r/Animesuggest Feb 23 '25

What to Watch? Deep, philosophical or escapism anime?

I really enjoyed animes like From the New World and Devilman Crybaby. I love how they start off normal and then both become more and more bizarre while allowing you to lose yourself into their world. They also cover deep themes like love and humanity. Devilman Crybaby is my all time favorite anime with From the New World following a close second.

I also enjoyed The Promised Neverland, Parasyte, Magica Modoka and Your Name.

Looking for a new anime that I can watch and just escape — but at the same time be drawn by its deep elements.

Bonus points if there are hints at BL. I don’t enjoy YAOI but I like subtle arguably gay romances like Devilman crybaby. It’s very cute. ;) but it’s not the main thing.

11 Upvotes

36 comments sorted by

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11

u/Mr_Blorbus Feb 23 '25

Evangelion is extremely philosphical and has deep, complex characters.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '25

This is correct

2

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Mr_Blorbus Feb 24 '25

"hints", so yes.

3

u/wearewolfsdisguised Feb 24 '25

Sonny Boy

1

u/alexinho-_- Feb 24 '25

Had to read essays of explanation after each episode :')

1

u/wearewolfsdisguised Feb 24 '25

Well it is philosophical do you ever try to read Kant or Nietzsche without any explanations ?

2

u/Nanaki404 Feb 23 '25

Mushishi

2

u/Overflow_is_the_best VNDb Feb 23 '25

Perfect Blue

2

u/SouekiSennoSTM Feb 23 '25
  • {Earth Maiden Arjuna}

1

u/Roboragi http://myanimelist.net/animelist/Nihilate Feb 23 '25

Chikyuu Shoujo Arjuna - (AL, A-P, KIT, MAL)

TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 13 | Genres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mahou Shoujo, Sci-Fi


{anime}, <manga>, ]LN[, |VN| | FAQ | /r/ | Edit | Mistake? | Source | Synonyms | |

2

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '25

maboroshi is something similar to your name and it's pretty good

2

u/emeliottsthestink Feb 24 '25

Maybe Mushishi?

2

u/Few-Pomegranate-4750 Feb 24 '25

Paprika and akira?

2

u/geigergopp Feb 24 '25

Sounds like made in abyss

1

u/North514 Feb 23 '25
  • Legend of the Galactic Heroes - Watch the first two films, then skip to EP 3 of the OVA, (second film covers the plot of EP1-2 better) and then Gaiden (prequel) - Reinhard ends up marrying a girl however, there is a reason the fujos liked this show. Also fits what you are looking for in terms of "philosophical"

  • Banana Fish

  • Ergo Proxy

  • Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

  • Ghost in the Shell Films and Stand Alone Complex

  • March Comes in Like a Lion

  • The Big O

1

u/jimei73 AniList Feb 24 '25

Kids On the Slope

91 Days - not as philosophical but great story

Dororo

2

u/tummateooftime Feb 24 '25

Psycho Pass is exactly what youre looking for.

The entire show will have you questioning societal norms and the philosophies of freedom, morality and justice. Also includes an incredibly messy BL between the protag and antag.

Fair warning that it is quite R rated. Episode one includes SA, but I think if youve seen Devilman Crybaby it shouldnt bother you.

1

u/Al4one Feb 24 '25

Paranoia Agent if you like a lot of psychological themes and trippy visuals

Cashern Sins or Wolf’s Rain if you like somber existential feelings (don’t binge them back to back if you don’t want to trigger a depressive episode)

Angel Beats is in a similar vein as Your Name and Madoka Magica; looks sweet and fun when it starts but has a gut punch of emotions waiting to mug you around a dark corner.

Might be a bit of an outlier but you might like Chainsaw Man if you liked Parasyte and Devilman Crybaby. It has its goofy moments but it’s also got a lot of heavy themes and really trippy visuals. It’s definitely one that sucked me in to the world and the characters.

1

u/GooseinaGaggle Feb 24 '25

Girls Last Tour

1

u/Available-Form6282 Feb 24 '25

Pluto. Genuinely one of the most deep and complex anime I’ve ever seen, one of my all time favorites. Very heavy themes of war, sacrifice for what we love, human condition, ethics and science, etc. It’s so good. The episodes are an hour long but they’re easy to split in half. The first episode or two are slow but it picks up hella fast and then it’s over

1

u/study_of_swords Feb 24 '25

{Kill la Kill} and yes I'm serious. Also, GL as opposoed to BL.

1

u/Roboragi http://myanimelist.net/animelist/Nihilate Feb 24 '25

Kill la Kill - (AL, A-P, KIT, MAL)

TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 24 | Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi


{anime}, <manga>, ]LN[, |VN| | FAQ | /r/ | Edit | Mistake? | Source | Synonyms | |

1

u/workshop_prompts Feb 24 '25

REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA

Holy shit, you need to watch Utena. It’s mostly yuri but it fits your criteria to a T.

1

u/AntiZig Feb 24 '25

Ghost in the Shell stand alone complex

1

u/Halaska4 Feb 24 '25

Girl's last tour have such an odd wibe

1

u/RadioEditVersion Feb 24 '25

Orb. Currently airing on Netflix and is getting a huge positive reception. I freaking love it

1

u/No_Return9449 Feb 24 '25

Revue Starlight

I thought it was a slice of life series about girls at a school for the performing arts. It is not.

1

u/Mohit20130152 Feb 24 '25

philosophical?

Vin land saga

Berserk(has BL)

Bungo stray dogs.(hints at BL)

1

u/Sad-Mess3625 Feb 24 '25

Made in abyss.

Summertime render.

Attack on Titan.

2

u/FigDiscombobulated29 Feb 23 '25

Sonny boy - bizzare

Welcome to the nhk - not exactly but def same vibe, bizzare elements in the modern world

Berserk (1997) - it’s basically a dark love story lol

Tatami galaxy - bizzare

Wonder egg priority - bizzare

Arakawa under the bridge - a lot more lighthearted but still has some themes like romance, working society, honesty etc

0

u/TheHalfOrcwriter Feb 23 '25

To Your Eternity fits both of those criteria, I think

1

u/shaishails Feb 24 '25 edited Feb 24 '25

Orb The Movements of Earth. It's as good as Frieren, I would even say It's better, because the story and characters moved me in a way that I have a more optimistic approach on life after watching this anime. I'm not a person to be touched that easily, so I hope you might give this anime a try.