I know we had a thread floating around for anime recommendations before, but that was underneath a topic with an unrelated title so I figured we could use a dedicated thread for this. This is where you can post about any anime show, OVA, or movie that you've watched and love! I think I'll start us off with a couple of suggestions and why don't we see if we can't get the ball rolling here
? I'm attempting to suggest anime that I haven't mentioned previously ^_-.Excel Saga: A very funny parody anime show that probably takes a crack at just about everything at some point. No genre or show is safe in Excel Saga, everything is up for some good-natured ribbing =). If you're looking for a nice lighter show, or something to make you smile, give Excel Saga a try. Just don't try to marathon this show, I made that mistake the first time I watched it. It's fantastic, but best enjoyed when watched in segments (probably five episodes at a time).
Karas: This is a phenomenal anime that you MUST watch if you enjoy action. I'll forewarn you that this was originally an OVA, but as it's being sold in the U.S., it was condensed into two movie parts. I found this out the hard way, when the first movie stopped directly in the middle of the action, so definitely keep that in mind and I'd suggest watching it all at once (Each movie is about an hour and thirty minutes). Now, Karas is about an overlapping dimension of demons that is slowly blurring the line between the realm of humans and demons. The crow guardian, Karas, is the one person that can keep the balance between the two worlds and it is his job to defeat lord Eko, who is trying to convert the world into his own kingdom. The story of Karas is quite fun, but what is even better is the animaton. No expense was spared, even the 3D animation looks stellar, and the opening sequence made my jaw drop, watching this on my Netflix DVR, is exactly what brought me back into anime and made me want to go relive all of my old favorite shows and find new shows. Give Karas some of your time and it will keep you entertained for an evening. This is also a good "gateway" anime, as people unfamiliar with anime can watch this and enjoy it as well ^_^.
Wolf's Rain: Okay, I'm going to warn you, this is an extremely SAD anime. I mean the ending made me cry and I don't cry watching shows all that often O_o. The show is about a struggle between wolves, who have learned to shift the fashion in which humans perceive them, and the humans that want to eradicate them. The wolves, are looking for "Paradise", which is essentially wolf heaven, so that they can be free and escape from the brutal reality of their post-apocalyptic world. Aside from having good animation and an excellent plot, this Wolf's Rain has a voice cast that is absolutely star-studded. Nearly every major character is voiced by an actor that has been around in many shows or is extremely recognizable. I'll list a few just for the heck of it.
Crispin Freeman as Tsume (Alucard in Hellsing)
Johnny Yong Bosch as Kiba (also Rossiu in Gurren Lagann)
Joshua Seth as Hige (Kazuki Yostuga in Duall Parallel Trouble Adventures)
Kari Wahlgren as Cher Degre (She played Noike in OVA3 xD)
Mona Marshall as Toboe (Ryoko in OVA3)
Robert Buchholz as Hubb Lebowski (Gene Starwind anyone?)
Sherry Lynn as Cheza (Sasami and Kiyone)
Steven Blum as Darcia (Spike in Cowboy Bebop)
Note that there is some animal violence in here (mainly wolves fighting one another) and the story is extremely depressing, but it's meant to get your mind thinking and for you to enjoy. I'll mention it again, if you're feeling down, pass on this for now and come back to it when you're happy again ^_^.
Oh!/Ah! My Goddess: This series is absolutely fantastic! It falls somewhere in my top 5, which tends to fluctuate a little bit but it's generally pegged at number 4. I don't know that I can say enough about the series in a little blurb but I'll try
. It follows the life of Keiichi Morisato, who accidentally dials the Goddess Help Line while ordering pizza. He meets a goddess named Belldandy, thinking the whole thing is a prank, he jokingly wishes that she would be with him forever. Belldandy grants his wish and this is where the adventure starts! Keiichi is your typical "average" college guy, but after meeting Belldandy, he begins to fall in love with her. Depending on if you're watching the television series, or the original OVA, the time it takes for their love to blossom varies. I love this series, because it's good, clean fun. There are some action spell fights, but never any violence, excessive profanities, or explicit sexual overtones. No panty shots or blood fountains here, and I love it! It focuses on the more innocent experiences of younger couples as they fall in love. I recommend watching the entire series (including the movie). I watched the OVA first, which was phenomenal, then viewed the movie and capped it all off with the two television series seasons. There could potentially be a third season, however, nothing has been announced yet. Give this gem a shot, it will appeal to the good boy or girl in you and likely make you feel warm and fuzzy n_n. 
