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10 Anime You Need To Be a Genius To Understand Properly
Anime has always had the reputation of being made for and enjoyed by younger audiences, and its initial infiltration into Western mainstream entertainment had something to do with that. Shows like Dragon Ball Z and One Piece helped to deliver the medium to English-speaking audiences, and while those titles are iconic, they aren’t exactly complex stories.
However, that reputation has begun to change in recent years as anime has continued to enjoy its meteoric rise in popularity. Now, more than ever before, anime is being taken seriously as an art form, and it has plenty of stories that prove just how versatile it is. It can entertain younger audiences, or it can capture the attention of mature viewers looking for something a bit more challenging, and these 10 shows require some thinking.
10
Death Note
Animated by Madhouse, Based on the Manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
Death Note is one of the most beloved anime series of the last 20 years, and it remains as fresh and suspenseful today as it was on debut in 2006. The hit psychological supernatural thriller by studio Madhouse isn’t the most complicated narrative anime has to offer, but its exploration of subjects like power, good and evil, and all the gray areas in-between is still thought-provoking nearly two decades later.
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Multiple generations of anime fans have been introduced to more mature content through Death Note, and the series will likely remain an entry point for generations of anime fans to come. The anime and manga versions of the series come to somewhat different conclusions, so first-time viewers will want to be sure to check out both.
9
Code Geass
Animated by Sunrise, Anime-Original Series
Like Death Note, 2006’s Code Geass has remained an entryway into anime’s smarter titles for countless fans throughout the years. The mecha series takes place in an alternate timeline where the Holy Britannian Empire has conquered Japan, and follows protagonist Lelouch Lamperouge as he uses the mysterious power of Geass to rebel.
The series dives into quite a few complex subjects, like war, revenge, morality, corruption, and more. Code Geass is gripping throughout its entire 50-episode run, and is widely believed to cap itself off with one of anime’s all-time greatest endings.
8
Darker Than Black
Animated by Bones, Anime-Original Series
From the studio responsible for such iconic and highly acclaimed titles as Fullmetal Alchemist and Mob Psycho 100, 2007’s Darker Than Black might just be Bones’ most underappreciated production. In a premise similar to the currently on-fire Solo Leveling, two anomalies dubbed Heaven’s Gate and Hell’s Gate appeared in South America and Tokyo respectively, leading to destruction and panic.
Unlike Solo Leveling, however, Darker Than Black moves away from the power fantasy set-up and leans heavily into its sci-fi mystery and thriller elements. Coinciding with the arrival of the gates, some humans gain superhuman powers, and the series dives into the effect those abilities have on people and society.
7
Welcome to the NHK
Animated by Gonzo, Based on the Novel Series by Tatsuhiko Takimoto
Welcome to the N.H.K.
- Release Date
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2006 – 2006
- Directors
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Yūsuke Yamamoto
- Writers
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Satoru Nishizono
- Franchise(s)
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Welcome to the N.H.K.
Anime has no shortage of feel-good stories about down-on-their-luck people finding happiness. 2006’s Welcome to the NHK is not one of those stories. Following 22-year-old Tatsuhiro Sato on an adventure down a hard spiral, the series explores the reclusive hikikomori lifestyle and the horrifyingly bleak consequences that come with it.
The dark comedy of Welcome to the NHK is a strange mix of entertaining and disturbing, and the series does not pull its punches, despite just how uncomfortable Sato’s everyday life becomes. It might not be for everyone, but the 2006 series might just instill the fear of a reclusive lifestyle that some people need.
6
Ergo Proxy
Animated by Manglobe, Anime-Original Series
Ergo Proxy is one of the stranger cases of an anime series becoming horribly underappreciated. It was written by Dai Sato, who contributed to titles like Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, and was directed by Shuko Murase, who contributed to several acclaimed works, including Samurai Champloo.
The dystopian post-apocalyptic sci-fi series takes place in a world of domed cities where humans and androids co-exist, and explores deeply human themes like identity and consciousness. Ergo Proxy is guilty of being a bit overly pretentious at times, but it brings some undeniably interesting stuff to the table while delivering breathtaking visuals and action.
5
Steins;Gate
Animated by White Fox, Based on the Visual Novel by 5pb and Nitroplus
Steins;Gate
- Release Date
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2011 – 2015-00-00
- Network
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Sun TV, Teletama
- Directors
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Kazuhiro Ozawa, Kanji Wakabayashi, Tomoki Kobayashi, Koji Kobayashi, Tomoko Hiramuki, Hisato Shimoda, Shigetaka Ikeda, Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, Yuzuru Tachikawa
- Writers
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Toshizo Nemoto
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Asami Imai
Kurisu Makise (voice)
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Mamoru Miyano
Rintaro Okabe (voice)
Time travel stories are difficult to get right. Just one overlooked detail can lead to an entire narrative collapsing on top of itself, but 2011’s Steins;Gate does the trope exceptionally well. The series follows self-proclaimed mad scientist Rintaro Okabe, who stumbles into inventing time travel while falling face-first into a series of tragedies and mysteries.
In true visual novel fashion, Steins;Gate spends its time on a number of subplots focusing on separate characters, while the main conflict grows larger in the background. The series gets off to a bit of a slow start, but is guaranteed to trap the viewer’s attention well before the chaos of its final few episodes begins.
4
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Animated by Gainax, Anime-Original Series
As Ergo Proxy is an unexpectedly underrated series, Neon Genesis Evangelion is an unexpected success, and it’s one of the most successful anime franchises in history. The series doesn’t follow a traditional storytelling structure, and seemingly does everything in its power to avoid satisfying its audience. Nevertheless, Evangelion remains as popular today as it was nearly three decades ago.
In a finale that all but abandons the plot, Evangelion dives into the nature of being human and the difficulty that comes with being social creatures battling with crippling trauma and anxiety. The awesome mech designs are just the cherry on top. No one will catch everything in their first watch, but the second and third are more than worth it for anyone who connects with the series.
3
Monster
Animated by Madhouse, Based on the Manga by Naoki Urasawa
Monster
- Release Date
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April 7, 2004
- Directors
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Masayuki Kojima, Morio Asaka
- Writers
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Tatsuhiko Urahata, Naoki Urasawa
Artist Naoki Urasawa has made his name from deeply thought-provoking titles like 20th Century Boys and the more recent Pluto, but his psychological thriller crime series Monster is arguably his magnum opus. The series follows Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a surgeon who saves the life of a young boy named Johan Liebert.
Years later, Johan becomes a serial killer, and Tenma becomes obsessed with tracking his one-time patient down and stopping him. Monster is a suspenseful dive into topics like nature vs. nurture, good and evil, and what exactly makes a monster.
2
Paranoia Agent
Animated by Madhouse, Anime-Original Series
Paranoia Agent
- Release Date
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2011 – 2005-00-00
- Directors
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Satoshi Kon
- Writers
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Seishi Minakami
- Franchise(s)
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Paranoia Agent
Paranoia Agent is the only anime series directed by the late master of his craft, Satoshi Kon, and it delivers one of his most complicated narratives ever. The series jumps to the different perspectives of victims attacked by the roller-skating, bat-wielding terror not so affectionately dubbed ‘Lil Slugger by the public. However, as each character is explored, their turbulent, stressful everyday lives are revealed.
The series touches on topics like collective trauma and the unique modern societal pressures faced by people wholly unprepared for them. At no point does Paranoia Agent hold the audience’s hand, but the payoff to all the mystery and surreal horror in the final act makes the inevitable confusion worth it.
1
Serial Experiments Lain
Animated by Triangle Staff, Anime-Original Series
Serial Experiments Lain isn’t just one of the most influential cyberpunk anime series ever, it’s also proven itself to be downright prophetic. Released in 1998, the series’ laughably large computer towers and CRT monitors don’t exactly offer the most accurate prediction of the future, but its depiction of the internet’s effects on humankind is often chilling.
Serial Experiments Lain offers commentary on a world in which everyone is connected, and follows a young girl who loses her sense of self while grappling with her own online personas. As Lain becomes unable to distinguish the real-world from the Wired, so too does the audience.
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In many ways, the future Serial Experiments Lain predicted has come to pass, and watching its tangled mysteries unfold can be a surreal experience. It might take a couple of watches to truly understand what’s happening, though.
