New to Anime

Stylen said:
you definitely must try "Death Note" is on netflix. you won't regret it and later maybe try with "Steins;Gate". they are epics and not the kind anime for kids.

Snakering said:
Hello! Welcome to the community :)

I'm inclined to think you might enjoy Katanatagari; at least in my opinion, it has a bit of a similar feel to anime like House of Five Leaves. It's definitely darkly philosophical at times and has an element of fantasy to it. However, it can move a little slowly--though I don't think much of it counts as filler, so I think you'll still enjoy it.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is very, very popular, and a good shounen epic that should match your tastes. It's fairly undisputed that this show is just downright good, and hits full marks for character development, grappling with philosophical/moral issues, darker fantasy, etc.

I don't suggest Kino's Journey very often, but you might find it engaging if you're in the mood for something more slow-paced and mature. For the most part each episode is a self-contained story; the protagonist travels from place to place and serves as a witness to different cultures (it gets very philosophical). You'll probably know whether or not you like it by the second or third episode. This one is not as strong in the plot department, but it has a lot else going for it.

If you liked Sword Art Online, you might like Re:Zero. (I've just suggested a very... hot topic anime. People have wildly different views as to whether this is good or not.) Personally, I liked this. I think the premise is a good twist on the isekai (parallel universe/other world) genre, and it does pretty well as a darker fantasy. Conversely, people often consider Log Horizon to be the next step up after SAO, so you have multiple options to pick from if you're interested in another show like this.

Mithres said:
Since you haven't watched/mentioned this classic anime yet, I'm going to recommend Death Note
Another classic I recommend is Monster
I can also recommend you Dogs: Bullets & Carnage as well as Switch
I think that all of these anime can be enjoyed by an adult audience.

Welcome to MAL by the way ^_^

Deknijff said:
https://myanimelist.net/anime/3342/Mnemosyne__Mnemosyne_no_Musume-tachi
https://myanimelist.net/anime/1818/Claymore

WilliamWilliam said:
Thanks friend! :)

Both those look like they might be up my alley -- I'll be sure to give them a look!

Thanks again. :)

Fozartz said:
Hey William. You might like an action anime like Black Lagoon based on your list. Shootouts, car chases, modern pirates, etc. I recommend the dub because its well done, but up to you.

WilliamWilliam said:


Black Lagoon looks awesome, friend -- thanks for the recommendation! :)

notyour-waifu said:
Blast of Tempest, Tokyo Ghoul, Seraph of the End

Definitely FMA Brotherhood, Re:Zero, and Death Note!

notyour-waifu said:
Blast of Tempest, Tokyo Ghoul, Seraph of the End

Definitely FMA Brotherhood, Re:Zero, and Death Note!

notyour-waifu said:


Even though I guess tokyo ghoul is more horror/gore I still think it's worth it

Darek said:
Ergo Proxy: tho the story may be slow for some but it is deep and dark.

Ghost in the Shell

mizukasa said:
HUNTER X HUNTER 2011

WilliamWilliam said:


Looks good friend, thanks a lot, I appreciate it.
And wow, it's got a high ranking on here, which suggests it's well worth a look. :)
Thanks again. :)

mizukasa said:
I also recommend Shinsekai Yori. It has everything you're looking for, and I'm not even exaggerating.

mizukasa said:


Its rank is still pretty low for something of that caliber. I'm sure you'll like it.

Teyzone said:
Tsubasa Chronicles sounds exactly like what you are looking for.

SeijiSensei said:
First, I find it remarkable that you've watched House of Five Leaves already. It's a pretty obscure choice for someone new to anime.

Try these:

Monster - A Japanese neurosurgeon practicing in Germany saves the life of a young boy who later becomes a serial killer. Despite its 74 episodes, Monster has essentially no filler.



"Bake Neko," the closing arc of the series Ayakashi Samurai Horror Tales, and its continuation, the series Mononoke. I recommend watching them in this order. Here's a fan-made trailer for Mononoke:



Seirei no Moribito - A 30-yo female bodyguard becomes responsible for a young prince targeted for assassination.



Juuni Kokuki ("Twelve Kingdoms") - A classic story about a high-school girl who is whisked off to a fantasy world where she discovers her true identity and fate. Setting draws on Ming China. If you're looking for character development, many people think Youko stands at the top of the list.

Hyouge Mono - Set during the Sengoku ("warring-states") period, this show follows the conflicts among the warlords in 16th century Japan through the eyes of a messenger working for Oda Nobunaga.

Oh! Edo Rocket - A satire on political repression set in 1843 Edo. This show is full of historical references. I recommend watching the Shinsen fansub rather than the Funimation release, but the latter is easier to find as it's free to watch on YouTube. The translator for Shinsen provided useful notes along the way to provide historical contxt; the Funimation version is more "localized" for a North American audience.The artstyle is pretty unique, but it grows on you over time.



Mouryou no Hako - Amateur detectives try to solve a series of gruesome murders where adolescent girls' limbs are cut off and displayed in a rural town.

rvbrick said:
Well first judging by your list, you haven't seen every Miyazaki movie. You're missing The Castle of Cagliostro, important because it's his finest film. At least in my insignificant opinion.

Standard recommendations:
Everything by Satoshi Kon. This includes Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers, Paprika, Perfect Blue, and Paranoia Agent. Skip Perfect Blue if you're opposed to horror of any kind (though it's a more psychological brand of horror).

Ghost in the Shell and Akira. The two most famous anime movies that aren't Ghibli. If you enjoy Ghost in The Shell, the franchise is quite large, you may also enjoy Patlabor as it is by the same director.

"Deep" "Mature" anime that may or may not be up your alley:
Texhnolyze
Serial Experiments Lain
The Tatami Galaxy
Mind Game
Master Keaton
Black Jack (OVA series)
Monster - goes against your "slow moving stories with lots of filler" thing but it is the definite best example of an anime made for adults

Oddball recs:
Giant Robo The Day The Earth Stood Still: Classic in every sense of the word. Great animation, great OST, memorable characters, a decent enough plot, really, just thank me later. Bonus points for the memorable so bad it ends up being accidentally awesome English dub it received during the 90s (in case you actually follow my advice, the good dub starts with the line "Earth, the marvelous world of our future").

They Were Eleven: Whodunnit in space. 10 people embark on a month long entrance exam for a prestigious space academy. Upon arriving at the space ship they will be spending the next 30 days on, they learn that among them is an extra person, but no one knows which one of them it is, or what their intentions may be. Remains gripping for the entirety of its running time, which is all you can really ask for.

Woraken said:
Tokyo Ghoul, Re:Zero

SilentSword114 said:
One of my favourite anime that has a story with a dark undertone is Gankutsuou. Maybe you will like it. Have you already tried Neon Genesis Evangelion ? It's another classic you should give at least a try. You might also like Haibane Renmei. It's not particularly dark but it builds up a great mysterious atmosphere and leaves lots of room for your own interpretations. Welcome to the community btw :D