I'm looking for manga that are "powerful".

The manga needn't have an incredibly well-written story, it need not have very detailed or particularly beautiful art... No, what is important is that the manga is able to "reach" you. For example by giving you goosebumps (not because of scary), making you think, or by (nearly) bringing you to (happy) tears, or even simply by being (very) inspiring... The kind of manga that sticks with you even years later.
It can be primarily comical, very dramatic, or anything in between... Though I tend to avoid tragedy and "dark" (rape/trauma/bullying/gangs/etc.) when possible.

I know this is a rather vague requirement and is often moment/mood specific, but still, I'm curious as to what other people think on this.

Examples:
Manga: IS - Otoko demo Onna demo Nai Sei: Not a particularly well written story, the art is acceptable, but I found it very inspiring, not only because of the overall story but also the lead, and it may have been one of the more powerful manga I've ever read.
Yotsubato!: Innocence and curiosity of youth at its very best. The is something ageless about this manga, and even seems to be able to negate the culture gap. (reading it makes me happy every time).
Anime: Hachimitsu to Clover: Coming of Age, but very beautifully executed (especially the bicycle journey). Can't pinpoint exactly why I found this so powerful though.
Music: Think the intro song of "Origin - Spirits of the Past", the (full) theme song of "12 Kingdoms", or the general works of Christopher Tin (i.e. Mado Kara Mieru).

PS:
I welcome any recommendation, except those of Hentai or excessive Yaoi (Don't mind gay love, but not interested in stereotypical gay smut intended for fangirls)... Same with ecchi actually, but chances for that appearing in a powerful manga is rather low.
One-shots are welcome, not really a fan of doujinshi (except when original), and I'm not interested in (long-running) "young shounen" series such as Dragonball/Naruto/Berserk/Bleach/etc.

PPS:
Recommendations for Anime or Movies are also welcome.

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Who they, what are, and why?
- Manga Cover Database -

Basically you're looking for what we (mangaupdates members) find powerful right?
This will vary from one person to another... But let's see.
Manga :
20th Century Boys (I couldn't stop reading this once I started, I read it when I was a kid and it still is my favorite of all time)
Monster (Just like 20th CB, I can't spoil anything)
Shin Angyo Onshi (Beautiful drawings, beautiful story, beautiful emotions, beautifully executed)
Apollo no Uta (Just try this classic)

Anime:
Darker Than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha (Needs a high level of understanding)
Mushishi (Simply gorgeous)
Clannad and Clannad: After Story (Can't spoil anything)

Those that I've mentioned above are the materials which, if I had the tool to erase memories from MIB, I'd like to forget just to read/watch them again and get that 'feeling' when I enjoyed them for the first time.


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I suggest Hana To Akuma. But I'm not really sure, if that is something you are looking for.
It gave me tears. But I kind of knew, that it was going to happen, but still.. I cried.
And I also suggest Nana and Paradise Kiss. I actually stopped believing in real love after reading Nana. And Paradise Kiss just kind of gave me a twist too. (Nana is tragedy)

And the goosebumps thing - I don't really understand that part, lol.


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（・◇・）/~~~ ♥

try Melo Holic

what also captivated me:
Iris Zero
Densha Otoko
Bonnouji
Bitter Virgin
Hantsuki (anime)
Elfen Lied

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in need of romance?
uncommon, sad, sweet

Real
Planetes
Solanin
3-gatsu no Lion
Omoide Emanon
Although from different genres they are all extremely suggestive and manage to be emotionally gripping.

Shingetsutan Tsukihime - Supernatural story about sadness, longing, and happiness. (my personal favorite)

Onani Master Kurosawa - A slice of life about the best and worst of human nature, sadness, youth, mistakes, and redemption.

Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan - A beautiful story about death, sacrifice, and repentance.

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Being alone is only lonely if you want it to be.
Staying in lucid delusion for an eternity.

These are definitely all personal preferences, and I get bored easily if there isn't a strong romance theme, no matter how good the art & plot is - but:

Hakuji Beautiful and somewhat disturbing relationship.

Sarashi Asobi Made me cry, which is unusual.

Ake Nure Goyou ni Furu Yuki wa - the relationship of Kazuma and Yukihiro really got to me. Especially the epilogue. Yaio.

Jigoku Meguri The premise and first volume are interesting, the second volume is bittersweet and beautiful. Also yaio.

The recommendations are indeed more diverse than I had expected, there have even been a few manga mentioned that I simply couldn't get into (and/or did absolutely nothing for me). Mushishi and Darker than Black being examples thereof.
Just shows how personal this is.

There are a few I agree with though, and have actually found a couple of series I'll start reading soon.
I've watched the Anime of Planetes a few years back and loved it, not sure if the manga can live up to it, but I'll give that a try also... Same with Clannad.

On a side-note, I don't mean manga containing much emotion, but manga that stirs emotion in the reader (far too many manga are simply unmemorable or bland time fillers -- or try to hard).

Maybe the correct term for what I'm looking for is Nakige (though it's more intended for games, think Clannad from Key).

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Who they, what are, and why?
- Manga Cover Database -

I don't know If this is what you want but what really stirred emotion in me was
I Still Don't Remember The Name Of The Flower We Saw That Day (anime) -Nothing had made me cry that much ever.
The rest I just really loved:
Let Dai
Sundome
Loveless -Seems silly but It always makes me feel something.
A Cruel God Reigns
Kaze to ki no uta

Edit: Just realized that you didn't want any tragedy/dark, so these probably won't work for you. Sorry. But I haven't read anything yet that was powerful and not dark.

Last edited by SilentFaltrnLesrWatr at 8:25 pm, Mar 17 2012

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[CENTER][/CENTER]

Shingeki no Kyojin

Anime: CLANNAD, Angel Beats!

Last edited by FormX at 1:31 am, Mar 17 2012

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"I'll shut your mouth~~~~~ with mine~~~"

二息歩行

you must haven't read 1/11.

and i invite you to see my lists. i highly value characterization, plot, and story telling skill. quite different from what you've been asking. but my perspective perhaps can give some insight for you who has read over 500 mangas.

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grammar mistake is intentional, grammar nazis need their entertainment.

Annarasumanara
Vampire Juujikai
Kimi no Knife
Aria and its prequel Aqua

For an anime film, try 5 Centimeters per Second, as well as other Makoto Shinkai works.
Also, a movie called Nobody Knows (Dare mo Shiranai).

7 Seeds : just keep reading, and you'll fall in love with this series
X : is on hiatus(and probably the status wouldn't change) but still become CLAMP's masterpiece for me.

Last edited by Sorcha at 1:57 am, Mar 17 2012

Basara affected me deeply. The character Ageha has some very inspiring views on what it means to have dignity. His views clashed very hard with my previous ones, causing me to rethink a lot of things. Anyways, there is a lot here in this manga, but that one character moved me deeply.

Good luck finding a powerful manga/anime/movie!