The worst stereotype about anime is that it’s recommended for kids. But the shows below will prove this nostalgic theory wrong. What things make an anime watchable for adults? To solve this little query, we must analyze multiple aspects of an anime.
like what its plot holds for the audience, how quick and realistic the character developments are, the quality of animations, and how the best storylines influence a mature audience. Thankfully, the below-mentioned animes for adults fulfill such criteria.
25: Death Parade
Two individuals pass away and find themselves in a luxurious bar situated between the heavenly and hellish realms. On the way to the entrance, they meet with a bartender who guides them to play games to earn chances of reincarnation.
The games are designed to uncover the true nature of the players. Through games, the bartender evaluates the lost soulworthiness of incarnation. Death Parade is an underrated anime that has the potential to impress even adults.
- IMDb rating: 7.9/10
- My Anime List: 8.2/10
- Studio: Madhouse
- Premiered: Winter 2015
- Genre: Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Thriller, Supernatural, Suspense
- Seasons: 1 Completed
- Episodes: 12
24: 91 Days
Avilio used to live in an area where the mafia reigned over the streets and alcohol produced illegally flowed freely due to a lack of authority. Eventually, his family became victims of a mafia dispute, which forced him to disappear.
After a while, a mysterious letter reignites his thirst for vengeance. Avilio returns to the lawless district to avenge his family but with a strategy.
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10
- My Anime List: 7.8/10
- Studio: Shuka
- Premiered: Summer 2016
- Genre: Action, Drama, Pshychological
- Seasons: 2 Completed
- Episodes: 13
23: Darker Than Black
Ten years ago, a formidable force field named “Hell’s Gate” opened in Tokyo. Hei, who possesses supernatural abilities, works for a syndicate while searching for his beloved sister.
For character review, Hei of Darker Than Black is pretty famous for being an antihero with complex and cruel decision-making. His personality and dramatic plot make this anime the best for adults to watch.
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10
- My Anime List: 8.1/10
- Studio: Bones
- Premiered: Spring 2007
- Genre: Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Super Power
- Seasons: 1 Completed
- Episodes: 25
22: The Future Diary
A bottom-tier, lazy, and lonesome middle schooler, Yukiteru Amano, performs daily activities on his phone’s diary app. Lack of social connections in the real world made him make pals on this app.
One day, this diary app will begin predicting near-future events. Soon he finds there’s one more in school who has this diary. but they both were not aware that there are 10 more competitors who have such diaries. Now they have to outsmart the other competitors to achieve the title of Ex Machina’s successor. Its horror and psychological plot are a treat for adults to watch.
- IMDb rating: 7.5/10
- My Anime List: 7.4/10
- Studio: Asread
- Premiered: Fall 2011
- Genre: Action, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Shounen, Supernatural, Thriller, Suspense
- Seasons: 1 Completed
- Episodes: 26
21: Scum’s Wish
Hanabi and Mugi seem like an ideal couple for the outside world. However, they are both together because their loved ones are dating each other.
They are dating each other to overcome the sorrow of their actual lovers. Anime is focused on mature people’s horny desires and their nature. This makes it truly unpredictable for even adults.
- IMDb rating: 6.8
- My Anime List: 7.1
- Studio: Lerche
- Premiered: Winter 2017
- Genre: Drama, Ecchi, Psychological, Romance, School, Seinen
- Seasons: 1 Completed
- Episodes: 12
20: Psycho Pass
Japan has introduced new enforcement of the justice system. In this system, Sybl judges the mental state and potential for the criminal behavior of citizens and gives them a pass, which is called the psycho pass.
But a young inspector, Akane, questioned this justice system and whether the existing system is morally good. Psycho-Pass is a sci-fi thriller anime that explores the adventures of young Inspector Akane.
- IMDb rating: 8.2
- My Anime List: 8.3/10
- Studio: Production I.G
- Premiered: Fall 2012
- Genre: Action, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Suspense
- Seasons: 2 Completed
- Episodes: 33
19: Heavenly Delusion
Enclosed within walls, some curious young ones with multiple powers are living in an environment like a nursery. However, outside these walls, danger lurks in the shape of man-eating beasts.
As Japan has been suffering from a great disaster, two youngsters, Maru and Kiruko, are on a journey to find the idealistic place called heaven. With each passing day, their dream becomes increasingly distant.
- IMDb rating: 8.2/10
- My Anime List: 8.2/10
- Studio: Production I.G
- Premiered: Spring 2023
- Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Sci-fi, Seinens, Thriller, Demons
- Seasons: 1 Continued
- Episodes: 13
18: Code Geass
A rebellious tale of Lelouch, who accidentally gets the unique power of Code Geass. A power that enables its possessor to manipulate the targeted body and mind.
With the power of Code Geass, Lelouch tries to bring justice to a world full of terror and darkness. but his selfish desires and actions made him do the dirty work he never wanted to. Although his ultimate motive was just to make a better world for his sister.
- IMDb rating: 8.7/10
- My Anime List: 8.7/10
- Studio: Sunrise
- Premiered: Fall 2006
- Genre: Action, Drama, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi, School, Super Power, Thriller
- Seasons: 2 Completed
- Episodes: 50
17: Made In Abyss
A mysterious abyss appeared on the surface of Japan. That is the home of the deadliest creatures and priceless artifacts.
Those who dive into this abyss are called cave raiders. Among them, a girl named Riko is determined to bring back her most experienced Cave Raider mother from the depths of the Abyss.
- IMDb rating: 8.4/10
- My Anime List: 8.7/10
- Studio: Kinema Citrus
- Premiered: Summer 2017
- Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Seinen
- Seasons: 2 Completed
- Episodes: 27
16: Fruits Basket
Tohru Honda was used to hearing the captivating tales of the Chinese zodiac from her mother. After her mother’s sudden death, she became homeless and was forced to set up a camp on private land. While exploring the land, she meets her cousins from the Souma family.
Her cousins offer to let her stay after learning of her situation. While sharing the house, she discovered that members of the Souma family can transform into animals from the Chinese zodiac. From this moment on, Tooru’s adventure began, full of unexpected family drama, laughter, and even romance.
- IMDb rating: 8.6/10
- My Anime List: 9/10
- Studio: TMS Entertainment
- Premiered: Spring 2019
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life, Supernatural
- Seasons: 3 Completed
- Episodes: 63
15: Hell’s Paradise
A Shinobi or former criminal named Gabimaru has been sent in the search of Elixir of Life along with many other deadly criminals by a Samurai clan. The only motive Gabimaru has is to live with her wife in peace. This successful journey can set him free from his former crimes.
Now, along with the female Samurai, Gabimaru has been sent to a deadly island that holds the Elixir of Life. Hell’s Paradise is a mystery, drama-action series beautifully animated by Mappa Studios. Semi-adult scenes with a twisted storyline make this a potential show for adults to experience.
- IMDb rating: 8.5/10
- My Anime List: 8.3/10
- Studio: Mappa
- Premiered: Spring 2023
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Mystery, Shounen, Supernatural
- Seasons: 1 Continued
- Episodes: 13
14: Monster
Dr. Kenzo Tenma is a successful and talented doctor. He lost the best job of his career because he prioritized performing the surgery on a local boy instead of the city’s mayor.
After 9 years, he became the director of the same hospital and realized 9 years ago that he prioritized saving the life of a criminal. Now he embarks on a journey to make amends for the trouble caused by that criminal. This psychological thriller is the most complex anime for adults to watch.
- IMDb rating: 8.7/10
- My Anime List: 8.7/10
- Studio: Madhouse
- Premiered: Spring 2004
- Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Thriller, Suspense
- Seasons: 1 Completed
- Episodes: 74
13: Violet Evergarden
A young woman trained to fight and destroy the enemy was Violet Evergarden. After the final leg of a great war, she was left wounded with nothing but a letter from her most cherished person.
She decided to abandon the military and join a writing agency to connect people who care for each other. Apart from a complex plot, Violet Evergarden is one of the most beautifully animated and inspirational anime to watch.
- IMDb rating: 8.4/10
- My Anime List: 8.7/10
- Studio: Kyoto Animation
- Premiered: Winter 2018
- Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Military, Slice of Life
- Seasons: 1 Completed
- Episodes: 13
12: Parasyte
A 17-year-old high schooler, Shinichi Izumi, becomes the host of the deadliest parasite that butchers and consumes humans.
Now he must learn to live along with this creature so they can both live their lives. And they have to work together to stop other parasites, which are troublemaking creatures for Earth.
- IMDb rating: 8.3/10
- My Anime List: 8.3/10
- Studio: Madhouse
- Premiered: Fall 2014
- Genre: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological, School, Sci-Fi, Seinen
- Seasons: 1 Completed
- Episodes: 24
11: Classroom Of The Elite
Koudo Ikusei Senior High School gives freedom on behalf of academic excellence to students, but not equally. The school sorts its students from class A to class D, where class A students receive the best treatment and freedom.
However, classes can achieve higher rankings for accomplishing tasks in the school system. Can Ayanokouji and Horikita of class D become the top-ranked students? This show’s psychological games and strategies are complex enough to blow off even the minds of sharp adults.
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10
- My Anime List: 7.9/10
- Studio: Lerche
- Premiered: Summer 2017
- Genre: Drama, Psychological, School
- Seasons: 2 Continued
- Episodes: 25
10: Tokyo Ghoul
Ken Kaneki is a brilliant student who falls in love with a ghoul without knowing her reality. While doing his first kiss, the Ghoul beat her to death, but miraculously, he was saved by implanting the organ of a Ghoul.
Whether Ken admits it or not, now he’s a ghoul and needs to eat human flesh to live. The horror storyline, Ken’s struggle to remain human, and people’s selfish desires and showing off of power make this show perfectly enjoyable for adults.
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10
- My Anime List: 7.8/10
- Studio: Pierrot
- Premiered: Summer 2014
- Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Horro, Mystery, Psychological, Seinen, Supernatural
- Seasons: 4 Completed
- Episodes: 48
9: Baccano!
A legendary train named Pussyfoot sets out on a journey across the country. In New York, an ambitious scientist and his unwilling aid began their search on this train to find bottles of the Elixir of immortality.
To obtain missing bottles of the demonic Elixir of immortality, the alchemists cross paths with gangsters, outlaws, and immortals. The story of Baccano is complex enough to knock the socks off even of mature adults.
- IMDb rating: 8.2/10
- My Anime List: 8.4/10
- Studio: Brain’s Base
- Premiered: summer 2007
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Supernatural, Demons, Mystery
- Seasons: 2 Completed
- Episodes: 16
8: Berserk
Berserk is the anime adaptation of one of the most famous and highly rated dark fantasy mangas, “Berserk.” The anime is about a mysterious warrior named Gut who wields a huge iron slab, beating mysteriously horrifying monsters only in the pursuit of vengeance.
The anime is full of deep sayings, relegional contexts, nudity, and bloodshed.
- IMDb rating: 8.7
- My Anime List: 8.6
- Studio: OLM
- Premiered: Fall 1998
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Military, Seinen, Supernatural, Demons
- Seasons: 1 Original & 3 prequels Completed
- Episodes: 25
7: Oshi No Ko
The doctor and cancer patient have the same favorite idol named Ai. Eventually, they both die and reincarnate as the twins of their beloved, famous idol. While her kids were roughly 5 years old, she got murdered by a stalker or a fanboy.
On this day, Aqua, his son, decides to find out about his father to avenge his mother. whereas the daughter decides to become a famous idol just like her mother. Apart from the plot, the story shows the horrifying secrets of Japan’s entertainment industry, which is truly depressing.
- IMDb rating: 8.8
- My Anime List: 9/10
- Studio: Doga Kobo
- Premiered: Spring 2023
- Genre: Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Seinen, Supernatural
- Seasons: 1 Continued
- Episodes: 11
6: Vinland Saga
The Vinland Saga is a fascinating story of Thorfinn, a boy who’s on a journey to avenge his father’s death. During this painful, depressing, and full of hatred journey, Thorfinn is determined to kill his father’s killer.
The Vinland Saga is a story more focused on reality-based events such as slavery, war disasters, and world peace.
- IMDb rating: 8.8/10
- My Anime List: 8.7/10
- Studio: Wit Studios and Mappa Studios
- Premiered:
- Genre: Action, Drama, Adventure, Military, Seinen
- Seasons: 2 Continues
- Episodes: 48
5: Cowboy Bebop
In the year 2071. Murder, drug abuse, and theft continue to remain a problem even for fresh communities on newly discovered planets. The task of handling these intergalactic outlaws rests on a group of hardy bounty hunters.
Two of these bounty hunters form a bebop group to explore the galaxy while chasing down criminals. Within this adventurous journey, the show displays the dark sides of bounty hunters past which they can’t outrun. Bebop Party’s depressed past events and how contenders fight with them make this anime best suited for adults.
- IMDb rating: 8.9/10
- My Anime List: 8.8/10
- Studio: Sunrise
- Premiered: Spring 1998
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Martial Arts, Sci-Fi, Space
- Seasons: 1 Completed
- Episodes: 26
4: Death Note
One day, brilliant student Yagami Light finds a notebook lying on the ground. That was Death Note dropped by a devil of the supernatural world. According to that book, anyone’s name written on it would die within 40 seconds.
Yagami starts using that book to murder outlaws in the hope of creating a crime-free world. The best things in this show for adults are Yagami’s keen thinking, an extraordinary rival named L, and the storyline that keeps you sticking to it.
- IMDb rating: 8.9/10
- My Anime List: 8.6/10
- Studio: Madhouse
- Premiered: Fall 2006
- Genre: Mystery, Psychological, Shounen, Supernatural, Thriller, Suspense
- Seasons: 1 Completed
- Episodes: 37
3: Samurai Champloo
Fuu works as a clumsy waitress in a teahouse. She was saved by a unique hip-hop samurai named Mugen.
The fight between Jin and Mugen caused the death of a local official’s son. As the trio has crossed paths with each other, they have to achieve their goals without killing each other. Samurai Champloo is the best anime series for any adult to watch, as it’s filled with hip-hop, unique fight action scenes, and a complex storyline.
- IMDb rating: 8.6/10
- My Anime List: 8.5/10
- Studio: Manglobe
- Premiered: Spring 2004
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Martial Arts
- Seasons: 1 Completed
- Episodes: 26
2: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, search for the Philosopher’s Stone to restore their bodies.
Which were lost while experimenting with alchemy methods to resurrect their deceased mother. However, Edward and Alphonse are not the only ones looking for powerful stones.
- IMDb rating: 9.1/10
- My Anime List: 9.1/10
- Studio: Bones
- Premiered: Spring 2009
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Military, Shounen, Super Power, Demons
- Seasons: 1 Completed
- Episodes: 64
1: Attack On Titan
Eren Yeager is a keen-minded kid who lives within the walls and dreams of being free to see the outside world along with his friends. But the people of Paradise Island think they are safe within the walls, and anyone should not cross the walls, as that’s the protection given by the gods.
But one day, a giant Titan appears and destroys the wall. This results in thousands of casualties, including Eren’s mother. In his rage, Eren decides to destroy all the Titans and join the military.
Attack on Titan is an anime that shows no hesitancy in killing its main characters. The character development in AoT is even more brief than in any Hollywood series.
- IMDb rating: 9.1/10
- My Anime List: 8.5/10
- Studio: Wit Studios and Mappa Studios
- Premiered: Spring 2013
- Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Military, Mystery, Shounen, Suspense
- Seasons: 4 Continued
- Episodes: 88
