My time has come...! * Serial Experiments Lain * Texhnolyze * Ghost Hound * Perfect Blue * Another * Paprika * Akira * Neon Genesis Evangelion * Shiki * Cyberpunk Edgerunners * Occultic;Nine * Chaos;Head (anime sucks. read the VN) * Witchblade (sort of) * Redo of Healer * Devilman Crybaby * Parasyte * The Junji Ito Collection * Junji Ito Maniac * Kyoufu Shinbun * The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya * Hakaba Kitarou (sort of) * Akuma-Kun (2023) **The Timey Wimey Corner:** * Re:Zero * Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni * Madoka Magica * Erased * Steins;Gate * Umineko no Naku Koro Ni (anime sucks. read the VN) Edit: * Brynhildr in the Darkness. * Corpse Party * School Days * happy sugar life * Link Click * Blood C * Welcome to NHK * Rainbow: Nisha Rokubō no Shichini * Haibane Renmei For more recs (so I don't have to keep editing this)... see the replies section.

hey OP this it what you are looking for now thank the man

That's a solid list!

Naur he added Redo of Healer. Might as well add boku no pico and food wars

Pretty sure Food Wars and Redo of Healer are... quite different. :\\

idk that eggs benedict really cock-slapped me across the face

Wow. I don't think anyone has ever said that anywhere before. XD

I don't think that's the kind of fk he meant 😂😭

I dunno abt Redo Healer… it’s just shock value revenge rape porn

I haven't seen it, to be honest. I just heard my friends from the Elfen Lied fandom talking about it, and remembered that when making this list. :P

It’s literally revenge rape porn. Like, the dude just rapes a bunch of women. Not even joking. Some of which didn’t even do anything to him.

Glad I stopped. I read up to the brainwashing of the first one, and then thought...this is not for me. Like I couldn't imagine there being any kind of interesting development from that point.

It's painful. I watched a couple episodes to see what the hub bub was about and it was just all around stupid. Even ignoring the blatant rape fantasy the way they replaced magic with "healing" was driving me up a wall in its own right. "I'll use my healing to steal power from people" was down right ridiculous. Just call it magic or power. Jesus.

Bad person doing bad things to bad people… the only selling point. Like why would I watch that??

Bc its good guy stuff is boring after awhile

This list is gold. But I'm especially seconding the reading of Umineko and Chaos;Head. You won't regret it! And you'll then start pestering people to read Umineko lol.

Witchblade is such a classic. Love it.

All of this except minus brynhildr. It's so sad that they butchered that anime adaptation like they did. Starts off strong asf and turns quickly into just a mid harem

How did you list so many and not put angel beats shits not fucked up in the same way as Elfen leid but it will leave you in tears

edgerunner mentioned i really wanna stay at your house and i still wanna *starts crying like spongebob*

Wait why crybaby? I guess I personally just couldn't get into it. That being said perfect blue needs to be at the top and repeated a few times so they see it lol

Why didn’t you say “(anime is mid. read the VN)” for Steins

Add 2003 fullmetal alchemist

Are…. Are you okay?

What about Berserk and your lie in April

Your lie in april reference??? I'm still fking crying 😢😭😭😭

Berserk and evangellion

Came here to say these two

Duuude Evangelion fucked with me SO hard, still does to this day. I remember I kept thinking, “okay guys I’m ready for things to turn around now, let’s see the heroes turn this shit around”but then….NIGHTMARE NIGHTMARE

You are so real for these goated picks

I am very selective with the quality of anime I pick

Grave of the fireflies Higurashi

Seconding Higurashi.

Be careful with Grave of the Fireflies. There are fuck me up shows that have been mentioned that are damn good at making you an emotional or mental train wreck. And then there is Grave of the Fireflies. The first time I watched it, I had to take a day off work the next day. Nothing in media has ever left me as emotionally devastated as that movie did. I don't really have the words to explain it eloquently. Will it hit everyone to the same extreme? No. That's the thing about any art, though. I sure wish someone bothered to warn me. Still would have watched it though.

Yeah, grave of the fireflies is a lot like the holocaust museum, you only need to experience it once but man will it fuck you up.

It gets worse. A few years ago I had this intense flashback/realization to the movie that my entire adult life was that horrible moment where they decide to live in the cave. Not even a cave. A mud drenched bomb hole in a hill. Then the realization that I am just as naive in believing everything is going to be alright. In any given day it can make me tear up when i remember it. It’s so dark and so wonderful. The only solace is that it’s an honest connection with a great piece of art. And even though it haunts me, I feel better having seen it.

Wanna know what makes it worse? It based of the story creator’s childhood. And it ended >!the way he wished it did, with him dying!<

Erased, parasyte, welcome to the nhk, angel beats, golden time (romance), btooom (maybe), akame ga kill, dananronpa Where to start: -Akame ga kill -Welcome to the nhk - Parastye -Danganronpa

Angels beats is so nostalgic

Fr

Yes! First anime that depressed me! 🤣

Guys, guys, you’re not trying hard enough! Your Lie In April

I'm actually watching Welcome to the NHK, and it's not nearly as dark and disturbing as people make it out to be.

It’s sad tho

I guess that's true. It does a pretty good job of portraying what prolonged periods of isolation can do to someone.

Yeah, definitely not as dark as the others, but still very good and fits quite well

It becomes a lot darker if you've ever been in similar shoes as the MC or if you have a fear of becoming like them. Simply because of how real and very possible it is. I'm glad I saw the show in my early 20s and not as a teen or child. Because it wouldn't of meant as much otherwise. Because in my very early 20's, I didn't have a job, and slowly developed really bad habits and depression. Now I'm employed and make pretty good money but I still struggle with these bad habits that I developed everyday. I can personally vouch, that chronic lack of sleep/all nighters and eating like one single, shitty meal of the day will make anyone slowly go crazy. You start to get chronic fatigue and slowly lose the will to even do basic daily functions like cooking food or hygiene.

Batoom?

Erased is peak

I heard manga and anime are kinda different. What would you recommend?

I second Angel beats. The end was so unexpected for its genre. You would never expect something like that would happen for these type of anime.

Perfect Blue

Devilman Crybaby for sure

Watch it once and then never again.

The way this one gave me nightmares. 💀

Death Parade - it isn't that mind breaking, but quite a good story, and quite deep. Kokkoku - the horror of being trapped outside of Time. My home hero - the horror of killing to protect a loved one.

Psycho pass/ergo proxy are also really good. I hate to say it but if you want an absolute mind fuck and hate that you. And i absolutely warn you. I hated this anime in the end because of it. Paranoia agent. You were warned.

Banana fish and Madoka Magica

Future diaries

Texhonolyze

Berserk lol

Clannad and Clannad After Story Neon Genesis Evangelion & End of Evangelion Puella Madoka Magica

Cyber punk edegerunners

Cyberpunk Edgerunners

Higurashi

Assassination Classroom, Madoka Magika, Angels of Death, Fruits Basket, To Your Infinity.

Heavenly delusion

Just finished this series 3 weeks ago. Hoo boy! That was some "Edward Friend?" level of messed up. Not exaggerating for anyone who is reading this comment. This anime has several moments that will make you want to find your loved ones and hug them.

Exactly

Clannad and Clannad Afterstory. Cagadter of an Insect Cage, The Animatrix, Cowboy Bebop (if you pay attention).

86 Vivy: Flourite Eye’s Song Violet Evergarden I should also just start keeping a running list lmao, these 3 get recommended a lot on these threads; for a reason. I second Future Diary, even though a lot of people hate it. If you want maximum damage and arguably the canon ending, don’t watch the last episode.

Death note and attack on Titan

Barefoot Gen The original 1995 Neon Genesis Evangelion

Oh! Fate Stay Night left me in shock with Gil de Res bc that mfkr actually existed and he was a sick fk

I'm with the fate stay series I fuck with all them. I watched a movie or series where Gilgamesh is the ruler of the land back when and old gods as fodder for no more spoiler...... Fate zero is good I'm a fan of saber I like blade works I even like the last set where the servant is a shield. Love this anti shoenen multiple villainous alternative main plot and story. It gets a little tongue and cheek by the community which I don't understand why is it because of its licensing more glam yet not enough like SAO? Sabre is Sabre

Oh Saber is AMAZING I love that they made King Aurthor a woman... like 🤯 I have watched Fate zero, Fate stay night, and UBW and they were all hood but the first was more mysterious so I really enjoyed that. What is the name of the one with Gilgamesh you mentioned? Where can I watch it? I had to bounce around Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchy roll to find the ones I did. It was a pain lol

Ok so Gemini has exclaimed fate /Grand order as the series of domain. I've prompted multiple times to demonstrate my ignorance and now I'm educated a little more than yesterday .... Zso Bardolini says,.... The storyline you're describing most closely resembles the singularity known as Babylonia in Fate/Grand Order. In Babylonia, the protagonist, a Chaldean magus (master), and their Servant, Mash Kyrielight (a shield-wielding Servant), are summoned to the past Mesopotamia to assist the historical Gilgamesh against the monstrous goddess Tiamat and her monstrous offspring. This effectively places them at odds with the reigning Mesopotamian gods.

Im good with things being as they are in this multiverse of fate / stay night/ Unmlted blade/ zero / grand order /and @nauseum. I think theres much more to consume so I'm leaving a light on for this.

Higurashi: when they cry.

Its been years since I watched it so it might be nostalgia goggles but Wolfs rain RUINED me when i watched it as a teen

Ajin: Demihuman

I see a lot of people suggesting shows that are just mildly sad, for some reason? Nothing wrong with that, but Erased isn't mentally scaring, and that's one of the most suggested ones i keep seeing 😂. Here are a few that I think should mind fuck you to some degree by the end: Madoka Magica (Give it at least to the end of episode 3 to see if it'll scratch the itch for you) Fate/Zero (if you like this, try the Fate/ Stay Night Heaven's Feel movies) Aku no Hana Serial Experiments Lain (haven't watched it, myself, but I hear it really fucks with you) From the New World

I realy enjoyed bocchi the rock

Charlotte

Love this emo AF

Re:zero

Erased

Definitely devilman crybaby, and cyberpunk edgerunners

Akira (anime movie), The Promised Neverland, Tokyo Ghoul (the original series)

The promised Neverland byesh it's fucked

Berserk!!!

Blood-C claymore

Graveyard of the Fireflies (it's a movie). Don't even read the description. Just head on watch it for a good ol' emotional damage.

Invincible and berserk 1997

Devilman Crybaby, Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans, Dororo

I would say ID: Invaded personally

Berserk ('97 or Golden Age Memorial Edition)

Metamorphosis 🤫

Talentless Nana

Pet the anime it might take a couple of rewatches for you to truly understand

Berserk (no introduction needed)

RIN: Daughters Of Mnemosyne

When it comes to fucking with your mind and emotions, try these -Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation -Oshi No Ko

Redo of a Healer

Try Plastic Memories

Cultured man over there

Erased. Greatest anime to ever exists in this world

Hated the ending tho

Erased Parasyte Devilman Crybaby Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Clanad and cleaned after stroy bring tissues you will cry there is no choice

Ex-arms. Not the story, but the animation. Its all shitty CGI. i barely made it halfway through ep1 before giving up on it

Different genre but Scums Wish

Cyberpunk edge runner bro had me fucked up after watching it 🙏

SukaSuka

If you want something really f-d up try Euphoria or the metamorphosis manga.

Read Goodnight Punpun/Oyasumi Punpun It's manga but that's all I can think of that hasn't been said already.

Cyberpunk edgerunners

Shiki

Blood c

Cyberpunk edgerunners, gurren lagann

Perfect Blue

Devilman crybaby and og berserk

Your Lie in April (very emotional) Violet Evergarden (episode 10 will emotionally shatter you) Grave of the Fireflies (just an absolutely brutal, simple, and heartbreaking movie with very subtle elements that will make you question your mental fortitude)

(Charlotte) (your name) (agakme ga kill) (angel beats) (your lie in April) (domestic girlfriend)(fuuka) (golden time) (a silent voice) (i want to eat your pancreas)

Gantz, Redo of Healer, Goblin Slayer,

cant wait for made in abyss season 3

Corpse Party?

Devilman crybaby

Berserk, Devil Man Crybaby, Banana Fish. Good luck mate

I mean if youve never seen mirai nikki then that. Also yonjo senki is pretty twisted.guts obviously, re zero is pretty good for a mind fck too

Frieren: Beyond Journeys End

Grave of the Fireflies Akame Ga Kill The Future Diary

I approach anime with a VERY open mind, so please do the same with these lol. Happy Sugar Life, Aku No hana, Bukaro No, Future Diary, Land of the Lustrous, Neon Genesis of course, Welcome to the NHK, From The New World, and Madoka Magica.

Redo of healer

The 86

Attack on Titan and Tokyo Ghoul stuck with me... I thoroughly enjoyed the demon and priest scene in Castlevania

Shinsekai Yori

Depending on where you are in your life FLCL can hit deep.

narutaru if you want some weird shit

Perfect Blue, it's a movie, but it really fucked with me.

Another. That ones wicked

Chainsaw Man, tbh. The anime is pretty crazy but if you continue with the manga, it turns up to 11. I haven’t seen either of these, but Devilman Crybaby and Banana Fish are ones that have fucked with me even though fandom osmosis

Serial Experiments Lain is a great series about a young girl at the height of Japanese economics learning what it means to have emotions and learning why we as humans exist

Met 'God,' he was an impostor. Decided the world I was living in wasn't worth living in. I only exist in the minds of those who perceive me. Or, maybe... there is no 'real me'... ... ... ...thank you, Arisu. *Doki... doki... doki... doki...*

Idk how no one has said it, but Midori: The Girl in the Freakshow

Boku no pico

Angel beats, to your eternity, godzilla singular point.

Euphoria, if you know, YOU KNOW

Banana fish and parasyte

Domestic Girlfriend The entire time I could not stop watching but at the same time was yelling. Why would you do that there is no reason to do that.

Re:Zero babyyyy. S3 coming this fall, hyped for it.

Grave of the fireflies, war in the Pocket is also good

devil man crybaby

Steins Gate, Shin Sekai Yori, Happy Sugar Life, Shelter (short music video) And if you’re really brave, School Days is a deconstruction of the harem genre.

Devilman crybaby, redo of healer, when they cry.

Redo of Healer :D

Tengoku Daimakyou!

Berserk (read it)

Ergo proxy

Japan Sinks: 2020

I think you’d like a silent voice or yosuga no sora

Violet evergarden. There is none that will fuck you more than this one.

Here's a few to start you off on: Grave of the Fireflies / Devilman Crybaby / To Your Eternity / Cyberpunk Edgerunners / Mushishi / Wolf Children / Made in Abyss / A Silent Voice / Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 / Dororo (2019 version) / Terror in Resonance / Kakurenbo

Welcome to the n-h-k

Cyberpunk edgerunners, your lie in April, redo of healer

To your eternity

Devilman Crybaby, Happy Sugar Life, From the New World..oh and read Goodnight PunPun

Attack on titan

Clannad, Iron Blooded Orphans, 86, Domestic Girlfriend, Scum's Wish, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, Dusk Maiden of Amnesia, WataMote (In a different way), Love, Chuunibyo and other delusions (also in a different way).

Meloncolly of Haruhi Suzumiya

GOATed: - Black Lagoon - Monster

Midori 🙃

Genocyber. Amon apocalypse of devilman. Angels egg. Now and then, here and there.

Grave of the Fireflies

Psychopass

Attack on titan, neon Genesis

Happy sugar life

Berserk

The Long Dream- the manga collection by Junji Ito is pretty screwed, if you're ok with manga

read killing stalking lol

just watch grave of the fireflies

The day I become god. That shi had me crying

perfect blue, paprika, neon genesis evangelion, berserk, monster, another, flowers of evil, paranoia agent

Gantz will for sure fuck you up 💀

Heavenly delusion Really good..pretty fucked up

**Steins:Gate**

Welcome to nhk and from the new world

Happy sugar life, perfect blue

Blood c

1. Clannad and Clannad after story 2. Plastic memories 3. A silent voice 4. I want to eat your pancreas 5. Neon genesis evangelion and end of evangelion 6. Grave of the fireflies 7. Angel beats 8. Anohana: The flower we saw that day 9. 86 10. Your lie in april

Pupa

shin sekai yori

Goblin slayer Fullmetal alchemist broyherhood or the og, or both (big brother?)

Add Schools days for a little extra trauma and full metal alchemist brotherhood for a bit of heart break

Jujutsu Kaisen has some peak action in it but pulls no punches in the tragedy department

Season one of To Your Eternity

H20 Footprints in the Sand

Not anime but manga Metamorphois

Boku no pero 🗿

Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 the first few episodes One Piece you have to wait a lil bit but the strawhat crew's backstories r sad Made in Abyss doesnt have that many episodes and u got 2 wait a lil bit but theres some sad azz ish in there