Akira
Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama
A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a teenage biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by his best friend.
Why you'll love it
A landmark in anime that combines action and philosophical themes, set in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo where a biker gang member gains psychic powers.
Perfect Blue
Junko Iwao, Rica Matsumoto, Shinpachi Tsuji
A pop singer gives up her career to become an actress, but she slowly goes insane when she starts being stalked by an obsessed fan and what seems to be a ghost of her past.
Why you'll love it
A psychological thriller that explores the dark side of fame and identity, following a pop singer turned actress as she faces a stalker and her own mental unraveling.
Ghost in the Shell
Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi, Akio Ôtsuka
A cyborg policewoman and her partner hunt a mysterious and powerful hacker called the Puppet Master.
Why you'll love it
A cyberpunk classic that delves into themes of consciousness and identity in a future where humans can augment their bodies with technology.
Paprika
Megumi Hayashibara, Tôru Emori, Katsunosuke Hori
When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients' dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it.
Why you'll love it
A mind-bending exploration of dreams and reality, where a psychologist uses a device to enter patients' dreams, leading to chaos when the technology is stolen.