I'm having a hard time finding anime (series or films) that I actually want to watch! My main exposure to anime is Ghibli films. When it comes to anything animated, I'm pretty much half and half with art versus story in my judgment. So, if I don't like the art at all, it's unlikely that even a good story will be enough to make me watch it.

Other than Ghibli (my favorites, by the way, are Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Howl's Moving Castle) the films I have seen and enjoyed are Summer Wars and Wolf Children. As for series, I watched a little bit of Bleach (it's too much though! I want something that ends before I get bored with it) Usagi Drop and Tiger & Bunny. I've watched a little K-On! and I started watching Marwaru Penguindrum (I think that's the right name) but it seemed like it was starting to have some incest and I stopped. I don't like things that are very sexual, nor too violent. And pretty art is a must.

Ping me please!

For beautiful art, obligatory recommendation of 5 Centimeters per Second.

You might also like The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and, as a Ghibli fan, you have to watch the adorable Ponyo.

Series similar to Bleach (shounen) all have tons of episodes. Soul Eater is probably the closest but at only 51 episodes.

For something similar to K-On!, try Lucky Star (follows the life of a group of cute little girls).

Finally, if you liked Penguindrum, you could try the classic Revolutionary Girl Utena.

I think that's it. Hope it helps ~

Ah yes, I love Ponyo! I should have listed that as a favorite too.

Thank you for the suggestions. I'll have to check those out. (:

I second 5 cm per second!! it's actually my favorite animated movie, along with wolf children. 5 cm per second actually made me tear up, so keep that in mind before you watch it. another movie I really liked was saint young men, but the appeal isn't very universal so you might not like it.

I'm pretty much the same when it comes to art appeal, like it seriously needs to have some nice animation or I can't get into it at all. mostly I watch slice of life stuff like k-on!, I can give you some of my favorite slice of life recommendations. all of these are pretty short with only one or two seasons:

-hyouka: this is my absolute favorite slice of life anime, it has pretty serious subject matter but it's not so heavy that it's pretentious or depressing. it's a pretty smart crime solver in a sort of nancy drew kind of way; the humor is awesome as well -daily lives of high school boys: pretty much a hilarious tale of a few high school boys doing daily things. kind of immature but I thought it was really funny -nichijou: the female counterpart to daily lives of highschool boys -chuunibyou demo koi ga shitai!: kind of more on the fantasy/romance spectrum of slice of life. I thought it was surprisingly touching and not cheesy despite the romance element -anohana: pretty depressing but in a bittersweet kind of way. if you've lost a friend or someone important to you without a proper goodbye(or longing for closure) then this series will probably have more of an effect on you

Thanks for the recommendations! Hyouka looks really good and I had never heard of it before.

you're welcome! hyouka starts off kinda slow but I was really into it by the end. hopefully you like it too c:

I just started the first couple of episodes. So far so good!

Something that really gives me a Ghibli vibe is Tsuritama! It's only 12 episodes and has 1 season, but the story is really good (it's mostly slice-of-life with a small fantasy twist about halfway through). There's nothing violent or sexual, and it's generally just a happy anime. As for the art style, it's nothing too unique, but the colors give off a bright feel-good atmosphere, if that's what you're looking for. Good luck in your search!

Have you watched Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind? It's a pre Studio Ghibli movie but directed by Hayao Miyazaki as well. :3

If you don't mind your average teenaged love drama found in today's slice of life, Nagi no Asukara fits the "omg those backgrounds are sooooo pretty my eyesss" bill perfectly.

Uchouten Kazoku (The Eccentric Family) has substance in both visuals and story.

Seconding Tsuritama if you like a bright palette and don't mind a slightly rougher style than the polished slice of life.

Definitely seconding The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.

Finally, Little Witch Academia is a cute short movie from 2012 Young Animator Training Project.

I have to say Aria! Aria's a gentle little series with emphasis on scenery, worldbuilding, and positive relationships. Also the music is lovely. Though it's not very deep on story, I suppose. It's simply nice, sad, or happy things that happen in a distant future where Mars is 90% water and the main character decides to become a gondolier.

Give this one a go: Summer Wars. Not only is the art good, there's combat and romance all packaged in one! I'm a hardcore fan of Ghibli (and a poor one at that) so if I liked it, you totally will!

I'd like to know a few other movies myself, since I've only ever seen Miyazaki and Hosoda films. XD I've been urged to watch 5cm Per Second though, so maybe I'll give that a shot one day.

Oh! "You are Umasou" is a super cute one!

I've also heard of "Junkers, Come Here!" and there's a short film called "The Ringing Bell of Chirin" but it's very dark.

'Toyko Godfathers' by Satoshi Kon might be up your alley. Like Ghibli, the art is well-done and really fluid, plus the story is top-notch. A lot of Kon's stuff is like Ghibi, but for adults. His animation is amazing and his stories have won a ton of awards, plus there's always an element of the fantastic, but Tokyo Godfathers doesn't have the same level of violence/sexuality as some of Kon's other works.

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