Ergo Proxy
Cyberpunk, psychological thriller, deep philosophy.
Think: Blade Runner meets The Matrix.
Kaiba
Surreal, emotional, memory-themed sci-fi.
Art looks childish, but it’s mind-blowing.
Texhnolyze
Dark, dystopian, extremely slow burn — but brutal and rewarding.
Same creator as Serial Experiments Lain.
Shiki
Vampire horror that flips the genre on its head.
Slow start, but super intense second half.
The Tatami Galaxy
Time loops, college life, and decision paralysis — but done hilariously.
Dialogue is fast, animation is wild, story is genius.
Sarazanmai
Weird, musical, deeply emotional — about connection and desire.
From the director of Utena and Penguindrum.
Zankyou no Terror (Terror in Resonance)
Terrorists in Tokyo with a dark mystery underneath.
Beautiful soundtrack by Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop).
Planetarian
Short and powerful post-apocalyptic drama.
5 episodes. Emotionally wrecks you.
Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
Gambling, high-stakes survival, insane tension.
Ugly art, but the most intense anime you'll ever watch.
Rakugo Shinjuu (Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu)
Historical drama about Japanese storytelling and legacy.
Deep character writing, slow-burn masterpiece.