Fantastical fantasy anime, anyone?
I dunno if this is the case with everyone, but for me RPGs and fantasy-adventure anime kinda go hand-in-hand, and always will. But not just any fantasy/adventure. I can only really -feel- sword & sorcery stories that are drawn and performed in a certain style.
It's just a pity that there never seems to be anything to match my preference these days.
I feel like I'm starting to run out of material because of this. I've watched so much old 90's-80's fantasy anime now that I'm starting to scrape the bottom of the pan. The only recent anime I've been keeping track with is Magi: Labyrinth of Magic, and it sure is fun and adventurous. But it still lacks that -style- I need.
I don't know how to express this 'style' in words...
Regardless, I wanna share what I've seen and enjoyed (or not) for anyone who's into this kind of stuff.
> SO I've watched Slayers. All of it. Slayers TV, Slayers Next, Slayers Try, the two OVAs Slayers Special and Book of Spells, and all the OVA movies (Gorgeous, Premium, Return, Perfect, Great)... You're looking at a REAL Slayers nut here. This is the style I REALLY like the most.
> Record of Lodoss War. Both the OVA and the TV series
> Legend of Crystania movie and OVA
> Louie the Rune Soldier, set in the same universe as RoLW and LoC, and probably the VERY LAST of its kind. ...Though it's not as much adventure as it could have been.
> Sorcerous Stabber Orphen and SSO: Revenge
> Bakuretsu Hunters, TV and OVA
> Ruin Explorers; it's very feel-good and makes me happy. Very close to Slayers-style.
> Gokudo-Kun Manyuuki, also very much like Slayers in mood and delivery.
> Popolocrois... This is a little different.
> Final Fantasy Legend of the Crystals (oh who here hasn't seen THAT)
> Amon Saga (because Amano)
> Dragon Ball (I've only ever enjoyed the first series. Z and GT are kinda bleh for me.)
> Fortune Quest (very cute).
> Magic Knight Rayearth... yeah it's actually a magical girl anime with modern-day protagonists but it's so well done I put it in the same category as Sword&Sorcery.
> Fushigi Yuugi. It's a little like uhhh... a gender-bent harem anime?
> Escaflowne. This is one that I... disliked. Probably because the protagonists were so unpleasant.
> Eden's Bowy was really neat!
> Legend of Lemnear... that one's oooold
> Those who Hunt Elves, another thing with modern Earth protagonists, but too hilarious to pass up
> Berserk: Dark. A little TOO dark for me... and not as much magic as I want.
> Bastard!! It's seriously too bad this didn't keep going.
> Violinist of Hameln OVA... The OVA is really funny and captures the mood of its manga, but... don't watch the TV series. Don't EVER watch the tv series. It's complete, angsty, low-budget dross and it derails from the manga to a bad extent.
> Sorcerer on the Rocks, has a similar mood and protagonist to Bastard, set in the same universe as Bakuretsu Hunters
> Dragon Half. Great manga, adorable OVA, I really wish it had gone on for longer. If you don't like chibis, don't watch this
> Tales of Eternia... Um, I would have liked it more if the character designs weren't so nerve-wracking.
> Kouryuu Densetsu Villgust OVA. Really cute, if you're ok with chibified characters.
> Arc the Lad! This one's really atmospheric.
> Wild Arms isn't quite sword & sorcery... it's more guns & sorcery. And in a Wild Wild West kind of style. Fancy that.
> Shadow Skill, too, isn't quite swords & sorcery... but FISTS & Sorcery. The action is amazing!
> Weathering Continent is kind of hard to find, but it's really beautiful and atmospheric. Vague, though. Watch it for the pretties, not the stories.
> Claymore was a little... too dreary for my tastes
> Guinn Saga, also very dreary... I couldn't finish it.
> Oh.. before I forget, Slayers had a sequel in like 2k6 or something, Revolution and Evolution-R. I didn't really like it that much... it was a little disappointing.
> Magi: Labyrinth of Magic. It's recent, and ongoing! I'm working on the current season
> Legend of Legendary Heroes isn't exactly what I call legendary. I should've passed it up.
> Zero no Tsukaima, I don't get. ...Really, it doesn't interest me in the slightest. :/ I tried, ok?
> Majuu Senshi Luna Varga; Old, and... a little weird. Summary: This girl has Godzilla attached to her butt or something.
