Top 10 Anime with similar level of mind-bending-ness as Attack on Titan

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Top 10 Anime with similar level of mind-bending-ness as Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan always caught us off guard with its unexpected twists and turns. The anime has been so unpredictable and mind-bending that we are always at the edge of our seats. Now that Attack on Titan has ended with its spectacular final season and you are wondering what to watch next, you are at the right place. This list of the top 10 anime with similar mind-bending-ness as Attack on Titan is sure to satisfy your craving for thought-provoking entertainment.

Top 10 anime with similar mind-bending-ness as Attack on Titan

1. Serial Experiments Lain

A still from Serial Experiments Lain
A still from Serial Experiments Lain (Image via Bee Train Studio)

Just like Attack on Titan threw us into existentialism with each release of its episodes, Serial Experiments Lain provides a mind-bending journey into the nature of existence. This psychological anime follows the story of Lain Iwakura, a young girl who discovers a strange device that connects her to the Wired, a virtual reality network. As she explores the Wired, Lain begins to question her own reality. Though this anime may appear as too technical or scientific if you are looking for a twist, the underlying themes of consciousness and self-realization is what makes it worth watching.

2. Paranoia Agent

A still from Paranoia Agent
A still from Paranoia Agent (Image via Madhouse Studio)

Paranoia Agent is a dark and disturbing anime that explores themes of paranoia, isolation, and the fear of the unknown. This anime follows a series of bizarre murders that are linked to a mysterious character known as Lil’ Slugger. The police are baffled by the murders, and as they investigate, they uncover a dark conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of society. Though the artstyle of anime is pretty unconventional, it creates an unsettling experience that matches with its plot.

3. The Tatami Galaxy

A still from The Tatami Galaxy anime
A still from The Tatami Galaxy anime (Image via Madhouse Studio)

The Tatami Galaxy is a visually unique anime with a distinctive color palette that perfectly captures the protagonist’s feelings of alienation and despair. It revolves around the narrator who is a disillusioned college student, the whole anime is presented through his point of view. In each episode we see him make a different life choice but somehow in each decision he is bound by a black thread of fate to a troublemaker named Ozu. One day, he finds himself trapped in a time loop, and he must relive the same two years of his life over and over again.

Though the anime brilliantly combines time-travel, alternate reality and destiny in its plot, what makes it better is the peculiar art-style. If you like to spend your time decoding each and every minute details of an anime, Tatami Galaxy is for you.

4. Perfect Blue

A still from Perfect Blue anime movie
A still from Perfect Blue anime movie (Image via Madhouse Studio)
  • Genre: Psychological, thriller
  • Studio: Madhouse
  • Year: 1997
  • Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Perfect Blue is a suspenseful anime movie that explores the dark side of fame and the pressures of the entertainment industry. Mima Kirigoe, a pop star who is struggling to cope with the pressures of fame, decides to leave her singing group and pursue a career as an actress. However, as she begins her new career, Mima begins to lose her sense of reality. She is haunted by visions of her former self and struggles through paranoia.

Perfect Blue, disturbingly captures the harsh realities celebrities face in their pursuit of success. Some of the scenes of the movie are so unsettling, that if you have triggers for any kind of violence or harassment then you must explore its plot in depth before watching.

5. Psycho-Pass

A still from Psycho-Pass anime
A still from Psycho-Pass anime (Image via Production I.G. Studio)

Psycho Pass is set in a dystopian futuristic city, where people’s mental states are constantly monitored. Psycho-Pass monitors people’s mental states, sparking Inspector Akane Tsunemori’s questioning of the system. The exploration of justice and societal dilemmas in this anime aligns with the thought-provoking themes in Attack on Titan. Psycho-Pass gives DC vibes if you are into western comics. It is a well-written and well-animated anime with a cast of interesting characters, especially Shogo Makishima who shares similarity with Joker

6. Ergo Proxy

A still from Ergo Proxy anime
A still from Ergo Proxy anime (Image via Manglobe Studio)

Ergo Proxy is a comparatively unpopular anime among the anime community, probably because it has a complex theme and the plot is quite difficult to understand. Set in a post apocalyptic dystopian world, where human beings are on the verge of extinction, their only mode of survival is living in domed cities. Vincent Law, an investigator is sent to investigate a series of murders. As the story progresses, Vincent uncovers a dark secret about the city and its inhabitants.

7. Steins;Gate

Steins;Gate anime
Steins;Gate anime (Image via White Fox Studio)

For those who appreciate the time-bending elements of Attack on Titan, Steins;Gate is a must-watch. The series explores the consequences of time travel, through a plot filled with twists and turns. At some point we even start to regret watching it as we see the protagonist, Okabe, suffer so much.
Rintaro Okabe, a college student with an interest in time travel, accidentally discovers a way to send text messages into the past. At first, he uses this newfound ability for harmless pranks, but soon he realizes that he can change the course of history. However, his actions have unintended consequences, and he must find a way to set things right before it’s too late.

8. Paprika

A still from Paprika anime
A still from Paprika anime (Image via Madhouse Studio)

Paprika is a mind-bending anime movie that explores themes of the subconscious, reality, and the nature of dreams. The story explores Dr. Atsuko Chiba, a therapist, who develops a device that allows her to enter the dreams of her patients. However, when the device falls into the wrong hands, it is used to create a terrifying reality that threatens to consume the waking world. It is a must watch anime if you are into Christopher Nolan movies, as this anime has been the inspiration to his masterpiece, Inception.

9. Texhnolyze

A still from Texhnolyze anime
A still from Texhnolyze anime (Image via Madhouse Studio)

Texhnolyze is set in a futuristic city that has been built underground, where people are constantly struggling to survive. The city is divided into three levels, and the people on the lowest level are forced to use Texhnolyze, a technology that allows them to connect their bodies to machines. Texhnolyze is a dark anime that represents the ills of technology, and the human struggle for survival.

10. Madoka Magica (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

A still from Puella Magi Madoka Magica anime
A still from Puella Magi Madoka Magica anime (Image via Shaft Studio)

Madoka Magica is a dark and twisted take on the magical girl genre. It is a beautifully animated anime with a haunting soundtrack. Madoka Kaname, the protagonist, is a middle school student, is offered the chance to have any wish granted by a magical being. However, Madoka soon learns that there is a dark side to magic, and she must decide whether or not to make a wish that could have terrible consequences. Anime like Madoka Magica need more recognition because there are not many series that combine the magical girl genre with psychological thriller.

Conclusion

These anime are all considered to be mind-bending because they explore complex themes and ideas, and they often challenge the viewer’s perception of reality. From the concept of time travel in Stein;gate to dream travel in Paprika, each of the above anime makes us question reality and blow our minds. These 10 mind-bending-anime may not share the plot similarity with Attack on Titan, but the impact is equally, if not more, the same.

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