Philosophical/Religious/Psychological Topics in Anime
AnimeSpoiler
Anime with various philosophical, religious, and psychological themes. Feel free to correct me where I'm wrong, give advice to add/change tags to the anime listed, or suggest new anime I had not considered.
Minor references to religion like Buddhism (like visiting a shrine), or vague references in general (like name-dropping or quoting a philosopher once), are not really enough for me to put it on this list. Although I will note if small references are made in important scenes. An anime is not more or less philosophical based solely on the number of philosophies it references or encompasses.
Spoiler tag is here because some of the descriptors reference important plot points or even the ending.
And yes, this list makes some anime appear a lot cooler or more intelligent than they actually are.
Minor references to religion like Buddhism (like visiting a shrine), or vague references in general (like name-dropping or quoting a philosopher once), are not really enough for me to put it on this list. Although I will note if small references are made in important scenes. An anime is not more or less philosophical based solely on the number of philosophies it references or encompasses.
Spoiler tag is here because some of the descriptors reference important plot points or even the ending.
And yes, this list makes some anime appear a lot cooler or more intelligent than they actually are.
TV, 1997,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Nietzsche's Ubermensch/Last Man, Nihilism, Existentialism, Free Will vs Determinism
TV, 1995,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:6
Christianity, Gnosticism, Existentialism, Freudian Psychology
TV, 2012,
22 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Nihilism, Existentialism, Deontology, References to Pascal and Ortega
TV, 2011,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:7
The entire Persona series has elements of Gnosticism, Buddhism, Christianity, and various other religions; Free Will vs Determinism, Jungian Psychology
TV, 2009,
15 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Buddhism, Christianity, Jungian Psychology (especially Neko and Owari arcs), Freudian Psychology
Koyomimonogatari ep 1 references and is about the Euthyphro problem
Koyomimonogatari ep 1 references and is about the Euthyphro problem
TV, 2018,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:5
Freudian Psychology, Buddhism, Free Will vs Determinism, Existentialism
TV, 2019,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Freudian Psychology, Jungian Psychology. Unfortunately, later seasons stopped having psychological themes and shifted more towards a standard romcom.
TV, 2006,
37 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Deontology, Utilitarianism, Existentialism, Nihilism, Christianity, Atheism
TV, 2018,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Laplace's Demon, Free Will vs Determinism, Jungian Psychology
TV, 2013,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Existentialism, Nihilism, Free Will vs Determinism
TV, 2007,
27 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Free Will vs Determinism, Gnosticism, Nietzsche's Ethics
TV, 2017,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Utilitarianism. Each episode's title is a philosophical quote that kind of encompasses the themes of the week.
OVA, 2016,
8 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Existentialism, Savant Syndrome
TV, 2017,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Utilitarianism, Freudian Psychology, Jungian Psychology, 5 Minute World Hypothesis (Russell), Plank of Carneades Ethical Problem
