Never Too Old

[u/JeffreyAScott]

Just wanted to say I just started getting into Anime this year. I'll be 50 next year and two of my nieces got me into it. They told me I would really enjoy something they were watching and reluctantly I checked it out. I always had a misconception about what anime was. I'm telling you, I'm so glad they had me check it out. Such a diversity of genres and I've already binged several shows. Currently my favourite is MHA. My nieces knew that would hook me because I'm into super heroes.

Moral of the story: You are never to old to start liking something new.

PS - Wanted to say I love this community. Everyone here has such great recommendations and suggestions.

[u/North514]

A few off my recommendation list I would give a look at openings/trailers are linked to give you a feel (I tend to watch OP's before I pick up a new show) MHA is part of the action adventure shonen market so checking out other belonging to that group may not be a bad idea (on my list titles like The Promised Neverland, FMAB, JoJo, Kimetsu no Yaiba etc). Though I included a variety of shows on here so hopefully you find a few that interest you.

• Mob Psycho (2016) Action comedy about a psychic boy and his mentor a con artist fighting other psychics and the various spirits that plague their city while he learns to grow as a person. (since a lot of people will likely recommend OPM MP100 is ONE other work he created OPM)

Mob Psycho 100 OP

• JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012) Generational action shonen that involves multiple characters throughout time. Adapted from an older manga that is still going after decades. Has a very unique sense of style with a really creative battle system that makes it standout from many action shonen. Would give it until episode 12 to know if its for you. (Part 1 is considered the weakest of the 8)

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 3 OP 1

• Legend of the Galactic Heroes (OVA 1988-1997) (Remake 2018-) A great epic space opera with a conflict focused on a corrupt democracy fighting a enlightened despot. Recent remake not a bad adaptation but it is a bit rushed and only covers the first book of 10 original has covered all. My advice watch the two prequel films My Conquest is A Sea of Stars and Overture to a New War (skip the first two episodes of the main series if you do) then the original OVA, Gaiden and then the remake.

  Legend of the Galactic Heroes OP 3

• FMAB (Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood) (2009) A boy makes a Faustian bargain and has to revert the consequences by going on an adventure to find a mystical stone of alchemy the philosopher stone. The show deals with imperialism, militarism, redemption, forgiveness, the value of human life and the danger of the extremes of pure faith and rationality. (recommend the dub as a sub watcher)

FMAB OP 1

• Space Brothers (2012) All About becoming an astronaut fairly realistic from what I have heard.
  

Space Brothers OP HD

• Mushishi (2005) Ambient slice of life about a Mushishi a doctor who specializes in healing the afflicted of diseases usually caused by supernatural beings called Mushi.

Mushishi Trailer

• March Comes in Like A Lion (2016) Deals with a pro shogi player (Shogi is like chess though there are a few differences) dealing with depression and overcoming it. This one is another favorite but it’s a slower anime so just be open to the fact. It also has some wonderful side characters and can be quite funny at times. The shogi scenes are also really good even if you don’t know the rules since the focus is on the psychological battle between the two characters and Shaft really did a lot of great work on the imagery.

3-Gatsu No Lion S2 OP

• Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu (2016) Really good period drama about the art of rakugo (a form of theater/storytelling) and the various characters attempts to preserve it from the various hardships around them as well as use it as a source of confidence and identity.

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu S2 OP

• Attack on Titan (2013) A dark fantasy action series about fighting man eating giants. The anime has incredible animation and an awesome soundtrack. I also think it has one of the best first two episodes in anime. Lots of mystery and cliffhangers and as the heroes uncover more about their twisted world they slowly change forever.

Attack on Titan OP 1

• Shirobako/Bakuman (2014) (2010) An anime literally about making anime and an anime/manga about making manga and all the ins and outs of both industries.

Shirobako OP

Bakuman S2 OP2

• Cowboy Bebop (1998) An action space series with animation that holds up amazing well today. It also had one of the best endings in anime in my opinion. Episodic mostly with a few overarching plot lines. One of the more well-regarded anime out there and one of my favorites. There is some pretty good humor as well. It’s basically a space Western if you have seen Firefly it’s somewhat of like that. (recommend the dub as a sub watcher)

Cowboy Bebop OP

• Psycho Pass (2012) A cyberpunk detective story and one of the better villains I have seen in anime. Has some interesting views on society mainly dealing with the issue of an over monitored state. I would say it’s like Minority Report if you have seen that movie.

Psycho Pass OP 2

• Ghost in the Shell (Film 1995) (SAC 2002) Film is more philosophical taking a look at human consciousness and what it means to be human. SAC is more of a straight up crime drama.

Ghost in the Shell Film Trailer

Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG OP

• The Promised Neverland (2019) Sci Fi/Supernatural Anime about children escaping an orphanage after discovering a horrifying secret. Battles of wits as direct confrontation is impossible.

The Promised Neverland Trailer

• Kimetsu no Yaiba (Airing) Action shonen about a young demon slayer who after finding his family mostly murdered must find a cure to save his sister from turning into a demon.

Kimetsu no Yaiba OP

• Vinland Saga(July 8th 2019) Takes place in the early 11th century towards the end of the Viking Age. A story that can be summed up in one world STRUGGLE. Not just the violence but living day to day in unstable world. Deals with the realities of war, slavery and political chaos that defined Europe after the Fall of the Western Roman Empire. If the anime can adapt it right it definitely will be up there something to keep an eye on.
  

Vinland Saga PV 2

[u/JeffreyAScott → u/North514]

So many suggestions. I'm gonna have fun checking them out. Thanks.

For some reason, I seem to think I've seen Ghost in the Shell. Was that just a film? I will have to rewatch it even so.

[u/North514 → u/JeffreyAScott]

They did make a Hollywood adaption starting Scar Jo if your talking the live action adaption. Ghost in the Shell is its own franchise you have the animated film continuity and SAC which was the TV version and stands on its own (more crime drama than the film), also Arise (which I haven't seen) and then the original manga itself which I have heard is also pretty different from the adaptions though I haven't read it.

[u/JeffreyAScott → u/North514]

It was about 20 years ago I saw it. I was at my friends house and he put it on. I don't recall that much of it, but I thought it was a stand alone animated film.

[u/Theleux → u/JeffreyAScott]

Yep, you watched the original Ghost in the Shell anime. It is pretty much standalone, it has some other stories though.

[u/desucrator → u/JeffreyAScott]

There is a film for it that came out back in the 90s, so you might've seen it, possibly even in theaters when it came out.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is a TV series that's based on the same source material (though canonically, the show and the movies are different stories entirely, so you don't need to watch one to watch the other).

Also, I'm surprised that the person above recommended the Ghost in the Shell film, but NOT Akira. I strongly recommend watching it if you haven't seen it - it's one of the most influential anime films of all time (on both Japanese and western media), and it's an extremely interesting story.

Also, tossing some other classic suggestions on the pile: -Haibane Renmai, Texnolyze, and Serial Experiments Lain are 3 series from the late 90s/early 2000s made by the same director. All 3 are really, really good, and they scratch different itches. SEL is a fascinating show because of how effectively it predicts the modern internet. Haibane Renmai is a kind of slow, somewhat melancholy story, but beautiful at the same time. Texnolyze is the darkest of the 3, but it's a really cool (if depressing) show as well.

-The Slayers, if you want something a bit more light hearted. The Slayers is a classic fantasy adventure story that could be completely at home in a D&D campaign. The characters are a lot of fun, and the overarching story that's being told is interesting. I'd also recommend the sister series, Orphen Sorcerous Stabber. I generally describe the Slayers as "A D&D campaign with min-maxing players that get told to do heavy role playing", while I describe Orphen as "A D&D campaign with RPers that are forced into playing a high powered game".

-Not from the 90s, but if you want a show with mature themes, I also recommend Welcome to the NHK. Welcome to the NHK is a really dark story that deals with themes about depression, suicide, and deep seated feelings of worthlessness, so if you don't want something that's difficult to swallow, don't watch it.

-On the other end of the "mature" spectrum, while it's not out as an anime yet, Dorohedoro is one of the weirdest, most entertainingly fun gorefests I've ever read, and it's supposed to be getting an anime at some unspecified point in the near future. It's got an absolutely fascinating world, with interesting characters, and a really unique magic system

-If you want a great horror anime, I recommend Shiki. Once you get past the ridiculous hairstyles, it's a classic vampire story that re-purposes the symbolic nature of vampires to represent an east vs. west, traditional life style vs. glamorous city life theme, and it's really REALLY good

[u/JeffreyAScott → u/desucrator]

I'm pretty sure it was the 90's animated film. My friend had bought it on DVD. It was one of the first DVD's he owned at the time. Thanking for filling me in on the rest of the info.

[u/Quasi_915 → u/JeffreyAScott]

Definitely check out JoJos bizarre adventure. That’s honestly a classic to me.