Shortlist of anime mentioned for all your copy pasting needs 1) Puela Magi Modoka Magica 2) Ping pong the animation 3) Baccano! 4) Punch Line 5) Akudama Drive 6) Pant & Stocking with Garterbelt 7) Golden Boy 8) Appare-Ranman! 9) Kids on the slope 10) Planet With
I think this is the best and most relevant video he's ever made. Like as someone who definitely has anime fatigue sometimes, it is great to have a binge-able weekend anime list
@@prateekkulkarni574 I think the previous commenter meant that having to list the time stamps of each recommendation shouldn't have been necessary because they should have been in the description, not that the video itself was unnecessary.
15 Shows I recommend (13 or less eps): 1) Land of the Lustrous 2) Ping Pong the Animation 3) Kino's Journey (2003) 4) Mononoke 5) The Tatami Galaxy 6) A Place Further Than the Universe 7) Odd Taxi 8) Gunbuster 9) Gundam: The Origin 10) Sonny Boy 11) Area 88 12) Heike Monogatari 13) Haibane Renmei 14) Heavenly Delusion 15) Serial Experiments Lain Bonus: Naoki Urasawa's Pluto
shout out to you for including serial experiments rain and HAIBANe RENMEI! I feel like no one has seen Haibane renmei and i was staring to think i dreamt it
Planet With is an anime that sees Gurren Lagann's 27 episode run time, takes a deep pull from a cigarette, and says "Fuck it, we'll do it in 12". If that comparison has you even remotely intrigued, do yourself a favor and check it out.
It's an absolute watch, but it's definitely not TTGL. TTGL kinda pushed the envelope when it comes to expanding the scope rapidly, and also it's pretty hard to match some of the feels from TTGL. Maybe it's due to the big brother passing the mantle dynamic, but TTGL stands alone even though it's not my #1.
Lost it with the "getting a job at a pool and learning to swim after" gag because I have seen that play out in my old lifeguarding days, not once, but twice in a single year.
I see Baccano!, I click. If anybody hasn't seen Baccano!, it's very much worth the hunt (if you can handle the gore. What was showing the video is just a taste of it).
Some recommendations: 1. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (11 episodes) 2. Hinamatsuri (12 episodes) - Story doesn't end and unfortunately never got a 2nd season, however, it is mainly comedy so worth watching even if you won't continue with the manga. 3. A Place Further Than The Universe (13 episodes) 4. Death Parade (12 episodes) 5. Land of the Lustrous (12 episodes) - Doesn't end in a very satisfying way and unfortunately never got a 2nd season. I believe it is still worth watching though.
This timing is so wild, I actually said earlier today "I feel like I'm getting burned out on anime, I'm so sad about it." Thanks for the recs as always, Geoff!
Baccano! is probably my all-time favorite anime for sheer inventivenes, charm, and humor. My friends surprised me with it one Saturday and it's stuck with me for thirteen years now. I've always had a bias toward the short form anime, where they have a crystal clear vision and deliver consistency in episode and after episode. If I were to actually name my 10 faves, I'm pretty sure 80% of the list would have episode counts under 40.
Don't forget FLCL. The original, not the awful sequels. It's 6 episodes, less than 2 hours in total, and is a lightning-in-the-bottle, once-in-a-lifetime work of sublime art. It's more fun than any show you've seen before, deeper than most on this list, has a killer soundtrack that doubles as an alt-rock album, and will leave you craving more. It is one of a kind, and served as inspiration for everything from Avatar The Last Airbender to Chainsawman. Watch it.
I think he left it off the list because it's such a classic, but yeah my boyish heart needs to see FLCL once a year, and I have the whole soundtrack by The Pillows on spotify.
@@ilay3379 spreading the joy it gives me makes me so happy, if you do check out the sequels keep in mind they're nowhere near as good......but they do have more Pillows music
Madoka felt like such an EVENT when it was broadcasting. It may just be because it was a pretty formative time for me in general so the year stands out in my mind, but I honestly can't remember any anime since completely dominating internet discourse the way Madoka did in 2011. Speaking of 2011, my top pick for anime to binge in a weekend is Anohana. Just make sure you have enough tissues on hand.
Oh God, I bawled my eyes out during the last two episodes of Anohana! I'm surprised that that one wasn't on here, since Geoff is the one who got me to watch it in the first place.
Great list! I would add Keep Your Hands off Eizoken, Hinamatsuri, Vivy Flourite Eyes, Planetarian, Death Parade, Insomniacs after School, Skip & Loafer, Gundam 0080/ The 08th MS Team/Thunderbolt, Deca-Dence, ID: Invaded, Bubblegum Crisis and Cyberpunk Edgerunners
Damn Geoff really didn't lie with that title! Baccano, Golden Boy, Punchline, Appare Ranman, Akudama Drive and Planet With are all top tier recommendations!! I've enjoyed every single one of those a lot!! 👌👌
Going to shout out Kyousougiga here. An absolutely wonderful and genuinely moving family drama disguised as a surreal science-fantasy action-comedy with some incredibly dynamic and colourful animation and excellent character writing, all helmed by the immensely talented Rie Matsumoto. It's only ten episodes long (the extras aren't necessary), so you can bang it out in an afternoon if you're sufficiently tenacious. It may seem a bit esoteric at first, but trust me, just roll with it and it will change you.
yeah Kyousougiga gotta be in a follow-up to this video, especially considering what was recommended here. Kyousougiga made me cry by the end almost as much as Violet Evergarden while being almost as crazy visually as Flip Flappers (which itself deserves a highlight, but Kyousougiga deserves it more for being substantially more obscure). also nobody ever talks about it but the OP is one of my favorites ever.
My favorite short anime I've ever watched is FLCL. Only six episodes long and an absolutely killer soundtrack. A story that moves so fast and throws so much at you that you that my first watch just made me say "I have no idea what I just saw, but I loved it." The wildest thing was, after some time and a rewatch, everything is really neatly wrapped up and makes total in-universe sense. FLCL airing on Adult Swim was the anime that got me into anime beyond Dragon Ball Z. It rules.
this is SUCH a helpful video !! my ADHD won't let me sit down and just watch a thing unless i'm *really* worn out or *really* in the mood for that specific thing, so it is ideal for me to have shows to watch quickly before i burn out on them !! my attention span has been helped by buying slime to fidget with, but i can only slime for so long at a time
Please continue this series. As a 30-ish year old man stuck in a 9 to 5 from Monday to Friday, these "weekend bingeable" animes are what I've been looking for exactly. Thanks for the list! Definitely gonna check out the ones I haven't seen yet.
Hell yeah, Akudama Drive and Appare Ranman are wayyyyy too underrated, love to see them here. As for other Short anime recs, I semi-recently watched Land of the Lustrous, and even though it's technically an unfinished adaptation, it's too beautiful not to mention. Plus, the manga is god damn soul shatteringly good, so I'll recommend that too.
Geoff, I want you to know that I spent the entire video going "wait, what about Planet With?" And then when you said Appare Ranman was the 'penultimate' one and the last one _wasn't_ Planet With I was genuinely confused. So, you know, you got me, well done.
0:08 I have like five anime queued up that I haven't gotten around to for at least a month now and I don't even have a schedule. Let alone a busy one. That's an executive dysfunction issue more than anything else though.
One thing a lot of people don't mention that I think perfectly fits into this category is the Tatami Galaxy and it's sequel Tatami Mat Time Travel Blues, the first being a fascinating exploration of what living a truly good and enjoyable life means, and the second being a strange exploration on time travel set through the lens of trying to fix a stupid air conditioner.
Geoff, I’ve been subbed to your channel for a while now and out of all the lists you’ve provided, this is DEFINITELY your best one. Every single entry is ah absolute certified fucking banger!
Fun Fact: A Victorian Gentleman Thief, Wild West Gunslinger, Samurai, and retired French Pirate (from the Golden age of piracy in the Caribbean) could have theoretically all sat in the same room together and I'm annoyed no one has done anything with that idea yet.
Baccano! is such a gem. Fantastic characters, trippy plots, great comedy relief, and one of most amazing displays of love around. I gave it a shot for the interesting setting, was drawn in by the mystery on the train, and ended up loving so many of the characters. And you sold me on Punch Line, Akudama Drive, Appare-Ranman, and Planet With. They're on my to watch list now. Golden Boy is much like Panty & Stocking in that you might have to watch a few eps and take a break to let you mind quit boggling for a bit. For other short length anime - Kino's Journey is one of the first to spring to mind as the original series is so underrated
I tried watching it recently because people always say it's great, but after 2-3 episodes I wasn't particularly engaged. Does it get better later or is it just not for me?
@@arcerey It's probably just not for you. Despite loving Monogatari and many other stories that require a bit of thinking, it didn't click with me after 5 episodes. I tried sub and dub, and I just didn't care much for any of the characters. Great sound track and aesthetic, but I had absolutely zero investment. The mystery elements didn't call to me either.
@@minorikaemon4881 thanks! Yeah... Sometimes it just happens that you don't like an otherwise popular thing. I have a few other unconventional opinions regarding acclaimed animes, makes me feel like a snob. But then I remember I like trashy isekais so it kinda balances out lol
It’s 24 episodes but I think one that doesn’t get talked about enough is The Demon Girl Next Door. At first glance it seems like a standard fantasy cute girl gag anime, but it actually has a lot going on underneath the surface. The characters are all incredibly well-realized, and unlike in most gag-type anime, get to grow and change, along with the status quo of the story. I really recommend checking it out!
Reminds me of Romantic Killer. I tried it out and wasn't so sure in the first couple of episodes but it quickly gets into some DEEP themes and isn't as basic about gender and sexuality as it first appears
Rarely do I comment on the videos I watch, but not only do I want many more iterations of weekend-binge anime for my viewing consideration, but I also want more deep-cuts like Baccano! and Golden Boy sprinkled throughout for flavor. Both aforementioned series were instrumental in my budding love of anime beginning in high school - Case Closed on Adult Swim being the lone exception when I randomly stumbled upon it in elementary school and was instantly hooked. I also have a weekly TV/movie night with my fellow weeby friends and shorter series are perfect for the 5-6 hours a sitting we typically have at our disposal. Much appreciated, Geoffrey Basement, for your undying dedication to reverse gatekeeping.
don’t worry everyone i have baccano on dvd, u can all borrow it 🙂↕️ EDIT: or u can all just come over after school on friday and we can watch it this weekend i already asked my mom she said it’s ok
Pleasantly surprised that I've only watched half of these, and I feel like Baccano definitely deserves a rewatch. I didn't understand it very well the first time around when watching it weekly.
I haven't really cared about keeping up with seasonal anime in a while, so this video's format is actually really good for me. More deep cut high quality recommendations please!
I didn't realize people knew about Tokyo Magnitude 8.0! The ending really pissed me off though (not in a bad way, but just in a toying with my emotions kind of way). That's all I can really say though without spoiling it.
Dude, this is aweseome! My wife and I are rewatching Bleach right now (or rather, I am rewatching, she sees it for the first time) and even without the filler - with a full time job, Gaming as a main hobby and a one-year-old - we're at episode 160 and are on this for MONTHS now.... that's no fun, honestly. Getting awesome recommendations of anime that are DONE and can be watched in a short amount of time is a BLESSING for us. Thank you so much!
Akudama Drive was AMAZING, Baccano has been on my list to watch forever (and is now ready to do so), and damnit, with how passionately you push it, you've finally convinced me, I'm also grabbing Planet With. THANKS, Geoff, now look what you've done to my week! ...Seriously, thanks!
These are my favorite kind of series: longer than just a movie, short enough to watch in a weekend or two, but you'll be thinking about them for the rest of your life.
I still remember A Place Further Than the Universe fondly, from when you recommended it, years back. Another excellent self-contained 13 episode story for those seeking more!
Don't forget Iroduku: World of Colors. That anime is a masterpiece and it's because of Geoff I even found out about it...But it's sad people slept on that anime...It was one of the best animes of the 2010's. It's because of Geoff I was recommended to such great anime that wasn't even on my radar. Also another recommendation that I got from Geoff is "I am the Villainess so I am taming the final boss!"
I really needed this. I feel like I'm reaching the peak of my anime appreciation with the last few I ended up watching. But when I reach the end of these anime, I often find myself having to decide between re-watching one of my old favorites, or taking a chance with one of the thousands of anime with titles that either say basically nothing of what I'm getting into or absolutely way too much and am more often than not disappointed. These videos give me just enough information to get excited about the ones that tickle my fancy, while not spoiling anything too much.
A date with anime is never a bad idea. My 3 bite sized recommendations: Something older: Cromartie High School Something recent: Beyond the Boundary Something new: Level 1 Demon Lord & One Room Hero
After watching the most recent episode of Sengoku Youko, I finally went back and started rereading the manga. And now I really want to rewatch Planet With, too.
Since you asked for more short recommendations! Ride Back - 12 episodes - Injured ballerina joins motorcycle racing club, except the motorcycles are also transforming mecha, and also politics Angel Beats - 13 episodes (+ OVAs that kinda put it over) - What if high school really is forever?
Brother, you can't drop this shit the day after I commit to starting chronologically watching the UC timeline of Gundam, it's like rubbing in the ass numbness i'm in for
Having recently completed the same franchise marathon I can attest to wanting something short & sweet afterwards, or during. Definitely watch something between Zeta and ZZ, it’ll stop your brain stalling out from the tonal gear-shift.
@@Vespuchian I'm far from needing a break, I'm only on episode 7 of the original series and got through origins, I'm vibing with it so far though the MSG has some of those pacing issues we know and love.
Finally! Madoka! Edit: I'm so grateful to finally see you talk about it in more detail. Also you put some other top tier choices on here like Ping Pong, Akudama Drive, and Planet With.
Got really surprised when i saw it here considering it's one of the shows that you'd watch over the weekend and have depression and existential crisis for the following week. Agree with everything tho, it really is a great show.
I’ll be honest with you, my plan is try it both ways, to see how doing that affects view retention. I’d love to do it this way every time, but I don’t get paid for people reading the description sadly
@mothersbasement Yeah, I get that. I still watch through to get a feel for the shows, but it's nice not having to skip back to the few seconds where the title is shown to find the obscure Japanese title that I can't remember.
This was awesome, I got some great recs for shows I have never even heard of before. Usually vids like this only cover shit that is already on my radar. I will definitely be checking out Akudama Drive, and Appare Ranman.
There are precious few CZcams creators that inspire me to watch every video the moment they come out - and you are one of them. Most video lists are the same 34 things on loop in various contrived orders. Yours are far better and infinitely better written. Thank you for the list and keep up the good work!
Fantastic video, definitely adding Punch Line, Appare-Ranman, and Planet With to my watch list. And my recommendation for a future batch if you decide to make this a regular series: Revue Starlight. It's a 12-episode-and-a-sequel-movie masterpiece with great characters, fantastic writing, amazing fight scenes set to some amazing music, and most importantly: a talking giraffe.
Punch line is awesome. I'm so sad that so few people talk about it and get filtered by the apparent stupidity of it all. Since Geoff already said it it's no spoiler, but it really has one of the most satisfying use of timeloop/timetravel I've ever seen across all media.
I watched apare ranman on your recommendation a while ago when you made your video on it, one of the best decisions I have made! More people need to watch it!
Thumbnail alone reminded me of 2013 when my sister went on vacation, mom was in the hospital, and I pretty much had a whole house to myself. Spent those 5 glorious days watching the entirety of Xam'd and Baccano.
As fantastic a series as Katanagatari is, I would say that it being 12 double-length episodes (so essentially 24 episodes of total runtime) is a bit too long to be in one of these 'binge it in a weekend" lists.
Woah, I forgot Katanagatari! I need to watch that again, I remember the story being way more touching than the style leads you to expect. Thanks for bringing it back to mind.
definitely love that you mentioned madoka magica, i cant believe i waited so long to watch it. it really is such an amazing work of art. im so happy you mentioned ping pong as well, i feel like it is criminally underrated. its one of the few series i actually went along to read the manga of since i liked the anime so much.
Thank you for this. I have been trying to watch delicious dungeon for the past month, but with 24 episodes and not a lot of time during the week except for long binges on weekends. I’ve just been burning out.
Definitely pllease watch that when you have time because it's absolutely amazing!!!! I also waited a long time before watching it.And then when I finally watch it, I couldn't believe I didn't start it earlier!!! It will blow you AWAY!!! 🎉
i'd love for you to do a video on the whole gridman universe, i love the way it goes about showing the grief of characters and their journey to healing, i feel like dynazenon was criminally underwatched for some reason
I actually picked up PS&G like immediately after I finally watched Golden Boy for the first time, so putting them back to back here was 100% the right move.
Thank you so much for this list. Further Anmie i recommend for a part II: - Erased (gotta be in here) - FLCL - Afro Samurai - Terror in Resonance (or Terror in Tokyo) - Devilman Crybaby - Violet Evergarden
Golden Boy inspired me to live my best life in my 20s. I kept a journal, traveled around, got into strange situations. Life was good. Definitely recommended for anyone in their late teens to early 20s if you need inspiration to get out and grab life by the horns
Other Anime You Can Watch in a Weekend. Not Mentioned in the Video. - Juuni Taisen - Fuuto PI - Talentless Nana - Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne - Tomodachi Game - Gleipnir - The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace - Elfen Lied - Heavenly Delusion - Killing Bites
Best part of Akudama Drive is that Swindler does swindle people with the POWER OF EARNESTNESS! I also love Baccano! A few other short anime that I would add to this list are Astra Lost in Space, Terror in Resonance and Descending Stories.
Great video, Geoff! was really happy to see Golden Boy on this list. a true classic and one of my favorites. also, my wife recommends "Those Snow White Notes" for the next video like this!
Every anime you mentioned here that I HAD watched, I had immensely enjoyed. Gotta get the others on the list now! My personal favorite short anime is Acca-13, GOD the political intrigue hits so good that I've seen it like 8 times and picked up a new detail woven in every time.
Shows I recommend: space dandy. Fate stay night unlimited blade works anime. Fate zero. Spy x family. Gundam 00. Sakuna(new anime on Netflix) nura rise of the yokai clan. HOTD. Kimi no todoke. Many more of these are definitely ones people would enjoy
@@icarue993 list says on weekend and fate is super fast to see. Saw zerk on Saturday and ubw on Sunday one week. Other week saw zero and ubw from start to end from the morning to night.
It makes me really happen that people love Planet With so much. The Lucifer and Biscuit Hammer is one of my all time favorites if not my favorite and it was a great addition to Mizukami Satoshi's works
I watched PMMM in 2019 completely blind so I wouldn't count on everyone knowing its reputation. That being said, going in with that spoiler doesn't really take away from how much of a masterpiece it is. Though I would warn prospective viewers to only watch the movie if you can handle open-ended stories. If not, stick to the TV series - it's perfect the way it is.
PLEASE make more of these PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, this format is such a good way to find out about all the anime out there that I have never even heard of but totally should watch.
The PMMM has a fun piece of lore. Gen Urobuchi’s name was intentionally left off of the credit because no one wanted people to know it was him because I would’ve spoiled the twist. They even have a happy sounding ED until the third episode
That's not true, the Butcher's name was very much on it, and Japanese otaku familiar with his work were suspicious as hell going in, and he swore up and down before episode 3 aired that no really I wanted to write something lighter for a change... dunno how many people there bought it though LOL Meanwhile in English-speaking spaces he wasn't nearly as well known yet, the Fate/Zero anime wasn't until later that year so people weren't super familiar with it outside of hardcore Fate fans (whose numbers were much less at the time), and the official English release of Song of Saya was still two years out... basically only hardcore VN fans were familiar with his work, and even then they might not have known his name off the top of their heads, so while his name was out there, a lot of people weren't paying as much attention to it. I know I myself did not recognize his name at the time (I was aware of F/Z and SoS, but had not read them and did not know that they shared a writer or what that writer's name was) and was busy being excited about Ume Aoki, Yuki Kajiura, and Akiyuki Shinbou's involvement, because I recognized their names and work. It was easy to miss the few Cassandras bringing him up and warning everyone there was likely a twist coming because there just weren't many of them and they weren't very loud. It was a wild day, when episode 3 aired...
@@ThornheartCat - The truth is a bit of both, actually. They had attempted to keep his name off the credits early on, but before even the first teaser for the show, his name was leaked (by a TV station, I believe?) and fans of his got super suspicious. The studio then embraced his name for marketing. Lol He tried to throw people off his scent on twitter by saying he had finally written his first "hopeful" story (presumably a follow up statement to his Fate/Zero novel afterward where he said he believed he was incapable of doing so), but it certainly didn't work on the most keen familiar with his work... though, in retrospect, he was also pulling a double-gotcha there, considering it turns out he wasn't lying after all! Ever since Madoka, most of his works, hit or miss, have had a much more encouraging ending and/or vibe than his older works, all without sacrificing elements of his storytelling that define him as an exceptional writer. You can tell he had so much fun with Thunderbolt Fantasy. Also, yes, I remember the airing of episode 3... I started the show at episode 1 because my favorite composer (Kajiura Yuki) worked on it, and nearly dropped it after episode 2. The hubbub around episode 3 made me tune in again. Now it's my favorite anime of all time, and I look back at those first two episodes as a masterpiece in introduction storytelling, especially knowing what they mean in the grand scheme of the story.
Stop torturing yourself and get Opera GX: operagx.gg/MothersBasement5
opera gx is known spyware man, dont push that garbage on ur subscribers
spyware
fuck that malware
you're an asshole for plugging that
@@based980 anti ad BS helps. Turn off data collection. (User error) Learn the software.
@@mothersbasement are you aware that opera spies on its users?
Madoka Magica being here is so fitting especially with the final movie finally announced after 11 YEARS of waiting
wait. for real? lol
@@polishpipebombYeah there's a movie in production. Not sure if it's meant to be the final one though
@@polishpipebomb It was announced at least a couple of years ago. Still waiting for an actual release date.
@Regfife there's a trailer and a release season, it should come out by the end of this year
@Regfife It has a winter 2024 release date as of last trailer, so hoping for a specific drop date soon!
Shortlist of anime mentioned for all your copy pasting needs
1) Puela Magi Modoka Magica
2) Ping pong the animation
3) Baccano!
4) Punch Line
5) Akudama Drive
6) Pant & Stocking with Garterbelt
7) Golden Boy
8) Appare-Ranman!
9) Kids on the slope
10) Planet With
you forgot "bang brave bang bravern!" but thank you I was looking for this
Seen three and already had three on my to-watch, thanks for saving my time!
Thanks! This shouldn't be necessary, not sure why it isn't included in the video description, so annoying
I think this is the best and most relevant video he's ever made. Like as someone who definitely has anime fatigue sometimes, it is great to have a binge-able weekend anime list
@@prateekkulkarni574 I think the previous commenter meant that having to list the time stamps of each recommendation shouldn't have been necessary because they should have been in the description, not that the video itself was unnecessary.
Knocking out Cyberpunk: Edgerunners in one night was the best decision I made last year
Scott Pilgrim the next night
It's impossible not to binge it, it's so damn exciting, and I was already a big fan of studio Trigger shows.
@@darkheart273 amazing show
As a father with a full time job and not as much free time as I used to have…… I appreciate this
15 Shows I recommend (13 or less eps):
1) Land of the Lustrous
2) Ping Pong the Animation
3) Kino's Journey (2003)
4) Mononoke
5) The Tatami Galaxy
6) A Place Further Than the Universe
7) Odd Taxi
8) Gunbuster
9) Gundam: The Origin
10) Sonny Boy
11) Area 88
12) Heike Monogatari
13) Haibane Renmei
14) Heavenly Delusion
15) Serial Experiments Lain
Bonus: Naoki Urasawa's Pluto
Odd Taxi is a damn slapper🤌🏿
Underrated masterpieces on this list
shout out to you for including serial experiments rain and HAIBANe RENMEI!
I feel like no one has seen Haibane renmei and i was staring to think i dreamt it
Land of the Lustrous is my favorite anime
Edit- also Heavenly Delusion is a painfully underrated masterpiece
fucking banging list lol like literally all classics
Geoff physically recoiling from the narrator in his own ad absolutely sent me, this is the first sponsor ad I've actually watched in ages, brilliant
He's basically the only CZcamsr I'm disappointed if the video don't have a commercial
Planet With is an anime that sees Gurren Lagann's 27 episode run time, takes a deep pull from a cigarette, and says "Fuck it, we'll do it in 12". If that comparison has you even remotely intrigued, do yourself a favor and check it out.
I am deeply intrigued
And with that, you've sold me on Planet With.
Oooo wow! Okay, that DOES have me intrigued!!! Gurren Lagan is one of my favorite anime I watched with my brother...🥹
As someone who had their love of anime just about defined by Gurren Lagann, you've got my attention.
It's an absolute watch, but it's definitely not TTGL. TTGL kinda pushed the envelope when it comes to expanding the scope rapidly, and also it's pretty hard to match some of the feels from TTGL. Maybe it's due to the big brother passing the mantle dynamic, but TTGL stands alone even though it's not my #1.
Lost it with the "getting a job at a pool and learning to swim after" gag because I have seen that play out in my old lifeguarding days, not once, but twice in a single year.
No lie, Golden Boy is a good time. It knows how dumb and perverted it is, but there's actually a lot of heart in it.
I see Baccano!, I click.
If anybody hasn't seen Baccano!, it's very much worth the hunt (if you can handle the gore. What was showing the video is just a taste of it).
Where tho?
@@seaniversepirate it
@@seaniverse Yo ho
Finding a copy is the hard part. Finding the time to watch it, worth it.
@@seaniverse eBay apparently. Someone's selling a shitload of copies for like $25 each. 99.9% positive feedback. (shrug)
Some recommendations:
1. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (11 episodes)
2. Hinamatsuri (12 episodes) - Story doesn't end and unfortunately never got a 2nd season, however, it is mainly comedy so worth watching even if you won't continue with the manga.
3. A Place Further Than The Universe (13 episodes)
4. Death Parade (12 episodes)
5. Land of the Lustrous (12 episodes) - Doesn't end in a very satisfying way and unfortunately never got a 2nd season. I believe it is still worth watching though.
Yeah, Death Parade was a seriously strong contender. If it were up to me it would have made the list.
Hinamatsuri and death parade are absolute peak
Anohana overrated tho
This timing is so wild, I actually said earlier today "I feel like I'm getting burned out on anime, I'm so sad about it." Thanks for the recs as always, Geoff!
Anime Burnout turned me into a manga reader... be carefull out there folks, take care of yourselfs.
@@fernandotrevinocastro1018 yeah I’m almost a manga guy now as well
Baccano! is probably my all-time favorite anime for sheer inventivenes, charm, and humor. My friends surprised me with it one Saturday and it's stuck with me for thirteen years now. I've always had a bias toward the short form anime, where they have a crystal clear vision and deliver consistency in episode and after episode. If I were to actually name my 10 faves, I'm pretty sure 80% of the list would have episode counts under 40.
Video Idea: Top Ten Brainrot Anime Worth Watching
Shikonokonoko koshitan tan
This is a phenomenal idea, I second it.
Here here, a truly lovely idea
School days
Isn't that just the hottest trash videos?
Don't forget FLCL. The original, not the awful sequels.
It's 6 episodes, less than 2 hours in total, and is a lightning-in-the-bottle, once-in-a-lifetime work of sublime art. It's more fun than any show you've seen before, deeper than most on this list, has a killer soundtrack that doubles as an alt-rock album, and will leave you craving more. It is one of a kind, and served as inspiration for everything from Avatar The Last Airbender to Chainsawman. Watch it.
guy has no good taste. FLCL is a must watch
I think he left it off the list because it's such a classic, but yeah my boyish heart needs to see FLCL once a year, and I have the whole soundtrack by The Pillows on spotify.
I just finished watching it and i had a blast
@@ilay3379 spreading the joy it gives me makes me so happy, if you do check out the sequels keep in mind they're nowhere near as good......but they do have more Pillows music
@@MindlessTube as are some of the others on this list, baccano is super cool, and punchline took me by surprise
Madoka felt like such an EVENT when it was broadcasting. It may just be because it was a pretty formative time for me in general so the year stands out in my mind, but I honestly can't remember any anime since completely dominating internet discourse the way Madoka did in 2011.
Speaking of 2011, my top pick for anime to binge in a weekend is Anohana. Just make sure you have enough tissues on hand.
I loved the concept and style; the witch mazes were so cool and bizarre, but I wanted to strangle Madoka the whole time.
And you can't forget Morning Rescue!
Oh God, I bawled my eyes out during the last two episodes of Anohana! I'm surprised that that one wasn't on here, since Geoff is the one who got me to watch it in the first place.
I appreciate the Baccano focus on the thumbnail.
Kids on a slope is a must and the music is amazing. I still listen to the music to this day.
Great list! I would add Keep Your Hands off Eizoken, Hinamatsuri, Vivy Flourite Eyes, Planetarian, Death Parade, Insomniacs after School, Skip & Loafer, Gundam 0080/ The 08th MS Team/Thunderbolt, Deca-Dence, ID: Invaded, Bubblegum Crisis and Cyberpunk Edgerunners
OMG thank you for giving Akudama Drive more attention. That series is severely underrated especially how its director went on to make Bleach 1000 YBW
Yes
it's so goddamn cool
I watched when it came up and it deserved more weekly discussion >:(
How did it become severely underrated especially with that?
@@itsgonnabeanaurfrommeit came out at the same season as jjk s1
Damn Geoff really didn't lie with that title! Baccano, Golden Boy, Punchline, Appare Ranman, Akudama Drive and Planet With are all top tier recommendations!! I've enjoyed every single one of those a lot!! 👌👌
Going to shout out Kyousougiga here. An absolutely wonderful and genuinely moving family drama disguised as a surreal science-fantasy action-comedy with some incredibly dynamic and colourful animation and excellent character writing, all helmed by the immensely talented Rie Matsumoto. It's only ten episodes long (the extras aren't necessary), so you can bang it out in an afternoon if you're sufficiently tenacious. It may seem a bit esoteric at first, but trust me, just roll with it and it will change you.
yeah Kyousougiga gotta be in a follow-up to this video, especially considering what was recommended here. Kyousougiga made me cry by the end almost as much as Violet Evergarden while being almost as crazy visually as Flip Flappers (which itself deserves a highlight, but Kyousougiga deserves it more for being substantially more obscure). also nobody ever talks about it but the OP is one of my favorites ever.
0:23 huge respect for the wall of Dorohedoro volumes... I'm working on this myself. slowly. because money.
My favorite short anime I've ever watched is FLCL. Only six episodes long and an absolutely killer soundtrack. A story that moves so fast and throws so much at you that you that my first watch just made me say "I have no idea what I just saw, but I loved it." The wildest thing was, after some time and a rewatch, everything is really neatly wrapped up and makes total in-universe sense. FLCL airing on Adult Swim was the anime that got me into anime beyond Dragon Ball Z. It rules.
this is SUCH a helpful video !! my ADHD won't let me sit down and just watch a thing unless i'm *really* worn out or *really* in the mood for that specific thing, so it is ideal for me to have shows to watch quickly before i burn out on them !! my attention span has been helped by buying slime to fidget with, but i can only slime for so long at a time
Dude punch line is way better than I was expecting so stupid but it just makes sense for some reason
Please continue this series. As a 30-ish year old man stuck in a 9 to 5 from Monday to Friday, these "weekend bingeable" animes are what I've been looking for exactly. Thanks for the list! Definitely gonna check out the ones I haven't seen yet.
You never cease in giving banger recs. I'm 2 episodes into Kids on the Slope and I'm already obsessed. Please make another video like this!
Praise be to Kanna-sama!
It's the anime I recommend to anyone just for the music alone. Got emotional in the final scene.
Hell yeah, Akudama Drive and Appare Ranman are wayyyyy too underrated, love to see them here.
As for other Short anime recs, I semi-recently watched Land of the Lustrous, and even though it's technically an unfinished adaptation, it's too beautiful not to mention. Plus, the manga is god damn soul shatteringly good, so I'll recommend that too.
Geoff, I want you to know that I spent the entire video going "wait, what about Planet With?" And then when you said Appare Ranman was the 'penultimate' one and the last one _wasn't_ Planet With I was genuinely confused. So, you know, you got me, well done.
Was overjoyed to hear my music in this while looking for some good short shows, thank you! ❤
I listened to the album like 6 times while I was editing, couldn't help but put it in
Hell yeah appreciate it!
Oh wow kids on the slope mentioned, this is one of my favorites that seems to be mostly forgotten these days. Glad it’s getting some love
It was literally the 2nd show that came to mind for me when I saw the subject
I remember ign anime club talking it up. Still on my to watch list.
@@ShadowDuskSky where can I find it? Is it on any streaming services, that you know of?
Baccano front and center on the thumbnail 🗣️🗣️🗣️ DESERVED
Deadass got a Paris Olympics add exactly after the "how do you like my swimming" gag. I shit you not.
That’s so lmao
Buhahaha!!!
That's awesome! 😂😂😂
"How do you like my breakdancing?"
0:08 I have like five anime queued up that I haven't gotten around to for at least a month now and I don't even have a schedule. Let alone a busy one. That's an executive dysfunction issue more than anything else though.
BRO I HAVE LIKE 200 OR MORE ANIME IN QUEUE XDDD
One thing a lot of people don't mention that I think perfectly fits into this category is the Tatami Galaxy and it's sequel Tatami Mat Time Travel Blues, the first being a fascinating exploration of what living a truly good and enjoyable life means, and the second being a strange exploration on time travel set through the lens of trying to fix a stupid air conditioner.
Cool!!!!
Geoff, I’ve been subbed to your channel for a while now and out of all the lists you’ve provided, this is DEFINITELY your best one. Every single entry is ah absolute certified fucking banger!
Fun Fact: A Victorian Gentleman Thief, Wild West Gunslinger, Samurai, and retired French Pirate (from the Golden age of piracy in the Caribbean) could have theoretically all sat in the same room together and I'm annoyed no one has done anything with that idea yet.
Baccano! is such a gem. Fantastic characters, trippy plots, great comedy relief, and one of most amazing displays of love around. I gave it a shot for the interesting setting, was drawn in by the mystery on the train, and ended up loving so many of the characters.
And you sold me on Punch Line, Akudama Drive, Appare-Ranman, and Planet With. They're on my to watch list now.
Golden Boy is much like Panty & Stocking in that you might have to watch a few eps and take a break to let you mind quit boggling for a bit.
For other short length anime - Kino's Journey is one of the first to spring to mind as the original series is so underrated
BACCANO MENTIONED, ABSOLUTELY GOATED
I will preach the word of Baccano, forever.
I tried watching it recently because people always say it's great, but after 2-3 episodes I wasn't particularly engaged. Does it get better later or is it just not for me?
@@arcerey It's probably just not for you. Despite loving Monogatari and many other stories that require a bit of thinking, it didn't click with me after 5 episodes. I tried sub and dub, and I just didn't care much for any of the characters. Great sound track and aesthetic, but I had absolutely zero investment. The mystery elements didn't call to me either.
@@minorikaemon4881 thanks! Yeah... Sometimes it just happens that you don't like an otherwise popular thing. I have a few other unconventional opinions regarding acclaimed animes, makes me feel like a snob. But then I remember I like trashy isekais so it kinda balances out lol
wth you talk exactly like i do
Thanks for the recommendations. I watched Kids on the Slope in one sitting, now it’s 5am and I feel like a completely different person.
It’s 24 episodes but I think one that doesn’t get talked about enough is The Demon Girl Next Door. At first glance it seems like a standard fantasy cute girl gag anime, but it actually has a lot going on underneath the surface. The characters are all incredibly well-realized, and unlike in most gag-type anime, get to grow and change, along with the status quo of the story. I really recommend checking it out!
Reminds me of Romantic Killer. I tried it out and wasn't so sure in the first couple of episodes but it quickly gets into some DEEP themes and isn't as basic about gender and sexuality as it first appears
Rarely do I comment on the videos I watch, but not only do I want many more iterations of weekend-binge anime for my viewing consideration, but I also want more deep-cuts like Baccano! and Golden Boy sprinkled throughout for flavor. Both aforementioned series were instrumental in my budding love of anime beginning in high school - Case Closed on Adult Swim being the lone exception when I randomly stumbled upon it in elementary school and was instantly hooked.
I also have a weekly TV/movie night with my fellow weeby friends and shorter series are perfect for the 5-6 hours a sitting we typically have at our disposal. Much appreciated, Geoffrey Basement, for your undying dedication to reverse gatekeeping.
don’t worry everyone i have baccano on dvd, u can all borrow it 🙂↕️
EDIT: or u can all just come over after school on friday and we can watch it this weekend i already asked my mom she said it’s ok
Thankyou my address is...
Fill in the blank
Worry not, as there are many who have "shared" their dvds and blu-rays for all who wish to give a cursory google search.
I can pick it up if you give me your address. 😂😅
DVD? What is this DVD technology?
We have a thing called streaming
@@user-om1pp5qe5z so find it on streaming
Pleasantly surprised that I've only watched half of these, and I feel like Baccano definitely deserves a rewatch. I didn't understand it very well the first time around when watching it weekly.
I haven't really cared about keeping up with seasonal anime in a while, so this video's format is actually really good for me. More deep cut high quality recommendations please!
Thanks for recommending Mayonaki Punch, my partner and I are loving it !
Some short ones off the top of my head
-Zankyou no Terror
-Anohana
-Daily Lives of Highschool Boys
-Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
-Tsuki ga Kire
-Asobi Asobase
I second Daily Lives of High School Boys
That show is fucking hysterical.
Hell yeah, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0! I don't see enough people talk about that anime.
I didn't realize people knew about Tokyo Magnitude 8.0! The ending really pissed me off though (not in a bad way, but just in a toying with my emotions kind of way). That's all I can really say though without spoiling it.
Dude, this is aweseome!
My wife and I are rewatching Bleach right now (or rather, I am rewatching, she sees it for the first time) and even without the filler - with a full time job, Gaming as a main hobby and a one-year-old - we're at episode 160 and are on this for MONTHS now.... that's no fun, honestly.
Getting awesome recommendations of anime that are DONE and can be watched in a short amount of time is a BLESSING for us. Thank you so much!
Seeing Baccano and Golden Boy here warmed my anomalous heart 😌🙏
Study study study study study..... Golden Boy was so fun.
Akudama Drive was AMAZING, Baccano has been on my list to watch forever (and is now ready to do so), and damnit, with how passionately you push it, you've finally convinced me, I'm also grabbing Planet With. THANKS, Geoff, now look what you've done to my week!
...Seriously, thanks!
These are my favorite kind of series: longer than just a movie, short enough to watch in a weekend or two, but you'll be thinking about them for the rest of your life.
I still remember A Place Further Than the Universe fondly, from when you recommended it, years back. Another excellent self-contained 13 episode story for those seeking more!
Don't forget Iroduku: World of Colors. That anime is a masterpiece and it's because of Geoff I even found out about it...But it's sad people slept on that anime...It was one of the best animes of the 2010's. It's because of Geoff I was recommended to such great anime that wasn't even on my radar.
Also another recommendation that I got from Geoff is "I am the Villainess so I am taming the final boss!"
I wake up 30 minutes early to watch 1 episode of anime before work
I really needed this. I feel like I'm reaching the peak of my anime appreciation with the last few I ended up watching. But when I reach the end of these anime, I often find myself having to decide between re-watching one of my old favorites, or taking a chance with one of the thousands of anime with titles that either say basically nothing of what I'm getting into or absolutely way too much and am more often than not disappointed. These videos give me just enough information to get excited about the ones that tickle my fancy, while not spoiling anything too much.
One of my favorite 13 episode anime Vivy -Fluorite Eye's Song, absolute banger
Yes
Vivy is 2B/A2 level soulful android waifu
I recommend it's a underrated modern masterpiece
That one was fantastic.
As you like my pleasure
THE PONY BOY REFERENCE IN ONE OF THE CHAPTERS👀👀man I love you
BACCANO MENTIONED 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 aka the best opening song of all time
A date with anime is never a bad idea. My 3 bite sized recommendations:
Something older: Cromartie High School
Something recent: Beyond the Boundary
Something new: Level 1 Demon Lord & One Room Hero
After watching the most recent episode of Sengoku Youko, I finally went back and started rereading the manga. And now I really want to rewatch Planet With, too.
Holy shit I have not seen anyone mention punchline in anything ever, it is just as good as he says!
Since you asked for more short recommendations!
Ride Back - 12 episodes - Injured ballerina joins motorcycle racing club, except the motorcycles are also transforming mecha, and also politics
Angel Beats - 13 episodes (+ OVAs that kinda put it over) - What if high school really is forever?
Ride Back was good... gotta say no one does the Heroic BSOD like Rin
Oh God, I miss Angel Beats so much
This helped me find some really excellent shows to watch while sick and mostly bedridden. Thank you Geoff I needed this.
Brother, you can't drop this shit the day after I commit to starting chronologically watching the UC timeline of Gundam, it's like rubbing in the ass numbness i'm in for
Having recently completed the same franchise marathon I can attest to wanting something short & sweet afterwards, or during.
Definitely watch something between Zeta and ZZ, it’ll stop your brain stalling out from the tonal gear-shift.
@@Vespuchian I'm far from needing a break, I'm only on episode 7 of the original series and got through origins, I'm vibing with it so far though the MSG has some of those pacing issues we know and love.
Next up: 150+ episodes of Legend of the Galactic Heroes, almost 50 of Die Neue These and Yamato 2199/2022/3199
@@hitachicordoba Might as well throw in Macross, Galaxy Express 999 and Captain Harlock in there too
@@Ash_Wen-li I'm already up to date on One piece, so I suppose I'll just have to catch up on Detective Conan instead
This is probably the single highest density of "I am going to watch this" on a reccomendation video I've ever watched. Please make more
Finally! Madoka!
Edit: I'm so grateful to finally see you talk about it in more detail. Also you put some other top tier choices on here like Ping Pong, Akudama Drive, and Planet With.
Got really surprised when i saw it here considering it's one of the shows that you'd watch over the weekend and have depression and existential crisis for the following week.
Agree with everything tho, it really is a great show.
He's talked about it before, a way while back I believe. I also like seeing people mentioning it, it's an amazing anime
Thank you for spreading Golden Boy!
Liked, for finally putting the show names in the timestamp
I’ll be honest with you, my plan is try it both ways, to see how doing that affects view retention. I’d love to do it this way every time, but I don’t get paid for people reading the description sadly
@mothersbasement Yeah, I get that. I still watch through to get a feel for the shows, but it's nice not having to skip back to the few seconds where the title is shown to find the obscure Japanese title that I can't remember.
Fun fact, the character designer for Golden Boy was the same one for Bebop.
This was awesome, I got some great recs for shows I have never even heard of before. Usually vids like this only cover shit that is already on my radar. I will definitely be checking out Akudama Drive, and Appare Ranman.
Akudama drive was amazing
There are precious few CZcams creators that inspire me to watch every video the moment they come out - and you are one of them.
Most video lists are the same 34 things on loop in various contrived orders. Yours are far better and infinitely better written.
Thank you for the list and keep up the good work!
Fantastic video, definitely adding Punch Line, Appare-Ranman, and Planet With to my watch list. And my recommendation for a future batch if you decide to make this a regular series: Revue Starlight. It's a 12-episode-and-a-sequel-movie masterpiece with great characters, fantastic writing, amazing fight scenes set to some amazing music, and most importantly: a talking giraffe.
Punch line is awesome. I'm so sad that so few people talk about it and get filtered by the apparent stupidity of it all. Since Geoff already said it it's no spoiler, but it really has one of the most satisfying use of timeloop/timetravel I've ever seen across all media.
Picked up Golden Boy on VHS way back in high school when Outlaw Star was still on Toonami. Core memory right there. Really great stuff.
Time to rewatch ping pong i guess
Every day is a good day to rewatch Ping Pong ngl
So freaking good, the last 2 episodes get me so hyped, and the ending theme is dope.
I watched apare ranman on your recommendation a while ago when you made your video on it, one of the best decisions I have made! More people need to watch it!
Yeah people need to watch it. It is amazing.
Thumbnail alone reminded me of 2013 when my sister went on vacation, mom was in the hospital, and I pretty much had a whole house to myself. Spent those 5 glorious days watching the entirety of Xam'd and Baccano.
Xam'd!! Oh my god my old beloved, what an excellent short series ❤️
Eyyyy Isaac and Maria in the thumbnail? Baccano is a pick I absolutely agree with!! Gotta be one of my fav anime of all time!!
The best show I've seen that no one talks about is katanagatari. Unique art style and very moving plot in a tight season.
As fantastic a series as Katanagatari is, I would say that it being 12 double-length episodes (so essentially 24 episodes of total runtime) is a bit too long to be in one of these 'binge it in a weekend" lists.
Woah, I forgot Katanagatari! I need to watch that again, I remember the story being way more touching than the style leads you to expect. Thanks for bringing it back to mind.
definitely love that you mentioned madoka magica, i cant believe i waited so long to watch it. it really is such an amazing work of art. im so happy you mentioned ping pong as well, i feel like it is criminally underrated. its one of the few series i actually went along to read the manga of since i liked the anime so much.
Thank you for this. I have been trying to watch delicious dungeon for the past month, but with 24 episodes and not a lot of time during the week except for long binges on weekends. I’ve just been burning out.
Definitely pllease watch that when you have time because it's absolutely amazing!!!! I also waited a long time before watching it.And then when I finally watch it, I couldn't believe I didn't start it earlier!!! It will blow you AWAY!!! 🎉
i'd love for you to do a video on the whole gridman universe, i love the way it goes about showing the grief of characters and their journey to healing, i feel like dynazenon was criminally underwatched for some reason
I actually picked up PS&G like immediately after I finally watched Golden Boy for the first time, so putting them back to back here was 100% the right move.
Thank you so much for this list.
Further Anmie i recommend for a part II:
- Erased (gotta be in here)
- FLCL
- Afro Samurai
- Terror in Resonance (or Terror in Tokyo)
- Devilman Crybaby
- Violet Evergarden
ping pong the animation mentioned, like smashed, eyes crying
Do you have a hero man? God that show got me hyped. End theme was dope too
Golden Boy inspired me to live my best life in my 20s. I kept a journal, traveled around, got into strange situations. Life was good.
Definitely recommended for anyone in their late teens to early 20s if you need inspiration to get out and grab life by the horns
Other Anime You Can Watch in a Weekend.
Not Mentioned in the Video.
- Juuni Taisen
- Fuuto PI
- Talentless Nana
- Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne
- Tomodachi Game
- Gleipnir
- The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace
- Elfen Lied
- Heavenly Delusion
- Killing Bites
Really good anime in this list
I want to try to get through Elfen Lied again, but I struggled watching it through some of the story's themes.
Best part of Akudama Drive is that Swindler does swindle people with the POWER OF EARNESTNESS!
I also love Baccano!
A few other short anime that I would add to this list are Astra Lost in Space, Terror in Resonance and Descending Stories.
Great video, Geoff! was really happy to see Golden Boy on this list. a true classic and one of my favorites.
also, my wife recommends "Those Snow White Notes" for the next video like this!
Every anime you mentioned here that I HAD watched, I had immensely enjoyed. Gotta get the others on the list now! My personal favorite short anime is Acca-13, GOD the political intrigue hits so good that I've seen it like 8 times and picked up a new detail woven in every time.
Shows I recommend: space dandy. Fate stay night unlimited blade works anime. Fate zero. Spy x family. Gundam 00. Sakuna(new anime on Netflix) nura rise of the yokai clan. HOTD. Kimi no todoke.
Many more of these are definitely ones people would enjoy
based Gundam 00 enjoyer
@@technodude458it needs more love. 00 gets better the more you see it.
space dandy is truly goated
Fate is like 24 episodes, Spy x Family is unfinished, dunno about the rest. I thing Jeff was trying to recommend anime under 15 or so episodes
@@icarue993 list says on weekend and fate is super fast to see. Saw zerk on Saturday and ubw on Sunday one week.
Other week saw zero and ubw from start to end from the morning to night.
I love how this could practically double as a "best anime dubs" video.
10/10 series premise. Would watch a ton more of these.
Seconding this
It makes me really happen that people love Planet With so much. The Lucifer and Biscuit Hammer is one of my all time favorites if not my favorite and it was a great addition to Mizukami Satoshi's works
Definitely going to check out a couple of these. KADO: The Right Answer is a great short watch as well. :)
i'm glad someone else watched that show!
@@cyechan50 It is incredibly underrated! I just started a rewatch. 😊
It's rare these list actually have shows I havent watched yours had two Planet with and the Jazz , pleasantly surprised .
I watched PMMM in 2019 completely blind so I wouldn't count on everyone knowing its reputation. That being said, going in with that spoiler doesn't really take away from how much of a masterpiece it is. Though I would warn prospective viewers to only watch the movie if you can handle open-ended stories. If not, stick to the TV series - it's perfect the way it is.
PLEASE make more of these PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, this format is such a good way to find out about all the anime out there that I have never even heard of but totally should watch.
The PMMM has a fun piece of lore. Gen Urobuchi’s name was intentionally left off of the credit because no one wanted people to know it was him because I would’ve spoiled the twist.
They even have a happy sounding ED until the third episode
That's not true, the Butcher's name was very much on it, and Japanese otaku familiar with his work were suspicious as hell going in, and he swore up and down before episode 3 aired that no really I wanted to write something lighter for a change... dunno how many people there bought it though LOL Meanwhile in English-speaking spaces he wasn't nearly as well known yet, the Fate/Zero anime wasn't until later that year so people weren't super familiar with it outside of hardcore Fate fans (whose numbers were much less at the time), and the official English release of Song of Saya was still two years out... basically only hardcore VN fans were familiar with his work, and even then they might not have known his name off the top of their heads, so while his name was out there, a lot of people weren't paying as much attention to it. I know I myself did not recognize his name at the time (I was aware of F/Z and SoS, but had not read them and did not know that they shared a writer or what that writer's name was) and was busy being excited about Ume Aoki, Yuki Kajiura, and Akiyuki Shinbou's involvement, because I recognized their names and work. It was easy to miss the few Cassandras bringing him up and warning everyone there was likely a twist coming because there just weren't many of them and they weren't very loud. It was a wild day, when episode 3 aired...
@@ThornheartCat - The truth is a bit of both, actually. They had attempted to keep his name off the credits early on, but before even the first teaser for the show, his name was leaked (by a TV station, I believe?) and fans of his got super suspicious. The studio then embraced his name for marketing. Lol He tried to throw people off his scent on twitter by saying he had finally written his first "hopeful" story (presumably a follow up statement to his Fate/Zero novel afterward where he said he believed he was incapable of doing so), but it certainly didn't work on the most keen familiar with his work... though, in retrospect, he was also pulling a double-gotcha there, considering it turns out he wasn't lying after all! Ever since Madoka, most of his works, hit or miss, have had a much more encouraging ending and/or vibe than his older works, all without sacrificing elements of his storytelling that define him as an exceptional writer. You can tell he had so much fun with Thunderbolt Fantasy.
Also, yes, I remember the airing of episode 3... I started the show at episode 1 because my favorite composer (Kajiura Yuki) worked on it, and nearly dropped it after episode 2. The hubbub around episode 3 made me tune in again. Now it's my favorite anime of all time, and I look back at those first two episodes as a masterpiece in introduction storytelling, especially knowing what they mean in the grand scheme of the story.
Ping Pong is my favorite anime of all time