One thing to keep in mind is that it's partly because in America teenagers are the main demo of manga/anime (and mainstream American comics, for that matter), so they mainly translate stuff that appeals to them. One of the thing's that's cool about manga is how much subject matter it covers, there's even stuff aimed specifically at businessmen. You just don't see that in English.

Anime and manga is like any other medium, in that most of it isn't good, but once you factor in taste and the shows that are worth watching, there is something for everyone. Osamu Tezuka alone covers androids, unlicensed surgeons, fairy tales, the Buddha, and many other topics. There is Slayers, which is essentially an humerous D&D game that made it onto film. Gundam 0079, a story of war, human evolution, and oversized weapon development.

Just think about what you like, then ask on an anime forum if there is an anime with that sort of thing. It is pretty likely that it got covered, and very well done at that. :)

I've heard people claim that the cartoons and anime on Adult (<------) Swim were for children.

In Japan, there is anime/manga targetted at all demographics. There is tons targeted at little kids, tons targeted at teenagers, and tons targeted towards adults. And the genres are more varied than Hollywood movies.

I have a bunch of really nice manga on my shelves, and they cover all kinds of interests. Besides them, there is also an number of American and European comics that are well worth reading. People may think that drawn works are for children, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Here is a listing of some of them, going by topic and name.

JAPANESE
Cuisine - Bambino! (Italian food)
Education - The Manga Guide to Electricity
Tribal life - Bride's Story
Merchants - Spice & Wolf
Religion - Buddha
Medicine - Black Jack
Dolls - Rozen Maiden
Teaching - The Greatest Teacher Onizuka
Robots - Astro Boy
Humor - Ranma 1/2
Adventure - Dragonball


AMERICAN
Childhood - Calvin & Hobbes
Humor - The Far Side
Orwellian - Squadron Supreme
History - The Cartoon History of the Universe (200+ pages per book)
Physics - The New Way Things Work
Fantasy - Star War: The Thrawn Trilogy

EUROPEAN
Mystery - Tintin
Civil War - The Bluecoats
Mystery - The Yellow M
Vikings - Asterix

There is many other drawn works that I am aware of, and they cover a far wider variety than I have listed. Life is good. :)

Give Madoka a shot... Starts out as typical magical girl show then turns everything on it's head by episode 3 (Warning dont let kids watch)

Here is some others that are pretty interesting and not moe lol

Ghost in the Shell SAC (stand alone complex)
Eden Of the East
Deadman Wonderland
(Although to get the full story you have to read the manga as well since the anime only lasted a little while)
Afro Samurai
(Dont expect anything but a stylish, grind-house, Samuel Jackson revenge story)
Personally don't find it worth it for character development to be thrown out the window and one of the most perverted/pathetic scenes at the beginning of the Movie...

I can name several series that range from somewhat bloody to full on OMGWTF.

For instance...

Case Closed - mystery/detective series that tends to have more than a few murders
Code Geass - mecha combat show that is not afraid to kill people off
Basilisk - ninja drama with lots of fights and death
Cowboy Bebop - drama about space bounty hunters
Fullmetal Alchemist - story about two brothers attempting to find the Philosopher's Stone while one serves in the military
Martian Successor Nadesico - space mecha/combat series
Trigun - about an outlaw with a massive bounty on his head
Trinity Blood - about a world where vampires coexist with humans
Blood+
Samurai 7

I think that goes under humor, and freaking amazing. Great Teacher Onizuka, people need to look that one up. One of my favorites. The show is better but the manga is two times as long.

oO

Your list is good though, lots of variety indeed.


Yes, but the live show is utter rubbish.

I agree about GTO manga - it's amazing. I've bought the entire saga. So freaking funny.

Ps. As for romance I also can recommend NANA , how could I forget about it?

Ovoon, you might be interested in GTO: The Early Years, which covers the time before Onizuka became a teacher.

Cambrey: I think that one got misfiled. :)