There’s some movies I never get tired of watching: the original Star Wars trilogy, Spaceballs, Scrooged, Ghostbusters, Big Trouble in Little China, and so on. I don’t know why I don’t get bored with these movies, or what there is specifically about them which makes them so appealing as to be re-watched once or twice a year. Most movies I watch once and then never again. Just don’t feel the need. But the other ones have a special space on my DVD shelf.
Maybe it’s because some of the movies I love are so simplistic and so fun, they don’t require much effort on my part. I tend to not re-watch movies with themes that are too heavy or too depressing. I take those types of films in once and let the messages slowly titrate into my skull.
I find some anime lend themselves to being highly re-watchable. Anime with light, disconnected themes are the top ones on my re-watch list. I love Cromartie High, and haven’t grown tired of it yet. It still makes me laugh and I still think the gags are great. Azumanga Daioh is another highly re-watchable series, probably for the same reason Cromartie High is. Both series are disconnected, random and funny.
I also like to re-watch action anime. That stuff never gets old. But it’s gotta be good action like say, Cowboy Bebop. That’s a damn fine anime with a fast pace, lots of action and plenty of intrigue.
What qualities do you like in a re-watchable anime and which anime has what it takes to be re-watchable to you? Does it need to be an action, comedy, sci-fi, or romance anime? Should it be funny, fast-paced, or should it be something you need to ponder over? Which anime has the best re-watchability?
Share your most re-watchable anime in the comments below! We all wanna know which anime gives you the most entertainment for your dollar!
A few number of anime series that i managed to rewatch in the past were: hunter x hunter, hikaru no go, bleach, a couple of naruto episodes and full metal alchemist. As for these older series, it was my attachment to the characters and my love for the story/plot that made me watch them again. And in fact i still do watch my favorite episodes from the bunch, from time to time. As for the newer ones, it’s highly possible that i’d rewatch “the melancholy of haruhi suzumiya” and “true tears”, even if it’s not even halfway finished. The former, because of the comedy and subtle romance (i can’t imagine myself not watching it again in the future; i just love kyon) and the latter for the wonderful flow of plot and romance.
For me it’s
1:Love Hina – My comfort anime
2:Ghost Hunt – a close second.
3:Tenchi Muyo – All of em
I’ve seen each series in it’s entirety at least 7 or more times. They are the best of the best.
Azumanga – Daioh is good for an episode here and there, so is Lucky Star
Lucky Star is great, since it doesn’t have a really integrated plot (if you could argue there being one at all). You can watch any episode and just have a good time.
But my comfort anime is Cardcaptor Sakura.
I don’t know if there is any set standard for what makes an anime a good re-watchable show. If there is any standard it’s just that it should just plain be a good show.
Probably the two shows that I rewatch the most often are Kanon (before it got licensed) and Angelic Layer (followed closely by Chobits and CCS. Yes, I love CLAMP. So shoot me.)
I’m not sure that any of these shows necessarily have any obviously similar traits to one another. Kanon is primarily a Drama, Chobits is a comedy, Angelic Layer is kind of a inspirationally action show, and CCS is of course a magical girl show. But they’re all good in their own ways which make them easy rewatches for me (though plowing through 70 episodes and 2 movies for CCS can be rather time consuming).
Azumanga is also a good pick though, if I’m in the mood for it.
Have to throw my voice in for Kanon as well. I think the production quality and mix of comedy and drama make it something I could watch again and again. Clannad is proving to be the same. Haruhi as well. KyoAni has a good track record for a reason I guess.
Black Lagoon would be another one I could watch and rewatch. Great action, memorable dialogue, and a rocking opening theme.
Rewatching Bleach would be easier if I could just get the fights I want to see. Jumping from episode to episode skipping the parts that aren’t as rewatchable kills it.
Vampire Hunter D is a classic, and Bloodlust is gorgeous. Just excellent storytelling all the way through.
FLCL makes for a good afternoon review.
Looking at my list, I think the common thread is you’ll rewatch what you enjoy. Some shows stand up better than others. Of course, if you’re busy with all the new shows, I won’t spend as much time rewatching old ones. It’s nice to have them on hand when the urge strikes tho.
I just finished Seirei no Moribito and that will be re-watched in the near future:) It has an excellent storyline, graphic and soundtrack. No.1 anime for me:P
Disagree with Cowboy Bebop, for a while I use to watch that show over and over again until I got overexposed and had to ignore the show completely for a few months so I could forget every second of it.
Second FLCL and also agree with Haruhi. Also want to throw in Cromartie High School, since you can pop in any episode and get a good laugh.
Another vote for FLCL, the music alone is a good reason to have it playing in the background while I’m cleaning
I decided to think of this question as “which series have you watched the most times?” Which leaves me with Trigun, Samurai Champloo, the first Tenchi Muyo series, Ranma 1/2 and Elfen Lied. Ninja Nonsense might be on the list, but I tend to just watch a random episode or to instead of watching it in sequence. Black Lagoon will most likely make this list in the next year or so – I’ve already been though it three times. As will Death Note, eventually.
I think the tighter, shorter series are more re-watchable in general. Which is why Bleach and Naruto didn’t make the list. I love them, but its hard to watch 100 episodes in a weekend
I’d say Cardcaptor Sakura. I think shows that are the most rewatchable tend to be the ones that bring back the most nostalgia. CCS was a part of my childhood/adolescence and comforted me when I was going through a lot of difficulties. To this day, I still savour its pureness, which helped me through the hard times.
for me its
Full Moon Wo Sagashite
GITS
Higurashi
Beck
FMA
Wolfs Rain
Blood+
Last Exils
R.O.D
FOr me it would have to be
1.FLCL
2.R.O.D.
3.Cowboy Bebop
4.Trigun
yea thats it XP
@eipu, sounds like romances have a high re-watchability factor for you.
@Voodoomage, are you also a comedy romance re-watcher? “Comfort anime”…love it! ^^b
@Crisu, it does seem that random anime has that special something that lends itself to being re-watchable.
@Josh, no one gets shot here for luv’n CLAMP, so you’re safe!
@TriOmegaZero, Vampire Hunter D is another re-watchable anime, thanks for reminding me! (goes and digs through anime collection for D)
@Ryuuzaki, I don’t think we’ll ever see Seirei no Moribito stateside unless another distributor picks it up from Geneon….
@Chiku, Yeah, Cromartie High is just one of those shows I can never get tired of.
@McE, I still haven’t finished FLCL, I can’t seem to get into it.
@Asuka, CCS does have a comforting, life-affirming vibe, doesn’t it? I’m glad it was there for you to draw on!
@Smeagol, I loved Wolf’s Rain, but it’s too depressing to keep re-watching.
@Cliff, CB is an all time classic re-watcher!
@Rachel
i know what you mean but sill watchet it 10 times so far
full metal panic!!!!, 2nd raid and fumoffu!!!!
I’d have to say that one of the best to re-watch is Outlaw Star.
Trigun, Wolf’s Rain, Gundam Wing, and Yu Yu Hakusho are also really good repeat watches.
Gotta agree that Cowboy Bebop, despite being amazing, doesn’t seem to fit this list
If your are talking about an anime series, I would say seirei no moribito is the best for this, as it is always nice to watch. I think they focused mostly on arts and animations, and the soundtrack has been worked on pretty well. For an anime movie, I would say princess mononoke, which also has among the best arts and animations I’ve seen in an anime (most Gibli films have great animations I find).
when you say disconnected themes, I think mushishi which is a series I would defintely watch again, love me some Ginko! I would watch Inuyasha again, because I miss Naraku and the rest of the baddies.