So been getting into anime quite a bit recently...
At the moment my favourites (from best to worst) are -
Monster
Phantom Requiem for the Phantom
Fate/Zero
Mushishi
Steins Gate
Death Note
Full Metal Alchemist
Hellsing Ultimate
Anyone got anything similar? I prefer the darker stuff. And the more serious the better!
Maybe try 20th century boy from the author of Monster, it's only a manga so far.
- Hunter X Hunter 2011 (I think it's the most surprising of the shonen about boy going into a quest (like FMA))
- Level E (short anime, funny, surprising)
- Gankutsuo (that's an adaptation of the Count of Monte Cristo, it begins at the revenge part, and well it has changed many things. Not sure if the ones knowing the plot of the book will be pleased or not, especially since I read the book after watching the anime but I think there were interesting changes, and enough to still make the book surprising for me. And I will probably watch again the anime and read again the novel.)
- Corpse Demon (or Shiki. From the start, the mystery isn't what kind of enemies the bad guys are. Dramatic, and we got many POV even from some villains)
- Darker than black
- Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (that's the anime that you have to reach ep 3 to know what's the real atmosphere of the anime, the first two ep are quite boring and seem to give an anime for small girls (but I don't recommend at all this anime for small child or anyone wanting fluffy things))
- Mirai Nikki (a "game" where you have to kill people with the help of a diary)
Or you can also try MyAnimelist, usually the page of every anime or manga has recommendations similar to this anime or manga with a short explanation why.