Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex

Worldbuilding - "the process of constructing a world, originally an imaginary one, sometimes associated with a fictional universe." These kinds of shows are usually set in a fantasy and/or sci-fi world, and excel at establishing & showcasing the rules/history/economy of their fictional universe. List was created through collective data from multiple websites of people's answers as to what shows are considered to have great world building.

Critics & Connoisseurs was a club that was founded in 2008 and ended club activities on the 31st of 2022.

The goal of the club was to come up with a list of highly recommended quality shows that are exemplary either within its genre or universally. An anime needed a 70% approval rate in our voting to get on the relation list. The following anime are all part of said list.

You can see the club page here:
https://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=2913

Anime Relation List Part 2: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/328
Manga Relation List: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/334

Anime with great worldbuilding, or the development of the fantastical environment and world! None of these anime take place in what you would call 'our universe', rather taking place in an alternative universe or fantasy/ sci-fi setting with amazingly well-tailored and fitting details in technologies and architecture that makes every world unique.

Adult Swim (stylized as [adult swim] or abbreviated as [as]) is an American timeshare cable television network bundled with Cartoon Network. The programs featured on Adult Swim are geared toward teens and young adults. Broadcast since 2001, much of the network's general content is known for its risqué, unorthodox and often bizarre presentation, while many of the series' features are developed in stark contrast with traditional American television programs. The block features stylistically varied animated and live-action shows including original programming, syndicated shows and Japanese anime, generally with minimal or no editing for content.

Source: https://toonami.fandom.com/wiki/Adult_Swim

Note: This Interest Stack is still being edited.

There are currently three different continuities: "Ghost in the Shell", "Stand Alone Complex", and "Arise". They all heavily reference the first movie from the Ghost in the Shell continuity so I would recommend starting from that one and watch either SAC or Arise afterwards. The former is the closest to the first movie, the latter is more action-focused.
Special summaries and comedic shorts not included.

A collection of shows featuring late-night city vibes.

This is a collection of series to see if you're searching for a female lead you will be able to cheer for as more as possible. Her main goal will not be romance.

Anime with a modern gun focus.

"Elitist" has been a very generic and broad term to generalise many types of not-so-mainstream or "deep" anime, so this list is very diverse and it's criteria are not always clear cut and objective. Nonetheless I try to provide a proper explanation for why each entry is included. Generally speaking these are shows that fit one OR more of these adjectives: Experimental, Avant-Garde, Psychological, Philosophical, Obscure, Classic, Critically Acclaimed, Artsy, Old, etc...

Some shows here are not necessarily obscure or underground at all, but they are still here because they have been stereotyped as "elitist" by the community over time, due to their experimental or artsy nature. Similarly, some shows here are not necessarily artsy or experimental in nature, but their old/underwatched/obscure nature gives them a reason to be here. Not all aspects have to be checked to be included. Only one per franchise.

I have personally watched the great majority of the anime in this list, but there are a couple which I haven't. Still added them because of how strongly they are stereotyped as "elitist" or have fitting characteristics to be classified as such. I know my list still lacks many essential classics, I will continue to add and expand into this list as I watch those personally.

For more recommendations, go to my other Interest Stacks, "Elitist Anime 2" , "Elitist Anime 3" and "Elitist Anime 4", whose links are:

- https://myanimelist.net/stacks/4256
- https://myanimelist.net/stacks/4756
- https://myanimelist.net/stacks/10188
- https://myanimelist.net/stacks/15961

Music is perfect when it comes to stimulating your emotions and imagination. When I'm in a funk, these perk me right back up and get my creative juices a-flowing, and maybe they'll help you, too. (Requests welcome.)

SBS - the free to air channel with actual international content that everyone either spends 5 minutes watching or 3 hours watching, no in-between. They used to air a fair bit of anime alongside their normally scheduled programming, and you might even be able to catch a few Ghibli films every now and then today.

list of psychological, strange and experimental anime.

This list has a part 1: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/3795

Anime with morally gray characters

Associated words: Dark (Visually and/or Thematically), Story-centric, Atmospheric, Abstract, Psychological, Unorthodox, Nihilistic, AND/OR Avant-garde
(Emphasis on AND/OR)


Do check out the other 'half': https://myanimelist.net/stacks/4917 (Some shows could also fit here)

May or may not be completely western songs

(Note: Feel free to message me for suggestions)

must have a big brain to watch this

Anime that are aimed at an adult audience.