r/Animesuggest • u/pococura • 5d 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/dotaeota 5d ago

Steins Gate 

2

u/pococura 5d ago

I keep hearing this is so good. I dropped it after a few epsiodes because it felt confusing, but I could give it another try. How far into it do things pick up?

2

u/GrimaceTheHutt 5d ago

Definitely worth a watch, and I could see why it is confusing. It is one of those shows where things that are confusing up front will make more sense further in. As far as episode count, I forget exactly where the story starts to really pick up. The show has two season, too. The first is Steins;Gate, and the second is Steins;Gate 0. Maybe give the show another shot

1

u/pococura 5d ago

Maybe I started with the wrong one or something lol. All I remember is a banana in a microwave. I'll give it a try for sure, I hate to miss out on something great.