20 Underrated Seinen Anime That Are Worth Watching

During the Chinese Warring States period in the kingdom of Qin, two enslaved children train in the hopes of becoming the Great General of the Heavens. Piao is suddenly recruited to work as a retainer at the royal palace, and for a while, Li Xin is alone. But after a violent coup d'état, Piao reappears bearing a mission for Xin - one which puts him in contact with China's king, Ying Zheng. For some reason, the king looks just like Piao. To find out what's going on, Xin must delve deeper into the complex world of royalty and warfare.

College student Tsukasa Taira didn't think much of vampires - that is, until one of her friends turned out to be one. After a dramatic confrontation in which her friend is arrested and taken down by a human/devil hybrid named Yuki Anzai, Tsukasa finds that not only are vampires on her mind, but so is Anzai. Despite the danger, she can't help but feel drawn to him. The two enter an uneasy romantic relationship - but can Anzai keep his violent vampiric nature in check? Or is he too dangerous to be close to a human?

Saichi Sugimoto is an ex-solider from the Russo-Japanese war now spending his days searching for gold. During his travels he's saved from a bear attack by an Ainu girl named Asirpa. The two then form a partnership and set out on a quest to hunt for the gold stolen from Asirpa's family. Golden Kamuy is a unique series that highlights Japanese's native people - the Ainu - and is perfect for anyone looking for a bit of history in their anime.

Initial D is a 90s classic, but it's not something that's commonly watched today. It follows Takumi, a young man with friends that are totally obsessed with cars, but he doesn't really care about them himself - until his latent racing talents are discovered by the street racing team the Akagi Red Suns. If you love ridiculous, OP street racing and are looking for something with an old school feel, you can't go wrong with Initial D!

Based on a manga by the legendary Osamu Tezuka, this dark anime is well worth your time. It follows Kuroo Hazama, an unconventional doctor who would give Dr. House a run for his money. Though he charges exorbitant fees for his services, he can cure just about any health issue no matter how complex or strange - and he doesn't give a damn whether his treatments are legal.

The sequel to the popular Cells at Work didn't get nearly as much hype as it deserved. Unlike the main Cells at Work anime, this iteration centers on the cells that make up the body of a person who doesn't take care of themselves at all. They drink, smoke, expose themselves to STIs, they're sleep-deprived and stressed - and their body pays the price. Despite the cell's broken-down, filthy work environment and the endless drudgery of their jobs, they still do their best to keep fighting. If you want to see a fantastical metaphor for terrible workplaces in real Japan, get emotionally attached to red blood cells, and hear the same voice actor who plays Overhaul from MHA explain reproduction, this is the anime for you.

If you're a fan of the classic Astro Boy anime - or you're in the mood for a sci-fi murder mystery - then this is one seinen you have to check out. This anime is a retelling of an Astro Boy story arc that follows a robot detective by the name of Gesicht as he solves the murder mystery of a famous Swiss robot, Montblanc. But what he finds is more than just a crime against a robot celebrity. Gesicht discovers that seven other famous war robots are in danger, and with the help of a mysterious entity named Pluto, it's up to him to bridge the gap between human and machine.

Asahigaoka is a town so tiny that not only is there only one school, there's only one class filled with kids of all ages. That class is the focus of Non Non Biyori, an often overlooked slice-of-life seinen. While the subject matter is simple and the protagonists are children, many of the jokes are on the subtler side, making this an appealing and relaxing choice for adults.

More than anything in the world, Kenji Kazama wants to be recognized as a top-class juvenile delinquent. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't really have time for his preferred pastime of causing mischief, because he's been forced against his will to join the Game Development Club. But though he expends a lot of energy trying to leave the group, he soon realizes that actually, he's sort of having fun.

Many people are understandably put off by After The Rain's premise - it's about a teenage girl who falls in love with her 45-year-old manager. But while the topic may be taboo, Kondo sees Akira as a child, and doesn't reciprocate her feelings. The story is actually a heartfelt exploration into both characters' growth. In Akira's case, it's a coming of age story in which she struggles to define what's important to her. In her manager Kondo's case, it's his struggle to reclaim his passion for creative writing, and find joy and meaning in a life that feels mundane.

If you're a fan of classic Japanese literature, you should put Aoi Bungaku on your to-watch list. This Madhouse series offers an animated take on several classic stories by renowned authors like Natsume Soseki, Osamu Dazai, Ryuunosuke Akutagawa, and more. But even if you aren't a literary buff, the animation and storytelling still makes this series worthwhile.

If Hell isn't a great setting for an anime, then what is? The titular Hozuki works as an assistant to Enma, the King of Hell. Though he does his job with great efficiency, he's also perpetually annoyed by everyone else's incompetence. This anime is great if you're looking for a hilariously funny comedy with an episodic plot.

Ping Pong the Animation is not your typical sports anime. Directed by the same man who brought viewers Tatami Galaxy, this award-winning anime is well worth your time. It follows a duo of ping pong players, nicknamed Smile and Peco, as they face the challenges of both their chosen sport and their personal lives. This anime will keep you interested in the sport itself, but the primary draw is the character development, which is masterfully done.

The unique art can take a little time to get used to, but if you're feeling nostalgic about old school video games like Street Fighter, High Score Girl is a lot of fun. Haruo Yaguchi is a kid growing up in the 90s whose sole joy in life comes from arcade games. That's why he's not exactly thrilled when he meets a rich, popular girl named Akira Ono - who not only has everything he wants but is also better than him at video games. But as he gets to know Akira better, he realizes that there's more to her life than he thought, and that he actually wants to be her friend.

After the kingdom of Dowa is divided into 13 different states, it's up to a government organization called ACCA to keep things running smoothly. That also means a lengthy audit, a task which is foisted on the reluctant Jean Otus. As Jean travels to the different districts, he doesn't just learn about their unique respective cultures, he also learns that there are plans for a coup d'etat - plans that whether he likes it or not, he's already enmeshed in.

Yusaku Godai is at his wits end with his noisy boarding house and is ready to move onto something more peaceful- until he meets the new building manager, Kyoko Otonashi. But while Yuusaku is ready to dive headfirst into love, Kyoko isn't so sure. She's a widow who lost her husband six months into their marriage, and she doesn't believe that she can ever find love with anyone else. Can Yusaku really replace the man of Kyoko's dreams, or will she spend the rest of her life in mourning?

Skip and Loafer is the perfect anime to watch if you're craving a feel-good slice-of-life with lovable main characters. Mitsumi Iwakura is a shy and introverted girl from a small town, hoping to eventually make it big in Japanese politics. To achieve her dream she moves to the big city of Tokyo - but life there is more complicated than she initially expected. Cue Sosuke Shima - a beloved classmate of hers who is as kind as he is charming. With their newfound friendship Mitsumi navigates the intricacies of city life and high school, while Sosuke finds strength to face some emotional issues of his own.

While this film has won multiple awards including the Jury Award at the 39th Annecy International Animated Film Festival and the 2015 Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Animated Feature Film, it's rare to find anime fans who have seen it. This historical anime movie focuses on O-Ei, the daughter of a famous artist, Hokusai. While many recognize his spectacular ukiyo-e art, few know that his daughter helped him create it. Simultaneously entertaining and enlightening, this film will stay with you long after it's over.

Bokurano follows a group of children who sign up for what they think is going to be a fun adventure game in which they pilot giant robots to protect Earth from an alien invasion. But they soon find out that what they thought would be a good time is actually incredibly dangerous. Not only are their lives being threatened by alien forces, but the price for piloting the robot is a steep one that no one was prepared to pay.

Junpei Murao has a secret - he loves ballet, despite the fact that those around him regard it as a girls-only activity and encourage him to pursue other hobbies, like martial arts. But a classmate sees his potential in dance and drags him to her mother's ballet studio. Now with the opportunity presenting itself, Junpei juggles his love for ballet and the gender roles that are forced upon him.