Another Top 10 Mature Anime Series

If you’re going to wander the post-apocalyptic wasteland, you better be able to defend yourself - and that’s no trouble for our hero, Kenshiro. He’s a disciple of a deadly martial art named ‘Hokuto Shinken’ that targets the human body’s vital points and well…blows them up real good. Thankfully, Ken’s a good guy and he uses his deadly touch on all kinds of wasteland warlords and genetically engineered giants. If fist of the North Star is anything, it’s eye-popping.

Nothing says being mature like becoming a parent - Even if it’s by accident. Single, 30-year-old Daikichi gets a surprise of a lifetime at his grandfather’s funeral when he finds out that the old guy had an illegitimate child. The shamed family wants nothing to do with the little girl named Rin but Daikichi cannot stand by and watch her get put up for adoption so he rises to the occasion and jumps headlong into parenthood or is it adopting-your-own-aunt-hood?

In the dystopian future depicted in this anime, everyone is a potential suspect in a crime that hasn’t even occurred. Every citizen has their mood and psychological state monitored at all times by the Sibyl System, and, when deemed so, drastic and sometimes-deadly measures may be taken. When the investigators and enforcers face an enemy that has cheated the system, they engage in a not-so-typical game of cat and mouse, ripe with blood, conspiracy and intrigue.

26 years after a well-loved honor student died suddenly and tragically, there is still a bad vibe in her classroom. The new classmate, Kouichi Sakakibara is drawn to a mysterious, eye-patch wearing, girl named Mei. She’s a special one, constantly drawing pictures and weirdly enough, no one else in the school other than Kouichi seem to know that she exists. What is it with transfer students stumbling upon gruesome and deadly plots at their new schools? Kind of makes one want to join the workforce early.

High school’s tough enough without having to deal with cat-like creatures offering you magical powers. Average high-school students, Madoka and Sayaka meet Kyuubey, who promises them that it will grant them any wish in exchange for becoming magical girls and ridding the world of evil witches. Sounds great, right? The young ladies soon find out that the offer is not as sweet as they’d imagined, and things take a rather dark turn. Despite its young age, Madoka Magica has become a cultural staple in the world of anime, and its not one you’ll want to miss.

Life sucks. Well, at least it does for down-and-out Kaiji Itou, who just wants to stay home, drink beer, and desecrate fancy cars. When a co-signee deal comes back to bite him, he’s approached with a shady offer to eliminate his debts at an organized gambling scene. What comes next is a series of bad choices, tense wagers, maniacal businessmen and more crying men than you’ll ever need. He may be a gullible fool, but don’t count this lovable loser out – he just might surprise you.

A sequel to the earlier Key series Clannad, After Story picks up months after Tomoya has completed high school and confessed his love to Nagisa, who is now expecting a child. Tomoya must leave her at home, bed-ridden and ply his trade as an electrician to support his new family. The responsibilities of adulthood are boldly depicted in this work as being a rude awakening, the real world can be a bucket of cold water and sometimes love means doing the last thing you want to do.

The ‘parasites’ in question are alien beings who burrow through human orifices, making a beeline to the brain and making them the host. Lucky for Shinichi Izumi, he fell asleep with headphones on and a hapless parasite named Migi decided to enter through his arm but got no further. They’re stuck with each other and enter into a shaky truce, depending on each to stay alive in a world where the takeover has already begun. Only one thing is certain, the path ahead is bloody.

As a failing manga artist and pizza-delivery man, you wouldn’t expect Satoru Fujinuma to be your series protagonist. More so, you wouldn’t expect him to possess the unique ability to go back in time and fix problems. But that is the case for Satoru whose circumstances lead him to travel back 18 years and prevent a string of child murders. With a nostalgic, melancholy atmosphere and some of the finest animation to date, Erased has earned itself the title of an instant classic.

Before we roll out the number one on our list, here are some honorable mentions:
“When They Cry: Higurashi” (2006)
“Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt” (2010)
“Ergo Proxy” (2008)
"Deadman Wonderland" (2011)
“Akame Ga Kill” (2014)

Satou Tatsuhiro is a 22-year-old NEET who just can’t seem to deal with the day-to-day world. He’s got a hunch that it’s really a conspiracy to keep him and his peers docile and submissive and he’s sure that the NHK is the evil company behind it. Our top spot is unique in that it mostly deals with shut-ins and introverts as opposed to radioactive wastelands and murder plots. It’s a psychological drama-dy where sometimes even leaving your apartment to look for a job is a heroic task.

So, what did you think of our list? What’s your favorite mature anime series? For more insightful and informative top 10s published every day, go to Watchmojo.com.