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Cartoons with a maturing theme

YogoYogo Registered User regular
edited September 2010 in Help / Advice Forum
I am looking for some new cartoons/anime/animated something which concerns itself with the theme of maturing (over time). I can list Avatar The Last Airbender as a show which I consider meeting the requirements.

Does anyone know of other shows? Any genre counts as long as it is in cartoon form.

Yogo on
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Posts

  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited September 2010
    Fushigi Yuugi is an older anime (15 years ish?). The characters change a ton over time.. also Fullmetal Alchemist (especially Brotherhood).

    There are MANY of these in anime.

    ceres on
    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • MushroomStickMushroomStick Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Gurren Lagann.

    MushroomStick on
  • IrukaIruka Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited September 2010
    With anime, I think you're more likely to find a main character changing from boy to man/mystical powerful warrior/super mecha pilot than not.

    I think that Spirited Away is a great story that does it without the epic battle mode.

    Iruka on
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  • baudattitudebaudattitude Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    If you're looking for maturing as in "growing up" as opposed to "becoming a mecha pilot", I'll recommend Fancy Lala. Actually, going from kid-with-no-responsibilities to young-adult-with-responsibilities is a pretty common theme in girl's anime.

    baudattitude on
  • MrMonroeMrMonroe passed out on the floor nowRegistered User regular
    edited September 2010
    land before time

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  • TDawgTDawg Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    The Lion King?

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  • MrMonroeMrMonroe passed out on the floor nowRegistered User regular
    edited September 2010
    oh god that's even better

    how about Dumbo

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  • LoveIsUnityLoveIsUnity Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Paradise Kiss is pretty great at dealing with the transition from adolescent to adult.

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  • noir_bloodnoir_blood Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Evangelion?

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  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    FLCL is an extended metaphor for maturing. It's also really funny and well animated.

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  • Robos A Go GoRobos A Go Go Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Grave of the Fireflies, if you like soul-rending sadness.

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  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    edited September 2010
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    Record Of Lodoss War. Dungeons & Dragons to the hilt.

    Esh on
  • Big Red TieBig Red Tie beautiful clydesdale style feet too hot to trotRegistered User regular
    edited September 2010
    durarara

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  • Cedar BrownCedar Brown Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Kodomo no Jikan.


    Edit: Joking.

    Cedar Brown on
  • KyouguKyougu Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Any shonen anime in existence.

    Kyougu on
  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    edited September 2010
    FLCL definitely. Sailor Moon, sort of? She starts out a whiny coward and... uh, mostly stays one, but when things get real, Usagi comes through.

    cj iwakura on
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  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited September 2010
    Cedar Brown wrote: »
    Kodomo no Jikan.


    Edit: Joking.

    Nobody watch this. Ever.

    ceres on
    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • KyouguKyougu Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    ceres wrote: »
    Cedar Brown wrote: »
    Kodomo no Jikan.


    Edit: Joking.

    Nobody watch this. Ever.

    Just wikied this. God Dammit it Japan.

    Kyougu on
  • Cedar BrownCedar Brown Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Kyougu wrote: »
    ceres wrote: »
    Cedar Brown wrote: »
    Kodomo no Jikan.


    Edit: Joking.

    Nobody watch this. Ever.

    Just wikied this. God Dammit it Japan.

    It's actually hilarious. It's funny, heartwarming, terribly sad and utterly disturbing at the same time.


    There's Aishiteruze Baby. The manga was really good but I haven't seen the anime. A teenage, playboy type of guy has to take care of his little cousin who suddenly gets dropped off by his Aunt. He has to become more responsible etc.

    Cedar Brown on
  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Cedar Brown wrote: »
    Kodomo no Jikan.


    Edit: Joking.

    Hey, thanks for making me Wiki borderline child porn.

    Esh on
  • TNTrooperTNTrooper Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Now and Then, Here and There

    TNTrooper on
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  • VanityPantsVanityPants Gokai Red! Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Honey & Clover. The characters are all in college, so it may not be a typical kid-to-adult transition, but it still deals with the theme of having to grow up and deal with responsibilities and emotions.

    VanityPants on
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  • President RexPresident Rex Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    noir_blood wrote: »
    Evangelion?

    ...Not really. None of the main characters have all that much development at all by the end (sort of a bell curve of maturity).


    Trigun has a decent amount. Starts out aloof and comedic and grows darker as time goes on and the story develops a bit more.

    Venture Bros. - particularly regarding last season - has quite a bit of character development and tries hard to maintain continuity. The titular brothers probably mature the most (and from a biological standpoint they also mature), but numerous side characters have a decent amount of development as well.

    President Rex on
  • Feels Good ManFeels Good Man Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    a very large portion of Disney animated classics

    Feels Good Man on
  • BelruelBelruel NARUTO FUCKS Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    you could always wade through the tvtropes coming of age reference page.

    Belruel on
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  • FeatherBladeFeatherBlade Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Yogo wrote: »
    I am looking for some new cartoons/anime/animated something which concerns itself with the theme of maturing (over time). I can list Avatar The Last Airbender as a show which I consider meeting the requirements.

    Does anyone know of other shows? Any genre counts as long as it is in cartoon form.

    Is this for you to watch, or are you intending to give it to an immature friend or relative whom you are trying to convince to be less immature?

    FeatherBlade on
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  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited September 2010
    Kodomo no Omocha (aka Child's Toy)

    ceres on
    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • JebusUDJebusUD Adventure! Candy IslandRegistered User regular
    edited September 2010
    I seem to remember Last Exile being coming of agey.

    JebusUD on
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  • manwiththemachinegunmanwiththemachinegun METAL GEAR?! Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Bro,

    Seriously,

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8TvsnfZZ-c

    Full Metal Alchemist.

    Seriously, it's made of win.

    manwiththemachinegun on
  • IrukaIruka Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited September 2010
    I cant remember if the chick in Escaflowne matures, or just gets over a crush.

    Iruka on
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  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited September 2010
    Iruka wrote: »
    I cant remember if the chick in Escaflowne matures, or just gets over a crush.

    I think the answer is "neither". :P

    ceres on
    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • IrukaIruka Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited September 2010
    That show was maybe more terrible than I remember.

    Iruka on
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  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited September 2010
    Everyone I ever knew who watched even a little anime loved Escaflowne.. I was never a fan though. I found the ending really irritating.

    ceres on
    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • dobilaydobilay Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Spirited Away.

    dobilay on
  • AumniAumni Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    TNTrooper wrote: »
    Now and Then, Here and There

    Aumni on
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  • InAmberCladInAmberClad Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Persepolis?

    " The story follows a young girl as she comes of age against the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution. "

    great film.

    InAmberClad on
  • DarkPrimusDarkPrimus Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    ceres wrote: »
    Kodomo no Omocha (aka Child's Toy)

    Which was released under the title "Kodocha" in America, to make it even more confusing.

    Unfortunately we'll never get the full series since all those supposed fans just kept their fansubs instead of purchasing the DVDs, but what was released is fantastic.

    DarkPrimus on
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  • DehumanizedDehumanized Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    In a sort of secondary sense, Ultimate Spiderman.

    Dehumanized on
  • Void SlayerVoid Slayer Very Suspicious Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Arakawa Under the Bridge, it's a comedy but does involve some maturation and dealing with finding ones place in the (insane) world. I don't understand half of it but enjoyed it.

    I would also second Last Exile and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood for dealing with these themes (kinda).

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  • YogoYogo Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    FeatherBlade wrote: »
    Yogo wrote: »
    I am looking for some new cartoons/anime/animated something which concerns itself with the theme of maturing (over time). I can list Avatar The Last Airbender as a show which I consider meeting the requirements.

    Does anyone know of other shows? Any genre counts as long as it is in cartoon form.

    Is this for you to watch, or are you intending to give it to an immature friend or relative whom you are trying to convince to be less immature?

    This was strictly for me. I have been missing watching a good show where you notice how much the characters have changed since the beginning of the story (Ex. Aang having fulfilled his training as an Avatar and grown more responsible).

    I have seen most of the listed examples. I think I'll give Lodoss of War a go once I am done with my Avatar rewatch run.

    Thanks, fellow PA'ers :)

    Yogo on
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