A lot of anime comes out year after year, making it impossible to keep up with all the good stuff, so here’s 10 of the best anime you’ve probably never heard of before.
The medium stretches well beyond titans such as Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece. Every season brings inventive, fascinating stories from studios big and small.
Some are short-lived by design, others stretch out for a while. They all suffer from just not getting the attention they deserve compared to pillars like My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer.
So, here are 10 of the best anime you’ve likely barely seen mentioned. They come in a variety of styles and flavours, to suit whatever you’re hankering for – so line one up, and dig in.
10. Paranoia Agent (2004)
Produced by Madhouse, Paranoia Agent was directed by none other than Satoshi Kon, the industry legend who gave us classic films such as Tokyo Godfathers, Paprika and Perfect Blue. The psychological thriller follows a vicious criminal who assaults random people walking down the streets of Tokyo with a baseball bat.
Shockingly, none of the victims can ever recall his appearance in front of the authorities. It’s a show that keeps you on the edge of your seat with its cerebral and ever-twisting plot. Moreover, Paranoia Agent also features some violent sequences that are distinctly memorable for their gritty aesthetics.
9. Welcome to the N.H.K. (2006)
Welcome to the N.H.K. is a tale about a shut-in young man named Tatsuhiro Sato. He is a loner who lives in Tokyo and is tired of his depressing circumstances. However, one day, a girl named Misaki Nakahara enters his life and vows to help him come out of this difficult phase.
Tackling themes like anxiety and depression, Welcome to the N.H.K. can be heavy at times, but there’s a comedic streak that makes it more watchable.
8. Kemonozume (2006)
Another anime that comes from the brilliant animation studio Madhouse. Kemonozuke boasts a vibe similar to our beloved Jujutsu Kaisen. While the latter revolves around curses and the students of Jujutsu High, Kemonozume follows flesh-eating creatures and a student of Kifuken school.
However, this is not your typical dark fantasy anime, merging romance with horror in an inventive manner. Apart from its amazing animation, the opening theme, ‘Auvers Blue’ by Katteni-Shiyagare, is a pure earworm.
7. Tiger and Bunny (2011-2022)
Tiger and Bunny takes place in a reimagined New York City called Sternbild, where several years ago, superheroes labeled NEXT started cropping up. Two superheroes, Wild Tiger and Barnaby Brooks Jr., have to put aside their differences to solve a murder and fight a vigilante named Lunatic. During their adventures, the old-school Wild Tiger and new-school Barnaby Jr. learn to appreciate what each brings to the field
6. Skip Beat! (2008-2009)
Skip Beat is a darkly comedic love-revenge television series that revolves around a 16-year-old girl, Kyoko Mogami, who falls in love with her childhood best friend, Shotaro Fuwa.
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However, her heart gets shattered after realizing that the one she loves the most only thinks of her as a maid. The guy keeps Kyoko around so that she does his daily household chores. Realizing this, Kyoko gets rid of that spark inside her heart and crafts a plan to take revenge and regain her self-esteem.
5. Ristorante Paradiso (2009)
Like Boiling Point and The Bear, Ristorante Paradiso demonstrates that it doesn’t take much to make the dining industry dramatic. From aspiring chef Nicoletta through to the sommelier Casetta, the characters are as charming as the backdrop of Rome, making the show a short but satisfying meal.
4. Dear Brother (1991-1992)
A teenage girl finds herself in the popular sorority at her new school, unlocking a whole other dimension of social politicking. Her navigation is regaled through letters to an old friend from home, affectionately dubbed her brother.
Nanako herself makes for an endearing protagonist, helped by a wistful and nostalgic framing device. Dear Brother taps into sweetly adolescent sentiment for a compelling wander through teenage foibles.
3. Welcome to Irabu’s Office (2009)
This slightly offbeat adaptation of Psychiatrist Irabu features the titular character seeing a number of clients, each episode focused on another person and their issues. Often comedic in nature, the giggles don’t come at the cost of some genuine insight, since we’re always in the presence of a genuine therapist. A hidden gem of Toei animation.
2. Desert Punk (2004-2005)
Before Mad Max: Fury Road melted faces in 2015, Desert Punk carried the torch of post-apocalyptic survivallism. After nuclear war has reduced civilization to rubble and sand, a young mercenary wanders, tackling whatever situations he deems worthy of his skills.
Masatoshi Usune’s manga ran for 23 years, so Gonzo’s adaptation only covers part of the overall story. It’s enough to leave you longing for more, while still feeling robust.
1. Texhnolyze (2003)
In the vain of Ergo Proxy and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Texhnolyze is a captivating and slightly nauseous dive into technocratic body horror. Ichise, a prominent fighter, loses two limbs in a brawl, only to have them replaced by experimental prosthetics containing DNA from his mother.
It all gets weirder from there, pulling on threads of The Matrix and our own latent fears of what technology is doing to us. Texhnolyze was seen as experimental in 2003, and it remains a touch disconcerting now – all the more reason to give it a try.
Those are the most underrated anime you should check out. If you want more recommendations, have a look at the best anime like Solo Leveling and the most underrated Shonen anime.
