I just finished watching Xam'd Lost Memories and was looking for something like it.

Something serious and philosophically deep that really gets you thinking. Something with a complex plot and that has realistic, interesting characters that have more to them then what most people think.


Another example is Fullmetal Alchemist and maybe Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna

Any genre is fine except ecchi, hentai etc. I want it to be very serious with hardly any comedy and romance. Also i would prefer a male protagonist but a female is fine as long as shes not one of those stupid, ditsy, shallow stereotypical shojo girls.

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Arjuna
It has the deep philosophical thing you're looking for. it has interesting characters too. The protagonist is a girl but she ain't a stereotypical shojo girl.

I read the plot summarry for Xam'd Lost Memories and I thought it was kinda kinda similar to Otogi Zoshi

Hope I helped!

i recommend you read seinen.. it has more serious and complex plot.
Rainbow,
Historie,
Yugo,
Anne Freaks

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I totally second Rainbow. It's an excellent story about how a group of juvenile delinquents try to get on in life.

Mushishi - The 'fantasy' tag might put you off, but this story is really about the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Since it's episodic, not all of the stories are philosophical - but the majority of them are.

Saikyou Densetsu Kurosawa - Yes, it has a comedy tag. But it's very appropriate comedy; not something stupid that's just meant to make you laugh and nothing more. It might not have the most realistic plot-line, but the story really makes you think about some things in life.

Noramimi - Another comedic story which uses humour as a method of conveying the mangaka's message to people. Don't be put off by the childish art and apparently silly plot - this has some very nice views on childhood and growing up.

Stardust Memories , Planetes - Well, they're futuristic; but make you think about how human life would be like if we ever manage to master space travel.

If you buy English translated versions of light novels, I'd really recommend Kino's Journey: the Beautiful World (Novel). It's really very nice.

Last edited by calstine at 1:58 am, Nov 21 2010

Wow. That was fast.

I have already read Mushishi, definitely one of my favs.

I'm already reading Rainbow and Historie.
and i'll check out Anne Freaks and Saikyou Densetsu Kurosawa. (:



Anymore suggestions would be great!



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Pluto, Monster and all the other works by Urasawa Naoki. I think Monster is the most philosophical of them but I'll read them all anyway.
Gunslinger Girl female protagonists, but still probably the fittest thing I can think of if you can bear a quite melancholic story.
Solanin not a complex story but I find it very meaningful.


Stuff that I personally find very philosophical but maybe others can disagree :
Ookami to Koushinryou
Elfen Lied there is ecchi

Stuff that I personally find very philosophical but probably everyone else will disagree :
Ares
Eureka Seven


Lastly since you cited an anime series I don't know if you're interested in other anime but still I'd reccomend:
Boogiepop Phantom
Kigeki it's an awesome short of 10 minutes.
Mugen no Ryvius
Noein
Ima soko ni iru boku

and if you run out of stuff even other series like Crest of the Stars, Lain (maybe even too much philosophical), Haibane Renmei are quite fitted for what you asked.

Also a small suggestion, if you enjoyed Spiral, give it a try to Tantei Gakuen Q, it's not as philosophical as Spiral but I think it's very clever.

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What I like in Trivial Pursuit style. Pick your category:

Homunculus
Vagabond

xxxHolic (well, sort of?)
And I second Gunslinger Girl

And I know this one might not be what you're after, after reading your first post, but when I read the title 'something that gets you thinking' I instantly thought of Helter Skelter. It really had me thinking afterwards, I thought it was great (but not really because the plot was complex, but more of the ideals the author had instilled in it, if that makes sense?)

i second Homunculus

another good read is Soil. If you carefully think as you read it, it is much deeper than what the manga presents.

Personally I would have a difficult time considering any manga or anime to be "philosophical". That said if your looking for something with a more mature story (where the power of "friendship" is not an omnipotent solution to all problems). I recommend "Requiem for Phantom". You will have to watch the anime though. The manga hadn't been translated much the last time I checked.

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(•_•) Future so bright...
( •_•)>⌐■-■
(⌐■_■) Gotta wear shades.

It's only a oneshot, but Hotel maybe?

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Threads of Time

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"Be prepared for the worst, my love, for it lives next door to the best."

Cesare
Elixir
Apothecarius Argentum
Shoukoku no Altair (The Statocracy of Altair)
Omae ga Sekai o Kowashitai nara (Vampire Girl)
Coelacanth
C-blossom - Case 729
Doll Star
Satou Kashi no Dangan wa Uchinukenai (A Lollipop or a Bullet)
Hatsukanezumi no Jikan (The Hour of the Mice)
Hitsuji no Uta (Lament of the Lamb)
Zennou no Noa
Conductor
Guin Saga
Toki o Kakeru Shoujo
Kimi ni Shika Kikoenai
Kizu
Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan
Kieli
Hoshi no Koe
Hakobune Hakusho
Kemono no Souja
Asatte no Houkou
Mouryou no Hako

These are what come off the top of my head—that's why the list is a jumble. Some may not meet your requirements, but it doesn't hurt to check them out.

Last edited by kureha at 4:20 am, Nov 21 2010