The majority of anime draws its inspiration from manga. However, there are many excellent anime series that aren’t adapted from manga or light novels. What follows is a complete guide of non-Manga based anime series.
Psycho-Pass
The anime series Psycho-Pass deals with psychiatric themes and is morally ambiguous. It challenges the audience’s preconceptions about what constitutes good and evil. The protagonist, Akanae Tsunemori, is on a crusade to defend the defenseless.
However, the Sibyl System is relied upon by society as the standard by which to determine whether or not a person is guilty or sane. Since the Sibyl System is fallible, this causes serious problems. At its core, Psycho-Pass is a condemnation of the legal system as it currently stands.
Death Parade
Death Parade is a gloomy animation that depicts the afterlife in an intriguing way. Quindecim is a bar where spirits hang around after death. The bar’s owner, Decim, subjects them to a battery of challenging mental games and tests.
He evaluates their immortal spirits and decides whether they deserve to go to heaven or hell. The full range of human emotion is on display in Death Parade. The series is thought-provoking and emotional at the same time.
Violet Evergarden
The protagonist of Violet Evergarden is a war hero who, after returning home, must learn to readjust to civilian life. She was essentially brought up to be a killing machine. She is making an effort to rejoin mainstream culture.
Violet’s dogged pursuit of the meaning of “I love you” raises fundamental questions about what it means to be human and about the nature of love itself throughout the show. Although Violet is initially presented as a robot, she is actually a human being made of flesh and blood. However, after suffering from war-related trauma, she became robotic.
Code Geass
The political commentary in Code Geass is extensive and impressive. The protagonist, Lelouch, plans to exact vengeance on the nobles for the things they took from him. The “Geass”, a superpower that grants him influence over other people’s thoughts, is revealed to him.
Lelouch uses this to rally an army against the nobility. The morality of Lelouch is highly debatable. The captivating tone of the story is enhanced by the series’ depiction of him going insane with his newfound power.
Read: Best Anime You Can Expect In 2023
Cowboy Bebop
Another timeless anime masterpiece from Shinichiro Watanabe is Cowboy Bebop. recounts the adventures of bounty hunter Spike Spiegel and his crew as they travel the galaxy. It has a distinct visual style and a large cast of likeable characters, making it an essential anime from the ’90s.
After seeing the first episode, viewers will be hooked and eager to catch up. Many recent releases fall short of Cowboy Bebop’s high bar.
