Question for anime people

[Eschaton]

The only thing I ever remember about watching anime during my childhood was how incomprehensible it was.  Chalk it up to cultural differences.

 

[Fatalfugus]

there's no shame in liking popular anime, nor are you somehow better if you like obscure anime that is known for being dark and edgy.

Oh, no. It's not that I tend to dislike them just because they're "popular". I dislike these popular ones because they tend to be a certain style that my tastes don't agree with. That's why I'm doing this outreach thread, lol. I was unable to find anything that fit my rather picky tastes. Also, I spent all of last night watching 10 episodes of Attack on Titan. For some reason, it is one of the most disturbing shows I've seen. Not that I don't like it. It's pretty friggin good. And I've no problem with gore or touchy subjects, I loved Elfen Lied. But something about Attack on Titan... I always feel so uncomfortable and stressed watching it. I like this.

 

[Celianna]

Oh, no. It's not that I tend to dislike them just because they're "popular". I dislike these popular ones because they tend to be a certain style that my tastes don't agree with. That's why I'm doing this outreach thread, lol. I was unable to find anything that fit my rather picky tastes. Also, I spent all of last night watching 10 episodes of Attack on Titan. For some reason, it is one of the most disturbing shows I've seen. Not that I don't like it. It's pretty friggin good. And I've no problem with gore or touchy subjects, I loved Elfen Lied. But something about Attack on Titan... I always feel so uncomfortable and stressed watching it. I like this.

If you enjoy Attack on Titan, you'll like Gantz and Mirai Nikki. Gantz is all about gore as well, and Mirai Nikki about shock value like Elfen Lied.

 

[Kaelan]

I really don't like the "big name" series. Naruto, one piece, pretty much anything that you hear about on a regular basis has never interested me...

The point of all this is I'm trying to find a new one to watch, and I don't know enough to find out which one is worth my time of looking into. My current favorites go as follows:

1. Serial Experiments: Lain

2. Elfen Lied

3. Gungrave

4. Last Exile

5. Ergo Proxy

Others: NGE remakes, Claymore, Berserk

The more philosophy and character depth, and preferably the darker the atmosphere, the more I'm going to like it. Do you guys have any suggestions?

Some of the responses here seem a bit weird to me, since it sounds like OP's taste is "story-heavy and definitely not shonen", and some of the recommendations are exactly the opposite of that (and dear god why would you ever recommend SAO to anyone, especially someone that actually wants a good story). But anyway, some suggestions:

Death Note and Code Geass are obvious choices, though you've probably already watched those. If you haven't, go do that before you watch anything else!

Deadman Wonderland



Forgive the dubs. From the creators of Ergo Proxy, sounds like exactly what you're looking for.

Psycho-Pass




[C]: Control - The Money of Soul and Possibility

Follows the story of a kid who finds out about a secret underground society in which you can borrow money with "your future" held as collateral.

Mirai Nikki

Was already suggested, but I'll bring it up again, it's worth the mention.

If you're willing to go less action-oriented, other good story-heavy series:

Mushishi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PloHXm9e8E

One of the best anime I've ever watched. Make sure you watch it subbed, it's very important to preserve the overall feel of the show. Almost every episode is its own self-contained short story, so you can watch and much or as little of it as you like.

Zetsuen no Tempest





Only anime I've ever watched that actually spent 6 episodes on a single scene and I actually enjoyed and was at the edge of my seat for the entire thing. Takes a couple episodes for the story to pick up, but definitely worth a watch.

Spice and Wolf

Takes a few episodes to pickup. It's a bit hard to explain why this is good, the plot itself isn't that special on paper; the relationship between the characters (and random facts about economics and trade) is what really makes this shine.

 

[Clord]

So you want "dark themed" anime. Death Note and Deadman Wonderland are both already mentioned.


I personally also like a comedic anime series.


Sora no Otoshimono


Though you might wanna consider where you watch it as it has an angel androids with the collars and stuff.


Gintama


If you understand Japanese humor even somewhat, you will like this series.


Suketto Danzu


Another great comedic anime. There is even crossover episode with Gintama, in both series.

 

[Aceri]

If you're looking for a comedic anime, I'd recommend Cromartie High School, that one gives me the lawls every time I see it.

My favorite animes in no particular order are:

Cromartie High School

Trigun

Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Hellsing

Gungrave

.Hack 1 & 2 (The forefather to Sword Art Online in a manner of speaking)

D Grey Man (Kind of has a Full Metal Alchemist feel to it, though it was never completed)

Angel Beats

Rosario Vampire (An almost completely fan service show with just enough plot to keep the episodes coming so they could show the main character nude in every episode. So ******ed it's funny.)

High School of the Dead (A lot of fan service, but a lot less than the manga, and the second season is still in limbo.)

Cowboy Bebop

 

[Daughter of Evil]

You could try to watch clannad. It's a very sad anime.   I would also recommend Princess resurrection, Princess Lover, Another, and Higurashi. Very nice anime.

 

[AcosmicDevi]

I would suggest Shinsekai Yori and probably not Black Butler, though I don't know what the anime of Black Butler is like since I'm still reading the manga. 

The Black Butler manga is better than the anime. Having said that, the first season of BB is really good. The second was crap because it was 99% fanservice.

 

[Seacliff]

You could try to watch clannad. It's a very sad anime.

Clannad is the best Video Game adaption anime there is.

 

[hian]

Samurai Champloo is fantastic.

Another fantastic anime, though it's really not for everybody is

Gankutsuou : the count of Monte Cristo.

This series is probably the most visually beautiful anime I ever saw.

The fact that it's a cyber/steampunk take on a classic story makes it even more awesome.

Other notable armies I think fit with the ones you've already watched are:

Ghost in The Shell : stand alone complex

The series to the mother of modern sci-fi anime - Japan's original blade runner.

Wolf's Rain

The epic journey of a bunch of wolves that can turn into humans, searching for paradise.

Gun X Sword

Seems ordinary enough at first, but has top notch animation, great soundtrack, and a story that really shines as it developes.

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Satirical take on the modern shounen anime, that turns into a seriously awesome story half way through. Give this series a chance and you're in for a ride.

Edit:

If you liked berserk, you should give Claymore a chance.

Claymore is pretty hard core as well.

Oh, and Gantz.

Unfortunately, like berserk these animes are rather short. If you don't mind reading, I'd rather go for the mangas.

 

[Archeia]

Since someone already mentioned FMA:B, I recommend Princess Tutu. Don't get fooled by its premise, it's really well done.

 

[Chaos Avian]

For a comedy anime, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Nichijou yet. That is definitely full of hilarity. Also I'd recommend Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, though not a comedy it's an overall GREAT watch~

 

[Archeia]

Jojo is great but it's not for everyone but it's great!

 

[Dark_Metamorphosis]

I could suggest many, many animes but a series that you HAVE TO watch (if you havn't already) is Death Note! I think It's the one anime that made the biggest impact on me overall. That, or graves of the fireflies (It's a movie).

I could give you more, but if you havn't seen Death Note I strongly suggest you to do it!

Oh, and Elfen Lied if you want an anime with a dark theme, probably my favourite as well. I think you had it listed already though

 

[byrdbones]

Cowboy Bebop is my all time favorite, Champloo has a lot of the same creators and producers...Currently watching Initial D, takes a while to get really hooked but when you are your totally screwed (in a good way I guess). If you like cars and street racing you'll love it. Also Macross Plus (kinda-part of Robotech canon) was on Netflix a while ago, highly recommend as well.

 

[RedJack666]

Try out Blue Exorcist, Dream Eater Marry, Shakugan no Shana, and Angel Beats.

 

[monkeynohito]

I'm a ridiculous manga snob, so unless an anime really works on all fronts, I think they're just tacky moving picture stories for feckless plebes. That said, yeah, there are anime that really know how to use the medium.

I like all sorts, but a couple of recommendations for dark and anti-shonen:

Baccano

The Sky -Crawlers-

Phoenix

You'd prolly dig Monster too though I agree with what Touchfuzzy said about Monster and that's my real problem with anime adaptations. But, just for fun, I will pompously assert that if you don't read the manga, you don't deserve the story of Monster.

 

[Jollan]

I know its a big name anime but I still recommend One Piece. Its not like the others and is down right hilarious. It's not your typical hero for sure. As for others, I agree with Cowboy Bebop and Attack on Titan. I would add Trigun and Samurai X to the list. Gintama is awesome but its a spoof series on everything (except when it has its own storylined arc)

The only one I watched on your list was Last Exile. I heard Claymore was good, just haven't tried it yet.

I'm not a big anime person myself, but its hard to watch anything else when other shows just suck and/or are drawn horribly (for the most part).

 

[negative_headed]

My basic rule of thumb is that if it's over 52 episodes it's complete garbage, there is a technical reason for this but I don't care to go into it.

If it's 24 or under I can generally enjoy it though.

The only exception to this is comedies. Comedies don't neccisarily have the same story requirements that other genres have so the running length generally doesn't have the same direct effect that it does to others. So basically as long as it's funny then it's still funny.

This aside, I can basically list the only animes I can call favorites on one hand... lets see...

FLCL

School Rumble

Welcome to the NHK

Watamote

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

Yeah... that sounds about right.

Also that also aside, I am a bit of a pervert so I'll still watch any ecchi I get my hands on. But for the sake of personal standards I refuse to call any of those favorites....

EDIT: Welcome to the NHK is actually an amazing take on the hikikomori (Social Withdrawl Syndrome, I think is the English terminology) problem afflicting Japan at the moment. It's so many levels of dark and shows the personality arc of someone going deeper into and out of the condition. It's also down right hilarious if you like dark humor that includes taboo subjects.

Watamote is also fairly dark, but it also plays into and out of current "moe" trends. They actually do a good job of making a ugly character, both visually and in personality. She is, to me, a very unlikable person and you'll find yourself doing a few "WTF is wrong with you?!" styled double takes. I don't think it's too particularly deep, at least probably not on purpose but the humor is consistent.

FLCL is actually one of the most deep and inspired animes I've ever seen, problem is most people can't wrap their head around it. I'd drop some spoilers but meh... lets just say, under neath all the crazy is actually a really sad, inspiring, and powerful story.

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

well, yeah... Hayate no gotoku has 52 episodes for season1 and I never got bored