Seinen is popularly described as a term for a sub-genre of storytelling, either manga or anime. This is a kind of sub-genre focused on youth or young adults. This classification follows any genre, from sci-fi (science-fiction) to politics to sports, apocalyptic romance, action, and many more. There is no set genre for seinen anime and seinen manga. We got the list of Seinen anime, Dive right into it!
Even though the age range of the seinen anime is young adults, the older ones can also enjoy the anime series without any guilt due to its complex characters, character development, and equally exciting storylines.
What Is Shonen and Seinen?
The difference between both sub-genre of anime is the age demographics. ‘Shonen’ targets teenagers, while ‘seinen’ targets young adults.
What Are Popular Seinen Animes?
Here we have compiled a list of the best seinen anime series, some based on seinen manga, some on light novels for seinen fans and anime fans alike. Before beginning, please keep in mind that the list follows the best to worst IMDb-rated seinen series.
50. Working!!
- Director: Yoshimasa Hiraike
- Writer(s): Yoshimasa Hiraike
- Cast: Jun Fukuyama, Kana Asumi
- IMDb Rating: 7.3
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Souta Takanashi cannot turn down an offer from cute Popular Taneshima when she offers him to work for her family-run restaurant, Wagnaria, in Hokkaido.
The seinen anime is a unique comedy featuring a restaurant with no dull moments within Wagnaria. The characters create hilarious antics, making the anime viewers laugh aloud.
49. Skip And Loafer (2023)
- Director: Kotomi Deai
- Writer(s): Kotomi Deai
- Cast: Tomoyo Kurosawa, Akinori Egoshi, Yuka Terasaki, Maaya Uchida
- IMDb Rating: N/A
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: N/A
- Where to Watch: N/A
A high school student from a small village relocates to Tokyo to fulfill a long-held dream. Although Skip and Loafer by Misaki Takamatsu appear to have a simple concept, it is important to remember that it is not your typical slice-of-life story. Since its release in 2018, the manga has been on a tear and has solidly established itself as one of the better ongoing seinen titles.
The girl in question is named Mitsumi, and despite the fact that she is completely unprepared for a frenetic city like Tokyo, she plunges straight into the challenge without pausing to catch her breath. Shima, a student, lends her a helping hand as well.
48. Insomniacs After School (2023)
- Director: Yūki Ikeda
- Writer(s): Rintarō Ikeda
- Cast: Gen Satō, Konomi Tamura, Haruka Tomatsu, Seiichiro Yamashita
- IMDb Rating: NA
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: N/A
Insomniacs After School may be the pinnacle of the romance subgenre in the coming romance season of spring 2023. Isaki Magari and Ganta Nakami, two adolescents who experience spells of insomnia, are the subjects of Makoto Ojiro’s manga. They happen to run into one other one day in the observatory at their school, which leads to a friendship that gives both of their lives some color.
A slice-of-life romance called Insomniacs After School features two wonderful protagonists who work wonderfully together. The comic is relevant, amusing, and entertaining, in addition to having stunning artwork. If the studio wants the adaptation to be accurate to the source material, LIDENFILMS must completely nail it.
47. Kingdom
- Director: Shinsuke Sato
- Writer(s): Shinsuke Sato
- Cast: Masakazu Morita, Jun Fukuyama, Rie Kugimiya, Francesca Calo, Melissa Medina
- IMDb Rating: 8.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 97%
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation, VRV
Kingdom is an ambitious historical anime that takes place in the Warring States Period of China and is based on the well-known manga by Yasuhisa Hara. The narrative centers on the aspirations of two orphans named Xin and Piao to become generals. The anime eventually turns its attention to Xin, who ends up being one of King Zheng of Qin’s most devoted troops.
Because the anime combines 3D CGI with 2D backgrounds, the animation in Kingdom can be off-putting. The first season of the show has a presentation that causes a lot of controversies. However, the sequels do have better animation. Kingdom’s story and characters are good from the beginning and only become stronger as the anime goes on, despite the fact that the art style requires some getting accustomed to.
46. Golden Kamuy
- Director: Hitoshi Nanba, Shizutaka Sugahara
- Writer(s): Noboru Takagi
- Cast: Chikahiro Kobayashi, Haruka Shiraishi, Fumihiko Tachiki, Kentarô Itô, Monica Rial
- IMDb Rating: 8.1
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: N/A
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, VRV
It’s a compliment to say that Golden Kamuy is odd. The anime, which is set in the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese War, revolves around a race between gangs trying to find the Ainu people’s hidden riches. To get this treasure, one must piece together a map that has been distributed across the skins of numerous prisoners. Saichi Sugimoto helps an Ainu girl named Asirpa as they work to prevent the wealth from falling into the wrong hands in an effort to atone for the blood he committed during the war.
45. Bungo Stray Dogs
- Director: Takuya Igarashi
- Writer(s): Yōji Enokido
- Cast: Kaiji Tang, Mamoru Miyano, Max Mittelman, Yûto Uemura, Patrick Seitz
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: N/A
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation, VRV
Similar to Psycho-Pass, Bungo Stray Dogs centers on detectives with supernatural talents in a version of Yokohama that is set in the 1920s. Right, the emphasis on detective-like characters is the one aspect that unites them. Bungo Stray Dogs, however, offers a compelling substitute for viewers who didn’t enjoy Psycho-Pass’ gloomy atmosphere.
The main draw of Bungo Stray Dogs is its cast of characters. In a sense, the characters came first in the plot rather than the other way around. The series only provides a more nuanced understanding of character development in the supernatural genre as a result. It’s truly the ideal television show for those who appreciate developing relationships with all of the characters.
44. Mushi-Shi
- Director: Hiroshi Nagahama
- Writer(s): Hiroshi Nagahama
- Cast: Yûto Nakano, Travis Willingham, Kôjun Itô, Jennifer Seman, Mika Doi
- IMDb Rating: 8.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation, VRV, Hulu, Tubi
Given that it combines slice-of-life, supernatural, drama, and even horror aspects, Mushi-Shi is a difficult series to categorize. In the anime, Ginko, a Mushishi on the hunt for Mushi—supernatural beings with ties to nature—travels around Japan. Ginko occasionally engages in action, but most of the time, he simply observes, taking in the lives of people and the Mushi that coexist with them.
Mushi-Shi transports viewers to a stunning realm full of awe, beauty, and tragedy. Although occasionally slow-moving, the anime has excellent writing.
43. Fate/Zero
- Director: Ei Aoki
- Writer(s): Akira Hiyama, Akihiro Yoshida
- Cast: Ayako Kawasumi, Kari Wahlgren, Sayaka Ôhara, Jôji Nakata, Matthew Mercer
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: N/A
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation, VRV, Hulu
It’s challenging to argue that Fate/Zero, a part of the infamous Fate series, isn’t seinen. It has a significantly darker tone than earlier books in the Fate series because it was published as a seinen manga, which explores much more adult philosophical subjects than a shounen anime. There are several reasons why seinen anime is appealing. This anime stands out for its complex stories, extensive world-building, gorgeous artwork, stunning audio, and breathtakingly beautiful fight scenes.
Nonetheless, viewers should consider the order in which the Fate series should be seen. Of course, Fate/Zero can be seen successfully on its own. Yet, Fate/Zero serves as the precursor to Fate/Stay Night for those who want to watch the rest of the series.
42. Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War
- Director: Shinichi Omata
- Writer(s): Yasuhiro Nakanishi
- Cast: Aoi Koga, Makoto Furukawa
- IMDb Rating: 8.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: N/A
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu, VRV
A romantic comedy series set in a high school can be almost completely unlike Berserk. Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War, however, has more than demonstrated that it is a highly capable seinen series.
The protagonists of the novel are vice president Kaguya Shinomiya and president Miyuki Shirogane of the student council at Shuchiin Academy. They engage in psychological warfare and witty comments to try and persuade the other to confess. For anime fans looking for a fantastic comedy that also delves into some adult themes, Kaguya-sama is ideal.
41. March Comes In Like A Lion
- Director: Akiyuki Shinbo, Kenjirou Okada
- Writer(s): Yukito Kizawa
- Cast: Kengo Kawanishi, Khoi Dao, Ai Kayano, Kana Hanazawa, Laura Post
- IMDb Rating: 8.3
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: N/A
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation, VRV
It’s true that March Comes In Like A Lion might not be as well-known as some of the other series on this list. The study of both hopefulness and dismal subjects, however, sets the series apart from others.
The protagonist of the tale is the reclusive professional shogi player Rei Kiriyama, together with the Koda family. It’s a little unusual for many seinen series, which tend to veer more toward tragedy, to have a plot that is actually heartwarming.
40. Kaiji: The Ultimate Survivor
- Director: Yuzo Sato
- Writer(s): Hideo Takayashiki
- Cast: Masato Hagiwara Naoya Uchida Issei Futamata Kazuki Yao
- IMDb Rating: 8.3
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: N/A
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Hidive
Loan sharks urge apathetic bum Kaiji Itou to pay a sizable quantity of money after one of his coworkers fails to return a debt. Kaiji is unable to pay back the money his colleague borrowed because he has little money and no hope for the future. Unlucky Kaiji Itou gets sucked into the extremely risky world of high-stakes gambling.
39. Mononoke
- Director: Kenji Nakamura
- Writer(s): Chiaki J. Konaka Ikuko Takahashi Michiko Yokote Manabu Ishikawa
- Cast: Takahiro Sakurai Hiroshi Hikaru Midorikawa Houko Kuwashima
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: N/A
- Where to Watch: Roku, Netflix
One enigmatic person has the ability to slaughter the mononoke where they stand in feudal Japan, where malevolent spirits known as mononoke terrorize the countryside and leave a trail of fear in their wake.
38. Inuyashiki: Last Hero
- Director: Keiichi Sato
- Writer(s): Hiroshi Seko
- Cast: Fumiyo Kohinata, Nijirou Murakami
- IMDb Rating: 7.7
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 60% (Audience Score)
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Ichirou Inuyashiki is a 58-year-old whose family is very indifferent toward him. He is revealed to have stomach cancer taken coldly by his family. Unable to bear this, he runs away to a nearby field.
Suddenly, he is enveloped in light and smoke, and he discovers that he is reborn as a machine wearing his old skin. He uses his powers to save lives, leading him to a life of happiness and hope.
However, some questions are not clear to him yet.
37. Drifters
- Director: Kenichi Suzuki
- Writer(s): Hideyuki Kurata
- Cast: Yuuichi Nakamura, Naoya Uchida
- IMDb Rating: 7.7
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Hulu
Based on the seinen manga, the seinen anime Drifters follows Toyohisa Shimazu as the rearguard for his troops during the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. He is critically wounded and is pulled into a modern hallway with hundreds of doors. He is pulled into the nearest door to reach a world different from his.
Toyohisa meets Nobunaga Oda and Yoichi Suketa Nasu in a strange world populated with strange creatures and warriors that he had only heard of in stories. From his new companions, he learns about the politics of the place and how they have been summoned as Drifters to fight against the Ends, the latter trying to eradicate the former.
The Ends formed the Orte Empire, which hunts people like them while persecuting elves and demihumans. It is not up to our heroes to protect the land and fight against the Ends.
36. Gangsta
- Director: Murase, Shukou
- Writer(s): Kohske
- Cast: Tetsuo Kanao, Tomohisa Hashizume, Satoshi Mikami, Kenjiro Tsuda
- IMDb Rating: 7.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: N/A
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Some crimes are too shady for even Ergastulum’s cynical residents to touch in this seedy city of mad men, petty thieves, whores on the run, and cops on the take. Enter Nic and Worick, the “Handymen,” who handle the tasks that no one else will.
Until the day a cop they know on the force asks for their assistance in busting a new gang invading a prominent Mafia family’s area. Although it appears to be business as usual (complete with mayhem), the Handymen are about to discover that this task is far more than they anticipated.
35. ReLIFE
- Director: Satoru Kosaka
- Writer(s): Michiko Yokote, Kazuho Hyōdō
- Cast: Ai Kayano, Kensho Ono
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
One of the best seinen anime series ReLIFE follows the story of Arata Kaizaki, a subject of unique experiments, and his struggle to adjust to a new life while also avoiding repeating the same mistakes.
34. Detroit Metal City
- Director: Hiroshi Nagahama
- Writer(s): Kiminori Wakasugi
- Cast: Yuuji Ueda
- IMDb Rating: 7.9
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll
Detroit Metal City is a death metal band with a twist. The lead singer of the group, Johannes Krauser II, is a demonic being who is said to have risen from the depths of hell.
What no one knows is what is actually behind the picture. Krauser is a person taken up by an average college graduate named Souichi Negishi, who is trying his best to survive in the world.
The seinen anime deals with Negishi’s strange life full of misadventures in band life, romance, and fans.
33. Grand Blue Dreaming
- Director: Shinji Takamatsu
- Writer(s): Shinji Takamatsu, Kenji Inoue
- Cast: Chika Anzai, Yuuma Uchida
- IMDb Rating: 7.9
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Based on the popular comedy Seinen manga, Grand Blue Dreaming follows Iori’s life and misadventures with numerous hilarious moments with his new friends throughout the series. With them, he is faced with the college life dream. He is also learning to scuba dive.
32. Master Keaton
- Director: Masayuki Kojima
- Writer(s): Tatsuhiko Urahata
- Cast: Norihiro Inoue, Keaton Yamada
- IMDb Rating: 8.0
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating:
- Where to Watch: NA
Taichi Keaton is a half-British and half-Japanese archaeologist. He is a veteran of the Falklands War. He has a job of solving mysteries and investigating the insurance fraud for Lloyd, traveling around the world.
Seinen’s series, Mater Keaton, follows his journey and adventures around the world.
31. Black Lagoon
- Director: Sunao Katabuchi
- Writer(s): Sunao Katabuchi
- Cast: Megumi Toyoguchi, Daisuke Namikawa
- IMDb Rating: 8.0
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Hulu
Black Lagoon, a seinen anime, touches on human morality and virtue, where everyone is corrupt. Protagonist Rokurou, a businessman, must fight to keep his values and morality intact. He, by his surroundings, is turned from a businessman into a mercenary.
30. Dorohedoro
- Director: Yuichiro Hayashi
- Writer(s): Hiroshi Seko
- Cast: Yuu Kobayashi, Wataru Takagi
- IMDb Rating: 8.1
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Where to Watch: Netflix
Dorohedoro is a seinen anime set in the Hole, a rickety district where daily death and disaster occur. Managing a healthy blend of comedy with carnage, the anime is a story of Kaiman, a reptile-like man who hunts down the magic users for answers about his appearance. With his only companion, Nikaidou, he navigates his hellish life in the Hole. With many twists, the anime is a story of a unique world with strange occurrences.
29. Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou No Shichini
- Director: Hiroshi Kōjina
- Writer(s): Hideo Takayashiki
- Cast: Rikiya Koyama, Shun Oguri
- IMDb Rating: 8.3
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: NA
Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shinchinseinen anime follows the journey of seven cellmates in 1955 Japan who shares the same cell. They fight against the sadistic guard and doctor duo who grudge against the protagonist Rokurouta, a former boxer and take pleasure in violating boys. With seven complex characters, they have to work together to survive.
28. Hellsing Ultimate
- Director: Tomokazu Tokoro, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Yasuhiro Matsumura, Kenichi Suzuki
- Writer(s): Yōsuke Kuroda
- Cast: Jouji Nakata, Fumiko Urikasa, Kaori Mizuhashi, Norio Wakamoto
- IMDb Rating: 8.3
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 80%
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll
There are two sides to life, dark and light. Thus, in the seinen anime Hellsing Ultimate, also exist creatures of darkness that threaten humanity on one side, and the other is Hellsing, an organization headed by Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing with a promise to exterminate these creatures.
Integra’s most potent weapon is the vampire Alucard, who works against his kind. With his trusted servant, Seras Victoria, he must battle everyone who stands opposed to Hellsing.
27. Ajin: Demihuman
- Director: Hiroyuki Seshita
- Writer(s): Hiroshi Seko
- Cast: Mamoru Miyano, Houchuu Ootsuka
- IMDb Rating: 8.6
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 85% (Audience Score)
- Where to Watch: Netflix
In the seinen series Ajin: Demi-Human, Ajin is a group of mysterious immortals labeled as threats against humankind. They are to be taken into custody whenever sighted in society.
The anime follows the high schooler Kei Nagai, who is careless and does not pay attention to the news of Ajin. He knows less about the subject than any of his classmates.
One day he survives an accident that was supposed to take his life, only to know later that he is reborn as an Ajin. He is all alone in the journey against the world.
26. Monster
- Director: Masayuki Kojima
- Writer(s): Tatsuhiko Urahata
- Cast: Nozomu Sasaki, Hidenobu Kiuchi
- IMDb Rating: 8.7
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Netflix
Dr. Kenzou Tenma has everything, job security, a social position, and a crisis conscience, leading to a career fall where he loses his social standing when he chooses to perform surgery on a young boy than the town’s mayor. He is given the position of the hospital director. But when the director and two other doctors die, his position is restored without any ramifications.
However, the past haunts him nine years later when he faces the monster he operated on while promising to make amends.
25. Berserk
- Director: Shin Itagaki
- Writer(s): Makoto Fukami
- Cast: Hiroaki Iwanaga, Toa Yukinari
- IMDb Rating: 6.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87% (Audience Score)
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Guts, a mercenary of young age who is branded for death and hunted by demons, is set on a journey to turn his fate around. For this, he takes up the blade of Dragonslayer. The young mercenary promises vengeance upon a man who once was his friend.
On his way to vengeance, he makes some friends, and the ragtag group joins Guts’ journey in the seinen anime of Berserk. The anime was praised for its storytelling style, which bagged it a second season.
24. Witch Craft Works
- Director: Tsutomu Mizushima
- Writer(s): Reiko Yoshida
- Cast: Yûsuke Kobayashi · Honoka Takamiya; Asami Seto · Ayaka Kagari ; Shiori Izawa · Tanpopo Kuraishi ; Ai Kayano · Kasumi Takamiya; Shiina Natsukawa
- IMDb Rating: 6.7
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: N/A
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Regular student Takamiya Honoka’s only apparent issue is that he sits next to Kagari Ayaka, the school’s top beauty. They have never spoken, and the moment there is even the slightest interaction between them, her fan club starts hitting him.
But just as he is ready to enter the afterlife due to a piece of the school’s building crumbling, Kagari saves him. Only… she’s on a broomstick, holding him in her arms, and dressed as a witch! Kagari tells him that it is her duty to keep him safe and that this is the first time she can do so publicly rather than covertly.
23. Ah My Goddess
- Director: Hiroaki Gōda
- Writer(s): Akira Watanabe Hiroaki Gōda
- Cast: Kikuko Inoue, Yumi Tôma, Masami Kikuchi, Kether Donohue
- IMDb Rating: 7.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: N/A
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Nice Guy As a struggling student at a technical college, Keiichi is doing his best, but his kindness is ruthlessly exploited. He accidentally calls the Goddess Help Line one day while trying to get a pizza over the phone. Before he knows it, he is confronted by Belldandy, a real-life goddess who will grant him just one desire.
He still believes he is the punchline in a clever joke and wants her to stick by his side always. He gets what he wants! It would appear that his luck has changed, but he discovers that relying on a goddess is no guarantee against misfortune.
22. After the Rain (Koi wa Ameagari no You ni)
- Director: Ayumu Watanabe
- Writer(s): Deko Akao
- Cast: Sayumi Watabe, Hiroaki Hirata
- IMDb Rating: 7.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Seinen’s anime After the Rain follows Akira Tachibana, a reserved high school student who works part-time in a cafe. She develops feelings for her 45-year-old manager as he is kind and concerned with his customers. They spend time together and grow closer, making her like him even more. Will he be able to reciprocate Akira’s feelings?
21. Shadows House
- Director: Kazuki Ōhashi
- Writer(s): Toshiya Ōno
- Cast: Yuu Sasahara, Akari Kitou
- IMDb Rating: 7.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Funimation
The Shadows are a family of nobles who reside in a manor in the mountains, far from human contact. When Shadow children come of age, they are given a Living Doll as their attendant and partner.
Emilio is the doll created for Kate. She meets other dolls and learns of her duties and her purpose of existence. She is most dutiful even though there is a clash of their personalities.
Will she be able to uncover the mystery of the Shadows House in the seinen series?
20. Cells At Work
- Director: Kenichi Suzuki
- Writer(s): Kenichi Suzuki, Yūko Kakihara
- Cast: Tomoaki Maeno, Kana Hanazawa
- IMDb Rating: 7.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 50 % (Audience Score)
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Sekkekkyuu AE3803 has the essential job of transporting oxygen. Hakkekkyuub U-1146 has a more challenging job of eliminating foreign bacteria from entering a body and making it their home. While on the other hand, the platelets have a new job of a construction project.
Cells at work is a unique seinen series showcasing the daily lives of the cells at work and keeping the body healthy.
19. Goblin Slayer
- Director: Takaharu Ozaki
- Writer(s): Hideyuki Kurata, Yōsuke Kuroda
- Cast: Yuuichirou Umehara, Yui Ogura
- IMDb Rating: 7.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 89% (Audience Score)
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Goblins are ferocious beings as they kidnap females of other species for reproduction. They are, however, not looked at as a threat as they are considered the lowliest of monsters.
To investigate the case of missing women, a 15-year-old priestess joins the group of rookies who get caught in an ambush and get killed, leaving the Priestess behind. She accepts her fate, but the Goblin Slayer saves her while destroying the goblin nest.
The priestess can accompany him throughout their adventures, where all Goblin-related matters ate sorted. She meets enigmatic personas that will not rest until the goblins are eradicated.
18. Alderamin on the Sky
- Director: Tetsuo Ichimura
- Writer(s): Shōgo Yasukawa
- Cast: Nobuhiko Okamoto, Inori Minase
- IMDb Rating: 7.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll
The seinen anime follows the journey of Ikta Solork, who wants nothing in his life but relaxation and a female companion to keep him company. However, his dream world gets shattered as a war breaks out, and Princess Chamille of Katjvarna is taken hostage by Kioka.
Ikta, along with his friend, meets three other enigmatic people. Together, they embark on a journey to war. However, their vessel sinks and ends up being in the enemy outpost. But they manage to break out while also saving the abducted princess.
The five of them are bestowed the title of Imperial Knight with the expectation from the people of being their heroes. All of this, which Ikta never wanted for himself.
17. Poco’s Udon World
- Director: Seiki Takuno
- Writer(s): Natsuko Takahashi
- Cast: Shiho Kokido, Yuuichi Nakamura
- IMDb Rating: 7.6
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Poko’s Udon World follows the touching bond between Souta Tawara and Poko, a shapeshifting tanuki whom the former takes under him. With the time they spend together, Souta recalls his past and childhood. He is pulled into the nostalgia of the place he left behind for his life in the city and his relationship with his father.
16. Somali and The Forest Spirit
- Director: Kenji Yasuda
- Writer(s): Mariko Mochizuki
- Cast: Inori Minase, Daisuke Ono
- IMDb Rating: 7.6
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll
In a world unimaginable, demons, cyclopes, and other strange creatures dominate the population, with few human beings left as outcasts. They only have a purpose: to be hunted down by the creatures and become their food.
Golem, the protector of nature, has a chance encounter with Somali, who is alone, whom he takes under his wing with one mission on his mind: to find her parents.
15. House of Five Leaves
- Director: Tomomi Mochizuki
- Writer(s): Tomomi Mochizuki
- Cast: Takahiro Sakurai, Daisuke Namikawa
- IMDb Rating: 7.7
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Masanosuke Akitsu is a wandering ronin in Japan’s Edo period. However, he is often labeled as unreliable due to his being meek.
He meets Yaichi, who offers him his bodyguard. Masa is not innocent as he seems. He is drawn into Yaichi’s gang, Five Leaves; he struggles with his values. His curiosity leads him to uncover the mysterious band of outlaws.
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14. Vinland Saga
- Director: Shūhei Yabuta
- Writer(s): Hiroshi Seko, Kenta Ihara
- Cast: Naoya Uchida, Yuuta Umera, Kensho Ono
- IMDb Rating: 8.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
The seinen anime is set in the middle of a war between England and the Danes, where Young Thorfinn gets involved.
He was born on a frozen island in Iceland and brought up listening to the stories of a legendary place, Vinland. He yearns to be in a place like that, where there is no war and only peace. However, he must take revenge upon Askeladd, who killed his father.
13. Knights of Sidonia
- Director: Kōbun Shizuno, Hiroyuki Seshita
- Writer(s): Sadayuki Murai
- Cast: Aki Toyosaki, Aya Suzaki
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91% (Audience Score)
- Where to Watch: Funimation
The alien race of Guana has been relentlessly pursuing humanity after destroying the Earth. They are traveling across the galaxy to hunt them down.
Nagate Tanizake comes to the surface of his ship Sidonia when he needs food. Unbeknownst to him, something disastrous is happening.
Knights of Sidonia, a seinen series, is one such anime where Tanizake and his allies must become heroes to save humanity’s last hope of survival.
12. One-Punch Man
- Director: Shingo Natsume
- Writer(s): Tomohiro Suzuki
- Cast: Makoto Furukawa, Kaito Ishikawa
- IMDb Rating: 8.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 86% (Audience Score)
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video
Saitama has a hobby that not everyone has, such as being a hero. It is a childhood dream that he tries to fulfill by training relentlessly. He trains for three years, and he loses all of his hair. But his training bore fruit as he can now defeat his enemies with one punch, making him one punch man.
However, he is unimpressed by being the only one that way and no one to match his skill, and he cannot enjoy the thrill.
A cyborg named Genos wishes to become his follower after witnessing his power. He tells Saitama about the Hero Association and suggests he become a certified hero. Agreeing with Genos, Saitama goes on a journey as a new member of the association to feel the excitement he once lost.
11. Oshi No Ko
- Director: Daisuke Hiramaki
- Writer(s): Aka Akasaka
- Cast: Rie Takahashi, Megumi Han Takeo Ōtsuka, Yurie Igoma
- IMDb Rating: 8.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: N/A
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Hulu
After being killed by Ai Hoshino’s psychotic stalker, Dr. Goro is resurrected as the starlet’s son. He now wants to support his new mother’s career advancement, but what can a young person do about the entertainment industry’s seedy underbelly?
10. Tokyo Ghoul
- Director: Shuhei Morita
- Writer(s): Chūji Mikasano
- Cast: Yurie Kobori, Sora Amamiya
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Where to Watch: Hulu
Living in a threatening world where ghouls have intermingled with humans, Ken Kanecki is a reserved college student. One day he is asked out by Rize Kamishiro, an attractive woman, for a date.
While returning home, Rize attacks him. He is woken up in a hospital, only to know that her organs have been transplanted into him.
His body begins to change, making him a hybrid of human and ghoul. Now, he has to fight for his humanity and against the agencies which hunt monsters like him.
9. Elfen Lied
- Director: Mamoru Kanbe
- Writer(s): Takao Yoshioka
- Cast: Sanae Kobayashi, Yuki Matsouka
- IMDb Rating: 7.9
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Where to Watch: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video
Based on the seinen manga by Lynn Okamoto, Elfen Lied, a seinen series, follows the main character Lucy who is an extraordinary human, Dicloniuos, who was born with a pair of short horns and invisible telekinetic hands. This leads to experimentation on her by the Japanese government in the government institution.
She breaks out of her captive by using bloodshed as her resort. Due to the traumatic events that happened to her, she developed a split personality disorder.
She meets two college students whose kindness towards her will change their lives forever.
8. Land Of The Lustrous
- Director: Takahiko Kyōgoku
- Writer(s): Toshiya Ōno
- Cast: Tomoyo Kurosawa
- IMDb Rating: 8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Seinen anime Houseki no Kuni follows Phos’ effort to protect the Gems while helping them fight against yeh Lunarians. Phos, while given a chance to compile an encyclopedia. He meets a Gem called Cinnabar, who patrols and decides to be helpful and finds a role that both can enjoy.
7. Space Brothers
- Director: Ayumu Watanabe
- Writer(s): Makoto Uezu, Yoichi Kato
- Cast: Miyuki Sawashiro, Yuuko Sanpei
- IMDb Rating: 8.1
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll
The science-fiction manga-based seinen anime focuses on Mutta Namba and his younger brother Hibito witnessing a UFO flying towards the Moon. After witnessing this, the two boys promise to become astronauts, with Hibito for Moon and Mutta aiming for Mars, one step ahead of his younger brother.
But life had different plans as Mutta is working in an automotive company and Hibito, an astronaut, will be the first Japanese to step on Moon. Mutta is given the opportunity of his life when JAXA accepts his application for the following astronaut selection. The seinen anime Space Brothers will take the viewers on a ride and answer the question: will Mutta fulfill his 19-year-old dream? Space Brothers’ realistic portrayal of everyday struggles marks its viewers.
6. Planetes
- Director: Gorō Taniguchi
- Writer(s): Ichirō Ōkouchi
- Cast: Kazunari Tanaka, Satsuki Ukino
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
In the future year 2075, space travel will be a reality were. This advancement has led to the colonialization of the Moon. With also led to the commercial use of outer space and ample space corporations taking up the space in the markets.
Ai Tanabe works for Technora Corporation as a member of the Debris Section. Her job? To remove the dangerous space junk between Earth and Moon.
Planetes is a seinen anime series set in outer space while tackling the personal lives of ordinary people.
Related: The 40 Best Shounen Anime to Watch Right Now (2023)
5. Ping Pong The Animation
- Director: Masaaki Yuasa
- Writer(s): Masaaki Yuasa
- Cast: Fukujuurou Katayama, Kouki Uchyama
- IMDb Rating: 8.7
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating:
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
Ping Pong, the animation follows two friends, Smile and Peco, and their journey to participate in Japan’s inter-high table tennis championship to get renowned.
The seinen anime is a story of dreams and ambition with obstacles in the way of the two friends. Whatever happens, Smile and Peco are together in this.
4. Parasyte The Maxim
- Director: Kenichi Shimizu, Yang Byeong-Gil, Hitoshi Haga, Yoshihiro Kanno, Masayuki Mizutani
- Writer(s): Shōji Yonemura
- Cast: Nobunaga Shimazaki, Aya Hirano
- IMDb Rating: 8.3
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93% (Audience Score)
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll
The seinen anime follows when parasitic aliens come down on Earth to infiltrate humanity. They burrow into the exposed brain and get into complete control of their host. They then transform into various forms to feed on their prey.
Shinichi Izumi is an exposed person, but the parasite ends up in his right hand instead of his brain. Now, Migi, the parasite, has to rely on him to survive and Izumi to continue living his everyday life.
3. Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex
- Director: Kenji Kamiyama
- Writer(s): Kenji Kamiyama
- Cast: Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ootsuka, Kouichi Yamadera, Osamu Saka
- IMDb Rating: 8.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 67%
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
Seinen’s anime series Ghost in the Shel takes the viewers to a future where humankind can transplant their body parts to machines. This increases the physical and cybernetics strength. However, it falls into the wrong hands, which leads to dangerous crimes. To curb that, the government establishes Section 9. Section 9 is an independent police unit.
The unit is led by Daisuke Aramakai and Motoko Kusanagi, who had a high success rate in solving such crimes. But a dangerous game begins when faced with ‘The Laughing Man.’
2. Made In Abyss
- Director: Masayuki Kojima
- Writer(s): Hideyuki Kurata
- Cast: Mariya Ise, Miyu Tomita
- IMDb Rating: 8.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu
The manga-based seinen anime follows the Abyss, where lies the mystery of the unknown. Here, only the best of the Divers has been able to explore. These White Whistles are the heroes of the surface world.
Riko is the daughter of a legendary White Whistle Lyza the Annihilator, a Read Whistle novice. However, she wants to explore the depths of the Abyss.
One day, Riko hits the jackpot as she meets an ordinary-looking boy. Named Reg by Riko, he is a robot who claims to remember nothing from before. Convinced he must have come from the Abyss; they decide to go deep into the place. The place which might not be the way she dreamt of being.
Anime fans will love anime for its complex characters, character development, and storyline.
1. Erased (Boku Dake ga Inai Machi)
- Director: Tomohiko Itō
- Writer(s): Taku Kishimoto
- Cast: Shinnosuke Mitsushima, Aoi Yuuki
- IMDb Rating: 8.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Based on Kei Sanbe’s seinen manga series, the story of Boku Dake ga Inai Machi revolves around Satoru Fujinama and the mysterious deaths of his mother and childhood friends.
He was sent eighteen years back in the past to uncover the mystery of the abduction and killing of his classmate, Kayo Hinazuki, by getting his name cleared from the accusation of murder against him and to save many lives in the future.
Related: 50 Best Isekai Anime of All Time
Thank you for reading the list curated by us. Hope that every anime fan would have loved the list of fantastic anime from Ping Pong The Animation to Elfen Lied and many others.
