Looking for some best anime for adults? Well, your search seems over now. Take a glance at the below-mentioned anime TV series and movies and find the one suitable as per your mood. Are you also an anime fan who is tired of watching all the sad romantic anime series and movies and is looking for some psychological thriller, adventurous, and sci-fi anime series and films that could cater to the younger audiences out there who are looking for some adult anime series and movies.
Anime has come a long way. It is no more about Pokemon or Beyblade cartoons, but today the themes and the plot of the anime series have drastically changed. Most of them are based on themes and depict real-life problems like depression, heartbreak, mental illness, romance, etc. If you ask your friends, each of them will suggest a hell of many options to you, which will confuse you. So, here I am, providing you a list of some best anime to watch that has a perfect blend of fight scenes, fantasy, mystery, and animation, which has been listed typically for mature audiences.
40. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)
- Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
- Writer: Yoshiki Usa, Masahiko Otsuka
- Main Cast: KENN (David Martinez), Aoi Yūki (Lucy), Hiroki Touchi (Maine)
- IMDb Rating: 8.3
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Platform: Netflix
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is an anime about teenager David Martinez, whose dreams are dashed by a tragic incident and who is forced to confront the harsh realities of life. His life is in ruins when he finds a potent cybernetic implant that gives him superhuman speed. This leads him on a revenge quest that deviates from the course his mother always desired for him. Soon after, David joins forces with Lucy, a proficient data thief, who exposes him to the dangerous Edgerunners’ world, where morality is merely a question of survival. David must face the internal demons that threaten to devour his very sanity as well as the external monsters as he immerses himself in this dangerous and ambitious environment.
39. Best Anime for Adults: Chainsaw Man (2022)
- Director: Ryū Nakayama
- Writer: Hiroshi Seko
- Main Cast: Kikunosuke Toya (Denji), Tomori Kusunoki (Makima), Shogo Sakata (Aki)
- IMDb Rating: 8.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%
- Platform: Crunchyroll
Chainsaw Man is an anime about Denji, whose dream is straightforward: to spend time with a girl he likes and lead a contented life. However, this is far from the truth, as Yakuza forces Denji to kill demons in order to pay off his crippling debt. He is willing to do anything for a little cash, and he uses his Pochita pet devil as a gun. Under Makima’s guidance, Denji’s newly acquired abilities thrust him into the world of devil hunting.
The series explores themes of identity, freedom, and human desires while striking a balance between violent fights, humorous moments, and emotional depth. Mature viewers are enthralled by its graphic action and quirky characters.
38. Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun (2022)
- Director: Masayuki Kojima
- Writer: Hideyuki Kurata
- Main Cast: Miyu Tomita (Riko), Mariya Ise (Reg), Shiori Izawa (Nanachi)
- IMDb Rating: 8.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 95%
- Platform: HIDIVE
Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun follows the story of Riko, Reg, and Nanachi as they explore “The Capital of the Unreturned,” the sixth layer of the Abyss. They come across strange animals, perilous terrain, and an enigmatic community here.
In their quest to track down Riko’s mother and uncover the Abyss’s mysteries, the two encounter innumerable obstacles and perils that expose the world’s sinister secrets and put their bravery and tenacity to the test. As the characters deal with the horrors of the Abyss, the anime explores their psychological struggles. This series, which is renowned for its gut-wrenching twists and deceptive innocence, is extremely emotional and not for the weak of the heart.
37. Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku (2023)
- Director: Kaori Makita
- Writer: Akira Kindaichi
- Main Cast: Chiaki Kobayashi (Gabimaru), Yumiri Hanamori (Sagiri), Rie Takahashi (Yui)
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
- Platform: Crunchyroll
In the anime Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku, Gabimaru the Hollow is sentenced to death, but nothing seems to kill him because of his superhuman body. With the promise of freedom, if he finds the elixir of immortality, he is sent to a mysterious island as a death row inmate.
Along with Sagiri, the executioner, he must make his way through a region filled with rival criminals and hideous creatures. The anime blends themes of survival, duty, and redemption with visceral combat. For adult audiences, it stands out due to its intense action scenes and philosophical undertones.
36. Best Anime for Adults: Oshi no Ko (2023)
- Director: Daisuke Hiramaki, Chao Nekotomi
- Writer: Jin Tanaka
- Main Cast: Rie Takahashi (Ai Hoshino), Takeo Otsuka (Aqua), Yurie Igoma (Ruby)
- IMDb Rating: 8.9
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 98%
- Platform: Crunchyroll
The journey of Aquamarine and Ruby, the children of a very popular idol, Ai Hoshino, is followed in the anime Oshi no Ko, which explores what happens behind the curtains of the Japanese entertainment industry. Following their mother’s untimely death, the twins navigate the difficulties of celebrity and idol life as they look for the truth about what happened and who their father is.
The storyline examines issues like media manipulation, career sacrifices, fan obsession, and the dirty dark secrets that are plaguing the entertainment industry. Oshi no Ko provides an intriguing and critical look at the shadowy side of celebrity and the pursuit of truth in a world of delusions, all while showcasing compelling characters and an engrossing narrative. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that resonates with viewers.
35. The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 (2022)
- Director: Masato Jinbo
- Writer: Keigo Koyanagi
- Main Cast: Kaito Ishikawa (Naofumi), Asami Seto (Raphtalia), Rina Hidaka (Filo)
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 88%
- Platform: Crunchyroll
The second season of The Rising of the Shield Hero follows Shield Hero Naofumi Iwatani on his ongoing quest to protect the kingdom of Melromarc. The new and dangerous threat in this season is a huge ancient monster called the Spirit Tortoise, who has the ability to destroy the entire land. His awakening causes a major problem because it upsets the world’s equilibrium, and Naofumi and his group discover that things are much more complicated than they first appear. The anime delves into his battles against prejudice and treachery, as well as his evolving relationships with Raphtalia and Filo.
34. Dr. Stone: New World (Season 3, 2023)
- Director: Shinya Iino
- Writer: Yuichiro Kido
- Main Cast: Yusuke Kobayashi (Senku Ishigami), Gen Sato (Chrome), Manami Numakura (Kohaku)
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
- Platform: Crunchyroll
Dr. Stone’s third season carries on Senku’s quest to use science to restore civilization in a post-apocalyptic world where people have been terrified for millennia. As the Kingdom of Science sets out on a sea voyage to learn the origins of the petrification event, this season explores new frontiers.
For mature audiences, the anime offers a refreshing and instructive experience by fusing humor, adventure, and scientific ingenuity. Its skillful blending of touching reunions, calculated choices, and the excitement of a lunar journey demonstrates the narrative’s adaptability and complexity. The plot gains dynamic energy from the tension created by historical animosity and the ensuing skepticism among characters, which keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
33. Summer Time Rendering (2022)
- Director: Ayumu Watanabe
- Writer: Hiroshi Seko
- Main Cast: Natsuki Hanae (Shinpei), Anna Nagase (Ushio), Saho Shirasu (Mio)
- IMDb Rating: 8.3
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%
- Platform: Disney+
In the anime Summer Time Rendering, following the passing of his parents, Shinpei now resides with the Kofune family and their two daughters, Ushio and Mio. Shinpei learns that the island is in danger from evil supernatural happenings when he returns to his hometown for Ushio’s funeral. He must solve the mystery and rescue his loved ones while trapped in a time loop. Suspecting that a murder has occurred, Shinpei investigates the truth until odd happenings start to happen and the background of an old folktale about “Shadows” starts to emerge. This compelling thriller explores themes of loss, resiliency, and the struggle against fate through complex storytelling and eerie imagery.
32. Best Anime for Adults: The Great Cleric (2023)
- Director: Masato Tamagawa
- Writer: Keiichiro Ochi
- Main Cast: Akio Otsuka (Luciel), Reiji Kawashima (Brody), Tomokazu Sugita (Lumina)
- IMDb Rating: 7.3
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 85%
- Platform: Crunchyroll
In the anime, The Great Cleric, Luciel, a salaryman reincarnated into a fantasy world, sets out on a healing journey to survive in a harsh society. He adopts the name Luciel and swears that his next death will come from old age alone, using only his past life experiences and astute business acumen to guide him in the strange world of Galdardia.
The anime explores the difficulties of self-improvement, the morality of healing, and negotiating social hierarchies while striking a balance between humor and action. It appeals to viewers who enjoy underdog stories because of its touching moments and spirit of adventure.
31. Best Anime for Adults: Heavenly Delusion (2023)
- Director: Hirotaka Mori
- Writer: Makoto Fukami
- Main Cast: Gen Sato (Maru), Sayaka Senbongi (Kiruko), Hibiku Yamamura (Mimihime)
- IMDb Rating: 8.1
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90%
- Platform: Hulu
Heavenly Delusion is an anime where Maru and Kiruko travel through perilous terrain in a post-apocalyptic world in pursuit of “Heaven.” The story switches between their adventure and their time spent in an enigmatic children’s facility.
A girl named Tokio gets a message asking if she wants to go outside one day. When she gets upset, her friend tells her that someone who likes her will come get her. Maru, who resembles Tokio, is searching for someone who shares his appearance. This anime enthralls viewers who appreciate stories that provoke thought with its complex narrative, nuanced emotional depth, and arresting visuals.
30. Mars Red (2021)
- Director: Kouhei Hatano
- Writer: Junichi Fujisaku
- Main Cast: Tasuku Hatanaka (Kurusu), Akira Ishida (Maeda), Ayahi Takagaki (Misaki)
- IMDb Rating: 7.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 86%
- Platform: Funimation
Mars Red, which is set in Japan in the 1920s, centers on a government task force that is battling an increase in vampire activity. Lieutenant General Sounosuke Nakajima creates a covert vampire hunting unit named Code Zero, under the command of Colonel Yoshinobu Maeda, to combat this escalating threat.
Not only must Maeda eliminate Ascra’s network, but he also has to deal with the internal strife of his own members, who are now vampires and are trying to figure out where they fit in with humans and monsters. Exploring themes of humanity, sacrifice, and existential dread, it blends supernatural elements with historical aesthetics. The evocative imagery and poetic dialogue give the vampire genre a distinctive flair.
29. Undead Murder Farce (2023)
- Director: Mamoru Hatakeyama
- Writer: Noboru Takagi
- Main Cast: Tomoyo Kurosawa (Aya Rindo), Taku Yashiro (Tsugaru), Makoto Koichi (Shizuku)
- IMDb Rating: 8.0
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
- Platform: Crunchyroll
Undead Murder Farce is the story about Aya Rindo, a disembodied head, who works with a half-demon and her maid to solve supernatural crimes in this oddball mystery series. The mysterious pen-wielder Tsugaru Shinuchi and his partner Aya Rindou.
Together, they journey throughout Japan in pursuit of answers and to uncover a conspiracy that entails not just a murder but also the relationship between Tsugaru’s humanity and a missing body. As the three discover secrets, they come across werewolves, vampires, and more. For mature audiences, its witty prose, dark humor, and compelling characters provide a novel interpretation of detective fiction.
28. Best Anime for Adults: Devilman Crybaby (2018)
Director: Masaaki Yuasa
Writer: Ichirō Ōkouchi (adapted from Go Nagai’s Devilman manga)
Cast: Kōki Uchiyama as Akira Fudo, Ayumu Murase as Ryo Asuka, Megumi Han as Miki Makimura
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 89%
Platform Available: Netflix
Devilman Crybaby is the dark and eerie tale of Akira Fudo, a sympathetic teen who merges with a demon to defend humanity. The scene is set for a brutal and poignant survival story when he transforms into Devilman, a creature with the heart of a human but the powers of a demon.
Akira tackles the escalating conflict between humans and demons while exploring themes of morality, love, and treachery under the guidance of his mysterious childhood friend Ryo Asuka. The series is renowned for its unadulterated emotions, breathtakingly abstract animation, and unreserved examination of human nature’s darker aspects.
27. Parasyte: The Maxim (2014-2015)
Director: Kenichi Shimizu
Writer: Shōji Yonemura (based on the manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki)
Cast: Nobunaga Shimazaki as Shinichi Izumi, Aya Hirano as Migi, Kana Hanazawa as Satomi Murano
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 95%
Platform Available: Crunchyroll, Netflix
In Parasyte: The Maxim, one of the parasitic aliens that invade Earth fails to completely infect Shinichi Izumi, a high school student, instead bonding with his right hand. Reluctantly, this sentient parasite, Migi, joins Shinichi in their battle against other parasites who want to eradicate them.
Shinichi is pulled into a fight to save those he loves and faces the horrifying moral quandaries that result from the coexistence of humans and parasites as he tries to preserve his humanity in the face of his developing bond with Migi. The show blends philosophical inquiries about humanity, survival, and coexistence with thrilling action.
26. The Apothecary Diaries (2023)
- Director: Shunsuke Tada
- Writer: Yōsuke Kuroda
- Cast: Aoi Koga as Maomao, Takahiro Sakurai as Jinshi, Natsuki Hanae as the Emperor, Yuichi Nakamura as the Crown Prince, Rie Kugimiya as the Empress, Mikako Komatsu as the Second Princess
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: N/A (Not yet available for this anime)
- Platform Available: Crunchyroll, Funimation
The anime The Apothecary Diaries is about a young woman named Maomao, the daughter of a humble apothecary. She had previously led a modest life. When she is brought as a servant to the emperor’s palace, her life takes a surprising turn. Notwithstanding her lowly position, Maomao rapidly proves invaluable to the court, all thanks to her intelligence and thorough understanding of medicinal herbs. She discovers a number of hidden secrets within the palace, including political conspiracies and the shadowy side of the establishment.
Aimed at an adult audience, the series explores themes of loyalty, morality, and power while striking a balance between medical drama and political conspiracy.
25. Best Anime for Adults: Gantz
An account of individuals who die in Tokyo and are then transported to a room where a black sphere gives them weapons, tech suits, and a bloody mission. Running around with a sawed-off shotgun in a strip club makes me think of the movie “Lord of the Flies.”
It is a cruel peepshow of the human mind and a psychological experiment that is pornophobic and violent. It’s an odd illustration of a program that succeeds (if you let it) in a bold, intrusive way. It’s simple to hate, painful to love, and difficult to ignore.
Although this show is challenging to accept, it is undeniably original, worth the risk, and appropriately offensive. Although it’s difficult to love the characters, when you do, it feels well-earned.
24. Soul Eater
Soul Eater may initially appear to belong in the Naruto/Bleach pile but be patient and give it time. What appears to be childish is actually a beautiful art form that is reminiscent of Tim Burton’s earlier works.
At an academy, the young characters in the series are being taught how to harvest and consume souls. The other characters are the weapons, while some of the characters are meisters and wield weapons. Death himself serves as the school’s headmaster. It’s distinctive, action-packed, and occasionally downright gruesome.
This show’s primary distinguishing feature is art. You can watch it with the kids without worrying that they will lose brain cells, and it looks fantastic.
23. Best Anime for Adults: Baccano!
Baccono is undoubtedly a unique anime character. Some of the best original characters serve as the protagonists of this deftly constructed nonlinear story. There are endearing mobster characters, evil alchemists, morbid assassins, and a motley band of disenfranchised riff raff from the streets of 1920s America.
They are all refreshingly comic and oddly deep. This is a series not to be missed thanks to its impressive animation, superb storytelling, and original characters.
22. Ghost in the Shell
One of the most creative, technologically advanced shows ever produced. Steven Hawking would clear his schedule to make time for contemplation thanks to the concepts, the realistic characters, the beautiful animation quality, and the pulsing music.
It is so, so worth it to take the time to comprehend the technology being presented, the ethical and political ramifications that follow from it, and to ask us what remains of individuality and humanity when the majority of your existence is synthetic.
21. Neon Genesis Evangelion
Shinji Ikari is a boy in ruins. Neo Tokyo, desperately trying to defend itself, is attacked by mysterious, terrifying goliaths known as Angels. The Evangelion was created by humanities combined efforts and blasphemous science, under the command of Shinji’s father.
To pilot it and kill in order to save humanity, Shinji is instructed. If he doesn’t, he will be considered useless and consigned to a life of solitude. This is only the opening to the labyrinth and the tip of the iceberg.
A true industry classic. The complex plot and technical tenacity of the world created are only matched by the epic battles and gloriously bloody choreography that still serve as the gold standard for Mecha anime.
20. Best Anime for Adults: Attack On Titan
- Director: Tetsurō Araki, Masashi Koizuka, Yuichiro Hayashi, Jun Shishido
- Writer: Yasuko Kobayashi, Hiroshi Seko, Shintarō Kawakubo
- Cast: Yûki Kaji, Marina Inoue, Yui Ishikawa,
- IMDb Rating: 9
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 96%
- Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, And Hulu
The plot of the attack on titan revolves around a war of humanity with the monsters living in the world. Humanity lives inside the cities, surrounded by massive walls that protect them from flesh-eating monsters called Titans. The main cast is the three best friends, Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert.
The life of these characters is seen to take a sudden turn when the colossal titan appears and breaks the impenetrable protective wall, and Eren finds his mother to be dead. After witnessing such a huge loss, Eren, his sister, and Armin decided to join the Survey cops who fight the monsters outside the wall in the hope of eradicating the titans from the world.
All three of them were involved in a brutal war with the titans and were continuously brainstorming over the idea of how to defeat the titans before the last wall was demolished. This anime series has four seasons, and the 4th season is continuing.
Sixteen episodes of the 4th season have been aired till now, and the rest are yet to be declared. According to a new source (via ComicBook.com), the second half will consist of 12 episodes. As of this writing, five episodes have already been shown, leaving only seven to air — but this hasn’t been formally confirmed and won’t be until much closer to the end.
19. Death Note
- Director: Ryūichi Inomata, Ryō Nishimura, Marie Iwasaki
- Writer: Yoshihiro Izumi
- Cast: Masataka Kubota, Kento Yamazaki, Mio Yūki, Hinako Sano
- IMDb Rating: 9
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Platforms Available: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon.com
If you are planning to start watching anime series and ask an anime fan for suggestions, to begin with, I am sure the first name will be “Death note”. This is the level of fan base death note has. Writing about adult anime and not including death notes sounds weird, right?
After discovering a notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is entered into it, a bright high school student embarks on a hidden crusade to eradicate criminals from the world. The first episode of this anime series begins in Japan, where a boy named Light Yagami, the main character, is walking towards his home and from another world finds a black notebook dropping from the sky.
The name on the notebook read “Death Note”, and the first rule inside was: “The human whose name is written in this notebook shall die”, which he thought to be a prank.
A girl is set to be raped by Takuo Shibumaru, a motorcycle gang member. He notes down the name and the reason for death, “accident”, as he walks into a convenience store. When Light witnesses the motorcyclist being hit by a truck moments later, he realizes that the Death Note is accurate.
The series sees the death of many characters, and the cause of death remains a mystery to everyone. The light uses the notebook to get rid of all the evil people in the world. This anime series can trigger and impact children’s minds because of a lot of death scenes. Otherwise, this series comes with a perfect blend of animation, fantasy, and thrill.
18. Best Anime for Adults: Black Lagoon
- Director: Sunao Katabuchi
- Writer: Rei Hiroe
- Cast: Megumi Toyoguchi, Daisuke Namikawa,yûichi Nakamura
- IMDb Rating: 8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90%
- Platforms Available: Hulu, Amazon, Netflix
Themes around a group of modern-day pirates known as Lagoon Company, who smuggle goods in and around the seas of southeast Asia. They operate in the fictional city of Roanapur in Thailand and transport the goods in a boat named black lagoon.
The Lagoon Company has several clients, but one, in particular, is the Russian crime syndicate Hotel Moscow, with which it has a close relationship. The Lagoon Company takes on a variety of missions in Southeast Asia, including violent firefights, hand-to-hand combat, and naval battles.
When they’re not doing anything, the members of the Lagoon Company spend a lot of their time at The Yellow Flag, firefights frequently destroy the bar in Roanapur. The black lagoon is one of the best adult anime, an excellent combination of both action and storyline.
17. Psycho-Pass
- Director: Naoyoshi Shiotani, Katsuyuki Motohiro
- Writer: Gen Urobuchi, Makoto Fukami, Aya Takaha
- Cast: Kana Hanazawa, Miyuki Sawashiro, Takahiro Sakurai
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 70%
- Platforms Available: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu
The anime Psycho pass is centered shortly in Japan, at a time when it is possible to measure a person’s state of mind. The story is set in the 22nd century and Japan has changed its justice system and enforced the Sibyl system.
This Sibyl system is known to determine the threat level of each citizen by examining their potential of committing a criminal activity known as their Psycho pass. If they found the probability to be higher than a specific limit, they were sent to the rehabilitation center, apprehended, or killed if necessary.
In this world of justice enters Akane Tsunemori, a young woman who desires to uphold the justice system. While working with the veteran Enforcer Shinya Kougami, when Akane realizes that this test is not as perfect as the other inspectors thought, she revisits and starts thinking about what true justice means.
This anime is an adult watch. Not because it has violence or sensuality, but because it deals with mature concepts and ideas.
16. Best Anime for Adults: Tokyo Ghoul
- Director: Shūhei Morita
- Writer: Sui Ishida
- Cast: Natsuki Hanae, Sora Amamiya, Kana Hanazawa, Mamoru Miyano
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 82%
- Platforms Available: Hulu, Crunchyroll, Amazon.com
Tokyo Ghoul is a sci-fi TV series based on manga of the same name. The plot is set in Tokyo, Japan, where a college-going guy is attacked by a girl he went on a date with because she was a flesh-eating ghoul. In Tokyo, a college-going student, Kaneki Ken, who dates a girl, Kamishiro Rize, tries to attack him in a lonely park because she is a flesh-eating ghoul.
Kaneki manages to flee, but he soon discovers that he has turned into a ghoul. Kaneki manages to save himself from the group of ghouls by getting an organ transplant from the girl who attacked him, thus turning into a half-ghoul. He befriends a gang of calm ghouls with whom he attempts to live his new life.
Two police officers pursue them from the Ghoul Division, their task is to eradicate ghouls from their district. Tokyo ghoul tells us about some group of flesh-eating monsters and how they usually live within human beings and try to hide their identity from the world.
Watching Ken’s transformation and eventually embracing into a ghoul is a fantastic way to develop the character, but where Tokyo Ghoul excels is world-building.
15. Death Parade
- Director: Yuzuru Tachikawa
- Writer: Yuzuru Tachikawa
- Cast: Tomoaki Maeno, Rumi Okubo, Yoshimasa Hosoya
- IMDb Rating: 7.9
- Platforms Available: Funimation, Netflix
Every episode of this anime series revolves around the past mistakes or something that the main characters have experienced in the past life that had led them here. Humans either go to eternal nothingness or are reincarnated after death.
When it’s unclear where to put some stray souls, they end up at bar Quindecim, where they have no recollection of having died. The bartender, Decim, challenges them to the Death Game, in which they risk their “lives” and expose their true identities.
Decim is truly an adjudicator in charge of choosing the fate of individuals who come at Quindecim – he assesses their final fate by drawing the darkness from deep within them. Death parade takes its audience into the world of fantasy combined with some jazz music and poetry.
The story of the death parade will leave you devastated in the end and is one of the most profound anime tv series. It is a beautiful combination of a story that is raw and emotional at the same time.
14. Best Anime for Adults: Berserk
- Director: Shin Itagaki
- Writer: Kentaro Miura
- Cast: Hiroaki Iwanaga, Takahiro Sakurai, Kouichi Yamadera
- IMDb Rating: 8.7
- Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Berserk is an adaptation of Japanese manga series, with themes around the dark fantasy world. The story is set around the main characters, Gutswho, a lone mercenary, and Griffith, the leader of a mercenary band called the “Band of the Hawk”.
Guts is a swordsman who joins forces with a mercenary group known as ‘The Band of the Hawk’, led by the charismatic Griffith, and battles his way into the royal court. Since his birth, a mercenary group raises guts. In self-defense, he kills his guardian and then flees.
He runs into Griffith and The Hawk Band many years later. The Hawks serve the King of Midland and become the King’s guard after winning a 100-year battle against a neighboring empire. Things, however, quickly deteriorate once they reach the top.
13. Violet Evergarden
- Director: Taichi Ishidate, Haruka Fujita
- Writer: Reiko Yoshida
- Cast: Yui Ishikawa, Daisuke Namikawa
- IMDb Rating: 9.2
- Platforms Available: Netflix
After the Great War came to an end after years of conflict, the continent of Telesis began to flourish with life again. They raised a young girl named Violet Evergarden solely to kill enemies.
After being injured in the war, she was hospitalized and left with some words said to her by someone she held dear but without understanding their meanings. She got the opportunity to work with an auto memory doll that had the power to transcribe people’s thoughts and feelings into words on paper.
This anime can be better understood by the mature audiences out there as this anime involves a lot of bloodshed and violence, which can negatively impact the minds of the kids.
12. Best Anime for Adults: Monster Cave
- Director: Masayuki Kojima
- Writer: Naoki Urasawa
- Cast: Hidenobu Kiuch, Mamiko Noto, Nozomu Sasaki
- IMDb Rating: 8.7
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 81%
- Platforms Available: Netflix, Amazon Prime
Dr. Kenzo Tenma is a well-known and successful neurosurgeon from Japan who now practices in Germany. While preparing to operate on a patient, the hospital’s director instructs him to operate on a well-known celebrity instead.
The operation goes well, but Dr. Tenma learns that the patient he was scheduled to operate on has passed away. This will cause the doctor to have a serious moral dilemma. Another time the same kind of situation arises, he decides to operate on the boy, Johan Liebert, with a gunshot injury, instead of the mayor.
The latter arrived at the hospital later. The boy is saved, but the mayor dies, due to which he loses his respect and position in the hospital. Depressed and drunk when he was out one day, the twins disappeared from the hospital, and Tenma’s superior and the hospital director were found dead, making Tenma the prime suspect in the murder.
A pure thrill, violence, and suspense, the monster is truly one of the best adult anime if you are looking for some mystery and animation.
11. Samurai Champloo
- Director: Shinichirō Watanabe
- Writer: Shinji Obara
- Cast: Kazuya Nakai, Ginpei Sato, Ayako Kawasumi
- IMDb Rating: 8.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 88%
- Platforms Available: Amazon Prime, Hulu, Netflix
Fuu is a young girl who is a waitress in a small teahouse. One fine day she accidentally spilled a drink on one of the customers, and now a group of samurai is harassing her while she calls for help, and another samurai, Mugen, comes out to help her.
Mugen and ronin Jinn indulge themselves in an unwanted fight. Unfortunately, they destroy the teahouse and accidentally kill the local magistrate’s son. Fuu helps both the guys rescue from the execution and then hires them as her bodyguard.
More On Fuu
In exchange for her help, she asks them to search for a samurai who smells like a sunflower. Despite disapproval, both the samurais agreed to help her. Finally, the group of new friends begins the journey full of adventure in search of a samurai who smells like a sunflower.
Fuu’s presence in this anime is the most exciting part as she serves as the point of communication between Mugen and Jinn, who are constantly in the mood to pick up a fight. We always hope that the best things should stay in our lives forever, but life has other plans.
Samurai Champloo sets a great example of “Nothing lasts forever”. All things should end, and this is what we got to watch here. The three strangers turned friends decided to part their ways in the end on good terms.
Samurai Champloo can be considered one of the best anime series that beautifully portrays Japan’s themes, set in the Edo era. It has so many hidden meanings that one can relate to in real life. Samurai Champloo is one of those anime series kids can also enjoy because of its storyline.
10. Best Anime for Adults: Elfen Lied
- Director: Mamoru Kanbe
- Writer: Takao Yoshioka
- Cast: Kira Vincent Davis, Adam Conlon
- IMDb Rating: 7.9
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Platforms Available: Hulu, Netflix
This is a short anime about a mutant race known as the Diclonii. Dillon, as a species, is driven to kill humanity and wipe humanity out to construct a new planet for themselves.
Dillon, unlike humans, have two horn-like protrusions extending from their skulls and invisible “arms” known as vectors, which they can use to move objects in their environment.
Sure, they’re kept in cells at a Facility, where they’re put through grueling tests to see if their abilities are natural, or they’re put to death because they’re too dangerous. A virus connects the mutation. Non-lethal interaction with diclonius vectors transmits this virus.
As the dicloniuses seek refuge from the scientists, Kouta, the story’s main non-mutant character, becomes increasingly entwined with them. Elfen Lied sends a message to anime fans that a person must learn to accept their inner self and monster.
Elfen lied’s plot is much of a controversial adult anime series that is remembered for displaying explicit content, making it unsuitable for kids to watch. Apart from violence, there’s an open display of nudity of under-aged characters.
9. Ergo Proxy
- Director: Shūkō Murase
- Writer: Dai Satō
- Cast: Kôji Yusa, Akiko Yajima, Rie Saitô
- IMDb Rating: 8
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Platforms Available: Tubi, Amazon, Hulu
The series is based on the aftermath of a global ecological crisis in a post-apocalyptic future Earth. Rapid climate change resulting from a series of explosions in methane hydrate reservoirs appears to be the apparent source of this calamity.
To survive, the remaining Humans created 300 Proxies in an event known as the Proxy Project and tasked them with creating a new Human race that would nurture within the Proxies’ Dome Cities. On the other hand, the Proxies turned out to be a flawed design.
They attempted to develop and support Humans who took on the flaws of their creators and became imperfect creatures themselves. The tale of Ergo Proxy follows Re-L Mayer, Vincent Law, and Pino as they search for the truth about their universe and themselves thousands of years later.
Earth has only become worse by this point; a virus known as the Cogito Virus has spread among the AutoReiv populace, the last Dome Cities are crumbling, and Rondeau’s regent Donovan Mayer is nothing more than an ersatz monarch.
8. Best Anime for Adults: Blue Period
- Director: Koji Masunari
- Writer: Reiko Yoshida
- Cast: Hiromu Mineta, Yumiri Hanamori, Daiki Yamashita
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Platforms Available: Netflix
Most people think of Yatora Yaguchi as a delinquent, yet he’s a good guy. He receives good grades and has a large group of friends, but he is dissatisfied with his monotonous life. After being inspired by a large, gorgeous picture by an upperclassman, he begins to pursue art.
Art. However, as someone who has always been successful without putting in a lot of effort, he is astounded at the amount of effort required to become a master of the arts. He suffers when comparing his work to that of his classmates, but he perseveres because he has discovered a hobby in which he is genuinely passionate.
While the animation in Blue Period isn’t awe-inspiring, the message it depicts is accessible to anyone of any age group who enjoys being creative and can relate to the protagonist. Apart from depicting art, it also conveys a severe mental health issue.
7. Rurouni Kenshin
- Director: Kazuhiro Furuhashi
- Writer: Nobuhiro Watsuki
- Cast: Mayo Suzukaze, Mîna Tominaga, Yûji Ueda
- MDbb Rating: 8.4
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Platforms Available: Amazon Prime, iTunes
During the Japanese civil war, Kenshin’s wanderer aka Hitokiri Battousai, and his narrative is in Rurouni Kenshin. His story is about how he uses his reverse-blade sword, the Sakabato, to atone for his past and all of his killings by assisting those in need. He struggles with himself and his deadly side while employing his strong technique, Hiten-Mitsurugi Ryu, to battle oppressors of freedom and justice.
Kenshin is joined in his search by several characters, including Kaoru Kamiya, Sanosuke Sagara, Yahiko Myojin, and Megumi Takani, to mention a few.
They all battle against those who oppress the helpless while also seeking happiness and atonement. For the mature audiences out there, if you are a fan of samurai and Japanese habits, I strongly recommend watching Rurouni Kenshin. It has a great deal of action, sword war, animation, and music.
6. Best Anime for Adults: Cowboy Beebop
- Director: Shinichirō Watanabe
- Writer: Keiko Nobumoto
- Cast: Kôichi Yamadera, Unshô Ishizuka, Megumi Hayashibara
- IMDb Rating: 8.9
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Platforms Available: Tubi, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon
The Inter Solar System Police, aided in part by renegade bounty hunters known as “Cowboys,” strive to maintain peace in the galaxy.
Two such individuals are the ragged crew of the spacecraft Bebop. Cowboy bebop narrates a story of the future, in 2071, when humanity has colonized several of the solar system’s planets and moons, making the planet’s surface uninhabitable. Mellow and unconcerned, Spike Spiegel is counterbalanced by his noisy, pragmatic companion Jet Black, with whom he earns a fortune tracking down bounties and collecting rewards.
Throughout the series, the team is involved in a series of mishaps that leave them without money, and they are frequently confronted with faces and events from their past, such as Jet’s reasons for leaving the ISSP and Faye’s past as a young woman from Earth who was injured in an accident.
5. March Comes Like A Lion
- Director: Chica Umino
- Writer: Chica Umino
- Cast: Kengo Kawanishi, Ai Kayano, Zach Aguilar
- IMDb Rating: 8.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Platforms Available: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Rei Kiriyama is one of the select elite in shogi, having achieved professional rank in middle school. As a result, he is under a great deal of pressure from both the shogi community and his adoptive family. He moves into an apartment in Tokyo to escape his complicated family life.
Rei, a 17-year-old living alone, has a bad habit of neglecting his hygiene, and his reclusive demeanor isolates him from his peers at school and in the shogi hall. Rei meets Akari, Hinata, and Momo Kawamoto, a trio of sisters. The Kawamoto sisters share with Rei a unique familial tie that he has lacked for most of his life as they cope with past traumas.
Rei must learn how to communicate with others and understand his complex feelings as he struggles to sustain himself physically and emotionally during his shogi career.
4. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Director: Yasuhiro Irie
- Writer: Hiroshi Ōnogi
- Cast: Romi Park, Rie Kugimiya, Shin’ichirô Miki
- IMDb Rating: 9.1
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, Vrv, Funimation, HBO Max, Netflix
Two young brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, their dad abandoned them when they were kids and they live with their mother in Resembool, a tiny town. They attempt alchemy to resurrect their mother when she succumbs to a terminal disease.
Edward lost his left leg, and Alphonse lost his entire body when their mother’s resurrection failed. He can save Alphonse’s soul by attaching Alphonse’s soul to a set of armor and sacrificing his right arm. Edward joins the military as a state alchemist to retrieve their bodies, and the brothers embark on their search for the philosopher’s stone.
During their voyage, they learn the truth about the country’s past and a military pilot, and they decide to investigate.
3. Best Anime for Adults: Paranoia Agent
- Director: Satoshi Kon
- Writer: Seishi Minakami
- Cast: Shôzô Îzuka, Mamiko Noto, Toshihiko Seki
- IMDb Rating: 8.1
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Platforms Available: Amazon Prime
This is a psychological thriller series full of mysteries and creepy scenes. The anime series is about an elementary school boy titled “shounen bat” or “Lil slugger”. This young boy is going around the streets of Tokyo on a killing spree and is murdering unconnected individuals with his bent, golden bat.
A young girl, Tsukiko Sagi, a character designer, designs the famous pink dog, a school-going guy attacks Maromi on her way home. Paranoia Agent is one of those anime series that will keep you hooked to your seats and thus lure you into watching what will happen next.
Two detectives are now investigating this case. The deeper they dig in; the more mysteries unfold. There is some sexual stuff and some violence, but the title comes from the overarching sense of paranoia. As a result, the more you think about it, the creepier the show becomes.
2. Jujutsu Kaisen
- Director: Sunghoo Park
- Writer: Gege Akutami
- Cast: Junya Enoki, Yuma Uchida, Asami Seto, Mikako Komatsu, koki Uchiyama
- IMDb Rating: 8.7
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 82%
- Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, Netflix
It is a Japanese manga series, and the main character is a young boy who swallows the finger of a cursed talisman and becomes cursed himself. The plot revolves around a young boy, Yuji Itadori, who joins the Occult club in his school for fun but later discovers that its members are sorcerers who can manipulate the energy between human beings for their benefit.
He discovers the finger of Sakuna, a demon. Yuji wanted to save his friends and thus ate Sakuna’s finger but found out later that he had become Sakuna’s host.
Upon knowing that he has some inherent magic and can control this power without interference from Sukuna, he joins the Tokyo Metropolitan Magic Technical College to consume all of Sukuna’s fingers, which will enable a complete exorcism to take place that will free him. Each episode of Jujutsu is an excellent example of what an adult anime series should look like. It has perfect side characters, decent villains, and most importantly, phenomenal animation.
1. Best Anime for Adults: Basilisk
- Director: Fumitomo Kizaki
- Writer: Yasuyuki Mutō
- Cast: Nana Mizuki, Kôsuke Torium, Yasushi Miyabayashi, Miyuki Sawashiro
- IMDb Rating: 7.9
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu, Amazon Prime
Have you ever fallen in love with someone whose family is your family’s enemy and couldn’t be together just for the sake of your family? Well, the episodes of Basilisk illustrate somewhat the same story. Basilisk is a Japanese manga series based on the novel “The Kouga Ninja Scrolls” written by Futaro Yamada.
The Iga and the Kouga ninja engage in a clash for centuries now but had to drop their weapons when the warlord Ieyasu Tokugawa announces a ceasefire. Gennosuke Kouga and Oboro Iga, the Kouga and Iga clan heir fall in love. Both heirs decided to bring peace to the clans through marriage.
But their hopes shatter when flames of rivalry between their clans are reignited. They send the Ten best warriors from each clan for a bloody war representing the potential shogunate heirs.
The episodes show characters deeply involved in bloodshed, war, and violence which come as a trigger warning, thus making it a must-watch for mature audiences.
