available in England preferably). I'm into:

Horror (ghosts and creepy stuff)
Sci-fi (aliens)
Traditional (katanas and ninjas and stuff)

Please dont suggest any giant robot anime because I'm not really into the whole transformer deal (although NGE's great and Patlabor looks good). Please respond quickly thanks! (Oh and please state the level of fanservice if possible, i dont particulally want to buy anything worse than Vamp Hunter-D, thanx!)

[Orange Kitten]

Horror (ghosts and creepy stuff)
Sci-fi (aliens)
Traditional (katanas and ninjas and stuff)

Horror: I'd recommend Perfect Blue; it's a psychological horror film more than anything, but can get creepy. VIOLENCE, NUDITY, LANGUAGE.

Sci-fi: hmm, Cowboy Bebop is good (I'm guessing you've seen it), FLCL, and why not Bubble Gum Crisis (original or new)

Traditional: Kenshin's always a winner. (I recommend Samurai X but it is best if you've seen the TV series first.) Samurai X is all the violence/blood/drama that the Kenshin Tv series lacked.
Ninja Scroll, as you probably know, is a classic ninja film. VIOLENCE, NUDITY.
Escaflowne is good as well.

[DrNic]

Kool, I've not seen Cowboy Bebop actually but doesn't that have a series aswell?
Is Kenshin the TV series that leads onto Samurai X or are they 2 different things?
How bad is the nudity on perfect blue? (soz im asking so many questions, i want to find the right anime)
Thanx though and keep em comin'!

[Orange Kitten]

Kool, I've not seen Cowboy Bebop actually but doesn't that have a series aswell?
Is Kenshin the TV series that leads onto Samurai X or are they 2 different things?
How bad is the nudity on perfect blue? (soz im asking so many questions, i want to find the right anime)
Thanx though and keep em comin'!

I was referring to the Cowboy Bebop series, sorry. The series is generally better than the movie, cause the movie is basically one 90 minute episode, and it assumes you already have a background on each character. There is some fanservice but not much. No nudity. Language is down to a minimum. Good action, comedy; it's a very well rounded anime series.

Samurai X leads into Kenshin Tv series. You really should see the TV series first, cause Samurai X gives you his background after you've already been established with his character, and the drama in Samurai X is just 10 times better that way.

There's quite a bit of nudity in Perfect Blue; and plenty of blood/violence as well. It's a pretty graphic movie. The main character does a photo shoot and in that scene she poses nude. There is also a scene where she is filming a rape scene for a movie. She is NOT actually being raped, she's acting for a movie; but there is nudity. Nothing pornographic.

[DrNic]

There's quite a bit of nudity in Perfect Blue; and plenty of blood/violence as well. It's a pretty graphic movie. The main character does a photo shoot and in that scene she poses nude. There is also a scene where she is filming a rape scene for a movie. She is NOT actually being raped, she's acting for a movie; but there is nudity. Nothing pornographic.

hmmm...I'm still not sure about that one, its an 18 so theres probably a reason for it (i tend to steer clear of 18 anime movies), i just dont want to end up buying something I wish i hadn't (its happened before). I dont mind blood and violence though, its what makes a film good (resident evil was hardcore). Thanx though. My friend bought samurai X and said it was good. Anyone else know any gud series'/films i could buy?

[Kite]

.hack//sign is good. Its not that much of an action anime. But its got a good story.

Ninja Scroll, as you probably know, is a classic ninja film. VIOLENCE, NUDITY.

I read someones thing on amazon who said it was a pointless violence and sex fest.

[Technomancer]

Hmm.

Sci-fi: The best would have to be Here and There, Now and Then. Also see Vision of Escaflowne. Ghost in the Shell, Akira, Crest/Banner of the Stars are all good too.

Horror: Aside from Perfect Blue, I don't know any. You could try seeing the Japanese version of "The Ring".

Traditional: I can't think of any good anime for some reason right now. Ninja Scroll has great art, but it's status as a classic is overblown really. Jubei-Chan is great fun though, and worth seeing. Personally, I think the live action films in this category have been better; you could try seeing some of Kurosawa's films (Ran is ist best IMHO). Or maybe The Silk Road.

[DrNic]

Thanx for everyones help. In the end I just bought Metropolis because I was so confused about everyones opinions that I didn't dare buy any other animes. (e.g 1 person saying somethings got too much sex in, another saying they cant remeber seeing any sex in it. confusing or what.)
I guess I'll have to take my chances with some animes (such as GITS) because their are too many divided oppinions.But again thanks!

[MillyFan]

As for Ninja Troll. . .ahem, Ninja Scroll, that is a pointless violence and sex fest. As an example of the scenes, the main character has a conversation with another character-while he is having sex with a woman.

I don't know much about your genres, but I would definitely recommend the Ruruoni Kenshin TV series for traditional, from what I have heard of it, and Cowboy Bebop is good sci-fi/mixed, although there aren't many aliens there except maybe for Ed , and it *does* have two episodes that are great sci-fi/horror: "Sympathy For The Devil" and "Pierrot Le Feu."