From hidden gems to overlooked masterpieces, we're diving into the most entertaining anime series that deserve way more attention! Whether you're looking for action, comedy, or slice-of-life, these shows went criminally under the radar. Our picks include "Astra Lost in Space," "SSSS.Gridman," "Mononoke," and many more!
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the most entertaining anime
00:13that were criminally underappreciated.
00:16These shows went so far under fans' radars that they barely received the recognition
00:20they deserve.
00:21That's on our watch, though.
00:29Number 30.
00:30The Fable
00:31Don't knock it till you've tried it.
00:44When a professional hitman, Fable, is tasked with his hardest job, doing nothing, every
00:50fiber of his being revolts against it.
00:53After all, it isn't easy for a master assassin to simply give up his bloodlust at the drop
00:58of a hat.
01:03Yet he must, and hilarity ensues.
01:06At first, the lack of budget might be a little too obvious, but the characters more than
01:11make up for it.
01:12Admittedly, it takes some time to marinate, but sometimes, you just have to let it cook
01:18to get to the good part.
01:25The Fable delivers when the time comes, with breakneck action, tasteful noir, and A-plus
01:31comedy.
01:32Number 29.
01:33Kemono Jihen
01:35If you're a fan of shounen classics like Jujutsu Kaisen, Tokyo Ghoul, and Demon Slayer, this
01:41is the anime for you.
01:42It follows Detective Inugami, an occult specialist, as he uncovers a strange case.
01:48In the process, he meets Kabane, an ordinary-looking young boy who isn't exactly human.
01:55Together with a crew of oddballs, the pair encounter darker mysteries, all the while
02:00hoping to find Kabane's parents.
02:03Despite being overshadowed by titles like Mushoku Tensei and Dr. Stone Season 2 when
02:07it came out, Kemono Jihen has much to offer, as a generous helping of Japanese folklore
02:13and a healthy dose of suspense.
02:16Expect solid social commentary, too.
02:19Just keep a box of tissues at hand to wipe away those tears, and you're good to go.
02:30Number 28.
02:31Yokohama Kaidashi Kiko
02:33In YKK, nothing happens.
02:36Twice.
02:37OVA from the 90s is an impressive prediction of what a post-apocalypse world will probably
02:42look like after the AI age.
02:46Here, mankind is slowly inching towards extinction, and Yokohama is all but underwater.
02:56What is thriving, though, is our android protagonist, Alpha Hatsuseno.
03:00Devoid of purpose now that her owner has left her to her own devices, she runs a quaint
03:06little coffee shop in the middle of nowhere.
03:12This existential anime is for fans of Lo-Fi Girl and Synthwave Boy, who need something
03:17cozy and peaceful, yet oddly intriguing, to keep them company.
03:22You can try to decode Alpha's lore, but all you'll get is her doing chores for 15 minutes
03:27straight and some chill beats.
03:29But maybe look deeper.
03:33Number 27.
03:34Ya Boy Kongming
03:36How much satire would you like in an anime if your answer is simply, yes, you've come
03:41to the right place?
03:47Likening literal war to the music industry, Ya Boy Kongming exposes the cutthroat world
03:53of entertainment.
03:54Our hero is Zhuge Kongming, a tactical genius from the Three Periods era of China.
04:00On his deathbed, he wishes to be reborn in peace.
04:04Surprisingly, his request is processed in record time, as he wakes up smack dab in the
04:09middle of a Tokyo Halloween party, looking young and handsome.
04:19He eventually gets involved with songstress Eiko Tsukimi and vows to help her attain superstardom.
04:26Even if he has to whip out his ancient battle strategies, the music slaps, the jokes land,
04:32and everyone's happy.
04:33Huzzah!
04:34Number 26.
04:35Orb – On the Movements of the Earth
04:58Many of us knew they had a masterpiece on their hands when this anime was pitched.
05:02Orb – On the Movements of the Earth explores the birth of heliocentrism during a tumultuous
05:08time in Poland.
05:14The Inquisition is out to get anyone questioning the Church right when Boy Wonder Rafal is
05:20on the cusp of discovering the solar system.
05:23We all know the science, but this show portrays the untold, albeit fictionalized, history
05:28of the painstaking sacrifices and struggles that came before it.
05:39The drama of it all assumes epic proportions and is brought to life by an exceptional Japanese
05:44voice cast, including Kenjiro Suda and Maya Sakamoto.
05:49This one's a slump buster.
06:06Number 25.
06:07Hina Matsuri
06:17Nothing sets a Yakuza straight more effectively than a pre-teen girl ordering him around.
06:23In Hina Matsuri, a metal capsule lands on reluctant gangster Nita's head.
06:29What's even more absurd is that the egg-like capsule has a girl's face sticking out of
06:34it.
06:42Although he initially nopes out of the situation, the egg doesn't budge until he releases the
06:48girl, and out comes Hina.
06:49Turns out, she possesses unbelievable psychokinetic powers.
06:53Fortunately for Nita, her powers, though chaotic, come in handy in violent situations.
06:59Similarly, Nita's homemaking skills allow him to forge a wholesome father-daughter bond
07:05with Hina.
07:06This anime is slice-of-life comedy at its finest, with classic running gags and kooky
07:11characters, but it is also surprisingly moving.
07:19Number 24.
07:20Akiba Maid War
07:29Contrary to the cutesy vibes of the title, this show lays bare an alternate shadowy underbelly
07:35of Japanese maid cafes.
07:37It's the 90s, and our main girl, Nagami Wahira, has just moved to Akihabara to chase her maid
07:43dreams.
07:54What's waiting for her is not just adorable latte art and winsome costumes, but an unforgiving
08:00world of organized crime and ruthless competition.
08:04There's a visceral quality to the animation, and the irreverent brutality gives way to
08:10dark humor that leaves a bittersweet aftertaste.
08:13Sure, there's some obviously gratuitous violence, but the pathos behind it cannot be ignored.
08:23Number 23.
08:24Sabikui Bisco
08:33This anime paints a bleak image of a dystopian world where a mysterious rust disease has
08:39humanity in its deadly grip.
08:41Add to that some grimy layers of corruption, an ignorant government with brainwashed masses,
08:47and it suddenly starts hitting close to home.
08:50The only savior is Bisco Akaboshi, who's looking for the magical mushroom to cure all,
08:56riding on his giant crab.
08:58Problem is, he has been labeled a terrorist because the powers-that-be believe toxic fungi
09:04are what cause the flesh-eating affliction.
09:13On his relentless mission to save mankind, he meets the benevolent Dr. Milo and kicks
09:18off a sci-fi adventure equipped with spore-shooting, shroom-spouting arrows.
09:24Come for the world-building, stay for the power of anime and friendship.
09:33Number 22.
09:35The Elusive Samurai
09:36The only thing elusive about this anime is how it's not a blockbuster.
09:47From the top-notch animation to the obscure piece of history it dramatizes through its
09:52fantasy lens, The Elusive Samurai is a gem of a find.
09:57We follow Hojo Tokiuki, heir to the Kamakura Shogunate, whose carefree life is interrupted
10:03by the destruction of his clan.
10:05At the brink of death himself, he discovers a latent gift.
10:09He's a master of stealth and a sucker for surfing the ever-so-uncertain wave of mortality.
10:15Determined to avenge his family, he joins a questionable priest, prophesying his soon-to-come
10:21glory and reconstructs his shogunate from the ground up.
10:26Cloverwick sets this show up for success, but it looks like it's going to be a sleeper
10:30hit.
10:38Number 21.
10:39Brave Bang Bravern
10:51If you have a love-hate relationship with mecha anime, that probably won't change
10:56with this title.
10:57However, what we can guarantee is that you'll be left in splits from its sheer absurdity.
11:08An ordinary international military exercise in Hawaii turns into a global emergency when
11:18aliens invade Earth with super-robots called Death Drives in tow.
11:22An unlikely alliance is formed between the American Louis Smith and Japanese Isami Aoi,
11:29and a sentient robot, Bravern, that offers itself up in assistance of humankind.
11:35Masami Obari's modern tribute to the Brave series is the perfect blend of old-school
11:41sensibilities, throwbacks, hidden genius, and a huge helping of Yoi for good measure.
12:01Number 20.
12:02Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun He's the sweetest cinnamon roll you're likely
12:11to meet, who also happens to have horrendous excuses for parents.
12:16How else do you explain them selling his soul to demons?
12:20Thankfully, Iruma's new hellish guardian turns out to be a pretty swell guy, adopting
12:25him as his grandson and enrolling him at a prestigious academy.
12:40Just one issue.
12:42All his classmates and teachers happen to be demons that will devour him whole if they
12:47discover he's a human.
12:49Thus begins Iruma's new life, and while it may be rather light-hearted in its presentation,
12:55the sheer amount of charm on display makes the whole thing a joy, especially when Iruma
13:01starts unwittingly becoming the toughest guy on campus.
13:18Number 19.
13:20virtuous planet.
13:22Talk about a culture clash.
13:32As a dedicated soldier of the Galactic Alliance of Humankind, Ledo was fully prepared to give
13:37his life in service of his race by mercilessly slaughtering the space-faring squids known
13:43as Hideyos, at least until he and his mini-mecha were sent crashing to an ocean-covered
13:49Earth, picked up by a salvaged ship filled with humanity's remnants and left to pick
13:55up the pieces of his new life.
14:05The space battles are certainly entertaining, but what really sells this overlooked sci-fi
14:10is Ledo's adjustment to leaving the battlefield, his relationship with the optimistic Amy,
14:16as well as his investigation into mankind's sordid history.
14:21Number 18.
14:22Macross Delta.
14:23If you're an anime fan, chances are you've heard the name of this legendary franchise,
14:28but perhaps not this particular entry.
14:38Given how sprawling Macross is, trying to grasp a hold of the continuity can be a little
14:43tricky.
14:44But if you're still determined to find a foothold, then there are worse places to start
14:49than the hidden gem, Delta, since it takes all the elements that made Macross a household
14:54name in Japan with a fresh coat of paint.
15:01So if you want to see idols singing their hearts out while fighter pilots blast the
15:05bejeezus out of alien threats, here's your chance.
15:18Number 17.
15:19Aho Girl.
15:25You like bananas?
15:27Chances are you've got nothing on Yoshiko.
15:29To call her one peel short of a full fruit would be an understatement, since the poor
15:34girl is about as functionally inept as can be.
15:38She cares not for school, bettering her life, or making friends.
15:42All she wants is some of that banana goodness and bumping uglies with her childhood crush.
15:48Who wants little to nothing to do with her?
15:54If you're a fan of somewhat cringey, highly vulgar anime comedy, this is the one for you.
16:00Yoshiko may have way too many flaws to count, but that doesn't mean she's not as lovable
16:05as can be.
16:12Number 16.
16:14Good Luck Girl.
16:21What happens when you're blessed with so much luck that a goddess of poverty shows up to
16:26try and snatch some of it back before all fortune in the world is eradicated?
16:31If you're Ichigo, you battle it out every day against crazy deities and monsters, including
16:37a vicious teddy bear and a dog god who is not subtle about his masochistic tendencies.
16:44It's batshit from beginning to end, but thanks to the likeability of the happy-go-lucky Ichigo
16:50and miserable goddess Momiji, this zany comedy hits all the right notes.
17:01Number 15.
17:03Digimon Cross Wars.
17:04The dark horse of the Digimon franchise, which is a shame since many disregard it out of
17:10the gate due to the animation style having a much more kid-oriented feel to it.
17:22If that's been your experience, we urge you to give it another go, since the original
17:26release not only tackles some of the brand's darkest themes, such as Digi-genocide, but
17:32also wasn't afraid to go all out with its action and even its fan service.
17:42Plus all the hype and combinations going around the whole thing has a huge Gurren Lagann feel.
17:56Put some respect on Chartmon.
17:58Number 14.
17:59Barakamon.
18:01Finding the artist within can be a trying process, especially when you've been exiled
18:06to a new rural landscape on account of punching a critic who denounced your work.
18:13Yeah, Honda and his inner muse haven't been having a great time, and while he at first
18:25considers this relocation to be a colossal disaster, the unexpected interactions and
18:30budding relationships with the island's locals soon start to pave the way towards
18:35his own style of calligraphy.
18:37The feel-good vibes are all the rage here, and are perfectly woven alongside some of
18:43the more slapdash comedy elements, which is to be expected when Honda has to deal with
18:48someone like Naru all day long.
18:59Number 13.
19:00Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor.
19:03Blending together some of the best tropes of the magic genre, and the resulting action,
19:08lore, and interactions between our two polarizing leads tend out to be quite intriguing.
19:24As a favor to his friend, the highly skilled yet unmotivated Glenn finds himself in a teaching
19:30position at an illustrious magical academy, where he immediately comes into conflict with
19:35the aristocratic student, Sistine.
19:38Throw in sinister forces working behind the scenes, Glenn's obnoxious sense of humor,
19:43as well as his charming relationship with his precious white cat, and you've got a
19:48good time in the making.
19:56Seriously, where is Season 2?
20:01Number 12.
20:02Mononoke.
20:03Exercising evil spirits has never been more stunning.
20:14Posing as a wayward medicine seller, this feline-like nomad traverses the land in search
20:20of Mononoke, entities that appear in the real world via the negative influence of humans,
20:26corrupting and potentially killing innocents.
20:29At least, until they encounter the medicine seller's sword.
20:33But first, he has to identify their form, truth, and reason.
20:41It's not every day you encounter a supernatural detective thriller anthology with a style
20:46akin to a moving painting.
20:48Honestly, the transformation sequence alone makes this series worthy of your time and
20:53attention.
21:00Number 11.
21:01Crocker, Brave of the Six Flowers.
21:13Seven of the strongest warriors the world over have gathered together, all with the
21:17sole purpose of defeating the all-powerful demon god.
21:21Just one slight issue.
21:22There's only meant to be six of them, meaning one is an imposter sent to foil their efforts.
21:31From that point on, what was supposed to be a fantasy shounen becomes a whodunit, with
21:42newcomer Adlette caught in the crossfire as suspect number one.
21:54While the action is solid, it's the mystery of who the imposter is that will keep you
21:59enthralled from start to finish.
22:01Number 10.
22:02Nobunaga Conchetto.
22:03Don't you just hate it when you go about your daily life, only to suddenly find yourself
22:08flung into the past and are unexpectedly given the position as serving as Oda Nobunaga's
22:14body double?
22:20Besieged by the warlord to take his place, Saburo is catapulted into the life of one
22:26of Japanese history's most legendary figures, with only his modern knowledge to keep him
22:30afloat.
22:31Don't let the CGI fool you.
22:34Not only is this series all kinds of intriguing, but also does a sublime job at teaching audiences
22:39about the Sengoku period.
22:43Number 9.
22:44The Heroic Legend of Arslan.
22:51A sweeping epic that pits an unprepared prince against a hostile world as he is forced to
22:56lead the remnants of his kingdom to war against those who would destroy them, all the while
23:02combating political enemies every step of the way.
23:05Considering this was written by the same genius who gave us Legend of the Galactic Heroes,
23:10should we really be surprised by its quality?
23:17With the art style penned by Hiromu Arakawa – you know, the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist
23:22– this series already had a phenomenal foundation.
23:26And while it may not quite reach the heights of the original novels, its scope is still
23:31nonetheless impressive.
23:37Number 8.
23:38Technolize.
23:44Just in case you wanted your depression with an extra dose of dystopian backdrop, sci-fi
23:49amputees, and faction wars, then Ichisei's struggle to survive in such an oppressive
23:55place as the city is sure to bring you down several pegs.
23:59After his boxing career ends with two of his limbs getting torn off, Ichisei has no choice
24:05but to take on the role of enforcer for one of the city's many warring cliques.
24:10At least until he encounters a young woman named Ran, who has the power to see into the
24:15future.
24:16Don't expect any happy endings here, just lots of compelling suffering.
24:29Number 7.
24:30Chiyo's School Road.
24:37So many comedies fall by the wayside when a new anime season comes out, which is a shame
24:43because some of them are an absolute riot.
24:46Case in point, the life and times of this gamer girl, whose every morning trip to school
24:51somehow becomes fraught with hilarious danger.
25:02Determined to remain neutral in the eyes of her fellow students, Chiyo will do whatever
25:06it takes to not throw herself into the public spotlight.
25:10Even if an average day for her consists of outwitting motorcycle gangs, traversing rooftops,
25:16boss battles with her backside on the line, plus a million other things your average student
25:21can only dream of.
25:25Number 6.
25:29Tsuritama.
25:32If you're not already drawn in by the vibrancy and striking colour of the animation, then
25:39the tale of four lads trying to save the world via the art of fishing certainly will.
25:45While you shouldn't go in expecting there to be a life-or-death battle that involves
25:49reeling in an eldritch fish, the interplay and likeability of our main heroes is more
25:55than enough to sell the story.
25:57Even if one is the pinnacle of introverted, and another is an alien.
26:06Number 5.
26:07Mr. Tonigawa – Middle Management Blues Kaiji may have been a series that revolved
26:15around life-or-death gambles and one loser's desperate struggle to climb out of financial
26:20hell, but turns out his spin-off series is actually pretty light-hearted, which is kind
26:25of confounding as it focuses on the exploits of one of the series' main antagonists.
26:43To keep his position secure at the Tei corporation, Tonigawa must leap through a crazy amount
26:48of hoops to keep the business afloat, and stay in the psychotic chairman's good graces.
26:55You wouldn't have thought having to remember the names of his identical employees, setting
26:59up a workplace barbecue, and learning how to use Twitter would make for good comedy,
27:05but Tonigawa somehow nails it.
27:18Number 4.
27:20Irabu Ichiro – Yorochikubi Also known as Welcome to Irabu's Office,
27:26this particular medical drama isn't so much about combating lethal diseases, and the relationships
27:32between its staff, as it is absolute madness that only the Japanese could think up.
27:47Despite appearing as a child, Irabu is without doubt the greatest, if most unorthodox, licensed
27:54professional out there.
27:55Whether it's a gangster afraid of knives, a gymnast scared to death of heights, or a
28:00businessman with some serious downstairs trouble, there's no condition Irabu can't solve.
28:06With the medicine prescribed often being crazier than the patient's predicament, there's
28:11so many laughs to be had, you'll end up needing an appointment yourself.
28:21Number 3.
28:22SSSS – Gridman For fans of the original tokusatsu, you're
28:35in for a treat, since this series makes for one hell of a high-octane trip.
28:40With all its hype polished with Studio Trigger's signature lavish production.
28:52For the rest of you uninitiated in the ways of this talking mecha, just know that this
28:57has all the staples you could want in a show that pits a giant robot against a kaiju each
29:02episode – with a few twists thrown in to shake things up, especially when it comes
29:07to our villain.
29:20If that's not enough for you, then all we can say is that you're denying yourself
29:24the chance to see Rika's thighs saving lives.
29:27Number 2.
29:28Astra Lost in Space This sci-fi adventure was one of those rare
29:38modern anime that succeeded in telling a complete story, all in the space of a single season,
29:44and without a single misstep.
29:46Originally set to spend a few days at a camp on another planet, a group of teens from all
29:52walks of life are suddenly transported across the galaxy.
30:04Their only hope of returning rests on an abandoned spaceship, where they must chart a course
30:09for home, stopping at several potentially deadly worlds along the way for supplies.
30:15For the cast and overarching narrative alone, this is a must-watch.
30:45Number 1.
30:52See The Money of Soul and Possibility Control
31:03Ever wondered what it would be like if Yu-Gi-Oh! literally became the embodiment of Screw the
31:07Rules I Have Money?
31:09Well, wonder no longer.
31:11As a destitute student surrounded by wealthy peers, the good-natured yet greedy Yoga finds
31:17himself drawn to a parallel world where combatants known as Antras clash for control and fortune.
31:33Socio-economic death battles with crazy abilities might not seem like your cup of tea, but after
31:39the psychedelic visuals grab a hold of you, we're willing to bet you'll be back for more
31:43of these do-or-die gambles.
31:45Plus, this show, no lie, has one of the greatest soundtracks in history, including bangers
31:52by Taku Iwasaki and Lotus Juice.
32:02If you could only choose one of these underrated anime to go mainstream, which one would it
32:07be?
32:08Sound off in those comments below.