Babylon is an anime adaption of a novel series written by Mado Nozaki, it is a psychological thriller which showcases a possibility about Tokyo (residing within Machida, Sagamihara, Tama and Hachioji) becoming an independent state, separated from Japan. City’s one of the best investigator Zen Seizaki, who is very determined due to his dedication for justice as he must solve the case that could change the course of history! In comparison to Babylon, what are other anime that includes some of its signature concept like reviewing current Japan politics, solving mysteries and maintaining peace? Find out in our top 6 anime!
Stand My Heroes: Piece of Truth
Making its first anime appearance along with Babylon, people can also watch Stand My Heroes: Piece of Truth. The anime is an adaption of famous mobile otome game, Rei Izumi, a dishonored detective, has been given an opportunity to redeem herself as she has been given a special task of an inspector for a new department related to narcotics called STAND. STAND is hiring agents from prosecutor’s office, law enforcement and high society to deal with cases related to unlawful drugs and Rei has the duty to figure out if she can find a worthy member to add in the team. Rei is not only inclined to get the disgraced factor off as a detective but also the thing that makes her extraordinary for this job is because she is invulnerable to the effects of drugs so if you try to kill her through ammonia, well, you’re about to get smacked in the face instead.
If you compare it with Babylon, Stand My Heroes broadly deals with keeping peace and government, adding otome in the mix. Zen can relate to Rei and his dedicated struggle for equality and peace but overdoes it ignoring the most critical part of the story. But in contrast to Zen who doesn’t have team mates to back her up, Rei has a team of good looking men who motivates her for her decision (or degrade her). Though there are tons of male character but most of them share the same personality we see in reverse harem. But it does its job making the perfect companions to interact with Rei, which helps Rei to learn a lot of stuff through their judgement.
Psycho-Pass
In a near future, a new system has been invented in Tokyo for law enforcement department which has the ability to stop crime at its seed, a person’s mental state can be revealed through a device. Akane Tsunemori is the latest crew member who enlist herself for honorable reasons. When she finds the true motives of Sibyl System, it completely changes her perspective, which makes her choose a tough decision of either to stay within system and adapt, or to move on to different job. Moreover Shougo Makishima, the antagonist of the show and the master behind all the terrorist attacks is on the loose (with the ability to bypass Sybil system).
While Psycho-Pass clearly is loosely based on the masterpieces of Philip K. Dick (the writer of the novels which had their own live action adaption of Blade Runner, The Minority Report and Total Recall), it features a lot of factors that are mutual with Babylon. They both focus on a dystopian future and both of their protagonist has the task to enforce law but not only that they are seen to unravel the dark mystery behind their law enforcing firm which is leading to complicated to situations. In terms of imagery both anime takes their most of the scenes at night showcasing their dark hues, which speaks about the theme of not just the world, but the duties of Akane and Zen in which they are encountering injustice in the dark. Babylon consists of dystopian scenery related to political views while Phycho-Pass is clearly a world of dystopian distress.
Higashi no Eden (Eden of the East)
On November 22, 2010, Japan was struck by nuclear bombs several times but still manage to withstand the attack. Since the source was unknown, the Japanese later on forget about it. Sometime later in future, Saki Morimi goes abroad for a study trip to US, specifically NYC and DC. While visiting White House, she meets someone who coincidently happens to have Japanese nationality, she sees him naked and apparently is amnesiac. Later on they visit an apartment that smoothly hands over fake passports and the guy acquires the name Akira Takizawa. When move back to Japan they find out that another missile has attack Japan. To make the situation weirder, Akira’s receives a message showing 8.2 billion yen on the screen and due to the rule of the “game,” he is only allowed to use the money to protect Japan. He has no choice but to forfeit the money if he decides to use for personal means.
If you’re interested with a show related to political conspiracy and thriller, then Higashi no Eden should be added in your watch-list right away. While its plot makes it a bit confusing and harder to grasp, but the thrilling adventure will likely seem appealing to the viewers. Babylon gives a unique aura on Japan’s state of democracy with how politicians how uses the power of votes for personal profit. But Higashi no Eden is noticeably political because of its constant addressing of the domestic problem of NEETs (abbreviating into Not in Education, Employment or Training), which has curse Japan for the past 20 years.
B: The Beginning
B: The Beginning is the Netflix show which excellently blends sci-fi, crime thriller and supernatural. It is one of the most distinctive anime series of Netflix. In a country called Cremona, a serial killer called Killer B is roaming around freely and the local government reclusively appoint a modest detective Keith Flick to find him. He teams up with a mysterious investigator and they try solve the case together.
Babylon does not count as a supernatural anime but still there are many similarities between Babylon and B: The Beginning. B: The Beginning is set in a fictional place but it is a lot like cities in the real world. The same thing can be seen in Babylon in which the location are influenced from Tokyo’s Wester district. While, the locations of Cremona in B: The Beginning is a lot like Western Europe due to its building designs and landscape. Apart of the fictional cities with real world locations, the anime is completely based on mystery. Both anime focuses on providing justice to the victims rather than just solving those mysteries and that is why you should watch B: The Beginning.
Zankyou no Terror (Terror in Resonance)
Zankyou no Terror is the work of Shinichiro Watanabe who is the creator of Cowboy Bebop, Space Dandy, and Carole & Tuesday. Zankyou no Terror focuses on terrorist attack that occurs in Tokyo. Who was behind it and for what reason? The two high school boys who call themselves Nine and Twelve and want to “wake up the world.”
In comparison to Babylon and other anime listed above, it’s quite clear in this anime who is responsible for a certain action and for what reason. The viewers can see both perspectives, Nine and Twelve and the investigators who area after them. The modern politics is what makes Zankyou no Terror similar to Babylon in various ways. Babylon is more like an analysis of the modern political system where the power is wrongly used rather than for the people. While Zankyou no Terror also shows the corruption of authorities in the post-World-War II setting.
Monster
Monster is the anime adaptation of a popular manga by Naoki Urasawa. It revolves around a neuro surgeon who aims for something good but ends up in a worst case scenario. It begins with Dr. Kenzou Tenma, who has a choice to make between two patients in critical conditions, since there is no other surgeon that skilled. One patient is a mayor with cerebral hemorrhage. The other one is a young boy. He decides to save the boy while the other patient dies after which Dr. Tenma is deprived of his promotion and his fiancée leaves him. In future, after almost nine years that boy turns out to be psychopathic killer and Dr. Tenma tries to make him stop.
Although Monster and Babylon are quite different from each other but the concept is similar with. However, the way both series portrays it differently. Both series are political thriller but Monster has different approach and external viewpoint compared to Babylon. The serial killer Monster is the outcome of a Cold War Eastern European experimentations and therefore, it portrays the question of responsibility as it is not necessarily the individual at fault and the society can also be blamed for such outcome. Babylon shows the same concept but in a different manner. Zen takes the responsibility as a prosecutor, for not just personal reason but for the sake of justice in general. While in Monster, it is the question of morality as Dr. Tenma’s bad choice of saving the future killer instead of the mayor made him take the responsibility.
All six anime in the list are political thriller with intriguing plotline. Although most of them including Babylon portrays the political nature of Japan but it’s understandable for viewers from all around the world. Some anime like Zankyou no Terror, Monster take place during post World War II that is relatable to not only viewers from Japan but everyone from any background. There are people like Zen who wants to do good for the society but those in power become the obstacle who have their own motives. But, justice always conquer and that are some similar qualities that make these anime highly recommended for those who like Babylon.
