In a recent thread redditInternet users brought out their more analytical side when discussing animes that start out as happy and calm stories, but that, in the blink of an eye, take a dark and disturbing turn. All this was triggered when a user asked the following question to the forum: «Do you know any anime that gets dark really fast? Something that starts out happy and comforting, but suddenly turns gloomy. Preferably within the first or second episode».
The otaku community was quick to respond to the request, providing titles that perfectly fit the description, while also giving their opinion on these unexpected twists and their effects. The contrast between the initial happiness and the sudden darkness seems to be an element that always hooks viewers, especially those who enjoy these stories for their ability to stay surprised and on the lookout for each new episode.
In fact, this narrative device can be a powerful tool if used well, especially to establish the atmosphere of a series and delve deeper into the characters. Drastic changes, especially when they are unexpected, manage to convey a stronger emotional impact, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. It is no surprise that a gem of this category like “Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica” continues to be discussed today, more than a decade after its premiere.
However, not everyone is a fan of these types of plot twists. Some say they add layers of complexity, but others point out that an abrupt change can end up alienating those who were hoping for a lighter, more comforting story. Even so, the thread was full of recommendations, from extremely well-known anime to gems to discover:
- «The Promised Neverland (I recommend watching only the first season. The second is terrible)».
- «School-Live! fits this criteria».
- «Akame Ga Kill gets dark and edgy very quickly. Pretty fun».
- «Talentless Nana: Watch it completely blind at least until the first episode is over. Don't stop until then, no matter what happens».
- «Made in Abyss is definitely what you are looking for. The art style doesn't prepare you for how disturbing the show is. There is no harem or ecchi, just a boy and a robot descending into unknown horrors».
- «Higurashi no Naku Koro ni».
- «Shiki. This one does, in just four episodes of bloodshed, what very few horrors can: make me too terrified to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. That part where Seishin looks out the window in the hospital generator room and sees those red eyes in the total darkness… so cool and yet so “FUCK NO!” One of my favorite animes. I love to see it getting some recognition.».
- «School-Live! It's exactly that. The experience is better if you don't investigate how it gets dark».
- «Akame Ga Kill goes dark in the first episode. It then returns to a more upbeat tone after the reveal, but the theme is still a lot of murder and abuse».
- «Higurashi is a perfect example. Just make sure you watch the first series first».
- «Goblin Slayer: Gets intense real quick».
- «Helck: It starts out as a happy anime, full of jokes and funny things. But in episode 4 it gets more serious, and when we get to Helck's past, it gets very dark quickly. I recommend reading the manga, since it is finished».
- «Happy Sugar Life».
- «Deadman Wonderland was the first thing that came to mind».
- «Evangelion. It starts off like a normal mecha anime, but it starts playing with your mind very quickly. The movie is the icing on the cake».
- «Maybe not as fast, but Shy goes dark halfway through».
- «Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Don't Google anything, just look at it without knowing anything. It's an incredible experience».
- «Elfen Lied. Starts off very dark».
- «Steins;Gate… It's not “dark” like Monster, but it starts with happy characters and suddenly something happens and it becomes very emotional from there».
- «Tokyo Ghoul goes dark very quickly. In the TV version they censor the violence with a black screen, so much of the first episode is just a dark screen with a small part of a head peeking out.».
- «I seem to remember Higurashi: When They Cry did this, but I could be remembering wrong. It's a pretty disturbing show overall, with super moe character designs».
- «The Executioner and Her Way of Life: It's best to watch the first episode completely blind».
- «I can't believe no one has recommended Shingeki no Kyojin yet».
- «Ga-Rei-Zero: Look at it without knowing anything. After the first episode, you will be hooked».
- «This anime doesn't get darker in the first few episodes, but Kotaro Lives Alone starts to get a lot darker when they explain certain things it does.».
- «Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy».
- «It's not an anime, but Oyasumi Punpun».
- «The Promised Neverland. Too bad they never made a second season.».
- «Gakkougurashi (School-Live!): The less you know before watching it, the better».
- «I'm not sure if it completely fits, but the end of the first episode of Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song made me think “did I miss something? Why did it get so intense?” But no, it's just a very wild abrupt cut and then it maintains that rhythm in the following episodes».
- «Fate/Stay Night – Heaven's Feel Trilogy, but I would recommend watching Unlimited Blade Works first».
- «I'd have to watch them again to be sure, but I think Heavenly Delusion or Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song could be candidates».
- «Maybe something like Ousama Ranking or Made in Abyss. In a sense, Kuroshitsuji gets darker with each arc».
- «School-Live!: Goes dark in the first episode. By the way, it's one of the best first episodes of an anime I've ever seen.».
- «Watch The Promised Neverland anime, but don't watch the second season. Read the manga. They literally left out one of the main characters in the second season for no reason. There were so many deviations that the adaptation of the second season was terrible».
- «School-Live! fits perfectly. Just don't look for anything about what's dark».
- «I haven't seen any comments mention it because I only watched two seconds, but Black Bullet. Maybe not as dark as other suggestions, but it's good. 86 will also qualify as dark, but I recommend 86 no matter what, because I love absolutely everything about this series».
- «Lots of good recommendations so far. I second Akame ga Kill, Madoka Magica, Shiki, The Promised Neverland and also Another. I would like to add No. 6, definitely a back-and-forth of happiness and darkness».
- «Infinite Ryvius is a great showcase of an isolated community descending into anarchy, although the first half is a bit slow. It may be difficult to find subtitles or dubs as it is old and a bit dark».
- «I haven't finished it, but Banana Fish made me think about it, haha».
- «From the New World: A utopian village where everyone is psychic. It starts out very pretty and interesting, but as you get more details and mysteries, things get darker.».
- «Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, although I wouldn't call it “very dark” in the sense of gory or ultraviolent. It's more like “things get real real real fast” and the characters realize that capitalism and war aren't exactly fun.».
- «What you want is Now and Then, Here and There. A boy enters an alternate magical world… that ends up being less like Narnia and more like a sub-Saharan nation in the middle of a civil war.».
- «You've probably seen it already, but Akame ga Kill gets extremely dark in episode 1. Then it becomes more of an adventure/final boss anime, so maybe not exactly what you're looking for, but yeah».
Fountain: reddit
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