Cowboy Bebop. It was the first anime I actually really got into, and I related to Ed on WAY more levels than I first realized (I actually think Ed's what first made me go "wait you don't have to be a guy or a girl, you can just BE?!). Plus the animation's beautiful and the fight sequences are WILD. And not gonna lie, it was the first one to really disturb me with the Pierrot le Fou episode. The unnatural smile and the way Mad Pierrot moved absolutely freaked me out. That show is peak for me and I'll always love it.
(Also I used to watch it with my one FWB while baked so there's good memories there, too.)
A close second, though, is Serial Experiments Lain. I notice something new every single time I watch it, just little details that escaped my notice. It doesn't matter how many times I've seen it, even little things about the backgrounds/art style pop outta nowhere at least once a rewatch. (And sometimes I get really lucky and my brain forgets the storyline, so I get to watch it basically for the first time all over again.)
And third is Haibane Renmei. That entire story just ripped my damn heart out. I don't even wanna spoil anything, it's heartwrenching, it's beautiful, it's tragic, I love it, go watch it if you haven't seen it. Just. So damned impactful.
@ami_angelwings that’s a hard one but I’ll probably go with Reki’s redemption in #HaibaneRenmei, the moment when the meaning of her name changes from “to be run over” to “small stone, the stepping stone to Flight”.
I’ve written about it at some length here: https://piratesobg.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/twenty-days-of-haibane-renmei-day-19-rekis-world-prayer-epilogue/ and even reading what I wrote can spark a tear or two.
I rarely connect that deeply to media, but The Good Place got under my skin about a month ago. Felt like I was losing friends, as well.
I can't remember the last time something got under my skin (in a good way) like that. Maybe watching Haibane Renmei ten years ago.