Your Anime Firsts & Bests

[Gokusen]

First video: Around 1987, bought the Macross Do You Remember Love? movie on glorious Betamax, which I still own and have only played once (to make a copy so to not wear out the original because that was the kind of stuff we did back then).

First Laserdisc: Macross the Movie (the 1984 Shogakukan Video release) around 1991, still have it somewhere, and at least it was in stereo. This along with the Macross: Flash Back 2012 LD cover are easily my favorite covers of all time.

First DVD: Probably around 1998, Farewell Space Battleship Yamato (only we all referred to it as Arrivederci Yamato back then) for some reason packaged in a CD sized jewel case set in a large LD size package around an inch thick. Yeah, still have it.

First BD: In 2012, GunBuster the Complete Edition.

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by DJ_dub_XL

My first was the Tokyo Pop Initial D stage 1 set. It was before Funimation licensed the series and put it out.

Same here... the first individual ID volume was my first anime DVD purchase.

First BD... was Appleseed Ex-Machina

My Favorite anime DVD: Toss up between the Patlabor movies Limited Collectors Editions and the Gunbuster remastered Bandai-Visual 3-disc digi-pack release. Shows i really enjoy and the packaging is how you do a release...

My Favorite anime BD: Japanese Collectors Edition release of Redline...the DTS-HD Master Audi audio track and nice visuals along with all the bonus materials.

My Favorite Japanese import would be my Trava Fist Planet copy...show I love, think its one of the funniest things ever, so I wanted the rare physical DVD release. Took a little while to source and not cheap, but still one of my favorite releases.

[Vlad Draculi]

Well technically Voltron and Robotech were my first introduction to anime, followed by Sailor Moon, Teknoman, and Dragon Ball.

However, it was watching Fatal Fury The Motion Picture in the Summer of 98 that really turned me into an Otaku.

BTW, for best, well, it is hard to say.

Best anime movie - Redline
Best anime OVA - Le Portrait de Petite Cossette
Best anime series - uhhhhhhh... either Escaflowne, Gankutsuou, Ghost in the Shell SAC, Gundam Wing, Tiger & Bunny, or Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.

[flansered]

First VHS - Guyver Volume 3, the U.S. Renditions release of episodes 5 and 6. The Blockbuster that I rented the first 2 tapes from didn't have this one, so I had to drop $30 for it at a comic book store, which was a lot when I was in middle school. This would have to be maybe 93 or 94?

First DVD - probably the first Manga Entertainment of The Castle of Cagliostro, which I remember being disappointed with (even though I love the movie).

First BR - the Bandai Akira release.

[JamieH]

Firsts? Hmm. Well, I had seen anime on TV, but didn't know it was anime. Stuff like Speed Racer, Robotech, Battle of the Planets, etc. I have a vague passing memory of seeing those and others that had been broadcast on US TV.

It wasn't until the summer of '95, at the age of 12 that I discovered anime. As was usual in the '90s, I was a kid in Blockbuster looking to pick something out to watch. While walking down the aisle I came a across a section called Anime. It immediately stood out to me, what were all these odd looking cartoons? I went from box to box checking out the covers and backs to see what they were. Then I was given the shot clock by my mother. So many choices, and they all looked amazing. Under the pressure of having to grab one immediately I choose by grabbing the 1st tape alphabetically.

That tape was Akira.

Mind blown.

It was confusing as all hell too. I watched it 3 times back to back the first time around, and still had no idea what the hell was going on. Really, wrap your head around a 12 year old, that hadn't been exposed to the internet, watching Akira as his first real exposure to anime.

All I knew was that I had to have more. To say I was immediately hooked is an understatement. I spent the rest of that summer going through my local Blockbuster's selection of anime.

Before long I was begging my parents to take me to a store that sold anime. I am so grateful for having an awesome mother that was willing to drive me 45 minutes to another town with such a store. It probably also helped that there was a seafood restaurant she liked in that town too.

OK, so what was my first purchase? I honestly can't remember that. I do have a good memory of watching a Tenchi Universe tape nearly immediately after purchase in my mother's conversion van. Then again, it could have been Appleseed, as that's the first VHS title alphabetically in my collection.

How about first DVD purchase? It's a toss up between the original AnimEigo Bubblegum Crisis release (yes, the large PC game like box already mentioned by another user (can get a pic of this later as I still have it, currently have a cat holding me hostage on the couch)) or Pioneer's Tenchi Muyo! Complete Collection. Not really sure, but I know I've had those two for a very long time.

And my first BD? Akira. I had to see Akira in hi def glory and sound. That film's animation and audio still stands the test of time. Say what you will about it's mangled plot from being released at the height of the manga's popularity before it was finished, but I don't want to hear any lip about it's animation and audio quality lacking. It is absolutely mind numbing once you start researching into what all was done to create Akira. Every so often I learn something new about Akira aand I'm impressed by it that much more.

So... favorites? Well, I do like me a fancy box set.

[Show spoiler]The old Ranma 1/2 VHS box sets are awesome for their size alone. BECK's box is a faux guitar amp, that's pretty dang neat. It's oddly sized and unruly, but I love the original AnimEigo Bubblegum Crisis box set. GitS: SAC's tins are pretty nice, especially 2nd Gig's individual tins that fit in box tin snugly. Not a box set (though I still want one), the Kimagure Orange Road DVD set I have is pretty special. It was my unicorn for soo long. Also, I have a copy of Gunsmith Cats DVD signed by Amanda Winn Lee, English VA for Rally. The Rurouni Kenshin boxsets are pretty cool, even if the slipcases for the discs inside them feel a bit cheap. I also love the Pioneer Tenchi Muyo! OVA complete set. The slip case, artwork, and how it folds out. The Trinty Blood box is pretty freaking sweet with how it opens like a clam shell and just feels hefty and solid overall. And that's just a few of my favorites.

Now, what about a single favorite series and best series?

Favorite: Gunsmith Cats.

[Show spoiler]Cars, guns, and girls. Kenichi Sonoda executes all three nearly perfectly for me. The manga is a must read for anyone that's a fan of the anime. So glad that man is such a pervert with a real eye for detail. The anime is far from being the best, but I feel it's pretty damn good for what it is. Easily has one of the best openings of any anime in my opinion.

Best: Cowboy Bebop.

[Show spoiler]I know, best is entirely subjective, and Bebop seems like the easy answer. Yet, I find it so easy to go back to. So easy to watch if it ever pops up on TV. Even with some story lines left open, I feel it's complete. There's no wondering how everyone's stories went or ended. And there may be some that really don't like this, but the English dub is the best version of Bebop. And that music. Yoko Kanno has said in interviews she isn't even a fan of jazz, but she writes and does it so damn well. Bebop may not have the best animation, but name a better anime soundtrack.

To this day Cowboy Bebop is the best anime I have ever watched.

Steins Gate is 2nd best.

Bonus, hardest nostalgia feels: Tenchi Muyo!

[Show spoiler]Even though it's harem, it feels so innocent. Even with Ryoko and Ayeka trying to jump Tenchi's bones at every opputunity, it all comes off as light hearted fun. The moment I hear the opening song I instantly feel transported back to the 90's when life was far simpler for me as a kid. Oh, how I miss English translated songs. I was an Ayeka man originally, over time I preferred Ryoko, but eventually, Washu became my personal choice. And still is.

[Trig]

Originally Posted by JamieH

I know, best is entirely subjective, and Bebop seems like the easy answer. Yet, I find it so easy to go back to. So easy to watch if it ever pops up on TV. Even with some story lines left open, I feel it's complete. There's no wondering how everyone's stories went or ended. And there may be some that really don't like this, but the English dub is the best version of Bebop. And that music. Yoko Kanno has said in interviews she isn't even a fan of jazz, but she writes and does it so damn well. Bebop may not have the best animation, but name a better anime soundtrack.

To this day Cowboy Bebop is the best anime I have ever watched.

Steins Gate is 2nd best.

I like cowboy bebop as well. Around my top 15.
Sorry, but i find Hiroyuki Sawano's (AoT and KLK) work better than cowboy bebop. Dont get me wrong, i liked the soundtrack, but only the opening and ending were sounds that can stand alone.

[JamieH]

Lets not shit the thread up with disagreements.

[Trig]

Originally Posted by JamieH

Lets not shit the thread up with disagreements.

Just throwing in my personal opinion. That's all. Anyway, i agree, lets move on.

OT: Just recently got into movie and show collecting in general so i would have to say my first are Cowboy Bebop and Steins gate and my best is KLK.