Eightron is arguably what happens when you take Shinji Ikari (of Evangelion fame), brainwash him and put him through Logan's Run.
From the totalitarian youth society and its rebel faction to the search for a utopia in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the signs are all there.
And yet, Eightron manages to branch out and touch on so much more, exploring humanity, isolation, trust and the relationship of man and machine (and messing with your head quite artfully in the process), as well as the usual shonen themes of growing up, adventure and large robots.
Believably human characters and a likeable, varied cast that actually develops as the plot moves along.
Worth watching just for the first episode, with an ending that will leave you wanting more (even if only 5 minutes more) and a few interesting twists along the way.