Top 30 Underrated Anime You Need To Watch

Don't knock it until you've tried it. When a professional hitman, Fable, is tasked with his hardest job – doing nothing, every fiber of his being revolts against it. After all, it isn’t easy for a master assassin to simply give up his bloodlust at the drop of a hat. Yet, he must, and hilarity ensues. At first, the lack of budget might be a little too obvious but the characters more than make up for it. Admittedly, it takes some time to marinate but sometimes, you just have to let it cook to get to the good part. “The Fable” delivers when the time comes, with breakneck action, tasteful noir, and A-plus comedy.

If you’re a fan of shonen classics like “Jujutsu Kaisen”, “Tokyo Ghoul” and “Demon Slayer”, this is the anime for you. Set in the countryside, it follows detective Inugami, an occult specialist, as he uncovers a strange case. In the process, he meets Kabane, an ordinary-looking young boy, who isn’t exactly human. Together with a crew of oddballs, the pair encounter darker mysteries, all the while hoping to find Kabane’s parents. Despite being overshadowed by titles like “Mushoku Tensei” and “Dr. Stone” season two when it came out, “Kemono Jihen” has much to offer. There’s a generous helping of Japanese folklore and a healthy dose of suspense. Expect solid social commentary too. Just keep a box of tissues at hand, and you’re good to go!

In “YKK”, nothing happens, twice. This OVA from the nineties is an impressive prediction of what a post-apocalypse world will probably look like after the AI age. Here, mankind is slowly inching towards extinction and Yokohama is all but underwater. What is thriving, though, is our android protagonist Alpha Hatsuseno. Devoid of purpose, now that her owner has left her to her own devices, she runs a quaint little coffee shop in the middle of nowhere. This existential anime is for fans of Lofi girl and Synthwave boy, who need something cozy and peaceful yet oddly intriguing to keep them company. You can try to decode Alpha’s lore but all you’ll get is her doing chores for fifteen minutes straight and some chill beats.

How much satire would you like in an anime? If your answer is simply, ‘yes’, you’ve come to the right place. Likening literal war to the idol industry, “Ya Boy Kongming!” exposes the cutthroat world of entertainment. Our hero is Zhuge Kongming, a tactical genius from the Three Periods era of China. On his deathbed, he wishes to be reborn in peace. Surprisingly, his request is processed in record time and he wakes up smack dab in the middle of a Tokyo Halloween party, looking young and handsome. He eventually gets involved with songstress Eiko Tsukimi, and vows to help her attain super stardom, even if he has to whip out his ancient battle strategies. The music slaps, the jokes land, and everyone’s happy. Huzzah!

Madhouse knew they had a masterpiece on their hands when this anime was pitched. “Orb: On the Movements of the Earth” explores the birth of heliocentrism during a tumultuous time in Poland. The Inquisition is out to get anyone questioning the church right when boy wonder Rafal is on the cusp of discovering the solar system. We all know the science but this show portrays the untold – albeit fictionalized – history of the painstaking sacrifices and struggles that came before it. The drama of it all assumes epic proportions and is brought to life by an exceptional Japanese voice cast, including Kenjirô Tsuda and Maaya Sakamoto. This one’s a slump-buster.

Nothing sets a yakuza straight more effectively than a pre-teen girl ordering him around. In “Hinamatsuri”, a metal capsule from a different dimension lands on reluctant gangster Nitta’s head. What’s even more absurd is that the egg-like capsule has a girl’s face sticking out of it. Although he initially nopes out of the situation, the egg doesn’t budge until he releases the girl and out comes Hina. Turns out, she possesses unbelievable psychokinetic powers! Fortunately for Nitta, her powers, though chaotic, come in handy in violent situations. Similarly, Nitta’s homemaking skills allow him to forge a wholesome father-daughter bond with Hina. This anime is slice-of-life comedy at its finest with classic running gags and kooky characters but it is also surprisingly moving.

Contrary to the cutesy vibes of the title, this show lays bare an alternate shadowy underbelly of Japanese maid cafés. It’s the nineties and our main girl, Nagomi Wahira, has just moved to Akihabara to chase her maid dreams. What’s waiting for her is not just adorable latte art and winsome costumes but an unforgiving world of organized crime and ruthless competition. There’s a visceral quality to the animation and the irreverent brutality gives way to dark humor that leaves a bittersweet aftertaste. Sure, there’s some obviously gratuitous violence but the pathos behind it cannot be ignored.

This anime paints a bleak image of dystopian Japan where a mysterious rusting disease has humanity in its deadly grip. Add to that some grimy layers of corruption, an ignorant government with brainwashed masses and it suddenly starts hitting close to home. The only savior is Bisco Akaboshi, who’s looking for the magical mushroom to cure all, riding on his giant crab. Problem is, he has been labeled a terrorist because the powers that be believe toxic fungi are what caused the flesh-eating affliction. On his relentless mission to save mankind, he meets the benevolent doctor Milo and kicks off a sci-fi adventure, equipped with spore-shooting, shroom-spouting arrows. Come for the world-building, stay for the power of anime and friendship.

The only thing elusive about this anime is how it’s not a blockbuster. From the top-notch animation to the obscure piece of history it dramatizes through a fantasy lens, “The Elusive Samurai” is a gem of a find. We follow Hojo Tokiyuki, heir to the Kamakura Shogunate, whose carefree life is interrupted by the destruction of his clan. At the brink of death himself, he discovers a latent gift. He’s a master of stealth and a sucker for surfing the ever-so-uncertain wave of mortality. Determined to avenge his family, he joins a questionable priest prophesying his soon-to-come glory and reconstructs his Shogunate from the ground up. CloverWorks sets this show up for success, but it looks like it’s going to be a sleeper hit.

If you have a love-hate relationship with mecha anime, that probably won’t change with this title. However, what we can guarantee is that you’ll be left in splits from its sheer absurdity. An ordinary international military exercise in Hawaii turns into a global emergency when aliens invade Earth with super robots called Deathdrives in tow. An unlikely alliance is formed between the American Lewis Smith, Japanese Isami Ao and a sentient enemy robot Bravern, that offers itself up in assistance of humankind. Director Masami Ōbari’s modern tribute to the “Brave” series is the perfect blend of old-school sensibilities, throwbacks, hidden genius, and a dash of yaoi for good measure.

He’s the sweetest cinnamon roll you’re likely to meet, who also happens to have horrendous excuses for parents. How else do you explain them selling his soul to demons? Thankfully, Iruma’s new hellish guardian turns out to be a pretty swell guy, adopting him as his grandson and enrolling him at a prestigious academy. Just one issue, all his classmates and teachers happen to be demons that will devour him whole if they discover he’s a human. Thus begins Iruma’s new life, and while it may be rather light-hearted in its presentation, the sheer amount of charm on display makes the whole thing a joy, especially when Iruma starts unwittingly becoming the toughest guy on campus.

Talk about a culture clash. As a dedicated soldier of the Galactic Alliance of Humankind, Ledo was fully prepared to give his life in service of his race by mercilessly slaughtering the space-fairing squids known as Hideauze…at least until he and his mini-mecha were sent crashing to an ocean-covered Earth, picked up by a salvage ship filled with humanity’s remnants, and left to pick up the pieces of his new life. The space battles are certainly entertaining, but what really sells this overlooked sci-fi is Ledo’s adjustment to leaving the battlefield, his relationship with the optimistic Amy, as well as his investigation into mankind’s sordid history.

If you’re an anime fan, chances are that you’ve heard the name of this legendary franchise, but perhaps not this particular entry. Given how sprawling Macross is, trying to grasp a hold of the continuity can be a little tricky. If you’re still determined to find a foothold, then there are worse places to start than with the hidden gem Delta, since it takes all the elements that made Macross a household name in Japan, with a fresh coat of paint. So, if you want to see idols singing their hearts out while fighter pilots blast the bejesus out of alien threats – here’s your chance!

You like bananas? Chances are you’ve got nothing on Yoshiko. To call her one peel short of a full fruit would be an understatement, since the poor girl is about as functionally inept as can be. She cares not for school, bettering her life or making friends, all she wants in some of that banana goodness, and bumping uglies with her childhood crush – who wants little to nothing to do with her. If you’re a fan of somewhat cringey, highly vulgar anime comedy, this is the one for you. Yoshiko may have way too many flaws to count, but that doesn’t mean she’s not lovable as can be.

What happens when you’re blessed with so much luck that a Goddess of Poverty shows up to try and snatch some of it back before all fortune in the world is eradicated? If you’re Ichiko, you battle it out every day against crazy deities and monsters, including a vicious teddy bear and a dog god who is not subtle about his masochistic tendencies. It’s batshit from beginning to end, but thanks to the likability of the happy go lucky Ichiko and miserable goddess Momiji, this zany comedy hits all the right notes.

The dark horse of the Digimon franchise, which is a shame, since many disregard it out of the gate due to the animation style having a much more kid-orientated feel to it. If that’s been your experience, we urge you to give it another go, since the original release not only tackles some of the brand’s darkest themes such as digi-genocide, but wasn’t afraid to go all out with its action and even its fanservice! Plus with all the hype and combinations going around the whole thing has a huge Gurren Lagann feel. Put some respect on Shoutmon.

Finding the artist within can be a trying process, especially when you’ve been exiled to a new rural landscape on account of punching a critic who denounced your work. Yeah, Handa and his inner muse haven’t been having a great time, and while he at first considers this relocation to be a colossal disaster, the unexpected interactions and budding relationships with the island’s locals soon starts to pave the way towards his own style of calligraphy. The feel-good vibes are all the rage here, and are perfectly woven alongside some of the more slapdash comedy elements, which is to be expected when Handa has to deal with someone like Naru all day long!

Blending together some of the best troupes of the magic genre; and the resulting the action, lore and interactions between our two polarising leads turned out to be quite intriguing. As a favour to his friend, the highly skilled yet unmotivated Glenn finds himself in a teaching position at an illustrious magical academy, where he immediately comes into conflict with the aristocratic student Sistine. Throw in sinister forces working behind the scenes, Glenn’s obnoxious sense of humour as well as his charming relationship with his precious White Cat , and you’ve got a good time in the making. Seriously, where is Season Two?!

Exorcizing evil spirits has never been more stunning. Posing as a wayward Medicine Seller, this feline-like nomad traverses the land in search of Mononoke; entities that appear in the real-world via the negative influence of humans, corrupting and potentially killing innocents, at least until they encounter the Medicine Seller’s sword. But first, he has to identify their Form, Truth, and Reason. It’s not everyday you encounter a supernatural detective thriller anthology with a visual style akin to a moving painting. Honestly, the transformation sequence alone makes this series worthy of your time and attention.

Seven of the strongest warriors the world over have gathered together, all the with the sole purpose of defeating the all-powerful Demon God. Just one slight issues – there’s only meant to be six of them, meaning one is an imposter sent to foil their efforts. From that point on, what was supposed to be a fantasy shounen becomes a whodunit, with newcomer Adlet caught in the crossfire as suspect number one. While the action is solid, it’s the mystery of who the imposter is that will keep enthralled from start to finish.

Don’t you just hate it when you’re going about your daily life, only to suddenly find yourself flung into the past and are unexpectedly given the position as serving as Oda Nobunaga’s body double? Besieged by the warlord to take his place, Saburou is catapulted into the life of one of Japanese history’s most legendary figures, with only his modern knowledge to keep him afloat. Don’t let the CGI fool you, not only is this series all kinds of intriguing, but also does a sublime job at teaching audiences about the Sengoku period.

A sweeping epic that pits an unprepared prince against a hostile world as he is forced to lead the remnants of his kingdom to war against those that would destroy them, all the while combating political enemies every step of the way. Considering this was written by the same genius who gave us Legend of the Galactic Heroes, should we really be surprised by its quality? With the artwork penned by Hiromu Arakawa (you know, the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist!) this series already had a phenomenal foundation, and while it may not quite reach the heights of the manga, it’s scope is still nonetheless impressive.

Just in case you wanted your depression with an extra dose of dystopian backdrop, sci-fi amputees and faction wars, then Ichise’s struggle to survive in such an oppressive place as The City is sure to bring you down several pegs. After his boxing career ends with two of his limbs getting torn off, Ichise has no choice but to take on the role of enforcer for one of the City’s many warring cliques…at least until he encounters a young woman named Ran who has the power to see into the future. Don’t expect any happy endings here, just lots of compelling suffering.

So many comedies fall by the wayside when a new anime season comes out, which is a shame because some of them are an absolute riot. Case and point, the life and times of this gamer girl whose every morning trip to school somehow becomes fraught with hilarious danger. Determined to remain neutral in the eyes of her fellow students, Chio will do whatever it takes to not throw herself into the public spotlight…even if an average day for her consists of outwitting motorcycle gangs, traversing rooftops, taking on a rampaging, boss battles with her backside on the line, plus a million other things your average student can only dream of.

If you’re not already drawn in by the vibrancy and striking colour of the animation, then the tale of four lads trying to save the world via the art of fishing certainly will. While you shouldn’t go in expecting there to be a life or death battle that involves reeling in an eldritch fish, the interplay and likability of our main three is more than enough to sell the story. Even if one is the pinnacle of introverted and another is an alien.

Kaiji may have been a series that revolved around life or death gambles and one loser’s desperate struggle to climb out of financial hell…but turns out his spin-off series is actually pretty light-hearted, which is kind of confounding as it focuses on the exploits of one of the series’ main antagonists. To keep his position secure at the Teiai Corporation, Tonegawa must leap through a crazy amount of hoops to keep the business afloat and stay in the psychotic Chairman’s good graces. You wouldn’t have thought having to remember the names of his identical employees, setting up a workplace barbecue and learning how to use Twitter would make for good comedy, but Tonegawa somehow nails it.

Also known as Welcome to Irabu's Office, this particular medical drama isn’t so much about combating lethal diseases and the romantic relationships between the staff, as it is…absolute madness that only the Japanese could think up. Despite appearing as a child, Irabu is without a doubt the greatest, if most unorthodox, licensed professional out there. Whether it’s a gangster afraid of knives, a gymnast scared to death of heights or a businessman with some serious downstairs trouble, there’s no condition Irabu can’t solve. With the medicine prescribed often being crazier than the patient’s predicament, there're so many laughs to be had you’ll end up needing an appointment yourself.

For fans of the original tokusatsu, you’re in for a treat, since this series makes for one hell of a high octane trip, with all its hype polished with Studio Trigger’s signature lavish production. For the rest of you uninitiated in the ways of this talking mecha, just know that this has all the staples you could want in a show that pits a giant robot against a kaiju each episode, with a few twists thrown in just to shake things up, especially when it comes to our villain. If that’s not enough for you, then all we can say is that you’re denying yourself the chance to see Rikka’s thighs saving lives.

One of the true hidden gems of last year, this sci-fi adventure was one of those rare modern anime that succeeded in telling a complete story all in the space of a single season, without a single misstep! Originally set to spend a few days at a camp on another planet, a group of teens from all walks at life are suddenly transported across the galaxy. Their only hope of returning rests on an abandoned spaceship, where they must chart a course for home, stopping at several potentially deadly worlds along the way for supplies. For the cast and overarching narrative alone, this is a must-watch!

Ever wondered what it would be like if Yu-Gi-Oh literally became the embodiment of “screw the rules I have money?” Wonder no longer. As a destitute student surrounded by wealthy peers, the good-natured yet greedy Yoga finds himself drawn to a parallel world where combatants known as Entres clash for control and fortune. Socia-economic death battles with crazy abilities might not seem like you cup of tea, but after the psychedelic visuals grab a hold of you, we’re willing to bet you’ll be back for more of these do or die gambles. Plus this show, no lie, has one of the greatest soundtracks in history - including bangers by Taku Iwasaki and Lotus Juice.


If you could only choose one of these underrated anime to go mainstream, which one would it be? Sound off in the comments!