Yamamaya's Measure of a Truly Great and Accessible Anime

[Yamamaya]

So I was thinking today about certain anime series that really stood out in my mind as being fantastic and accessible to non anime viewers. There was one rather vague subjective trait that I thought of. It's more of an experience than anything else. It is the experience of forgetting that you are watching an anime series, while you are watching an anime series. You become so engrossed in the plot, characters, and setting that you begin to forget that you are watching an anime series. One of my friends used the example of the video game Uncharted 2 to describe this phenomenon. The game, in his opinion, was so cinematic that he forgot he was playing a game. It felt more like a movie.

One anime series that created this feeling for me as Spice and Wolf. In between all the economics, drama, and intriguing relationships I forgot I was watching an anime.

This brings me around to the point of accessibility. We had a thread a while back about good gateway anime series. Part of what makes a good gateway anime series is not relying on or using too many anime related tropes. There are nothing wrong with these tropes persay, but they can make an anime somewhat inaccessible to someone who either does not watch much anime or doesn't watch it at all. This is one of the reasons why Death Note was the gateway series that drew me into anime. Yes it had some anime tropes in it, but it was simply a psychological thriller in anime form. This can create a feeling that you are not watching an anime, but rather just a really good story.

Just to add a few qualifiers to this thread, I'm not saying that anime series that require some familiarity with the medium in general to enjoy are of lesser quality than series that don't. In fact, Durarara made me forgot that I was watching an anime series, and there were plenty of references and elements in it that someone not familiar with anime wouldn't pick up on. In addition, I recognize that this feeling is subjective and everyone's experience with a series is different.

[TWWK]

Well, Cowboy Bebop is frequently mentioned as a prime gateway anime; it also encompasses your qualifiers. It has a TON more references to western works than it has anime-related tropes. What better anime series for a pop-obsessed culture? And of course, good story + good action + cool style + great music + on and on an on = wonderful work regardless of genre and type.

[TheSubtleDoctor]

So, I've had that experience with a couple of TV series that, weirdly enough, aren't my favorites. Berserk and the first 20 or 21 episodes of Eva. Just got caught up in everything with both of those. Too bad the endings brought me back down to earth.

[Maledicte]

I feel this way about Gankutsuou. Maybe it's because it was based on a Western work (also helps that I love the original novel), but the attention given to the artwork and interweaving plots makes it feel like an epic miniseries or movie to me. Not to mention, my non-anime-watching friends would fall asleep during shonen shows but would pay rapt attention to this one.

[Wallachia]

I think Baccano!, The Big O, Cowboy Bebop, Cromartie High school, Darker than Black, Death Note, Ghost in the Shell, Golden Boy, Jin Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars (I haven't watched the main series yet), Mushishi, Planetes, Spice and Wolf, Sword of the Stranger, and Tentai Senshi Sunred all made me forget I was watching an anime.

Some of those shows simply held a very different feel to them whether I liked them or not—especially over time—that set them apart from what I've come to expect of the average anime series.

I'm sure there are people who felt like this for <generic harem anime with a tsundere,> or <dark and pretentious gorefest>, but it's due to their personal enjoyment and (possible) lack of exposure to the cliches and tropes from other series that made the show in question feel fresh and original.

[Maledicte]

I'd also mention Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (even though that is in fact a movie). It just felt like everything I'd ever wanted from a vampire movie, that just happened to be animated.

And Princess Tutu. It's like if Disney movie got stretched out and got darker the longer it went but still maintained the happy ending.

[Sapphire225]

I think Baccano!, The Big O, Cowboy Bebop, Cromartie High school, Darker than Black, Death Note, Ghost in the Shell, Golden Boy, Jin Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars (I haven't watched the main series yet), Mushishi, Planetes, Spice and Wolf, Sword of the Stranger, and Tentai Senshi Sunred all made me forget I was watching an anime.

Some of those shows simply held a very different feel to them whether I liked them or not—especially over time—that set them apart from what I've come to expect of the average anime series.

I'm sure there are people who felt like this for <generic harem anime with a tsundere,> or <dark and pretentious gorefest>, but it's due to their personal enjoyment and (possible) lack of exposure to the cliches and tropes from other series that made the show in question feel fresh and original.

I agree with Walla. You've already seen Madoka Magica and I'm guessing Umineko no naku koro ni, judging from the Madoka thread and one of your former avatars so I'm not going to list those. In any case, Clannad (despite being very moe) is a good anime you can easily get engrossed to, as well as anything by Key. Depending if you can take violence, Elfen Lied is a good one as well, with psychological themes. Madlax, although kinda yuri, is also a very good anime that needs more attention with very psychological themes. Speed Grapher is another great anime I watched a couple of years ago and made me forget it was an anime, given the premise and the events that followed.

I also agree with most of Walla's choices (except Cromartie which has a realistic style but is pure comedy)