10 Most Underrated Anime Series You Shouldn’t Miss Watching

We get hundreds of fantastic anime TV shows each year, but it’s nearly impossible for every new release to get the spotlight. Fans usually end up watching popular shows like Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, Mob Psycho 100, and One Piece. However, the anime industry has given us countless underrated gems that deserve the community’s attention.

There are several fantastic anime shows that went unnoticed by most anime fans. So, in this list, we’ve talked about 10 underrated anime series that you shouldn’t skip. No matter how you want your anime platter to taste, this list has something great to offer for everyone.

10. Gugure! Kokkuri-san

Gugure! Kokkuri-san is a spectacular comedy and supernatural anime series that came out in 2014. The TV show features countless unexpected humorous and heartfelt moments, so it’s definitely worth watching, especially if you’re in the mood for something sweet and simple.

The series revolves around the life of Kohina Ichimatsu, an elementary school girl who lives by herself and leads an unhealthy lifestyle. Once, while playing a game, Kohina accidentally summons Kokkuri-san, a fox spirit who later decides to take care of the little girl. The show then takes Kohina on a thrilling journey where she encounters several other spirits like her guardian.

9. Hell Girl

Hell Girl is one of those rare horror anime shows that stays entertaining until the very end. The show was created by Hiroshi Watanabe, who also worked on fantastic projects like Elfen Lied and The Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok.

The unique and dark story of the series introduces you to Hell Girl, a.k.a, Ai Enma. A mysterious website goes online on the dark web, and people with a strong sense of revenge start using it to summon the Hell Girl. People ask Ai Enma to kill someone they hate, and the Hell Girl brutally eliminates every target and sends their soul to hell, but she also asks the requester to pay a hefty price.

8. Kemonozume

Studio Madhouse never fails to impress us with its great animation and choice of projects. It has been the animation studio for some of the most renowned series like Death Note, Monster, and Claymore. But, some of its projects never got much appreciation, and that includes Kemonozume.

Kemonozume is about the conflict between humans and Shokujinki, a flesh-eating alien race that sees humans as its prey. To wipe out these monsters, the Momota family creates a unique martial arts school known as Kifuken. But, Toshihiko, the next heir of the Momota family, and Yuki, a Shokujinki, fall in love, introducing a traditional yet entertaining twist to the story.

7. Darker Than Black

Darker Than Black is one of the finest mystery, science fiction, and thriller anime shows ever created. Honestly, it’s a shame that the series never got much attention from fans despite being a masterpiece. The series comes from the mind of Tensai Okamura, who worked on legendary anime like Cowboy Bebop, Sword Art Online, Soul Eater, and The Seven Deadly Sins.

The story of Darker Than Black revolves around the mysterious “Hell’s Gate” that suddenly appears in Tokyo. Several Psychics with supernatural powers try solving the mystery of the gate. However, the story mainly follows the journey of Hei and his blind companion Yin, the most powerful Psychics the world has ever known.

6. Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou

‘His and Her Circumstances’ or ‘Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou’ is a romantic comedy that ran from October 1998 to March 1999. It is a beautiful anime show that was overshadowed by other rom-com anime series.

The story of Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou is relatively straightforward. The anime show will walk you through the lives of young high-school teenagers and their day-to-day problems. Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou was received well by the critics for its lighthearted story and relatable characters. In fact, some fans even said that it is “probably the most disarmingly honest shoujo romance ever made.” So, it’s about time we revisit this classic underrated anime series and cherish its beauty.

5. 91 Days

91 Days was a huge hit when it came out in 2016. However, over the years, fans have forgotten about this masterpiece, and now the anime series is hardly a topic of discussion in the anime community. Still, it doesn’t change the fact that 91 Days is a brilliant anime that should be on your watch list.

The story of 91 Days is set in the fictional town of Lawless, the most prominent black market for selling illicit materials. Avilio, the main character of the series, returns to Lawless after a long time to take down the mafia gang responsible for the murder of his family. The tone and animation style of this particular anime reminds you of Cowboy Bebop. So, you have more than enough reasons to find out what 91 Days anime has to offer.

4. Daily Lives of High School Boys

As the name of the series suggests, Daily Lives of High School Boys shows the day-to-day adventures of Tadakuni (the protagonist of the series) and his friends, Yoshitake Tanaka and Hidenori Tabata. Every day is a struggle for Tadakuni and his gang as they interact with their fellow students.

Unlike recent anime shows, Daily Lives of High School Boys doesn’t feature a linear or complex storyline. You can start watching the show from any episode and enjoy the main characters’ cartoonish coming-of-age experiences. The humorous plot of this anime’s every episode will leave you asking for more.

3. Last Exile

If you’re a fan of adventure and steampunk anime series, you should definitely give Last Exile a try. The original anime series from Gonzo ran for 26 episodes between 2011 to 2012, after which the series got a sequel and an anime film.

In a world dominated by an endless war, Claus Valca and his best friend, Lavie Head, work as couriers and excel in their work. However, the course of their lives takes an unexpected turn when they come across an orphan girl named Alvis Hamilton. The duo decides to keep the girl safe while taking part in a deadly mission.

2. Paranoia Agent

Paranoia Agent is an anime show with an intricate storyline that exceeds most fans’ expectations. The 13-episode anime TV show features unexpected twists and gives you a thrilling experience with its psychological tale.

People of Tokyo fall victim to a mysterious boy who enjoys assaulting his targets with a golden baseball bat. While that weird killer terrorizes the city, two detectives, Ikari and Maniwa, try to solve the case by studying the statements of different victims.

1. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit is a series based on the 1996 Japanese novel by Nahoko Uehashi. This series surpasses several great “Sword and Sorcery” anime shows in terms of animation, story, and character arcs. But still, fans hardly talk about Moribito, making it one of our generation’s most underrated anime series.

An empress hires a spear-wielding mercenary named Balsa to save her son from the emperor. The empress believes her son is under the water demon’s control and will soon bring a lethal drought upon the whole nation.