- Updated on: July 25, 2022
- by Ernie
Seinen anime are those animes that are directed towards an “adult audience”, mostly because of their dark nature and grimy aspect. However, having a dark plot doesn’t make an anime Seinen, themes such as depression and melancholia also are included in Seinen Anime.
Since you are all grown up now, why not jump right into the list of Top 26 Seinen Anime.
Table of Contents
Table of Content
26. Hellsing Ultimate
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
27/40 |
The very first anime on our list is “Hellsing Ultimate,” be ready to yell some phrases like “WTF, JESUS!” cause it’s one of the grimmest things you’ll ever witness in your life.
The show is based on the fact that evil monstrous creatures haunt the night, and just as a human comes in contact with their eyesight, they unleash their pure demonic rage on them and devour them from piece to piece.
To maintain the balance, there exists an agency called “Hellsing.” Integra Fairbrook is the leader of the organization.
Hellsing is well-known for its grim theme, weapons, and bloodshed. When the protagonists are almost as terrifying as the antagonists, viewers realize they’ve crossed the line into the Seinen realm.
So please don’t freak out when you find the MC even scarier than the monsters themselves.
25. Akira
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
6 |
5 |
9 |
29/40 |
In 1988, an explosion triggered by a young kid with telepathic abilities blasts across Tokyo, igniting the flame that will cause World War III.
He is apprehended and brought into jail to avert further devastation. In its place now, in the year 2019, rises a renovated replica of the metropolis known as Neo-Tokyo, an area riddled with mob extremism against the present administration.
Akira’s oddness is surprising and, at times, perplexing. But its image of a whole universe disappearing and being resurrected as something different has a thanatotic ecstasy to it.
Even though its typically complex sci-fi storyline and a massive cast of characters frequently cause it to edge on the confusing, it’s impossible not to be awed by the gigantic hand-drawn streetscapes that serve as the background for the eye-candy action.
24. Dorohedoro
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
29/40 |
Hole is, a dark, decaying, and chaotic neighborhood where the powerful feed on the weak, and murder is ordinary. It is a domain-independent from legal ethics, and it serves as a test platform for the magical users who control it.
The dwellers of Hole are regarded as little more than insects by the magic users, who are a race at the pinnacle of their civilization. The helpless Hole residents are murdered, maimed, and subjected to experimentation regularly in the hallways of Hole’s hospital.
Get ready for a thriller roller coaster ride as our mc is a reptile; yeah, I know that doesn’t sound charming.
Dorohedoro, set in a harsh universe of horrific aesthetics, strikes a fair balance of humor and joy with violence and killing.
It creates a unique universe of otherworldly genesis and gloomy looks, taking lots of plot twists throughout following the lives of Hole’s occupants.
23. Ghost in the Shell:
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
6 |
9 |
6 |
30/40 |
Next on our list, we have Ghost in the Shell, and the one thing that is sad about it is there’s no anime version of Scarlet Johansson in this version.
GITS: SAC is technically perfect. The animation is colorful and detailed. The human characters are realistic in appearance and movement.
The series follows the members of Public Security Section 9, an elite law enforcement team that investigates cybercrime and terrorist crimes. While the anime has a lot of flairs, it also has a lot of depth. The characters are all cool and entertaining to watch, and their relationships are nicely established. It offers a lot of exciting action and thought-provoking story aspects.
The presented futuristic society seems plausible, and the narrative highlights some important concerns regarding the use and misuse of technology, especially those that improve the human body.
22. Mononoke:
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
9 |
9 |
3 |
30/40 |
Mononoke is a collection of horror fairy tales with a fascinating mix of intrigue, violence, and the occult. The only recurrent and main character is the Medicine Seller.
Toei Animation’s crew did something extraordinary: they brought artwork to reality. The constant pattern of marbled paper enhances the sense of a palette over which the figures wander, in all their colorful splendor, evocative of Ukiyo-e paintings.
Mononoke is widely regarded as one of the most aesthetic shows in the anime world, if not the most aesthetic, and is viewed as a more artsy variant of the renowned Animated series Mushishi.
21. Vinland Saga
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
8 |
8 |
6 |
30/40 |
Vinland Saga is not afraid to depict the hardships of war and the folly of those who celebrate it in their naivety. The play places its painful philosophy front and center, directing its rage at people who are unkind to their fellow men.
The series follows King Cnut the Great’s historical return to prominence with a revenge mission focused on the historical adventurer Thorfinn, the son of a murdered ex-warrior who helps a bunch of mercenaries personally liable for the deed; the plot progresses through several story arcs beyond this, ultimately resulting in an excursion to Vinland.
The Vinland Saga gets off to a good start, depicting the hardships of being a Viking at the turn of the 11th century while also acting as a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of a brutal and fascinating conflict.
20. Rainbow
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
9 |
8 |
4 |
30/40 |
It is the year 1955. Mario Minakami, the main character, has newly returned to a private rehabilitation school alongside five other youths who’ve been accused of substantial illegal activity. They stay at the same cell while encountering and embracing Rokurouta Sakuragi, an elderly prisoner, and former boxer.
Their position is terrible, and the plot follows the individuals as they fight various atrocities meted out by vicious guards and physicians. It results in a gloomy and melancholy show that also conveys the narrative of real brotherhood and loyalty.
If you want a taste of how “people judge a book by its cover,” this is a must-watch show.
19. In the Corner of the World
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
8 |
9 |
4 |
30/40 |
Suzu Urano, a creative, compassionate, and supportive young woman, moves to Kure, a tiny village just outside Hiroshima. The anime shows what the life of the Hiroshima people was before the nuclear blast, and it does it in a very captivating and peaceful way.
Katabuchi beautifully and faithfully reconstructs the 1930s and 1940s using hundreds of images from the era.
That understanding of history lends an underlying sadness to the first half of “In This Corner of the World,” which essentially portrays rural life in Japan before the world changed forever.
18. Hinamatsuri
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
10 |
10 |
2 |
31/40 |
This masterpiece anime is filled with sarcastic scenes. A man of the Japanese mafia encounters a girl from the future with psychokinetic abilities and must defend her from enemies seeking to destroy her.
It’s also intriguing to watch how the girl’s actions influence her companion’s life. Every supporting character and their tale are engrossing. All of this happens with a healthy dose of fun, passion, and sweetness.
It’s fascinating not just because it can make me laugh but also because it captures the essence of what humor is all about. It only has 12 episodes, yet it succeeds in leaving an addictive impression.
17. Space Brothers
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
10 |
10 |
2 |
31/40 |
Since they were children, Mutta Namba has always aspired to be the immensely talented and motivational older brother to his younger brother, Hibito.
However, by 2025, Mutta is unemployed and utterly eclipsed by Hibito, who is an astronaut and, on his path, to being the first Japanese man to land on the moon.
Mutta finds himself inadvertently on the path to becoming an astronaut himself, pushed on by a text message from Hibito.
Space Brothers is a fantastic series for anyone looking for a more adult cast and narrative. It covers topics such as ego, sadness, and dissatisfaction.
Almost all of us had had moments when we compared ourselves to someone we know and care about and felt like a loser, and Mutto, our protagonist, is a fantastic embodiment of those events and sentiments.
16. Another
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
31/40 |
If you ever thought that horror and animes make no combination, well, chances are you are missing a lot of stuff.
The next anime on our list, “Another,” is a beautiful blend of horror and high school nostalgia. The plot revolves around a young man called Kichi Sakakibara, who transfers to Yomiyama Middle School and meets the inquisitive Mei Misak. Then some tragic incident starts to occur at school.
The performance employs low lighting, deep shade, and forced viewpoint to make the characters appear isolated and smaller than their surroundings and distorted camera placements to make the viewers feel nervous.
Then there’s the creepy musical score, which creates a gloomy tone and a sense of anticipation throughout the show, sounding perfectly at home with the finest scary movie soundtracks. The anime is truly a piece of art. Don’t watch it alone; it just might scare the shit out of you.
15. Ping Pong the Animation
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
10 |
10 |
2 |
32/40 |
You must be wondering what a show about ping pong doing on this list, right is? Don’t worry; ping pong animation is not your average bright-themed sports anime. It is probably one of the greatest anime ever created. This is more of a profound emotion series than a sporty anime.
It’s a brilliantly constructed coming-of-age narrative that doesn’t come along very frequently. In a word, it’s out of the ordinary.
The plot is straightforward, following the lives of two lads and their adventures with table tennis. We meet Makoto Tsukimoto, called “Smile,” and his arrogant best buddy Yutaka Hoshino, dubbed “Peco.”
Their narrative is recounted in just 11 episodes, and the pacing is flawless. Everything works well from inception to delivery, and each episode delivers precisely the proper level of information without overloading or confusing the audience.
14. March Comes Like a Lion
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
10 |
10 |
3 |
33/40 |
A first look at the title and images of some Mc with lion power or overwhelming super abilities might come into your head.
But hold up, not everything is related to superpowers. Sometimes an anime can be plain and simple but can have so much impact on you. Our next anime on the list is like that.
March Comes in Like a Lion does not catch your attention based just on its cover. However, after you start viewing it, you will realize that it is nothing short of a gem.
The anime’s plot revolves around Rei Kiriyama, 17-year-old shogi (Japanese chess) player. He is now self-sufficient after leaving his adoptive family’s house. As a shogi prodigy, he is subjected to tremendous pressure, which leads to social uneasiness and melancholy.
However, after meeting the Kawamoto sisters, Rei gradually opens up and begins to comprehend the complicated feelings and everyone around him.
The animation style of Studio Shaft complements the entire subject of the anime, and the colors connect with the emotions.
Bump Of Chicken’s music is artistically beautiful and deserves to be appreciated, as predicted. March Comes in Like a Lion is one of the greatest character-driven musicals. Overall, the anime is well worth seeing if you’re seeking something profound and severe.
13. Psycho-Pass
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
9 |
7 |
8 |
33/40 |
Are you looking for an anime that discusses the very concept of justice, moral ethics? If yes, Psycho pass is the one for you.
Judiciary and its administration have evolved. Japan implements the Sibyl System in the 22nd century, an impartial method of evaluating each citizen’s threat level by assessing their state of mind for indicators of malice aforethought, designated as their Psycho-Pass.
Inspectors defend the law by oppressing, often with fatal force, anybody holding the slightest ill-will; beside them are Enforcers, cynical Inspectors who have turned into hidden criminals and are allowed greater freedom in return for carrying out the Inspections’ dirty job.
Akane Tsunemori, a young girl with a real desire for social justice and empowerment, enters this world. However, when she works with experienced Enforcer Shinya Kougami, she quickly discovers that the Sibyl System’s judgments are not as flawless as her colleagues believe.
With everything she’s ever known flipped upside down, Akane mulls over what justice actually is and if it can be preserved via the employment of an institution that may already be flawed.
12. Tokyo Ghoul
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
34/40 |
Tokyo Ghoul takes place in a world controlled by two races: humanity and ghouls. Ghouls are human-like creatures with powerful healing abilities and extraordinary abilities that make them nearly invincible. Everything might go well, but ghouls are apex predators of humans, and humans, being the majority power, track down ghouls and devour them like a tasty pizza.
The ghoul’s nature is straightforward. They’re starving. Human food makes them sick, and people are their sole source of nutrition.
Kaneki Ken is a very geeky college student that encounters a lovely girl in the cafe. When she decides to go out with him, he believes himself incredibly fortunate; nevertheless, his luck runs out when the girl takes him to a secluded spot and begins to devour him mercilessly.
But then something unexpected happens. Massive beams collapse from an adjacent structure, crushing the girl. Kaneki is taken to a hospital, in which the girl’s parts are transplanted into him, transforming him into the first hybrid human.
And, while this may sound like a typical narrative between humans and monsters, the fact is that there is no right or wrong on either side, simply individuals eager to live, defend their loved ones, and vengeance those who have wronged them.
11. Erased
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
10 |
10 |
6 |
36/40 |
It would be cool if we could turn back time, right? Our next anime on the list is about the same thing, but the only thing different about the time turning back is the constant misery and pain that comes with it.
The narrative keeps you on your feet the entire time as the main character, Satoru, attempts to reverse the past and present tragic circumstances.
The character development is fantastic, and you get increasingly devoted to the people as the series unfolds into the harsher and more horrible occurrences.
There are moments in the anime that are completely heartbreaking and others that make you feel delightfully warm on the inside. Because it incorporates some time travel, some people relate it to Stein’s Gate. Others questioned the investigation and crime theme and likened it to Death Note.
This anime is none of those things. The core premise or narrative of the show does not rely upon time travel. It also doesn’t have as much gloom and a criminal twist as Death Note.
It’s about sadness, melancholy, loneliness and love, ambition and fear, hate and virtue, family and trauma.
10. Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
36/40 |
One of the most challenging tasks we encounter in life is confessing our love to someone.
Kaguya-same: Love is War takes this understandable dread to its logical conclusion. This isn’t your typical rom-com; it’s a struggle to the death between two obstinate geniuses in a competition to see who can confess first.
Kaguya Shinomiya is the wealthy heir of a multinational business, a prodigy of course, but one who is pampered and has far more pride than common sense. Miyuki Shirogane, her opponent, comes from a far humbler background, a workaholic striving to achieve the top of his class despite having no experience with anything else.
9. Cowboy Bebop
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
36/40 |
The series takes place in the year 2071 and follows the life of a roving bounty hunting team aboard their starship, the Bebop.
Many of these situations give the protagonists a sense of sadness. Many of them strive so difficultly to escape their history only to discover they can’t and must face it to go ahead.
It’s not like they keep portraying Batman’s parents getting killed in the very same way; instead, they examine various aspects of these characters and gently hint at the individuals they previously were.
Though they don’t play it as a family dynamic like in many other shows, you see a connection between them and why they would band together.
8. Angel beats
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
10 |
10 |
8 |
36/40 |
Dying seems scary in real life, right? But no in the angel beats world, where you get reincarnated into a world that has angels in them
Our Mc, Otonashi wakes up from his sleep and comes around the fact that he is no longer alive. Otonashi panics and thinks that his mind is playing some tricks. However, a girl who carries a literal gun with her and calls herself Yuri confirms his death and explains the mechanism of the afterlife. She then tells him that she is the leader of an organization called “Shina Sekai Sensen” who is currently looking for a girl having evil intent known as Tenshi.
The story takes off with Otonashi joining the organization. As the show progresses the mc slowly recovers his past life memories and some shocking plot twists take place which turns the whole world of mc upside down.
The anime has a charming yet nostalgic sense, so if you are in the mood for some high school memories with a blend of spirituality, angel beats are your top pick.
7. Future Diary
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
10 |
10 |
8 |
36/40 |
Yukiteru Amano is a pure depiction of an average late 2010’s teen, constantly on his phone. To him, his phone is his life, well we all have been there? Spending all our time on the phone to get those serotonins up and running.
However, Yukiteru Amano doesn’t scroll Instagram for memes. Instead, he is a lonesome student who spent most of his time writing a journal on his smartphone and chatting with his two seemingly fictitious companions Deus Ex Machina, whom he calls the deity of space-time, and Murmur, the God’s servant.
His whole world takes a topsy turvy curve when Deus reveals himself to be an actual entity. Imagine being friends with God; no, not friend, talking to him like he’s your pal.
Deus hands Yukiteru a “Random Diary,” which contains exceptionally detailed future writings and puts him into a violent combat royale with 11 other holders of equally future solid diaries.
Yukiteru must discover and murder the other 11 to survive, with the last person standing recognized as the new God of time and space. He unwillingly joins forces with Yuno Gasai, his compulsive stalker.
Future Diary is perhaps overly reliant on craziness over intelligence. None of these candidates are intelligent. Instead, almost everyone says, “lol, I’m a raging maniac, aren’t I intriguing?”
Future Diary is similar to the Batman against Joker narrative, except that there are 11 different Jokers, one of whom is on Batman’s side. Yes, we’re talking about his secret stalker.
6. Death Parade
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
10 |
10 |
7 |
37/40 |
Now and then, you might ask yourself, “What happens when we die,” trust me, everyone thinks about it, but just for the sake of peace, don’t bother to tell others.
The next anime on our list tries to answer that question in a very charming and beautiful manner.
In the world of “Death Parade,” when people die, they wind themselves at strange clubs governed by arbiters disguised as bartenders. These folks must participate in ‘Death Games’ at the expense of their soul. The goal of these games is to bring them to their predicament and determine their destiny. These judges decide whether to send the soul or the emptiness for rebirth.
The story features Decim, a bartender at Queendecim bar whose job is to judge the soul changes of dead couples that frequent his establishment until a strange black-haired woman walks into his bar a day.
5. Deadman Wonderland
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
37/40 |
Have you ever been blamed for some act that you didn’t do? It feels like shit, right? Now multiply that shit feeling with 100 cause our anime has a similar start to it, but the only thing that is different about it is that a mysterious read man assassinated our mc’s whole class, and he was framed for it.
The young protagonist is thrust into a world of cruel convicts and unfathomable abilities, where he must live in continuous terror of the deadly chain strapped on his neck, which can only be slowed by winning the prison’s deathly games.
In Deadman Wonderland, Gant must stake his life to thrive in a brutal environment where it isn’t always simple to discern friend from the adversary, all while trying to discover the enigmatic “Red Man” and clear his name.
This is a highly adult series as a result of the insanity. While it most likely takes itself seriously, there are a few over-the-top instances that raise your eyebrows.
The brutality is never-ending. Because the show revolves around the manipulation of blood, anticipate a lot of graphic violence. Outside of that, there are some disconcerting moments, such as someone having their stomach pulled out, their eyeball taken out, and so on.
4. Steins Gate
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
10 |
10 |
8 |
38/40 |
Time travel is a reasonably popular sci-fi trope, but have you ever seen a scientist use a microwave to send a banana back in time?
This is just one of the strange and wondrous things in Steins; Gate, among the most enjoyable anime shows I’ve watched in years.
While you’ll have more than enough time to get used to the game’s Phone Trigger system, you’ll also be introduced to various ways of time travel and also multiverse ideas, and parallel worlds that twist and turn into wonderfully perplexing terrain.
It’s easy to scan over page after page of text (it’s a visual novel, so there’s bound to be a lot), but you’ll want to pay close attention lest you miss tiny clues that truly connect it all. So make sure you a lot of attention to it while watching.
3. Parasyte the Maxim
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
39/40 |
Shinichi Izumi, a high school student, lives with his parents in a peaceful Tokyo suburb. His life is turned upside down when interpenetrating organisms known as Parasites emerge on Earth, determined to take over the minds of human hosts by penetrating their brains or nostrils.
One of these Parasites tries to creep into Shinichi’s ear while he sleeps one night. Still, his earbuds prevent access, so the monster, named Migi, burrows into Shinichi’s arm alternative, gaining possession of his right hand.
Shinichi and Migi finally establish a friendship as they fight together to overcome their adversity.
2. Berserk
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
40/40 |
Guts, who has been tagged for death and is condemned to be hounded by monsters until the day he dies, starts on a mission to reject such a heinous fate while hordes of creatures aggressively chase him.
He takes up the enormous blade Dragonslayer and resolves to wreak retribution on the perpetrator, tracking out the same man he once looked up to and thought a friend.
He meets some unusual companions along the journey, including Puck, a tiny elf, and Isidro, a teenage thief hoping to learn skilled swordsman from the ex-soldier.
As the motley crew gradually assembles after deciding to accompany Guts in his mission, they will confront great danger beyond anything they have ever experienced before.
At its heart, Berserk is a tremendous tragedy. It does live up to its title cause most of the fighting scenes are Berserk. It’s a violent show. People die, either by a sword or else, exceptionally violently. Even the Dank Lord, Pewdiepie, has rated Berserk as one of the best.
1. Monster
| Maturity: | Emotions: | Storyline: | Gore: | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
40/40 |
A deep, dramatic, and delightful animation that defies all those who think anime is child-oriented animation.
The storyline of Monster is without a doubt the most significant portion, dark but not without happy sequences.
It is centered on the story of Dr. Tenma, a skilled Nero-surgeon whose ethical principles soon drive him on a seldom chosen road to rectify the evil he’d unintentionally done for the sake of justice.
Unlike most anime, which tend to center on superpowers, fantasy, or sci-fi horror, the problematic aspect is that it is depicted in an all-too-real manner, although being animated.
The most horrifying characters are usually folks you wouldn’t expect to see in a crowd, rather than some otherworldly monster that depends on raw power or the incapacity of the whole world he battles to defeat him.
Conclusion
Comment which one you've watched ALREADY!
Anime isn’t just for children. Although most of them are children-oriented that doesn’t mean all of them are made for children, instead, some of the greatest anime are Seinen Anime in nature.
The dark raw theme adds a layer of appeal to the anime. Make sure to watch every single one of the mentioned anime as all of them are thought-provoking and deep in nature.
How is it that kaguya sama hasthe same gore rating as hellsing and vinland saga. And I think both of them are a 10 on gore.
this website is fully trash, “25+ animes…” and you have 26 shown. How stupid are you people?