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Hey Anime Nerds, what are some dope ass anime series that are "staples" that I probably haven't seen before?
(hexbear.net)
I'm talking like, Bubblegum Crisis, an Anime that I am somehow aware of but have never watched.
I've seen bits and peaces of the stuff that was airing here in the 2000 like; Dragonball, Dragonball Z, Sailor Moon, Big O, Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, Yu Yu Hakusho, Inuyasha, Full Metal Alchemist, Ranma 1/2, Gundam Wing. I have not even begun to touch 1 Peace. Basically, if it was on Toonami, I've probably seen some of it.
I feel like there is stuff from the late 80s through the 90s that were popular through the import scenes that I probably never heard of, that everyone who is in that scene knows and loves.
The original Bubblegum Crisis OVA is definitely worth watching. If you like it, also check out the American movie Streets of Fire which was heavy inspiration for BGC's style.
On to the suggestions!
Dirty Pair - Sci-fi action comedy. The adventures of two lady space cops as they get into sometimes-very-accidentally-destructive shenanigans throughout the galaxy. It's currently being aired on the hextube on saturday nights.
Ebichu Minds The House - A cheerful sentient talking hamster with zero impulse control or verbal filter does housekeeping chores for her unmarried world-weary office-lady owner. Ebichu is voiced by none other than Kotono Mitsuishi. She got the role because while doing recording sessions as Misato in Evangelion, she would cheer up the cast and crew by performing the Ebichu manga aloud.
Monster - Real-world social-commentary drama. This is a long series at 74 episodes, but I think it's worth watching. A kind and skilled Japanese neurosurgeon is a rising star at a West German hospital in the last years before Germany's unification. The doctor saves the life of a young boy who wasn't expected to survive a gunshot to the head, and then the doctor's life starts falling apart through no fault of his own. This is one I'd go in blind for. The story touches on matters of ethics, empathy, bigotry, justice, mercy, all kinds of very human stories. The title is purely metaphorical. The only monsters are humans.
Serial Experiments Lain - Sci-fi/technological social commentary. It's hard to categorize this one, it's one of a kind. This aged like a fine wine. Go in blind and keep reminding yourself that this series was planned out thirty years ago, when the idea of everyone having 24/7 access to the internet via pocket computers was pure fantasy.
Gunbuster - High school sports drama meets Top Gun meets The Forever War. Young adults are recruited into Earth's interstellar space navy to fight against ship-sized alien monsters trying to destroy humanity. The recruits gradually lose social connections with their family and friends back on Earth as time dilation effects pile up. There's a parallel/sequel series Diebuster made later, which has a very different animation style but I think is absolutely worth watching afterwards if you like Gunbuster.
Escaflowne - Magical-technological fantasy. Technically a high-school-girl isekai, but one of the best ones. There's a movie as well but it's one of those alternate-universe-retelling kind of things.