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Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
9 anime only a genius will understand
Source: Wikifandom Some anime is popcorn. These are puzzles . This isn't your Saturday background binge — it's a full-brain workout. These shows twist timelines, question reality, and unpack psychology like it's a party trick. They're not just deep — they're intelligent, complex, and emotionally exhausting (in the best way). If you love symbolism, layered storytelling, and debating endings on Reddit at 2 AM, you're in the right place. Welcome to the top 9 anime for geniuses — the kind of stories that make you smarter just by surviving them. Buckle up. You're about to be entertained, emotionally ruined, and intellectually blessed. 9 anime series for geniuses like you Monster Source: Crunchyroll This slow-burn thriller is the anime's answer to Dostoevsky. Dr. Tenma's decision to save one life over another unleashes Johan Liebert — a villain so softly terrifying, he'll haunt your brain like a quiet scream. Monster isn't about action — it's about morality, guilt, trauma, and what happens when you stare too long into the abyss. Every frame oozes tension, every arc peels back something darker. It's not for casuals — it's for smart, introspective viewers who want a brilliantly written psychological mystery that feels less like anime and more like literature. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Undo Steins;Gate Source: Crunchyroll Time travel with real stakes? Steins;Gate is a rare mix of genius-level sci-fi and emotional depth. Okabe's goofy exterior hides a painful descent into tragedy as he realises that every timeline costs something — sometimes everything. Quantum physics, butterfly effects, multiple world theories — all wrapped in a narrative that's both heartbreaking and head-spinning. This isn't your average smart anime. It breaks you emotionally and intellectually at the same time. El Psy Congroo, bb. Serial Experiments Lain Source: Crunchyroll Lain is what happens when the internet becomes self-aware and your sense of self disintegrates. What starts as a shy schoolgirl navigating digital messages quickly spirals into a slow, glitchy unravelling of reality. This show predicted internet identity, digital consciousness, and online isolation before those were even terms. There's no hand-holding — just silence, static, and one of the most brilliant, disturbing, intelligent plots in anime history. Lain doesn't explain itself. But if you're smart enough to decode it, you're in for a philosophical masterpiece. Neon Genesis Evangelion Source: Crunchyroll People think Evangelion is about robots. Those people are wrong. It's about broken kids, metaphysical trauma, religious symbolism, and the sheer existential weight of being alive. Shinji, Asuka , and Rei aren't just characters — they're case studies. Every angel battle is a metaphor, and every ending (yes, all of them) makes less sense until it makes too much sense. It's uncomfortable, abstract, and dense — an intelligent, emotional fever dream that leaves you spiritually shaken. Welcome to the anime that launched a thousand therapy sessions. Paranoia Agent Source: Crunchyroll A golden bat. A boy on rollerblades. And society is crumbling under the weight of its collective delusions. Paranoia Agent starts as a murder mystery and morphs into a cultural critique wrapped in surrealism. Every character represents a social lie, every scene a symbol. It's smart, weird, and way too real. For viewers who love symbolism, psychological chaos, and complex narrative structures, this anime hits different. Satoshi Kon didn't come to comfort you — he came to wake you up. Ergo Proxy Source: Crunchyroll Ergo Proxy drops you into a bleak future and doesn't explain a thing — and that's the charm. It's dystopian, philosophical, and unapologetically smart. As Re-L investigates a string of murders involving ' AutoReivs ,' the show dives into themes like identity, death, memory, and free will — all while quoting Descartes and Nietzsche like it's casual conversation. The story is cryptic, the visuals gothic, and the existential dread? Chef's kiss. It's for people who love deep, intelligent anime that isn't afraid to make you feel lost. Paprika Source: Crunchyroll Before Inception made dreams cool, Paprika turned them into technicolour chaos. This Satoshi Kon film is a visual and philosophical explosion, diving into dreamscapes, identity, and subconscious desire. It's dazzling, overwhelming, and designed to make your brain go 'wait, what?' every 10 seconds. But underneath the madness lies a brilliantly intelligent commentary on the boundary between reality and imagination. You'll need multiple viewings — and maybe a strong espresso — but the genius is worth the effort. Kaiba Source: Crunchyroll Looking like a Saturday morning cartoon but thinking like a post-human thesis, Kaiba is a brilliant sci-fi story about memory, class, and consciousness. In a world where your soul can be copied, stolen, or erased, what does it mean to be 'you'? Beneath the strange shapes and pastel colours is a deep, emotional exploration of inequality and loss. This is smart anime in disguise — unsettling, beautiful, and impossible to forget. The Tatami Time Machine Blues Source: Crunchyroll This hilarious yet intricately plotted time-travel anime proves that genius doesn't always have to be grim. A busted AC sets off a temporal mess of overlapping loops, ridiculous logic, and surprisingly deep thoughts. It's the perfect follow-up to Tatami Galaxy , but this time with more chaos, more meta, and more room for brainy laughs. A great pick for the smart viewers who love clever writing, complex structure, and time loops that fold in on themselves like origami. These aren't anime you watch while folding laundry. These are the ones you pause, analyse, rewatch, and emotionally recover from. They're layered, experimental, and perfect for genius-level viewers who want more than surface-level thrills. So, whether you're chasing symbolism, decoding philosophy, or just looking for a story that respects your IQ, this list is your playground. Also read| Top 10 Naruto wallpapers for desktop, mobiles, tablets and more every true fan will love
The Guardian
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Someone compared it to Bohemian Rhapsody': Wookie on making UK garage classic Battle
People say Battle reminds them of some really good years for Britain as a country. We were entering a new millennium, everyone was running their own business, making money and the underground record industry was thriving. I wanted to do a UK garage version of Southern Freeez, by the 80s UK funk band Freeez. Initially, Battle was going to be another instrumental, and then Lain, the singer, came in the room and goes: 'Let me put something on this.' I was like: 'I'm not sure it's really a vocal song.' But Lain stacked the vocals, and someone compared it to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, with all the harmonies. At the time, some people believed that I had copied a dubplate by [UK garage figure] DJ EZ. It is similar – his bassline does something like that. But I know I didn't copy him, because I didn't go out that much! So I'd never really heard EZ at that stage. I didn't know Battle was going to be as big as it was or have the impact it did – it was just another tune. Then it started to float around: a few DJs had it, the A&R people. Ears started to prick up. I think we added a level of sophistication to garage, even though people like MJ Cole and TJ Cases were already doing that. When we were trying to get Battle on the radio, one station said it was too intelligent for their listeners and they wouldn't play it. Battle eventually reached No 10 in August 2000. Louise Redknapp got the No 9 spot by 2,000 copies. It allowed me to appear on a TV show that I had watched my whole life as I was growing up: Top of the Pops. A lot of people say: 'Oh, garage is on the comeback.' But for me, it has been for the last 13 years. I started DJing in 2012 and every year I'm working. It's been well received by a wider audience ever since, younger and younger. Jason Chue, AKA Wookie, was knocking about in jungle, drum'n'bass, trying to siphon off that whole energy and then putting songs to it. I remember him saying about Battle: 'I've done something strange with the intro.' I was like: 'No, just play it.' He was almost apologising for it – but it was like a godsend. That intro had such an urgency. It felt like it was piercing your soul. I said: 'Give me a minute.' Then I walked out and I don't even know if it was half an hour, but I came back and I had written all of the vocal. That's divine. For the song title we wanted one word. There are a lot of three-word titles, but one word is strong. Whether it's bringing up three kids on your own, or addiction, everyone's battling through something, every day. People call Battle a gospel song. Back then I was doing a lot of regular R&B but I really wanted to do something that involved my faith. When Jazzie B [founder of Soul II Soul and mentor to Wookie] called me about working with Jason, I thought he was going to say: 'No, we don't want that.' But he said: 'Just go for it.' We had all these record label bosses trying to sign Battle – one guy had a Maserati and he blew out his speakers playing it. Months later he said: 'I didn't realise I was blowing out my speakers to a gospel tune.' I first realised Battle was going to be big at [seminal UK garage night] Twice As Nice. Jason said: 'You should come down to Twice As Nice because I think this tune's going.' I was a bit worried because I don't really go out. So they played the tune and everyone started going: 'Booooo!' OK, that's not a good sign. But Jason was like, 'No, no, no – that means they really like it!' Battle has endured because of what it means to the person who hears it. Back then, we would do PAs and people would say: 'That song – my mum was going through cancer and that helped me.' And, 25 years later, someone said: 'While I was in prison, that song got me through.' That's everyone. That's anyone. I remember Jason sending me a picture of someone who tattooed the middle eight of Battle on her forearm: 'I can always rely / On my faith to get by.' Wookie's new single Back 2 Us (ft Kyno) is out now
The Guardian
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Someone compared it to Bohemian Rhapsody': Wookie on making UK garage classic Battle
People say Battle reminds them of some really good years for Britain as a country. We were entering a new millennium, everyone was running their own business, making money and the underground record industry was thriving. I wanted to do a UK garage version of Southern Freeez, by the 80s UK funk band Freeez. Initially, Battle was going to be another instrumental, and then Lain, the singer, came in the room and goes: 'Let me put something on this.' I was like: 'I'm not sure it's really a vocal song.' But Lain stacked the vocals, and someone compared it to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, with all the harmonies. At the time, some people believed that I had copied a dubplate by [UK garage figure] DJ EZ. It is similar – his bassline does something like that. But I know I didn't copy him, because I didn't go out that much! So I'd never really heard EZ at that stage. I didn't know Battle was going to be as big as it was or have the impact it did – it was just another tune. Then it started to float around: a few DJs had it, the A&R people. Ears started to prick up. I think we added a level of sophistication to garage, even though people like MJ Cole and TJ Cases were already doing that. When we were trying to get Battle on the radio, one station said it was too intelligent for their listeners and they wouldn't play it. Battle eventually reached No 10 in August 2000. Louise Redknapp got the No 9 spot by 2,000 copies. It allowed me to appear on a TV show that I had watched my whole life as I was growing up: Top of the Pops. A lot of people say: 'Oh, garage is on the comeback.' But for me, it has been for the last 13 years. I started DJing in 2012 and every year I'm working. It's been well received by a wider audience ever since, younger and younger. Jason Chue, AKA Wookie, was knocking about in jungle, drum'n'bass, trying to siphon off that whole energy and then putting songs to it. I remember him saying about Battle: 'I've done something strange with the intro.' I was like: 'No, just play it.' He was almost apologising for it – but it was like a godsend. That intro had such an urgency. It felt like it was piercing your soul. I said: 'Give me a minute.' Then I walked out and I don't even know if it was half an hour, but I came back and I had written all of the vocal. That's divine. For the song title we wanted one word. There are a lot of three-word titles, but one word is strong. Whether it's bringing up three kids on your own, or addiction, everyone's battling through something, every day. People call Battle a gospel song. Back then I was doing a lot of regular R&B but I really wanted to do something that involved my faith. When Jazzie B [founder of Soul II Soul and mentor to Wookie] called me about working with Jason, I thought he was going to say: 'No, we don't want that.' But he said: 'Just go for it.' We had all these record label bosses trying to sign Battle – one guy had a Maserati and he blew out his speakers playing it. Months later he said: 'I didn't realise I was blowing out my speakers to a gospel tune.' I first realised Battle was going to be big at [seminal UK garage night] Twice As Nice. Jason said: 'You should come down to Twice As Nice because I think this tune's going.' I was a bit worried because I don't really go out. So they played the tune and everyone started going: 'Booooo!' OK, that's not a good sign. But Jason was like, 'No, no, no – that means they really like it!' Battle has endured because of what it means to the person who hears it. Back then, we would do PAs and people would say: 'That song – my mum was going through cancer and that helped me.' And, 25 years later, someone said: 'While I was in prison, that song got me through.' That's everyone. That's anyone. I remember Jason sending me a picture of someone who tattooed the middle eight of Battle on her forearm: 'I can always rely / On my faith to get by.' Wookie's new single Back 2 Us (ft Kyno) is out now
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Luigi Mangione Faces Potential Torturous Fate As Pam Bondi Seeks Death Penalty
President Trump's no-nonsense Attorney General Pam Bondi has made it clear she wants Luigi Mangione executed for allegedly committing murder — and, if she gets her way, the 26-year-old Ivy League grad faces a torturous fate, TMZ has learned. TMZ interviewed University of Richmond Law Professor Corinna Lain, who provided us with a road map of what Luigi can potentially expect if he is federally convicted of stalking and murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The federal prosecutor presents aggravating factors to the court, and the jury must unanimously agree on those factors before the judge decides whether to impose the death penalty. In federal cases, the death penalty typically results in lethal injection. Lain, an expert in capital punishment who wrote a book called, "Secrets of the Killing State, The Untold Story of Lethal Injection," tells TMZ ... Luigi would first be strapped to a gurney in a death chamber and an executioner will find a vein and insert a catheter. She says some inmates are pricked multiple times as the executor searches for a vein ... mainly because they are ailing drug users with bad veins ... but Luigi is young and spry and this doesn't seem to pose an issue. Once the catheter is inserted in the vein, Lain says non-medical prison guards carry out the execution with syringes from another room called the "execution anteroom." This room is next to the execution room and the two spaces are connected by a tube running through a hole in the separating wall ... the tube is used to carry drugs from one room to the next. On one end of the tube are syringes with the lethal drugs ... and the tube runs into the catheter needle in the prisoner's arm. Guards push down on the syringes, which deliver Pentobarbital -- a euthanasia drug -- to the prisoner's body. The drug immediately floods the heart and then the lungs. After a couple minutes, the prisoner falls unconscious, and it could take up to 18 minutes before they die. Even if the prisoner is unconscious and drugged to oblivion, Lain tells us the prisoner could still be feeling pain ... but can't respond to it. She says scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates it's very likely the drugs cause extreme pain and needless suffering ... in other words, torturing people to death. Lain says lethal injection sometimes causes Acute Pulmonary Edema, which occurs when fluid seeps into the lungs within seconds and minutes ... making it hard to breathe ... this is life-threatening. Another issue ... the non-medical prison guards carrying out the execution. Lain says the guards are not medically trained and when they administer the drugs by pushing down on the syringe they can sometimes push too hard, delivering too much of the substance too fast, thus blowing the vein and causing it to collapse. If this happens, she says the drug spills into the surrounding tissue ... creating a big problem. In one case, Lain says the prisoner woke up in the midst of his own execution in pain ... and in another, she says the prisoner had huge chemical burns on both arms with his skin sloughing off. This can't help Luigi sleep at night. 🤷🏽♂️
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amarillo council approves Tecovas Terrace, affordable housing project in Barrio area
The Amarillo City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution in support of a 9% housing tax credit application for Woda Cooper Development Inc., advancing plans for Tecovas Terrace, a proposed affordable housing project on Southeast 28th Avenue between South Wilson Street and Ross Street. The resolution allows Woda Cooper to seek tax credit funding from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), a key step in financing the new construction project. "This is an important opportunity to bring high-quality, affordable housing to an area that has seen little new development in recent decades," said Jason Lain, vice president of Woda Cooper Development. "With this project, we hope to provide housing stability and economic revitalization for families in Amarillo." Tecovas Terrace is expected to include 280 units, with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. Units will be reserved for residents earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income, making them accessible to lower-income families. Teresa Kennedy, president of the Barrio Neighborhood Planning Organization, emphasized the significance of expanding affordable housing options in the area. "This is something our community desperately needs," Kennedy said. "With nearly half of our families struggling with housing costs, projects like this can provide stability and a foundation for future success." Lain added that the project could serve as a catalyst for broader community improvements. "When we bring in a project like this, it not only provides much-needed housing, but it also encourages investment in the surrounding area," Lain said. "We've seen in other communities that new, high-quality housing developments can lead to revitalization, as nearby property owners take the opportunity to upgrade their own homes and businesses." More: Amarillo City Council takeaways: $250K security funding and privacy and health concerns In addition to backing the affordable housing project, the council addressed several other key initiatives: Medical Center Park renaming: The council approved a resolution to rename Medical Center Park (commonly known as Medi Park) to John Ward Memorial Park, honoring Amarillo's longtime city manager who served from 1983 to 2005. Childcare property tax exemptions: Council members considered an ordinance that would grant ad valorem property tax exemptions for qualifying childcare facilities. The measure is similar to one adopted by the City of Canyon in August 2024 and is intended to support the operation of local childcare centers. The Amarillo Area Foundation and other community leaders have raised concerns about the lack of affordable, accessible childcare in the region, arguing that it affects both families and local businesses. Producer Owned Beef construction extension: Officials granted an extension for the construction completion deadline of Producer Owned Beef, a project expected to bolster Amarillo's economy. Georgia Street reconstruction: The council approved plans for the reconstruction of Georgia Street from Hollywood Road to Burk Lane, addressing long-standing infrastructure needs. During the session, Mayor Cole Stanley outlined a proposal to establish a "sunset committee" aimed at reviewing and modernizing Amarillo's building codes and standards. 'We're not empowering this committee to make changes on its own,' Stanley said. 'It's about bringing expert insight to the table so that council and staff can make informed decisions.' The proposed citizen-led panel — referred to by some as a "codes and standards task force" — would initially include chairs from Amarillo's various boards and commissions, such as the planning and zoning board. Participation would be voluntary, with an option for select council members to join later to ensure alignment with broader city policies. Stanley outlined a phased approach, with the first phase focusing on updates to the International Energy Conservation Code. 'We want to identify where outdated regulations create unnecessary hurdles for businesses, without compromising safety,' he said. City officials are exploring funding options, including municipal dollars and federal grants, to bring in outside experts for technical guidance. Council members raised concerns about the scope of the committee's authority. Councilman Don Tipps questioned whether Amarillo could deviate from state or federal energy codes, while Councilman Less Simpson emphasized the need for clear guidelines to prevent individual agendas from influencing the process. Stanley assured the council that any recommendations would require final approval before implementation. 'The committee's role is advisory,' he said. 'It will work closely with city staff and outside experts to develop proposals that are technically sound and economically viable.' He also suggested that committee members serve one-year terms to encourage fresh perspectives. The discussion concluded with an agreement to refine the committee's operational guidelines and targets. City officials plan to reconvene once detailed proposals are drafted, aiming to streamline regulations while reinforcing Amarillo's reputation as a business-friendly community. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo City Council OKs Barrio affordable housing project
