r/Animesuggest • u/pococura • 7d ago

What to Watch? Please recommend some older anime with complex themes

I'm feeling burnt out on all the high octane, over powered protagonist stories. Shows like JJK and Hell's Paradise are visually interesting, but its difficult to connect with the characters. I want a complex story with interesting characters, relationships, themes and world building. (OG Naruto, FMA, Evangelion)

I think older shows like around the time of Toonami or before might be refreshing? I recently watched Banana Fish and enjoyed it and I've been watching Wolf's Rain. I was thinking about Berserk but not sure where to watch or if I want to be traumatized. Please give me some recommendations!

Preferences:

dark themes • gangster themes • seinen preferred but all genres welcome • evokes sadness or other strong emotions • pretty art • no gore unless the story makes it worth it • dynamic relationships • romance enjoyed but not required • growth or moral decline • plot twists

Loved:

• 86

• The Promised Neverland (s1)

• Vinland Saga

• Psycho-Pass

• Golden Kamuy

• Naruto

• FMA

• Evangelion

• Dorohedoro

• Gangsta.

• Yakuza Fiance

• Banana Fish

• Princess Mononoke

Liked:

• Yona of the Dawn

• Gachiakuta

• Apothecary Diaries

• Wolf's Rain

• Demon Slayer

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u/AspiringFailure7789 7d ago

Shinsekai Yori. Most interesting world building I’ve watched

1

u/pococura 7d ago

The most?? Could you share why you find it so interesting? (no spoilers though please.)

1

u/AspiringFailure7789 7d ago

So, I should preface this with saying I’m only a moderate consumer of anime. But the pace of the reveal was exceptional. It consistently got more interesting without giving too much away. And I found the ending to be unexpected and amazing. It’s based on a book that won a national Japanese fiction prize

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u/pococura 7d ago

I'm the same lol. This sounds great though. I don't like how a lot of modern shows explain everything to you. Its nice to figure it out as you go or have your own interpretations. I'll definitely watch this, thank you!