Mature / Intelligent Anime

[Methyl_Ethyl_Death]

I also recommend Baccano!, anything by Satoshi Kon, Ghost in the Shell, and Cowboy Beebop, but there’s one that hasn’t been mentioned that is my all time favorite (been watching anime since 1980’s) and that is Now and Then, Here and There. If you are fine with watching violent anime like Shigurui Death Frenzy, and saddening anime like Grave of the Fireflies, Now and Then, Here and There deserves your attention. It starts out to the viewer as a run-of-the-mill-fun anime, but quickly, in the first episode, plunges the main character (named Shu) into an alternate world ravaged by warfare where most adults have been killed and children replace them.

From the back of the DVD case: “Dragged through a time warp by a giant machine, Shu is thrust into a hellish future just at it explodes into war! He is caught in the carnage as a Tyrant unleashes deadly force against a rebel army. But Shu is not alone…he is surrounded by courageous soldiers, a battalion of enslaved children, and enigmatic wanderers, each with their own fascinating story. Together, they face the ultimate challenge of survival in a world gone MAD!”

Please do not watch this in English. The American voice acting is horrendous. They used 30 yr old actors to portray children. The Japanese with subtitles is an easy read. This is about a 15 yr old anime so I’m not certain how easy it will be for you to find it, but if you can… FIND IT!

Now and Then,Here and There Opening

[The_Hamster_King]

Whisper of the Heart is an often overlooked Studio Ghibli masterpiece. It’s a quiet coming-of-age story about a girl who wants to be a writer and a boy who wants to be a violin maker. It’s very realistic. Except for a brief dream sequence there are none of the fantasy elements you’d expect from a Ghibli film. It’s just a very well-observed little character study.

[Odaran09]

@Bosstone

A very current one I’ve enjoyed very much is Puella Magi Madoka Magica. It’s a…unique take on the magical girl genre, and it is so very not for children.

It’s a very recent anime, so episodes may be hard to come by, but they can be found online.

I second this. Great anime that is not for kids!!!

[Pushkin]

Patlabor II perhaps? A political thriller with mechs instead of guys in black ski masks.

[MacSpon]

@Xandroid

The works of Satoshi Kon are really well done. My favorite of his is Millennium Actress. These are fully realized films and don’t have any lame anime silliness in them.

The late, lamented Satoshi Kon. He will be missed. Yes, definitely recommended.

[Pushkin]

@Pushkin

A political thriller with mechs instead of guys in black ski masks.

This (brief) review makes it sound better than I just did :rolleyes:

The most overtly political anime ever made in Japan, this apocalyptic coda to the Patlabor series asks if the concept of an unjust peace is any more tenable than the concept of a just war. Some years after the disbandment of the Patlabor police unit, a series of terrorist attacks (the first real, the second virtual, the third…) panics the government, sets the police against the army and opens the way to a civil war or a pre-emptive coup by the Americans. Captain Goto comes out of semi-retirement to figure out what it all has to do with the near-annihilation of a UN Labor team in a SE Asian jungle - and with sightings of unidentified bright yellow blimps in the sky over Tokyo. There are none of the usual manga heroics, just an expert deconstruction of the ‘peace’ and ‘stability’ Japan has enjoyed since the end of the Pacific War. A genre masterpiece.

[Chilon]

Legend of the Galactic Heroes is my default answer to anyone who wants a mature/intelligent anime. It’s a space-opera that focuses on the war between The Goldenbaum Empire and The Free Planets Alliance, with the neutral planet Phezzan trying to manipulate both sides for it’s own purposes. The show is full of well-developed and/or likable characters on both sides of the conflict, which makes it hard to decide which side to root for, if any. Sadly, there’s no official release of the show, but fansubs are available. Check it out.