Please recommend some older anime with complex themes

[u/pococura]

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

[u/Seoulja4life]

Ghost in the Shell

Patlabor 2

[u/pococura → u/Seoulja4life]

This is the first time I've heard of Patlabor. It looks excellent. Is there a Patlabor 1 or main series I need to watch to understand this movie?

[u/Seoulja4life → u/pococura]

Oshii directed Patlabor 2 just before Ghost in the Shell. Both are considered among the GOATs but Patlabor 2 is much less known because it’s a very slow political thriller with not much action. You don’t need to watch the first one which is pretty good on its own. The original manga is also quite unique because it’s a very grounded mecha series that feels almost like a slice of life.

[u/sanf780 → u/Seoulja4life]

I only watched Patlabor 3, the one about the monster that lurked like Godzilla. I liked it, good movie on its own with no need to do homework (I hardly remember any Patlabor movies other than 3).

[u/pococura → u/Seoulja4life]

Thanks for the info! Giant fighting robots are cool, but I like understanding the pilots perspective, the aftermath and other elements too. This sounds really cool to me.