Why are lesser known anime so unknown?!

[Captain Awesome]

I have asked SO MANY people and none of them have heard of awesome animes like Code Geass or Darker Than Black? Seriously? D: Or even at least Tentai Senshi Sun Red D: or One Outs or Kaiji D:

Western anime fans are all about repititive simple anime like Naruto, Bleach, Cowboy Bebop and etcetera.

Not being a dick by the way, just discussing. If I sound like a dick, I'm sorry u_u

[`AdeRin]

Code Geass is pretty good - I was hooked when I was watching it, but to be perfectly honest, I got lost from week to week as it was airing. I'd like to watch it again sometime so that I can get everything back to back rather than in weekly instalments! Darker Than Black is amazing, though I haven't gotten around to starting the second series yet. I've not heard of Tentai Senshi Sun Red, One Outs or Kaiji, but I'm guessing you'd recommend them, so I'll definitely be going off in search of info on them!

You're right that a lot of Western anime fans are mostly just into the "big" anime such as Naruto and Bleach, and to be honest, yep, I'm a Bleach fan (in case the sig/avatart/etc. didn't give it away!!). I don't see the need to belittle these though, as they quite obviously cater to a fan base, and as a part of that fanbase, I'm happy with that As long as I get my weekly fix of Bleach, I'm a happy bunny ^^"

However, I do agree with you that a lot of people don't bother to branch out into lesser known anime. It's true that that usually means they're harder to find, but personally I kinda like having to trawl the internet for a specific episode. It's part of the fun! For example, I don't think I know anyone who's heard of the film Sword of the Stranger, yet I have to say that it's possibly one of my favourites. I could watch that film back to back for days.

_{You may want to change the title of this thread to "Discussion of lesser known anime" or something if you want it to be a discussion thread rather than a "Bleach/Naruto-bashing thread"}

[Captain Awesome]

I've seen Sword of the Stranger 3 times xD it has the most realistic animation ever

[`AdeRin]

Finally!!! You're right - the animation is fantastic. The dub is actually quite good too, which surprised me a little.

[Captain Awesome]

Dub... <_<

[kai]

Personally I like Naruto, Bleach and Cowboy Bebop. Would like to start One Piece one day as well. Not saying that they are the best, but they're damn fun to watch.
I also like Code Geass and One Outs (Code Geass has to be one of my favourites actually), and I've heard of all the rest you mentioned.
Sometimes I watch shows which are obviously aren't as good in quality. But I'm a completionist, and generally there are still some good points.
In fact, I like anime full stop

[wandercrest]

I like a couple of the big name anime, Naruto being the one in question!

However I read a LOT of more obscure, less known stuff. Its mostly shoujo but I still read it. The one shounen manga i've loved since I found it is 'Livingstone' its not updated very much but it was an amazing read! The storyline was quite good!

[XenLár]

I'm totally with all of you on this one.

Most western fans do seem to know only the big ones. I think I've heard of just about all of the ones mentioned here (mostly through Faye-san lol.) but I haven't really watched any of them besides the first 80 odd eps of Bleach (more of a manga person).

I don't think that this is necessarily a bad thing - the big animes are obviously appealing to certain people, and I though I agree with faye-san about having to trawl through databases online to find eps of stuff, I hve to agree that I think it's a shame more people don't know about certain unknown animes.


I also find that it's the same thing with manga. I've read a gazillion manga series but most people only know the big ones - like the big animes' counter parts, or things like Skip Beat, Ouran, Faster than a Kiss, Highschool of the Dead, Hana Yori Dango. It would be great to find other people who have read some of the lesser knowns. Especially as I have read loads of REALLY good manga that no-one's ever heard of. Like, has anyone read Kare First Love, Kaikan Phrase or Crimson Hero?

[kai]

Nope on the manga - anime is my forte. I don't read anything other than Yotsuba&! at the moment, and apart from a few short-ish famous manga (eg. Love Hina, Full Metal Panic!, Chobits) and some random stuff I picked up in a friend's house, that's it.
As people are saying, there's a reason certain stuff is popular

[Captain Awesome]

I bet no one's even read Vagabond either. Its the most epic thing ever in Japan and was even featured in Discovery.

[`AdeRin]

I've heard of it, but it's only in manga as far as I know...? I'm not a big manga reader, unfortunately, but it does sound really cool

[XenLár]

*makes mental note.... vagabond....... lol*

[`AdeRin]

Might not be your sort of thing xD Though, reading more about it now, I'm very tempted to try the manga anyway... *ponders*

[XenLár]

Lol yosh. I shall bug you to read a manga ^^ lol.

[Captain Awesome]

ITS AMAZING!