Orion and the Dark (2024) follows an anxious boy’s journey to confront his fears through a nocturnal adventure with Dark, a personification of nighttime. The film explores themes of power dynamics between light/darkness, underdog resilience, and narrative subversion via metafictional storytelling.
These 15 lesser-known anime deserve attention for mirroring these elements while offering unique animation styles, psychological depth, and inventive worldbuilding.
Anime Recommendations
1. The Tatami Galaxy (2010)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A college student relives his campus life through parallel timelines, grappling with regret and self-discovery.
- Similarities: Non-linear narrative that subverts expectations, themes of anxiety and personal growth .
- Details: 11 episodes (MAL 8.5), directed by Masaaki Yuasa. Won the 2010 Japan Media Arts Award.
2. Odd Taxi (2021)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A walrus taxi driver becomes entangled in a mystery involving missing girls and yakuza.
- Similarities: Layered storytelling with existential themes and anthropomorphic characters.
- Details: 13 episodes (MAL 8.7). Praised for its Tarantino-esque dialogue and noir aesthetic.
3. Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers (2015)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Six heroes must identify an impostor among them to prevent a demonic apocalypse.
- Similarities: Subverts fantasy tropes with a locked-room mystery and moral ambiguity.
- Details: 12 episodes (MAL 7.5). Produced by Passione (Higurashi).
4. Now and Then, Here and There (1999)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Plot: A boy is transported to a dystopian world to rescue a girl from a tyrannical warlord.
- Similarities: Explores trauma and resilience in an underdog narrative.
- Details: 13 episodes (MAL 8.1). Critically acclaimed for its bleak realism.
5. Kaiba (2008)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Plot: In a world where memories are commodified, a amnesiac searches for his identity.
- Similarities: Surreal visuals and themes of existential fear.
- Details: 12 episodes (MAL 8.0). Directed by Masaaki Yuasa.
6. Kyousougiga (2013)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A girl navigates a surreal mirror universe to reunite her fractured family.
- Similarities: Fantastical worldbuilding with emotional core.
- Details: 10 episodes (MAL 7.9). Produced by Toei Animation.
7. Humanity Has Declined (2012)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A mediator between humans and fairies witnesses civilization’s collapse through dark satire.
- Similarities: Subversive humor and allegorical storytelling.
- Details: 12 episodes (MAL 7.8). Adapted from a light novel series.
8. Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (2004)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Plot: A sci-fi reimagining of Dumas’ classic, focusing on revenge and moral decay.
- Similarities: Thematic exploration of fear and betrayal.
- Details: 24 episodes (MAL 8.0). Notable for its textile-patterned animation.
9. From the New World (2012)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: In a dystopian future, children with psychic powers uncover their society’s horrifying secrets.
- Similarities: Slow-burn psychological tension and moral complexity.
- Details: 25 episodes (MAL 8.3). Based on a Naoki Prize-winning novel.
10. The Eccentric Family (2013)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A shapeshifting tanuki family copes with loss in a magical Kyoto.
- Similarities: Whimsical yet introspective tone, themes of familial bonds.
- Details: 13 episodes (MAL 8.0). Directed by Masayuki Yoshihara.
11. Mushi-Shi (2005)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A wanderer studies ethereal creatures (“Mushi”) that influence human lives.
- Similarities: Episodic storytelling with philosophical depth.
- Details: 46 episodes (MAL 8.7). Won the 2006 Tokyo Anime Award.
12. Haibane Renmei (2002)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Plot: Winged beings in a walled town seek purpose while confronting their pasts.
- Similarities: Atmospheric exploration of guilt and redemption.
- Details: 13 episodes (MAL 8.1). Created by Yoshitoshi Abe (Serial Experiments Lain).
13. Kuuchuu Buranko (2009)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Plot: An eccentric psychiatrist treats patients with surreal, psychological remedies.
- Similarities: Avant-garde animation and focus on mental health.
- Details: 11 episodes (MAL 7.5). Directed by Kenji Nakamura.
14. Princess Tutu (2002)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Plot: A duck-turned-girl uses ballet to heal a prince’s shattered heart.
- Similarities: Metafictional narrative and subverted fairy-tale tropes .
- Details: 38 episodes (MAL 8.0). Influenced by Swan Lake and Utena.
15. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor (2007)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A debt-ridden gambler risks his life in high-stakes games.
- Similarities: Underdog protagonist facing existential stakes .
- Details: 26 episodes (MAL 8.3). Adapted from Nobuyuki Fukumoto’s manga.
Why These Anime Work for Orion and the Dark Fans
These series resonate with Orion’s focus on confronting fears, unconventional storytelling, and emotional growth. From The Tatami Galaxy’s time loops to Haibane Renmei’s allegorical depth, each title offers a unique lens on vulnerability and resilience. Their underrated status highlights hidden gems that prioritize creativity over mainstream appeal.
