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Dr Kenzo Tenma is a genius surgeon working in post-Cold War Germany who has a bright future ahead of him. He is admired by his colleagues, loved by his patients, and due to marry his boss' daughter, the beautiful Eva Heinemann. One day, when two patients in desperate need of emergency surgery are wheeled into his hospital, Tenma faces a terrible choice of saving the orphaned boy who came first or the mayor of Düsseldorf, whose recovery would raise the hospital's profile and boost his own career. Against the demands of his superior, Tenma does what he believes is right and saves the child. However, his decision not only damages his prospects, but unleashes a chain of events so horrific that it might have come from the depths of his worst nightmares. Laden with guilt, Tenma begins a journey across Germany in search of a formidable young man who will challenge his morals, his love for life, and his very sanity.
Henrietta is a young girl who works for a "welfare group" that does the government's dirty work. Cybernetically-enhanced and specially-trained, she is one of a group of elite hit-girls, remorseless killers with no memories of their past. Jose, her partner, has taken care of her since she was brought into the organization following the murder of her family, and struggles between his affection for her, and his opposing duty to his employer. But, time is running out.. for with each bullet they fire, Henrietta and the other girls lose a little more of their humanity.
Gunslinger Girl and Monster definitelly appeal the same people. Compared to other anime they both have a slower pacing and more story. But most importantly: they show us how the characters think. Mental fragility or the lack of moral aspects are two topics that several characters emphasise.
Monster and Gunslinger Girl are very intelligent anime that explore serious issues such as the impact of conditioning on children who are driven to commit murder, the role of education and that of personal choice in the shaping of one's personality. Both are quite realistic and tragic in the compelling manner they reveal a highly believable cast to the audience. In Monster and in Gunslinger Girl, the human element is what is at stake even as definition of what is human is questioned.
These two series share the subject (in both anime we have very young people, for whom killing is everyday life and although brutal murders are showed, the emphasis is put on the psychological site), very alike graphics, ascetic music and the place - they both happen in Europe.
When popular pop idol Mima decided to retire from her group, Cham, and become an actress, she had no idea that one person's obsession would soon spiral out of control. With death threats, letter bombs and a forged website which details her every move, Mima finds herself slowly becoming trapped in a nightmare she can't seem to escape. With murders piling up and her mental state slowly degrading, can she discover who the culprit is, before she becomes the next victim?
Alfred Hitchcock was a genius. The man was a pioneer of the suspense thriller and his influence is still being felt to this day. In the world of anime and manga, no two men are more deserving of Hitchcock's legacy than Satoshi Kon and Naoki Urasawa.
Kon's Perfect Blue, scripted by Sadayuki Murai, is a psychological thriller worthy of the master himself. The diluted sense of reality creates an uneasiness that will keep you guessing and entertained until the credits roll. Monster, a faithful adaptation of Urasawa's manga, stars a Hitchcockian hero: an ordinary man accused of a murder he didn't commit. Tenma's quest to prove his innocence thrusts him into an extraordinary world of intrigue and deceit grander than North By Northwest and The Man Who Knew Too Much combined.
They may be different mediums, but if you enjoyed one give the other a chance.
Although very different in length, plot and style, both are very well written, intense psychological thrillers that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Both able to create that similar Hitchcock like "I have no idea what's about to happen and it's driving me insane" kind of feel, I feel they may appeal to a similar type of viewer, possibly a very frightened one...
Monster and Perfect Blue are the only anime titles that are thrillers that upholds such a great quality all the way. So if you like either title as a thriller, then watch the other one.
Both of these anime delve into some intense psychological suspense, as well as some parts violence, memory issues, young women in despair, and a whole plot devoted to finding the "man behind the curtain." While they differ in length and content, they both have a deep rooted sense of realistic horror.
It's the 1930s, and Mafia groups fight for supremacy in American cities. Young Firo joins the secretive Camorra group; a meek street boy, Jacuzzi, finds himself the leader of a gang of thugs; an alchemist is producing a liquor of immortality, and a homunculus tries to retrieve it; and upbeat thieves Isaac and Miria head to New York after failing to strike gold in California. They ride the novel train, the Flying Pussyfoot, across the continent. However they find themselves embroiled in a ruckus caused by gangs, terrorists, serial killers, and others as multiple stories intertwine and unfold on this fateful ride. All are haunted and hunted by the legendary Rail Tracer...
Even though Baccano is a lot shorter than monster, both of these series develope the good and bad side of the human nature. If you enjoy the mystery, thriller type of anime with a theme of psychopathic killing, then you will want to watch these. Both of these directors tell their stories in a nonlinear style by jumping to different stages of the characters, so be prepared to connect the dots.
Monster is a very very dark and serious anime, while Baccano is twisted, funny and somewhat crazy, though also not that happy but slightly dark overall.
As I don't want to talk about the actual complex and great plot of both anime, these anime show you how evil people can turn out... Introducing psychopaths, murderers and maniacs!
We need heroes! Watch now!
Both of these anime have plots that run along parallel timelines. They both dip their proverbial toes in mass murder, organized crime, pyschopathic killers, and bizarre experimentation. While Baccano! is faster paced and has some comedic qualities, it pairs well with Monster.
Maebara Keiichi, an ordinary high-school boy, has transferred to a new school in Hinamizawa, a small rural village. At the outset everything seems peaceful and Keiichi becomes friends with a nice group of schoolgirls with whom he spends many idle summer afternoons. Suddenly violence encroaches upon the blissful peace of the village and Keiichi becomes entangled in an endless cycle of fear and death. The inconsistent, but inevitable horrors of Hinamizawa are told and retold becoming an endless and inescapable nightmare of insanity. Will it end even if the mystery of Hinamizawa is solved?
Like Monster, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni dwells deep into its character's psyche. Characters undergo psychological changes while a horrifying factor slowly reveals itself. A little bit of detective work and teamwork are needed to solve the mysteries brought before the characters. Higurashi is surrounded by so many theories, questions, and deep mystery that it is not all that different than Monster. Both anime really require you to think so you can place pieces of the puzzle together. I think Monster fans will be very satisfied with Higurashi because it proves to be another intelligent mystery series and mind-grabber.
In Both cases the material is very drastic, the atmosphere is dense and you do not know what exactly will happen. Both are good horror shows.
Monster and Higurashi share a strong psychological aspect that I find is rare in anime. Both are heavily violent at times, yet it is not excessive. The two shows also have their differences though–At times Higurashi is peaceful and if not even comedic while Monster remains true to its dark and serious self the entire way through. All in all both of these shows are a great watch for anyone looking for their share of quality, unpredictable psychological mystery anime.
Taichi Keaton, a former British special forces operative, now works as an insurance investigator for the world-renowned insurance agency Lloyd's; but his true passion is history and archaeology, which he fulfills by teaching at universities and visiting various ruins. Make no mistake though, there is far more to Mr. Keaton's job than simply filing insurance forms and writing reports! His investigations take him around the world and into situations ranging from run-ins with the Russian mafia to solving murders and even foiling terrorist plots. There's never a dull moment, much to Keaton's dismay!
Both of these series feature a Japanese (or half-Japanese) man in serious and mature stories set in and around Europe. Master Keaton is a duller, more episodic series that is spread over all of Europe while Monster is more focused, compelling, darker, arced, and confined to Germany; but both are well worth watching. As each are based on works by the same seinen mangaka and are produced by the same director, animation studio etc., they are remarkably similar in style, execution, tone and so on. A fan of one simply must try the other as well.
Keaton may be more episodic and light hearted while Monster is more darker and story-driven. However, they share a similar animation style and character designs (their respective source manga is made by the same artist), low-key atmosphere and plots and settings that feel very much grounded in reality.
Both shows are REAL. Real in the sense that they very well could be happening around the world now. There's mystery in humanity that each of these main characters explore one day at a time. Keaton takes the episodic approach where Monster has one plot all the way through. They are also both made by the same creator so there's a lot of similarities there as well. Check out one if you liked the other.
