Looking for thoughtful anime recommendations

[Taunta]

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

 

[TheIronRuler]

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

Elfen Lied is just... little girls suffering... and men dying like flies around them... Erm...
Right, back to the topic at hand.
Try these on for size:
1. Code Geass 1&2
2. Death Note
Nothing else at the moment, I might come back and edit this.

 

[Taunta]

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

Elfen Lied is just... little girls suffering... and men dying like flies around them... Erm...
Right, back to the topic at hand.
Try these on for size:
1. Code Geass 1&2
2. Death Note
Nothing else at the moment, I might come back and edit this.

On the surface yes, but Elfen Lied is also about What Measure is a Nonhuman [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WhatMeasureIsANonHuman] (warning, tvtropes), Nature vs Nurture, and the capability for humans to be cruel.

 

[doggie135]

If you liked little girls suffering and lots of murder, try When They Cry.

Seriously, it's a good murder mystery series with some deep (and occasionally pretentious) themes.

 

[Sacman]

Okay just off the top of my head...

-Serial Experiments Lain...

-Paranoia Agent... It's one of the best shows I've ever watched... not as good as Lain though...

-Ergo Proxy...

-Boogiepop Phantom...

-(arguably)Berserk...

-Blue Sub No. 6...

-Ghost In The Shell(Movies and TV Show)...

-Serial Experiments Lain... Watch it it's awesome...<.<

 

[SaikyoKid]

Being the rather non-anime kinda I guy I am I really don't have that much to offer ya. I will say, however, that Kaiji has actually been on one of the few series I have watched rather intently and have been really quite fond of. The main gist of it basically involves the main character playing various gambling games that basically come down to him either winning big money, or gambling away his life. I believe they just finished up with the second season so there's really only 50 episodes in total too.

Sidenote: If ya do decide to watch it, seriously give it a good two or three episode buffer to pick up. The first few are really more about setting up the story but it does pick up pretty quickly after that.

 

[Asita]

Ghost in the Shell, definitely. Bonus points if you consider yourself cultured, because the series tosses out literary and philosophical references like beads at Mardi Gras.

Death Note is fascinating for the moral dillema posed by the two opposing forces (namely, which is better embodying justice)

Monster...suffice to say that it's a psychological thriller that could just as easily have been done in Live Action (lacking fantastical elements entirely) and...well, given that its liscence holders officially host it on youtube, I'll let the series itself do the rest of the talking. And on a similar vein, though I haven't seen it myself, my understanding is that 20th Century Boys is the Magnum Opus of the same mangaka (Naoki Urasawa).

If you want a movie, you can't really go wrong with Hayao Miazaki's works (Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle being personal favorites)

 

[ckam]

Difficult questions.

Sounds like a job for Now and Then, Here and There.

 

[WayOutThere]

Welcome to the NHK
- A show with stringent psychological realism. Not sure it will make you think but if you want a show with good characters that avoids cliché, mindlessness, and pandering this is one show for you.

Kino's Journey
- A life-reflections kind of thing. Don't particularly care about it myself but if you're a think-aholic you can probably find some deep themes in there.

Chobits
- Explores the nature of love and romantic relationships. Doesn't really delve into that until the last third of the show and watching the first two thirds drives a lot of people mad so perhaps it isn't the best recommendation.

Serial Experiments Lain
- Personally I don't see it but everyone else and their brother say they find it mentally stimulating so perhaps you will too.

Sounds like a job for Now and Then, Here and There.

That's another good one.

Monster

I've seen the first three episodes of that show. They were mind-blowingly amazing. Check it out.

 

[enriquetnt]

newer GOOD anime (also known as SEINEN, look it up)

Steins Gate
Durarara
Rainbow
Deadman Wonderland (if you liked it Elfen this one is right up your alley)
also in movies Mardock Scramble, and King of Thorn are good, but
if you want hardcore seinen go watch GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES and good
luck not killing yourself out of depression after it

older but amazing still

Monster (BEST EVER!!!)
Higurashi (When they Cry)
Mushishi
Ghost in Shell (especially Innocence)

And stay clear of DeathNote, and Code Geass, those are overrated pieces of crap, (seinen for babies that like to think they saw something complex just because that third neuron theyve never used while watchin Naruto lit up)

 

[Asita]

And stay clear of DeathNote, and Code Geass, those are overrated pieces of crap, (seinen for babies that like to think they saw something complex just because that third neuron theyve never used while watchin Naruto lit up)

Now that was just plain uncalled for >_>

 

[Sacman]

And stay clear of DeathNote, and Code Geass, those are overrated pieces of crap, (seinen for babies that like to think they saw something complex just because that third neuron theyve never used while watchin Naruto lit up)

a bit less eloquently put but yeah basically I agree with this...<.<

Also Haibane Renmei and Texhnolyze... both awesome shows by Yoshitoshi ABe, one of my favorite anime artists... Texhnolyze is very dark and disturbing and very hard to watch but I think it's worth it...<.<

 

[goldfalsebond]

Try looking into Get Backers. It might be a little bit cliched, but there is still some thinking in it.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

The problem is that you won't find too many "thoughtful" series in recent shows, you'll have to dig through some of the older ones to get them.

 

[spartan231490]

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

suggest Code Geass. It's very thought provoking, especially the second season. Might also want to try FMA brotherhood, I haven't watched it in a while, but I recall it being relatively complex.

And stay clear of DeathNote, and Code Geass, those are overrated pieces of crap, (seinen for babies that like to think they saw something complex just because that third neuron theyve never used while watchin Naruto lit up)

Now that was just plain uncalled for >_>

I would argue that he just didn't "get it." At least, that would be my suspicion, as far as code geass goes. The first season is typical mech anime, with a sprinkling of complexity, but the second season really goes very deep in exploring the concepts of peace and humanity. I didn't really like Death Note that much, I didn't think it was as deep as it was trying to be, but it certainly wasn't simple.

 

[Raine_sage]

One new anime that's come out that might fit the bill is Mahou Shojo Madoka Magica or Puella Magi Madoka Magica if you want the english title.

Now I know it seems rather strange to think of a magical girl anime as "deep" but it does happen (princess tutu is probably the ur example here, that and revolutionary girl utena).

I liked Madoka primarily because it explored some themes I don't see very often explored. Like what is the relationship between hope and despair, and what purpose does suffering play in human history. Plus it's got tons of references to faust, gorgeous artwork, an amazing soundtrack, and the best rendition of an eldritch abomination that I have ever seen.

 

[bakan]

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.

 

[Judgedread]

Higurashi (When they Cry) It starts off a little slow but quickly picks up, if you liked Elfen Lied you will like this one.

Toppa Tengen, Gurren Lagann. Its a great show which can almost be seen as a parody of other stereotypical action anime. Personally I think this is one of the best animes to come out in recent years.

Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood is another good one, I didn't like the original FMA much but brotherhood was great.

Eureka 7 good too if you don't mind slightly older shows. Its a pretty long show though clocking in at about 50 episodes, but I found it to be pretty deep and enjoyable. (The movie is also great)

 

[blankedboy]

Ergo Proxy and Serial Experiments Lain could get you thinking, for the record both seem to be love-it-or-hate-it animes.
Higurashi is ridiculously violent, clever, horrifying and sometimes hilarious, take that for what it's worth. Most watchers seem to like it, but be warned it's 50 episodes long (excluding Rei and Kira)
I haven't seen Usagi Drop yet but it just came out and apparently it's subtle and incredible. About a 30-year-old protagonist adopting the 6-year-old child of his late 79-year-old dad, or something.
Cat Soup is a nice 30-minute mindbender if you want something quick and abstract.
Texhnolyze is beautifully ambient and cerebral, I think you'd like it alot. The first episode has about 3 lines of dialogue, none of which are relevant to the storyline. After that it picks up, but it's definitely something for someone who wants a phat think.
Real Drive might be very thoughtfully, I only saw two and a half episodes so I'm not really sure. It's pretty meta.

And of course Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan is deep and serious. Try that.