Sonny Boy

Anime with great worldbuilding, or the development of the fantastical environment and world! None of these anime take place in what you would call 'our universe', rather taking place in an alternative universe or fantasy/ sci-fi setting with amazingly well-tailored and fitting details in technologies and architecture that makes every world unique.


Feel free to DM or message me about any questions, suggestions, or opinions about this stack!

Facing reality, rejecting the fantasy, and not running away from our issues. Embrace life!

Added Hayao Miyazaki's recent masterpiece, The Boy and the Heron. Mahito choosing to embrace reality, learning to value his current connections and partially overcome the immense grief caused by the death of his mother.

List is up to date as of 01/06/25

These anime have bizarrely unique, wildly niche, or oddly specific concepts. From sentient clothes, to vampires in space, to undead idols, some of these anime may leave you wondering, "who even came up with this idea?..."

This list consists of psychological titles, which helped me to accept inevitability and cope with fears, thus affected my personality above all others. Anime that makes you realise a lot about the meaning of human life and death, relationships, principles and most important: "self-concept".

Nearly all of them induce depressive thoughts, portray social problems that we face IRL, have biblical references and slow pacing. So be sure that you are in the right mood and prepared to face dark side of reality.

P.S. Despite the hopelessness and predestination you may feel while watching, these works of art still bestow warmth and hope through understanding the uniqueness of existence. The world is truly a cruel place and life is lacking meaning and purpose, yet we got the flustering chance to experience ourselves and the universe we share.

Wacky and Trippy Anime

Kinda unpopular anime that for some reason are unpopular and more people should watch it.

anime featuring liminal spaces and which may or may not also embody the liminal. a transitional space, unsettling un-belonging, altered reality

Arranged by score

"Elitist" has been a very generic and broad term to generalise many types of not-so-mainstream or "deep" anime, so this list is very diverse and it's criteria are not always clear cut and objective. Nonetheless I try to provide a proper explanation for why each entry is included. Generally speaking these are shows that fit one OR more of these adjectives: Experimental, Avant-Garde, Psychological, Philosophical, Obscure, Classic, Critically Acclaimed, Artsy, Old, etc...

Some shows here are not necessarily obscure or underground at all, but they are still here because they have been stereotyped as "elitist" by the community over time, due to their experimental or artsy nature. Similarly, some shows here are not necessarily artsy or experimental in nature, but their old/underwatched/obscure nature gives them a reason to be here. Not all aspects have to be checked to be included. Only one per franchise.

I have personally watched the great majority of the anime in this list, but there are a couple which I haven't. Still added them because of how strongly they are stereotyped as "elitist" or have fitting characteristics to be classified as such. I know my list still lacks many essential classics, I will continue to add and expand into this list as I watch those personally.

For more recommendations, go to my other Interest Stacks, "Elitist Anime 2" , "Elitist Anime 3" and "Elitist Anime 4", whose links are:

- https://myanimelist.net/stacks/4256
- https://myanimelist.net/stacks/4756
- https://myanimelist.net/stacks/10188
- https://myanimelist.net/stacks/15961

Most good stories have this, so this is more like, anime that use show don't tell the a lot and do it effectively.

on an unrelated note, go subscribe to APolygons2 on youtube. he is.... umm... just a very cool channel I found. it's totally not my own shitty attempt at making entertainment.

anime heavily leaning on atmosphere, often set in sad scenarios but not overly dramatic

List of anime for "elitist". These anime have been considered as "deep" animations by various critics and analysts.

In this compilation there are animes with quite complicated stories that are not recommended for all audiences. As they are: cult, artistic, experimental, avant-garde, underrated, psychological, philosophical, unique or mind-blowing anime.

This list has a part 2: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/4197

Mystery is my favorite genre, so trust me when I say I know what I'm talking about... kinda...

mystery is a pretty broad term, that has many different types. so I will help you by specifying what exactly is it that makes their mystery aspect good.

you will obviously not agree with every pick, but I think any mystery fan will be pleased with the overall selection.

this stack is sponsored by APolygons2 on youtube. how does a stack on mal have a sponsor?

what kind of mystery fan are you? don't ASK me, go figure it out!

What is life.

Surreal anime that have an upbeat tone!


Feel free to DM or message me about any questions, suggestions, or opinions about this stack!

Art house, in relation to cinema, is a genre of films that are intended to be serious artistic works rather than merely popular entertainment but the descriptor can also be applied to anime. Furthermore, avant-garde refers to innovative, experimental, radical or unorthodox concepts and techniques. This can of course also be used in reference to anime and manga.

As MAL currently sadly only allows a max of 50 entries on interests stacks this list mainly prioritises the stand out and most high quality examples of avant-garde and art house anime television shows, feature films, OVAs and short film compilations. For a more comprehensive list which features the numerous experimental short films on the site as well as manga, I direct you to my accompanying Art house, Avant-Garde and Experimental club of the same name.