Anime often features elaborate plots and mind-boggling story arcs. If you’re just a casual anime viewer, chances are high that some aspect of the series would go way over your head. The entertainment industry these days aims to produce content that is intricate and thought-provoking and might leave the viewers with some questions. A typical plot tells the audience about the protagonist, their problems, and how they plan to rectify the situation. There are some dramas though, which go above and beyond in their content. Below is a list of such thought-inducing anime that you need to watch twice to understand.
1. Ergo Proxy
Ergo Proxy is a Japanese cyberpunk anime that draws heavy influence from the concepts of philosophy and Gnosticism. Featuring the backdrop of a dystopian future, the anime tells the story of a world cohabited by humans and androids whose peace is shattered by the eradicative motive of the latter. In this post-apocalyptic reality, 85% of the population has been wiped out due to an ecological disaster, and the rest live in domed cities specifically built to counter the effects of the disaster. After the arrival of a virus that made the androids conscious, the world’s fragile social system is disturbed. The narration of Ergo Proxy differs from the one most viewers are used to. It is an extraordinarily complicated and mind-boggling anime. It’s definitely the kind you have to watch twice to grasp the plot fully!
2. Durarara!!
In the downtown district of Ikebukuro in Japan, a Dullahan (a creature from Irish folklore, which is a headless rider with a horse) aims to seek her lost head by working as an underworld courier. In the same town rife with gangs and dangerous occupants, Mikado Ryūgamine is a young boy who plans to attend the Raira Academy with his childhood friend, Masaomi Kida. The two friends witness the Dullhan on their first time venturing into the city. Told from the perspectives of the three individuals (and many side characters!), Durarara is an action-packed anime featuring unique characters. As this anime contains multiple points of view, it gets pretty challenging trying to keep track of the plot when the narration changes so abruptly.
3. FLCL
FLCL is an original video animation (OVA) created by Studio Gainax. This anime is a standout one among its genre, featuring a combination of music score, superb animation, and notable compositional style. The plot follows Noata Nandaba, a sixth grader living an ordinary life. An encounter with a pink-haired vespa-riding psychopath turns Noata’s mundane life upside down. More challenges await him as he unwillingly gets dragged into a war, meaning to dominate Earth and the universe. The plotlines of the anime are created in such a way that even the characters have a hard time figuring out what’s going on. So the viewer may need to do a rewatch, or a triple watch if you want to understand the story.
4. Stein;Gate
Stein;Gate is a psychological thriller and sci-fi adventure anime produced by White Fox Animation Studio. Dealing with the concept of time travel and non-linearity, the anime tells the story of five friends who figure out a way to alter the present by meddling with the past. A mad scientist named Rintaro Okabe finds a way to send text messages to the past, called D-Mails, via a unique device. As Rintaro’s experiments with the D-Mails continue, so do the threats by evil organizations. Time Travel itself is a baffling concept, the audience has to keep their eyes glued to the screen and keep their mind alert not to miss a single moment. Stein;Gate features so many time travel trips and butterfly effects that a rewatch is the only way you’ll fully grasp the plot.
5. Paprika
In the classic dramatic flair of director Satoshi Kon, Paprika is a 2004 animated film that will force its viewers to pause and reflect. Based on the novel of the same name by Japanese author Yasutaka Tsutsui, this psychotropic journey tells the story of a futuristic world in which dreams are no longer private. With the help of a device called DC Mini, one can access any person’s dreams. As Paprika features the setting of the dream world, over-the-top visuals and complex narration are used. This anime was Kon’s final project before his passing, and it deserves a rewatch.
6. Neon Genesis Evangelion
Fifteen years after a world-altering catastrophe known as the Second Impact occurred, the world is threatened again by the arrival of vicious monsters known as Angels. Despite the technological advancements humankind has made, it is still next to impossible to defeat the entities. The world’s fate rests on the shoulders of a military organization called NERV. Biomechanical Mechs known as Evangelion manned by pilots are the only things between the angels and destruction. Neon Genesis Evangelion has a complex storyline paired with volatile narrations, making it one of the most intricate animes ever.
7. Texhnolyze
In the fictional underground city of Lux, conditions are dire. The citizens are living a nihilistic life, and resources are scarce to go by. Lux has no official civic order and is ruled by a trifecta of criminal organizations. The city’s raison d’être is a mineral known as Raffi, mined from the surface. Ichise is a prize fighter who is mutated after a mishap with a powerful someone. With Raffi and a process called “texhnolyzation,” Ichise gains prosthetic limbs. Amid a gang war, Ichise must fight for survival. Texhnolyze features fast-paced narration and elaborate story arcs, and the anime, at times, proves to be incomprehensible.
8. Monogatari
Monogatari has a unique storytelling style and features different timelines. The plot follows Koyomi Araragi, who is adjusting to her humanity after a brief stint of being a Vampire in spring break. He helps the girls around him to overcome their “oddities” and gains guidance from Meme Oshino, the man who helped reverse his vampirism, and Shinobu, a blonde vampire. Many fans concede that Monotagatari is a confusing anime. Multilayered animation, human perception, haphazard episodes, and complicated chronological order of the episodes may not make any sense at first glance, but make sure that you don’t miss even one second of the show!
9. Perfect Blue
Released in 1977, Perfect Blue helped shape the perception and influence of animes on international audiences. Even though it is termed one of the best animated films of all time, the genre and underlying themes present in the film baffle many viewers. The plot revolves around Mima Kirigoe, who is one of the members of the iconic J-pop band CHAM! After she leaves the band, her life takes a take a dark turn as fantasy starts fracturing into reality. The director Satoshi Kon weaved such an elegant tale of identity and voyeurism that viewers had a time discerning fantasy from reality.
10. Serial Experiments Lain
Known for its avant-garde and enigmatic imagery and portrayal of an array of philosophical topics, Serial Experiments Lain is a cyberpunk techno-horror anime. The anime is heavily influenced by conspiracy theories, cyberpunk, and computer history. Even 25 years after its release, Serial Experiments Lain remains relevant to this and is a powerful allegory of identity in this internet-driven world. This anime is incredibly complex in terms of plot, and the viewer is often taken on a psychological trip throughout the 13 episodes.
