Underrated Anime You Must Watch

As we’ve moved into the modern era of anime, many newcomers to the genre find themselves swarmed with recommendations of the most popular shows out there. For that reason, underrated anime series are in no shortage. Whether they’ve faded into relative obscurity as the decades have passed, or whether they’ve been naturally passed by during their initial seasonal run due to the sheer amount of anime that’s released weekly nowadays, there are many overlooked anime out there that deserve to have their stories reach more fans of the medium.

For this list, we’ll be looking at some of the best ‘hidden gem anime’ out there. Though there are certainly some great shows out there that are a lot less known than the below list, we’ve chosen a handful of shows that deserve a lot more than they got, and shouldn’t be looked past by anime newcomers based purely on their somewhat obscure reputations. With that being said, let’s talk about some often overlooked anime!

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Nana (2006)

Image by Madhouse

Watching Nana is like taking a time capsule straight back to 2006. The anime centres on two women, both named Nana, who move to Tokyo and end up sharing an apartment, with one in pursuit of fame, and the other in pursuit of love. Though the series is bursting with early-noughties style, the show was actually quite ahead of its time, grappling with the complexity of friendship, very emotionally mature themes, and the coming-of-age stories of a diverse cast of characters. There’s plenty of wholesome and lighthearted moments here, but Nana also boasts some very powerful moments, and manages to be gut-wrenchingly sad, without the need for blatant emotional manipulation, making it stand out in the slice-of-life genre.

Nana is undoubtedly one of those underappreciated hidden gems – but that’s not for no reason. Unfortunately, the manga which the anime is based on has never been completed, and as is to be expected, neither has the anime – and unlike other non-finished manga adaptations, such as Hunter x Hunter, the Nana anime doesn’t create its own ending to leave fans satisfied. The show very abruptly ends, with plenty of loose ends and non-finished storylines. As such, with time, Nana has sort of faded away, though a cult fanbase has kept it afloat in discussions of underrated anime series. Though you won’t be satisfied with the ending, I still highly recommend you experience Nana for yourself, before the years undoubtedly turn it into an underground anime.

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Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (2024)

Image by Yostar Pictures

As the Spring 2024 anime season rolled on, I was surprised by how little attention Go! Go! Loser Ranger! was getting. Now, with the season behind us, and with very few people commenting on this show in its aftermath, I think we can safely call this one a hidden gem, particularly for shonen fans out there. The premise of this anime is simple – think The Boys meets Power Rangers – but its execution is where this series thrives. It’s bursting with colour, filled with excitement, and manages to pull off some pretty mature themes despite its somewhat deceiving exterior.

It’s hard to think of underrated action anime to watch, mainly because the genre has become the focal point of the anime medium over the years, but still, shows like Go! Go! Loser Ranger! sometimes manage to fly under the radar. It’s not filled with top-level character development or any real psychological depth, but its unconventional approach to the world that many of us will have nostalgia for from childhood allows it to make its mark on the anime landscape, and solidify it as a recommendation for underrated shonen anime.

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Link Click (2021)

Image by LAN Studio

I cannot talk enough about Link Click, and how painfully underrated this series is. While technically not an anime due to it being a Chinese animated series, Link Click is often grouped into anime conversations due to its stylistic similarities. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to find itself in many of those conversations, and unlike with some of the other entries on this list, I cannot explain why. Link Click has it all, and executes it flawlessly, with an incredibly intriguing storyline, breathtaking animation, and impressive range, going from wholesome slice-of-life storytelling, to tense life-or-death battles.

A supernatural mystery series filled with suspense, drama, and of course, time travel, Link Click is a must-watch for any fan of animated series. It is one of the best obscure anime out there, with no episode feeling like a throwaway – and, with only two short seasons to its name, and a third coming soon, there’s no better time to catch up on Link Click and join the club of viewers who scratch their heads every week when they think about why this show isn’t more popular. Link Click is underappreciated for sure, and all I can hope is that if it doesn’t find fame soon, it will become a cult classic down the line.

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Monster (2004)

Image by Madhouse

Monster is always in the conversation when it comes to the top underrated anime out there – and it’s not hard to see why. One of the darkest, most psychologically taxing anime of all time, Monster reaches storytelling heights that many shows can only dream of, and is definitely one of the most mature entries on this list. Though not technically a horror anime, Monster comes very close to the genre, with a certain grittiness to it that’s missing from many other shows, not only in the modern era, but also contemporarily. Character development is at the centre of this story, and the series most interesting characters take the spotlight throughout its 74 episode run – though we do get some action scenes sprinkled in to up the stakes.

I don’t want to give too much away, as Monster boasts one of the most unique stories in the medium, but to give a brief synopsis – a Japanese surgeon named Dr. Tenma finds his life changed forever in the aftermath of a fateful decision he makes one day while at work. Luckily, Monster has begun to grow in popularity in recent years, pulling it from its prior relative obscurity, but there’s still a ways to go before this series gains the status it deserves as one of the all-time greats of anime. Mark this one down, and make it a must-watch for yourself – you won’t regret it.

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Buddy Daddies (2023)

Image by P.A. Works

I was one of the many people who initially brushed Buddy Daddies off as a shameless Spy x Family clone. Two adults in questionable lines of work who are suddenly tasked with taking care of a kid thrown into the mix is a plot that is directly borrowed from Spy x Family, and the airing of Buddy Daddies coming so soon after the conclusion of Spy x Family season one didn’t help its case. However, after watching the series, dare I say that Buddy Daddies is just as good as Spy x Family…if not better. If you’re in the mood for a wholesome anime that still makes sure to include some surprisingly serious moments, this is the pick for you, and its short length makes it perfect binge material, especially considering the ending is fairly conclusive, and a second season is unlikely, if not impossible.

Despite the comparisons to other, more popular shows, Buddy Daddies manages to hold its own, and it’s nearly impossible not to smile at some of the antics that this makeshift family gets up to. The friendship between the two adult characters is very enjoyable to watch, and Miri manages to be a chaotic addition to their lives, while not becoming the typical, annoying child that can often become of characters like her. Sure, it’s not the most unique anime out there, but it’s a must-watch in my book, and one of the most underrated anime to come out of recent years.

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Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (2018)

Image by P.A. Works

Ok so, this one is sort of a cheat, because Maquia is actually a movie. With that being said, it is one of the most underrated anime movies out there, if not the most underrated. The anime movie discussion is often headed by titles like Your Name, A Silent Voice, and the many Studio Ghibli projects that have found their way into the hearts of many anime fans. While all of those films are masterpieces in their own right, Maquia is a magical experience, and is certainly underrated among its contemporaries. Though its plot is fairly grounded once the movie gets to the main storyline, Maquia is also set in a fairly complex fantasy world, making it an underrated fantasy anime also.

The plot is based around the titular Maquia, a young girl who belongs to a fantasy race of beings who can live for hundreds of years. However, while fleeing from conflict in her homeland, she comes across an orphaned human baby, and cares for him as her own, going through the trials and tribulations of motherhood, while watching her son outgrow her. The ending to this movie is absolutely heartbreaking, though not in a depressing way, and is up there with the ending of A Silent Voice and the ‘Sparkle’ sequence in Your Name as some of the most powerful and beautiful moments in anime cinema. If you’re looking for animated movies to watch, that will warm your heart as well as break it, I cannot recommend Maquia enough.

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Gintama (2006)

Image by Sunrise

Now we come to my favourite on the list, mainly down to the fact that Gintama is also one of my favourite anime of all time. Though the series is not necessarily underrated in Japan, its country of origin, it’s never quite landed in the West like it should have, leaving it in relative obscurity in comparison to the shonen classics it should be mentioned alongside. Gintama is a story about a samurai living in ancient Japan, who takes on odd jobs to make money. Though this may sound like historical fiction, the twist is that this Japan has been invaded by aliens, who have taken over society, and created a highly unique blend of ancient Asian and otherworldly alien cultures, making it one of the most unique anime settings of all time.

Gintama has likely not gotten the recognition it deserves in the West due to it being a comedy series, with its jokes often coming across much better in Japanese than in its English translation. It is also packed with cultural references that likely won’t land for English-speaking viewers, and the comedy that is accessible to all is usually so over-the-top that it can be off-putting. Gintama certainly doesn’t pride itself on maturity when it comes to its humour, and is full of slapstick moments, often with an adult twist that may turn away the more prudish viewers out there. However, at its heart, Gintama is also one of the most emotionally engaging anime there is, with some of the best anime arcs of all time to its name, and doesn’t shy away from being serious and action-packed when the time calls for it. It belongs in conversations alongside Naruto, One Piece, and Hunter x Hunter, but hasn’t quite found its place – I sincerely hope that changes in the years to come.

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86 EIGHTY-SIX (2021)

Image by A-1 Pictures

We conclude this list with a series I only got around to watching this year, and by the time I had finished it, I couldn’t believe it took me so long to get on-board with it. 86 EIGHTY-SIX is an absolutely harrowing anime, and though it’s not exactly pleasant to watch, its discussions on topics such as war, discrimination, and humanity rival the excellence of the infinitely more popular Attack on Titan. The anime focuses on a mechanized war between two global powers, and though both sides boast that the war has claimed no civilian lives due to it being fought by robots, let’s just say that one side’s definition of ‘civilian’ leaves the door open for a much more horrifying truth to be uncovered.

Its lack of mainstream popularity may be down to its status as a mech anime, a genre which has faded in reception since the 90s. The show is also quite short, only totaling 23 episodes, but honestly, this just makes it more digestible, as I wouldn’t have wanted it to be any longer or shorter. A story of survival, loss, and human connection beyond societal constraints, 86 EIGHTY-SIX is a masterclass in television, and one of the most perfectly crafted anime I’ve ever watched. It’s one of those stand-out, rare anime that only comes along every once in a while, and if you’re in any way a fan of anime, I recommend you avoid any spoilers, and check this one out as soon as you can.

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Conclusion

Have any of these titles caught your eye? Be sure to let us know what you thought of our list, and if you check any of these series out for yourself, let us know what you think of them! The anime landscape can often become oversaturated with each new season, but there’s always hidden gems such as these emerging, so never be afraid to look past the mainstream and dive into something new – you might just find a masterpiece on your way!

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