Visually appealing/Mind-messing anime?

[bloppyblue]

I feel like being inspired to make a short film. Any suggestions for a very visually wow anime? Something that would make someone totally film-unaware appreciate brilliant editing and scene composition? Maybe something very thought-provoking or makes you question your value as a human being as you sit there watching through the most genius piece of art you've witnessed in your life.

I'm pretty open to any genre though I prefer nothing purely ecchi-focused (I've already gotten over a year's dose with Highschool of the Dead ). Something short would be preferred as well (less than 20 episodes would be best)

Examples:
Bakemonogatari has the type of visuals I'm talking about, if there's anything nicer than that, great Suggest it!
EF - A Tale of Memories was nice as well.
I also enjoyed watching the Amazing Nuts! shorts as well. A brilliant plot would be a major plus though.
Higurashi had a nice vibe going on, but... I got bored Same thing with Boogiepop Phantom
I got through about half of Mushishi but for some reason the plot just didn't stick...
KARAS was very visually nice for me too and something like that won't be bad though I want to watch something more abstract and more nicely edited than generated... If you get what I'm saying...

Thanks guys

tl;dr: Stuff like Bakemonogatari.

[Shiroth]

Revolutionary Girl Utena is the show you need to watch. Trust me.

[MeoTwister5]

Tatami Galaxy, like right now.

[Haak]

Kara no Kyoukai definitely comes to mind. Especially the 5th film.

[Sackett]

Neon Genesis Evangelion

That's the one show you really must watch for this.

The original series for how to have a lot of visual impact when lacking a sufficient budget.

End of Evangelion (the movie) for how to get big visual impact with a budget.

It's very hard to underestimate the effect Evangelion had on the rest of anime.

A few others you might consider:

The first episode of Cross Game. Much less emphasis on the "wow" factor, but still a powerfully moving combination of images, story, and music to create a big emotional punch.

The last episode of Crono Crusade. Similarly an example of how to set a scene with the surroundings.

Maybe Katanagatari (especially episode 7).

And of course Haruhi Suzumiya has a bunch of interesting "camera tricks" starting from episode 00. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I've heard the visuals are pretty impressive.

But I'll repeat:

Neon Genesis Evangelion is the show you want to see for a question like this.

[Kanon]

Since you like Bakemonogatari so much, you may want to try other shows directed by Shinbo, Petite Cosette and The Soultaker in particular.

I would also recommend Gankutsuou and Mononoke, both visually stunning.

[roriconfan]

Mind Game, Kaiba, Kanashimi no Belladonna

[Dist]

For visually stunning anime .. Kara no Kyoukai as has been said, as well as all Makoto Shinkai's works.. especially 5 Centimeters per Second and The Place Promised in Our Early Days. BD rip of both of these is a must if you're going to watch them ..

But these are just visually appealing.. I dunno about the second part

[Patch&Quilt]

Metropolis
Angel's Egg
Texhnolyze

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by Kanon

Since you like Bakemonogatari so much, you may want to try other shows directed by Shinbo, Petite Cosette and The Soultaker in particular.

If you want the best visuals from a Shinbo show, then indeed i'd recommend Soultaker.

Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase would be second.

[bloppyblue]

Thanks guys. I've been meaning to watch Petit Cossette and Texhnolyze for a while now ^^ And I've been constantly postponing Neon Genesis Evangelion... So I'll pick those three up.

Gonna also give Kara no Kyokai and The Soultaker a shot (although I'm a bit iffy about The Soultaker).

All the other suggestions were really appreciated

[Last Sinner]

Since you want true mind messing with good visuals, may I suggest the works of the late Satoshi Kon:

Paranoia Agent
Paprika
Millenium Actress
Tokyo Godfathers
Perfect Blue

[Reckoner]

Originally Posted by Last Sinner

Since you want true mind messing with good visuals, may I suggest the works of the late Satoshi Kon:

Paranoia Agent
Paprika
Millenium Actress
Tokyo Godfathers
Perfect Blue

I second this, this greater director that now has sadly passed away... His works are marvelous.

[Guardian Enzo]

I consider 5 CM Per Second the most visually stunning anime I've seen. I think it comes off as "more real than real", which you really understand after seeing it.

[bloppyblue]

Yeah, I love Makoto Shinkai's work and I agree, they're all beautiful.

[synaesthetic]

ARIA has some eye-poppingly gorgeous Scenery Porn. CLANNAD does this too, to an extent, but not to ARIA's extent. A lot of the shots are truly gorgeous, though. It's more "this is pretty" than weird/mind-trippy cuts and edits that Shaft did with Bakemonogatari, though.

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

CLANNAD does this too

Though it's far from being a visually appealing series, and that's what the OP is looking for.

[Kotohono]

Originally Posted by Shiroth

Though it's far from being a visually appealing series, and that's what the OP is looking for.

Eh I'd say "visually appealing" is in two different ways something that's amazing well animated with "gorgeous Scenery Porn" like Clannad or Sora no Woto, or something that's great looking and somehow unique like Bakemonogatari and Katanagatari have managed to do.

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by Konakaga

Eh I'd say "visually appealing" is in two different ways something that's amazing well animated with "gorgeous Scenery Porn" like Clannad or Sora no Woto, or something that's great looking and somehow unique like Bakemonogatari and Katanagatari have managed to do.

Originally Posted by bloppyblue

I feel like being inspired to make a short film. Any suggestions for a very visually wow anime? Something that would make someone totally film-unaware appreciate brilliant editing and scene composition?

Going by what the OP is looking for, it's more the second option and none of the first . Though it doesn't hurt to recommend such series, though i just don't want the OP to be disappointed, that's all.

[bloppyblue]

Originally Posted by Shiroth

Going by what the OP is looking for, it's more the second option and none of the first . Though it doesn't hurt to recommend such series, though i just don't want the OP to be disappointed, that's all.

I'm having tons of people help me find inspiration.
I don't think I could possibly be disappointed by help ^^