Underrated Anime Shows You Need To Watch

There's more anime being made in Japan and available to stream worldwide now than there has ever been before. Given how much sheer content there is to sift through out there, it makes sense that many great anime will end up being passed over. Perhaps these overlooked series suffered from poor marketing or unfortunate release plans. Perhaps they had some success as flavor-of-the-month shows but fell out of the discourse later on. Perhaps they were simply too off the beaten path to ever become a major success in the first place.

Regardless of the reasons why the following anime shows ended up in a place where they could be considered underrated, they're all good anime that are absolutely worth your time. The shows on this list range from wacky comedies to dark psychological dramas and mecha — whatever your taste in anime, you're sure to find something you'll enjoy here. 

Masaaki Yuasa's work has grown more popular as the years have gone by, but his 2008 science fiction series "Kaiba" remains largely unknown. You can blame the fact it didn't get a North American release until 2017 for the extent of its obscurity, though it's possible the Osamu Tezuka-meets-Dr. Seuss art style is too unconventional by contemporary anime standards to ever be a major hit, even with a more timely release.

Unconventional as the animation style of "Kaiba" may be, it's very well-done. The cute yet surreal art makes an interesting accompaniment to the anime's mature, morally ambiguous cyberpunk story. The series follows the adventures of an amnesiac boy trying to uncover the truth about his past in a dystopian world where memories can be transferred between bodies — and can be subject to manipulation. The exploration of themes relating to technology, identity, and politics should appeal to fans of "Ghost in the Shell."

Keiichi Sigsawa's light novel series "Kino's Journey" ("Kino no Tabi") has twice been given the anime treatment, first in 2003 and again in 2017. This entry is all about the 2003 version, which focuses more on philosophical questions as opposed to action. The series follows the traveler Kino and their talking motorcycle Hermes as they travel to different strange countries in a seemingly post-apocalyptic future. They always stay for three days and try to avoid interfering with these countries' customs during that time (the 2017 version focused more on the stories where they do interfere, creating a very different tone and characterization).

The 2003 anime was directed by the late Ryutaro Nakamura, best known for the mind-bending cyberpunk anime "Serial Experiments Lain." While "Kino's Journey" isn't as depressing or utterly confusing as "Lain," there's a similar artful griminess to the direction. The 2017 version might have appealed more to mainstream anime trends, but it's the underrated 2003 version that makes the stronger emotional impact. If you're only going to watch one of these adaptations, make it the older one.

"Paranoia Agent" ("Mousou Dararin") is probably the best-known anime series on this list. It's the only TV series from the acclaimed director Satoshi Kon, and it has aired on Adult Swim multiple times. As such, a lot of anime fans have heard of it and heard that it's great, but how many of them have actually watched it themselves? Not enough. The first American DVD release was a money-loser for the now-defunct Geneon according to Anime News Network, and Japanese sales reportedly averaged only 751 copies per volume. Rereleased by Funimation in 2020, this psychological horror series is now more accessible to watch than ever before, and just as relevant in its biting social commentary as it was in 2004.

The complex mystery story jumps around between many different characters, each with their own serious personal issues. They find their problems mysteriously resolved after being attacked by a boy with a gold baseball bat ("Shonen Bat" in Japanese, "Little Slugger" in English). Kon used "Paranoia Agent" as a means of further exploring ideas touched upon in his first three films, "Perfect Blue," "Millennium Actress," and "Tokyo Godfathers." If you enjoyed Kon's beloved movies but missed out on this unfairly overlooked series, stream it immediately.

"Princess Tutu" is a show that often gets unfairly overlooked because the art style looks like a show for young girls and, well, it's called "Princess Tutu." Ask anyone who's given this ballerina magical girl anime a chance, though, and they'll tell you that there's plenty for all ages and genders to enjoy. Set inside a storybook world still controlled by a long-dead author, this surprisingly dark and mature metafictional fairy tale follows Duck, a literal duck who can transform into both an ordinary human girl and the heroic Princess Tutu. Duck is on a quest to find the scattered shards of her beloved Prince Mytho's missing heart.

Viewers knowledgeable in classical music and ballet will get the most out of "Princess Tutu," which is filled with references and homages. However, anyone who can appreciate a good fairy tale with elements of tragedy will find something to enjoy in this series.

"Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju," based on the manga by Haruko Kumota, is a mature tragedy set in the world of rakugo (traditional Japanese comedic storytelling). The first season, which aired in 2016, is mostly set in the 1930s and '40s, delving into the youth of rakugo master Yakumo Yurakutei (formerly known as Kikuhiko) and his troubled relationship with fellow performer Sukeroku Yurakutei (formerly Hatsutaro).

Season 2, which dropped in 2017, takes place decades later in the 1970s and '80s, with Yakumo an old man, still haunted by the ghosts of his past, and training a new student, an ex-con named Yotaro. While the concept's seeming obscurity might have contributed to it being under-seen despite critical acclaim, the anime actually makes for a great introduction to an art form most people outside Japan are unfamiliar with, featuring many amusing performances amidst all the intense melodrama.

Anime about otaku are dime-a-dozen these days, but few delve into the dark side of otakudom with anywhere near the intensity of the 2006 series "Welcome to the N.H.K." ("N.H.K. ni Yokoso!"). Based on the novel by Tatsuhiko Takimoto, "Welcome to the N.H.K." is about Tatsuhiro Sato, a hikikomori (a Japanese term for shut-ins who rarely leave their homes). With the help of a mysterious girl who claims she can "cure" him and a more functional otaku neighbor, Sato begins to reconnect with the outside world, but he faces a lot of problems along the way.

This is an extremely dark comedy, dealing with mental illness, conspiracy theories, and many Japanese social problems. The discomfort is strong, especially for anyone who might find themselves uncomfortably relating to any of the characters. Yet, the series manages to stay entertaining and compelling in spite of — or even because of — this discomfort.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.