Anime about being loved/self-realization

[Mr. sickVisionz]

No, I don't mean like sappy stuff, but anime where a main theme is like being loved/accepted. Like the the movie A.I. or certain aspects of Neon Genesis Evangelion. I love this kind of stuff, but I usually end up just coming across it. I have netflix now and can be alot more proactive in what I watch. Can anyone name some stuff thats right up my alley?

Even better is if this same anime has one character/theme of also just being very harsh to humanity (ie FullMetal Alchemist or how Gendo Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion pretty much showsno concern for the concerns/lives of others). Its ironic almost how the two things I love most about certain anime are kinda on opposite ends of the spectrum.

If it helps in the suggestions, I think Elfen Lied is the best thing i've ever seen. If you've seen it and you know of something in that vein, please please please post.

[Panko Z]

Key: The Metal Idol

[Harima-kun]

Mmmm... hard to tell. Self -realization? Then I'd pick Hajime no Ippo.

[Shoujo Love]

Self realization and love? His and Her Cirumstances, also called Kare Kano. But it's sappy. Oh so sappy.

[GreatNekoKoneko]

...watching Binchoutan made ME reflect more on the fact that there are more to things than giantrobo, boobs, blood, and mahou shoujo.

[kt-san]

I have to go with please teacher

[soulreaper]

Self-realization = FLCL, all the way. Except, don't expect any harsh realities, since the whole thing is basically one happy head-trip.

[LoveAnime]

No, I don't mean like sappy stuff, but anime where a main theme is like being loved/accepted. Like the the movie A.I. or certain aspects of Neon Genesis Evangelion. I love this kind of stuff, but I usually end up just coming across it. I have netflix now and can be alot more proactive in what I watch. Can anyone name some stuff thats right up my alley?

Even better is if this same anime has one character/theme of also just being very harsh to humanity (ie FullMetal Alchemist or how Gendo Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion pretty much showsno concern for the concerns/lives of others). Its ironic almost how the two things I love most about certain anime are kinda on opposite ends of the spectrum.
I think you might enjoy Scrapped Princess... it hits both of your criteria... being loved/accepted, and the very harsh on humanity theme... Click here... (http://www.animenfo.com/animetitle,1161,qjxwrf,scrapped_prince.h tml)

and one other title you might enjoy:

Elfen Lied ... Click here... (http://www.animenfo.com/animetitle,1443,vrezym,elfen_lied.html)

[Mr. sickVisionz]

^

I was actually thinking about Elfen Lied. Scrapped Princess seems like something i'd like as well. Thanks.

[spookyruthy]

I was thinking Elfen Lied too.

[Midoriko87]

Hmm, harsh characters or themes, eh?

Okay

Shadow Star Narutaru. Harsh, harsh themes. The opening theme and the first two episodes will make you think it's a kiddy show. It has a rating of TV-MA, however, and it gets pretty hardcore. So, give it time. It's only thirteen episodes. There's no real ending, though, so it's open to interpretation. And, I've been reading other people's opinions of the manga, and supposedly, it's ending is just as open as the anime.
Texhnolyze
Soul Taker
Area 88. I just started watching this, but for some reason, I think you'll like it.
Argento Soma. Kinda feels like Area 88.
Boogie Pop Phantom. I have no idea what this show is really supposed to be about, but I bet you'd like it.
Serial Experiments Lain, Paranoia Agent, Perfect Blue.
Ghost in the Shell (not SAC), Armitage, Akira.
Elfen Lied
Now and Then, Here and There (one show)
Noir, Madlax
Yugo the Negotiator
Samurai X, Samurai Gun, A Wind Named Amnesia, Voices of a Distant Star, Grave of the Fireflies.

[Madame De Blurb]

Download Honey and Clover..it is all about self-realization without being too philosophical or sappy. Great mix of characters and different individual drama's. One of top fav. anime's so far.

[Samurai Drifter]

Elfen Lied is a good choice, though Lucy's self-realization involves her violently slaughtering people.

[Stelok]

I agree with opinions regarding Elfen Lied and Honey and Clover

I My Me Strawberry Eggs: Hibiki has gradually realized his feelings towards Fuuko as well as Fuuko's towards him and somehow, the moral repercussions behind it.

[GreatNekoKoneko]

I agree with opinions regarding Elfen Lied and Honey and Clover

I My Me Strawberry Eggs: Hibiki has gradually realized his feelings towards Fuuko as well as Fuuko's towards him and somehow, the moral repercussions behind it.

dead on with Honey and Clover. LIKE your Ava Stelok.

Now and Then, Here and There. Just watch it. You'll see.

[Stelok]

dead on with Honey and Clover. LIKE your Ava Stelok.

.

Thanks. I miss your Chiyo avatar.

[Mr. sickVisionz]

I think you might enjoy Scrapped Princess... it hits both of your criteria... being loved/accepted, and the very harsh on humanity theme... Click here... (http://www.animenfo.com/animetitle,1161,qjxwrf,scrapped_prince.h tml)

and one other title you might enjoy:

Elfen Lied ... Click here... (http://www.animenfo.com/animetitle,1443,vrezym,elfen_lied.html)

You = God.

Elfen Lied finally came up in my DVD rental queue. I got disc 1 and off rip it was like everything I like about anime, except the fan service borders on softcore pornography.

Elfen Lied is a good choice, though Lucy's self-realization involves her violently slaughtering people. Thats what makes me love it. Its like a super mix of everything I like. Wanton violence, characters you feel sorry for getting massacred on screen, self-realization via mass mutilation... its perfect.

Hmm, harsh characters or themes, eh?

Okay

Shadow Star Narutaru. Harsh, harsh themes. The opening theme and the first two episodes will make you think it's a kiddy show. It has a rating of TV-MA, however, and it gets pretty hardcore. So, give it time. It's only thirteen episodes. There's no real ending, though, so it's open to interpretation. And, I've been reading other people's opinions of the manga, and supposedly, it's ending is just as open as the anime.
Texhnolyze
Soul Taker
Area 88. I just started watching this, but for some reason, I think you'll like it.
Argento Soma. Kinda feels like Area 88.
Boogie Pop Phantom. I have no idea what this show is really supposed to be about, but I bet you'd like it.
Serial Experiments Lain, Paranoia Agent, Perfect Blue.
Ghost in the Shell (not SAC), Armitage, Akira.
Elfen Lied
Now and Then, Here and There (one show)
Noir, Madlax
Yugo the Negotiator
Samurai X, Samurai Gun, A Wind Named Amnesia, Voices of a Distant Star, Grave of the Fireflies.

I was seriously considering checking out Area 88 myself. After getting Elfen Lied from someone else in the list and loving it, i'm definately gonna go with this one as well. I've already seen Lain and Paranoia Agent.

[Leader Desslock]

The one title that came to mind when I read your initial post was Serial Experiments: Lain. I don't know that you'll like it at all, but it exactly matches the theme you're looking for.

While you're at it, you might check out Haibane Renmei. There's a theme of acceptance (from others, but more of yourself) in that, as well.

I might even recommend Big O, although that's more existential than you might be looking for.

[Mr. sickVisionz]

I did like Lain for the most part, although I felt the first 4 episodes setup a tone for the show and the remainng episodes kinda threw that tone out the window..

Haibane sounds interesting... I think i'll check out a disc of it to see whats up.

I've seen parts of Big O on cartoon network, but like all anime I religously watch on Cartoon Network, I somehow managed to miss the last two episodes.

[Jeikobu]

Naruto is the first that comes to mind. Alot of the characters seem to have something dark about their past, often something lonely. That's a big part of Naruto's character even. He'd grown up being rejected until he was shown love.

[Shiroiyuki]

Perfect Blue. Now, here is an anime [movie] that is ALL about self-realization (well, confusion about self-image mostly). I can't believe no one has mentioned this yet.


I highly recommend this twisted, suspense thriller. It will keep you guessing right until the end. ^_^

[Jeikobu]

Perfect Blue. Now, here is an anime [movie] that is ALL about self-realization (well, confusion about self-image mostly). I can't believe no one has mentioned this yet.


I highly recommend this twisted, suspense thriller. It will keep you guessing right until the end. ^_^
Only beware of extreme content levels. I'd give both violence and nudity levels a 9/10 probably. I think it sent a good message but went a too far on the details.

[Shiroiyuki]

Only beware of extreme content levels. I'd give both violence and nudity levels a 9/10 probably. I think it sent a good message but went a too far on the details.

Yeah, this one isn't for the kiddies.

[Prof.Nosebleed]

Evangelion is one of the top obvious for me...
Shinji, Rei, and Asuka finally realize it in eps. 25+26 and in EoE.

[Mr. sickVisionz]

I just finished Elfen Lied and I must say its probally the best of the anime I've seen. The only thing I disliked was the constant nudity, but I can't really complain because it wasn't really fan service. But the harshness, the violence, the whole thing about how every character has some intense chip on their shoulder... that was EXACTLY what I wanted and what I was hoping i'd get when I made this thread.

To everyone that suggested it, I thank you very very very much.

[spookyruthy]

That majority of anime I've seen is about self-realisation to an extent anyway. I suppose an anime where the characters don't grow and evolve are boring and repetative. That's why I don't really like Inuyasha that much...None of the characters seem to evolve due to their staunt ideas about everything. If they do, then I've obviously missed something.

Even very simplistic animes like DBZ have a degree of change and realisation in them (Vegeta is a perfect example).

[Leader Desslock]

...That's why I don't really like Inuyasha that much...None of the characters seem to evolve due to their staunt ideas about everything. If they do, then I've obviously missed something...
You haven't. That's a Takahashi trademark.

[KyouryokuSenshi]

No, I don't mean like sappy stuff, but anime where a main theme is like being loved/accepted. Like the the movie A.I. or certain aspects of Neon Genesis Evangelion. I love this kind of stuff, but I usually end up just coming across it. I have netflix now and can be alot more proactive in what I watch. Can anyone name some stuff thats right up my alley?

Even better is if this same anime has one character/theme of also just being very harsh to humanity (ie FullMetal Alchemist or how Gendo Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion pretty much showsno concern for the concerns/lives of others). Its ironic almost how the two things I love most about certain anime are kinda on opposite ends of the spectrum.

If it helps in the suggestions, I think Elfen Lied is the best thing i've ever seen. If you've seen it and you know of something in that vein, please please please post.


I pefer anime to cartoons mainly because of this factor. I like the intellect and sophistication in anime that many modern american cartoons do not have.

[Mr. sickVisionz]

^

I don't always prefer them, but thats why I love anime. You'd never get an american style anything with such stories. The closest we get is shows like 24... and the only thing it has in common is that the whole season is one story arc. I've read that people think alot of american anime viewers like this type over depressing harsh stuff, but I think its because most american stuff is super happy good guys always win. Endings are rarely even bittersweet, let alone "bad".

[MonkeyBoy0314]

Neon Genesis Evangelion: This is a great self-realization anime because it actually makes you think about how badly your life really COULD be -_-;

[sailornyanko]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned .hack//SIGN yet considering a large part of the theme of the show is how complete strangers find acceptance in a vitual reality game. Especially poor Tsukasa who's a pretty messed up person.

Geneshaft seems to have a lot of the acceptance theme in it. Mostly focusing on the struggles Mika must live through to be accepted in a futuristic society where your born gene type tags your personality traits for life. Mika's gene type is white aka "undetermined" (according to the series everyone is born gene white, but their gene type changes color when they reach puberty. Mika is 16 years old and it's still qhite) which curbed problems with people accepting her childish nature. The series also has a very interesting episode where three astronauts from our era are transported to their time and how they have cultural differences causing problems being accepted by everyone except by Mika and her close friends.

[Mr. sickVisionz]

I've already seen NGE.

[Mr. sickVisionz]

I think you might enjoy Scrapped Princess... it hits both of your criteria... being loved/accepted, and the very harsh on humanity theme...

I'm just now getting to completing Scrapped Princess. While I thought it was a little too light hearted at times, I really enjoyed it alot. Especially once it got to about episode 16 and up. I really liked it then. But yeah, thanks for suggesting this title to me.

[Mr. sickVisionz]

Hmm, harsh characters or themes, eh?

Okay

Shadow Star Narutaru. Harsh, harsh themes. The opening theme and the first two episodes will make you think it's a kiddy show. It has a rating of TV-MA, however, and it gets pretty hardcore. So, give it time. It's only thirteen episodes. There's no real ending, though, so it's open to interpretation. And, I've been reading other people's opinions of the manga, and supposedly, it's ending is just as open as the anime.
Texhnolyze
Soul Taker
Area 88. I just started watching this, but for some reason, I think you'll like it.
Argento Soma. Kinda feels like Area 88.
Boogie Pop Phantom. I have no idea what this show is really supposed to be about, but I bet you'd like it.
Serial Experiments Lain, Paranoia Agent, Perfect Blue.
Ghost in the Shell (not SAC), Armitage, Akira.
Elfen Lied
Now and Then, Here and There (one show)
Noir, Madlax
Yugo the Negotiator
Samurai X, Samurai Gun, A Wind Named Amnesia, Voices of a Distant Star, Grave of the Fireflies.

Sorry for the grave dig, but wow, you really called it. Time has gone by and I was trying to find this thread for someone with similar taste to mine and wow, your list basically reads like every show that I like.

... except Madlax :(

[deadmuffin]

Tengen Toppa Gurren lagann (dont care if someone has posted before

but yeah, self realization happens around episode 11 when shimon finally gets confident with himself...plus the whole Nia love thing going on