As someone who is highly intrigued by the dark and gritty atmosphere that the cyberpunk genre brings to sci-fi, I love it when the murky futuristic setting is brought to the world of anime.

There is a general misconception that anime is just for kids, but not everyone knows that there are a plethora of different genres that anime itself offers, just like any other regular movie or show. I could get into a whole article in talking about different anime genres, but for now, I'll speak about some sci-fi anime that I'm sure the older and more mature audiences will enjoy. For those who love cyberpunk as much as I do, here are a few anime that I think you should definitely take a look at.

1. Ergo Proxy

Takes place in a futuristic setting where humans and androids co-exist together in harmony, -- that is, until some androids become corrupted through a virus and start committing murders. All while Re-L Mayer, a female investigator discovers a humanoid-type species labeled as "Proxy," which are part of the government's secret experiment and seems to be interwoven in this mysterious and intricate plot.

The series incorporates a large amount of philosophy and Gnosticism into its plot and characters, so if you're looking for more thought-provoking dialogue alongside suspenseful action, this 23-episode anime might be the one you're searching for.

2. Psycho-Pass

One of my personal favorites, the anime follows a young female inspector named Akane Tsunemori, who weaves through society trying to deduce the real meaning of justice. In a world where citizens' mental states and personalities are measured to compute a probability of whether or not they will perform a crime, many different problems and questions arise for our protagonist as she fights to maintain order.

This anime really captures the idea of humaneness and the twisted nature that humans can have. This is definitely one of the more graphic ones I've watched, so if you're not comfortable with gore, here is my preemptive disclaimer. But if you do end up watching and liking this series, it extends to a second season as well as a movie if you ever get interested enough to continue.

3. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

In a setting where humans have acquired the technology to transfer from flesh into machine, people receive great upgrades in their physical state. However, like with any other new advancements, some people have used these abilities to commit more unique and dangerous crimes. Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body cybernetic human employed as a field commander in her police unit, must deal with these complex issues as well as a daunting hacking crime that threatens the entirety of Japan.

One of the main ideas that is brought into this series that I've enjoyed pondering about is, "What exactly is the definition of being human?" A world where mind and body can be reformed with machine almost identically brings about an interesting theme alongside amazing action throughout the whole show.

Every single one of these anime captures the essence of cyberpunk very well, as well as adding in thought-provoking concepts and ideas for the audience to dwell on throughout their respective series. I've really enjoyed each and one of these shows, and I think anyone interested in sci-fi and/or intriguing themes should definitely give one of these anime a watch.