With how wide a medium anime is, countless television shows and movies could be considered severely underrated or overlooked. Others take time, if not years, to properly receive the recognition they aptly deserve after flunking with audiences or not making enough return revenue at the box office.
Whether it’s due to being too niche of a series, an odd animation style, or a genre that fans haven’t explored yet, the following anime are worthy contenders of perfect shows that are deserving of recognition after all this time. From fantasy to science-fiction to sports and heart-warming found families, here are anime that you haven’t heard enough of.
10
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (2004)
Created by Mahiro Maeda and Produced by Gonzo Digimation
Adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo is a retelling of the historical fantasy with a science fiction spin, resulting in not only an anime but a trilogy of its own novels by Shuichi Kouyama, and a manga series written and drawn by Mahiro Maeda. Dumas’ original story follows Edmond Dantès as he is betrayed, thrown in jail, and, after faking his death, starts a new life as a count while planning revenge on the ones who wronged him.
In Gankutsuou, the anime follows the young son of a man who had betrayed the count, Viscount Albert de Morcerf, and his uncovering the plot to not only ruin his father but his reputation in Parisian society, as the Count enacts his long-awaited revenge. The creative decision behind the anime’s unique art style is a vision to behold, as its blend of textures and colors befits its unusual motif on a classic novel.
9
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (2007)
Based on the Novel by Nahoko Uehashi, Directed by Kenji Kamiyama, and Produced by Production I.G
Another work that is based on a novel is Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit, a fascinating fantasy that couples together sorcery with unique weaponry and a mission to save a young boy from being devoured by a curse. Balsa is a wandering bodyguard who seeks to save as many lives as she has taken. During her journey, she comes across the royal family and is employed to look after Prince Chagum, after his own father issues an assassination order on his head.
What starts out as a simple premise of ensuring the young boy’s safety quickly embroils Balsa in seeking out a remedy for the Prince’s ailment, as he’s under a curse by the water spirit and must safely protect the spirit inside of him. Between the mysterious power of the Moribito spirit and Balsa’s fighting skills, the anime is a beautiful adaptation of Uehashi’s novel and explores the story beats well through Balsa as she aims to remain removed from her job, yet can’t help but care for Chagum as they fight to survive together.
8
Kids on the Slope (2012)
Based on the Manga by Yuki Kodama, Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, and Produced by MAPPA and Tezuka Productions
As nostalgic as fantasy and shōnen anime can be, there’s something distinctly refreshing about slice of life series that capture those exact moments and reflections of what it meant to be young. Between the heart-warming memories of being carefree to the cold wash of reality tempering those hazy scenes make for a bitter-sweet pill to swallow, and none do that better than with Kids on the Slope.
Related
35 Best Laid-Back Slice-Of-Life Anime To Relax You
Whether they take place in the Japanese countryside or otherworldly magical settings, these best laid-back slice-of-life anime are a relaxing watch.
Kaoru Nishimi has been bounced around from city to city due to his father’s job, seemingly never allowed to settle, but as they finally find a place for his last years at high school, he finally discovers the connections friendship can bring through Ritsuko Mukae and the delinquent Sentaro Kawabuchi. This short series explores the kids’ love of music, their connections with one another, and their developing relationship as high school breezes on by, far too quickly for the youth.
7
March Comes in Like a Lion (2016)
Based on a Manga by Chica Umino, Directed by Akiyuki Shino and Kenjirou Okada, and Produced by Shaft
March Comes in Like a Lion is a hard-hitting coming-of-age story following Rei Kiriyama, a rising star in the shogi world, showcasing all the tell-tale qualities of a genius as he rises through the ranks. He’s not without his own struggles, though, as his family tragically passed away in an earlier incident, leading him to stay with a childhood family friend who is a professional shogi player. Raised to be Masachika Koda’s protege, the rest of the Koda family begins to resent Rei’s place among them, especially for all the attention he gets for his natural talent with shogi.
Shortly after Rei faces his first major loss, he meets the three Kawamoto sisters and their grandfather, who take to looking after him like he’s part of their family. His experience of what a family is meant to be like is completely subverted by further interacting with the Kawamotos after they bring a new sense of warmth and fulfillment into his life. Despite the tragedies life may bring, March Comes in Like a Lion showcases the importance of community and the integral bonds between people that can help push them through even the worst and loneliest of times.
6
Baccano! (2007)
Created by Ryogo Narita, Directed by Takahiro Omori, and Produced by Brain’s Base
Written by the same author behind Durarara!! and Etsusa Bridge, Baccano! translates to ‘ruckus’ in Italian, and it’s wild cast of characters comprises of alchemists, petty thieves, and ruggish thugs all trying to get the one up on each other. Beginning in 1711, a group of alchemists summoned a demon to obtain a chance of immortality. In exchange for the elixir, the demon states that they must take each other’s lives till one remains. However, the immortals all go back on their word till one of them, Slizard Quates, begins to pick off his fellow alchemists one by one.
Following the news of their once fallen comrades, the remaining immortals scatter to the wind, only for Slizard to create a new elixir of immortality. However, he loses it and the potion gets passed around the city, getting drunk by multiple residents, including the two petty thieves, a mafia family, and many more people that now must be eliminated. What follows is a series of wacky events that are just as abhorrent as they are hilarious antics, and make for a stellar action-packed anime that involves so many branches of a beloved chaotic cast.
5
Barakamon (2014)
Written by Satsuki Yoshino, Directed by Masaki Tachibana, and Produced by Kinema Citrus
Barakamon is a refreshing story of starting over and discovering yourself through the perspective of Seisehu Handa, a young calligrapher who squanders his chances at success after losing his temper when one of the curators criticizes his style for being too bland and unoriginal. His father sends him off to cool his head on Goto Island near Kyushu, where Handa becomes the center of attention as the new kid in town and is pulled into the villagers’ pace through all their hijinks like the young miscreants, Naru Kotoishi.
Handa’s style of calligraphy becomes influenced due to these people now in his life, revisiting the idea that the people that you surround yourself with shape who you are as a person.
Barakamon isn’t telling a new story, and delivers a pretty simple premise in that, sometimes, finding yourself means looking in a place you never would have expected. Handa’s style of calligraphy becomes influenced due to these people now in his life, revisiting the idea that the people that you surround yourself with shape who you are as a person. What begins as a man’s setbacks leads him to a better path that Handa wouldn’t have learned otherwise, forcing him to take a more introspective look at himself and who he’s made himself to be through his whole life.
4
Welcome to the N.H.K. (2006)
Based on the Novel by Tatsuhiko Takimoto, Directed by Yusuke Yamamoto, and Produced by Gonzo
Welcome to the N.H.K. is an odd entry for its dark comedic nature as it delves into the different lifestyles of several hikikomori, or NEETS, recluses that remove themselves from society, whether willingly or otherwise, and don’t largely contribute as unemployed individuals. Tatsuhiro Sato is one such character, a university dropout who is heading into his fourth year of unemployment. He finds it difficult to leave his apartment, struggles with interacting with people, and largely blames a conspiracy organization he’s dubbed the N.H.K. for his hikikomori status.
Related
10 Anime That Address Mental Health Issues Effectively
Mental health can be difficult to address, but these series effectively depict complex situations and issues around the topic.
One day, he’s approached by a young girl named Misaki Nakahara who claims that she can help him get rid of his NEET traits and help him to become a proper member of society. Welcome to the N.H.K. is a unique look at one of the most criticized phenomenon in Japan surrounding the otaku subculture, but also an insight into mental health issues, showcasing how anxiety’s relationship with depression and agoraphobia can trigger these deep, intense feelings of loneliness, abandonment, and even cause psyche issues like paranoia.
3
The Tatami Galaxy (2010)
Based on the Novel by Tomihiko Morimi, Directed by Masaaki Yuasa, and Produced by Madhouse
The story of The Tatami Galaxy is a relatively simple one that is thrown into bizarre proportions thanks to its unique animated style that makes it stand out amongst the anime crowd. The protagonist is an unnamed character who relentlessly laments his lost years during his college years, believing he made the wrong choice by choosing a club that didn’t result in his ultimate happiness or a happy ending with a dark-haired maiden. After meeting with a demigod one night, however, he asks them to take him back to that first day so he can make the correct decision.
The Tatami Galaxy is vivid, beautiful, and hilarious despite challenging viewers on the question of what they would do differently in their lives if they had the chance. While serving as a story that remicenses what could have been, it also serves as a testament that choices are about what one makes of them, not about if another would have given the protagonist more happiness, resulting in a much more grounded reality that life is simply what you make of it.
2
Mushi-Shi (2005)
Based on the Manga by Yuki Urashibara, Directed by Hiroshi Nagahama, and Produced by Artland
Set somewhere in between the Edo and Meiji period, Mushishi is a supernatural fantasy that revolves around the premise of mysterious entities known as Mushi that cling to lifeforms and plantlife much in the way of spirits or ghosts. Following Ginko, known as a Mushi Master, the audience learns more about the world and these creatures as he tends to people suffering from the side effects that come with certain Mushi clinging to them or resulting in problems within their lives.
Through the manga and anime, Mushishi is depicted in a unique style that makes every instance both hauntingly ethereal and foreign as Ginko encounters each new Mushi. Similar to Natsume’s Book of Friends, if it were a tinge darker and metaphysical, Mushishi is a delightful experience, whether you choose to pick up the manga by Urashibara or give the anime a chance, as Artland had created a wonderful masterpiece of an adaptation.
1
Ping Pong the Animation (2014)
Based on the Manga by Taiyo Matsumoto, Directed by Masaaki Yuasa, and Produced by Tatsunoko Production and Science SARU
Like The Tatami Galaxy, Ping Pong the Animation is a vastly underrated anime with a unique artstyle that takes full advantage of the sports series it’s adapted from, bringing the forms and movement to life with each scene. Following Peco and Smile, the two gradually grew as prominent players, but as Peco gets injured, he falls behind while Smile pushes forward as a prodigy. Altogether, the anime follows the athlete’s journey as the sport proves to be a lot more cutthroat and grounded in reality when injuries become setbacks and dreams become far harder to reach.
As a sports anime, Ping Pong the Animation captures all of the classic characteristics that make it stand out amongst its genre with a story centered on the rivalry between two old friends, the brutal nature of the sport, and all of the fluid animation you’d want to really sink into a setting that is uniquely this anime. But what really makes this a landmark is the intricate characters that drive the narrative forward.
