A "page-turning" anime, flashy villains, lots of action

[Triple_R]

It's that time of year again, that brief period between anime seasons.

So, to fill up that brief period between seasons, I'd love to watch the anime equivalent of a "page-turner". You know, the kind of book that keeps you on the edge of your seat and that you just can't put down. Code Geass was very much like that.

The key things I'd like to see:

1) A plot-heavy and/or drama-heavy page-turner you can't stop watching.
2) A great egomaniacal villain (bonus points if s/he has a great laugh).
3) Flashy, explosive action scenes.
4) Good visuals.
5) Moe girls are a plus, but not necessary.

Any suggestions here? I'm open to anything from any era. It can be 20 years old, 10 years old, 5 years old, or just from last season.

And if there's somebody reading this that knows me well, and has a particular anime in mind that they really want me to watch (even if it doesn't meet the criteria above), here's your chance to get me to watch it.

[Guardian Enzo]

I assume you've seen Gankutsuou, but if not, it sounds like an excellent fit.

[erneiz_hyde]

I also don't really know your watched list, but I guess I'll mention Baccano.

Try Noein as well if you haven't.

[Darthtabby]

Ga-Rei Zero -not always fast paced, but has good action scenes and knows how to hit hard on an emotional level.
Black Lagoon -assuming you don't mind its Black and Grey morality
Canaan -the writing seems to fall apart near the end, but the action scenes are awesome, the villain has a commanding presence, and there are some moe girls.
Macross Frontier -except I think you mentioned that you'd dropped it partway through a while back (if you dropped it around Episode 8-10 or slightly after I'd recommend giving it another chance, if later on maybe not so much).

[MeoTwister5]

Well on the off chance you haven't seen Gurren Lagann...

[Kotohono]

I'll suggest the almost finished airing Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou it should fit quite well.

And maybe Symphogear, though the villain in Season 2 is probably more fitting to what you want .

[totoum]

Oh I always love it when I get to suggest things to you

Well for what you're looking for I'd suggest Phantom:requiem for the Phantom

1) It's an adaptation of a gen urobuchi VN , so yeah there's drama
2) Scythe Master fits I think, no great laugh though, he more of "weird smile" person if I remember right.
3) Well ok,the action is nothing mindblowing and I wouldn't say it's an "action anime" but there's a few gunfights.
4)Best looking show Bee Train ever made IMO
4)Ein and Cal

And here's the OP because I think it does a good job of presenting the show.

Oh and in the "I really want you to watch it" category , here's your yearly reminder that Sketchbook is my favorite Okada show , though in this case it's the exact opposite of what you're asking for sorry, but come on there's a moe Canadian girl in it

edit: Darthtabby mentioned Canaan and I was on the fence with that one, it has all 5 things you'e looking for,it's just that I have no idea what the hell was going in Okada's head when she was coming up with some of this stuff, but at the same time it's true I couldn't look away because if anything I enjoyed seeing the characters ,they're all quite charismatic despite the plot being a mess.

[Sackett]

I can't remember have you seen Space Battleship Yamato?

The first three are covered, and if you go with the 2199 remake you got the 4th item as well.

[Triple_R]

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions. I'm going to research some of the suggestions made, and I'll probably pick at least 3 to try out.

Gurren Lagann and Ga-Rei Zero are two of my all-time favorite shows. They would definitely fit the bill here if I hadn't already seen them.

Genei is also a good suggestion, and I've enjoyed watching it. I'm looking forward to its finale.

Canaan is a show I had meant to watch for a long time, but have never gotten around to. Thank you for reminding me of it, Darthtabby.


Please keep the suggestions coming! Most of the shows listed so far I haven't seen, making this thread very helpful. Totoum, I might balance out the action-y shows I pick with Sketchbook. If I do so, I'll give you my take on it.

[Ridwan]

"Uchouten Kazoku" is close enough to this. But instead a megalomaniac laughter, you have this enigmatic, teaseful, super beauty charismatic yakuza lady which sadly is not explored enough. Something of a love-hate relationship is going on between her and the MC. It's perhaps too relaxed and rather awkward for your taste, so it doesn't exactly have number 1 either, but it has #3, 4 and at least one girl qualifies for #5

[TheSix]

Originally Posted by Darthtabby

Macross Frontier -except I think you mentioned that you'd dropped it partway through a while back (if you dropped it around Episode 8-10 or slightly after I'd recommend giving it another chance, if later on maybe not so much).

If this is right, please correct this.

Otherwise, if you haven't seen it, Shinsekai Yori is almost literally a "page - turning book" within the fact that it's based off one (as within an "actual" book, rather than a manga). There's a lot of drama, some action scenes within the beginning and near the end, and what I would say is an alright villain. It takes some time to start up, around about three episodes, but the pace pretty much never stops once it does. There's also some moe girls for the first seven episodes for your supplementary requirement :v

[kitten320]

In my eyes you basically described Shingeki no Kyojin.

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

I’m just gonna suggest you one title that I think (more or less) fulfill your criteria (if you haven’t seen it yet):

Zetsuen no Tempest: The Civilization Blaster

1) You betcha
2) Kinda
3) Absolutely
4) Affirmative
5) Check

PS: Even our resident "tough-customers" like Reckoner like it and praised it .

[Tenzen12]

Scry-ed - Yep
Ben-to - Not story/drama heavy, but you will watch it non-stop
Full Metal Panic - One word: Gauron
Durarara - All check (Yes, Celty IS moe! Do you have problem with it?!)

[SeijiSensei]

I'll toss the currently-airing Gatchaman Crowds into the mix. Good villain, cute girls, some action, and solid writing.

[Last Sinner]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

And if there's somebody reading this that knows me well, and has a particular anime in mind that they really want me to watch (even if it doesn't meet the criteria above), here's your chance to get me to watch it.

You did this on purpose, didn't you.

Only for you, R3 - only you.


Crest of the Stars - Check on points 1, 3 and 4, kind of for point 5. Space epic from the late 90s, 13 eps, throws you into chaos immediately and doesn't let up until the final minute of the last episode. Very intricate plot and character relations that go on for 3 more installments beyond Crest. Battle scenes were intense but the one in the last episode is probably one of the wackiest and most memorable things I've ever seen in anime. I think you'd enjoy the dynamic between Lafiel and Jinto, particular since the VA for Lafiel is also the VA for Saber from Fate/Stay Night and Fate/Zero.


Last Exile - Check on all 5 points. Drama heavy, loads of civil war meets steam punk battles with thousands of skyships being blown eight ways from Sunday. Maestro Delphine is one of the most insatiable, twisted and laugh-laden female villians across any medium. Easily the only title Gonzo animates properly along with Range Murata's amazing art style. And yeah, Lavie and Alvis are fairly moe - there's a reason Range Murata keeps re-drawing Lavie, especially on those covers of Robot.


Hokuto no Ken/Fist of the North Star - Guy who looks like Mel Gibson running around punching bad guys in a Mad Max-like post-apocalypse world and making them explode. It's 80s, it's a fighting mecca, it's a power ballad haven, it's awesome. It is 109 episodes though, heh. There are women/girls, particularly one who specialises at calling out the protagonist's name a lot in a very dramatic/cute way - wouldn't call them moe though.


Escaflowne - 90s fantasy/mech win, 26 eps. Very camp, very over the top, very flashy and explosions ridden. Hitomi is the kind of protagonist that will invoke some moe vibes but not necessarily look it. There's an amusing and eventually touching dynamic between her and Van. The villains are among the most hilariously whackjob/awesome ever. Only side effect will be you might crush on David Bowie because of one certain villain.


Redline - Awesone, sexy as action movie from late 00s. Racing in space amidst a war. Heroes and villains are all over the top and flashy/hot/melodramatic/awesome. 'Chasing the dream' made pretty darn cool. If you need 2 hours of indulgent insanity that's just damn fun and a feast for the eyes, watch it. Hard to match the rush this gives.


Slayers - It has Lina Inverse in it. She is the definition of awesome and explosive action scenes. She is way over the top as are her comrades and the villains. The visuals are sub-par but that's the only real negative. The main villain isn't an egomaniac but pretty much everyone else in this show is. It ain't moe, but who needs moe when you've got freaking Lina Inverse?!


Kaiji - Over the top, always in your face, living the line between life and death all the time. 26 episodes cover three crazy nights - it may seem a little drawn out, but in terms of atmosphere, soundtrack and the inhumanity, you will likely not care because you're that into it. Dramatic as, every villian is an egomaniac and has those types of laughs. Visuals can take some getting used to but they're fine. If you can handle the fact there's no females in it for the greater part, give it a shot. Archon_Wing would never forgive me if I didn't suggest it.


Ambition of Oda Nobuna - 13 eps from 2012. The Oda Nobunaga story retold with the characters all female + moe and the male lead taking a time trip and getting the chance to prevent Oda Nobuna from making the mistakes her male version did. For something quite moe and self-admittedly absurd at times, this was surprisingly fun. Visuals were outstanding, loads of battles and explosions, female version of Oda Nobuna is a cutie but also very decisive and not submissive to the male lead. Somewhat serious but quite fun.


Meitantei Holmes/Sherlock Hound - 26 episodes of Miyazaki inspired win from the mid 1980s. Go back to the Sherlock Holmes era and make all people dogs and the crimes wacky and loaded with steam-punk/over the top schemes that are too damn fun to care about the absurdity. So damn gorgeous visually, it looks better than most modern shows by a long way. This show's version of Moriarty is the definition of an egomaniacal villian with a great laugh.


Cutie Honey - 25 eps. Hey, it's freaking Nagai material - so yeah, an awesome moe girl with a lot of cheeky/cutesy/naughty moments? Flock yes. Loads of flashy scenes with lots of explosions? Flock yes. Great egomaniacal organisation of female villians? Yes. Dramatic/over-the-top? Yes. It's from the 70s, yes...but it is so damn awesome and looked good for its time.


Gunbuster - 6 eps of late 80s/early 90s win. Dramatic/need to see more? Hell yes. (I pity those that had to wait every time for months/years for a new ep back then since it was a side project fuelled by profits from other Gainax titles) Crapton of flashy, explosive action scenes. Great visuals. One of the best examples of early moe that was also a good title - Noriko and Onee-sama are pretty iconic. No egomaniacal villiain, but Norio Wakamoto voices Coach and he is so awesome and manly you don't need an egomaniacal villain. If you end up liking this, watch the Diebuster sequel.

Legend of the Galactic Heroes - The very definition of an intricate, complex plot that is utterly enthralling and last 110 episodes. Words rarely do this title justice. There's loads of battles, egomaniacal/stylish villains, heroes worth believing in. Someone else will probably try to justify this title more. It ain't moe, it ain't a visual bonanza. But it is one of the few genuine definitions of epic.

Le Chevalier D'Eon - One of the most enthralling plots/stories I've ever seen and one that will stay with me/haunt me forever. Since it's set near the French Revolution and has a cast involving a good number of actual IRL historical figures, you know how this will eventually end. But...this show makes such a case to watch it regardless. Several plotlines going across the 26 eps, very gripping material, a lot of enthralling medieval battle scenes. The thing you will need to grapple with is the visuals - they aren't pretty, in fact they're sometimes visceral and ugly. But...that is intentionally done. Because sometimes history and humanity is visceral and ugly. This is a tale that is hopeful and sometimes lifting but be prepared to have your heart permanently broken and bleeding once this is over.


RWBY - 2013 animation from Rooster Teeth, episodes gradually coming out. Yes, this isn't Japanese. So what...It's so damn motherfreaking awesome its origins don't matter! Check on all five criteria but don't expect top-notch visuals, Rooster Teeth's budget is less than a Japanese studio budget. Battles/fights are damn cool. Ruby Rose is pretty much the Western version of moe and a delight to watch. I'll be honest - RWBY is better than anything that's come out of Japan in 2013 and unless October gives something damn special, RWBY is the best title of 2013 as far as I'm concerned. RWBY reminded me of how fun and magical the medium can be. Showing an Australian premiere of it earlier this year was an electric experience - I've rarely seen a crowd that hyped and positive. RWBY is by no means perfect or epic. It's just damn good fun and Ruby Rose is utterly adorable.


Happy watching, R3. Peace, friend.

[Archon_Wing]

Without a doubt, Akagi. It does not have no.5, but it has the rest.

If the last villain doesn't have you laughing, I'm not sure what will.

Mahjong is srs bznes.s

[AntonKutovoi]

Fate/Zero has all you described. Also, you may try Sengoku Basara.

[totoum]

Originally Posted by Archon_Wing

Without a doubt, Akagi. It does not have no.5, but it has the rest.

It has no.3?

I know the mahjong can get intense but still

Also no.4 only applies if you have a pointy nose fetish

[Archon_Wing]

Hey, now those tiles were seriously well animated.