Anime Underrated anime

[Dagger]

Have you ever stumbled across a relatively unknown series or OAV that turned out to be surprisingly good--perhaps good enough to be listed among the best anime you've seen to date?

The most underrated show I've seen in recent memory is Shamanic Princess, a six-part series that was released in 1997. I honestly don't understand why this title isn't wildly popular. Its animation is equal to that of any well-known anime film, which is rather astounding when you consider its age, length, and obscurity. The character designs are simply gorgeous (just look at my banner ^__^)--and small wonder, as they were created by CLAMP.

Visually, SP leaves nothing to be desired. But that's merely the least of it. The show's plot is well-paced and engaging; its script is tightly written and packed with symbolism. Its score alone was what hooked me--the lush, emotionally evocative music matches every scene perfectly.

So why isn't Shamanic Princess a cult classic, at the very least? I mean, it's incredibly cheap (six episodes on one DVD, all for the rather nice price of $18.00). The few reviews that I managed to find online gave it very high ratings. Oh, well. I can only shake my head in incredulity and hope that you guys have a few finds of your own to tell the rest of us OBers about.

~Dagger~

[Verykawaiineko]

I have heard of SP but i never got around to watch it...the most underrated anime i thought would be Generator Gawl its really good but not alot of people have heard of it...it deserves more credit that people gives it for...

[Cahoots34]

The most underrated anime I've ever come across would definately be Tokyo Babylon, another CLAMP creation. Most of my friends had never even heard of the series, and for those who had, it was simply 'that X side-story thing'. After having watched it (even with what I am sure is the very worst subtitling possible), I can very impassionedly say that, while I was slightly lost in the complexities of the storyline (due mainly to the subtitling issues), the Tokyo Babylon OAVs have animation beautiful enough (in an intriguing, dated sort of way) to be far more appreciated than they are.

[future girl]

I own Shamanic Princess...

I think a relatively unknown anime would be Jin-Roh, just because I've never heard anyone talk about it. I found one solitary copy hidden amongst a whole mess of Nickelodeon dvds at Wal-Mart of all places. It's great, very realistic and extrememly depressing. Was made by the ppl who did Akira and Ghost in the Shell, I think. But anway, it's very good.

[Semjaza]

I can't remember... but I think Shamanic Princess is one of those anime I reviewed for theOtaku's review section when it was still up. Should return eventually.

Jin-Roh is excellent. The first half is incredibly slow and can be hard to follow... but the second half is simply amazing. Some of the stuff that happened in it was just really surprising and genuinely sad.

I always thought Roujin Z was underrated. It's from the guy responsible for Akira, and arguably a much better film. It's worth seeing if you haven't. Basically about a posessed healthcare machine.

Other than that... Hale Nochi Guu, but that's not even officially out in the US yet.

[Oukan05]

The only unknown series I watched was FLCL. Last year, me and my friends had an animation club; we always meet afterschool. One day, a boy brought in the first volume of FLCL. None of my friends have seen or heard about it, but we decided to watch it.

After that, we came outside laughing our heads off for hours. I was cracking up so hard, I couldn't breath. All my friends loved the show. Now, I own the first volume. I can't wait to get the second and third volumes.:D :laugh: :D :laugh:

[Hittokiri Zero]

Underrated series... Tekkaman Blade a old series many people have not seen and those who have may remember by it's americanized name of "Teknoman". The story was intense and gripping and chalk full of [i]the good stuff[/i] be it battles or character development it was fleshed out pretty decently although Slade to some extent at times was too much of a goody-two shoe.

[Zen]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cahoots34 [/i]
[B]The most underrated anime I've ever come across would definately be Tokyo Babylon, another CLAMP creation. Most of my friends had never even heard of the series, and for those who had, it was simply 'that X side-story thing'. After having watched it (even with what I am sure is the very worst subtitling possible), I can very impassionedly say that, while I was slightly lost in the complexities of the storyline (due mainly to the subtitling issues), the Tokyo Babylon OAVs have animation beautiful enough (in an intriguing, dated sort of way) to be far more appreciated than they are. [/B][/QUOTE]

I saw Tokyo Babylon, and yes it is underrated, for I havn't seen anyone on this board mention it. I loved the OAV. It had a real creepy undertone and a "CSI"-esque plot of the way the medium girl figured out mysteries. I enjoyed it and I think others should see it. If you get it, watch the Action Channel on cable. It replays it quite often along with Akira, Bubblegum Crisis, Blue Seed, and Hellsing.

[Kinoko Shima]

An underrated series I think needs more credit is Cyber City Oedo 808 and Grappler Baki. They're old, but good.
Cyber City's about these 3 criminals who have to serve many many life sentences, but get a chance to get out of jail if they help the cyber police. They also have these collars around their necks that explode if they do something wrong.
Grappler Baki's about a guy who's a white belt (karate) but fights like a black belt. He gets invited to fight for an underground org. and has to fight a guy who can paralyze you by ripping out your nerves. I think both shows need alot more credit. But it seems like nobody but me's seen them. (seriously...) :sweat:

[just2kawaii]

Jin-Roh is the only one I can think of...maybe Nadisco, it's kinda old but its ok, but I never hear anyone talking about it...Oh well oh another anime that I never see ppl talking about would have to be Dual. If I'm wrong let me know...(^_^)

Lataz,
Lisha

[WW2]

Hmm, underated anime, let me think.

The only one I can really think of, that I like is the old G Force show (a.k.a. Battle For the Planets).
I used to watch it all the time when it came on Cartoon Network, a long time ago.

Sure the outfits might have been a little weird lookin', but they had some cool vehicles and weapons.
Oh and Zoltar made a really good badguy.

[eleanor]

[size=1] All anime that centers around gay relationships. No, really.

Other shows that are underrated now are Dragonball Z and Yugioh. Not many people who insult them a lot have really seen the Japanese versions.[/size]

[Verykawaiineko]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by maladjusted [/i]
[B][size=1] All anime that centers around gay relationships. No, really.

Other shows that are underrated now are Dragonball Z and Yugioh. Not many people who insult them a lot have really seen the Japanese versions.[/size] [/B][/QUOTE]
actually there is quite a big craze for yaoi and shonene ai now...Gravitaion is quite a well known manga and so is YnM and both are released in the US the most Unknown series i have ever watched would be FAKE.

[ElrickOtaku]

I've found that Gasaraki is an underrated anime. This was a great, if a bit dark and dramatic series that used to be on Sci-Fi channel. A great series but so deep and dramatic that it seems like a sort of 'aquired taste' in anime.

[TeRRaFLaMe]

Yami no Matsuei by far. I'm a guy who usually doesn't like much shounen-ai stuff, but darn, this series rocks. @_@

Dunno why I like it so much, I just do. Thing is, though, whenever I ask a lot of people about it, they're just like "What's that?". Bleh, it deserves alot more praise and recognition than it seems to get. It's a good series, people! Watch it!

[Kyo no Ryu]

Rounin Warriors: I have been here for like 2 months and have YET to hear anything about it. Ive only seen like 2 episodes and its a pretty cool series. Its kinda like Saint Saiya. Pretty darn cool for somethin so old.

Also believe it or not next to no one talks about Lupin anymore.

[OtakuSennen]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Kyo no Ryu [/i]
[B]Rounin Warriors: I have been here for like 2 months and have YET to hear anything about it. Ive only seen like 2 episodes and its a pretty cool series. Its kinda like Saint Saiya. Pretty darn cool for somethin so old.

Also believe it or not next to no one talks about Lupin anymore. [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=midnightblue]I was cleaning out my closet in my room the other day and I came across a Rounin Warriors action figure I had from, what, probably five years ago. I think they've just not been showing it much in the past.. Four years. The "hype", I guess you could say, died down a while ago.
--

Well, I kind of think that .hack//SIGN is rather overrated. That's not to say it doesn't have a strong following, it's just that a lot of people think it goes way too slowly and such, so a lot of action anime addicts (No offense) don't like .hack..

I think, though, that the plot is deep with detailed animation and beautifully created music. I found my way around the slow pace, somehow. People do say I have a good level of patience, so I suppose that may contribute.

To add to Maladjusted's statement about Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dragonball Z, I have to say Shaman King unedited and in Japanese was probably one of the better ongoing series out there from Japan, from recent years. The manga is top-notch, and the anime was just as sweet.[/color]

[Eugi]

Kite. If you watch it you'd agree with me when i say that for a film that came out in 1998, it surprasses many of the 2003 anime movies and shows i watch today.
While being more in the areas of a hentai, Kite is still very solid...and ver underrated. Its an ova of 50 minutes which is all about sex and blood and gore...but hey, if we go to the animation style and character design, you'd agree with me that this has to be the best of 1998.

Just that not too many people like it.
Maybe people stayed away because it had too much porn...

[Verykawaiineko]

I ve recently watched some of a OVA called Dragon Half its along the lines of Excel Saga with the crazy humour but the jokes arent so anime specific like Excel saga and all those Nadesico jokes ..anyway its really funny and really unknown

[duorocks17]

Well...i think you would call this underrated buy i would say Pilot Canidate, otherwise known as Canidate for Goddess. I don't know why, but i really liked this show. To me, and charcters and backgrounds were nicely drawn, and the storyline was pretty good. I can vaguly remember watching it on TV once or twice, and i just thought it was great. I was really pissed when it came off the air....

[Dead Alice]

I kinda liked Android Kikaider (they showed it on CN a few months ago). Even though it was really old and only had 12 episodes, I enjoyed it. The plot was very interesting, and the ending actually made me cry. It's kinda weird tho, that it was based on a Power Rangers type of show from like the 60's... o_O Anyway, once I got past the unusual animation, it was one of my favorites for a short time. The ending song is catchy... ^^ The last episode was so surprising... I can't believe I cried!!! I've only cried twice while watching anime. The last episode of Cowboy Bebop, and the last episode of Kikaider... I'm weird...

[Shinken]

Well, as far as underrated anime, I'd have to agree with the underrating of DBZ. I know a lot of people who've never seen it, but automatically label it as a social "NO". Then again, any and all anime is socially unacceptable in my area. Which really, [i]really[/i] sucks. Oh, and, uh... well, Rurouni Kenshin is definitely underrated in my area, because it's animated. It's annoying how people can't see past the fact that it's animated... :devil:

[SasukeUchiha]

Last time I said this in a forum i was flogged for mentioning what people call an "evangelion rip-off" but Candidate For Goddess is definitly one of the most underrated anime's around. Character development is amazing, story is solid, but the cg sequences fall a little short. The only thing I would say that is bad about this anime is that they stopped making it after the first season plus the OAV. There was supposed to be more but they never made the second season. :( On the bright side the manga is being released in the U.S. in May. :)

[ElrickOtaku]

On this side of the Atlantic, Excel Saga is virtually unknown as it is on no tv channels or anything. Those who I've shown it to have a mixed responce. Varying between those who hate it and those who merely think it's too weird.

Personally, I really like it; the lunacy and strangeness of it only makes it more memorable and entertaining. Even so, having watched and read a lot of anime and manga helps...and that goes double for Martian Successor Nadesico.

[StrikeGundam]

I have two choices- Dai-Guard, and Detective Conan. I first saw Dai-Guard during Giant Robot Week on CN and I then proceeded to rent the entire series. Its got comedy, drama and action all rolled into one. Plus, it has a great theme song. I think that Detective Conan is underrated only because it isn't very available in the area.