Best Thought Provoking Anime

In the vast majority of cases, anime is a medium that intends to entertain, narrating stories tinged with a distinctive aesthetic while adhering to certain tropes that have become associated with its many offerings. However, every once in a while, a franchise emerges from among the crowd to challenge norms in the usual fare of seasonal anime, raising pertinent questions on a variety of topics.

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These can range from poignant examinations of the human condition and its associated struggles to more broad debates on civilization, war, morality, environmentalism, and other issues. Some of these titles have gone on to attain cult or iconic status in the realm of anime and fiction as a whole, exerting an incredible degree of influence on popular culture.

1 Mushishi

An Idyllic Venture Into The Trials Of Everyday Life

Following the travels of Ginko, a healer who can perceive the primitive life forms known as "mushi," Mushishi combines elements of the supernatural with a predominantly slice-of-life setting.

Filled with subtle anachronisms that conceal the time period the series takes place in, Mushishi exudes a timelessness in its examination of everyday life, as well as the intricacies of mental health and the long-lasting effects of trauma. The series is known for the calming quality of its visual style, as well as the underlying moral themes it depicts.

2 Ergo Proxy

Blending Philosophy And Dystopian Fiction

Equal parts psychological thriller and cyberpunk fantasy, Ergo Proxy is heavily influenced by Gnosticism and other schools of philosophy, including the works of René Descartes. In a distant future where ecological disasters have made the planet virtually uninhabitable, the story of Ergo Proxy begins in Romdeau City, one of many domed cities where humans and androids can safely coexist.

Following Re-L Mayer, the daughter of the city's regent, the series traces her investigation into the Cogito virus and the mysterious beings known as Proxies, who appear to be connected to Vincent Law, a figure who unexpectedly enters her life.

3 Neon Genesis Evangelion

Post-Apocalyptic Mecha Series Or Psychological Drama?

Undoubtedly one of anime's most well-known global exports, Hideaki Anno's Neon Genesis Evangelion is as acclaimed as it is controversial. While it may initially present itself as a mecha franchise featuring a large amount of religious symbolism, the real heart of Evangelion is its characters, who struggle with their inner demons as they simultaneously confront the world-ending threat of the Angels.

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The series examines issues of social anxiety, childhood trauma, libido-destrudo conflicts, and Freudian concepts regarding familial and interpersonal relationships.

4 Pluto

A Sci-Fi Murder Mystery With Deeper Underpinnings

Naoki Urasawa's reimagining of Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy follows Europol agent Inspector Gesicht, as he investigates a gruesome series of murders involving powerful robots and robot sympathizers across the world.

From new interpretations of Isaac Asimov's "Three Laws of Robotics," to examinations of how to create artificial intelligence that emulates every facet of human consciousness, Pluto is an incredible Netflix anime adaptation of an already highly acclaimed manga that elevates its source material in every way imaginable, without losing any nuance in its true meaning.

5 Cowboy Bebop

Does Your Past Define You?

Combining episodic storylines in the style of an anthology series, with longer plot threads that play out over the course of its 26-episode run, Cowboy Bebop is a space-western set in the near future, following a crew of rag-tag bounty hunters.

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Its depiction of a space-faring civilization and the impact of advanced technology on everyday life has received much praise, with the show's mechanical design standing out in particular. However, its true triumph comes from its exploration of themes such as identity, existential ennui, isolation, and the struggle to escape one's past.

6 Violet Evergarden

Can One's Life Be Given A New Purpose?

Centered on the journey of its titular protagonist, Violet Evergarden follows the struggles of a former soldier to reintegrate into society after knowing nothing but war for her entire life.

Covering topics such as post-traumatic stress disorder and the difficulties of forging a new identity, the series tackles complex subjects with an impressive degree of nuance, aided by a very aesthetically appealing visual style that puts many of its peers to shame.

7 Serial Experiments Lain

How Do You Separate The Physical And The Virtual?

A shy young high school student Lain Iwakura finds herself cast into the complex virtual world of "The Wired" after receiving a text message from a recently deceased classmate. What ensues is a series of surreal incidents where Lain shatters the barrier between the physical and digital worlds while losing her sense of identity in the process.

Revolutionary for its time, Serial Experiments Lain is especially relevant today, when the majority of human communication takes place in the virtual sphere, producing a society where individuals are prone to experiencing paranoia, loneliness, and alienation.

8 Perfect Blue

Who Is The Real Mima Kirigoe?

Much like Satoshi Kon's other works, Perfect Blue is a psychological thriller that blurs the line between fantasy and reality while delving into the destabilizing psyche of a Japanese idol who navigates the pitfalls of fame.

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Under immense stress from dealing with her declining public image, as well as a frightening series of encounters with a disturbing stalker, the film's protagonist Mima Kirigoe, begins to lose her grip on reality. Perfect Blue is an all-too-real depiction of the dark side of stardom and has inspired many imitators in the years since its release.

9 Psycho-Pass

A Cyberpunk Thriller With Poignant Questions On Morality

Psycho-Pass takes place in 22nd-century Japan, where crime is thwarted with the aid of an artificial intelligence known as the "Sibyl System," which evaluates an individual's potential for criminal activity via a brain scan.

The series follows rookie Inspector Akane Tsunemori and her relationship with the Enforcer Shinya Kogami, as the pair navigate the complexities of morality in an age where latent criminality can be determined by technology, with AI serving as judge, jury, and executioner all at once.

10 Ghost In The Shell

What Does It Mean To Be Alive?

Although it features several deviations from Masamune Shirow's original manga series, Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell is an era-defining work in the cyberpunk genre. While its animation was far ahead of many of its peers at the time, the film's narrative and character writing is perhaps where it shines best.

Posing intriguing questions on memory, consciousness, and identity in a world where bodily cybernetic enhancement is a common occurrence, the film, and its associated media franchise, have garnered almost universal acclaim for tackling ideas about artificial intelligence, post-gendered characters, and the human desire for self-preservation.

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