Shinsekai Yori (From the New World):
Trailer: Extended fan-made trailer
What it's about: In a far-flung post-apocalyptic future survives an isolated society of small Japanese villages. The community is rigidly controlled and stratified, with a great focus placed upon developing and restraining the natural psychic powers that all humans begin to demonstrate upon hitting puberty. The story follows a group of children as they begin to question the indoctrination imposed upon them and are steadily presented with the reasons and justifications behind it.
Why should you watch it?: Shinsekai Yori has, hands down, the best world-building I’ve ever seen in an anime. It takes its central premise – ubiquitous psychic powers – and follows through on the societal consequences that the existence of such a thing would have. As the show goes on, it’s made clear that there really are no “heroes” or “villains”, that everyone has their own entirely self-consistent justifications for their actions, which nonetheless conflict with everyone else’s. It's a wonderfully morally grey narrative. As an added bonus, Shinsekai Yori is a rare work in that it treats its audience as intelligent: it doesn't directly narrate connections as the characters make them, it shows you flashes and assumes you'll keep up.
Caveats: The start of the show is slow, with much more effort being put into setting up a solid foundation for the latter half and in establishing the unique setting than in showing things actually happening. This pays off, but the "mystery" of the early episodes is not enough to sustain interest by itself at times. "Plot holes", particularly with regards to character actions or motivations, only make sense with information gained later on. The sudden time-skip into adolescence around the half-way point makes for a very jarring transition episode with every character (including background ones) apparently having paired off romantically. Again, justified later, but still a bit of a sudden change-up from what had been happening up to that point.
Theme(s): Liberty vs Security – the benefits and drawbacks of censorship. Identity, conformity and indoctrination. Legitimacy of violence. Discrimination.
Similar works: Psycho-Pass shows a dystopia struggling with the same problem of security versus liberty, but takes a more action-intensive approach. Outside of anime, the most obvious parallel is with Shyalaman’s The Village, though Shinsekai Yori is a much deeper, much more thoughtful work. Also, The Giver.
Trailer: PV Trailer
What it's about: They call him "Smile", because he never does. While not as personable or charismatic as his friend and fellow club member Peco, Tsukimoto has begun to attract attention from the bigger ping pong societies as a potential pro-player. But his heart isn't in the game; he lost his reason to play some time ago, and he's fully aware that to reach the heights of any sport, one must be prepared to sacrifice everything else.
Why you should watch it: This is a sports anime, and simultaneously it isn’t. Unlike the standard entries in the genre, Ping Pong does not obsessively detail strategies and gameplay - it uses the sport as a lens through which to view the protagonists themselves. Every single character in the ensemble cast is both heroic and monstrous, obsessed in their own way, many willing to sacrifice everything they are upon the altar of the sport they love. Masaaki Yuasa is one of the most supremely self-confident directors in Japan today, and he's one of the few willing to treat anime more as a medium than a genre, employing the tools that animation provides without indulging in the clichés. I'd be willing to say that Ping Pong is his masterpiece. The cinematography and soundtrack are without peer, and the show is one of those works where every element complements and builds off of the others to create a greater whole. If you want to see some of the best that anime has to offer as a medium, and if you have any interest in character dramas at all, Ping Pong is a show that you just have to watch.
Caveats: The art style is pretty polarising. The character designs are oftentimes quite ugly at first glance. But give the show a few episodes and you'll find yourself warming up to it, particularly with the fluidity it lends to the game scenes themselves.
Themes: What does it take to succeed? Ambition? Talent? Passion? Hard work? No matter what you bring to the table, there will always be someone who has sacrificed just as much and is willing to continue doing so if it's what it takes to win. The question is, at what point is it no longer worth it to you to carry on, and can you live with yourself if you don't?
Similar works: Chihayafuru. The execution also reminds me a lot of the Monogatari series, though instead of exploring the mind of a sexual deviant, it explores competition and obsession.