OK, this is a spinoff of the "good" movies thread.
Zip has a fairly extensive selection of Anime, and I'd like to take advantage of it. That means making sure that my wife will not automatically groan every time an anime title shows up because it's more giant robots. She likes animated features well enough, and hasn't minded what little Anime I've shown her. Of course, most of what I enjoy involves big robots, big spaceships, big cities, big explosions, and so on. I want some titles we can enjoy together.
Already have a pretty good list started, but my Anime knowledge only goes so far. I know there are bigger fans on here, who will think of things I haven't. One condition, however. They must be feature length. The difficult thing about renting Anime is that so much of it consists of series. That's fine if you want to commit to watching a series, rather than a movie. It can be based on a series, as long as you don't need to see the series to understand it.
Andy,
Take my advice man, rent Chobits. Your wife will absolutely love it, and I'm sure you'll find it to be quite entertaining as well. It's by far my favorite anime series of all time. Heartfelt, and hilarious.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0326672/
Wow, limiting the choices with no giant robots in anime?? That's going to make things more difficult [come on, that means no Transformers movie?!? Boy is that harsh!] And you're right, there's alot of anime out there just in series form, or spin-off/adaptation form which you really need to be a fan in order to understand what the hell is going on. I've certainly seen my fair share of those, and it gets kinda annoying.
Anywho... I love my anime, but I'm probably already suggesting what I guess you could call 'the usual contenders' in the kickass [but not giant robot or tentacle porn kickass] Anime flicks.
Anything by Hayao Miyazaki
(http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0594503/) [Spirited Away, Nausicca Valley of the Wind, Princess Mononoke and such] are excellent suggestions. No question about it, the guy is fantastic, and the films are good viewing for anyone [I'd hope at least]. I cannot recommend his films enough, with the three I mentioned above particularly good.
He also did another favourite of mine, The Castle Of Cagliostro (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079833/) which I have found has two different English dub versions, though I don't like the DVD dub more than the other one I've seen.
As for other anime movies, it's a little more tricky, since I also really like the big robots and such, and the others are really odd [or good] anime series, but another excellent anime film is Perfect Blue (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156887/), which is a very very good 'psychological thriller' if you're into that sort of thing.
I'm also a big fan of Ghost in the Shell and the Stand Alone Complex series, though I haven't seen Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence the film, since it hasn't been released here yet, which makes me very sad. Fun fact, 'Innocence' was the first anime film to be screened in competition at Cannes and Castle of Cagliostro was the first anime screened at Cannes [but out of competition]
But I'm probably a bit biased in suggesting Ghost in the Shell, because of how much I like it, and I'm not sure how good it will be for the missus to watch as well.
Cowboy Bebop the movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275277/) is a bit of fun, and you don't really need to know the series to enjoy the movie's style, though I still think the series is better than the movie itself.
Metropolis (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293416/) is also an interesting flick.
Well I hope I helped! I suggest you look them up a bit more to see if they fit in with your tastes, but most of them are very top shelf anime.
PATLABOR.
Big robots, and character stuff. Just hope she don't start calling you "Ota!"
My girlfriend says "Anime is tupid. It's completely unuderstandable, and it just feature robots and aliens and s**t blowing up each other."
She DID like "Howl's Moving Castle". She said: It's a movie full of metaphors, moral values and hidden messages. Why can't all anime be like that?".
Personally,I couldn't give you a Plugged Nickel for Anime.Granted,some of it is good,but for the most part it's all the same.Basically,they all feature the same old Wide Eyed "Pretty Cauciasian Children With Problems"lookalikes.YAWN!!I'm gonna go watch "Ren&Stimpy"!!"Come Fry With Me.Let's Fry An egg Tonight."-Snotra:"Come Fry With Me".
Personally,I couldn't give you a Plugged Nickel for Anime.Granted,some of it is good,but for the most part it's all the same.Basically,they all feature the same old Wide Eyed "Pretty Cauciasian Children With Problems"lookalikes.YAWN!!I'm gonna go watch "Ren&Stimpy"!!"Come Fry With Me.Let's Fry An egg Tonight."-Snotra:"Come Fry With Me".
Personally,I couldn't give you a Plugged Nickel for Anime.Granted,some of it is good,but for the most part it's all the same.Basically,they all feature the same old Wide Eyed "Pretty Cauciasian Children With Problems"lookalikes.YAWN!!I'm gonna go watch "Ren&Stimpy"!!"Come Fry With Me.Let's Fry An egg Tonight."-Snotra:"Come Fry With Me".
My wife and I both like "Ranma 1/2" and "Perfect Blue"
For sure Ranma 1/2
Dragon Half is really cute and funny. Damn Roshi.
I actually really like anime, My husband has a lot of old stuff, and I like horror, so there's probably not a lot most girls would like. (in our collection) We're in the middle of moving, so when we're done, I will let you know of more.
Try Tokyo Godfathers, by Satoshi Kon of Perfect Blue fame. It is a Christmas fairytale in purest Frank Capra style about three homeless people who find a baby.
If you feel up to it, try The Tomb of the Firelies by Takahata. That is actually the saddest movie I have seen in my life. If you can watch this dry-eyed, you're a very hard person.
Most of my female friends just can't get enough yaoi (gay male themed) anime.
Really. They go nuts over it.
Andy,
AlexB did mention one that is one of the most emotional pieces of cinema that you will ever see. Take the man's advice and rent Grave Of The Fireflies. It is set in WWII and is about a young boy and his sister after their mother is killed in an air raid. Be prepared to keep a full box of tissues nearby for yourself and your wife. I can hardly even write about it without my eyes tearing up a bit. Put this one at the top of your list.
"Tokyo Godfathers"is basically a Rip Off of the Classic John Ford Western "Three Godfathers".
Skaboi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Andy,
>
> AlexB did mention one that is one of the most
> emotional pieces of cinema that you will ever see.
> Take the man's advice and rent Grave Of The
> Fireflies. It is set in WWII and is about a young
> boy and his sister after their mother is killed in
> an air raid. Be prepared to keep a full box of
> tissues nearby for yourself and your wife. I can
> hardly even write about it without my eyes tearing
> up a bit. Put this one at the top of your list.
>
> __________________________________________________
> ________
> "My name on the ballot was: 'Acting Sensation -
> 'Mayor' Ted Levine!" I ended up losing the
> election to a vending machine" - CHUD Podcast
Damn, I just rented this movie, and haven't watched it yet. I heard it was good, but I really am not in the mood at all to be sad at the moment, so I think I'll wait a bit before I watch it.
Definitely some goo titles. Surprisingly, many of these suggestions are already on the list.
One thing to clarify -- giant robots blowing each other up are permitted. That was just an example of how my wife might generalize the genre. If there is some good anime sci-fi she'd like, so much the better.
But series are definitely out. As enjoyable as Ranma 1/2 is, and as much as I think my wife would be interested by the religious themes of Evangelion, we simply don't have the time to get invested in a series. But it's so hard to find a wide selection of anime features.
Sounds Like She'd Love "Brokeback Mountain".The First Big Budget Movie About Two Gay Cowboys Eating Pudding.
My girlfriend thinks anime with giant laserr robots are stupid and undertandable.
She really liked "Spirited Away".
My girlfriend doesn't watch a lot of TV (and when she does, she never watches cartoons), so I doubt she will watch either "Ranma 1/2" or "Evangelion".