on the spectrem of confusing because it's weird and confusing because it's trying to be meaningful
Anime
requirements: it's interesting. its confusing
includes influential figures such as chiaki konaka yoshitoshi abe, satoshi kon and kunihiko ikuhara. if it's a series i include the progenitor, but only if it's relevant to the list
includes influential figures such as chiaki konaka yoshitoshi abe, satoshi kon and kunihiko ikuhara. if it's a series i include the progenitor, but only if it's relevant to the list

TV, 2003,
22 eps
Me:-
Author:6
The most nihilistic, slow burning show ever. it discusses trans-humanism and achieving god-hood. it is hard to get through but sure is the epitome of dread. i will get to it. it's just slow.

TV, 2009,
11 eps
Me:-
Author:8
ok so take bakemonogatori and the background visuals from kyousogiga and turn the nob to 50. this is what this show looks like. it deals with people with unique mental disorders(mostly forms of ocd) and strings them together via a wacky 3-sided die that is it's psychologist. half the time i don't know whether what i'm seeing on screen is what i think it is.

TV, 2002,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:10
alot of what makes this show compelling lies in the background like an eldrich beast, unexplained. Vague. implied. but the themes of identity and suicide are prevalent, the small world we are given is believable, and most can be interpreted by the viewer. it is a masterpiece. (just in my opinion)

TV, 1998,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
even i can't keep up. extremely ahead of it's time and kinda all over the place, using visual metaphors once in a while. straddles dreaming and undreaming in it's pockets full of swirls

TV, 2013,
10 eps
Me:-
Author:9
a wacky supernatural down to earth family drama that is confusing due to it's constant unmarked flashbacks and unexplained character identities. like who is this guy. background visuals and environments are so unique. confusing because weird

TV, 1995,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:6
confusing because you don't touch grass or go through therapy/read philosophy books. its just confusing cos they dont explain anything in the anime lorewise. crunchyroll and some other youtuber did an explaination far better than i could do here. tldr: theres multiple timelines and is a little easier than digesting fate.

TV, 2011,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:-
kunihiko ikuhara, gingatetsudou no yoru, mawaru=around, ピンギン(the katakana for penguin)=chinese for apple. what else. ah yeah:found family is like curry

Movie, 2004,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
its just weird. plot is like alice in wonderland terms of nonsense writing.

TV, 2000,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:-
nonlinear, viewer has to piece it together, slow and not recommended for new fans of boogiepop. it is a sequel to a live action but that film wasn't good

OVA, 1985,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
quite abstract. makes more sense when you realise mamoro oshii used to be a christian

Movie, 2008,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
its slow but pretentious people could analyse it for years. it also doesn't explain anything

TV, 2021,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
pure arthouse with abstract symbolism. hard to interpret. music by toe. explains nothing through straights, always in idioms.

TV, 2006,
23 eps
Me:-
Author:10
requires multiple viewings to understand. it's the most philisophical anime out there, showcasing the process of individuation(re el) and the process of memory loss and facing your shadow. most of the confusion comes with the last few episodes and the flowery dialogue. this can be mediated through the lens of it's philisophical references to jung and the lore dumps(don't skip the gameshow episode) it is slow and has a generic plot at first so be prepared to see it thicken at episode 7. PLEASE HAVE PATIENCE. it is one of the most under-appreciated, under-evaluated gems out there

Movie, 2006,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
are we dreaming. are we not. this is the experience for most satoshi kon movies.

Movie, 2002,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
same as paprika, blurring the line between half asleep and unawake.

Movie, 2004,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
incomprehensible. in any facet of the term. i can't rate it. it's just batshit insane. like- wot-?

TV, 1999,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:-
thanks chiaki konaka for writing the ending. i will watch this

TV, 2014,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
some episodes, not all, are just weird. some are just abstract, some are just dumb fun.

OVA, 2004,
4 eps
Me:-
Author:10
vague. but good vague. most of the questions aren't really answered as is the state of this anime. what kind of limbo is the opening in. kinda like haibane renmei in that sense of the worldbuilding