Highlights:
* Underrated anime series listed below so that you can claim you have nuanced taste in anime.
* We’ve included the genres that each entry falls under so that you can pick your next anime quickly.
* Gintama deserves more attention and popularity.
If you’ve just begun watching anime and veteran otakus have been calling you a normie, here are some of the best most underrated anime series that you can check out to improve your taste. We’ve made sure to include the genres for each entry so that you can quickly choose what’s next on your watchlist.
- Also Read: Top 10 Best Short Anime Series
Hyouka
| Release Date | April 23, 2012 |
| Author | Honobu Yonezawa |
| Genre | Mystery, Romance |
This underrated anime series seems like your generic highschool romance at first but it quickly becomes a highschool detective romance if anything with its eccentric, lazy, but smart protagonist Oreki and the vibrant cast of eccentric characters that surround him. You can relax as there are no murders in this one but props to this anime for creating blending mystery, tension and romance in a unique fashion.
Durarara
| Release Date | January 8, 2010 |
| Author | Ryohgo Narita |
| Genre | Mystery, Action, Psychological Thriller, Supernatural |
Durarara masterfully weaves together the stories of a diverse cast of characters, from a headless rider to a mysterious information broker, creating a complex tapestry of interconnected events. Initially, these storylines seem disparate, but as the series progresses, we see how they gradually intertwine and influence each other, ultimately converging into a thrilling climax. Durarara is an underrated anime series that you should definitely watch if you’re a fan of mystery thrillers.
A Certain Magical Index
| Release Date | October 5, 2008 |
| Author | Kazuma Kamachi |
| Genre | Superpowers, Sci-fi, Action, Thriller |
A Certain Magical Index is an underrated anime series set in a unique world where mages and espers coexist. The protagonist, Kamijou Touma, lacks magical or esper abilities but possesses the power to negate anything with his right hand which makes his journey in this world fascinating and dangerous. The show combines elements of religion, mythology, and science fiction in a way unlike any other
Silver Spoon
| Release Date | July 11, 2013 |
| Author | Hiromu Arakawa |
| Genre | Comedy, Slice-of-Life, Agriculture |
Gin no Saji or Silver Spoon unfolds at the Ooezo Agricultural High School in Hokkaido, where Yuugo Hachiken, a high school student from Sapporo, enrolls to escape his strict father’s academic and career demands. He quickly learns that life on an agricultural school isn’t as easy as he thought and these “country bums” are more capable on the fields than he is. An underrated anime series full of laughs and knowledge- Gin no Saji is a masterpiece.
Nodame Cantabile
| Release Date | January 11, 2007 |
| Author | Tomoko Ninomiya |
| Genre | Music, Romance, Comedy |
Nodame Cantabile is an underrated anime series centred around love, music and love for music. It follows the relationship between two aspiring classical musicians: Megumi “Nodame” Noda and Shinichi Chiaki. Nodame, a quirky piano student with innate talent, meets Chiaki, an elite, genius pianist with dreams of conducting in Europe. This show weaves humor, music, and romance as they navigate university life and beyond.
Beastars
| Release Date | October 9, 2019 |
| Author | Paru Itagaki |
| Genre | Psychological Thriller, Drama |
Beastars is an underrated anime series filled to the brim with metaphors, symbolisms and social commentary. Call it a socio-political anime tackling themes of gender, abuse, trauma, biological differences and so on in a unique fantasy setting where animals- herbivores and carnivores alike, coexist and even go to school together. With its final season on the horizon, Beastars is one to look out for.
Kino’s Journey
| Release Date | October 6, 2017 |
| Author | Keiichi Sigsawa |
| Genre | Adventure, Fantasy, Action |
Explore this fantasy world with a talking bike called Hermes (real original we know) and Kino- this short, sweet girl who’s has a gun or two and is more than accustomed to taking lives. Despite that initial description, Kino’s Journey is an underrated anime series about a girl who visits new countries and stays in each for 3 days before moving on to the next. Each country has its own unique feel, setting and people and it’s a joy to explore them with characters such as Kino and Hermes.
Re:Creators
| Release Date | April 8, 2017 |
| Author | Rei Hiroe |
| Genre | Reverse-Isekai, Action, Thriller |
Imagine if fantasy characters from your favorite anime, game or movie were isekaid into the real world. They meet their audiences and their creators and what ensues is a captivating ‘What-if?’ scenario as these fantasy characters struggle with their own fictional existence and worth. While the execution of this concept could’ve been better, Re:Creators is an underrated anime series that’s still leagues better than the generic anime you get in scores these days.
Terror In Resonance
| Release Date | July 10, 2014 |
| Author | Shinichiro Watanabe |
| Genre | Mystery, Psychological Thriller |
Terror in Resonance is an underrated anime series that all anime fans should watch at least once to explore the depths of this medium of storytelling. It’s not like the anime stands out for one glaring reason but the way everything culminates- from art, animation, and music to story, dialogue and more, Terror in Resonance has solidified its place as an underrated, timeless, classic in the annals of anime.
Gintama
| Release Date | April 4, 2006 |
| Author | Hideaki Sorachi |
| Genre | Battle-Shounen, Comedy, Slice-of-Life |
When talking about action or shonen anime, most will bring up Dragon Ball, The Big 3 or any of the newer generation shonen hits while Gintama is left out for being weird, unserious or too ridiculously comedic. But when you stick to this anime, eventually it shows its true colors. Be it emotional depth, story or even character writing, when Gintama gets serious, it’s better than most popular hits combined. Sakata Gintoki, the silver soul protagonist of Gintama, hits a nerve like no other.
- Also Read: Top 10 Best War Anime
If you’re just beginning your journey into anime and have just watched your first Demon Slayer or Blue Lock, we recommend some of the top 10 anime for beginners for you to dive into. Once you’ve watched enough to call yourself a proud otaku, come back here and check out some of these underrated anime series above.
