Animehas always had the reputation of being made for and enjoyed by younger audiences, and its initial infiltration into Western mainstream entertainment had something to do with that. Shows likeDragon Ball ZandOne Piecehelped to deliver the medium to English-speaking audiences,and while those titles are iconic, they aren’t exactly complex stories.
However, that reputation has begun to change in recent years as anime has continued to enjoy its meteoric rise in popularity. Now, more than ever before, anime is being taken seriously as an art form, and it has plenty of stories that prove just how versatile it is. It can entertain younger audiences, or it can capture the attention of mature viewers looking for something a bit more challenging, and these 10 shows require some thinking.
Death Noteis one of the most beloved anime seriesof the last 20 years, and it remains as fresh and suspenseful today as it was on debut in 2006. The hit psychological supernatural thriller by studio Madhouse isn’t the most complicated narrative anime has to offer, but its exploration of subjects like power, good and evil, and all the gray areas in-between is still thought-provoking nearly two decades later.
Multiple generations of anime fans have been introduced to more mature content throughDeath Note,and the series will likely remain an entry point for generations of anime fans to come. The anime and manga versions of the series come to somewhat different conclusions, so first-time viewers will want to be sure to check out both.
LikeDeath Note, 2006’sCode Geasshas remained an entryway into anime’s smarter titles for countless fans throughout the years. The mecha series takes place in an alternate timeline where the Holy Britannian Empire has conquered Japan, and follows protagonist Lelouch Lamperouge as he uses the mysterious power of Geass to rebel.
The series dives into quite a few complex subjects, like war, revenge, morality, corruption, and more.Code Geassis gripping throughout its entire 50-episode run, and is widely believed to cap itself off with one ofanime’s all-time greatest endings.
From the studio responsible for such iconic and highly acclaimed titles asFullmetal AlchemistandMob Psycho 100,2007’sDarker Than Blackmight just be Bones' most underappreciated production. In a premise similar to the currently on-fireSolo Leveling, two anomalies dubbed Heaven’s Gate and Hell’s Gate appeared in South America and Tokyo respectively, leading to destruction and panic.
UnlikeSolo Leveling, however,Darker Than Blackmoves away from the power fantasy set-up and leans heavily into its sci-fi mystery and thriller elements. Coinciding with the arrival of the gates, some humans gain superhuman powers, and the series dives into the effect those abilities have on people and society.
Anime has no shortage of feel-good stories about down-on-their-luck people finding happiness.2006’sWelcome to the NHKis not one of those stories. Following 22-year-old Tatsuhiro Sato on an adventure down a hard spiral, the series explores the reclusive hikikomori lifestyle and the horrifyingly bleak consequences that come with it.
The dark comedy ofWelcome to the NHKis a strange mix of entertaining and disturbing, and the series does not pull its punches, despite just how uncomfortable Sato’s everyday life becomes. It might not be for everyone, but the 2006 series might just instill the fear of a reclusive lifestyle that some people need.
Ergo Proxyis one of the stranger cases of an anime series becoming horribly underappreciated. It was written by Dai Sato,who contributed to titles likeCowboy BebopandGhost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex,and was directed by Shuko Murase, who contributed to several acclaimed works, includingSamurai Champloo.
The dystopian post-apocalyptic sci-fi series takes place in a world of domed cities where humans and androids co-exist, and explores deeply human themes like identity and consciousness.Ergo Proxyis guilty of being a bit overly pretentious at times, but it brings some undeniably interesting stuff to the table while delivering breathtaking visuals and action.
Time travel stories are difficult to get right. Just one overlooked detail can lead to an entire narrative collapsing on top of itself,but 2011’sSteins;Gatedoes the trope exceptionally well. The series follows self-proclaimed mad scientist Rintaro Okabe, who stumbles into inventing time travel while falling face-first into a series of tragedies and mysteries.
In true visual novel fashion,Steins;Gatespends its time on a number of subplots focusing on separate characters, while the main conflict grows larger in the background. The series gets off to a bit of a slow start, but is guaranteed to trap the viewer’s attention well beforethe chaos of its final few episodesbegins.
AsErgo Proxyis an unexpectedly underrated series,Neon Genesis Evangelionis an unexpected success, and it’s one of the most successful anime franchises in history. The series doesn’t follow a traditional storytelling structure, and seemingly does everything in its power to avoid satisfying its audience. Nevertheless,Evangelionremains as popular today as it was nearly three decades ago.
In a finale that all but abandons the plot,Evangeliondives into the nature of being human and the difficulty that comes with being social creatures battling with crippling trauma and anxiety. The awesome mech designs are just the cherry on top. No one will catch everything in their first watch, but the second and third are more than worth it for anyone who connects with the series.
Artist Naoki Urasawa has made his name from deeply thought-provoking titles like20th Century Boysand the more recentPluto, but his psychological thriller crime seriesMonsteris arguably his magnum opus. The series follows Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a surgeon who saves the life of a young boy named Johan Liebert.
Years later, Johan becomes a serial killer, and Tenma becomes obsessed with tracking his one-time patient down and stopping him.Monsteris a suspenseful dive into topics like nature vs. nurture, good and evil, and what exactly makes a monster.
Paranoia Agentis the only anime series directed by the late master of his craft, Satoshi Kon, andit delivers one of his most complicated narratives ever. The series jumps to the different perspectives of victims attacked by the roller-skating, bat-wielding terror not so affectionately dubbed ‘Lil Slugger by the public. However, as each character is explored, their turbulent, stressful everyday lives are revealed.
The series touches on topics like collective trauma and the unique modern societal pressures faced by people wholly unprepared for them. At no point doesParanoia Agenthold the audience’s hand, but the payoff to all the mystery and surreal horror in the final act makes the inevitable confusion worth it.
Serial Experiments Lainisn’t justone of the most influential cyberpunk anime series ever, it’s also proven itself to be downright prophetic. Released in 1998, the series’ laughably large computer towers and CRT monitors don’t exactly offer the most accurate prediction of the future,but its depiction of the internet’s effects on humankind is often chilling.
Serial Experiments Lainoffers commentary on a world in which everyone is connected, and follows a young girl who loses her sense of self while grappling with her own online personas. As Lain becomes unable to distinguish the real-world from the Wired, so too does the audience.
In many ways, the futureSerial Experiments Lainpredicted has come to pass, and watching its tangled mysteries unfold can be a surreal experience. It might take a couple of watches to truly understand what’s happening, though.
