Recommendations

[Brian]

Actually.  After re-reading this thread, it looks like Hal is asking for what's availible now that he should get.  I therefore suggest:

Tsukuhime.  As reviewed by our fearless leader, and at 12 eps, not a huge investment of time.

[Bean Bandit]

Hmm...I'll suggest two, if we're going for Commercially Available.

Gunparade March weighs in at 12 eps, and while the story is somewhat inconsistent with switches from romantic comedy to drama, Almost all the characters are likable and amusing.

And 'Gunsmith Cats'. 3 OVA episodes. Not nearly as good as the manga, but still, not at all bad.

[Ginnezumusha]

Well, there's always that "latest anime series" board that Shuten updates.  A fair number of those series are good.  I'd recommend School Rumble because of it's comedy (some people call it 'Azudai 2', but I would not), Bleach, for action, and Genshiken, for sheer weirdness (an anime about an anime club.  yes.).

For classics, Record of Lodoss War.  It's like watching an RPG.

Speaking of watching an RPG, you could check out Star Ocean EX, if you want.

[Shuten]

Actually I would recommend against Star Ocean EX. It's one of the worst conversions from game to anime I've ever seen. It's a ridiculous farce at best and an insult to the viewer at the very worst.

The characters are royally butchered. Hell I think the only character, from what I remember, who actually manages to come out better than her game counterpart isn't even a playable character in the game.

A very important plot point was omitted from the anime so they could show a ghost ship story arc WHICH ADDED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO THE STORY! >_<

Finally the anime ends on a cliffhanger. This is probably the worst problem with the whole damned series. The only series I've seen that manages to screw the viewer over even worse is Rave which has a final episode that plays like a recap episode, except it shows you things that are coming up instead of what's already occured, and leaves the viewer thinking there's more to come when they're never will be. >_<

Ultimately I have to highly recommend against this series. There is almost nothing redeeming about it and there are so many other series which are vastly more deserving of attention than the absolute waste of time that Star Ocean EX is.


Sincerely,
Shuten

[thepanda]

Speaking of watching an RPG, Ys comes highly recomended. You can probably pic up the collection at best buy for little more than you'd pay for a new release title. I think. >_>

Old school artwork, a story that grows more intense as it moves forward, characters you come to like, good music, nostalgic, and fight scenes that flow pretty smoothly come to gether in one of my all time favorite series. I will warn you that it stumbles a bit in the third (final) disc, but not enough to make you stop watching. Heh.