Not every great anime gets the attention it deserves. Here are 10 series that flew under the radar but deserve your watch list.
10. Sonny Boy
Students trapped in reality-bending dimensions. Madhouse delivered experimental animation serving surreal storytelling. It’s weird, beautiful, and worth the confusion.
9. Oddtaxi
A taxi driver walrus solves a mystery involving all his passengers. The animal designs hide a sharp mystery-thriller. Everyone who watched loved it; not enough watched.
8. Run With the Wind
Ten college students prepare for Japan’s biggest relay race. Sports anime without superpowers—just training and character development. Production I.G made running beautiful.
7. Shadows House
Living dolls serve shadow aristocrats in Gothic mystery. The premise sounds silly; the execution is surprisingly compelling. CloverWorks brought the aesthetic perfectly.
6. Megalo Box
Ashita no Joe spiritual successor. An underground boxer fights to the top using illegal gear. The retro aesthetic and underdog story hit hard.
5. Ping Pong: The Animation
Masaaki Yuasa’s abstract style serves character-driven sports drama. The animation style filters out some viewers; those who stay find something profound.
4. Dorohedoro
Post-apocalyptic sorcerers and lizard-headed amnesiacs. MAPPA’s CGI worked perfectly for the grungy style. It’s violent, weird, and endlessly creative.
3. Mononoke
Gorgeous traditional art style serving horror anthology. The Medicine Seller hunts spirits while uncovering trauma. Every frame could be wallpaper.
2. Houseki no Kuni (Land of the Lustrous)
CGI anime that actually works. Gems fight moon-people in existential drama. The animation showcases what 3D anime can achieve. Studio Orange proved CGI belongs.
1. March Comes in Like a Lion
Shogi prodigy battles depression with found family support. Shaft’s distinctive style serves Chica Umino’s character work. It’s about mental health through board games—and devastating.