One of my viewers brought up a good contender that I probably should have at least addressed in the video: Berserk. Obviously, Berserk is legendary, and is deeply philosophical from a metaphysical and existential point of view. The reason I didn't include it is because my definition of anime for this list is limited strictly to TV series. The TV series of Berserk that we have from the 90s only covered the Golden Age arc which, though brilliant, only encapsulates a portion of the series' philosophical content. Plus, let's just not even talk about the 2016/2017 which just skips so much of that sort of stuff.
Now make a video of how fia is fortissax and velka is velkahna the ancient ice dragon who birth the half breed with gwyn seath amd pricyla, for only those loved by dragons can weild lighting without burning, mhw director is also darksouls 2 director his dlc was called scholar of the first sin miyasakis test for him he thought it was gwyn it was Velka and history repeats with godwyn and fia new games help later games
Whew I was sad when I got to the end but there was no mention of berserk. I absolutely love its questions. Do people need to pursue a lofty dream in order to find purpose and belonging, or can our need for self-actualization or whatever was at the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs be fulfilled by living a simple life with those we love? Personally part of me has always wanted to be remembered after my death for some contribution, musical or authored. Griffith’s choosing to leave behind-to put it lightly-his loved ones, contrasted against Guts’ realization upon returning to the Band of the Hawk that they are where he belonged all along, totally neutralized that part of me. I now appreciate my family more than ever and have made peace with the fact that I do not need to leave a mark on the world to live life to the fullest. So humbling and honestly liberating. Funny because this contrasts with my prior main influence’s philosophy, which can be found in Rilke’s letters when he says one has to bury themselves in solitude (no family; he even left his wife and child in pursuit of his art) in order to be their realest self. Rilke is actually like Griffith, not Guts.
Hi, it’s a real shame that Berserk don’t have a good adaptation to anime, and Monster it’s my favorite anime also. I really think Pluto deserved a place in the list. I want to share some animes that I think you might like: - Mardock Scramble - Mushishi - Jin-Roh - Subete ga F ni Naru - Dennô Coil - Shinsekai Yori - Tengoku Daimakyou - Houseki no Kuni - Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū
Texhnolyze on the list makes me so happy. If you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend Mushishi as well. It’s also extremely philosophical and really relaxing to watch
@@ATC43 Yeah! Contemplative is the word i was looking for to describe it actually, reflective isn't exactly the most correct word to describe it in terms of what I know about speaking English, which is quite little honestly but I think I manage somewhat fine all things considered. Sorry for that random tangent I just went on to basically just say yeah true 😅
Since someone else mentioned it, I would like to recommend Mushishi as well. It’s a fantastic show that I had as my No.1 because of the lessons and how beautiful the show is. I hope you enjoy it.
Mushishi is definitely an epic anime. I wonder though... the mushishi act as yokai in a way and the tales told are reminiscent of older Japanese folkloric tales.
@@ofiterpunte From the New World, or Shinsekai Yori, is an amazing story, but not a great anime. The story, the characters and the concepts handled there are amazing, but it's not the best animation out there. Highly recommended tho
Fate Zero is highly introspective. It’s ending especially focuses on the concept of utilitarianism. Is also delves deep into the meanings of honor and justice. It touches on ideals vs reality and how pursuing an ideal can lead you astray.
Big shout out to "Stein's Gate" for the most original method of grappling with the paradox of time travel that I believe was first explored by HG Wells, "How can you change the past in a way that negates your reason to have gone back in the first place?"
This is the grandfather paradox. Many misinterpret the Grandfather Paradox to only mean the erasure of the traveller by the traveller's actions in the past, but it actually refers to any action that would prevent the traveller from going back in time for any reason. This could be erasure of the person or the need to travel, but it can also mean that the person is never in a position to travel. Of course, this paradox assumes that time is linear and one-way, which we cannot be sure. As Douglas Adams wrote in Mostly Harmless "Anything that, in happening, causes itself to happen again, happens again. It doesn’t necessarily do it in chronological order, though."
I encountered this in the 2006 visual novel Muv Luv Alternative. To sum it up, guy got isekai-ed from modern day Japan to a alternate time line where giant aliens have invaded and taken over 3/4ths of earth and they fight using mech. A lot of his classmates are present in the new world with different personalities. Later on in the story someone develops a methods to send his consciousness back to his original world so he can get vital knowledge to fight the aliens. A little later someone he knows dies and he runs away back to his old world for good. Due to scifi bullshit, the people he knows who were hurt or killed in the other world also start getting hurt and killed in his original world due to him being there, being a causality conductor. No one talks about it now but at the time of release, before the anime, many in the VN community suspected that S:G did lift a lot of things from Muv Luv Alternative, they said the same for the initial chapters for Attack on Titan. I dont really believe that about S;G but the AoT one I believe in now.
Some other anime with philosophical themes not mentioned that I would recommend are: Kaiba, Mushishi, Vinland Saga (more for its 2nd Season), Fate Zero, Shinsekai yori, Princess Mononoke, Monogatari Series (not for everyone due to fanservice), Attack on Titan and Fumetsu no Anata e. I'm not saying they should be on the list, just mentioning them for anyone who wants to watch more. I would love to see a list like this related to manga, even if it's just recommendations and not a top ten, as the medium is significantly more dense with philosophical works in my opinion, due to the nature of how its created and published.
@@lifeisstrangetg8247 For Manga an easy top-tier pick is " We Shall Now Begin Ethics." It's about a high school philosophy/ethics teacher and how it is continually relatable to his students who are struggling with the typical teen issues like dating, bullying, their sense of identity, being gay, peer pressure and societal expectations, parental expectations, anger issues, religion, free will, self-harm, etc.
Sidelining both Lain and Evangelion is brutal. I feel like you didn't give enough credit to Lain for not just questioning transhumanism leading to godhood, but that it directly challenges what constitutes a god in the first place, as well as being insanely ahead of its time a la MGS2. I could rant about Evangelion forever, but in short, it is analytical psychology manifest. I've seen about half of the series in this list, and I can firmly say that I contemplate the philosophies in Lain and Evangelion more than any other in the list.
@@maxderrat That's fair, and I respect the response. Perhaps it's my own bias since as a psychology major, I tend to classify a lot of more esoteric early psychology (a la Jung) as being more philosophical than it is psychological, based on modern practice; I believe psychology in many ways to be the scientific manifestation of philosophy. If you disagree and exclude Eva on that basis, that's valid. I can see why strictly considering Jung as a psychologist could sort of disqualify Eva from this sort of list.
0:18 It's fun coincidence that you used Digimon Tamers as the example of nonphilosophical anime then start your list with Technolyze, when they were both written by Chiaki Konaka.
I highly recommend that you watch these too. I think there are many philosophical topics in these shows that are even better than some of the ones you listed in the video: Kara no Kyoukai Monogatari Series Legend of the Galactic Heroes Fate/Zero and other Fate entries, including the upcoming Witch on the Holy Night adaptation Haibane Renmei Houseki no Kuni (+ manga) Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Mawaru Penguindrum Mushi-shi Angel's Egg Boogiepop Phantom And last but not least, Umineko When They Cry (only the visual novel) Some of these works are heavier on psychology and politics, but I recommend them all regardless
Kara no Kyoukai is just absolute peak even tho the 6th film was kinda disappointing as an adaptation. I can't count how many times I have watched Overlooking View
My favorite anime is Monster. It’s an anime that not only asks us what the devil would look like as a human but also makes us question the concepts of good and evil.
what I like about Monster personally. is the question that if I were Johan; having come to terms with the inherent meaninglessness in things, would I because of circumstance make my lifes goal to point out to everyone that things don't have inherent meaning or would I make a life worth living despite the inherent meaninglessness of things?
I know that this comment is completely unrelated to the topic of the video, but as someone who most likely has asperger's (been told that by multiple psychologists, still waiting for the official diagnosis, they're expensive) and struggles in romantic relations Max's videos give me so much hope. From talking about difficulty of relationships, to mentioning having a girlfriend and now to being married. I know that this probably isn't the place to dump such a thing, but Max being an example of an occultism interested sperg (idk if this is a derogatory term, I don't mean for it to be) being in a committed relationship gives me hope for my future, as I also am one.
Hey, Matt. Funny, as soon as I saw this vid in my notifications list I thought about Berserk and what your coverage of it would be like. And as soon as I started watching this vid, and reading the comments, I found this clarification. Like you, I'm not an 'otaku' and I'm far from being an expert. Of course my childhood was marked by Evangelion, Vampire Hunter D, Wizardry, Record of Lodoss War, Studio Ghibli etc. But it was in my adulthood that I became more deeply interested in anime and was introduced to Berserk, and the life and work of the venerable Master Miura. I started with the 1997 anime, then moved on to manga series written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura, then the Golden Age Arc movie trilogy (2012-13), then the infamous CGI anime (2016-17), then the articles, books, forums, discussions, vids, analyses, academic papers, and then always back to the original material and anime from '97. Truly, Berserk is legendary. A work of art (not in the cliché sense that each fan attributes to their favorite anime, but a true work of great art). And it is the work of a true genius, who dedicated his life to Berserk, therefore it will always be a little out of reach for anyone's definite analysis, like happens with the works of Beethoven or Mozart. However, knowing you, I insist that you give it a chance, 'cause I'm sure that, like me, you will find there deep, rich and brilliant - although raw, visceral and heartbreaking - reflections on the human condition, suffering, the fragility of existence, injustice, morality, geopolitics... but also beautiful elaborations on love, faith, hope and beauty amidst the evil, unfairness and the cruelty of the world. Without a doubt, the most striking thing about Berserk for me is how real, how grounded, how accurate it is, as a portrait of the world we live in. I see it as a monument, a poetic apotheosis, to the strength, will, heroism and even kindness that men can be capable of, sometimes, even in the most overwhelming, miserable and unjust of circumstances. I would love a video from you about your own impressions of Berserk.
Oh no. You missed Baccano. The story in itself may not be the most thought provoking on first watch but its about immortal alchemists and does actually bring up some good thoughts
@bastiangugu4083 I wish more people watched it. It's great. It's also pretty deep. Characters dealing with being immortal/fate/the devil/morality/personal philosophy/love/hate/regret. I honestly got choked up a lil bit at a couple of parts. The English Dub was great bc it mostly takes place in 1930ish America
Two anime I would *highly* recommend that I didn’t see on this list are “Now and Then, Here and There” and “Darker Than Black” (FIRST season only of the latter). Would absolutely love to hear your insights on both. Thank you (and your wife’s recommendations) for another great video, once again!
that's what i like about anime. never know how something is going to make you feel. back in highschool, an episode of space dandy pretty much changed my worldview and that show is like 80% nonsense.
@@-toast-7905 i just saw this, sorry. i would see a lot of anime growing up because of my brothers but never actually engaged with much of them as a kid. when i caught dandy on toonami one night i got hooked. it was the plant episode and i was so excited to watch more of it but it was just coming out weekly at the time so i had to wait and happen to catch it. next time i saw an episode was the fish episode weeks later. last episode i saw in that school year was the World without sadness. it hit me at such an odd time when i had a loss in the family and had plenty of time to think about death, worth and afterlife. i reckon that barrier in my mind would have broken sooner or later but dandy spun me a positive view and i appreciate things like that immensely now. i kindled my own interest in anime and storytelling as a medium in the process as well. i owe it to that show
You realize you must now plan on doing a separate list for just your own personal favorite anime list next right? Everyone's just gonna be curious and constantly ask you about it now until you do, lol.
@@sythaxeagree, but my bet is he probably hasn't heard about it. Not to mention it would need an entire video of its own to explain all the different things. Dialectics, history etc.
Considering that Max has already covered much of my most favorite anime and even introduced me to a lot I never heard of before, his video(s) covering LOGH are now something I very, very much look forward to. It's bound to happen. Have faith and stay as yellow as Reinhard's mane!
Considering you mentioned Yoshitoshi Abe; Texhnolyze and Serial Experiments Lain, I'm surprised you didn't even mention or display Haibane Renmei, which also is quite a profound show and has a very valuable message. I would check it out.
There was going to be rioting if Kino wasn't included, catastrophe averted ... though I'll forgive not including "From the New World/Shinsekai Yori " cause you don't seem to have watched it, but I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend watching it, I don't think you have seen any anime like it, it's an absolutely mind bending ride and explores some very dark subject matter in very interesting and unexpected ways, I don't want to spoil anything but I think it has the best depiction of how truly and utterly terrifying certain types of powers could be. Also I should add that the thing I loved the most about Kino No Tabi is the fact it mimics the format usually used in fables and folktales where there is a series of short stories with some recurring characters and each story is supposed to teach a moral value or explore a philosophical idea (think Aesop's Fables with the talking animals).
i tried to watch Shinsekai Yori 2 times with a break of many years. both times dropped at episode ~5. This anime is such a slog, i wonder if it gets better.
Some of these anime are either hard to get through, or just not the best production quality over all, because teh criteria dont include overall quality. However i must say, that the number 2 spot, which was previously unknown to me, is a true masterpiece, which i think everybody, not only anime or philosophy fans should give an honest try. W List and W video, as always! You make my day.
Holy Based! Babylon mentioned! Watched it recently just a few days ago and I have no idea how tf is it rated so low on MAL, it was actually really good.
I didnt find the 2nd season of Psycho Pass to be this horrible. I thought the concept of a perfect judge being inherrently imperfect is really interesting
You Should Watch : Monogatari Series Mawaru Penguindrum Shoujo Kakumei Utena Revue Starlight the Movie Shinsekai Yori Sonny Boy Patlabor 2 the Movie Haibane Renmei Serial Experiments Lain Ping Pong The Animation Maybe even Madoka Magica but I guess you already know about it. Thanks for the video and have a nice day.
As a big fan of both your channel and philosophy, I highly recommend the anime and manga by the name Houseki no Kuni. It is a beautifully brilliant and rich story that combines body horror and philosophy in a way I have never seen any other story do, all thanks to its premise and setting which at first glance seems rather simple but very quickly branches out in awe inspiring ways.
@@sebastienrameau ichikawa's style draw on from fashion design and also has(imho) a partial western influence, you'll see as the manga goes the her style evolves to better embody these aspects while solidifying its identity. For now, try to focus more on the masterful composition, as seen in the first chapters' fight of morga and goshe. That being said, on op's commment: huh, interestingly, i've never seen the breaking of the bodies of the gems as body horror, them being crystals made it so i never had that feeling...
8:31 Honestly about Monster I really believe that it goes even deeper in my opinion than just this question. I'll try not to spoil a lot of it, but be warned, I'll still spoil a lot of it. Monster in my opinion is a central story about humanity and what it means to be human. And this theme of humanity, or lack there of imo is constantly present, through Tenma's powerful philosophy of humanity and hope, which is constantly contrasted with the cold and nihilistic philosophy of Johan of nothingness, through the experiments and events themselves that rid children of their humanity, of a name, of an identity. Evil is also something that lurks within the world of monster and our world, and that abyss and nothingness is constantly fighting in a way with that strong ray of hope that people like Tenma or Grimmer carry for humanity. Also Grimmer's character arc is amazing, he's literally embodying this theme in such a powerful way, because he manages to regain his emotions and finally feel again human even if his upbringing left him for most of his life cold and emotionally empty, unable to feel anything. It also seeks another question, whether all human lives are equal. Tenma believes this and manages to prove this principle and stands by it till the end. While Johan instead in his own words, believes more lives are more equal than others, which is why he is forcing Tenma at the end to shoot him or he'll kill Wim. In fact both may be right, because both have experienced these things. Also it looks at ideas of nature vs nurture through Johan and his lore and how he became the monster he was. Also the real monster of this story is not just Johan, or Bonaparta and Chapek who created him and Kinderheim 511, but deeper more obscure thing that exists in the soul of every human, that nothingness, that is the real villain. Johan is not truly detached even if he seems like it, because he still has this love and care for Nina, this obsession that makes him human. Overall I loved Monster, probably my favourite show I've seen in any medium. Truly amazing story.
Hey Max, it's been a while since I last recommended Houseki no kuni, since then it has ended and now that the manga is over I can recommend it wholeheartedly. It's a bit... Unique but it deals with existentialism, morality and the self as the main character attempts to find purpose and understand the world in which they live. I know this is about anime but I think you and maybe others who read this comment might enjoy this work
@AscendantStoic the closest we got was a recent "we'd wish" from studio orange when asked if they're working on hnk It's been 7 years at this point, if the issue isn't studio orange, then my hopes are fading.
I don' know if u've seen it but Mushishi & Land of the lustrous would be really cool to see u talk bout. I pretty much predicted the bulk of the anime on this list lol
From the top of my mind I can think of the anime Kaiba probably more in the existential side of thing, it have more to it but its been ages since I last watched. Maybe another one would be Moribito, while my memory is more fresh about the third book (the anime adapted the first one)
I’ve only been a recent viewer of your channel since I’ve watched your fear and hunger video but your content seems right up my alley. Also “monster is my number one, all-time favorite anime” My man 🤝 U got a new sub, I hope to see more videos like this and the fear and hunger one in the near future.
I would like add that, among others, Steins;Gate is originally a visual novel type game wherein you, the player, make branching decisions which adds a whole other dimension to the experience. In my humble opinion you should at least experience it once. If Steins;Gate, for whatever reason, is to played out for you te experience again or in another medium might I recommend Choas;Head. Not only is it from team and writers, it’s even set in the same universe, and the series where developed basically side by side or more aptly intertwined. Choas;Head does have an anime adaptation, but that’s besides the point; point is to try the interactive visual novel medium, regardless which series you pick.
almost all anime goes deep, even some of the most unsuspecting ones like Kaleido Star, an anime of my childhood about a girl trying to achieve her dream to become a circus acrobat and she just wants to make people smile and give them a sense of wonder - but then she encounters the cruel reality of what it takes to achieve her dream, finding herself in a highly competitive envornment, and people around her constantly trying to completely break her will, spirit and body - even an anime so innocent looking as that, showing the realities of what it actually takes to achieve her innocent dream, and how she manages to keep her spirit in the face of it, and going through a semi-existential crisis by the end where she realizes that she needs to change her dream, and make it the goal to become an "angel", a being who inspires and motivates others - so ultimately going in a full circle, and inspire others to become an acrobat, the same way she got inspired to become one when she was a child - and if you think about it, becoming an inspiration to others is one of the best thing you can become in real life as well
It’s a slow night at work. “The Fifth Element“ is playing (muted, but I can hear every scene in my head lol) on the small TV in the corner of my office, and there’s a new video from Max. Now this is what I call a good night!
I'd like to mention Legend of the galactic heroes, probably the best anime imo, as mentioned by another comment, It is highly philosophical that deals with mostly socio-political themes. It's a must watch and I highly recommend it.
I just wanted to let you know Max, your a great Channel. Me and my Girlfriend like your Content. Especially your Silent Hill analysis and speculations are a treat. Your older series, for example the one where you talk about the Aion Book from Jung is also very special to me, you are are very nice Person and i wanted for you to know that.
Yo, Max! You manage to play Fear & Hunger yet? The Ergo Proxy bit reminded me of the game's philosophies & whew.. such an amazing work of art. Like Jacob's Ladder mixed w Berserk if it were more Pagan. And the sequel just expands on all of it even more. So good!
This is the first accurate list I have seen about philosophical animes. Some of which were not involved are ghost in the shell movies, paranoia agent, cowboy bebop, mushihi, tatami galaxy, sonny boy, count of MC, pluto etc.
I think Kaito The Right Answer should be somewhere. Very similar to the feel of Babylon, society has to discuss probelms and a lot of introspection but it also shit the bed harder than Bab and was forgotten faster.
Recommend giving Ping Pong: the Animation a watch too! It's surprisingly cutting and while the weird art style might be an initial put-off, it's absolutely a hidden gem.
My top 3: 3. Trigun(environmentalism, human exceptionalism, self sacrifice) 2. Dororo(meaning of being human, mythology, animism) 1. Vampire Hunter D(subjectivity of evil, objectivity of empathy, fall of civilisations)
I think it was recommended in another anime video you did, but I’d love to see your analysis on From The New World! It’s also called Shin Sekai Yori. It’s a sleeper gem of an anime and has some amazing and deep themes about humanity
I don't know if you read manga but here's some philosophical pieces I'd like to see u talking about ; Land of the lustrous ( has a 1 season anime it's also worth watching ) Girl's last tour ( same as above ) Blame ( has a terrible adaptation not worth it ) Beastars ( has an anime ) Parasyte ( has an anime but the manga is better in my opinion) Children of the sea ( has an anime movie but doesn't adapt all the manga ) Homunculus ( not perfect but still worth reading) The man without talent Anything by nishioka kyoudai ( God's child , sadness of the heart ..)
I do enjoy the use of the soundtrack from Deus Ex 1 for the segment on Ghost in the Shell. Excellent choice (especially since it is the theme for Unatco which does make some interesting parallels to the Major)!
_Ergo Proxy_ - is a mind-blowing anime in regards to philosophy. It's crazy. When I watched it, it felt like time had stopped for me. I realised that I'd been sleeping in this accursed world all this time while thinking that I was awake. It's crazy how eye-opening it is. Although, this anime might be hard for someone to take in since it's quite deep. _Psycho-pass_ - I love this anime. Using Philosophers and their quotes to fight against other ideals, like Pascal's quotes in that one duel scene was crazy. Not to mention that this anime implies a _'Shado Government'_ and the dark future that we will be living in. It's crazy! _Steins Gate_ - one of the very first animes I've ever watched. I got blown away that they mentioned CERN in it's building stages and the time paradox principle in itself was incredible. I rewatched it 3 times in total. For me to rewatch something it has to be really, really good and deep.
Yeah dude your series on FMA was so damn good I wish it was longer but that would be dragging it I suppose but every paragraph was blowing my mind. Deeply fascinating
Good stuff - not sure if you included these others in your assessment. If not, I highly recommend: - Casshern Sins - Death Parade - Evangelion - Made in Abyss
As a fan of Japanophile and a philosopher myself (i've a degree of philosophy but you don't need that be called philosopher ), it's an interested list. For Full metal alchemist, i've began to read it when i was a teenager and i didn't saw that much philosophy (i didn't know what philosophy was, maybe a philosopher was someone like a "thinker" but nothing else). Interesting that it's pointed here, because it have a lot of philosophical depth than i remenbered, even if i think it's not that much compared to some other anime (i've read the manga, i didn't saw any of the 2 series) For stein;gate, i've read the VN, and even if the anime is good, the VN is better for sure (makize kurizu best waifu ^^ ). One of the best "philosophical" VN i've read I must, say, as i watch the video trough the end, wanted to see if ergo proxy will be mentioned or not. I discover it before i study philosophy at the age of 18 and i had an impact on me. i Still strongly dislike the end, but the reflexion around the journey was good enough for me to please me greatly. I wish i could find more gem like this one (i even buy the dvd of ergo proxy, yeah i'm old and have dvd) All in all, i like this content, thanks for your work, i pass a great moment mixed with nostalgia, a bit of reflexion about what i've read in the past and some new question like "Is they some anime/VN/manga that could have been added to the list? " ^^ Also sometime i wanted to talk about the autors i've read (Kant, Sartre, Plato, Rousseau, etc..... ) but it's better to use some pop culture as reference to introduce some concept. And anime like in this list could be a great help in that regard, to give a glimpse of what some autor could have said, even if of course the autor in question are much more in depth than the anime. In most case, better having a glimpse of knowledge that nothing at all.
Though I disagree with some of it (mainly Ergo Proxy) I still found the video quite insightful; good job! I recommend you check out Kara no Kyoukai - it's a series of 7 movies which have distinct plots but still share a connection in terms of plot and characters. I believe there is enough philosophy in it that you'll find interesting.
It's not philosophical, but one of the most interesting sociological anime I've seen is Rascal dreams of Bunny Girl Senpai. It's pretty explicit that the magical things happening to the characters is a reaction to the pressures of puberty against the pressures of society. Despite a cultural desire to blend in, as individual people they react differently to these pressures.
One of my viewers brought up a good contender that I probably should have at least addressed in the video: Berserk. Obviously, Berserk is legendary, and is deeply philosophical from a metaphysical and existential point of view. The reason I didn't include it is because my definition of anime for this list is limited strictly to TV series. The TV series of Berserk that we have from the 90s only covered the Golden Age arc which, though brilliant, only encapsulates a portion of the series' philosophical content. Plus, let's just not even talk about the 2016/2017 which just skips so much of that sort of stuff.
The less said about that adaptation, the better
It's dangerous.
Now make a video of how fia is fortissax and velka is velkahna the ancient ice dragon who birth the half breed with gwyn seath amd pricyla, for only those loved by dragons can weild lighting without burning, mhw director is also darksouls 2 director his dlc was called scholar of the first sin miyasakis test for him he thought it was gwyn it was Velka and history repeats with godwyn and fia new games help later games
Whew I was sad when I got to the end but there was no mention of berserk. I absolutely love its questions. Do people need to pursue a lofty dream in order to find purpose and belonging, or can our need for self-actualization or whatever was at the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs be fulfilled by living a simple life with those we love?
Personally part of me has always wanted to be remembered after my death for some contribution, musical or authored. Griffith’s choosing to leave behind-to put it lightly-his loved ones, contrasted against Guts’ realization upon returning to the Band of the Hawk that they are where he belonged all along, totally neutralized that part of me. I now appreciate my family more than ever and have made peace with the fact that I do not need to leave a mark on the world to live life to the fullest. So humbling and honestly liberating. Funny because this contrasts with my prior main influence’s philosophy, which can be found in Rilke’s letters when he says one has to bury themselves in solitude (no family; he even left his wife and child in pursuit of his art) in order to be their realest self. Rilke is actually like Griffith, not Guts.
Hi, it’s a real shame that Berserk don’t have a good adaptation to anime, and Monster it’s my favorite anime also. I really think Pluto deserved a place in the list.
I want to share some animes that I think you might like:
- Mardock Scramble
- Mushishi
- Jin-Roh
- Subete ga F ni Naru
- Dennô Coil
- Shinsekai Yori
- Tengoku Daimakyou
- Houseki no Kuni
- Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū
2:57 bro knows his audience
I try to. :)
"Tomorrow will be a good day." - Kenzo Tenma
Ice Cube copycat smh
@@dragooll2023 Who the fuck is ice cube?
@@dragooll2023did a carbon-based life form just say… ice?
@@tr-qr7pw ice cube is a rapper, but idk if thats what hes referring to
@@dragooll2023 monster manga was finished 8 years before ice cube's song released
Texhnolyze on the list makes me so happy. If you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend Mushishi as well. It’s also extremely philosophical and really relaxing to watch
I loved Mushishi so much is one of the most reflective anime i've seen it really makes you think
the background art is also consistently gorgeous in mushishi it's a treat to look at
Mushishi is my all time favourite.
Gotta shout out the Mushishi love. Often overlooked but its really one of the best and most contemplative animes I've ever watched.
@@ATC43 Yeah! Contemplative is the word i was looking for to describe it actually, reflective isn't exactly the most correct word to describe it in terms of what I know about speaking English, which is quite little honestly but I think I manage somewhat fine all things considered. Sorry for that random tangent I just went on to basically just say yeah true 😅
I disagree (Haven't seen a minute of this video)
I haven't read your comment, but I agree.
Xdddd
lol same
@@ValiantGoatNeither have I but I believe there is merit on both sides of your argument here.
Spoken like a true soldier
Another Anime that’s highly Philosophical is Legend of the Galactic heroes. I highly recommend it to those who haven’t heard of it.
Definitely, the OVA version from 1988 is absolute peak and definitive way of watching the series beyond reading the novels.
Exactly my thoughts!!!
@@ravenseeker8267 Top 3 Anime of all time.
Binary.
What I like about the LOGH is presenting the 4 archetypes of a society. Those are:
Bureaucrat type
Merchant type
Warrior type
Religious type
Since someone else mentioned it, I would like to recommend Mushishi as well. It’s a fantastic show that I had as my No.1 because of the lessons and how beautiful the show is. I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks! I'll take a look at it!
Mushishi is definitely an epic anime. I wonder though... the mushishi act as yokai in a way and the tales told are reminiscent of older Japanese folkloric tales.
Yep, I would highly recommend Max to watch Mushishi, because it truly belongs on this list! :)
Pretty high on my watchlist 👀
"Land of the Lustrous" and "From the New World" would fit perfectly onto this list. Highly recommend both Max!
Land of Lustrous manga is a masterpiece. If the other one you mentioned is even half as good, I'm bumping it up on my list
@@ofiterpunte Agreed but I may honestly like From the New World a bit more
Really!? I thought Land of the Lustrous is the best there is. I'm still in depression after reading it.@@tinkyy4516
I do not recommend the anime land of the lustrous
Because it is unfinished.
Instead read the manga.
@@ofiterpunte From the New World, or Shinsekai Yori, is an amazing story, but not a great anime. The story, the characters and the concepts handled there are amazing, but it's not the best animation out there.
Highly recommended tho
Fate Zero is highly introspective. It’s ending especially focuses on the concept of utilitarianism. Is also delves deep into the meanings of honor and justice. It touches on ideals vs reality and how pursuing an ideal can lead you astray.
Big shout out to "Stein's Gate" for the most original method of grappling with the paradox of time travel that I believe was first explored by HG Wells, "How can you change the past in a way that negates your reason to have gone back in the first place?"
This is the grandfather paradox. Many misinterpret the Grandfather Paradox to only mean the erasure of the traveller by the traveller's actions in the past, but it actually refers to any action that would prevent the traveller from going back in time for any reason. This could be erasure of the person or the need to travel, but it can also mean that the person is never in a position to travel. Of course, this paradox assumes that time is linear and one-way, which we cannot be sure. As Douglas Adams wrote in Mostly Harmless "Anything that, in happening, causes itself to happen again, happens again. It doesn’t necessarily do it in chronological order, though."
Dark also touches on it extensively.
I encountered this in the 2006 visual novel Muv Luv Alternative. To sum it up, guy got isekai-ed from modern day Japan to a alternate time line where giant aliens have invaded and taken over 3/4ths of earth and they fight using mech. A lot of his classmates are present in the new world with different personalities. Later on in the story someone develops a methods to send his consciousness back to his original world so he can get vital knowledge to fight the aliens. A little later someone he knows dies and he runs away back to his old world for good. Due to scifi bullshit, the people he knows who were hurt or killed in the other world also start getting hurt and killed in his original world due to him being there, being a causality conductor. No one talks about it now but at the time of release, before the anime, many in the VN community suspected that S:G did lift a lot of things from Muv Luv Alternative, they said the same for the initial chapters for Attack on Titan. I dont really believe that about S;G but the AoT one I believe in now.
@@CaseNumber00 TBH, from your description, that reminds me more of "Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure" than S;G.
Are you talking about the ending?
Some other anime with philosophical themes not mentioned that I would recommend are: Kaiba, Mushishi, Vinland Saga (more for its 2nd Season), Fate Zero, Shinsekai yori, Princess Mononoke, Monogatari Series (not for everyone due to fanservice), Attack on Titan and Fumetsu no Anata e. I'm not saying they should be on the list, just mentioning them for anyone who wants to watch more.
I would love to see a list like this related to manga, even if it's just recommendations and not a top ten, as the medium is significantly more dense with philosophical works in my opinion, due to the nature of how its created and published.
Yeah Fate/Zero definitely should have been on this list.
I think manga would be great some might not adopted to anime
Any suggestions for that kind of manga
@@lifeisstrangetg8247 For Manga an easy top-tier pick is " We Shall Now Begin Ethics." It's about a high school philosophy/ethics teacher and how it is continually relatable to his students who are struggling with the typical teen issues like dating, bullying, their sense of identity, being gay, peer pressure and societal expectations, parental expectations, anger issues, religion, free will, self-harm, etc.
@@grimscar ill check it out
Fate zero is about iskandar/waver bromance. I refuse to believe otherwise
Sidelining both Lain and Evangelion is brutal. I feel like you didn't give enough credit to Lain for not just questioning transhumanism leading to godhood, but that it directly challenges what constitutes a god in the first place, as well as being insanely ahead of its time a la MGS2. I could rant about Evangelion forever, but in short, it is analytical psychology manifest. I've seen about half of the series in this list, and I can firmly say that I contemplate the philosophies in Lain and Evangelion more than any other in the list.
Pretty sure Max covered them in the past, but I can only imagine Evangelion didn't make it because it's more psychology than philosophy focused
That's exactly the reason.
@@maxderrat That's fair, and I respect the response. Perhaps it's my own bias since as a psychology major, I tend to classify a lot of more esoteric early psychology (a la Jung) as being more philosophical than it is psychological, based on modern practice; I believe psychology in many ways to be the scientific manifestation of philosophy. If you disagree and exclude Eva on that basis, that's valid. I can see why strictly considering Jung as a psychologist could sort of disqualify Eva from this sort of list.
0:18 It's fun coincidence that you used Digimon Tamers as the example of nonphilosophical anime then start your list with Technolyze, when they were both written by Chiaki Konaka.
That's not Tamers tho that's Digimon 02, Tamers is the 3rd series but Konaka did write like one episode in 02
Digimon 4 was pretty philosophical tbh
This man is a lost mess.
I highly recommend that you watch these too. I think there are many philosophical topics in these shows that are even better than some of the ones you listed in the video:
Kara no Kyoukai
Monogatari Series
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Fate/Zero and other Fate entries, including the upcoming Witch on the Holy Night adaptation
Haibane Renmei
Houseki no Kuni (+ manga)
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
Mawaru Penguindrum
Mushi-shi
Angel's Egg
Boogiepop Phantom
And last but not least, Umineko When They Cry (only the visual novel)
Some of these works are heavier on psychology and politics, but I recommend them all regardless
Kara no Kyoukai is just absolute peak even tho the 6th film was kinda disappointing as an adaptation. I can't count how many times I have watched Overlooking View
@@Lin_Eileen Yes, unfortunately, the sixth movie had the most omissions from the novel. I hope it gets a complete and official translation one day.
Definitely Angel's Egg
Damn boogiepop phantom, it nice to see some know about that show very underrated show.
Kara no Kyoukai - especially Mujun Rasen
My favorite anime is Monster. It’s an anime that not only asks us what the devil would look like as a human but also makes us question the concepts of good and evil.
Freaking brilliant!!!
what I like about Monster personally.
is the question that if I were Johan; having come to terms with the inherent meaninglessness in things, would I because of circumstance make my lifes goal to point out to everyone that things don't have inherent meaning or would I make a life worth living despite the inherent meaninglessness of things?
I know that this comment is completely unrelated to the topic of the video, but as someone who most likely has asperger's (been told that by multiple psychologists, still waiting for the official diagnosis, they're expensive) and struggles in romantic relations Max's videos give me so much hope. From talking about difficulty of relationships, to mentioning having a girlfriend and now to being married. I know that this probably isn't the place to dump such a thing, but Max being an example of an occultism interested sperg (idk if this is a derogatory term, I don't mean for it to be) being in a committed relationship gives me hope for my future, as I also am one.
Agree with the top-3. I would also add Freiren to the list: It has such a beautiful reflection on what mortality does to us.
Hey, Matt. Funny, as soon as I saw this vid in my notifications list I thought about Berserk and what your coverage of it would be like. And as soon as I started watching this vid, and reading the comments, I found this clarification.
Like you, I'm not an 'otaku' and I'm far from being an expert. Of course my childhood was marked by Evangelion, Vampire Hunter D, Wizardry, Record of Lodoss War, Studio Ghibli etc. But it was in my adulthood that I became more deeply interested in anime and was introduced to Berserk, and the life and work of the venerable Master Miura.
I started with the 1997 anime, then moved on to manga series written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura, then the Golden Age Arc movie trilogy (2012-13), then the infamous CGI anime (2016-17), then the articles, books, forums, discussions, vids, analyses, academic papers, and then always back to the original material and anime from '97.
Truly, Berserk is legendary. A work of art (not in the cliché sense that each fan attributes to their favorite anime, but a true work of great art). And it is the work of a true genius, who dedicated his life to Berserk, therefore it will always be a little out of reach for anyone's definite analysis, like happens with the works of Beethoven or Mozart.
However, knowing you, I insist that you give it a chance, 'cause I'm sure that, like me, you will find there deep, rich and brilliant - although raw, visceral and heartbreaking - reflections on the human condition, suffering, the fragility of existence, injustice, morality, geopolitics... but also beautiful elaborations on love, faith, hope and beauty amidst the evil, unfairness and the cruelty of the world.
Without a doubt, the most striking thing about Berserk for me is how real, how grounded, how accurate it is, as a portrait of the world we live in. I see it as a monument, a poetic apotheosis, to the strength, will, heroism and even kindness that men can be capable of, sometimes, even in the most overwhelming, miserable and unjust of circumstances.
I would love a video from you about your own impressions of Berserk.
I came here to proclaim the superiority of Legend of the Galactic Heroes to everything else on this list.
Finally, I found a second guy on the internet who watched all the 110 episodes!
@@raudas-taxma6183Here as well 🤲🏻
@@raudas-taxma6183 plus the 2 movies and the 2 spin off seasons
Lmfao everything here curbstomps that shit.
@@raudas-taxma6183not some to be proud of
After seeing the honourable mentions I was like "that's bold. I'm in"
This, exactly, specially when I saw Evangelion as a honorable mention. I was like BRING IT
Oh no. You missed Baccano. The story in itself may not be the most thought provoking on first watch but its about immortal alchemists and does actually bring up some good thoughts
And it's great in other regard too. e.g. the non-linear story-structure, the quirky characters and the music. Loved it.
@bastiangugu4083 I wish more people watched it. It's great. It's also pretty deep. Characters dealing with being immortal/fate/the devil/morality/personal philosophy/love/hate/regret. I honestly got choked up a lil bit at a couple of parts. The English Dub was great bc it mostly takes place in 1930ish America
Two anime I would *highly* recommend that I didn’t see on this list are “Now and Then, Here and There” and “Darker Than Black” (FIRST season only of the latter). Would absolutely love to hear your insights on both.
Thank you (and your wife’s recommendations) for another great video, once again!
Mushishi deserved a place
that's what i like about anime. never know how something is going to make you feel. back in highschool, an episode of space dandy pretty much changed my worldview and that show is like 80% nonsense.
Which one and in what way?
@@-toast-7905 i just saw this, sorry.
i would see a lot of anime growing up because of my brothers but never actually engaged with much of them as a kid. when i caught dandy on toonami one night i got hooked. it was the plant episode and i was so excited to watch more of it but it was just coming out weekly at the time so i had to wait and happen to catch it. next time i saw an episode was the fish episode weeks later.
last episode i saw in that school year was the World without sadness. it hit me at such an odd time when i had a loss in the family and had plenty of time to think about death, worth and afterlife. i reckon that barrier in my mind would have broken sooner or later but dandy spun me a positive view and i appreciate things like that immensely now. i kindled my own interest in anime and storytelling as a medium in the process as well. i owe it to that show
You realize you must now plan on doing a separate list for just your own personal favorite anime list next right? Everyone's just gonna be curious and constantly ask you about it now until you do, lol.
Hey Digimon had me thinking about the meaning of life and death now
I'd definitely count Mushishi, which I see others have mentioned. Mob Psycho has some decent philosophy to it as well.
Honorable Mentions - Pluto, Code Geass, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Paranoia Agent, Cowboy Bebop, Serial Experiment Lain
#10 - Texhnolize
#9 - Fullmetal Alchemist (franchise)
#8 - Monster
#7 - Steins;Gate
#6 - Babylon
#5 - Death Note:
#4 - Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex:
#3 - Psycho Pass Season 1
#2 -Kinos Journey 2003
#1 - Ergo Proxy
One thing about Lain: Serial Experiments. It predicted the rise of social media (through The Wired) as well as it's addictive and toxic nature.
Thank you, kind soul.
about to give you guys the best recommendation of your life, Sonny Boy
No legend of the galactic heroes is fucking criminal
Chill out, bruv. i love glactic heroes, and it's fine if he didn't mention it.😅
@@sythaxeagree, but my bet is he probably hasn't heard about it. Not to mention it would need an entire video of its own to explain all the different things. Dialectics, history etc.
@greensoldier2142 Yeah, i also think he hasn't seen it yet, but maybe in the future he might watch it.
Considering that Max has already covered much of my most favorite anime and even introduced me to a lot I never heard of before, his video(s) covering LOGH are now something I very, very much look forward to. It's bound to happen. Have faith and stay as yellow as Reinhard's mane!
Considering you mentioned Yoshitoshi Abe; Texhnolyze and Serial Experiments Lain, I'm surprised you didn't even mention or display Haibane Renmei, which also is quite a profound show and has a very valuable message. I would check it out.
You forgot to add Seinfeld
The philosophy about nothing.
George! You piloted the Eva again, didn't you?
Ahhh, the show about nothing…
COREY IN THE HOUSE IS MY FAVOURITE ANIME
There was going to be rioting if Kino wasn't included, catastrophe averted ... though I'll forgive not including "From the New World/Shinsekai Yori " cause you don't seem to have watched it, but I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend watching it, I don't think you have seen any anime like it, it's an absolutely mind bending ride and explores some very dark subject matter in very interesting and unexpected ways, I don't want to spoil anything but I think it has the best depiction of how truly and utterly terrifying certain types of powers could be.
Also I should add that the thing I loved the most about Kino No Tabi is the fact it mimics the format usually used in fables and folktales where there is a series of short stories with some recurring characters and each story is supposed to teach a moral value or explore a philosophical idea (think Aesop's Fables with the talking animals).
From the New World definitely should have been on it...
I'd suggest the novel over the anime, personally, but it is excellent.
i tried to watch Shinsekai Yori 2 times with a break of many years. both times dropped at episode ~5. This anime is such a slog, i wonder if it gets better.
@@HolySnipy I also dropped the anime multiple times, but I had no issues reading through the novel.
@@HolySnipy watch the whole thing. You're in for a ride towards the last few episodes
Some of these anime are either hard to get through, or just not the best production quality over all, because teh criteria dont include overall quality. However i must say, that the number 2 spot, which was previously unknown to me, is a true masterpiece, which i think everybody, not only anime or philosophy fans should give an honest try. W List and W video, as always! You make my day.
Holy Based! Babylon mentioned!
Watched it recently just a few days ago and I have no idea how tf is it rated so low on MAL, it was actually really good.
I didnt find the 2nd season of Psycho Pass to be this horrible. I thought the concept of a perfect judge being inherrently imperfect is really interesting
You Should Watch :
Monogatari Series
Mawaru Penguindrum
Shoujo Kakumei Utena
Revue Starlight the Movie
Shinsekai Yori
Sonny Boy
Patlabor 2 the Movie
Haibane Renmei
Serial Experiments Lain
Ping Pong The Animation
Maybe even Madoka Magica but I guess you already know about it.
Thanks for the video and have a nice day.
And Yes I skipped The Intro (For Lain) 😢
2:16 I was not expecting those to be in honorable mentions. Heck, i expected Evangelion to make it to the Top 5.
It's really not that philosophical, but that's not Eva's domain and that's okay. Where it could contend for gold is top psychological anime.
I might suggest giving Dennou Coil a watch if you're a fan of Serial Experiments Lain, it's something of a spiritual successor.
I wasn't expecting to see such a deep and beautiful analysis in a yt video.
Derrat, please do one about visual novels. That'd be awesome.
YESSS HE NEEDS TO GET INTO VISUAL NOVELS!!
would be awesome
would take years tho
A few anime to recommend
The garden of sinners
Black lagoon
Fate zero
Silver spoon
Clannad
Monogatari
Philosophy deze nuts ❤
oh no I've been deze nut'd
RUclips suggesting I translate this into English.
As a big fan of both your channel and philosophy, I highly recommend the anime and manga by the name Houseki no Kuni. It is a beautifully brilliant and rich story that combines body horror and philosophy in a way I have never seen any other story do, all thanks to its premise and setting which at first glance seems rather simple but very quickly branches out in awe inspiring ways.
I've just read the first chapter, thanks to you.
The drawing is weird, but the world and story seem promising.
@@sebastienrameau ichikawa's style draw on from fashion design and also has(imho) a partial western influence, you'll see as the manga goes the her style evolves to better embody these aspects while solidifying its identity.
For now, try to focus more on the masterful composition, as seen in the first chapters' fight of morga and goshe.
That being said, on op's commment: huh, interestingly, i've never seen the breaking of the bodies of the gems as body horror, them being crystals made it so i never had that feeling...
Another Max Derrat classic
8:31 Honestly about Monster I really believe that it goes even deeper in my opinion than just this question. I'll try not to spoil a lot of it, but be warned, I'll still spoil a lot of it. Monster in my opinion is a central story about humanity and what it means to be human. And this theme of humanity, or lack there of imo is constantly present, through Tenma's powerful philosophy of humanity and hope, which is constantly contrasted with the cold and nihilistic philosophy of Johan of nothingness, through the experiments and events themselves that rid children of their humanity, of a name, of an identity. Evil is also something that lurks within the world of monster and our world, and that abyss and nothingness is constantly fighting in a way with that strong ray of hope that people like Tenma or Grimmer carry for humanity. Also Grimmer's character arc is amazing, he's literally embodying this theme in such a powerful way, because he manages to regain his emotions and finally feel again human even if his upbringing left him for most of his life cold and emotionally empty, unable to feel anything. It also seeks another question, whether all human lives are equal. Tenma believes this and manages to prove this principle and stands by it till the end. While Johan instead in his own words, believes more lives are more equal than others, which is why he is forcing Tenma at the end to shoot him or he'll kill Wim. In fact both may be right, because both have experienced these things. Also it looks at ideas of nature vs nurture through Johan and his lore and how he became the monster he was. Also the real monster of this story is not just Johan, or Bonaparta and Chapek who created him and Kinderheim 511, but deeper more obscure thing that exists in the soul of every human, that nothingness, that is the real villain. Johan is not truly detached even if he seems like it, because he still has this love and care for Nina, this obsession that makes him human. Overall I loved Monster, probably my favourite show I've seen in any medium. Truly amazing story.
Seriously, Ergo Proxy *needs* to be more popular. Personally, I believe every anime fan should give it a watch, at least once.
0:03 what is this anime with the girl & wolf?
Wolf's Rain
@@hokuhikene Does max have a video on it? He didn't mention it here
Hey Max, it's been a while since I last recommended Houseki no kuni, since then it has ended and now that the manga is over I can recommend it wholeheartedly.
It's a bit... Unique but it deals with existentialism, morality and the self as the main character attempts to find purpose and understand the world in which they live.
I know this is about anime but I think you and maybe others who read this comment might enjoy this work
@no_mnom But sadly the anime beautiful as it is isn't complete and there is no news of it getting a 2nd season to finish the story.
@AscendantStoic the closest we got was a recent "we'd wish" from studio orange when asked if they're working on hnk
It's been 7 years at this point, if the issue isn't studio orange, then my hopes are fading.
@iota-09 Quite sad really, their take on 3DCGI anime was at the time one of the best ever done, they did stunning work on the visuals and music too.
Thanks for introducing me to a couple of series that I hadn't heard of before
I don' know if u've seen it but Mushishi & Land of the lustrous would be really cool to see u talk bout. I pretty much predicted the bulk of the anime on this list lol
The Law doesnt protect people, People protect the Law- Akane Tsunemori
From the top of my mind I can think of the anime Kaiba probably more in the existential side of thing, it have more to it but its been ages since I last watched. Maybe another one would be Moribito, while my memory is more fresh about the third book (the anime adapted the first one)
that anime deserves recognition
Ah, Texhnolyze ...
One of the most underrated anime in my opinion. A masterpiece, and also great ASMR source.
I’ve only been a recent viewer of your channel since I’ve watched your fear and hunger video but your content seems right up my alley.
Also “monster is my number one, all-time favorite anime” My man 🤝
U got a new sub, I hope to see more videos like this and the fear and hunger one in the near future.
there is honestly a lot of really interesting and thought provoking philosophy in attack on titan, i highly recommend it
I would like add that, among others, Steins;Gate is originally a visual novel type game wherein you, the player, make branching decisions which adds a whole other dimension to the experience. In my humble opinion you should at least experience it once.
If Steins;Gate, for whatever reason, is to played out for you te experience again or in another medium might I recommend Choas;Head.
Not only is it from team and writers, it’s even set in the same universe, and the series where developed basically side by side or more aptly intertwined.
Choas;Head does have an anime adaptation, but that’s besides the point; point is to try the interactive visual novel medium, regardless which series you pick.
almost all anime goes deep, even some of the most unsuspecting ones like Kaleido Star, an anime of my childhood about a girl trying to achieve her dream to become a circus acrobat and she just wants to make people smile and give them a sense of wonder - but then she encounters the cruel reality of what it takes to achieve her dream, finding herself in a highly competitive envornment, and people around her constantly trying to completely break her will, spirit and body - even an anime so innocent looking as that, showing the realities of what it actually takes to achieve her innocent dream, and how she manages to keep her spirit in the face of it, and going through a semi-existential crisis by the end where she realizes that she needs to change her dream, and make it the goal to become an "angel", a being who inspires and motivates others - so ultimately going in a full circle, and inspire others to become an acrobat, the same way she got inspired to become one when she was a child - and if you think about it, becoming an inspiration to others is one of the best thing you can become in real life as well
It’s a slow night at work. “The Fifth Element“ is playing (muted, but I can hear every scene in my head lol) on the small TV in the corner of my office, and there’s a new video from Max. Now this is what I call a good night!
In my opinion monogatari series is one of the most philosophical anime out there and if you havent you should definitly watch it
I'd like to mention Legend of the galactic heroes, probably the best anime imo, as mentioned by another comment, It is highly philosophical that deals with mostly socio-political themes. It's a must watch and I highly recommend it.
Well, mainstream philosophical for sure. My #1 philo anime is Kill la Kill. Can't beat its multiple layers of themes.
Hey I'm working, but my late night is made with 30 min of my yellow favorite 😂❤
Bro you literally aren't allowed to say that Psycho Pass took cues from Ready Player One when it came out 6 years prior to the thing...
I'm a simple man. Like a Pavlovian response, I hear the Xenogears OST used as background music, I sit up and pay attention.
I just wanted to let you know Max, your a great Channel. Me and my Girlfriend like your Content. Especially your Silent Hill analysis and speculations are a treat.
Your older series, for example the one where you talk about the Aion Book from Jung is also very special to me, you are are very nice Person and i wanted for you to know that.
Yo, Max! You manage to play Fear & Hunger yet? The Ergo Proxy bit reminded me of the game's philosophies & whew.. such an amazing work of art. Like Jacob's Ladder mixed w Berserk if it were more Pagan. And the sequel just expands on all of it even more. So good!
I knew Ergo Proxy would make it high, let's goooo! That ending still gives me the shills when I remember that last freaking line!
I've been watching you for years, and realized I hadn't even subscribed.. anyway I love this video!
Some thought provoking anime I’d recommend:
From the New World
Fantastic Children
The Twelve Kingdoms
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Shamanic Princess
Haibane Renmei is another one
That Deus Ex soundtrack on top of Ghost In The Shell was amazingly spot on!
Very good video, as usual :)
However, you should really check Revolutionary Girl Utena, if you haven't already done!
So glad you didn't include Serial Experiments Lain in this list. I haven't seen half of this list so I may have to give them a go.
Thank you for not spoiling. That alone, makes me want to continue the video
This is the first accurate list I have seen about philosophical animes. Some of which were not involved are ghost in the shell movies, paranoia agent, cowboy bebop, mushihi, tatami galaxy, sonny boy, count of MC, pluto etc.
Monster really draws you in…
Honestly you just keep getting funnier in your delivery of your tongue in cheek jokes absolutely loving it.
I think Kaito The Right Answer should be somewhere. Very similar to the feel of Babylon, society has to discuss probelms and a lot of introspection but it also shit the bed harder than Bab and was forgotten faster.
From some of the music used in this video, I see you are a Xenogears fan. I like this channel even more now.
Legends of the Galactic Heroes is also very dense in Filosophy and Politics, highly recommend both the old and new shows
Recommend giving Ping Pong: the Animation a watch too! It's surprisingly cutting and while the weird art style might be an initial put-off, it's absolutely a hidden gem.
It will always be Evangelion for me, but I can't wait to check these out! Thank you Max.
Also, your wife sounds amazing!
My top 3:
3. Trigun(environmentalism, human exceptionalism, self sacrifice)
2. Dororo(meaning of being human, mythology, animism)
1. Vampire Hunter D(subjectivity of evil, objectivity of empathy, fall of civilisations)
One of my favorite philososphical anime is certantly mawaru penguindrum, I highly recommend it
Ever seen The Count of Monte Cristo anime?
I was just looking for a list like this! Thanks dude, ur awesome!
I think that Devilman crybaby at least deserved an honorable mention (only if you've seen it of course)
I think it was recommended in another anime video you did, but I’d love to see your analysis on From The New World! It’s also called Shin Sekai Yori. It’s a sleeper gem of an anime and has some amazing and deep themes about humanity
Here to recommend Legend of the Galactic Heroes, as others have done as well ❤
I don't know if you read manga but here's some philosophical pieces I'd like to see u talking about ;
Land of the lustrous ( has a 1 season anime it's also worth watching )
Girl's last tour ( same as above )
Blame ( has a terrible adaptation not worth it )
Beastars ( has an anime )
Parasyte ( has an anime but the manga is better in my opinion)
Children of the sea ( has an anime movie but doesn't adapt all the manga )
Homunculus ( not perfect but still worth reading)
The man without talent
Anything by nishioka kyoudai ( God's child , sadness of the heart ..)
The second last one is why you're likeable
I do enjoy the use of the soundtrack from Deus Ex 1 for the segment on Ghost in the Shell. Excellent choice (especially since it is the theme for Unatco which does make some interesting parallels to the Major)!
Been a loong time since i found something new in this recommendation videos. Thanks!
I got into anime for the exact same reason as you bro. Anime is profound.
_Ergo Proxy_ - is a mind-blowing anime in regards to philosophy. It's crazy. When I watched it, it felt like time had stopped for me. I realised that I'd been sleeping in this accursed world all this time while thinking that I was awake. It's crazy how eye-opening it is. Although, this anime might be hard for someone to take in since it's quite deep.
_Psycho-pass_ - I love this anime. Using Philosophers and their quotes to fight against other ideals, like Pascal's quotes in that one duel scene was crazy. Not to mention that this anime implies a _'Shado Government'_ and the dark future that we will be living in. It's crazy!
_Steins Gate_ - one of the very first animes I've ever watched. I got blown away that they mentioned CERN in it's building stages and the time paradox principle in itself was incredible. I rewatched it 3 times in total. For me to rewatch something it has to be really, really good and deep.
Yeah dude your series on FMA was so damn good I wish it was longer but that would be dragging it I suppose but every paragraph was blowing my mind. Deeply fascinating
Good stuff - not sure if you included these others in your assessment. If not, I highly recommend:
- Casshern Sins
- Death Parade
- Evangelion
- Made in Abyss
Serial Experiments Lain
Death Note
Haibane Renmei
Ghost In The Shell
Ergo Proxy
As a fan of Japanophile and a philosopher myself (i've a degree of philosophy but you don't need that be called philosopher ), it's an interested list.
For Full metal alchemist, i've began to read it when i was a teenager and i didn't saw that much philosophy (i didn't know what philosophy was, maybe a philosopher was someone like a "thinker" but nothing else). Interesting that it's pointed here, because it have a lot of philosophical depth than i remenbered, even if i think it's not that much compared to some other anime (i've read the manga, i didn't saw any of the 2 series)
For stein;gate, i've read the VN, and even if the anime is good, the VN is better for sure (makize kurizu best waifu ^^ ). One of the best "philosophical" VN i've read
I must, say, as i watch the video trough the end, wanted to see if ergo proxy will be mentioned or not. I discover it before i study philosophy at the age of 18 and i had an impact on me. i Still strongly dislike the end, but the reflexion around the journey was good enough for me to please me greatly. I wish i could find more gem like this one (i even buy the dvd of ergo proxy, yeah i'm old and have dvd)
All in all, i like this content, thanks for your work, i pass a great moment mixed with nostalgia, a bit of reflexion about what i've read in the past and some new question like "Is they some anime/VN/manga that could have been added to the list? " ^^
Also sometime i wanted to talk about the autors i've read (Kant, Sartre, Plato, Rousseau, etc..... ) but it's better to use some pop culture as reference to introduce some concept. And anime like in this list could be a great help in that regard, to give a glimpse of what some autor could have said, even if of course the autor in question are much more in depth than the anime.
In most case, better having a glimpse of knowledge that nothing at all.
Though I disagree with some of it (mainly Ergo Proxy) I still found the video quite insightful; good job! I recommend you check out Kara no Kyoukai - it's a series of 7 movies which have distinct plots but still share a connection in terms of plot and characters. I believe there is enough philosophy in it that you'll find interesting.
Great video.
Also, have you watched any of the Monogotari series?
It's not philosophical, but one of the most interesting sociological anime I've seen is Rascal dreams of Bunny Girl Senpai.
It's pretty explicit that the magical things happening to the characters is a reaction to the pressures of puberty against the pressures of society. Despite a cultural desire to blend in, as individual people they react differently to these pressures.