Sonny Boy

- unique art and animation style - contemporary themes - slow pacing but great payoff - deals with different realities and time stuff 

the concept of being places into a world where we follow the protagonist yet we know little to nothing. The show is about the viewer figuring things out and yet also the understanding of nothing 

It is a nostolgia social contemporary art depicting our industrial capitalistic societal world that we either hate or fear which is pretty relevant in our cultural norms. Both shows use unique metaphore toward our life as sonny boy was about facing responsibility like the monkey and flcl was about embracing adapting to changes and facing gentrification like the burning school 

Both feel like a passion project ; Very artistic, sometime overcomplicated. If you're a fan of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and appreciate its complex narrative and strong psychological and philosophical themes, you may also enjoy watching "Sonny Boy". Both anime series are set in science fiction settings, and both series explore the challenges and conflicts that arise among the characters in their respective settings. In "Neon Genesis Evangelion" the main characters are normal kids who are chosen to pilot giant bio-machines, called Evangelions, to fight against mysterious beings known as Angels, this results in an intense focus on the psychological and emotional struggles of the characters. In contrast, in "Sonny Boy" the characters find themselves adrift in a dimension and as the story progresses some of them develop supernatural powers. "Sonny Boy" provides an interesting and unique take on the coming-of-age genre by using the metaphor of a school lost in a mysterious dimension. The characters are faced with the challenges of adulthood and the loss of innocence, and the series explores themes such as adult responsibility, independence, and taking a leap of faith into the real world. Also, you may appreciate the artistic qualities of "Sonny Boy" such as its hand-drawn animation and detailed artwork, which is praised as a modern masterpiece. The series has a dense visual storytelling that rewards the viewer for paying attention and treating the characters like people, the art and animation in "Sonny Boy" are stunning, the series is a visual feast. Overall, "Sonny Boy" offers a thought-provoking and visually stunning narrative experience that fans of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" may appreciate. The anime may not be as heavy and intense as Evangelion, but it will provide a new and fresh perspective on the coming-of-age genre, and it's definitely worth watching. read more 

- introspective and coolheaded MC - (mentioned in another rec) very ambient, explores different 'worlds' - exhibit the Japanese concept of [i]aware[/i]  

Both are survival stories about school kids who happened to drift away in a building.  

Same director, same guy on music. If you liked the vibe that sonny boy had, then you'll like boogiepop as well. 

World suddenly change into a "Fever dream" - like state. Travle through strange enviroments and just getting more questions rather then answers. Can things go back to normal? What is even real? Then smash that together with overall bonds and vibe of "A place further than the Universe" and you have this. 

We're first greeted with an unfamiliar school-like (or just school) setting with a unique twist alongside it. They start out with what can be described as "confusing" or "bizarre" and rather than you giving you the full puzzle, they give you one piece at a time and let the viewer figure things out in similar manners.  

I don't believe in recommending anime based on similar themes/story beats, but I do like to recommend anime based on how much there is to dig for in the story and how well the story is told. If you enjoy Sonny Boy, I would suggest you check out 'Mawaru Penguindrum'. If you are someone who likes unconventional animes that discards tropes and utilises the medium fully (like 'Sonny Boy') to create surreal imagery/storylines, you will probably like Penguindrum. 

Both are unique, psychological dramas which take place in strange worlds with their own rules. Both have a dozens of meaning and can be intercepted in many ways. Also both of them have amazing soundtracks. Finally, both anime have odd(in a good way) animation and sometimes you can't understand whats happening on the screen. 

Many characters go through deep changes and development, facing their personal obstacles with other people. They have interesting meaning behind characters' actions and also unique/creative art style and animation that fits fine with their tone. Not very hard to understand what is happening but I'm sure you might have a lot of struggle with these 

Is similarly allegorical and symbolic with its own setting, however, unlike SB, does not outright assault the viewer with the surrealist imagery, rather preferring to start out normal and literal, before easing the viewer into more and more surrealist plotlines by using episodic formula's involving repetitive imagery, and deconstructionist plotlines examing tropes from shojo anime and fairy tales, and overall ramping up the symbolic and allegorical imagery slowly, arc by arc until the final one, where it is a symbolism storm that expects the audience to understand most of it by using the prior described methods. Both are surrealist coming-of-age stories involving a couple of youths' experiences involving their own adolescence, while sequestered from the outside world in a highly allegorical setting representing the education system. The nature of youth and adolescence and how it relates to society as a whole is explored via plotlines involving symbolic imagery. read more 

Both have a very abstract artstyle willing to break the boundaries of logic (Shingo Natsume was also mentored by Masaaki Yuasa, hence why the artstyles share a similar madness), though Sonny Boy presents them in a slightly more serious tone. Both explore the theme of people being given a newfound freedom with life and exploring its endless possibilities  

Different genre but same theme, where both character contemplate about the purpose of existing. Visually they both take this minimalist approach in the setting to enhance the narrative, capturing a dystopic world instead of not overwhelming the design of not having it to be photorealistic just simple color pallet. The character designing is something i've never seen for along time where the facial, anatomic structure are pretty formative but pretty simplistic.  

The cast of both shows are a bunch of high school students that are settled in a surreal world, where happen supernatural things to them, both protagonist are lonely and depressed boys with family problems and that a girl (or girls) are the only ones who can take them back to their humanity, also both shows have original artstyles using a lot of bright colors, static pans and walls of text, both stories are very much guided by dialogue 

The amazing soundtrack combined with a complex emotional unraveling of a character when facing adulthood. Digging for meaning beyond the superficial details is extremely rewarding and offers quite a ponderous experience.  

The main characters in each show (specifically Nagara in Sonny Boy and Casshern in Casshern Sins) are stuck in a place they don't know, and don't know why. They both are in a depressed state because they don't understand the world around them or why things are the way they are, but they want to know. Both stories take place in worlds that initially seem completely empty. Both stories are bleak and melancholic, but also bittersweet. They are both profound, almost too much, but still manage to be engaging and have a lot happen. Time is basically irrelevant in both shows. 

Similar concept. Group of people are suddenly transferred to a world with strange rules, time stops and they don't know if they are real or an illusion - a reflection of the real world. 

To start off, both of these shows are extremely similar because they both involve high school kids with powers being isolated somewhere far away from society. For both series, some of the kids have extravagant and dangerous powers while others do not, thus creating a tense atmosphere of distrust and drama among all the characters. There's also a shroud of mystery in both, while Talentless Nana focuses more on investigating each other as potential killers, Sonny Boy focuses more on the characters investigating their strange surroundings and the possibility of a "student with a certain power" causing a certain scenario.  

Sonny Boy is, in my opinion, very obviously inspired by Satoshi Kon's work, both in content and style. The first episode alone emulates Kon's psychological filmmaking style and the animation closely resembles artistic choices used in Perfect Blue and Paprika.  

Both anime have a lazy main character but he can solve any problems and he also have friends. Although both anime have a different style and story, but the similarities are mysteries and also full of riddles. 

- time loop - coming of age, high school theme - friendships, love, unspoken words, regrets - similar drawing style and character designs - same pace - their endings left me with the same bittersweet feeling 

Both Have : - Weird Supranatural power - Beautiful but weird landscape & scenery - If you like feeling of isolation, both of this anime share the same energy - SYMBOLISM - Both of MC cares about their surrounding - There is one character who has a God Complex Although both have many similarities, Shinsekai Yori is better in terms of delivering message to the audience 

Genre: is completely different. But if you're into characters looking for meaning in their lives: Honey and Clover 

Focused around high schoolers who got sent into some bizarre supernatural world, where they form factions and strive to escape from there. 

Sonny boy is an entirely new concept, therefore it’s hard to recommend ‘identical’ or even similar pieces of fiction. However, one aspect that stood out for me the most is its depiction of time, each world has a different flow of time and that’s what makes the plot so interesting towards the end. In a way, the same goes for steins gate and for Okabe as he has a separate consciousness and flow of time from the rest of the people around him. Time as a concept is so intriguing and heavy that you can make great developments, as both of these shows have shown. 

Both are psychological dramas which dive very deep inside their characters' mind. Both have similar art stile and amazing soundtrack. Finally, both of them leave you with empty(in a good way) feeling and you need to thought for a while to fully understand them. 

Both are about young MCs traveling through different worlds, which have such a fantastical, beautiful and mysterious vibe/aesthetic 

Both have similar art styles that betray the standards of typical anime, both utilize elements of religion (demons, angels, God, ect.), both delve into unrealistic worlds in a realistic outlook, both develop an underlying thematic regarding human nature, and both are sparring in their use of background music but make for impactful narrative. 

Similarities - Both MCs are sent into another dimension and try to get back to their original dimension - Both MCs encounter different worlds and discover lore regarding their situation - Both MCs have a female companion on their journey Differences - Abenobashi uses a lot of comedy and childish humor VS Sonny Boy uses a lot of plot twists and mystery to add depth in the series. - Abenobashi is an isekai with 2 people VS Sonny Boy is an isekai with an entire class - Abenobashi spend an episode's worth of time in different dimensions VS Sonny Boy spend multiple episodes (and time skip if needed) in different dimensions 

Both essentially their own genre a philosophy essay. Purpose of any philosophy essay is not give you answers but give you questions. 

the main cast is travelling through different worlds. akanesasu shoujo is more on the silly side compared to sonny boy but explores similar themes. vibes 

Both essentially their own genre a philosophy essay. Purpose of any philosophy essay is not give you answers but give you questions. 

mainly focus around world where protagonist are, atmosphere is bizarre and you don't know what to expect, both gives me liminal spaces and backrooms vibes! 

Strange coming of age stories that really make you think and question yourself, reality, and our universe. Both also use a slightly alternative art style.  

Both are colourful shows with complicated and memorable characters, a big dose of surrealism and focus on psychology and allegories. 

The shows utilize a similarly alternative/avant-garde art style (although not the same) and works this into original artistic compositions. The shows are thematically different, but the storytelling and characters take front stage in both shows, which adds to the oddity and complexity which both shows possess.  

It seems to be a rather complicated thing, all these wack motions and pieces of art that create an abstract "???". But. Truly. It is a much simple idea. A beautifully simple idea. 

Existentialism in a lighthearted fashion. Humanity Has Declined and Sonny Boy take place in dystopian realities where truth and fiction become one. They mainly follow one character, tough Sonny Boy has a more prominent supporting cast, who go around solving strangers' problems and doing what could be considered philantropic work all around. The plots themselves are vastly different, the former a funny fantasy with strong world building and the later a coming of age story with an allegorical storytelling, but both are told in a strangely similar episodic way. Also need I mention that both of their soundtracks go INCREDIBLY hard.  

Both shows consist of two main characters and some others trapped in some sort of alternate dimension where they try to find their way out and back into the real world but come across different 'obsticles' on their way. 

Both shows have a similar philosophical feel in terms of conversation and themes, while also dealing with a variety of superpowers with varying usefulness. Sakurada Reset takes this further by combining abilities in very creative ways - the plot is much more focused there, and respects the viewers ability to think, while Sonny Boy is much more abstract and prefers you to feel rather than think about the plot.  

Anecdotal, not especially sequential episodes together stringed to discuss the meaning of existence and life, and it is fun to experience the journey itself 

Character-driven animes with heavy world-building. Sadly, I can't elaborate more because of spoilers. 

similiar feeling when watching it. if you like one, you'll like the other. although sonny boy has got that more otherworldly feeling to it