Please recommend sophiscated, non-cliche manga/anime! I like FLCL, Ghost in the Shell, Nausicaa, NHK.?

Hello ,

Ergo Proxy ;

Genres: adventure, drama, horror, mystery, psychological, science fiction, supernatural

Themes: cyberpunk, post-apocalyptic

Age rating: Mature (May contain bloody violence, bad language, nudity)

Plot Summary: In a future where the world has been ravaged by a nuclear apocalyse, there exists salvation in a domed city named "Romdeau", where humans and their android servants, the autoreivs, live in. Under the implementation of complete management control, it is a paradise where feelings are literally discarded, and the governing council dictates the way of life the citizens should live. But this utopian landscape is soon broken by a series of mystifying murders. Real Mayar, a female inspector from the Citizen Information Bureau, along with her autoreiv partner Iggy, are tasked to solve the murder cases. She is soon attacked by a creature drawn to her which is neither human nor android, and learns about the mysterious phenomena called "Awakening", an event which draws her further into the case...and to the world beyond the limits of Romdeau.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime...

Quotes

"..a show that rewards viewers with a deep, believable, and above all thoughtful sci-fi story instead of simply bashing robots together." Newtype USA

"An amalgamation of a number of other shows and styles, Ergo Proxy manages to stand out on its own even as it traverses very familiar territory." - Anime on DVD

"This dark sci-fi has an atmosphere reminiscent of movies like Blade Runner while combining the suspense and mystery of shows like the X-Files." - Active Anime

"Sharp, dark and edgy, it is an anime that chills, thrills and leaves you wanting more" - Active Anime

"Dark, suspenseful and spellbinding, this sci fi thriller will enthrall fans of more sophisticated and mature anime like Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex and Witch Hunter Robin." - Active ANime

"A "new" show co-produced by manglobe, the team behind Samurai Champloo? A scriptwriting team headed by Dai Sato, one of the big names behind Eureka Seven and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex? How can you go wrong with this lineup? The answer, after watching the first four episodes: You totally, totally can?t." - Newtype USA

"Texhnolyze" ;

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime...

"Genres: drama, psychological, science fiction

Age rating: Mature (May contain sex, drugs, and extreme graphic violence)

Plot Summary: In a man-made underground society, descendants of a banished generation vie for control of the crumbling city of Lux. Ichise, an orphan turned prize fighter, loses a leg and an arm to satisfy an enraged fight promoter. On the brink of death he is taken in by a young woman doctor and used as a guinea pig for the next evolution of Texhnolyze. With his new limbs, Ichise is taken under the wing of Oonishi, a powerful leader of Organ, an organization with some hold on Lux. As Ichise is drawn deeper into a war for territorial control of the city, he learns of his possible future from the young girl prophet Ran, who guides him from the shadows in his darkest times. With the explosion of the warfare, Ichise must uncover the truth about Lux and fight for his survival as he realizes his destiny. "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texhnolyze

"The events takes place in the underground city of Lux. Denizens of Lux have come to call it "The City" and treat it as a sentient force. Three factions vie for control of the city: the Organo, a conglomerate with ties to the criminal underworld in the prosthetics business ("Texhnolyze"); the Union, a populist group interfering with Organo's affairs; and Racan, a marauding group of Texhnolyzed youths. The series follows Ichise, a prize fighter who loses a leg and an arm to satisfy an enraged promoter. As he struggles to accept his new robotic limbs and find a place where he belongs, he witnesses the major changes the city goes through."

=^,,^=

Rurouni Kenshin

Dragon Ball Z

Full Metal Panic

I am a fan of non-brainless manga, epics, sorrow, love, war, betrayal, reality and drama, as well as good, old fashioned shonen manga. i also read too much of it, as you can see from the long list

to that end, i'd suggest a few for the most incredible plots, and a few for the most unique and stunning artwork

all these can be read on www.onemanga.com, or downloaded/read from www.anime-eden.com (user account needed, which is free and no strings)

1) Ares

about three, genius young warriors, who meet and become friends at the tample/temple mercenaries. the story is very strong, with really refreshing, clean artwork with good lines. bits of this will make you cry, others fall over laughing, and the action is not neglected either.

2)blade of the immortal

set in historical japan, it follows manji, an 'immortal' because of the blood-worms in his body that will heal all his wounds in minutes, and Rin, the daughter of a dojo owner who was killed by the itto-ryu, a group who believes only in strength. vowing to revenge the murder and rape of her father and mother, the two team up.

brilliant plot

brilliant emotions

brilliant art - you have not seen art until you see hiroaki samura's double paged spreads

and brilliant characters

brilliant

3) legend of basara

sarasa and tatara were twins born to a desert village in post apocalyptic japan, where the desert is covering all and society is now feudal, under a tyrannical 'Red King'. the boy, tatara, is prophesied to be the Savior of his people, and so all her life, sarasa has lived under his shadow. but then, one night, the red king decides to raid sarasa's village. tatara is killed, and the villagers are in danger of being executed. sarasa decides to take on the role of her twin, dressing up as tatara to inspire the villagers to save themselves. Thus she becomes the Savior, bearing the burden of her people's hope whilst trying to grieve and carry on tatara's legacy.

brilliant, crying and laughing and so sad, and so good. its an old manga (the old ones are the best) with v. good ,traditional manga-art, and the ending, apparently, is heart breaking.

4) Saiyuki

come on, who can resist a group of four bad-as cool guys who can kick the living daylights out of any youkai(monsters) in their way?

hilarious, good art, characterization, nice plot, fun - though it might get a bit annoying after a while, all that bad-assing, that is :D

5) Shin Angyo onshii

this is incredible!

an epic with strong elements of korean culture, myth and history, it is equal to any literary classic. detailing the life of munsu, the fallen general of the great country 'jushin' and his quest to defeat the one who killed his best friend, his true love and all who were once his best friends. it is incredible, complex, haunting and there are beautiful colour spreads, esp later on.

6) ayu no monogatari

the best shojo you could ever find in your life. this made me cry just about non stop for the whole hour it took me to read this through. the story of a high school girl who has fallen through the cracks, prostituting, hanging out with a druggie boyfriend, utterly without hope, who finds a purpose. tragic.

7) nana - the story is so real!

it is about two young girls, both called nana, who meet as if by fate on the way to tokyo on a delayed and crowded train. one is a ditzy, innocent, typical young girl who is going to move to live with her boyfriend in tokyo. the other is a young rockstar who's already lost her true love, hoping to make it big. the two become instant friends, and their stories of passion, unattainable love, great music, hapiness and despair follow

like a roller coaster ride that once you get on, you have to follow it through, no matter how terrifying and sad and happy it may be. romance and life, music, fashion and the human condition. brilliant

8) (for a bit of lightheartedness) - Ludwig Kakumei

not that kaori (author) is light, exactly, but this work is - a hilarious take on some well known fairy tales with our gorgeous and egotistical prince as our main character, there are ridiculous, charming and thoroughly funny elements in here, with clever references for the alert reader, and it is not too long (20-something chapters)

9)petshop of horrors

more standard fare here (ie you can find it in borders/waterstones) with disturbing, dark and really very good stories about one count D and the mysterious petshop he runs, selling pets that look like humans who give their owners EXACTLY what they deserve.

10) tarot cafe

the most romantic, heartbreaking, tragic short stories you will find ANYWHERE, with utterly gorgeous artwork, stunning.

hope you have fun with these, and if you run out, some titles you might try~(having seen my taste in manga)~are:

- jiraishin - a cold, heartless detective whose only concern, ever, is the law, and yet does some incredibly compassionate things on the way.

- team medical dragon- about a genious cardiothoraic s

Higurashi no naku koro ni

Genshiken

Death note

death note (awesome)

Blood+ (no comment)

Liar Game (title says it all)

Kuroshitsuji (the black butler)

code geass (awesome)

wolf's rain

GTO (great teacher onizuka)

you can't miss full metal alchemist!

umm.. bakugan(?) or.. i don't know