2006-2007 intellectually provoking anime?

[Guardian Enzo]

I agree, PA is a fantastic mind-blower - but didn't our friend request something more recent than that?

[SeijiSensei]

NHK ni Youkoso (Welcome to the NHK) made me think quite often when it was shown last year. Don't let the surface hilarity fool you into thinking this is just a comedy.

In fact, nearly every show listed in my sig is "intellectually provoking" to some degree or other, with the possible exceptions of School Rumble and Nodame Cantabile. I started watching Planetes a little while back, and I'd say it qualifies as well, though it doesn't meet your 2006-2007 criterion.

[ibreatheanime]

I agree with paranoia agent. The anime shows the errors of the world, and how society is full of liars. Plus the entire series keeps you guessing on what is really going on. when I watched It I keept asking my self "Who is little Slugger"

I also like ghost in a shell, it can be thought provoking.

[Jazzrat]

hmmm.... not much recently thought provoking anime but i recommend

GitS: SAC 2nd Gig ; delve into the realm of humanity and AI
FLAG ; into civil wars

for 2006-2007

As for the CG discussion, it's entertaining but far from thought provoking.
That goes for Death Note and other popular animes as well.

Hataraki Man is worth looking into as well as it examines the white collar's life in stressful competitive society like Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and etc.

[Jsamano]

Im just gonna give this one more bump and then thats it, sorry if im beating on the dead horse here.

Thank you all for wonderful advice, I just started mushi-shi. After I clean out some porn on my computer i'll have some space for another series.

[u43368]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

NHK ni Youkoso (Welcome to the NHK) made me think quite often when it was shown last year. Don't let the surface hilarity fool you into thinking this is just a comedy.

In fact, nearly every show listed in my sig is "intellectually provoking" to some degree or other, with the possible exceptions of School Rumble and Nodame Cantabile. I started watching Planetes a little while back, and I'd say it qualifies as well, though it doesn't meet your 2006-2007 criterion.

I'll second (third?) Welcome to the NHK because it's quite relatable (in a strange way). Definately made me think.

[Goofus Maximus]

Originally Posted by JKaizer

Bartender

I second that one!

Also, try Seirei no Moribito Edit: I do think this one will be thought-provoking, just from the intelligence shown in the initial episodes, where the foundation for the series is being laid. Who else was surprised by the scene with the opening of the "Holy Book"? There is no clear "good vs. evil, deranged, or monomaniacal" here, but all good people trying to do the right thing, except each one's "right thing" conflicts with the other's "right thing."

[Navel]

There is no thought provoking stuff in Seirei no Moribito. But it's a very well directed action anime, that's for sure.

[ThisIsDream]

bokurano, red garden < Gantz rip off feeling. PA and NHK are really good

[Kaioshin Sama]

2K6 was a turn your brain off year for me other than:

Code Geass
Higurashi
FLAG
Welcome To NHK


2007 has:

Bokurano
Darker Than Black
The Galaxy Railways: A Letter from the Abandoned Planet
Les Misérables - Shoujo Cosette (Which may or may not actually be as thought provoking about class structures as the actualy play)
Romeo x Juliet (Again may or may not be as thought provoking as actualy play), Serei No Moribito
Tetsujin 28-go: Hakuchuu no Zangetsu
Emily of New Moon (Same deal as Les Mis and Romeo)
Byousoku 5 Centimeter - a chain of short stories about their distance.

and we're only 5 months in.

These are just the ones I feel require you to think, but in varying degrees of complex thought.

[Gettersaga]

Let's see:
NOEIN (friends of mine told me: the heroes and heroines are children, it's a waste of time to see it ... then the mechanical quantistics has appeared and they changed opinion) , Paranoia Agent, Higurashi no naku koro ni (I love this series), Code Geass (I've got some doubts about it .. let's see the episodes 24 & 25 and if there is going to be a second season), Bokurano, Terra e, Romeo x Juliet (not totally sure about it, I wanna see how/what it is going to become).