Been binging older stuff like LotGH, Appleseed, RSF Wings of Honneamise, and even Ergo Proxy and The Wind Rises, etc and I know not all the older shit was like this eg Hand Maid May, Cromartie, and Genshiken, but what happened to actually having deeper meanings to plot? Seems like a lot of newer stuff is just pump and dump shonen shit. You can't argue that it's a matter of money as story doesn't require paid labor. Just like with Hollywood, there are who knows how many stories that can be adapted to film, and even more that can be animated. So why not either dip into those or create deeper stuff about the human condition, current social issues, and/or hopes and dreams of a better tomorrow? Even "Her", arguably ahead of it's time, though poorly executed in live action, could be an incredibly delving tale into the psyche behind the drive for advanced technology and the psychological/sociological knock-on effects it has on an unsuspecting wider audience not mentally prepared for the ramifications of this implementation on an increasingly fracturing society. Even Blood Blockade Battlefront, full of goofy antics and puddle deep characters could still pull off a pre-"Joker" watch the world burn underlying theme and make you give a shit about the story. Instead, we get fucking Solo Leveling and countless other fantasy isekai OP MCs doing whatever the fuck they want with no wider ramifications or even afterthoughts. If GATE: Thus the JSDF Fought seems deep and insightful, you know shit's fucked.
I know I sound like a cranky old fart, but even if the animation is inferior to today, I've seen a sliver of that storytelling glory, like a good chunk of you, and yearn for a return. You know what I mean?