What are some other shows that a DB fan would really like?

[Amiable-Akuma]

(Note: Mods, I thought this thread belonged here but feel free to move as necessary)

Since often the wait between new DB DVD releases from Funi is so hard - I'd like to get some other shows to watch, enjoy, and kill the time. However, for a long time I've just been into live-action Asian movies and regular Hollywood films more so than anything else. Thus, I know and have seen very little of most animated shows that are out there.

So, anyway, I need some recommendations on other shows that a DB fan like me might enjoy.

And what I mean by that is shows that are similar in "tone" but not necessarily content. I guess a good analogy would be shows that are more like "Project A-Ko" and less like "Perfect Blue". Less like "Serial Experiments Lain" and more like...um, I don't know, "The New Cutey Honey". ..Like I said I haven't seen or even know of much.

Point being, I'd like to check out a few good shows that won't depress me too much and will entertain while waiting to buy new DB stuff.

If the shows also had a lot of episodes, were out on DVD, and also were less expensive then what loving DB does to the wallet - obviously that would be a big plus.

But let me know whatever you can think of...

Thanks...

[El_Diablo]

In before someone says Naruto / One Piece or Bleach.

Browse some manga in a bookshop and see what takes your fancy, then you can work your way from there.

[Jerseymilk]

Anything that I think I'll find interesting really, though I'm currently doing Naruto(gives me my DB-esque fix), Elfen Lied, Chrno Crusade, and the Area 88 tv series. I highly recommend them all by the way. Other things I love watching are Asian martial arts films, and especially Jackie Chan. Also anything involving (Beat) Takeshi Kitano.

[The Mole]

I can't believe El_Diablo or Jerseymilk didn't mention this show: FullMetal Alchemist!

[SpaceKappa]

Naruto and One Piece are the obvious choices, as both feature the naive main character who inspires and befriends those around them. Other than that, there's nothing really in the same "vein" as Dragon Ball per se. There's a lot of different anime I like, but I don't think they'd be appealing to EVERY Dragon Ball fan.

[Bejiita]

Since I don't actually watch other anime, let me suggest a film called 'In the Line of Duty', it's an old martial arts film from 1988 with Cynthia Khan and Donnie yen, and the fight choreographer is the man who did the Matrix, and many Jet Li films.

This is a film where it's plot doesn't ruin the action of the film, there are fight scenes nonstop, it is awesome, check it out, I thought it was very fast paced DBZ style fighting.

[Panda]

Depends on your interests on different genres goes:

Action packed: Naruto and Bleach (waah, they are good examples) or may I suggest sports manga?

Romance Galore: NANA, Fullmoon, Shojo Beat may also be a good source for these types.

A Good Story: Now & Then, Here & There is a very good series that I think you would enjoy. Also Grave of the Fireflies.

Other manga/anime I have found interesting in perspective are Excel Saga, Hikaru No Go, Ranma 1/2, Kamunagara, Death Note, and many more.

I hope these suggestions will work for you to entertain you and make you a more well-rounded fan.

[Meri]

"Hajime no Ippo," (AKA: "Fighting Spirit" in Geneon's DVD release) without a doubt. This is a series about boxing, but it has VERY DBZ-like qualities (in a good way). Great pacing, great characters, goofy comedy, people striving to get stronger, and AMAZING action and animation; this show's got it all for the DBZ-lover. It's even a somewhat long-running series!

VegettoEX and I are heavily in to this show right now, and is easily one of the best shounen series I've seen in years. I'm surprised it's not more popular, but the people who do know of it seem to adore it.

[Hao_Kaiser]

I can't believe El_Diablo or Jerseymilk didn't mention this show: FullMetal Alchemist!

I've found FMA to be a bit depressing sometimes, which isn't what the topic poster person is looking for. It's still great though, and I agree with you, they should check it out anyways.

Anyways, I'm assuming your only source for anime comes from American releases... Yeah... then I would totally avoid One Peice, unless you go for the manga, the dub is pretty, eh... sucky, yes, thats the word. Naruto's dub is tolerable, and BoBo-Bo is ok too, just kinda hard to follow.

And Cowboy Bebop is cool too, just kinda depressing at some points.

[Sebastian (SB)]

Beet The Vandel Buster because of the reasons Mizugi said above, the pacing reminds me a lot of the DBZ series, & the character designs for the Vandels & Monsters are very resemblant of Toriyama's art style.

On a side note, these are the same guys that did Dragon Quest: Dai no Daiboken (Koji Inada & Riku Sanjo) & interestingly enough, Toriyama does the character designs for Dragon Quest video games...though I'm pretty sure everyone knew that (Oh how things revolve).

[Pedro The Hutt]

You'd like Dr. Slump too obviously. ;D As it's another Toriyama manga.

[Jerseymilk]

I can't believe El_Diablo or Jerseymilk didn't mention this show: FullMetal Alchemist!

I didn't mention it because I'm not currently watching it. If I mentioned all the anime shows I love that I've seen, it would be a really long post.

[SonGokuGT]

Another one of Toriyama's mangas would be Kajika! The action and storyline is very Dragonball-esque in many ways. It may only be a single tankoubon, but it is truely excellent and I believe any self-respecting Toriyama fan should pick up a copy!

[Tsukento]

Beet The Vandel Buster because of the reasons Mizugi said above, the pacing reminds me a lot of the DBZ series, & the character designs for the Vandels & Monsters are very resemblant of Toriyama's art style.

Let's not forget that Freeza's seiyuu plays a role as one of the villains, too.

In terms of Fullmetal, having seen the series, I would say it's not something very similar that would get a Dragon Ball fan into it unless they were open minded. The show's just one heart and brain twister right after the other, what with several deaths of even important characters and plot twist right after another.

Hm, kinda odd how no one suggested YuYu Hakusho. o_o Involves fighting, has a tournament, the afterlife is involved, and plenty of energy blasts are around. Can't forget there's also enemies who become allies as well as a touch of comedy sprinkled in.

[TheMajinRedComet]

Yup Yu Yu Hakusho is one of my favorite animes, it more violent and funny then DBZ and it fights even near the end still hold a touch of reality unlike DBZ.

[Sebastian (SB)]

Beet The Vandel Buster because of the reasons Mizugi said above, the pacing reminds me a lot of the DBZ series, & the character designs for the Vandels & Monsters are very resemblant of Toriyama's art style.

Let's not forget that Freeza's seiyuu plays a role as one of the villains, too.

In terms of Fullmetal, having seen the series, I would say it's not something very similar that would get a Dragon Ball fan into it unless they were open minded. The show's just one heart and brain twister right after the other, what with several deaths of even important characters and plot twist right after another.

Hm, kinda odd how no one suggested YuYu Hakusho. o_o Involves fighting, has a tournament, the afterlife is involved, and plenty of energy blasts are around. Can't forget there's also enemies who become allies as well as a touch of comedy sprinkled in.

Yes, Ryusei Nakao as Shaggy. Also Toshio Furukawa (Piccolo in DBZ) voiced Raio & Hikaru Midorikawa (No. 16) voiced Zenon.

[MultilangDBZ]

Now that we're onto voice actors, I would say Slam Dunk (a basketball manga and anime). And if you're a Mirai Trunks fan also, even better. Kusao Takeshi who voiced Mirai Trunks in DBZ is also the voice actor of the main protagonist in the Slam Dunk anime, as Hanamichi Sakuragi.

And animation-wise, I know loads of people who liked the style of DB/DBZ/GT being equally, if not more, fanatic about Slam Dunk - myself included. The humor also is excellent in Slam Dunk.

[Jerseymilk]

I thought I'd mention one of my favourite "sleeper hit" animes, "Soul Hunter(Houshin Engi)". It's also based on ancient Chinese literature, has mystical martial arts fighting, has a large cast of characters, and has that epic and questing feel to it. Unfortunately it was released over here around the same time as "Saiyuki" so it was rather overshadowed by the latter. I really recommend it though. Also funnily enough, Takeshi Kusao(Trunks) voices the character of Suupuushan in it.

[SaiyaJedi]

I'll further the recommendation for One Piece.

Not only is it the obvious successor to DB in terms of both fan popularity and commercial success, but the story has both greater emotional weight and a better comedic mix than DB, and a sense that it's been planned out ahead of time (with events happening earlier in the story affecting things much later in an obvious-in-hindsight kind of way). The story also includes ruminations on topics such as the nature of real justice, and what it takes to be a man, without ever feeling bogged down by it.

In addition to all that, Eiichiro Oda (the author) adores Akira Toriyama in a very fanboyish kind of way (he even has a signed Toriyama self-portrait on his wall), and the two share both a professional relationship and one as fans of each other's work. At the same time, Oda isn't showing any signs of losing interest in his own series, even after 8 and a half years of serialization. In fact, I'd say the series just reached another high point.

So... in short, I'd definitely recommend giving One Piece a shot. the manga's up to volume 9 in English, and the translation's pretty decent (though I'm keeping my fingers crossed on future volumes), but there is also a freely available web-translation that's mostly accurate, which you can use with the Japanese comics. There is no English dub of the series (the "One Piece" you might have heard of airing on Fox or Cartoon Network is some bizarro parallel universe where the series sucks in almost every way), but there are well-translated fansubs that are relatively easy to find, and far enough along that you'll be kept busy for quite a while if you decide to stick with the series.

And that's my vote!

[Mr. Announcer]

Well I'm not sure but I think most DB fans would enjoy Ghibli movies, or most people in general. It seems to go hand in hand if you like the whole lighthearted and hardcore thing put together.

Also, there's definitely the whole One Piece/ Naruto thing even though Naruto kind of annoys me, but they're in that area.