Good first episodes

[Mad March Harris]

I honestly can't think of any show where the first episode is what sold me on it. Cowboy Bebop probably would've but I went into the show with the intention to watch the whole thing anyway.

Can anyone think of a show that they watched SOLELY because the first episode was amazing? Even a show where the first episode was actually even very good compared to later events will do.

[The-Excel]

Azumanga Daioh?

[PBz0r]

I thought the first episode of Bebop wasn't that special, the show only grew on me in later episodes.

Anyway I think any shows I watched more than one episode of can be considered to have a good first episode (well except for Higurashi), but I'll think of some standouts. First, I'm gonna have to say Macross Frontier. That first episode was just too cool, but it all went downhill from there for me. Even though I realized the show was not for me after only a few more episodes, I still watched all of it in the hopes of seeing something similar to episode 1.

Soul Eater also springs to mind as a show that was off to a really good start, and I thought Baccano!'s first was cool as well, if not as good as it was unique. But the most memorable first episode in recent memory has to be Ga-Rei Zero's. I still can't believe they did that and OF COURSE I was going to watch the next episode. Glad I did,

Also: every comedy I've ever seen. Gag anime and slice of life comedies don't offer a lot of surprises so the first episode often gives a pretty good idea of what to expect. Detroit Metal City is a great example.

[The-Excel]

R.O.D. the TV had a pretty cool first episode. Shame that nothing else happens for four more.

[MarlinClock]

Kimi ni Todoke's was fantastic.

[Mad March Harris]

The first episode of Bebop had one of the best fights in the entire series.

[MATR!X]

Actually the first episode of Samurai Champloo, although I've still yet to get very far into the series... ^ ^'

[MarlinClock]

Shamploo's a good example.

I liked FMA's first episode for what it's worth.

Big O too.

[Mandril]

I recently rewatched Kemonozume, and that first episode has EVERYTHING.

In this order:

1) It starts with a camera in a fishtank.
2) A badass fight with huge monsters who get cut into pieces
3) Somebody shits his pants
4) A martial arts business-meeting which introduces the characters
5) Romantic tension between the main character and Female #1
6) A monkey
7) A matrix-esque dodging bullets scene
8) A BADASS SPARRING MATCH WITH THE MONKEY, IN WHICH THE MONKEY KICKS ASS AND PULLS DOWN SOMEBODY'S PANTS.
9) Female #2 falls out of the sky and the main character becomes obsessed with her
10) Main character and Female #2 meet the next day and have sex.
11) Not once, not twice, but in 3 consecutive scenes they're making love.
12) Here's the kicker: SHE TURNS INTO A MONSTER WHEN SHE GETS EXCITED. IN OTHER WORDS, WITH EVERY THRUST!

All this combined with the amazing camera angles, gives me a huge anime boner.

I rest my case.

[Gee-Man]

Champloo's first episode drew me in instantly. Cowboy Bebop's first episode was cool, but it wasn't interesting enough to get me totally excited. Took a few more viewings of the infinitely more awesome opening sequence to do that. Meanwhile, all I needed to see was BREAKDANCING SAMURAI and I was hooked on Champloo.

[seltzermx]

GTO's first ep was amazing.
Hmmm.... Most of the first ep of Ga-Rei Zero seemed generic, but the last few minutes are what got me hooked.

As a side question (cuz someone mentioned the show above), J-tor ranked Azumanga Daioh pretty high in its top anime thing so I decided to give it a go. So far I'm about 11-12 episodes in, and I guess I really can't see what's so special about the show. The only chracters I really like are Osaka and Yukari. Other than that, some of them slowly get on my nerves as the episodes progress. And that dream episode was soo sloooooow, I think I fell asleep for a bit while watching.

Don't get me wrong, I love slice of life shows, and I'm a sucker for romantic shows like ToraDora, but I just can't seem to get into it. Is there something I'm missing.

[MarlinClock]

Idno what to say, really. I thought it had a good pace, I don't think some of the jokes would work as well if they were rushed. All I gotta ask is that you at least give it 'till episode 16. That is one of the greatest ever.

[DickMcVengeance]

Lucky Star: Best first episode ever. I dare you to prove me wrong.

[PBz0r]

Lucky Star: Best first episode ever. I dare you to prove me wrong.

Get out of here, you. |:

[The Amazing Shenazin]

R.O.D. the TV had a pretty cool first episode. Shame that nothing else happens for four more.

I was about to say R.O.D The TV too

R.O.D The TV was my first exposure to the Read or Die universe (I wouldn't see the OVA till later) and I loved it from day 1

[TheGoldenDonut]

Cross Game had a pretty awesome(ly sad) first episode.

[PBz0r]

Cross Game had a pretty awesome(ly sad) first episode.

Oh, of course, this. I quit watching later on so I forgot all about it.

[Buddha]

I always thought the first episode of Neon Genesis was an excellent first episode, it was very light compared to the rest of the series, but I enjoyed it very much.

I had the intention of watching the entire series when I first watched it, but it made me even more excited to continue watching the series.

[scientific railgun]

Lucky Star: Best first episode ever. I dare you to prove me wrong.

Lucky Star's first episode won me over by the chocolate hornet discussion.
Tee-hee. Kawaii desu ne. I already watched all of it. Really relaxing.

Samurai Champloo's first episode is action-packed, It's the first time I've seen a hiphop samurai whose fighting style is fused with breakdancing. Kakkoi! Very Cool indeed for the first episode that I rushly watched the series right away but the ending is kinda sad for me.
But still, it's a great series.

I like FMA Brotherhood's first episode that I can't help but to watch all the episodes that I have till I reached the latest episode and then have to wait for a week for the next. I'm crazy for it!

GA-REI's first episode is a massacre and will shock you. It's on the succeeding flashback episodes where you'll get the heck of what happened. After I watched the whole series, I learned that it's a prequel to the manga. That's why it's Ga-Rei Zero. It's obviously advertising Pocky. I love Pocky!