Anime: Any recommendations for other anime that have a similar emotional impact like Elfen lied?

[TelHybrid]

I would recommend Chobits. I'm fairly certain Lucy is a reference to the Chi character. It's a bit more of a fun happy animé than a bleak drama, but features similar themes such as a female protagonist whom can get through the whole series by mostly just a single word, as well as the male protagonist anthropomorphizing her. I'm half way through Chobits myself currently and enjoying it very much.

Code Geass presents a lot of questions about morality and patriotism. The series is about a young man's plight to get Japan's independence back from the Britanian Empire, however his own morality and methods are questionable at times.

Gantz is a great series if you're looking for something a bit dark and bleak. It's very hard to describe. It also has a lot of moments of hilarity as well.

If you haven't already watched it, Death Note. For the love of God, watch it and avoid meme sites (unless you want it spoiled).

If you want a break from the Super natural stuff, give Black Lagoon a try. It's about pirates (as in realistic pirates, not the childish "yaaaargh" pirates). Because of the way it's presented, I keep thinking of it as Just Cause - The TV Series.

 

[witheringsanity]

evangelion
evangelion
evangelion
and..
evangelion.

seriously, how can you NOT have seen this?? it's not so much that it "has" psychologically interesting characters, it's more that it "IS" psychologically interesting characters. the entire series is based upon psychology, both of the characters and people in general. it is steeped (or maybe more DRENCHED) in symbolism. everything has a deeper meaning, even though you're never quite sure what that meaning is.

for the record, i would watch the original series first, followed by the movie "end of evangelion", rather than watching the new ones titled things like "you can (not) advance" and "you can (not) etc etc". while those new movies have much higher production values, they are MUCH shorter, and alot of dialog is scrapped for better action scenes.

so watch the original series first, end of evangelion movie, then the new ones if you so desire

also Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni is an amazing series. more thriller than tragedy, it's a brain-bending trip never the less. if you DO watch higurashi, make sure you don't watch "Kai" or "Rei" before you watch the main series, as they contain HUGE spoilers (i did this by mistake, and was PISSED).

another suggestion, which is not an anime but a game, is 999:9 persons, 9 hours, 9 doors, for the nintendo DS. it's mostly a visual novel, but it's got a very deep story with fascinating characters.

hope this helps

P.S. seriously though, watch evangelion

 

[OniSuika]

I could list suggestions all year long, but if you're looking for something emotionally similar to Elfen Lied, try She: The Ultimate Weapon or Gunslinger Girl. If you just want something downbeat and depressing watch 5 Centimetres Per Second.

And while maybe not emotional to the same extent, Darker Than Black does still kick copious amounts of ass. Watch it. Watch it!

 

[harleysq]

Gunslunger Girls is very similar to Elfen Lied. I didn't like both though. A bit overdone in the despair department.

If you really want something gripping (with alot of variation in well-scripted characters) you should check out Paranoia Agent. That show's basically written for a psychology student.

 

[Da Orky Man]

Code Geass. It takes a while to get to the truly emotional parts, but it's amazing. So machivellian, yet so selfless...

 

[LorienvArden]

Some suggestions from my side:

-EF- a tale of melodies / EF a tale of memories
It's a visual novel turned into animation, with great music and really interesting topics.
- Now and then, here and there
What if a regular teenager gets sucked into a futuristic world in which he gets drafted into a fashist army as a childsoldier. Think 3rd-Reich in anime and discover how it shocks you.
-Nana
Yea, it's shojo slice of life - but I really LIKE how it portrays those two girls and how they deal with life. At least well developed
-School days
What if your lovely-dovely harem suddenly backfires and leaves one of your "partners" as a psychological mess as she discovers 'you' cheated on her ? Brace for the harsh ending.
-Voices of a distant star / 12cm per second.
Shortfilms that convey a cuddly feeling of romance and difficulty.
-Kemono shojo erin
Growing up in a fantasy world, raising fantastic animals and getting involved in political strife, seen from the eyes of a young girl.
-Tokyo Magnitude 8
Two children on their journey through tokyo after a magnitude 8 earthquake. Recent events make this a very touching story.
-Shigofumi
A mailman from the beyond, delivering the last words of the dead to their beloved. Great stuff.
-Legend of the galactic heroes
GRAND series of intergalactic warfare, romance, betrayal and friendship that , in my oppinion, defines how long running series should handle plots.
-Paprika
If you liked Paranoia Agent - this feature length film is an LSD Trip through your brain.
-Strike Witches
If you need to rinse your brain of all that thought - a couple of minutes from this atrocity of a show will be more effective then 100% brainbleach. Seriously, if you want to compare animes, this one will provide you with a very effective example of how NOT to do it.

Actually, Elfen lied is one of my least favorite animes of recent years. Theres just not enough there beside her alien powers and perchance for murder. It's splatter here, splatter there and some squeeling in between. Total overkill on the gore. Compare it to Now and then, here and there and how they manage to include brutal torture and murder without spilling half an ocean of blood on the screen.

edit: added the last two anime.

 

[Ignatz_Zwakh]

Gankutsuou.

 

[Android2137]

The Elfen Lied anime was completely gimped so first and foremost I'd recommend reading the manga. Beyond that Texhnolyze is the first thing that comes to mind. Set in a dystopia, it's the story of a man's quest for revenge after losing it all. Everything is very bleak and much of the story is told through actions rather than dialog.

HONORABLE MRNTIONS:
Serial Experiments Lain: Not exactly something I'd consider good but it tackles the themes you're asking for.
Monster: Well developed characters in a well planned story with psychological overtones.
Koi Kaze: A VERY awkward anime about the complications caused by incest. There's plenty of psychological aspects hidden under the surface if you're willing to hunt for them.


POSSIBLE CONTENDERS:
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Psychological overtones and gore... unfortunately trying to understand the characters is an effort in futility and season 2 takes things in a completely different direction that may be off putting.
Basilisk: Think Japanese Romeo and Juliet but with waring ninja clans and gore. More about politics than individual characters so not quite what you're asking for.
Michiko to Hatchin: Think toned down City of God. Unfortunately the protagonists are a bit too light hearted to really fit your criteria but some of the minor characters might fill the gap; too many minor flaws for me to strongly recommend.
Shiki: Most of the characters are a bit too shallow for what I think you're looking for, but if you ever wondered how a pseudo-realistic outbreak of supernatural creatures in rural Japan might pan out then this is tha anime for you.

EDIT: Almost forgot Kino's Journey admittedly it's not what you claim to be looking for as most of the characters are emotionally dead but it has some moments and functions as a competent deconstruction of various social constructs/political systems.

...:[ You listed the animes that I was going to recommend. Freaking ninja...

 

[NathLines]

I actually have to recommend Code Geass. I think the ending will give you the emotional impact that you're looking for. If you like complex characters, you'll find them there as well Just, instead of looking past the gore(in Elfen Lied's case) just look past the giant robots.

 

[snappydog]

Death Note had something of an impact on me, and the psychology of the Light-L dichotomy's definitely interesting.

 

[TakerFoxx]

Now as for shows that haven't been recommended yet (or at least, I haven't seen recommended when I skimmed over the rest of the posts)...

Angel Beats is lighter in tone than Elfen Lied, but still very heart wrenching in its own right. There's some pacing problems, but it's still highly recommended.

Narutaru Shadowstar. These series will tear your heart out out and stomp on it. Only problem is that the anime only covers half the manga and feels incomplete, while the English-translated manga is crazy hard to find.

Baccano and Durarara are two great go-to's for mature, philosophical animes with a sense of humor. Again, lighter in tone than Elfen Lied, but still pretty damned dark in their own right.

I'd also give Saikano an honorable mention. Personally I found it to be overrated and a bit narmy, but people seem to like it.

 

[Harkonn3n]

I could quote everyone here, but I personally don't want too see what the message ends up looking like.

I do, however, want too thank everyone in this thread
I'm new to the escapist and I didn't expect such a large reaction to my thread.

You've all been a tremendous help, thanks again!

 

[darksakul]

One I am sure no on mentioned yet

Millennium Actress. it is a 87 minuet motion picture that did very well in japan, but due to poor advertisement and limited showing did terribly in the US. You can now get the anime on DVD.


Millennium Actress is a story about a Elderly actress which reality and the fantasy of the many peoples she appears in gets blurred as she recounts her past life to a interviewer

 

[Outright Villainy]

Well, if you want to feel horribly depressed, then watch Grave of the Fireflies.

I'm talking pure masochism here, I can't really recommend it otherwise.

My thoughts on Elfen Lied are mixed. On the one hand, I did kinda feel for the Lucy character in the flashback scenes. On the other hand there's everything else. Non stop fanservice, and cringeworthy slice of life comedy which just seems really out of place next to the conspiracy business going on. I liked the show when I first saw it, but it was one of the first animes I saw. Looking back on it now, not so much.

Actually, in all honesty, the best show I can recommend for something with heart, and realy emotional impact, is Full Metal Alchemist. The orinal anime that is. It's simply amazing.

 

[Naheal]

Puella Magia Madoka Magika.

See: Magical girl anime that keeps the psychological impact of what they're doing along with a few... dark twists on the genre itself.

 

[Smertnik]

Was 5cm Per Second already mentioned? Definitely recommend this.
Also Ef - A Tale of Memories. It's a series about relationships between various people. Been a while since I watched it but I remember it making me cry.
Myself, Yourself is quite decent as far as I recall. It's about a boy who tries to commit suicide and then returns to his home town where he meets his old childhood acquaintances.
Hmm, you could also watch The Place Promised In Our Early Days.

 

[MonocleClaire]

Puella Magi Madoka Magica.





No, I'm not joking.

 

[Harkonn3n]

My thoughts on Elfen Lied are mixed. On the one hand, I did kinda feel for the Lucy character in the flashback scenes. On the other hand there's everything else. Non stop fanservice, and cringeworthy slice of life comedy which just seems really out of place next to the conspiracy business going on. I liked the show when I first saw it, but it was one of the first animes I saw. Looking back on it now, not so much.

I found the fan-service out of place and distasteful along with their *attempt* at humour. (I just skip those bits now and move on to Lucy's struggle)

So I really just focus on Lucy, the events leading to her flawed and broken character and the hardships the other characters had to endure as well. (You know, the things that actually *interest* me from a psychological point of view.

I suppose it has something to do with my mother having multiple personality disorder leading to her suicide when I was younger. I must of made a vague connection to empathize and protect broken and troubled individuals.

 

[Harkonn3n]

Puella Magi Madoka Magica.





No, I'm not joking.

Recently watched, extremely good anime...the animation, art style and story is quite brilliant

 

[Zaik]

Uh, lol?

Any mediocre anime with a bunch of pointless fanservice crammed in.