I can personally attest to Pantheon and Scavneger's Reign (although I haven't watched the newest season of SR yet).
Pantheon is very much a show of morals versus "progress". The end is a WILD ride.
Scavneger's Reign is about people on a foreign planet and using the planet's resources to survive and possibly escape. The alien fauna is downright incredible to imagine. Another stellar show.
I'm sorry, "newest season" of Scavenger's Reign? It was very famously not picked up for a second season despite winning awards and audience petitions.
If you know of more that's out there other than Season 1, please share with the class, because all I've seen so far is a short 2 minute teaser that the creator animated when trying to get season 2 approved.
The body horror combined with existential dread of the chanda scanning scene hits harder than anything else I've seen, it's definitely burned into my mind as well. Having experience with seeing the effects of a traumatic brain injury on a loved one made it so much more emotionally impactful as well, and anyone who has experience with neurological disorders/diseases would be affected by it as well because of the visceral realism. Whoever directed that scene has definitely seen someone with progressive aphasia before.
Pantheon is one of my favorite shows ever. It's so so good. I both want more people to watch it and for it to remain a low-key show that you have to watch the first episode to know what it's about (please just watch the first episode before even looking up the synopsis I promise you will know if it's your kind of show or not from the first episode and it's worth going in blind to experience it that way).
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off - anime version of the movie with all the same voice cast, with a major major twist at the first episode (hint - it's very different from the movie and much more mature while still keeping the same vibes)
Adventure Time - Fionna and Cake - an excellent follow up to Adventure Time. Idk how comprehensible it is to non-adventure time watchers, but it is it's own story that does some cool stuff.
Blue Eyed Samurai - just a great revenge story with gorgeous animation.
Have you seen 'Knights of Guinevere'? Same creator as owl house. Incredibly well done. Just 1 episode out currently but it was recently greenlit for a full season. Free to watch on youtube
I think there's a lot of similarity between Scavenger's Reign and Common Side Effects. Many of the same people worked on it. Pantheon is also a great slow burn scifi.
Mighty Nein is quite different. It's fantasy, and leans into overt comedy a lot more than the other 3. But still very good.
I thoroughly enjoyed common side effects, and I really liked scavengers reign. Based on this thread I just binged the first season of pantheon and holy fucking shit, everyone needs to watch this.
Scavengers Reign and Common Side Effects share the same creators, and are both very good! It's interesting that they both have themes related to harmony with nature and the various relationships that humans form with it, good and bad.
Pantheon is also fantastic, super heady sci-fi with a lot to say about the modern tech industry, and loads of references to sci-fi classics. It's clear the writers are huge sci-fi geeks and their enthusiasm comes through in the show.
I haven't seen The Mighty Nein but if it's being grouped with the other shows here it must be worth a watch. It does seem like the odd one out of the bunch though since it's fantasy rather than sci-fi like the other 3.
OP first off Thank you for turning me on to pantheon because I did not get the memo this shit is phenomenal. Idk if it belongs on this list quite since it's a movie and not a series, but a lot of folks have not seen "Mars Express" and it was also a really good animated scifi. Has that detective noir expanse/ghost in the shell vibe.
Yeah. I feel a lot of the other recommendations around are for a lot younger audiences, but I'll agree Mars Express is a lot more in that vibe, and an amazingly French Ghost in the Shell.
I know this is a place for animation, but if you enjoyed Pantheon, I highly suggest checking out Hidden Girl and Other Stories by Ken Liu. The tv show is based off of loosely connected stories from that anthology and the stories are great. Another short story was turned into the episode Good Hunting on Love, Death, and Robots.
Edit: corrected Love, Sex, and Robots to Love, Death, and Robots
Frieren really got me. It can be a bit too much in a couple of episodes, it's anime, but it's great. If you haven't watched, Avatar the last airbender is really a must. Incredible show. Someone mentioned Bojack Horseman, which I concur, but maybe a show for young adults. I was obsessed with Serial Experiments Lain as a teenager, but maybe it's too dated now.
IDK about it being a masterpiece, as it is still unfinished, but it's really an outstanding show. When I say it can be a bit too much is because of all the philosophy it can involve, or all of the 'magic theory', which can be sometimes daunting. Or maybe lost in translation.
Mighty Nein and Scavenger's Reign are defo two shows I go above and beyond to pirate, and could even justify a direct donation to the creators. Mighty Nein is set in the same universe as Vox Machina and uses the same cast of voice actors, to boot.
Another ones I really like the 2D animation style are X-Men '97, which basically uses a cleaned-up version of the style of the '90s Spider-Man animated series before they went to 3D backgrounds; and Wakfu tho this one does more notorious mixing with other animation styles. There's also timeless classics of 2D animation, such as Samurai Jack.
Watch both Avatar series if you haven't already. The Vox Machina/Meighty Nein makers are shameless Avatar fans; you'll recognize the references immediately.
Also:
DOTA: Dragon's Blood
DCAU. I'd recommend Justice League, BTAS, and (though technically not DCAU) Young Justice, specifically.
Great list, especially Pantheon, it’s one of my favorite shows of all time. The mix of technological ethics, existential horror, conspiracy, and more are done fantastically. I just wish the voice audio mixing was better, but it gets a pass since they were doing it during COVID I believe. It got unduly overlooked due to the streaming weirdness, but I think it’s all on Netflix now thankfully.
If you liked it check out Mars Express, it’s a movie that touches on a lot of similar themes in a cyberpunk/neo-noir context with some amazing animation.
Ah yea, I remember that now. If there was ever an ethical justification for piracy, Infinity Train is it. Also made me hate a man who I’d never heard of before, one David Zaslav
If you haven't played Dispatch, it was cowritten by critical role, the team behind Mighty Nein and Vox Machina. Almost positive it was animated in 3D, but looks 2d through its art direction.
Well if we are recommending 2d shows, I gotta rep up Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Season 2 came out just a little while ago and it was as fun as the first season.
Common Side Effects was great. One day I decided to check out an episode or two, and ended up watching the entire season by accident. Scavengers Reign also rules.
Have you seen Pantheon? I've only seen a few episodes of Vox Machina but Pantheon is legitimately great and very interesting, though also completely different tone and vibe wise.
57 Comments
Hideakikarate@sh.itjust.works · 35 pts · 160d
I can personally attest to Pantheon and Scavneger's Reign (although I haven't watched the newest season of SR yet).
Pantheon is very much a show of morals versus "progress". The end is a WILD ride.
Scavneger's Reign is about people on a foreign planet and using the planet's resources to survive and possibly escape. The alien fauna is downright incredible to imagine. Another stellar show.
AnchoriteMagus@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 160d
I'm sorry, "newest season" of Scavenger's Reign? It was very famously not picked up for a second season despite winning awards and audience petitions.
If you know of more that's out there other than Season 1, please share with the class, because all I've seen so far is a short 2 minute teaser that the creator animated when trying to get season 2 approved.
LodeMike@lemmy.today · 9 pts · 160d
Unless they mean season 2 of Pantheon.
Hideakikarate@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 160d
Well fuck me then. I could've sworn I saw a season 2, but you're right. Only the one season.
zabby@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 24 pts · 160d
Dude. Pantheon blew my mind. I have several scenes burned into my mind forever (Chanda being scanned).
I love all four that you posted, but I can't remember the last time a show stayed with me as well as Pantheon did 🤯
Schmoo@slrpnk.net · 10 pts · 160d
The body horror combined with existential dread of the chanda scanning scene hits harder than anything else I've seen, it's definitely burned into my mind as well. Having experience with seeing the effects of a traumatic brain injury on a loved one made it so much more emotionally impactful as well, and anyone who has experience with neurological disorders/diseases would be affected by it as well because of the visceral realism. Whoever directed that scene has definitely seen someone with progressive aphasia before.
paris@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 8 pts · 160d
Pantheon is one of my favorite shows ever. It's so so good. I both want more people to watch it and for it to remain a low-key show that you have to watch the first episode to know what it's about (please just watch the first episode before even looking up the synopsis I promise you will know if it's your kind of show or not from the first episode and it's worth going in blind to experience it that way).
ComfortableRaspberry@feddit.org · 20 pts · 160d
Mighty Nein just began. I recommend watching The Legend of Vox Machina first so you don't have to wait so long.
I'm also looking forward to the coming Captain Laserhawk season (人 •͈ᴗ•͈)
yakko@feddit.uk · 6 pts · 160d
We found Mighty Nein first and are now working backwards through Vox Machina. Looking up Captain Laserhawk now!
TheSambassador@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 160d
I'd also like to throw in
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off - anime version of the movie with all the same voice cast, with a major major twist at the first episode (hint - it's very different from the movie and much more mature while still keeping the same vibes)
Adventure Time - Fionna and Cake - an excellent follow up to Adventure Time. Idk how comprehensible it is to non-adventure time watchers, but it is it's own story that does some cool stuff.
Blue Eyed Samurai - just a great revenge story with gorgeous animation.
solarvector@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 7 pts · 160d
Blue Eyed Samurai just kept hitting in different ways. Awesome story, animation, and characters. Much more than I expected.
STHayden@piefed.social · 17 pts · 160d
so many for this list!
Pazuzu@midwest.social · 4 pts · 159d
Have you seen 'Knights of Guinevere'? Same creator as owl house. Incredibly well done. Just 1 episode out currently but it was recently greenlit for a full season. Free to watch on youtube
STHayden@piefed.social · 1 pts · 159d
yes. an interesting one! lot of odd and unique choices.
darakan@piefed.social · 4 pts · 160d
A lot of these were very close to being in my personal top 4 of the past few years.
Grass@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 160d
that's quite some variety
Olgratin_Magmatoe@slrpnk.net · 14 pts · 160d
Fuck.
I loved Scavenger's Reign, and now you're telling me I gotta watch these ones too?
Well if I must, I shall.
brucethemoose@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 160d
On top of what OP said, Pantheon is incredible. It's one of the best TV shows ever, and you are required to watch it.
darakan@piefed.social · 7 pts · 160d
I think there's a lot of similarity between Scavenger's Reign and Common Side Effects. Many of the same people worked on it. Pantheon is also a great slow burn scifi.
Mighty Nein is quite different. It's fantasy, and leans into overt comedy a lot more than the other 3. But still very good.
craigers@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 159d
I thoroughly enjoyed common side effects, and I really liked scavengers reign. Based on this thread I just binged the first season of pantheon and holy fucking shit, everyone needs to watch this.
jacksilver@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 160d
I think another one that's worth adding is Infinity Train. It's targeted at a slightly younger audience, but is a great sci-fi animated show.
Each season follows its own characters with a little bit of overlap.
Schmoo@slrpnk.net · 11 pts · 160d
Scavengers Reign and Common Side Effects share the same creators, and are both very good! It's interesting that they both have themes related to harmony with nature and the various relationships that humans form with it, good and bad.
Pantheon is also fantastic, super heady sci-fi with a lot to say about the modern tech industry, and loads of references to sci-fi classics. It's clear the writers are huge sci-fi geeks and their enthusiasm comes through in the show.
I haven't seen The Mighty Nein but if it's being grouped with the other shows here it must be worth a watch. It does seem like the odd one out of the bunch though since it's fantasy rather than sci-fi like the other 3.
massive_bereavement@fedia.io · 2 pts · 160d
Same here. I loved all three, though Scavenger's Reign feels like the most polished.
deacon@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 160d
I need to go back and try Scavengers Reign again because Common Side Effects is fucking incredible.
craigers@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 159d
OP first off Thank you for turning me on to pantheon because I did not get the memo this shit is phenomenal. Idk if it belongs on this list quite since it's a movie and not a series, but a lot of folks have not seen "Mars Express" and it was also a really good animated scifi. Has that detective noir expanse/ghost in the shell vibe.
iturnedintoanewt@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 159d
Yeah. I feel a lot of the other recommendations around are for a lot younger audiences, but I'll agree Mars Express is a lot more in that vibe, and an amazingly French Ghost in the Shell.
darakan@piefed.social · 1 pts · 159d
Mars Express is great. Definitely a good recommendation.
zaphod@sopuli.xyz · 9 pts · 160d
In hindsight Scavengers Reign reminds me a lot of La Planète Sauvage.
RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 160d
Common Side Effects was such a stressful watch for me.
They put that turtle in mortal peril every damn episode.
dkppunk@piefed.social · 7 pts · 160d
I know this is a place for animation, but if you enjoyed Pantheon, I highly suggest checking out Hidden Girl and Other Stories by Ken Liu. The tv show is based off of loosely connected stories from that anthology and the stories are great. Another short story was turned into the episode Good Hunting on Love, Death, and Robots.
Edit: corrected Love, Sex, and Robots to Love, Death, and Robots
9bananas@feddit.org · 6 pts · 159d
is that the porn parody of Love, Death, and Robots? ;-P
dkppunk@piefed.social · 3 pts · 159d
Hah! Probably.
You do have the correct title though :D
selokichtli@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 159d
Frieren really got me. It can be a bit too much in a couple of episodes, it's anime, but it's great. If you haven't watched, Avatar the last airbender is really a must. Incredible show. Someone mentioned Bojack Horseman, which I concur, but maybe a show for young adults. I was obsessed with Serial Experiments Lain as a teenager, but maybe it's too dated now.
mrtuttle@lemmy.sdf.org · 1 pts · 150d
i haven't watched lain in over a decade, but i listened to the theme song a month ago and it's still great.
https://youtu.be/Uoox9fpmDP0
Philharmonic3@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 159d
Frieren is never too much. It is peak. It's a masterpiece. Same with Avatar
selokichtli@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 159d
IDK about it being a masterpiece, as it is still unfinished, but it's really an outstanding show. When I say it can be a bit too much is because of all the philosophy it can involve, or all of the 'magic theory', which can be sometimes daunting. Or maybe lost in translation.
veniasilente@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 159d
Mighty Nein and Scavenger's Reign are defo two shows I go above and beyond to pirate, and could even justify a direct donation to the creators. Mighty Nein is set in the same universe as Vox Machina and uses the same cast of voice actors, to boot.
Another ones I really like the 2D animation style are X-Men '97, which basically uses a cleaned-up version of the style of the '90s Spider-Man animated series before they went to 3D backgrounds; and Wakfu tho this one does more notorious mixing with other animation styles. There's also timeless classics of 2D animation, such as Samurai Jack.
glimse@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 160d
Common Side Effects sometimes feels like it's drawn over real footage. Not because it's super accurate but the way the camera moves
STHayden@piefed.social · 2 pts · 160d
if you want another trippy show that IS drawn over real footage check out Undone, which was an amazon show.
glimse@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 159d
That is a WILD looking show, wow
brucethemoose@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 160d
You have good taste.
Watch both Avatar series if you haven't already. The Vox Machina/Meighty Nein makers are shameless Avatar fans; you'll recognize the references immediately.
Also:
DOTA: Dragon's Blood
DCAU. I'd recommend Justice League, BTAS, and (though technically not DCAU) Young Justice, specifically.
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 160d
I hadn't heard of any of these but as someone who loves Avatar and enjoyed vox machina I'll have to check them out
GuerillaGorillas@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 160d
Great list, especially Pantheon, it’s one of my favorite shows of all time. The mix of technological ethics, existential horror, conspiracy, and more are done fantastically. I just wish the voice audio mixing was better, but it gets a pass since they were doing it during COVID I believe. It got unduly overlooked due to the streaming weirdness, but I think it’s all on Netflix now thankfully.
If you liked it check out Mars Express, it’s a movie that touches on a lot of similar themes in a cyberpunk/neo-noir context with some amazing animation.
Blitz@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 159d
anyone can recommend something with the vibe of scavengers reign ... sci fi, no traditional story arc...
CH3DD4R_G0BL1N@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 159d
Infinity train. I can’t remember if it’s still available to steam or you have to sail for it, but it’s worth it either way.
veniasilente@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 159d
It has to be sailed for. It got so bad with the distributors, that the creator actually officially supported the idea of pirating it.
CH3DD4R_G0BL1N@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 159d
Ah yea, I remember that now. If there was ever an ethical justification for piracy, Infinity Train is it. Also made me hate a man who I’d never heard of before, one David Zaslav
stringere@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 159d
Gandahar is an old animated movie but it is what Svenger's Reign reminded me of.
Gerudo@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 160d
If you haven't played Dispatch, it was cowritten by critical role, the team behind Mighty Nein and Vox Machina. Almost positive it was animated in 3D, but looks 2d through its art direction.
DragonAce@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 160d
I can confirm, I was terribly impressed with Mighty Nein. Really good show.
Levi@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 160d
Hmm, I might have to check out Pantheon...
Well if we are recommending 2d shows, I gotta rep up Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Season 2 came out just a little while ago and it was as fun as the first season.
tastetheplague@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 159d
Common Side Effects was great. One day I decided to check out an episode or two, and ended up watching the entire season by accident. Scavengers Reign also rules.
dil@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 160d
I have the opposite taste, I like most animated shows, not any of these. Tried a few episodes of each multiple times, hasn't hit/clicked.
dil@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 160d
Don't remember scavenger's reign, might try that again
paris@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 160d
aeronmelon@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 160d
Replace Pantheon with The Legend of Vox Machina.
TheSambassador@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 160d
Have you seen Pantheon? I've only seen a few episodes of Vox Machina but Pantheon is legitimately great and very interesting, though also completely different tone and vibe wise.
darakan@piefed.social · 1 pts · 160d
I liked Vox Machina a lot, and every season has been better than the last. Personally, I think Pantheon edges it out for me.