IN NEED: Anime Recs that Blew Your Mind?

Looking for a storyline / worldbuilding anime to get me INVESTED like I felt when I was 12.

FMAB was the first anime I ever watched in middle school and absolutely LOVED the world building awe-inspiring moments when we realize the world is bigger than we think. Looking for something to bring that feeling back.

Animes I've watched so far that I've loved:

\- FMAB (the goat imo)

\- AOT

\- Death Note

\- Vinland Saga

\- Promised Neverland (s2 shit ik)

\- Assassination Classroom

Love more mature leaning (not as childish like Naruto can be sometimes and not too into the whimsical joke side of anime) and storylines that make your head spin with the complicated threads and wow moments.

Open to all recs!!!

Ps: Here are a few anime's I've tried/heard about but for some reason have not caught my attention(or not entertaining early on imo) like the ones above:

\- Demon Slayer

\- Chainsaw Man

\- PsychoMob

\- HunterxHunter (aware this is mature but from third perspective it seems more Naruto-like)

Voir le contenu lié

Commentaires

AutoModerator2026-01-15 23:03

Hi Impossible_Airport26, it seems like you might be looking for new anime to watch!

The users of this subreddit came up with [a chart of anime recommendations for newcomers and veterans](https://i.redd.it/0w1v880jtq661.png) and [an awesome longer flowchart](https://i.redd.it/vdzlkodz19c71.png). Maybe you can find something there that you'll like \^.\^

[](#bot-chan "Urban s-s-s-senpai made me do it!")

You might also find our [Recommendation Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/wiki/recommendations) or [daily thread](/r/anime/search?q=flair%3Adaily&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=week) helpful.

The following may be of interest:

* [List of legal streams and downloads](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/wiki/legal_streams)

* [A useful website where you can enter an anime and see where it's legally streaming](https://www.livechart.me/search)

* [List of currently airing anime](https://www.livechart.me)

* [A useful wiki page with watch orders for many anime.](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/wiki/watch_order)

* [A list of tracking sites so others can more easily recommend shows you haven't watched.](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/wiki/related_sites#wiki_tracking_sites)

*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/anime) if you have any questions or concerns.*

AdventurousRate37142026-01-15 23:07

Panty&stocking,Monogatari,Hoseki no kuni,Girls last tour.

Impossible_Airport262026-01-15 23:11

I would have definitely started Monogatari if you didn't start with Panty&Stocking😂

AdventurousRate37142026-01-15 23:13

Monogatari argueably got more fanservice.

ClemFire2026-01-15 23:08

If you liked the Promised Neverland you might like Summertime Rendering

Impossible_Airport262026-01-15 23:10

Looks sick!! Ty

Xealias2026-01-15 23:16

I was just about to recommend Summertime Rendering too.

Advanced-Trust17882026-01-15 23:10

Its tough given that you’ve watched some of the best projects anime has to offer already, but there truly is an endless supply of great content.

I wish I had a more extensive history with anime to give you more “underground” picks, but Tokyo Ghoul had a fascinating world to me, and it was one not on your list that utterly enthralled me when I was 13-14.

One I’ve been loving recently (again, very mainstream) is Jujutsu Kaisen. The way that the universe comes together and different enemies from across the world’s history begin to show themselves is super interesting to me, and there isn’t a single character I dislike. Love it to death, and season 3 is currently releasing which means you’ll have regularly scheduled content all the way till the end of the summer, at least.

Impossible_Airport262026-01-15 23:17

I remember my friends were ALL watching Tokyo Ghoul in middle school ugh I missed the golden days I guess haha.

Jujutsu Kaisen was actually one I watched and totally forgot to write!! Loved it a lot. Also read/watched Solo Leveling, I feel like it's a similarish(?) vibe.

Thanks so much for the explanation too - I do have this feeling that I've watched the "best" animes and it's discouraged me to dive into the niche ones as well.

I guess I'll start off Tokyo Ghoul!! Really appreciate the advice!

BluespadeChariot2026-01-15 23:12

Watch Madoka Magica. It uses a very cutesy artstyle and a childish genre but it uses them for an extremely well written mature story. I put FMAB as one of the greatest anime of all time as well, but I rate Madoka well above it.

Impossible_Airport262026-01-15 23:40

Wow this is mind blowing to hear, sounds like Madoka Magica is a journey. What aspects of FMAB and Madoka did you enjoy the most? Was it the storyline or character development?

BluespadeChariot2026-01-16 01:16

Characterization, worldbuilding, and the actual main plot progression. Dialogue as well. Both have great animation and music and action as well but I consider all of those aspects secondary to the writing. FMAB has some really great positive character arcs. Madoka is much more tragic but the arcs are just as good, though there are for fewer characters. That makes it more focused and consistent though. Honestly in Madoka's case, everything is done well. It's basically a perfect show imo.

SquirrelFickle71632026-01-15 23:26

Dr stone

Spartan050892342026-01-15 23:30

Code Geass.

I'm in my 30s. I watched it for the first time 16 years or so ago. I have seen a lot of anime not just what's popular this year.

It has some juvenile aspects but it is wickedly fast paced, it does a lot of show don't tell and leaves a lot for the viewer to grasp by reading between the lines. The English dub is excellent and culturally makes sense (like with FMAB taking place in a stand-in for Europe)

I have seen Code Geass more than 10 times through. Most animes I have watched once only. I still pick up new things that I missed. There are deliberate Easter eggs that would be basically impossible to fully grasp on your first viewing but you don't need them to enjoy the show the first time.

There are 3 or 4 plot points that some people really dislike and there are tone shifts that can be upsetting for some but if you liked FMAB you should be fine with a little comedy between the serious stuff. And once or twice you have to suspend your disbelief but it is such a good ride. Code Geass is usually recommended to people who like Death Note because the protagonist Lelouch seems a lot like Kira/Light but there are some major differences that show up later.

It also helps that Code Geass looked very modern when it came out. Despite its age it still look really good.

If Code Geass is too immature for you (would surprise me) try Black Lagoon, Cowboy Bebop, or Ghost in the Shell SAC.

Impossible_Airport262026-01-15 23:43

Really appreciate this! In my late 20's so super insightful. I always saw Code Geass in my peripheral growing up and assumed (wrongly) that it was a children's anime. Definitely makes sense why there are so many series/movies about it! Love the show don't tell aspect you mentioned

Spartan050892342026-01-15 23:51

Be careful, it's widely regarded that the original series (episodes 1-50 also known as Lelouch of the Rebellion and Lelouch of the Rebellion R2) are excellent but that everything since then has been lower quality. There are now some alternate universe movies and seasons and you definitely want to watch the core show before you decide if you want to bother with the rest. When Akito the Exile part 1 got announced my friends and I were refreshing websites daily for an English copy. By part 4 we weren't even bothering to watch it.

Auroreon2026-01-16 02:00

This my GOAT. A legendary piece of art through which young me made sense of the world. (Like most all art and fiction) haha.

AHole952026-01-16 04:45

Endlessly rewatchable. Not my #1 of all time but probably my most rewatched. You catch so much more and can appreciate the pace and fairly sophisticated world and plot all the better. Not all of it has aged well obviously but overall it’s one of the best anime originals ever. All hail Lelouch! All hail Brittania!!

Seventh_Letter2026-01-15 23:31

Serial Experiments Lain

leTotsugeki2026-01-15 23:32

One Piece

leTotsugeki2026-01-15 23:32

Shangri-la Frontier

KimJongWinning2026-01-15 23:33

First season of Psycho-Pass

Other_Salamander_8972026-01-15 23:33

One piece! It's whimsical at times but it's very serious when it needs to be

Moshimoshi-Megumin2026-01-15 23:34

Summer Pockets (supernatural/drama/slice of life, very emotional. It takes a little bit of focus to follow the plot line towards the end)

Madoka Magica (urban fantasy, psychological horror)

Made in Abyss (horror, great world building)

Sword of the demon hunter (fantasy historical fiction)

Cross Ange (It starts as a Mech anime but then it’s a wild ride)

QuietlyObservering2026-01-15 23:39

Based on the ones you've listed as liking, try looking into any of the following:

Psycho Pass
Baccano!
Erased
From The New World
Heavenly Delusion
The Ancient Magus' Bride
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Hell’s Paradise
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans

Enjoy!

takingastep2026-01-15 23:45

More mature, with complicated threads and wow moments? OK, try Ergo Proxy.

\> bleak post-apocalyptic future where most people live in domed cities to protect themselves from the polluted outside environment

\> many real-life references to philosophy and philosophers; IIRC, most episodes have brief slides at the end of each episode with more details about the references in that episode

\> generally a dark, contemplative mood, with occasional bits of action

This one will work your brain some since you have to read between the lines quite a bit, but it's still quite good IMO.

Separately, maybe try Texhnolyze. It's another darker and more contemplative anime, with a slower burn on revealing key info, but at least it's not so heavy on the philosophy-type stuff.

Querez2026-01-15 23:46

Well, it won't be the "super invested" type of blow-your-mind, but this did blow my own mind when I was recommended it, in the sense that I had not expected what went down. I'm talking about Hinamatsuri, just a 12 episode long comedy anime.

You always hear talk about the big ones like AoT, Demon Slayer etc. and so you usually know the vibe you're getting into due to them being so talked about. With Hinamatsuri, it's lesser known, and I saw it randomly recommended by a YouTuber I'm subscribed to (I think he did a Short or something, and I rarely even watch Shorts to begin with), and all he explained was how the plot starts/gets set up and how comedic the anime is.

When I watched it, sure enough, it was funny. But, as it went on, it surprised me with its depth. Like it's still comedy the whole way through, but it tackled some surprising topics. I don't want to explain really anything about what I mean, so if this is enough for you to watch, go for it. But yeah I guess the best way I could describe it while staying vague is that it's very human. Despite kind of not being "human" at the same time...??

By the way it has weirdly really good animation. Like, for the silly comedy anime it is. Like not Demon Slayer levels but it's far above the average you get these days.

I wish they made more seasons, honestly.

Impossible_Airport262026-01-16 01:17

I think I know exactly what you mean - assasnation classroom was the same for me not knowing what to expect going in but ended up having a good time. Will definitely check this one out - thank you!

Querez2026-01-16 01:23

Yeah I've watched Assassination Classroom too, and I can see some similarities. They're pretty different in the types of stories they try to be and their genres, but they could definitely both be described as "comedic but surprisingly deep"

BaffledBytePusher2026-01-15 23:52

Code Geass as others have said. And a more recent recommendation would be Lord of the Mysteries!

BaffledBytePusher2026-01-15 23:54

You can also give Steins;Gate a try! It's a bit different to the anime you mentioned as it takes place in a SciFi setting. But it's a classic with a top tier plot and world building.

shadowraptor8882026-01-15 23:58

Noticed u didn't mention Psycho-Pass, I think you'll like it.

No-Craft-66232026-01-15 23:58

People have recommended what I was going to say, but we need more mature themed anime. Back when I was a kid we had way more mature themes, it's crazy how everything is upside down. I could care less about a teenage protagonist or setting tbh I fell for anime because of the art form and storytelling

Impossible_Airport262026-01-16 01:13

Interesting is this a trend you've been seeing with anime? I assumed mature themed anime would be more popular if anything now. For example, Vinland Saga really reminded me of GoT style of story, just in anime form if that makes sense. Felt very mature.

No-Craft-66232026-01-16 01:55

Here's the thing, there's a few out there but the overwhelming majority is very childish in tone, sometimes theme and subject matter. Vinland saga was amazing, Dororo is great too if you haven't checked it out. Frieren as well.

Don't get me wrong not all anime of today are necessarily bad, but there's definitely been a shift in the levels of maturity of today. Storytelling is a lost art, it's a lot of brain rot going around

Impossible_Airport262026-01-16 04:41

Agreed - noticed this with tv/movies in general too. I remember the excitement I had when the Avengers finally got together in 2013 after following their individual movies. Recently saw the new Fantastic Four and all I can say is storytelling is really falling off a cliff. No new movies bring back that feeling or have that drive

No-Craft-66232026-01-16 05:24

Don't get me started on movies today, I'll write a book on the stuff I hate 😂😂😂

I turned the movie off after 45 min and the Superman movie was better but still forgettable. I saw Sinners and thought it was a good movie even though people hyped it up a lil.
We're in a place where people would watch anything that's presented in front of them whether they like it or not. Obviously everyone has their own opinions but the effort in entertainment is clearly either not there or it's focused on other areas, i.e. social agendas, etc

blackninjakitty2026-01-16 00:06

Shinsekai yori

Gachiakuta

bylee25992026-01-16 00:11

Bungou stray dogs
Gintama

enjoinirvana2026-01-16 00:31

Arcane on Netflix was incredible.

Though not technically an anime, the artists and writers are very obviously inspired by it.

Thoraxe4742026-01-16 00:38

Mushoku tensei

Sss gridman and dynazenon

sagevallant2026-01-16 00:46

Uma-apreciator2026-01-16 01:30

You accept any genre?

Impossible_Airport262026-01-16 04:43

Yes

Uma-apreciator2026-01-16 05:09

Uma Musume Cinderella Gray is a great shounen sport anime

maullidothethird2026-01-16 03:23

Samurái flamenco

Gullible_Bat_54082026-01-16 03:24

/u/Impossible_Airport26

Parasyte the maxim

Shiki

Shion no Ou

Ghost Hound

Summertime Rendering

Shadow's House

Dark Gathering

Gakkougurashi

**Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro** (from the same author of Assassination Classroom)

Wolf's Rain

Twelve Kingdoms

Kemono no Souja Erin

Zetsuen no Tempest

Impossible_Airport262026-01-16 04:44

Wow this is amazing list going through summaries. Thank you🫡

Gullible_Bat_54082026-01-16 09:58

Thank you!

Have a nice weekend!

Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro isn't on streaming but it's on Billbili it's official
https://www.bilibili.tv/en/video/4795282180806144

SgtCalhoun2026-01-16 03:44

Gurren Lagann brother

Heda-of-Aincrad2026-01-16 03:49

Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet

J1mbr02026-01-16 03:59

Redo of a Healer.

Uberdragon_bajulabop2026-01-16 05:45

Gurren Lagann

Beneficial_Law_2862026-01-17 01:56

You would more the likely enjoy "One punch man" and probably "7 deadly sins" if you like the anime you listed "Demon Slayer" is also definetly one that would be suited well to your taste. You would likely probablg enjoy "Berserk" as well if you liked "Vinland Saga" if you want anime movies to watch, watch "Ninja scroll" or "Vampire D" you may also like "Wicked City" but it can be a bit overtly sexual at times however it is fairly dark and distopian.

Basic-Smell-87962026-01-19 06:45

Universal Century Gundam. This is just the main entries and there is tons of more side stories and movies as well.

Mobile Suit Gundam 1979

Zeta Gundam

ZZ Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam Char's Counter Attack

Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway

Mobile Suit Gundam F91

Mobile Suit Gundam Victory