We started talking about anime we would recommend to somebody who never watched anime before. Now let’s talk about anime you would NEVER recommend to a newbie.
I am not talking about anime which is crappy, awful, or just plain bad. I am talking about good anime. Maybe even classic anime. Maybe even one of your personal favorites. But for whatever reason, and I want you to give the reason, you would not recommend to anyone not familiar with the genre.
My choices:
Elfin Lied. This is a popular anime series. Some consider it a classic. But it contains graphic nudity, violence by and against children, and at least one scene depicting pedophilia. I’m afraid a newbie will watch this and come away thinking that all anime, and its viewers, are sick. Actually, I know quite a few people who would draw this conclusion.
FLCL. There’s no question that the two sequels, FLCL Progressive and FLCL Alternate, should not be viewed by anyone. They are that bad. But the original FLCL is one of the great series of all time. It is one of the best, if not the best, "dumb but fun" anime series ever. Why would I not recommend this series to a first time anime viewer? Because one of the things FLCL does so well is that it spoofs anime itself. I don’t believe anyone can fully appreciate FLCL unless they are already somewhat versed in anime. I would, however, highly recommend this series after our inexperienced friend has about a dozen anime series under his/her belt.
Boogiepop Phantom. This series is one of my favorites, but it may be too much for many experienced viewers, let alone a first-timer. Not only are the episodes not in chronological order, but the scenes within each episode are not in chronological order. It took me more than a half-dozen viewings, with the original dub and subtitles, and the English dub, to figure out what was going on. It was well worth my time to stick with the series, but I doubt a newbie would have that much patience.
What are your choices, and explain why. Re-read the second paragraph above before you post.
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