1 I put it on the list because of all the people who said that it's "like ZnT". That said, I know that they are more different than DBZ and Naruto. Still, this is the true story.

2 Hah.  I got the reverse of that.

There are some similarities, but SnS has a stronger plot and more fully realised characters.  And is rather darker - without being a gorefest like Elfen Lied appears to be.

3

Well, since I don't do fansubs, it means I'm going to be stuck waiting for months before the series ends.

The second DVD is out now, but I'm going to wait until the third DVD appears in late January and order them both.

4 I think that's a good plan.  Certainly it would be a painful show to watch at one episode per week.

5

It would deeply suck to watch SnS at an episode a week.  My wife and I watched the entire thing in two days -- and the only reason we didn't watch it all in one go was because it was midnight when we hit episode 10 and we had to be responsible adults and get some sleep.

I watched Elfen Leid a couple years ago in a single sitting  (http://fuzzygeek.com/index.cfm?AID=1739).  I really hesitate to recommend it to anyone; I think it's something people have to decide to watch for themselves.

6

Also, if you haven't seen the Shakugan no Shanatan (where they parody various scenes with Shana or Hecate in chibi form), I can put them somewhere for you.

They're rather amusing.

7 Heh.  Yes, I've seen Shanatan. :)

8

I'll recommend Elfen Lied with the caveat that it IS messy, there ARE some fairly graphic scenes, but if you like horror, you'll like this.

I don't like horror... but I did like EL.  It's just that good.

9 I don't generally like horror, but I liked 3x3 Eyes a lot, so I might give Elfen Lied a try.

10

I don't know if I'd consider EL "horror" per se.  Some pretty horrific things do happen, but the intent is not to frighten, nor to show gore for gore's sake (e.g. slasher flicks) -- but to make a point about a character, or the story.

There's context for pretty much everything that happens, which makes for a good internally consistent story.  The downside is that some of the stuff that happens is pretty ... horrific.  :)

11

Also btw -- back to Shana.  Have you seen the Special -- "Love and Outdoor Hot Spring Tutorial!" ?

I have a raw cap of it, but unsubtitled, but (oddly) haven't seen a subbed version.