In the last few years, anime has skyrocketed in both popularity and quantity, with every season featuring at least one title the community latches onto as a definitive smash hit. From massive shonen anime franchises like Demon Slayer to gems that unexpectedly break into the mainstream like Dungeon Meshi, some of the best titles in modern anime either debuted or peaked in popularity in the 2020s.
However, their astronomical success often overshadows equally incredible series that, alas, enjoy much more moderate popularity. Put on the back burner and buried in fans’ ever-expanding to-watch lists, some of the best anime to premiere in the last 5 years are underrated gems most regrettably overlook. There’s no time like the present to give these fantastic series the attention they deserve.
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10 The Heike Story Presents Real-Life History as Gripping and Full-Hearted
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Historical fiction – particularly works that prioritize realism – has always been an underrated genre within anime, but some of the most compelling epics happen to lurk in tales of the past, as proven by The Heike Story’s rendition of the Taira clan’s rise and fall.
A fictionalized retelling of a principal 13th-century historical text, The Heike Story’s brings the past to life in a wonderfully artistic manner, as to be expected from a collaboration between studio Science Saru and director Naoko Yamada (A Silent Voice, K-On!). Being Yamada’s first work after departing from Kyoto Animation, The Heike Story excels at combining the director’s naturalistic style with Science Saru’s famously experimental aesthetics, resulting in a fantastic anime that feels both magical and true to life.
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The Heike Story
TV-14
DramaSci-Fi & Fantasy
Anime- Release Date
- 2022 - 2020
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Directors
- Shuntaro Tozawa
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
BUY
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9 Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari Is a Regrettably Overlooked Entry in Anime’s Ever-Growing Supernatural Genre
Streaming on Crunchyroll
From Jujutsu Kaisen to Dandadan, tales of spirits have been on the rise in mainstream anime in the last few years. Yet, one of 2023’s best supernatural anime, Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari happened to fly under the radar despite how excellently the series tackles the theme. The heir of the Saenome family, Hyoma Kunato, is set to inherit their craft of peacefully dealing with Tsukumogami – spirits that possess inanimate objects.
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Yet, a past traumatic experience led to Hyoma’s deep hatred of the Tsukumogami – something his grandfather wants to fix by placing Hyoma in the care of a Tsukumogami family. As far as supernatural anime go, Mononogatari is much less action-oriented than most, its focus favoring character-driven storytelling and nuanced exploration of folk mythology – a direction many would undoubtedly appreciate.
8 All Saints Street Is a Cozy Comedy About Mythical Creatures Coexisting in the Human World
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Urban fantasy and slice-of-life comedy are not two genres that intermingle often. In All Saints Street, they do so in more ways than one, resulting in one of the medium’s most peculiar yet endearing comedic experiments.
A Chinese ONA set in a world where humans and all sorts of mythological creatures – from vampires and werewolves to angels and demons – peacefully coexist, All Saints Street follows the daily hijinks of Apartment 1031 residents, all of whom happen to be unearthly beings. The unique art style and an even more out-there sense of humor make All Saints Street a comedy which, while not particularly daring, attracts audiences with everything that sets it apart from your run-of-the-mill gag anime.
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All Saints Street
- Release Date
- April 1, 2020
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7 Raven of the Inner Palace Combines Historical Fantasy Anime with an Intriguing Supernatural Mystery
Streaming on Crunchyroll
A genre-bending narrative of compelling complexity, Raven of the Inner Palace might put some viewers off with its historical angle and royal court politics. Yet, overlooking this gorgeously peculiar series is missing out on one of the 2020s best hidden gems.
Set in a fictionalized version of ancient China, the anime follows Liu Shouxue, the young holder of the Raven Consort title. Living in the depths of the palace, Liu Shouxue performs the role of a mystic, solving mysteries and exercising spirits with her great spiritual power. Fantastically engaging in both its intrigue-filled plot and slow-burn character development, Raven of the Inner Palace is multifacetedly appealing in its blend of history, romance, and mysticism.
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Raven of the Inner Palace
TV-14
Mystery
Fantasy Drama Anime- Release Date
- 2022 - 2021
- Network
- Tokyo MX, Gunma TV, BS11, Tochigi TV
- Directors
- Yasuhiro Minami, Goro Kuji, Ryo Yasumura
- Writers
- Masaki Tachihara
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
6 Kageki Shojo!! Doesn’t Shy Away from Uncomfortable Themes in Its Portrayal of Performing Arts
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Following aspiring actresses as they enroll in the prestigious Kouka School of Musical and Theatrical Arts, one might expect Kageki Shojo!! to be a lighthearted and inspirational story. Yet this hidden gem’s strengths lie in a completely different narrative direction.
A dramatic and emotionally charged series that emphasizes realistic characterization, Kageki Shojo!! peeks into the ugly side of competitive performing arts, its conflicts, broken dreams, and interpersonal challenges. An adaptation of a seinen manga, Kageki Shojo!! is a mature and grounded anime that honestly talks about the price one must pay for success in an industry notorious for its exploitation and impossible contention.
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Kageki Shojo!!
TV-14
DramaComedy
Anime- Release Date
- July 4, 2021
- Network
- AT-X
- Directors
- Takashi Ando, Hitomi Ezoe, Naotaka Hayashi, Megumi Soga, Kazuma Ogasawara
- Writers
- Miyako Matsumoto
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
5 Link Click Tackles Time Travel from a Profoundly Genre-Bending Perspective
Streaming on Crunchyroll
While having an incredibly devoted cult following, the Chinese animated series Link Click never quite made it to mainstream levels of popularity – despite being one of this decade’s most stellarly written and compelling titles. An unorthodox take on time travel, the anime uses photos as a means to influence the present through snapshots of the past.
Lu Guang can see 12 hours into a photograph’s future, and his partner, Cheng Xiaoshi, can dive into pictures by possessing the photographer – albeit they agree to never interfere with past events in ways that might disturb the flow of time. Combining episodic storytelling focused on various people’s poignant tales of regret with a gradually unraveling mystery-thriller plot, Link Click crafts a phenomenally engaging narrative that never fails to surprise the viewers with both its emotional depth and unpredictable developments.
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Link Click
TV-14
Anime DramaSupernatural
- Release Date
- April 30, 2021
Cast
-
Toshiyuki Toyonaga
-
Takahiro Sakurai
-
Aoi Koga
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4 Backflip!! Is a Must-Watch for All Sports Anime Enthusiasts
Streaming on Crunchyroll
The sports genre is a rare category of anime where the quality is decided less by the broad strokes of uniqueness or conceptual appeal and more by the nuances that go into crafting a compelling, relatable narrative. Backflip!! – a 2022 anime about Shoutarou Futaba, who, on a whim, decides to join a competitive gymnastic team – doesn’t break new ground when it comes to the sports anime formula.
Backflip!!’s stellar execution of the fundamentals – with just enough personalized flair – makes it a standout exemplar of the genre. Filled to the brim with lovable characters, compelling development, and visual excellence, Backflip!! has a strong grasp on what makes the sports genre such a fan-favorite within the anime community - which makes its lack of popularity that much more damning.
3 Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction’s Heroines Grow Up in the Midst of an Alien Invasion
Streaming on Crunchyroll
When a story starts with aliens descending onto Earth, most have clear expectations of how such a narrative would unfold. Yet, all of them get boldly subverted in Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction. Based on a manga by Inio Asano of Goodnight Punpun fame, Dead Dead Demons showcases the ordinary coming-of-age tribulations of two high school best friends while a mysterious alien spaceship idly looms over their heads.
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Political squabbles and societal instability unfold together with relatable adolescent struggles in Dead Dead Demons, the genre-bending narration providing a completely unique perspective on science fiction’s staple trope of alien invasion & offering insightful commentary on how people deal with unprecedented crises.
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Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction
- Release Date
- March 22, 2024
- Runtime
- 120 minutes
Cast
-
ano
Ouran "Ontan" Nakagawa (voice)
-
Lilas Ikuta
Kadode Koyama (voice)
-
Atsumi Tanezaki
Kiho Kurihara (voice)
-
Miyuri Shimabukuro
Ai Demoto (voice)
2 The Tatami Time Machine Blues Was Unfairly Overlooked Even by Fans of Its Prequel
Streaming on Hulu
The original Tatami Galaxy anime directed by then-little-known auteur Masaaki Yuasa has a cult following within the anime fandom, the series still relevant despite being released 15 years ago. Its 2022 sequel produced by Yuasa’s studio Science Saru managed to sneak by both modern audiences and some long-time fans of the series.
The Tatami Time Machine Blues reunites the viewers with the familiar characters, who once again are thrust into eccentric, reality-bending antics – this time concerning the unpredictable consequences of meddling with the past. A rare modern spin-off of a cult-classic anime that is just as good as the original, The Tatami Time Machine Blues is not just a must-watch for fans of The Tatami Galaxy but also an excellent incentive for new fans to give both series a shot.
1 Sonny Boy Takes an Experimental Approach to Breaching Universal Coming-of-Age Themes
Streaming on Crunchyroll
One of the most unique anime of the 2020s, Sonny Boy entices the viewers with its mysteries from the very first moments. A class of regular children suddenly finds themselves – together with their school building – stuck in an endless void dimension. Moreover, some of them awaken peculiar superpowers, leading to an immediate spark of conflict.
A reality-bending series that follows the kids’ struggle to escape - and survive - this paranormal predicament, Sonny Boy is an incredible character-driven mystery that combines the appeal of its puzzling plot with insightful commentary on interpersonal conflicts and turmoils of adolescence. A beautifully executed, thought-provoking fulfillment of a clever isekai premise, Sonny Boy is a modern classic that definitely deserves more attention.
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Sonny Boy
TV-14
Animation DramaMystery
- Release Date
- 2021 - 2021
- Directors
- Shingo Natsume
- Writers
- Shingo Natsume
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
BUY
