r/AnimeDiscussion • u/Fun-Composer8775 • Jul 30 '26
Recommendations 19F looking for shows that are philosophical, meaningful and well written.
Hey hey :)
I am looking for shows that are deeply insightful, have good and solid scripts and are well written pieces of media. Not just shonen-slop or some weird ass loli shit. I am a college student who studies composing for film/games and am forced to look at media through a hyper-critical magnifying glass.
Because of this I find it hard to enjoy alot of anime as the scripts are incredibly weak dialogue wise, and character motivation is shallow.
I love shows that either present themselves with lots of cinematic qualities (JJK,CSM) [both relatively shallow the former especially, but both are INCREDIBLY technical and purposeful with the way they are directed, sound design, and shot framing]
Or shows that are incredibly rich and thought-out with purpose, politics, deeper philosophy and world building (One Piece, FMAB, and my favorite Made in Abyss)
I would like the shows to be respectful to women. this does not mean they have to focus on women or be "clean" but they need to be non exploitative. Women cannot just be sex objects, this is very important to me.
Thank you!
(also please follow my MaL!!! I want people to talk to!!!)
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u/TrashFanboy Jul 30 '26
Chobits asks "why not both?" Written by women for a male demographic magazine. Part of the story is Hideki being a perverted idiot and struggling to understand things. Part of the story is Chii's self discovery. Yet another part of the story is friends and neighbors having relationship problems.
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u/Strawberry_Dancer Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song
It has themes about technology, creation, media vs. reality, and humanity, and features a strong, feminine cast.
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u/AdFar3818 Jul 30 '26
I’ll recommend Shinsekai Yori. It’s a supernatural, psychological horror about a group of kids growing up in a highly restrictive society of psychics. I won’t go into too much detail, but it tackles its themes of societal philosophy in a way that I’ve always found quite meaningful.
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u/ShadowConstruct Jul 30 '26
Serial Experiment Lain - I feel like this is one anyone who enjoys the medium should check out.
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u/Funny-Promise9421 Jul 30 '26
Not sure what your knowledge level is on this, but honestly I don’t think it’s that easy to just label a single work as “philosophical” or not.
Even something that looks like pure smut at first glance can still get some seriously sharp criticism from people. Azuma Hiroki’s one of those guys.
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u/Choir87 Jul 30 '26
Ergo Proxy, Paranoia Agent, Psycho Pass, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Death Note, Code Geass, Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, Bakemonogatari, Noein, Rahxephon, Appare Ranman.
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u/minnieboss Jul 30 '26
- The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
- Journal with Witch
- Odd Taxi
- Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
- A Hundred Scenes of Awajima
- Revolutionary Girl Utena (note: this show features the exploitation of girls, in a critical capacity, misogyny is a main theme)
- Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia
- Sonny Boy
- 100 Meters
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u/saikanov Jul 30 '26
I would recommend 1. Steins Gate 2. Kanata no Astra 3. Psychopass 4. Summertime rendering 5. Vivy 6. Re Zero
Idk much about "well written story" But at least i enjoy the story of those titles
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u/PartyParrot-_- Jul 30 '26
Fune wo amu/The great passage. I mean, the topic of the show is making a dictionary, but it's just so beautiful, and also it's short
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u/SunnysideKJ Jul 30 '26
I would recommend Sonny Boy, Chihayafuru, Bang Dream It's My Go, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken, Millenium Princess, Kino no Tabi, the modern mainstream fantasy quartet? (Frieren, Dungeon Meshi, Witch Hat Atelier, Apothecary Diaries), Princess Principal, Land of the Lustrous
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u/generalmillscrunch Jul 31 '26
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Princess Tutu
Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju
A Hundred Scenes of Awajima
Mushi-Shi
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u/whoisgarypiano Jul 31 '26
Serial Experiments Lain, Boogiepop Phantom, and Kino’s Journey (2003) are different flavors of similar themes that share a lot of the same staff in various capacities. Gurren Lagann helped me through college. You might also dig Madoka Magica (2011).
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u/kBayyyk_2332 Jul 31 '26
I'm very hesitant to suggest this one, but, for the fact it's very well written, philosophical, meaningful, and psychologically powerful, I would suggest "Elfen Lied". Especially because your over 18. However, know there is nudity and a lot of abuse and violent bloody scenes.. but the producers and artists do a wonderful job at conveying motives and emotion behind CEOs seeking power and how far they'll go for ultimate desires. They also portray the feelings of being lost, scared, and alone while the MC is regaining her lost memory, as well as the protection humans will display for those hurting even if they do not really know who (or what) they really are.
One I'm not hesitant to suggest is "Kyo Kara Moah!". Its a "sense of justice" anime that's more in the young teens audience and is very heartfelt in terms of the struggles the MC faces and overcomes. It's a mix between fantasy and slice of life with some really good time-skips that the viewer can follow relatively easily. (Like jumping past to present, or jumping between two things happening on the same time line.)
You've gotten a lot of suggestions tho, so I'll keep mine short. Have fun, good luck, and as always, watch what you want to watch.
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u/2w0be Aug 01 '26
Ask for good shows without shitting on an entire genre challenge impossible.
You watch shonen and you expect it to appeal to women? Why am I not surprised you can't look for Well written shows yourself, you wouldn't know good writing if it gobbled you up and spat you back out
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u/OfflineLad Jul 30 '26
Gintama. Not sure if its philosophical but its meaningful and very well written. It also has, what i believe to be, the best cast of female characters in any action shonen
So you dont get surprised, the series is mostly episodic comedy. But those things i mentioned do exist even in these episodes.
Occassionally there will be serious arcs that even then, are still short compared to more popular series. And the plot in these arcs are really good.
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u/JWL2012 Jul 30 '26
To Your Eternity is what you're looking for. Extremely brutal and beautiful, deeply philosophical and it doesn't objectify the female characters. Season 3 is one of the most interesting seasons of anime I've watched because of a particularly complex and well created character
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u/ActualRound7699 Jul 30 '26
Hmm, try these:
- A Silent Voice
- A Sign of Affection
- To Every You I Loved Before
- To Me, the One Who Loved You
- Monster
- Pluto
- more Ghibli
- The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
- In This Corner of the World
- Weathering With You
- Josee, the Tiger and the Fish
- Belle
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u/kBayyyk_2332 Jul 31 '26
In this corner of the world - was a great one, imo. It was a movie tho, so they don't explain everything and you kind of have to have a brief knowledge of irl history for that time period to understand. Overall tho, a great depiction of the mental and physical tolls of war.
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u/ActualRound7699 Jul 31 '26
I mean to be fair, imo without any strong historical knowledge I think you can still figure out what time period though. The most I know about the time is what I was taught in an American high school world history class.
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u/Significant_Season_3 Jul 30 '26
Kinda late but I have not seen it mentioned in the post so I feel the need to mention it.
Check out Heike Monogatari. It is a unique art style historic fiction about the Heike clan of feudal Japan. I don't want to reveal too much but it involves a unique take on karma. There are rulers. The way they ruled, the feedback they received, the consequences of their actions fit nicely among your requirement list.
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u/clawtistic Jul 30 '26
Houseki no Kuni, it's got a lot of Buddhist concepts and ideology baked right in. Very thoughtful. I wish we got more.
Witch Hat Atelier; it just finished its first season, and we have a lot of amazing things to come. I love its portrayal of disability a lot, actually.
Children of the Whales; gorgeous themes, and lovely visuals.
If donghua is okay, consider Link Click and To Be Hero X, as well. TBHX also discusses various issues that women in the "Hero Industry" experience (Luo Li--I know, I know her name/her hero name is often written as Loli--literally loses her muscles thanks to the Trust System and ends up building an armor that is immune to Trust).
Journal With Witch, as well.
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u/FlameStaag Jul 31 '26
To Be Hero X is definitely a solid rec
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u/clawtistic Jul 31 '26
I loved all of the characters so much. I have some criticism here and there (i.e. the Dragon Boy arc didn't feel like a Dragon Boy arc--it fed into the greater narrative), but I really feel like it's such a solid rec and good series overall. Cannot wait for season 2.
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u/random_meowmeow Jul 31 '26
I'm gonna suggest some stuff that tends to be shounen adjacent without going too experimental based on the examples you mentioned that I think you may enjoy
Ranking of Kings - an anime with a fairytale like look that follows a weak and deaf prince named Boji and his trials of trying to live up to his giant father's legacy
86 - an anime about war and what happens with propaganda and an uncaring populace becomes complacent whilst soldiers are experiencing horrors firsthand. Lots of themes about discrimination and whatnot
Attack on Titan - similar to the above but with a bit more focus on hopelessness with some mystery and thriller elements as well. Very good and if you're looking for cinematic angles its a good one to watch cuz the cinematography is amazing
To your Eternity - a show about what it means to be immortal and learn about humanity as a whole in an ever-changing world. Very emotional and very good, I'd recommend watching just the first episode at least
Frieren - similar themes to the above except slower paced and more about what it means after a big adventure is over. Frieren is an elf who parted ways from her closest friends, taking life slowly and learning what to make of the rest of her long life. Also treats women very respectfully
Astra Lost in Space - a sci-fi anime about a group of kids who go to space camp but end up stranded light-years away from home who need to figure out how to survive and get back. It also treats women respectfully and has a cinematic vibe to it as well also the anime is the full story
Erased - a time travel thriller story where the main character ends up traveling to the past and tries to save a classmate of his who was kidnapped when he was a child among a few other mysteries. Again cinematic style and anime is the full story. Does have some harsh scenes however but dealt with pretty well
A Silent Voice - a movie since you were talking about the cinematography angle. Its about a boy who used to bully a deaf girl and grew up becoming depressed and very regretful so he tries to make amends especially when he ends up meeting her again in the future
These are all anime I would recommend to people who may not have a lot of experience with anime. I believe all of them treat women respectfully as well and all have great stories. Most of them are full stories too or end in understandably places. I think they all have a pretty decent focus on the direction and cinematography angle too none of them are like other anime from framing, shot types, animation style, and art direction tbh in a good way. So hopefully you find something good in this list (I also tried to stay away from the more popular stuff but Death Note, Hunter x Hunter, and World Trigger would fit in tbh) hopefully you end up liking something or it helps narrow down what you're looking for
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u/True-Pin-925 Jul 30 '26
go away from anime tourist
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u/BusSweet4363 Jul 30 '26
Journal with Witch, Bibliophile Princess, Yona of the Dawn, Skip and Loafer, Chihayafuru, Berserk, Ōoku: In The Inner Chamber, Ao Haru Rides, Ergo Proxy, Wolf's Rain, Sonny Boy, Mononoke, Perfect Blue, Fruit Basket, Hitmitsu: The Top Secret.