“Underrated” anime are often hidden gems—shows that have a strong story, unique art style, and a loyal following, but never quite broke into the mainstream. They’re perfect for the viewer who feels like they’ve already seen all the big hits.
Here are 10 of the best underrated anime that are absolutely worth your time:
“Underrated” anime are often hidden gems—shows that have a strong story, unique art style, and a loyal following, but never quite broke into the mainstream. They’re perfect for the viewer who feels like they’ve already seen all the big hits.
Here are 10 of the best underrated anime that are absolutely worth your time, along with where you can watch them:
1. Odd Taxi
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Psychological
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video
- Synopsis: A cynical walrus taxi driver named Odokawa finds himself at the center of a missing person’s case that connects him to a series of seemingly unrelated crimes across Tokyo. It’s a meticulously crafted mystery with a brilliant script and a shocking conclusion.
2. Land of the Lustrous
- Genre: Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
- Platform: Amazon Prime Video
- Synopsis: In a world inhabited by crystalline beings called Gems, a fragile Gem named Phosphophyllite longs to fight against the Lunarians, an enemy that seeks to harvest them for their beauty. This show is a masterpiece of computer-generated imagery (CGI) with stunning visuals and a deeply emotional story.
3. Heavenly Delusion
- Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery, Post-Apocalyptic
- Platform: Hulu (in the U.S.), Disney+ (in many other regions)
- Synopsis: Two young people, Maru and Kiruko, journey across a desolate, post-apocalyptic Japan in search of a rumored place called “Heaven.” It’s a dark and thought-provoking story with a rich, mysterious lore that will have you hooked.
4. Summertime Rendering
- Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Supernatural
- Platform: Hulu (in the U.S.), Disney+ (in many other regions)
- Synopsis: After the death of his childhood friend, Shinpei returns to his remote island hometown for her funeral. He quickly discovers her death was not an accident and becomes entangled in a supernatural conspiracy involving “Shadows”—doppelgängers that can kill.
5. Mushishi
- Genre: Fantasy, Slice of Life, Supernatural
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video
- Synopsis: Ginko is a “Mushi Master,” a man who travels the land to help people afflicted by strange, primitive life forms called Mushi. Each episode is a standalone tale about the relationship between humans and nature, making for a quiet, contemplative masterpiece.
6. Golden Kamuy
- Genre: Adventure, Action, Historical
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video
- Synopsis: A veteran of the Russo-Japanese War, Saichi Sugimoto, teams up with a young Ainu girl named Asirpa to find a hidden treasure of Ainu gold. This is a thrilling adventure series that masterfully blends historical drama, survival action, and surprisingly dark comedy.
7. Welcome to the N.H.K.
- Genre: Psychological, Comedy, Romance, Drama
- Platform: Crunchyroll
- Synopsis: Tatsuhiro Satou is a 22-year-old college dropout who believes his life is the result of a conspiracy. He finds himself reluctantly pulled out of his isolation by a mysterious young girl. It’s a raw, honest, and often hilarious look at social anxiety and what it means to be a modern-day recluse.
8. Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song
- Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Music
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Synopsis: A powerful A.I. named Vivy, designed as a singing idol, is contacted by an A.I. from 100 years in the future. Her mission is to prevent a war between humans and A.I. This is an exhilarating and beautifully animated time-travel story with a fantastic original soundtrack.
9. Asobi Asobase
- Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video
- Synopsis: Three high school girls form a “Pastimers Club.” While it looks like a typical cute-girls-doing-cute-things show, it’s actually an incredibly sharp and over-the-top comedy with bizarre and hilarious gags.
10. Ergo Proxy
- Genre: Cyberpunk, Psychological Thriller, Sci-Fi
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video
- Synopsis: In a post-apocalyptic dome city, a series of murders committed by androids threatens the fragile peace. An inspector uncovers a massive conspiracy that will challenge her perception of reality. It’s a visually stunning and intellectually challenging show.