Psychology is a systematic study of the human mind and behavior. Psychological disorders or psychological issues include depression, mental illness, or a suffering mental state. This sub-genre often is inclusive in the thriller, criminal, and sci-fi plots of movies and dramas. Animes have not excluded such concepts in the stories. Psychological animes also have the mysterious and horror genre to present the traumatic situations of the characters and the mindblowing direction of the scenes. Many situational plots describe the phases these characters go through, which are likely possible to be based on or inspired by real-life events. Be ready to explore the human psyche with these top animes.
1. Neon Genesis Evangelion
This movie touches on various psychological themes, from depression and trauma to struggles and pressures. The anime has many aspects, considering Shiniji's depression and anxiety issues due to his loneliness. He also has to make decisions that can affect human life directly when the giant mecha, the supernatural beings, are back to destroy humankind, creating- The Third Impact, the end of humanity. Earth has a secret military organization- NERV, to fight back.
2. Death Parade
Death Parade is an inspiration from Death Billard, a short animated film. Quindecim is a mysterious bar where the dead souls arrive on two elevators. Decim is the only bartender who makes the two pairs play games and judge their way to heaven or hell until a girl questions the bartender's judgments. This anime deals with stories that are emotionally and psychologically attached to the situations of life and death.
3. Paprika
Paprika anime movie is about the dual personality of a scientist, Dr. Atsuko Chiba, who is also a dream detective at night. It is a Sci-fi psychological thriller anime that takes you through various scenes, which could be traumatic and thrilling. A device, DC Mini, used on psychiatric patients by Dr. Atsuko, is now stolen. It can go disastrous if found in the wrong hands as the device is the entrance of people's dreams.
4. Perfect Blue
Perfect Blue is a psychological piece by Satoshi Kon. A J-pop singer diverts her tracks to he acting career. She finds it difficult to pursue the field. Adding to her mental condition, a fan, more likely a psychopath, starts stalking her. The visuals in the anime could be disturbing but worth watching if you are in psychological and mysterious stuff.
5. Tekkon Kinkreet
It is the story of two orphans who try to save their treasure town from becoming an amusement park. Black and White are the two orphans with contrasting personalities, yet they roam the whole city together, preventing the Yakuza in their territory. Black is violent and funky, but White is innocent and calm. This anime measures the psychological aspects, and you are bound to watch this movie to navigate them.
6. Death Note
Death Note is one of the most successful and popular psychological thriller crime series. Light Yagami is a regular high school student who finds a book- Death Note. When he finds out that the notebook offers any person's death if he writes his name, he starts eliminating the evils from society. But later, he turns himself into a psycho person who kills anyone who opposes him. Don't grow wings as you get power: Justice will Prevail.
7. Steins;Gate: The Movie - Load Region Of Déjà Vu
Steins; Gate is a follow-up movie to the anime series- Steins; Gate. It is a sci-fi psychological thriller directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki. It is a story of a scientist named Rintarou who keeps disappearing from timelines. Rintarou's companion Kurisu travels through numerous timelines to protect Rintarou and to prevent him from getting lost forever. The plot twist, several timelines travels, and mental states of its characters make this movie a psychological thriller.
8. The Garden Of Words
Takao is the 15-year-old student who skips his class, while Yukino, an aged woman, does the same with her work. Both end up on the sitting benches of the park. It's the rainy season, and they visit the park often. Both of them individually suffer mental trauma due to their age difference and the fact that Takao has no support from his family for his interest in shoemaking, and Yukino is often bullied by the students as a teacher.
9. Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade
Jin-Roh, an action-political thriller directed by Hiroyuki Okiura (Debut Film), is the story set in Japan's 1950s (post-2nd world war recovery). Kazuki Fuse, a member of the elite Kerberos Panzer Cops counter-terrorism unit, fails to shoot a young terrorist girl with a bomb. She detonates the bomb in front of him, which damages the squad's reputation. Later, Fuse and Kei Amemiya, the elder sister of that young girl, develop a peculiar friendship. Jin-Roh is one of the best animated psychological thrillers.
10. Psycho-Pass
This drama relates to all the tags like thrillers, psychological, crime, investigations, detectives, cyberpunk, sci-fi, actions, and masterminds. Akane Tsunemori is the inspector in Criminal Justine Department in the Ministry. She attempts to solve cases with the Sibyl System and her mastermind plans with her team. If you belong to the vibe of these tags, you will possibly start investigating your mind.
