Best unlicensed anime series of the last few years?

[Tek7]

I'm looking for the best unlicensed anime of the least year or so to recommend to friends.

You can find a list of licensed anime here.

I'll start the list with some series I thought of:

1. Dennou Coil
2. Nodame Cantible
3. Basquash

 

[Tek7]

Here are a few more series still unlicensed in the US:

• Kurenai
• Kyouran Kazoku Nikki
• Michiko to Hatchin
• Toradora
• Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
• Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger
• Bakemonogatari
• Kaiba
• Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai
• Astro Fighter Sunred
• Minami-ke

I haven't watched all of these series; I'm just putting names of series up as I find them.

 

[Kidan]

Kurenai -- I could not get into that series. I found the first few episodes somewhat boring.
Kyouran Kazoku Nikki-- this was an odd beast, with a number or funny bits
Michiko to Hatchin -- only watched the first episode, and let it fall to the wayside. Can't remember why now
Toradora -- not the best romantic-comedy anime out there. you'd be better served spending the money and getting True Tears even though it's licensed
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei--this I liked (especially the first season)
Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger--i don't watch sport themed anime
Bakemonogatari - i meant to watch this one... but it must've slipped through the racks...
Kaiba--interesting premise, but I couldn't get intereseted
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai - did not watch
Astro Fighter Sunred--*looks at wikipedia* this was from this past winter season?!?
Minami-ke--i was bored.

 

[vibrokatana]

Minami-ke--i was bored.

Bah, that series is a pure comedy gold mine. Unfortunately they sorta run out of material, combined with loosely coupled story. Which doesn't bode well for something with 3 seasons of episodes.

 

[Tek7]

Kurenai -- I could not get into that series. I found the first few episodes somewhat boring.

Kurenai has a slower pace than most series, but it's one of my favorites in recent years because of the character relationships.

Kyouran Kazoku Nikki-- this was an odd beast, with a number or funny bits

It is a very odd beast, which is probably why I loved it while my wife couldn't bring herself to watch past the first episode. It is manic comedy anime at its finest.

Michiko to Hatchin -- only watched the first episode, and let it fall to the wayside. Can't remember why now

I'm surprised you didn't watch the second episode; I thought the first episode was a strong opening.

Unfortunately, I watched the full series and can you didn't miss much. After Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, I expected so much more from Shinichiro Watanabe. The art is excellent, the characters are strong, and the potential is far greater than what the series delivers.

Skip this one and re-watch Samurai Champloo instead.

Toradora -- not the best romantic-comedy anime out there. you'd be better served spending the money and getting True Tears even though it's licensed

I'll check out True Tears, but my wife and I really enjoyed Toradora. In fact, it's one of our favorites in recent years.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei--this I liked (especially the first season)

I didn't finish the first series while it was airing, but I plan on going back and catching up.

Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger--i don't watch sport themed anime

Usually, I wouldn't, either, but the series has a 9.0+ score on anidb.net.

Bakemonogatari - i meant to watch this one... but it must've slipped through the racks...

It's still airing. I think it's up to episode 10 or 11 now.

Kaiba--interesting premise, but I couldn't get intereseted

I didn't finish watching the series yet, but I have it burned to DVD. I plan to go back and watch it when I catch up on current series.

What I loved about Kaiba was the trippy dystopian setting and older style animation.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai - did not watch

Me neither. But it was highly rated by fans and I figured I should at least watch the first episode.

Astro Fighter Sunred--*looks at wikipedia* this was from this past winter season?!?

Yeh, I don't know how I missed that one the first time around, either.

Minami-ke--i was bored.

Heh. Minami-ke struck me as a fun series to watch when you're caught up on everything else, but it didn't draw me in, either.

 

[Whon]

I know I'm raising an old post, but I just finished up watching all 50 episodes of Eureka Seven and I really loved this series. Was surprised that no one has posted about it since 2005, even though it got like 3 awards at the 2006 Tokyo International Anime Fair. Now, I just am hoping that the next series I start doesn't let me down...

 

[Tek7]

I know I'm raising an old post, but I just finished up watching all 50 episodes of Eureka Seven and I really loved this series.

Ember and I watched the first 4 or 5 episodes and weren't all that thrilled with it.

Then we discovered Spice and Wolf and loved it.

So our tastes are not exactly in line with most anime fans.

EDIT: If there is such a thing as "in line with most anime fans." Tastes seem to vary so widely that it's hard to pin down what one could call "average."

 

[Whon]

yeah, you really have to get past the first episodes, it wasn't until around half way thru that I really had to force myself to stop watching. I thought the plot really got fun around 10-15, after that I think I watched the last 15-20 episodes in one sitting. I just had to see what happened next.

 

[vibrokatana]

yeah, you really have to get past the first episodes, it wasn't until around half way thru that I really had to force myself to stop watching. I thought the plot really got fun around 10-15, after that I think I watched the last 15-20 episodes in one sitting. I just had to see what happened next.

The movie was really good. The episodes were just way to slow for me

 

[Elader Arkon]

Baccano! Is my favorite anime I've seen recently. It is still available on hulu here.