Any Dark, Dingy Cyberpunk Recommendations?

[Optix]

So lately I find myself completely drawn in by cyberpunk themed anime. Ghost In The Shell (all movies and series) is just one of the many in my collection that I prize but I seem to have a hard time finding any good ones. You know the kind. The ones that show just how bad things are when technology either causes the collapse of civilized society or makes for two different classes - those who are wealthy and can have anything they want and those who are forced to scrape by, picking up technology, cybernetic enhancements, etc from hodge podge "shops" or finding it during their day to day life.

A while back I read a study about why monster movies where the beast destroys a city are so popular. People like seeing things like that. It's almost like people enjoy being taken down a peg or two. Being shown that they are vulnerable. For me it's what might await us, good or bad.

Ghost In The Shell is what I like to call the educated man's cyberpunk. Social commentary, political themes and such but I want the grimiest of the grimy. A strange part of me likes to be depressed by the possibilities that could end up being reality. Not necessarily the most messed up or violent but the kind that leave you almost clutching your chest because the characters, story, setting and events make you wonder how people could possibly be so messed up. Anime that doesn't cause the viewer to experience emotions is useless in my opinion.

Any ideas?

[Redmax]

There are 2 of them like that I remember watching. Ghost in the Shell was good, I own a few from the series.

I wanna say Angel Cop and Amritage fall into that category as well

[Optix]

I watched them both actually. They were so-so in my books but then again so was Akira so I may just have no idea what I'm talking about. I guess I should ask for dystopian cyberpunk anime.

[Redmax]

I could never get into Akira. The whole thing was just way too random.

Evangelion was good but is one of those you have to sit down and watch start to finish to fully understand the story. Else its just action and some kid whining about missing his mommy.

As for your request... "dystopian cyberpunk anime" I have no idea what falls into that category. Unless you are talking about Lain or Gunslinger Girl.

[Optix]

I absolutely love Evangelion and Gunslinger Girl. Evangelion is such a head trip.

If I manage to find anything that really fits what I am looking for I'll be sure to post it.

[Redmax]

Did you find anything new as of late??

I've been browsing the lackluster collection at best buy and so far haven't found anything that looks even remotely decent.

[Optix]

Not really. All I found was sub-standard ninja cr@p instead.

It's all the usual stuff - Ghost In The Shell, Akira, Battle Angel Alita...stuff that I've watched a million times.

Wonderful Days from 2003 may be worth a look though.

[NrKissed]

Ever try Last Exile? Iit has a look that is sort of Cyber/Steam punk and a decent story.

Heres a review off the Google:
http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=550

Edit: a bit of a thread reserection, but I was looking for a good new series tonight in this same vein...

[dieseldog49]

Check out Karas its closer to steam punk than cyber punk but you may enjoy it.

[Optix]

I checked out both of those - liked Last Exile but wasn't sold on Karas.

It's so far removed from cyberpunk but it' s a fun watch full of bouncy boobs and undies - High School Of The Dead.

[Gorillamusha]

So, my initial thoughts were of Blade Runner, but then I realized, duh, Anime. So my list would probably be:
Cowboy Bebop (Distopian, and kinda cycberpunk (as in grimmy spaceships... Also, not unlike Firefly in a lot of ways), and maybe Trigun (except not very grimmy). Also, check out the animatrix if you get a chance. There is some amazing stuff in there.

Good luck!

[Redmax]

Thumbs for trigun, it has been forever since I have watched that series but from what I remember it was awesome.