Of course, some themes found in these types of anime may be a little uncomfortable for younger audiences; however, viewers looking for more mature stories might find that one of the best seinen anime series is more their speed.
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Berserk
Bloody seinen stories with buff, sword-wielding protagonists aren’t exactly the most family-friendly choices in anime. At least, Kentaro Miura’s Berserk proves that much. With a brutish sword-wielding protagonist and a band of mercenaries just as violent, the anime is thrilling for the same reasons that it isn’t meant for everybody.
Frankly, the story of Guts and the Band of Hawks makes for a great time for willing viewers. Its gory, life-threatening nature makes the story more meaningful, knowing that cheap plot armor isn’t in play. All in all, Berserk is a thrilling rollercoaster of emotions, perfect for viewers that loved the battle elements of shonen anime.
Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War
Almost nothing can be more different from Berserk than a school-life romantic comedy series. Yet, Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War has more than proven itself to be a very competent seinen series.
The story focuses on Shuchiin Academy’s student council president, Miyuki Shirogane, and vice president Kaguya Shinomiya, as they try their best to get each other to confess — via witty commentary and psychological warfare, of course. Kaguya-sama is perfect for anime fans who want an amazing comedy that also explores some mature themes.
Vinland Saga
Vikings aren’t a common topic in anime. It is fairly uncommon for Japanese animation to explore the intricate world of Scandinavian warriors. Vinland Saga proves why this subject is perfect for the screen, with dark, gory warfare and a historical twist.
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Following the story of the youth Thorfinn, the seinen anime explores the unique lifestyle of Viking warriors and their motivations. Frankly, a lot of the battle elements found in Berserk make Vinland Saga the amazing anime that it is. However, Vinland Saga is a little different, as it’s a better fit for history lovers.
March Comes In Like A Lion
Granted, March Comes In Like A Lion may not have the mainstream popularity that other series on this list have. However, the series is unique in its exploration of depressing themes and hopefulness.
The story focuses on Rei Kiriyama, an introverted, professional shogi player, and his relationship with the Koda family. The story is truly heartwarming, which is a little uncommon for many seinen series that tend to stray more into tragedy.
Made In Abyss
Mystery is one of the best sub-genres of seinen anime, and for good reason. These types of series fascinate audiences with information manipulation and clever world-building, allowing the author to regulate tension and suspense far more than in another type of series — something that Made in Abyss does very well.
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The series tells the story of an orphan named Riko and her connection with a gaping hole near her town called the Abyss. As more about the mysterious abyss becomes revealed, viewers will find themselves growing more and more connected to the characters of the series. A truly great seinen anime for viewers looking for a mix of mystery and character development.
Parasyte -The Maxim-
Another modern classic of the seinen genre, Parasyte received global love for its horrific visuals and interesting concept. The story focuses on an alien species called parasites that drill into a person’s brain, to completely control their body.
However, unlike how this process usually goes, the story’s protagonist Shinichi Izumi stops his parasite from taking his body, trapping it in his right hand instead. Viewers then will be held in the suspenseful pacing of the series, as they watch Shinichi and his parasite (called Migi) survive the incurring apocalypse.
Kingdom
Based on Yasuhisa Hara’s highly regarded manga, Kingdom is an ambitious historical anime set during China’s Warring States Period. The story follows two orphans, Xin and Piao, as they pursue their dream of serving as generals. Eventually, the anime shifts focus to Xin, who becomes one of King Zheng of Qin’s most loyal soldiers.
Kingdom’s animation can be off-putting since the anime combines 3D CGI with 2D backdrops. The show’s first season has a particularly divisive presentation, but the animation does improve in the sequels. While the art style takes some getting used to, Kingdom’s story and characters are strong from the start, and they only get better as the anime progresses.
Hellsing Ultimate
Somehow, vampires have become their own genre among fantasy anime. From apocalyptic Seraph of the End to the dramatic Strike the Blood, vampires became commonplace. That said, it all comes back to one seinen classic in particular: Hellsing Ultimate.
The story takes audiences into the shoes of Alucard, a vampire and faithful servant of the evil-hunting Hellsing family. While the series doesn’t escape common vampire clichés (after all, it started most of them), it does make for one of the most brutal experiences in modern seinen anime. For suspense lovers that didn’t get enough violence from Berserk, Hellsing Ultimate will be sure to thrill.
Golden Kamuy
Golden Kamuy is bizarre, and that should be taken as a compliment. Set in the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese war, the anime centers around a rat race as various groups strive to discover the Ainu people’s hidden gold, a treasure that requires stitching together a map spread across the skins of various prisoners. Seeking to make amends for the blood he shed throughout the war, Saichi Sugimoto aids an Ainu girl named Asirpa as they try to keep the riches out of the wrong hands.
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Brain’s Base’s series flip-flops between visceral acts of gory violence and comedic silliness that would not look out of place in something like Gintama. More importantly, the anime manages to balance these two tones perfectly, a triumph many shows struggle to experience.
Erased
What if any event in a person’s past could be undone? Well, this is exactly the situation that the seinen anime Erased focuses on. The anime tells the story of Satoru Fujinuma and the mysterious incidents that took the lives of his mother and his childhood friends.
The twist? Satoru must use the ability that sends him eighteen years in the past, in which he must solve the incidents as his childhood self. The mystery of Erased is eye-catching, offering a good variety of fast-paced scenes and striking visuals. To say the least, most seinen fans will find something they enjoy about Erased.
Ping Pong The Animation
Sports anime are simultaneously extremely mainstream and an acquired taste. If someone falls in love with the genre, they might never look back, especially since each season tends to introduce a couple of new shows. However, Ping Pong the Animation is one of a kind. Ever since they were kids, the timid Smile saw the confident Peco as his hero, and they bonded over a shared interest in ping pong.
After suffering a shocking defeat, Peco steps away from the table and begins to change into someone Smile does not recognize; consequently, the latter makes it his mission to bring back the friend he knew. Ping Pong the Animation revolves entirely around Smile and Peco’s friendship, with the anime serving up a deep study of both characters.
Land Of The Lustrous
Anthropomorphic anything has become a common trope in anime. Warships, animals, and even countries have been made into people. However, few know about the series focused on anthropomorphic gems. Following the story of Phos, Land of the Lustrous explores an intricate world where Earth is too toxic for human life and Lunarians are on the assault.
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It’s hard to say that there is a more unique seinen anime series than this. Living gemstones make for a world that is hard to beat in that regard, but all of this makes the series so entertaining. The metallic art style that strays from the standard, the unique properties of the characters, and even the unusual factions at play, make Land of the Lustrous a series hard to predict.
Space Brothers
As children, the brothers Mutta and Hibito dreamed of heading into space; as adults, Hibito is on the verge of actualizing his goal, while Mutta has largely floundered. After being fired from his sales job, Mutta realizes that he is at a crossroads in his life, and he decides to chase after his boyhood dream.
Space Brothers falls within the sci-fi genre, but it is very much rooted in reality. The anime chronicles Mutta’s journey as he tries to become an astronaut, covering the trials and tribulations such a path entails.
Bungo Stray Dogs
Bungo Stray Dogs is kind of like Psycho-Pass, but it instead focuses on detectives in alternate-reality Yokohama modeled after the 1920s with supernatural abilities. Okay, in reality, the only thing in common is the focus on detective-like characters. Nonetheless, Bungo Stray Dogs makes for an interesting alternative for viewers that didn’t like the dark atmosphere of Psycho-Pass.
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Bungo Stray Dogs’ biggest draw is its characters. In a way, the story was built around the characters rather than the other way around. All this means is that the series offers a more complex insight into character development in the supernatural genre. It’s really a perfect series for people who enjoy getting attached to each and every character.
Mushi-Shi
Mushi-Shi is a challenging series to describe since it contains slice of life, supernatural, drama, and even horror elements. The anime follows Ginko, a Mushishi who travels across Japan in search of Mushi, supernatural entities connected to nature. Although he takes on an active role on occasion, Ginko primarily acts as an observer soaking in the lives of others and the Mushi that exist alongside them.
Mushi-Shi immerses viewers in a beautiful world filled with wonder, beauty, and sadness. While slow-paced at points, the anime is very well written.
Fate/Zero
Part of the infamous Fate series, it’s hard to say that Fate/Zero isn’t seinen. Published as a seinen manga, exploring far more mature philosophical themes than a shounen anime, it has a much darker tone than other entries in the Fate series. The seinen anime is alluring for a multitude of reasons. Deep narratives, heavy world-building, exquisite artwork, sound, and breathtakingly, beautiful fight scenes all make this anime stand out.
That said, audiences should take into consideration the watch order of the Fate series. Of course, Fate/Zero can be watched on its own conclusively. However, for those looking to watch the rest of the series, Fate/Zero serves as the prequel to Fate/Stay Night.
Rainbow
While certainly among the best seinen anime of all time, Rainbow is the definition of an uncomfortable and unpleasant sit. The demographic is known for dark stories like Made in Abyss and Berserk, but unlike those series, Rainbow’s tragedy is not coated in a veil of fantasy. No, this anime’s horrors are completely human.
Set during the 1950s, Rainbow follows a group of teenagers who are imprisoned in a reform school governed by one of the most disgusting and vile characters in anime. As they live through a living hell, they can only turn to each other for support.
Ghost In The Shell
Live-action movies aren’t uncommon in the world of anime. However, a series with a live-action movie released in the West is a different story. Ghost In The Shell earned its international acclaim as a seinen masterpiece with striking artwork for the time period and an interesting concept.
Focusing on the story of Motoko Kusanagi, an android designed for fighting, the Ghost In The Shell series creates one of the best narratives in the sci-fi, police genre. Featuring deep, complex characters and an action-packed world, it’s easy to see why the movie and the subsequent series are among the best seinen anime.
Monster
Naoki Urasawa is one of the greatest manga creators of all time, but most of his works have not been adapted into anime. Monster is a rare exception, and the psychological thriller has precious few peers when it comes to seinen anime. Kenzo Tenma is an idealistic surgeon living in Germany who one day goes against orders and saves a child rather than a prominent political figure. This decision not only costs Tenma his career but also births an unbreakable bond with Johan, the boy saved by the doctor. The latter is not a positive thing.
Monster is grim, mature, and intelligent. Spanning more than 70 episodes, the anime barely sets a foot wrong as it weaves one of fiction’s most complex and ambitious narratives.
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