Perhaps many of you have been in this kind of situation: you want to show your friend/gf/other an anime, such that he or she will realize that anime isn't simply hentai (I think the most recent incident was a Malaysian newspaper writing that "Cartoon porn is called 'anime'"), but often serious pieces of work, just as books. Ideally, this anime should not only educate him, but also be interesting enough to get him or her hooked...

Basically, this anime should be:
- relatively short (short attention span. no one's going to watch 26 episodes)
- interesting quick (i.e. can't have an anime that only shows it's worth in the last two episodes)
- not random! (you're trying to show that anime can be serious)
- less fanservice (depends - maybe if it's a boy then that stuff will only help ^_^)

Also, probably a different anime should be used for a boy and a girl, what do you think?

Last of all, to make a point, I think the anime should have a sad ending. If it can get the audience to shed a tear, I think it will prove to them once and for all that anime is worth watching, and that it should be (sometimes) considered a serious piece of work.

Any suggestions? The nearest I could come was "Hoshi no Koe" - short, yes. But I'm not sure if a first-time watcher will manage to grasp it's full meaning, or even will he try...
"Grave of the Fireflies"? Isn't it a bit too serious? I think a lot of people cried over it...

Air & Kanon TV wins on the serious side (and some confusion factors), but it is somewhat confusing on the first time through, if you don't know what to look for.

The Sekai series (Crest/Baner of the Stars) definatly has some higher intellegence points to it, but it's scifi, and if you watch it all it comes to about 38 episodes now. Maybe just show Crest of the Stars to them (12).

You could freak them out with the tree-hugger anime Earth Maiden Arjuna, which is like an anime version of Captain Planet.

An anime that fits on this boarderline is Kimi ga Nozomu Eien, because it does have some suggestive themes (2+ scenes that would deem it as not approprate for children), but if you watch it in whole, it's a pretty good romance.

Ayashi no Ceres is another good one, nothing like a fallen angel whom robes were relocated, forcing the angel to live amoung the living for many centuries.

Someone mentioned it after I posted (Asrialys) but Chrno Crusade is a good one too.

I would not suggest showing them Green Green... As humorous as it would be to see their reations, it would only support their opinions.

LAST EXILE would be a very good winner for this situation. I don't think there was a single ecchi scene in the entire anime and the story is good. Though there are quite a few homosexual notions made with that one guild boy.

Chrono Crusade is pretty good for a starter. It's light and has a dramatic ending. Maybe Rozen Maiden (both seasons), although it can be random at times whenever it doesn't concern the story. But it is a pretty good anime. Also, the Miyazaki films are excellent anime to start with.

Heh, I know someone who started with Evangelion and Naruto. Now he's obsessed with those. He has yet to join our ranks of mass-anime watchers.

Any Ghibli film, particularly Princess Mononoke and Castle in the Sky. And Voices of a Distant Star, such a sad movie.

I think that what sets Anime apart from recent American/European cartoons is that they can have a deep story and be very serious. Look at Disneys current cartoons for god sake. Its ALL silly. Their last good cartoon with a deep story was like Lion King, which I thought was werid, seeing how its mocking Kimba.

Don't show them Totoro. They'll think anime is childish.

Lols, Totoro isnt a "mature" show anywhom. It does have a deep meaning, but it took me a bunch of watchings to find out what it is.

OH! Another good one is Victory Gundam. "Lets watch the children die..."

Lols, Totoro isnt a "mature" show anywhom. It does have a deep meaning, but it took me a bunch of watchings to find out what it is.

OH! Another good one is Victory Gundam. "Lets watch the children die..."

It was rated as a MA (17+) on network TV once over here in the states. Possibly one of the funniest blunders of Censorship.

Hmm... I'd go with Chrno Crusade as well. I would say FMA but it does take a couple of episodes to fill in the backstory. If you're wanting a first episode that hits them with action and storyline straight off I'd probably go for Bleach. Or maybe Hellsing? And NO, do NOT bork their brains with Eva at the beginning! That comes later when they're more fully indoctrinated and take it a hell of a lot less seriously ;)

It was rated as a MA (17+) on network TV once over here in the states. Possibly one of the funniest blunders of Censorship.

Totoro or Gundam? XD

I would suggest... Well, I dunno, actually. Most anime that watch have a light side to them which could be considered childish.

Totoro

And NO, do NOT bork their brains with Eva at the beginning! That comes later when they're more fully indoctrinated and take it a hell of a lot less seriously ;)

I know I know =P

Hellsing and Bleach seem like nice choices (same as Cowboy Bebop), but they're obviously a bit male oriented. I mean, I doubt if a girl is going to enjoy watching that :eyebrow:

So, um - what would you to show a girl?

btw, we're talking 17 and up (more like 20). so... Gundam? Rozen Maiden? not exactly the perfect choice here...

I know plenty of girls who enjoyed Hellsing, Bleach and Cowboy Bebop.

Evangelion, FLCL and Excel Saga are possibly the worst starters you could find. Full Metal Panic (first season) is a good starter though, same with Trigun.

Totoro? It must have been because of that one scene where the dad is taking a bath with Satsuke and Mai (which I found that people over reacted to).