Thought Provoking Anime?

[!!!]

Have you guys ever watched an anime show that even a week or two after watching your still thinking about it? Asking yourself I wonder what would happen if........., or uncertain of events within the show that have you drawing your own conclusion.

Recently I watched Berserk and after about a week I'm still pondering the ending (I know the manga carries on) and drawing my own conclusions to what is going on. Another perfect example for me would be Wolf's Rain and Evanglion; the ending, while not what I wanted, stayed on my mind for weeks after.

I would like to hear what shows have left impressions on you guys in this sense.

[Necro]

NGE is an obvious one. I dont think anyone gets it. The TV ending was pretty deep, and End of Evangelion added more confusion for me. Not much else to say.

FLCL is another seemingly obvious one. I watched it, read the manga, and I still dont really know wtf it is. It was epic, but honestly. Robots and Guitars coming out of head wounds isnt very normal.

And while it didnt leave me wondering, I bawwed over Clannad After Story for atleast a couple of days. The first series was like 'oh wow how unsurprising', but jesus After Story snuck up on you. Im such a sissy D:

[Martin]

The anime of FLCL makes more sense than the manga did, but some things work better in motion and FLCL is one of them. But yeah, Berserk is one hell of a powerful series. I didn't think the ending was *quite* as bad as its reputation indicates, but it is a bit abrupt. But I digress. Wolf's Rain had quite the tearjerker to finish it off, which is especially moving because you follow the characters' respective journeys for so long (they repeated the same magic with Darker than Black, I found).

Saikano packed a punch by the end (all the way through, actually) and while I respect what it achieved immensely, I've never been able to bring myself to rewatch it. Says a lot, really. Certain episodes of Mushishi have stayed with me, even though every episode is brilliant. It's just so quietly profound and asks loads of questions while leaving you to make up your own mind, much like Kino's Journey did actually.

I find myself in floods of Manly Tears every time I watch Voices of a Distant Star and Place Promised, but oddly 5cm Per Second leaves me with a more gentle sense of bittersweet understanding. It takes on greater meaning the older you get, which is a strange feeling but not an unpleasant one. The Clannad After Story worked miles better than I expected it to as well.

Kara no Kyoukai is another one that demands an enormous investment and the ending makes you feel like you've been knocked unconscious...I couldn't think straight for days after seeing the final film (someone licence them already!)

Serial Experiments Lain is the old piece of genius that made me scratch my head until it bled. Same goes for RahXephon. I intend to watch it through for the third time with the aim of completely understanding it at last!

[Matt Kamen]

Haibane Renmei, no question. Quiet, reflective and beautiful, raising questions of life, afterlife, existence and purpose. A wonderful - and sadly under-appreciated - show.

[Olio8O]

Originally Posted by Yorkshire badger

Kara no Kyoukai is another one that demands an enormous investment and the ending makes you feel like you've been knocked unconscious...I couldn't think straight for days after seeing the final film (someone licence them already!)

Seconded! KNK is haunting enough as it is without it being a complete mind-bender as well! It stays with you for a long time afterwards.

I'll also pitch in with Paranoia Agent and Angel's Egg too...

[Rory]

The Patlabor films, I love a good conspiracy to get the brain working!

[ShinAsura]

Originally Posted by Rory

The Patlabor films, I love a good conspiracy to get the brain working!

lol you should check out zeitgeist if you're into that sorta thing. It's a free and legit download directly off there main site. I recommend everyone take a peek sometime.

[trav]

Originally Posted by Matt Kamen

Haibane Renmei, no question. Quiet, reflective and beautiful, raising questions of life, afterlife, existence and purpose. A wonderful - and sadly under-appreciated - show.

I soooo +1 this.

I just love that it raises questions, but doesn't answer many leaving it up to you to come to your own conclusions.

[!!!]

Originally Posted by Yorkshire badger

Berserk is one hell of a powerful series. I didn't think the ending was *quite* as bad as its reputation indicates, but it is a bit abrupt.

I duno; that last scene with Caska *shivers*





Some good views there guys! A lot of shows I have yet to watch. I must admit now that I know some of them are going to pack a punch so to speak, i'm wary of watching them now XD


<<<< Whimp.

[Rock-Lee]

There are a few anime that had me thinking about them long after they finished. Evangelion probably had the most powerful effect. There are so many hidden subtexts and ambiguities in the plot you could turn it over in your mind forever.

Paranoia Agent is another one. It's a right mindf**k!

Also, Noein. The time travel and parallel universe shenanigans going on in that story take some puzzling over. It's a rewarding experience though.

[Ross]

I'd go with Berserk, it's gripping in a way few other shows ever manage, Eastern or Western.

I'd also throw Gungrave into the mix, as it follows the template set down by Berserk (honour, growth, betrayal) but adds it's own bittersweet twist and an ending which doesn't leave you hanging. Plus it has gangsters in it, always a bonus.

Oddly, Gundam SEED also left me pretty breathless - the whole chase-across-space setup was brilliantly executed, and pitched perfectly in my opinion. Shame about Destiny, but I'll forgive it due to Mue La Flaga's improbable awesomeness.

Lastly, Trigun. Daft until the half-way mark until a genuinely gut-wrenching change of pace and style - genuinely touching and brilliantly constructed.

[Fidelis]

Paranoia Agent. Fantastic piece of work and a study in human and social perception =D

Welcome to the NHK... Anime and Manga both, it's not so far fetched as some people seem to think (I've met various incarnations of the main cast several times...) and I've not yet seen a more devastatingly accurate portrayal of the shut-in mindset. It doesn't pull any punches in making it clear it's a massively unhealthy state to be in, either. (Unlike Genshiken, for instance, which I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate HATE)

+1 Trigun and Haibane Renmei.

[Filia]

Boogiepop Phantom had me thinking for days afterwards as did Crest of the Stars first season. Others have pretty much been covered above.