Interest Stacks

A heartwrenching, yet ultimately hopeful deep dive into the human psyche and the existential angst that lies at the core of human nature full of cryptic symbolism, an enrapturing audiovisual presentation courtesy of Hideaki Anno's unique direction style and puzzling narrative developments.

Evangelion builds an incomprehensible conflict of cosmic scale without neglecting to create a deeply intimate character drama showcasing the pain, fear, dissapointment and despair inherent to human connection. Both aspects are weaved into each other using the mecha genre and the experimental presentation as tools.

An abstract, mistifying, esoteric and layered study of the human condition that nevertheless always manages to preserve a raw, emotional and universally relatable connection to the audience, which caused to become one of the most revolutionary and significant anime for both the industry and the otaku community.

Sequels/Additional media: "Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion" movie and the Rebuild of Evangelion movie tetralogy (1.0, 2.0, 3.0 & 3.0+1.0).

Cult classic that can't possibly be describe in a couple of paragraphs, but which is undoubtedly the quintessential "elitist" anime. A mystery crammed within an enigma, this anime is a highly experimental work with philosophical and psychological themes that explores ideas of identity, privacy, reality, society, meaning, existence, connection and religion within the framework of the digital age.

Despite (or as a result of) being highly cryptic, erratic, dense, mentally taxing and non-linear in its structure, Serial Experiments Lain manages to convey the crushing insanity of the internet, the mental, emotional and ethical deterioration of its users and the way in which it can corrupt society and destroy social cohesion when used irresponsibly. While not condemning the existence and use of the internet in general or being preachy in any way, Lain is a truly prophetic show that only becomes more relevant as time passes, due to how accurate and relatable its depiction of online madness is, despite the fact that it is an anime made in 1998, when the fusion and interference of virtual reality with the physical world was not nearly as complex and ubiquitous.

Although Lain is a highly abstract piece wicth many layers to be analyzed, it is not a hard show to understand in its entirety. In addition to being an avant-garde philosophical statement it is also a human drama with a strong emotional core and an easy to understand general message that the audience can easily resonate with.

Despite Lain being acknowledged by critics and having become very popular within certain online communities, it hasn't lost its niche nature, due to it being inherently inaccesible to larger audiences.

Sequels/Additional media: one-shot manga "The Nightmare of Fabrication" is recommended as an additional experience, and there also is a PS1 game which can be emulated on PC.

Perhaps the most iconically "elitist" anime, as some infamous minorities of its fandom have sometimes acted notably arrogant and dismissive of others in the past. But do not be fooled, this anime is the ultimate space opera. A long and dense journey through the sea of the stars, where men of great ambition and talent compete and conquest in a conflict of absurdly huge scales.

Very old fashioned show, not only because of it being from 1988, which for today's standards is considered rather old, but also due to its XIX century aesthetic and epic theatrical nature that just isn't there in modern anime. Gineiden offers a meaningful insight into the patterns and cycles of human history, the dynamics of social institutions and economy, political philosophy and the tragedy of war. through the intertwined stories of around 150 characters, wll with their own strife and dreams.

While the animation, direction and sound-design may leave a lot to be desired, specially in the first parts of the show, Gineiden has some of the most detailed, unique and beautiful character designs in the medium, along as fantastic aesthetic, background designs and music. The audiovisual repsentation also becomes distinctly better and more polished with every part.

Sequels/Additional media: prequel movies "My Conquest is the Sea of the Stars" and "Overture to a New War". There are also 2 Gaiden series and "Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu: Die Neue These" which is a pretty good modern adaptation of the source material

A deeply heartfelt and honest exploration of guilt, loss, forgiveness, self-acceptance and moving on that uses slice of life in order to set up the character dynamics and one of the core themes of the show, which is family. A personal work made lovingly by Yoshitoshi ABe, the genius behind Serial Experiments Lain and Texhnolyze's art.

The reasons for this show being here are firstly, its *relative* obscurity, secondly, the supernatural atmosphere and hidden meanings given by hints in the mysterious world building and thirdly, the fact that Haibane Renmei is a psychological drama. It is very much slice of life as well, but that isn't mutually exclusive with its profound message.

At some point Gundam became synonymous with meathead monster of the week big robot shows for kids in the general eyes of the public, which is a depressing stereotype for the whole mecha genre which has many great works of art, but also for Gundam, as anyone who has *actually" watched the series can testify that it actually is a meaningful work of art, full of thought provoking sociopolitical commentary on war as well as interesting supernatural conceptualization. 1979's Gundam is an underrated gem in today's anime community and an essential part of anime history, being easily one of the most culturally significant, iconic and revolutionary franchises in anime, and the show that pioneered the genre of real robot within mecha.

Sure, 1979's Gundam is sometimes campy, tonally inconsistent, stilted and strangely theatrical with its dialogue. The visuals are very dated and oftentimes bad too. In the end, it also was partially aimed at kids, so its exploration of war may not be satisfying for those who want a truly gruesome grimdark experience. It is a flawed and low budget show. But Gundam has true soul and passion behind it. Behind all its flaws, Gundam brought genuine and powerful insights about politics and history, as well as interesting depictions of personal trauma of child soldiers, family conflicts and the struggle of humans to connect and empathize with each other amidst the cruelty of the world.

Even with regards to its audiovisual presentation it is underrated and overly criticized. For its time and budget, Gundam actually had many stunning scenes, well diagramated frames, a beautifully expressive artstyle courtesy of Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, and an iconic soundtrack with very emotional songs.

If 43 episodes of a rather old anime is too much of a commitment for you, please consider at least watching Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket or Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky, both of which are extremely short and critically acclaimed standalone anime. You can watch those two by themselves without any previous knowledge of Gundam and they are still masterpieces. The 1979 Gundam TV anime can also be *technically* be replaced by the Gundam movie trilogy which recaps it, but I would not recommend that unless you absolutely can not get through the TV anime.

I put the first installment of Gundam in this stack, but the franchise actually peaks later on with further installemts such as Zeta, War in the Pocket and CCA

Sequels/Additional media/Note: If you want to watch with this amazing franchise, I have a dedicated interest stack to the Gundam watch order, but the gist of the absolute essentials would be as follows

1. Mobile Suit Gundam (TV series)/Mobile Suit Gundam I,II & III (Movie trilogy)
2. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (prequel OVA to watch after the OG series)
3. Mobile Suit Gundam: War in the Pocket (masterpiece side story OVA)
4. Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky (masterpiece side story film)
5. Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (the best that Gundam has to offer)
6. Mobile Suit Gundam CCA (climax of the franchise)
7. Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
8. Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash

Lovecraftian horror of incomprehensible scale, criticism of war and racism and ominpresent tragedy, all within a giant robot action show with a campy opening. An underrated, hidden gem of the early 80s, which proves that the mecha genre already had deep themes and compelling character work way before Neon Genesis Evangelion even existed in concept. In fact, Space Runaway Ideon is one of Hideaki Anno's favourite anime, and its sequel movie The Ideon: Be Invoked was a clear inspiration for The End of Evangelion movie.

To be clear, this is sometimes a hard show to watch, and not many can push through it. The true masterpiece of the franchise, which makes it all come together is the sequel movie Be Invoked, as the TV anime, despite its strokes of genius and underlying deep concepts, is all in all a very low budget, slow, tonally inconsistent, and repetitive monster of the week show. I love it for its revolutionary ideas, themes and retro vibes (it is also unintentionally hilarious), but I can see how many wouldn't be able to stomach it. If that's the case for you, and you absolutely can't watch the TV version, there is a very fast-paced and not very good recap movie which skips good stuff, but would allow you to get to Be Invoked right away.

That being said, Ideon is a very revolutionary anime which inspired many other great works, shows Yoshiyuki Tomino's genius, and it is a significant piece of anime history that is definitely worth watching if only for the Be Invoked movie.

Sequels/Additional media/Note: If you watched the whole TV anime just head straight to movie "The Ideon: Be Invoked". If you couldn't finish the TV anime I recommend you watch Ideon in the following order:

The Ideon A Contact (recap movie) -> Space Runaway Ideon Episodes 32-39 (episodes of the TV series not included in the recap movie) -> The Ideon Be Invoked (sequel movie)

The peak of psychological thriller anime. A masterful adaptation of an already masterful source material that elevates it with the perfect direction that enhances the tension and dramatic effect of the whole show. Monster is widely considered to be one of the greatest philosophical and psychological seinen and a show that can be universaly enjoyed even by those who are not familiar with anime.

Monster takes the audience on a journey through the depths of the evil that humans can do, and also through the kindness and virtue that they can uphold even in the most crushing circumstances. A true battle of nihilism vs the search for meaning. Through the study of a plethora of main and side characters, the series showcases a wide spectrum of human dramas and morally grey characters, all within the framework of an enrapturing chase and crime mystery that feels supernatural with how unsettling and enigmatic it is, but is actually deeply human in nature.

Live your life to the max, and grab hold of the opportuinities in front of you. An almost ubiquitous message in fiction, that has been rehashed so much that at this point it seems like a preachy cliche to many. However, witb it's wildly expressive, abstract, dense and expreimental presentation, delivery and structure, The Tatami Galaxy manages to convey that idea in a genuine way that demonstrates that it is still a powerful and much needed message.

Great comedy, wacky plot, captivating interactions, nice romantic subtext, intelligent use of visuals and the witty, fast paced, thought provoking internal monologue bring fantastic psychological insight and first row seats for this conflict of willpower and emotional courage against apathy, overthinking and escapism. Every element colludes to make sure that the medium is used to its absolute highest potential, creating a masterpiece.

Sequels/Additional media: spin off movie "The Night is Short, Walk on Girl" and sequel ONA "Yojouhan Time Machine Blues"

Verbose and refined yet raw and heart-wrenching. Delicate, elegant and other wordly yet raunchy, vulgar and goofy. Hilarious and absurd yet profoundly intelligent in form and substance. Has some of the most intense, brutal, violent and well animated fights in anime yet is mostly slice of life with the characters sitting, talking and walking most of the time. This is one of those series, that like JoJo, is quite impossible to appropriately describe to someone who has not experienced it yet.

The Monogatari series is a psychological supernatural mystery series that is extremely dialogue heavy yet also equally reliant on abstract visual storytelling to plunge its characters and audience in a journey through assorted mental illnesses metaphorically portrayed as apparitions from Japanese folklore and some of the most entertaining dynamics in all of anime.

This series offers an honest and nuanced view of the unsightly yet beautiful nooks and crannies of the human soul through the combination of studio Shaft's captivating visuals and Nisio Isin's unique aesthetic sensibilities and writing style which subverts expectations and meticulously develops one of the strongest casts in anime, with every single character being iconic, charming and built with a layered, realistic drama.

Sequels/Additional media: most common watch order is Bakemonogatari, Kizumonogatari, Nisemonogatari, Nekomonogatari:Kuro, Monogatari Series Second Season, Hanamonogatari, Tsukimonogatari, Owarimonogatari, Koyomimonogatari, Owarimonogatari S2 & Zoku Owarimonogatari

For maximized mystery and pay-off of build-up but also a more challenging experience, simply watch in release order.

An anime about the hard and nuanced phenomena of hikikomori, written by a man who is one himself. Despite of the janky and low quality visuals, the show manages to convey the despair, hopelessness, and defeat of being a shut-in otaku with its the brutally honest portrayal of the hiki-NEET's psychology and one of the greatest soundtracks in all of anime.

This anime balances mundane humour with the crushing sense of the defeat that our morally reprehensible and gross yet sometimes sadly relatable MC feels towards his depression. An emotionally taxting view, but definitely a worthwhile one if you are interested in anime that touch on themes of depression and otaku-culture.

An absolute masterpiece of visual storytelling showcasing Mamoru Oshii's directorial genius beyond his more well known works such as Ghost in the Shell or Patlabor. This short, standalone OVA is an avant-garde philosophical statement densely packed with symbolism and almost entirely devoid of dialogue, deciding to convey its messages about faith and growth through its surreal visuals, dark tone and enigmatic atmosphere instead.

A bold and brave anime to release in the current climate of the community and the industry, where think-pieces are increasingly hard to find amongst the sea of seasonal power fantasies. Uses the medium to its highest potential with mind bending and experimental presentation and a narrative structure that becomes more abstract as the show goes on.

On one hand, Sonny Boy delivers a sharp criticism of the hypocrisy, toxicity, cruelty and shallowness of people that comes out once our fragile societies and laws ar efaced with extreme cirumstances, and it also comments on certain elements of Japanese society and culture, while on the other hand building a heartfelt coming of age story about learning how to love, grieve and move forward.

From the author of Vinland Saga, Planetes is an underrated hard sci-fi series that portrays the personal struggles, dreams and conflicts of a diverse and unique cast of characters in the context of the social inequality of an incredibly grounded and believable setting.

In a small corner of space still plagued by the political corruption of the Earth, the characters do their daily commonplace jobs, as they seek to compromise between idealism and the harsh reality of corporate pragmatism, dreams and love, letting go and deciding to live for tomorrow.

Probably one of most influential anime ever made, yet sadly overlooked and underrated in today's anime community because of how old it is. In general a very emotional and powerful sports anime.

Despite the silly 70's humour, campy tone in many parts and slice of life elements, Ashita no Joe is a surprisingly dark, gritty and grounded character drama showcasing the struggles of poverty and social inequality in the Japan of that time as well as the burning passion of the men who set their only hopes and dreams into the sport and business of boxing.

Visuals are very dated and the sound elements are very grating on the ears in the first season, but even then the show had groundbreaking aspects in its presentation. S2 released 10 years later is one of the best looking anime ever.

Sequels/Additional media: sequel "Ashita no Joe 2", which is the peak of the series

Probably the ultimate romcom. Directed by the genius behind Evangelion, Hideaki Anno, KareKano is a classic shoujo romance of the highest quality, yet one that is sadly overlooked these days.

Many tend to stereotype shoujo as only being cutesy rose-colored romances for teen girls without having even watched one, but as with shounen or any other demographic, there is great diversity and quality to be found. KareKano in particular is a deep, nuanced psychological anime that delves into the effects of trauma and abuse in a realistic way. However, the show manages to balance those aspects with absolutely hilarious comedy and genuinely adorable romance and intimacy, all of which is put together by the dynamic direction.

Probably the anime that best handles the nuances, lies and hypocrisy of politics. Very dialogue heavy, gritty and serious film that reflects upon the fragile nature of peace in modern globalised society, and how easily rules, alliances and cooperation networks between individuals, countries and institutions can fall apart to chaos and corruption once fear enters the equation.

Sequels/Additional media/Notes: Requires to have watched at least the original Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor (1988) OVA to understand, and it is recommended that you also watch Partalbor Movie 1 before

An experimental psychological shoujo that is Ikuhara's most famous work and has become widely acclaimed and recognized for its bold artistic honesty, exploration of taboo themes and brave LGBTQ+ representation.

Trauma, identity, sexuality, grief and much more collude in one of the most significant and symbolically dense anime in history that famously challenges the viewer to re-structure their worldview.

Sequels/Additional media: movie "Shoujo Kakumei Utena: Adolescence Mokushiroku"

An entirely out-there, bizarre, one of a kind movie mixing all kinds of jilarious, raunchy and thought-provoking visuals to create a surreal journey through escapism culminating in a beautiful message that seeks to encompass the entirety of human existence.

Action, comedy and sex mix with insanity and despair to create an unforgettable experience. Even 7 years before the release of his masterpiece, The Tatami Galaxy, we can see the Masaaki Yuasa's genius blossoming here.

The most widely acknowledged work of the now deceased directorial genius Satoshi Kon and one of the most notable psychological films in general, not just in anime. Extravagant and beautiful yet morbid and schizophrenic, this film bends the perception of the audience and blends reality, fiction, dreams and hallucinations together in a way that is just as unsettling and bone-chilling as it is captivating and compelling.

This is another timeless classic that only gets more relevant to our reality the more that time passes, as its commentary on the dark side of otaku culture and the crushing effects it can have on idols is now more important than ever with the rise of phenomena such as VTubing.

Mononoke is the series that most effectively and beautifully manages to portray the mystifying nature of Japanese culture, mythology and folklore by focusing on psychological horror. Through the unique artstyle, direction and sound design, Mononoke builds up unparalleled tension and mystery that makes you feel as if you truly were in pre-industrial Japan, experiencing the secrets and terrifying mysteries of its spirits and ghosts.

In addition to the cultural insight it offers into the particularly Japanese way of understanding horror and mythology, Mononoke provides us with genuinely compelling character arcs that explore the regret, trauma and resentment behind each self contained case of apparition.

Sequels/Additional media: TV anime "Ayakashi" and upcoming movie

An utterly beautiful short and artsy film about the contemplation of one's journey through life. With a detailed and unique artstyle this film manages to convey a deep emotional connection in its 12 minute runtime and without needing any dialogue at all through visual storytelling and the loving care put into every symbol and detail.

A contemplative journey through a forlorn and decayed yet beautiful world, all through through the eyes of an interesting main character and conveyed with a uniquely melancholic atmosphere and presentation. Each arc brings equal parts of healing and relaxing slice of life and philosophical insight into the odd people and societies the main character comes across.

While being lonely and slow paced, this anime manages to convey a sense of wonder at the mysteries of the world and curiosity at the multiple perspectives and ways of life each character displays.

Sequels/Additional media: more recent sequel of the same title

Likely one of, if not the most beautiful looking anime ever made, yet sadly underwatched and considered inaccesible today. Macross DYRL is the peak of cel animation, used to craft this cheesy and over the top, yet intense and meaningful love and war story. With soap-opera-like romantic dramas, teen idols and great insert songs in the middle of badass mecha fights, this is one of the fundamental retro anime that give a deeper understanding into the mindset and culture of the anime community and industry at the time and even now.

Sequels/Additional media: it is highly recommended to have watched the original Macross (1982) before this movie

Not only Leiji Matsumoto's most renowned work, but likely the most influential anime ever made in general (and has the best OP ever). Over the top, campy, cheesy, utterly insane. But also genre defining, groundbreaking in its time and full of soul, emotion and genuinely compelling characters and extremely fun settings. While bringing the crazy space battles, Uchuu Senkan Yamato brought 70's kids commentary about the tragedy of war, moral greyness and how everyone involved is a human being.

All in all, this is an essential part of anime history
which is sadly much too often forgotten by newcomers. Additional fun fact is that this is Hideaki Anno's favourite anime.

Sequels/Additional media: if this is too old for you, there is a great remake called "Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199", but the original is always recommended as well, as it is fundamental to anime history.

Hilarious and insightful, Otaku no Video blends anime and real life documentary to paint a nuanced and diverse picture of otaku culture. If you wish to understand the history and culture of animanga more you can't miss this underwatched meta gem.

Visually beautiful, filled to the brim with referential humour about anime classics and packing an actual cool plot, this short gem of an OVA goes in depth into the mindset and psychological profiles of otaku of all kinds, from anime to military (yes, military otaku are a thing), while exploring the stigma, prejudice and social ostracization surrounding them and how different types of otaku deal with such things. Parallel to this, Otaku no Video also handles the themes of the industry, the craft and the tropes of anime.

From Chiaki Konaka, the man behind Serial Experiments Lain and Texhnolyze, this is an experimental, obscure and borderline disturbing OVA that explores human evil through the experience of an inhuman creature in a dystopian post-apocalyptic sci-fi context, using very abstract and grotesque CGI imagery.

While I think most would find the visuals in this show revolting and would think of them as created purely for shock value, I think this is a genuinely meaningful work that delves into psychology and philosophy in bold and interesting ways. The gross nature of the show and its janky CGI all contribute to its cryptic atmosphere that makes you feel like you're watching some lost media you should have never found.

Mamoru Oshii's underrated gem, The Sky Crawlers is yet another eerie, mysterious feeling film full of nuanced sociopolitical and psychological commentary in a dystopian setting. Slow, repetitive, eerie and cynical yet poignant, this film requires the audience to read between the lines to get the full picture, and in case of those who do, this film is sure to linger in their minds with its harrowing overall feel and thought provoking insights.

The cyclical nature of war, and of human history and life at large, the illusion of change and the search for connection with others and understanding of oneself within that hard reality. With these themes and much more, Oshii connects an intimate drama with the larger picture of human nature and history.

A loose adaptation of a manga by the God of Manga Ozamu Tezuka, this movie is an utterly gorgeous retro-futuristic sci-fi experience that delves into technological dystopia, class conflicts, rise of corruption, human arrogance and rise of artificial intelligence.

With unbelievably detailed and dense shots, the film truly builds its world with care, making sure to make the audience feel as if it is right there in the hyper-populated slums of this decayed metropolis where every alleyway takes you to some bizarre and unexpected hidden den of secrets.

The character work itself is underwhelming but serviceable, and the film definitely deserves a spot for being a Tezuka adaptation and packed with intelligent social critique.

A compilation of three interesting short films, of which the first, called Magnetic Rose, is the standout. A captivating and phenomenally crafted sci-fi horror that leaves an unforgettable haunting impression. That being said, all three films are worthwhile and beautifully made, with the other two bringing comedy and witty political commentary.

Don't be fooled by the fact that this anime was made in 1973. This is a fluidly animated, gorgeous looking, mind bending, X-rated psychosexual journey through betrayal, abuse, sin, demonic depravity and ultimately, human loneliness.

Breathtaking and exhilarating yet deeply sorrowful and nightmarish, the deeply experimental visuals manage to make this film truly haunting on a spiritual level, much more so than most modern horror films. This movie feels like a steadily accelerating river precipitating into a bottomless void, making us live the empowerment, ecstasy, revenge and emptiness of the characters all at once.

Animanga targeted at female audiences is severly underrated and underwatched despite its diversity and quality (of which I too am guilty), so what better place to start than what is probably the quintessential shoujo anime, Rose of Versailles. Fans of historical romance and retro anime will love this masterpiece directed by Dezaki Osamu.

While this is a historical anime depicting social inequality, political scheming, corruption and violence at the time of the French Revolution, Rose of Versailles is also a passionate romance full of spicy drama and conflicting feelings within the whirlwind of conspiracy and decadence of the French high class of the late XVIII century. All those factors coupled with the way it dabbles into themes of gender non-conformity, LGBTQ+ themes and a uniquely charismatic and influential main character have given this anime its status as a classic.

With Yoshitoshi ABe and Chiaki Konaka in the staff, both creators who worked on Serial Experiments Lain, you'd be right to expect a dark and mysterious series, but Texhnolyze is sure to surpass your expectations in that regard. This is a truly harrowing, downright depressing anime. Probably the most gritty and grim work of art in the medium, and so tragic that many are put off by it.

Slow paced and minimalistic in dialogue, this cyberpunk dystopia contains more instances of heavy breathing, grunting and whispering than the most dedicated analyst could count. As this show largely relies on visual storytelling and symbolism to understand it, it is a mentally taxing view in addition to being heavy handed in its tone and themes.

Having said all of this, I regard this as a very thought provoking avant-garde work that benefits from its dark, heavy and slow atmosphere to showcase its characters and themes in a mystifying way. Texhnolyze takes a deep dive into humanity's struggle for survival even in the darkest situations, transhumanism and search for change and freedom.

A journey of self-discovery in a dying cyberpunk dystopia of a world, and the only anime with a Radiohead song as an ED. This anime is divisive in the community, as people still debate whether its a meaningful philosophical work of art or more of a pretentious edgefest that relies on its aesthetics to captivate the viewer. While I can see some truth in the argument that this show is pretentious, I do believe it to be packed with genuine meaning, a compelling mystery and good characters.

Very unorthodox in both presentation and narrative, this show is dense and oftentimes hard to follow but precisely because of that it is so intelectually stimulating and captivating.

Mesmerizing textures of tapestries fill every corner of the viewer's horizon as this trippy show proceeds to throw every expectation out of the window, by keeping the delicate, refined and noble atmosphere that would be expected of a (loose) adaptation of The Count of Montecristo, but integrating it into a super futuristic sci-fi setting.

All in all, a charming and suspenseful tale of vengeance and grief full of exhilarating passions and desires that is sure to surprise any viewer with its unique stylistic choices.

Aoi Bungaku adaptates six works from classic Japanese literature in very distinct styles of animation that suit the tone, setting and message of each source material. Naturally, full fledged novels can't possibly be fully adapted into short 2 episode anime arcs, but this anime does a great job of conveying the fundamental aspects of each story by making full use of its limited time and the audiovisual elements unique to anime.

Underwatched and underrated, this show is diverse in the stories it chooses to put in the spotlight, which range from brutal adult novels to children's short stories, but each one still manages to bring interesting psychological reflections.

That being said, the standout arc of this series definitely is the first and longest arc, which adaptates Ozamu Dazai's No Longer Human. A truly brutal and depressing peek into the psyche of those who roam in the depths of despair, loneliness and weakness. If nothing else, please give that arc a chance.

What's there to say about Akira that hasn't been said already. While it is one of the most popular, iconic and recognized anime films, it is in this list due to it being an oldish movie full of the social commentary, psychological focus, government corruption and ideas of transhumanism that you would expect of a cyberpunk film.

The utterly breathtaking animation and direction are also fundamental to making this a fundamental anime classic.

Yet another shoujo classic in a high-class nobility setting for this interest stack. This time, however, the spicy character drama and toxic romances are turned up to 200% and enhanced by an even more intense, refined and developed direction style than what Dezaki had shown in Rose of Versailles.

An essential staple of the yuri genre, this show passionately portrays the struggles of a kind and soft teenager in a prestigious school of rich girls that plunge her into a school-life full of deceit, bullying, cliques, schemes and desire.

Yet another mind-bending and unique show directed by Ikuhara, revolving around the philosophical exploration of fate and mankind's struggle to control their own life in the middle of its currernts. A picturesque and exhilarating think piece.

This short and obscure gem of an OVA being 90's adaptation of a 60's obscure manga explains why it feels so much older than it actually is, with it being more similar to an old kung-fu movie or a steampunk fantasy than a classic mecha.

Action packed and full of a plethora of emotions and some interesting food for thought, this show is a heartwarming classic that uses the strenghts of anime to the max, not only with regards to its audiovisual elements but also to the plot tropes and the over the top campy epicness that will surely bring a smile to your face.

Yet another surreal, mind bending, avant-garde trip brought to us by Masaaki Yuasa, before Tatami Galaxy was even a thing. Reminiscent of Kino's Journey, but this time in more of a dystopian space sci-fi setting, Kaiba is a contemplative rollercoaster through the depths and corners of the universe, where we get to see the struggles, tragedies and adventures of a quirky cast that gives us insight into the diverse and unique philosophies and dramas of each character, while we follow our main character in a path of self-discovery.

This is an isekai, but you should not be expecting Sword Art Online or Konosuba. Our young male MC gets isekai'd some random day under ridiculous circumstances, but instead of becoming an overpowered hero with whom all the hot elven, knight and demon waifus fall for in a high fantasy setting pulled out of a generic RPG, he is thrown into the bottomless pits of despair, as he is tortured, enslaved and fights starvation and trauma as he strives to save the girl he loves, which is the only goal that he can hold on to not give up.

War crimes, child soldiers, destruction and rape are commonplace occurrences in this atrocious yet sadly realistic world, with which we can draw many parallels to modern day Africa or South America. Full of thought provoking reflections and savagely honest and realistic, this show is a must watch for all who love the concept of isekai but are tired of the direction its execution has taken in the last few years.

Another great avant garde psychological mystery thriller directed by Satoshi Kon, but this time in the format of a 1 cour series rather than a movie. Blurring the line between reality and fever dream as is standard for Kon's works, Paranoia Agent takes the viewer through a variety of chaotic and absurd events involving different characters, making the series seem disjointed and incoherent at first, before the show masterfully wraps itself up and shows the underlying connections between all of its elements around a core cconcepts and message.

From the surreal opening alone, one of the best in anime, you can already see that this show is something special.

This one is a genuinely obscure artsy film. Amidst the empty
and sterile shallowness of a corporate dystopia, Tamala brings about a psychedelic, nihilistic hell with brutal irreverence, chaos and disregard for each and every institution down to the very pillars of reality.

The title says it all, it truly is a punk cat in space, running in circles through the samsara of emptiness. If you want a chaotic, truly avant-garde film, this is it.

A strangely alluring and mesmerizing journey through a limbo, carelessly running at the edge of life and death and simulating the senses with mind bending, disturbing and beautiful settings. However, despite all the chaos, this short experimental film is ultimately an emotional and sad piece that leaves a strong impression that sets it apart from anything else.

Despite being set in the future, this highly ambitious psychological drama/coming of age story steers away from the usual genres of futuristic dystopia like cyberpunk and sets out to create a unique, mysterious and unsettling world that starts out as a serene utopia only to be slowly exposed as an insane dystopia as the cast of deeply flawed and realistic teens struggle to balance their passions, desires and dreams. Shinsekai yori is bold and risque, with sex, violence and bravely clear cut LGBTQ+ relationships.

Very interesting and unique series, the likes of which you will find nowhere else, whether you like it or not.

The ultimate iyashikei blending the healing peace and calm of a slice of life with a deeply eerie and resonant sense of mystery from the supernatural setting, a strong bittersweet melancholic tone, and contemplative, wise meditations about humanity's interaction with nature and our balance with the spiritual world.

Nature and the spiritual here are portrayed as truly incomprehensible and uncaring yet wonderful and fundamental aspects of life with which we have to mantain physical and emotional balance, which is the job of the wise and stoic yet kind main character.

Mushishi is slow paced and episodic yet every episode manages to seamlessly conjure up beautiful little stories full of soul and feels in their 20 minute runtime.

Sequels/Additional media: Seasons 2, 3 and the respective OVAs

The quintessential sci-fi cyberpunk anime, to the point that it is often named alongside Blade Runner even by those who are not that familiar with anime as a whole. Ghost in the Shell is an iconic and critically acclaimed psychological and philosophical anime that explores the societal consequences of humanity's interaction the incomprehensible technologies that they created but whose implications and consequences they are yet to understand.

Full of political drama, schemes, conspiracies and ethical reflections in the broader context of humanity's struggle to define itself, this franchise is an essential one.

Sequels/Additional media: OG Ghost in the Shell Movie, Innocence and GitS SAC Season 2

Raw, savage, hot blooded. A coming of age story that truly manages to capture the conflicting, contradicting yet unstoppable character of a teen's feelings. FLCL became a cult classic due to its uniquely chaotic and rebellious structure and feel brought about with a vibrant avant-garde presentation, combined with the mellow angst of its more contemplative moments of psychological focus.

Extremely fun without sacrificing depth and meaning. Universally enjoyable but dense enough that you will need a few watches to catch everything. A staple of elitist anime essentials.

Probably the most widely recognized and acclaimed anime, which people are not embarassed to admit they like outside of the anime community. With a western aesthetic and a setting inspired by general American pop-culture, it's easy to see why this became *the* anime to talk about in public for the people who would not admit that they watch anime even if they got waterboarded.

But apart from its unique setting and vibe in comparison to other anime, Cowboy Bebop is a genuinely interesting and beautiful looking blend of slice of life and sci-fi action with a charming adult cast full of eccentric badasses who are hilariously relatable sometimes. It's a series with soul and meaning that manages to cover a wide range of deep themes in its episodic structure, while also developing a compelling drama about the difficulty of moving on from the wounds of the past.

Sequels/Additional media: movie "Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no Tobira"

An underwatched sci-fi adventure/coming of age drama by Leiji Matsumoto that throws away all realism for an unparalleled sense of wonder and fantasy that both kids and adults can enjoy. This movie depicts the pain and corruption brought about by immortality, to the consequences of transhumanism and the never-ending tragedy of poverty and inequality that remains a constant regardless of how evolved civilization grows.

Sequels/Additional media: the original series with the same title "Ginga Tetsudou 999"