Looking for thoughtful anime recommendations

[Tselis]

Well, let's see. I guess I would say Death Note for something thoughtful, although grim. Or maybe Soul Eater, which explores both the natures of courage and fear ans just how creepy you can be doing it. There's also Kenichi, the Mightiest Disciple. Besides being uproariously funny, it's actually pretty thoughtful as well on a more personal level. The last one I might recommend is Casshern Sins. It explores the nature of sin and redemption, acceptance & action v. not caring & moving on. Those are my recommendations.

 

[TibJib]

I recently found an anime called Eden of the East on Netflix Instant. Deals with a mystery involving a man with amnesia and a secret organization that he may belong to that seem to have the capability to change the world. It's really interesting, giving just enough answers to balance out all the new questions and keep you interested.

Definitely check it out!

 

[AzureRaven]

Something that makes ya think? Hmm...could try .hack//Sign. I thought it was pretty good in that respect. Only 25 or 26 episodes I believe. Never seen Roots, but I'd imagine it's not too bad either.

There's also Kenichi, the Mightiest Disciple. Besides being uproariously funny, it's actually pretty thoughtful as well on a more personal level.

I was gonna recommend YuYu as I always do but it is kinda mindless sadly(Still my favorite series though). Kenichi however is great. It won't strain your brain, but I wouldn't call it mindless. Definitely worth a watch. Only bad part is the anime stops while the manga keeps going. :/

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

Madoka Magica (12 episodes) and Steins;Gate (24 episodes) are two of my favorites, and they're both from this year.

 

[Lewieroo0]

if your looking for an Anime that will make you think then the best one i can think of from the top of my head would have to be Welcome to the NHK. This series would fit in that category well.

 

[Requi3m]

Ergo Proxy, Ghost in the Shell, Noein, Requiem for the Phantom, Death Note, Code Geass, Darker than Black, Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood (I liked the original very much, but this one is better). They may not all be thought provoking philosophical masterpieces, but at least they're good series that accomplish a lot more than the typical anime.

 

[aprildog18]

The people who posted before me has good anime suggestions.
I also think Tiger & Bunny is a nice watch (currently aired).

 

[Keepeas]

Hey Escapist forums! I've been the mood for a good anime series, but lately I'm getting sick of the medium because it seems all I can stumble upon are cliched, mindless and/or pandering. I want an anime that makes me think.

For reference, my current favorite series is Elfen Lied, not because of the ultraviolence or naked women, but because it raises a lot of difficult questions that I like exploring. I've heard a lot about Paranoia Agent, but I'm on the fence about it.

I would prefer a series that isn't extraordinarily long, but that's really my only stipulation.

So go crazy! I'd love to see what you guys like

Well...not to long ago on these forums I was looking through a thread very similar to this one.
A recommendation came up for a controversial anime...I proceeded to watch it and I loved it.
So I guess I'll recommend it.

Kodomo no Jikan (12 episodes)

It's controversial because of the relationship between a student and a 3rd grader...
yeah that might sound weird but it was in good taste and it has a good story. Trust me.
It's also short and it definitely raises some difficult questions.

Other animes:
Cowboy Bebop (26 ep., heard that one was good)
Naruto (???ep., you probably know of it...but it's worth mentioning)
Dragonball (153 ep., Probably the best anime ever)

And I know it doesn't count but:
My Little Pony
(Sidenote: the thread that recommended "Kodomo no Jikan" was the first time I was recommended MLP...I didn't take it seriously at first, but it's the first thing the drew my attention to it's popularity.)

 

[MurderousToaster]

DEATH NOTE AND CODE GEASS!

*trollface*

Seriously, though, those two are sort of overrated. Code Geass is fun, but I wouldn't call it all that thoughtful and Death Note's suffered from chronic overhyping disorder from its fans.

This one's a bit of a divisive one, but I'd suggest you watch Neon Genesis Evangelion. It's very difficult to describe apart from the way the tvtropes page quote puts it - "This is a giant robot saga in the same way Twin Peaks was a cop show.". Imagine a mecha anime merged with some psychological horror elements put into a bowl with some commentary on humanity and whatnot in a post-apocalyptic setting focusing on a depressed 14-year-old boy selected by his estranged father to pilot a robot with a socially withdrawn girl and an antisocial one. And then imagine that written and directed by a man with clinical depression who comes off of his medicine around episode 18.

Oh, and it managed to single-handedly typecast Spike Spencer as Shinji Ikari expies for life, as well as performing the (altogether more important) feat of revitalising the anime scene in the mid nineties and pretty much setting down the foundations for lots of other anime directors to make dark deconstructions of other genres.

 

[Taunta]

Thank you all for the recommendations! For the record I've already read Death Note and seen Cowboy Bebop, but I'll certainly look into the ones you've suggested.

Hey Escapist forums! I've been the mood for a good anime series, but lately I'm getting sick of the medium because it seems all I can stumble upon are cliched, mindless and/or pandering. I want an anime that makes me think.

For reference, my current favorite series is Elfen Lied, not because of the ultraviolence or naked women, but because it raises a lot of difficult questions that I like exploring. I've heard a lot about Paranoia Agent, but I'm on the fence about it.

I would prefer a series that isn't extraordinarily long, but that's really my only stipulation.

So go crazy! I'd love to see what you guys like

As Higurashi and Deadman Wonderland (though the anime ends in the mid of the story, as it is a manga adaption) got mentioned already, I would recommend Mahou Shoujo Madoka as it is reaaally good and you could like it if you watch Elfen Lied.
Another one would be Chaos:Head as someone else mentioned Steins:Gate.

If you want something funny and completely crazy I can recommend you Level E from this year.

Well, maybe you could tell us which genre you are looking for, because I watch nearly every genre as long as the anime is ok.

As far as genre goes, I guess I don't have a preference? I tend to shy away from action anime as a rule though since they tend to last for 200+ episodes and five movies. (Which is why I'm a little reluctant to get into FMA to be honest...)

 

[Crissaegrim]

Hmm a recent watch titled "Dance in the vampire bund" (I know, it has vampires in it, just bear with me) was a decent watch for the politics involved.

The plot has a few cliches in it but follow with me. Mina tepes, self titled queen of vampires, decides to reveal to the world that her race exists and then attempts to establish a new country vampires can call their own.

Now, Mina is usually playful character to the main cast but is -ruthless- when doing the whole political shtick. going so far as to kidnap the children of those who oppose the creation of her new country and turning them into vampires. bringing up a good "Price of freedom and independence" argument and many consider vampires less than human so that issue comes up more than a few times.

Though i must warn you the main charecter (Mina) has the body of a nine year old, and the show is...lets say liberal with "Showing" it off. (though if your fine with watching elfen lied then you've seen worse)

 

[whycantibelinus]

Desert Punk is pretty cool, it's an interesting concept.

 

[SckizoBoy]

Anime Recommendation Snip

Right, [user]Sacman[/user] has basically beaten me to the punch on basically everything he's said... [sub][sub][sub]the bastard! =P[/sub][/sub][/sub]

However, I will add the following:

Hourou Musuko (or the Wandering Son) - about middle-schoolers struggling with relationships and more importantly: gender identity (basically a cis-girl and a cis-guy are in love with each other, very deep)

Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 - theoretical magnitude 8.0 earthquake in the middle of Tokyo made in 2008, very... uh... just watch it and cry

Aria - on the surface, just a cozy and fuzzy slice-of-life comedy and definitely not for the cynic in you, but get beyond the smiles and endless mewing of cats, a good tutorial on appreciating life and the little good things that come your way

Usagi Drop - a both lighthearted and serious take on the societal reactions and pressures of adoption and being a single parent

Moyashimon - doesn't really fit the bill, but if you're interested in microbiology, just watch this

le Chevalier D'Eon - the final years of King Louis XVI's rule, with a healthy smattering of occult, some decent action, historically accurate overview and characterisation and a very interesting plot

RahXephon - quite similar to Neon Genesis Evangelion (though I prefer it to NGE)

...

Enjoy!

Desert Punk is pretty cool, it's an interesting concept.

Especially the second half (the first half is just plain up action comedy), gets very political.