Anime Recommendation and Suggestion Query

[Ryllharu]

In addition to Pandadice's suggestions (not so much for Beck though, a lot of them are still smartasses):

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - They deal with adult subjects, but are very much controlled by the whims of adults.

Noein - kind of. I'm a bit on the fence about this one since the structure of the series resembles Durarara in a number of ways.

I think Daphne in the Brilliant Blue has the feel you're looking for. Put the ecchi and the comedy aside, and it is very much about a main cast with a very limited scope to the reality of their world.

Just throwing this one in there for a fun variation on your theme: Jubei-chan - She's the center of the anime universe, but she really really doesn't want to be.

Otogizoushi - Wherein our period heroes attempt to accomplish a great task to bring peace to Kyoto during a time of suffering and strife. (Be forewarned, second half takes place during modern day, and is a bit duller.)

Higurashi of course. Season 1, Season 2, and Season 3

Correspondingly, Umineko. Again, children being toyed with by adults or other beings superior to them.

Gantz - They might feel like hot shit within their microcosm, but they're doing something without knowing who controls it or even why.

Pumpkin Scissors - All adults in this one, but the leads are military who strongly believe that they are doing the right thing (post-war reconstruction liaisons), but are frequently caught up in the politics and infighting of their world. There are some overconfident people, but their motivations come off very human.

edit: I can't believe I forgot this one.
Tegami Bachi - Letter Bee - If there ever was a more apt series for what you want, it is this one. Lag has no clue what kind of world he is in. The whole world they are in is depressing when you look at it from our own, and on top of it, there is more despair and a whole lot of conspiracies and things he really has no clue about. Parts of the the series are a bit cheesy, but by the time the series gets to the cliffhanger ending (luckily season 2 is already greenlit) we finally get a glimpse of how in over his head he is. If you can get past the crying in every episode (or at least laugh at it like Buff and I did), it is well worth the watch.


If you have seen any of these and disagree with them, let me know and I will reconfigure.