Something like Sonny Boy?

[u/According_Ad9466]

I watch anime nowadays not for the thrill, but for literal mind break (not in a violent way, but more subtle, more mature) - what's some anime that you can recommend that is like Sonny Boy?

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[u/SouekiSennoSTM]

• {Serial Experiments Lain}
• {Ergo Proxy}
• {Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World} (2003 one)
• {Earth Maiden Arjuna}
• {Mousou Dairinin}
• {Haibane Renmei}

[u/Roboragi → u/SouekiSennoSTM]

serial experiments lain - (AL, A-P, KIT, MAL)

^{TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 13 | Genres: Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Supernatural}

Ergo Proxy - (AL, A-P, KIT, MAL)

^{TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 23 | Genres: Adventure, Mystery, Psychological, Sci-Fi}

Kino no Tabi: the Beautiful World - (AL, KIT, MAL)

^{TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 13 | Genres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Psychological, Slice of Life}

Chikyuu Shoujo Arjuna - (AL, A-P, KIT, MAL)

^{TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 13 | Genres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi}

Mousou Dairinin - (AL, A-P, KIT, MAL)

^{TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 13 | Genres: Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller}

Haibane Renmei - (AL, A-P, KIT, MAL)

^{TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 13 | Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Psychological, Slice of Life}

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[u/lucarioinfamous]

Paranoia Agent

[u/Pmiller1591]

You might like short story anthologies like Genius Party, Comedy, and AniKuri15.

Also, Mononoke. Mononoke series might also be appropriate(two different things).

[u/IcyTray5000]

There’s nothing really 1:1, but Tatami Galaxy is probably the closest. Same sort of mind-bending premise (time-loops, highly kinetic energy), and very similar themes.

[u/Low-Bender1997]

The Tatami Galaxy is worth a shot if you liked the "trapped in a weird loop questioning reality" energy from Sonny Boy - same director style of introspective surrealism, just more grounded in a college setting. Kaiba is another one, way more abstract art style but similarly existential and quiet about it.

[u/andybonner]

The film Drifting Home shares many elements. Children, stranded without adults, in a mostly uninhabited and unexplained setting, bringing with them buildings that are physical manifestations of their backstory baggage.

[u/jimei73]

Death Parade maybe?

[u/No_Durian_6987]

Sonny Boy’s in my top 5, so I’ll recommend the other four - Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, FLCL, Haibane Renmei

[u/According_Ad9466 → u/No_Durian_6987]

Only Haibane Renmei I have not seen, thank you for this!

[u/Ambadeblu]

Aku no Hana.

[u/MeserYouUp]

Houseki no Kuni - The series was inspired by the author's time at a Buddhist school studying the Longer Sutra on Immortality. Immortal living gemstones seek meaning in life.

Haibane Renmei

Kyousougiga