If you are looking for an anime for adults – this list is for you!
What’s in an anime that makes a movie or a series not for kids? Not only violence and blood, but also serious topics for adults. At the same time, many of them are full of jokes and humor. Enjoy:
31 Afro Samurai, 2007-…
In a strange world of swords, guns and kimonos, cell phones and cybernetic body parts – a black samurai, Afro Samurai, seeks revenge from a man named Justice who killed his father and also happens to be the #1 fighter in the world. After Afro earns the rank of #2 fighter needed to challenge the #1, he starts his lonely walk to revenge. He faces bounty hunters, bar thugs and fanatical monks – all of whom seem to have clues to the whereabouts of Justice and all of whom covet the position of #2 for themselves. Also along the way we are introduced to Afro’s chatty companion – the light hearted Ninja Ninja.
Series Directed by Fuminori Kizaki
Series Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Phil LaMarr, Yuri Lowenthal
Trailer:
30 Highschool of the Dead (Gakuen Mokushiroku: Highschool of the Dead), 2010-…
Highschool of the Dead is set in the present day, beginning as the world is struck by a deadly pandemic that turns humans into zombies, euphemistically referred to by the main characters as “them” since they are no longer considered human. The story follows a group of high school students, the high school’s nurse, and a young girl as they fight their way to safety through the deadly streets of Japan during a worldwide catastrophic event known as the “Outbreak”. Led by sophomore Takashi Komuro, the focal group of survivors consists of six others and a small dog, and creating a gestalt team with one purpose: to survive.
Series Directed by 11 people
Series Cast: Jun’ichi Suwabe, Marina Inoue, Eri Kitamura
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29 Future Diary (Mirai nikki), 2011-2013
Yukiteru Amano is a 14-year old loner who spends much of his time dispassionately recording events around him in his cell phone “diary.” His only friends are imaginary ones: Dues ex Machina, the “god of time and space,” and Murmur, Dues’s impish helper. Yukiteru’s life takes a turn for the strange when his diary starts recording events before they happen and Dues announces that he’s not so imaginary after all, and a turn for the sinister when his diary announces his own impending death. It turns out Yukiteru has become part of a survival game in order to determine who will succeed Dues as the god of time and space, competing with 11 others who also possess diaries that predict the future in various ways,. But Yukiteru does have at least one strong ally: Yuno Gasai, a fellow classmate who despite being a Future Diary holder herself is determined to protect Yukiteru at all costs. She’s also an obsessive and possibly crazy stalker who’s own Future Diary records Yukiteru’s every move in ten minute intervals.
Series Directed by Naoto Hosoda
Series Cast: Tomosa Murata, Misuzu Togashi, Norio Wakamoto
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28 Kill La Kill, 2013-2014
Honnouji Academy is forcefully ruled by the iron-fisted control of its student council and its president, Satsuki Kiryuuin. Transfer student, Ryuuko Matoi, arrives on campus carrying a giant sword, that is actually half of a scissor. She is looking for the woman who holds the other half of her sword who killed her father. It is said that Satsuki Kiryuuin knows the identity of the killer but when Ryuuko confronts her she is beaten by the student council and their powerful “goku uniforms” whom she cannot match in strength. However, once Ryuuko receives her own “Kamui” by the name of Senketsu , the odds are lifted in her favor.
Series Directed by Akira Amemiya, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Alexander Von David
Series Cast: Ami Koshimizu, Aya Suzaki, Toshihiko Seki
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27 Hellsing (Herushingu), 2001-2002
Vampires and ghouls stalk modern-day England, hunting the oblivious populace. Only the Hellsing foundation stands between the evil undead and the innocent humans who would be their prey. But there’s something new out there – chips that give humans vampiric ability and bloodlust are being sold as the latest designer drug. With a new wave of evil creatures rising, Hellsing must rely on its two most unlikely recruits – ancient master vampire Alucard and the newly turned Seras Victoria – but can even they stand in the face of such overwhelming odds?
Series Directed by Umanosuke Iida, Yasunori Urata
Series Cast: Jôji Nakata, Yoshiko Sakakibara, Fumiko Orikasa
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26 Inuyasha, 2000-2004
Kagome Higurashi is a 15 year old schoolgirl who lives at a history-filled Japanese shrine. She is also the reincarnation of an ancient priestess named Kikyo, who guarded the sacred Shikon no Tama (Jewel of Four Souls), and who sealed away the half-demon Inuyasha who had tried to steal the jewel in order to become a full demon. Kikyo died of her wounds and had the jewel burned with her body. Kagome is one day pulled into the ancient well on her family’s shrine and thrown into the past, 50 years after Kikyo’s death. She befriends Kaede, the late Kikyo’s sister, who realizes Kagome is Kikyo’s reincarnation. They are attacked, and learn that Kagome has the Shikon no Tama, but it’s actually inside her body! Kagome accidentally awakens the dog-demon Inuyasha, and frees him after the jewel has been ripped from her body. Now Inuyasha wants the jewel back, but Kagome can’t let him have it. He is forced (by Kaede’s magic) to wear a necklace that allows Kagome to control him with one word, “Sit!”, which sends him face-first into the ground. Kagome accidentally shatters the jewel, and now she and Inuyasha have to work together to find all the pieces before they fall into the wrong hands. Only Kagome can “sense” where the shards are, and only Inuyasha is powerful enough to get them from the demons or people who have them. But can they stop fighting long enough to work together?
Series Directed by 6 people
Series Cast: Kappei Yamaguchi, Richard Ian Cox, Satsuki Yukino
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25 Monster, 2004-2010
Dr. Kenzou Tenma, a Japanese neurosurgeon, is one of the best doctors in Germany. He’s respected by his peers, he’s engaged and has a promising future. Tenma disagrees with hospital politics and sticks to his view that all human lives are equal and that no life is more important than another. One day he decides to work according to his own view on life and not follow hospital politics and he operates a young boy in critical condition, who arrived first, over the life of a politician. After this, Dr. Tenma’s peers no longer have the same respect for him and his fiancée breaks up with him. But some time later, some of Tenma’s peers are found murdered, his fiancée wants to get back together with him and he’s appointed as head of the surgical department. 9 years later, the BKA is investigating a series of murders and one agent from the BKA suspects that Tenma is involved with the murders. Tenma starts to investigate after one of his patients is murdered and discovers that the murderer is someone from his past…
Series Directed by Masayuki Kojima, Ryôsuke Nakamura
Series Cast: Hidenobu Kiuchi, Liam O’Brien, Mamiko Noto
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24 Elfen Lied (Erufen rîto), 2004-…
A teenager girl escapes from a laboratory with the power to dismember people with her multiple invisible arms. On her way out, she gets shot and becomes a double-personality person, half-sweet, half-murderer. On her way, she meets people who have suffered the biggest horrors possible. Together, they will face the evil organization who uses other girls to track the original one.
Series Directed by 7 people
Series Cast: Sanae Kobayashi, Chihiro Suzuki, Mamiko Noto
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23 Darker than Black (Dākā Zan Burakku: Kuro no Keiyakusha), 2007-2008
In Tokyo, an impenetrable field known as “Hell’s Gate” appeared ten years ago. At the same time, psychics who wield paranormal powers at the cost of their conscience also emerged. Hei is one of the most powerful of these psychic agents, and along with his blind associate, Yin, works for one of the many rival agencies vying to unlock the mysteries of Hell’s Gate.
Series Directed by 10 people
Series Cast: Hidenobu Kiuchi, Matthew Leonhart, Christopher Sabat
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22 Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji), 2008-2010
A young boy sells his soul to a demon in order to avenge his family’s death and successfully lead their influential toy manufacturing company. The demon takes the form of a loyal butler who’s always dressed in black and is required to protect, serve and arrive whenever summoned by his young master Ciel.
Series Directed by Toshiya Shinohara
Series Cast: Daisuke Ono, Brina Palencia, Monica Rial
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21 Ergo Proxy, 2006-…
In a post-apocalyptic future humans live in peace with androids in a domed city. However, a strange series of murders has intruded into bored inspector Re-l Mayer’s life.
Series Directed by 8 people
Series Cast: Kôji Yusa, Rie Saitou, Akiko Yajima
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20 Black Lagoon (Burakku Ragūn), 2006-2013
A Japanese businessman, captured by modern-day pirates, is written off and left for dead by his company. Tired of the corporate life, he opts to stick with the mercenaries that kidnapped him, becoming part of their gang.
Series Directed by 13 people
Series Cast: Megumi Toyoguchi, Daisuke Namikawa, Youichi Nishijima
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19 Claymore (Kureimoa), 2007-…
In a world rife with deadly creatures called “youma”, a young silver eyed woman, Clare, works on behalf of an organization that trains female youma halfbreeds into warriors with the ability to destroy these creatures. Considered a rogue for picking up a stray child and almost losing herself to her youma side by “Awakening”, she is constantly assigned rather dangerous missions.
Series Directed by 16 people
Series Cast: Todd Haberkorn, Houko Kuwashima, Stephanie Young
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18 Hellsing Ultimate, 2006-2012
The vampire Alucard, his master Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, and his newly sired ward Seras Victoria, try to protect England from a war-crazed SS-Major who seeks to start an eternal war with his vampire army.
Series Directed by Tomokazu Tokoro, Hideki Tonokatsu
Series Cast: Katie Gray, Crispin Freeman, Victoria Harwood
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17 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (Kôkaku kidôtai: Stand Alone Complex), 2002-2005
In a future Japan, Major Motoko Kusanagi operates as a key agent of Section 9 of internal security under Chief Aramaki. Together with her support crew and a group of quadraped enforcement droids who operate with childlike enthusiasim, they confront the numerous threats facing Japan. However, their opponents are predominately capable of using the advanced technology around them to their considerable advantage and it will take all the talents of Section 9 to stop them.
Series Directed by 4 people
Series Cast: Atsuko Tanaka, Osamu Saka, Shirô Saitô
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16 Psycho-Pass, 2012-2013
Believing in humanity and order, policewoman Akane Tsunemori obeys the ruling, computerized, precognitive Sibyl System. But when she faces a criminal mastermind who can elude this “perfect” system, she questions both Sibyl and herself.
Series Directed by 14 people
Series Cast: Kana Hanazawa, Robert McCollum, Kate Oxley
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15 Wolf’s Rain, 2003-2004
In a post-apocalyptic future where humans live in domed cities surrounded by wasteland, wolves are assumed to be two hundred years extinct.
Series Directed by 10 people
Series Cast: Darren Pleavin, Kenta Miyake, Akio Suyama
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14 Rurouni Kenshin (Rurôni Kenshin: Meiji kenkaku roman tan), 1996-1998
A man slayer, Kenshin Himura, who played a major role in defeating Tokugawa Shogunate of feudal Japan carries his reverse blade sword (with a promise not to slay anymore). He embarks on a quest to repent for his sins by helping the innocent. He lodges in Kamia Kashin dojo where he becomes an acquaintance of Kaorou, the assistant instructor of the dojo. After being saved by Kenshin from mafia, a stubborn young boy, Yahiko Myojin joins the dojo as a student. Sanousuke, a victim of war becomes an acquaintance of Kenshin after losing to him in a duel. Together with his new friends, Kenshin carries out his ideal of helping the innocent. A series of events unfold that questions his ideal of living for the innocent and not slaying men. Kenshin faces every opponent with his reverse blade to uphold justice.
Series Directed by 5 people
Series Cast: Mayo Suzukaze, Richard Cansino, Dean Wein
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13 Barefoot Gen (Hadashi no Gen), 1983
A powerful statement against war, Barefoot Gen is a disturbing story about the effect of the atomic bomb on a boy’s life and the lives of the Japanese people.
Directed by Mori Masaki
Cast: Issei Miyazaki, Catherine Battistone, Yoshie Shimamura
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12 Parasyte (Kiseijû: Sei no kakuritsu), 2014-2015
Parasyte is a TV series starring Adam Gibbs, Aya Hirano, and Brittney Karbowski. 17-year-old Shinichi Izumi is partially infected by a Parasyte; monsters that butcher and consume humans. He must learn to co-exist with the creature if he is to survive both the life of a Parasyte and human, as part monster, part person.
Series Directed by 9 people
Cast: Masaki Aizawa, Takaya Aoyagi, Junya Enoki
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11 Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no haka), 1988
Japan, World War 2. Teenage boy Seita and his young sister Setsuko are left homeless and effectively orphaned when their city is firebombed by US bombers. They end up living with an aunt. Initially things go well and life seems almost normal again. However, their relationship with their aunt deteriorates and Seita and Setsuko decide to leave and fend for themselves. They find a place and things seem to be going well. However, over time food gets scarcer and life becomes a constant struggle for survival.
Directed by Isao Takahata
Cast: Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara
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10 Fullmetal Alchemist (Hagane no renkinjutsushi), 2003-2004
When a failed alchemical ritual leaves brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric with severely damaged bodies, they begin searching for the one thing that can save them; the fabled philosopher’s stone.
Series Directed by 20 people
Series Cast: Vic Mignogna, Aaron Dismuke, Romi Pak
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9 Attack on Titan (Shingeki no kyojin), 2013-…
2000 years from now, the human race is nearly exterminated by mindless, man-eating giants known as Titans. In a last ditch attempt to live, a small percentage of humanity survived by walling themselves in a city protected by extremely high walls, even taller than the biggest of Titans. Flash forward to the present and the city has not seen a titan in over 100 years having a century of uneasy peace. But the walls of the city cannot hold forever.
Series Directed by 25 people
Series Cast: Yûki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, Marina Inoue
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8 Samurai Champloo (Samurai chanpurû), 2004-2005
Fuu, a waitress who works in a teahouse, rescues two master swordsmen, Mugen and Jin, from their execution to help her find the “samurai who smells of sunflowers.”
Series Directed by 13 people
Series Cast: Kazuya Nakai, Ginpei Sato, Ayako Kawasumi
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7 Steins;Gate (Shutainzu Gēto), 2011-…
Okabe Rintarou, a university student who refers to himself as Crazy Mad Scientist Hououin Kyouma and his lab’s members work on a microwave device that can transfer messages to the past. Without getting captured, they should get it working in order to beat the evil organization, SERN and stop their evil plans.
Series Directed by 12 people
Series Cast: Mamoru Miyano, Asami Imai, Kana Hanazawa
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6 Cowboy Bebop (Kaubôi bibappu), 1998-1999
In the year 2071, the Solar System is linked by a network of hyperspace gateways. Police lose their grasp on crime and a bounty hunting system has been implemented. On an old fishing starship called the “Bebop,” a cool as Zen man of mystery, a macho former hard-boiled cop, a brash and fickle woman with a large debt, a whimsical whiz kid hacker and an unsuspecting Welsh Corgi band together to hunt bounty heads for a meager living. Unfortunately, they are some of the unluckiest people in the star system. These are the stories of the adventurous (and misadventurous) lives of four struggling people and a dog.
Series Directed by 6 people
Series Cast: Kôichi Yamadera, Unshô Ishizuka, Steve Blum
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5 Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Kôdo giasu: Hangyaku no rurûshu), 2006-2012
The Empire of Britannia has invaded Japan using giant robot weapons called Knightmare Frames. Japan is now referred to as Area 11, and its people the 11’s. A Britannian who was living in Japan at the time, Lelouch, vowed to his Japanese friend Suzaku that he’d destroy Britannia. Years later, Lelouch is in high school, but regularly skips out of school to go play chess and gamble on himself. One day, he stumbles on terrorists 11’s who’ve stolen a military secret and is caught by a member of the Britannian task force sent after them, who is Suzaku. As the rest of the squad arrives, Suzaku is shot for disobeying orders, while the military secret, a young immortal witch, gives Lelouch the power of Geass, which makes anyone obey any order. While Suzaku is secretly made the pilot of Britannia’s brand new prototype Knightmare, Lancelot, Lelouch becomes the masked Zero to lead the rebellion to destroy Britannia once and for all.
Series Directed by 5 people
Series Cast: Johnny Yong Bosch, Yuri Lowenthal, Jun Fukuyama
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4 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Hagane no renkinjutsushi), 2009-2010
After a mother dies and her two sons attempt to revive her using forbidden Alchemy techniques, brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric must pay the price – one loses his entire body, and the other loses an arm and a leg. Now, the two must go to great lengths and embark on incredible, dangerous adventures to get their full bodies back – even if that means using more Alchemy and making some enemies on the way.
Series Directed by 12 people
Series Cast: Iemasa Kayumi, Kent Williams, Muriel Hofmann
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3 Ghost in the Shell (Kôkaku Kidôtai), 1995
It is the year 2029. Technology has advanced so far that cyborgs are commonplace. In addition, human brains can connect to the internet directly. Major Motoko Kasunagi is an officer in Section 9, an elite, secretive police division that deals with special operations, including counter terrorism and cyber crime. She is currently on the trail of the Puppet Master, a cyber criminal who hacks into the brains of cyborgs in order to obtain information and to commit other crimes.
Directed by Mamoru Oshii
Cast: Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ôtsuka, Kôichi Yamadera
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2 Death Note (Death Note: Desu nôto), 2006-2007
After an intelligent yet cynical high school student begins to cleanse the world from evil with the help of a magical notebook that can kill anyone whose name is written on it, international authorities call upon a mysterious detective known as “L” to thwart his efforts.
Series Directed by 20 people
Series Cast: Mamoru Miyano, Brad Swaile, Vincent Tong
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1 Berserk (Kenpû denki beruseruku), 1997-1998
Guts was brought up by a mercenary group since birth. After killing his guardian in self-defence, he runs away. Years later, he encounters Griffith and The Band of the Hawk. The Hawks fight for the King of Midland, and after winning the 100-year war against the neighbouring Chuda, they become the King’s personal guard. However, once they reach the top, things take a turn for the worse.
Series Directed by Naohito Takahashi
Series Cast: Nobutoshi Canna, Unshô Ishizuka, Yûko Miyamura
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