A poor young man has awoken in a strange decrepit warehouse with a lack of memory of who he is, why he’s here, and what is going on. Just as the young man begins to regain his bearings, a strange masked figure attacks him and threatens his life! The man fights back and survives to learn he’s been chosen to become a hired assassin. Given the new code name Zwei, our amnesiac has to make a choice. Join the shady world of mafia hits and corruption or die…

Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom was originally a visual novel turned into easily one of our favorite seinen series. Filled with incredible fights, solid animation, and strong storytelling, Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom is a great series for those who grow weary of simple anime and want something with a more mature theme. Just be prepared for some phenomenal twists and turns that will leave you breathless!

Several teens who were once strangers are have found their freedom taken away. Each of the teens has been hit with various criminal charges and to avoid prison they have been sent to Shounan Special Reform School. However, this school might be even worse than prison as the teens are tortured by their captors and forced to endure pain physically and mentally. Luckily, one inmate named Rokurouta Sakuragi has become used to this nightmare and takes the new teens under his wing. Together these several teens wish to reunite as freemen but can they endure this hell?

Rainbow might seem like a name you give to a cute anime series but this seinen is anything but cute. Focusing on historical drama, Rainbow is intense from start to finish boasting one of the best cast of characters we’ve seen in any anime let alone a seinen. If Rainbow was a series you failed to notice a decade ago, you need to check this show out and watch the struggle of these poor misguided souls!

Hidden to most normal folk, Mushi are strange entities that exist in varying forms all around us. These oddities don’t wish for destruction or want to cause pain but seek to exist just like normal human beings. One man named Ginko has made it his mission to seek out Mushi and study their existence for himself. This path Ginko has chosen will be quite difficult as he meets humans and non-humans and sees the world through eyes most can’t understand.

Mushishi needs little introduction as this is quite a popular supernatural seinen filled with fantastic narrative and captivating stories. We fell in love with Ginko’s journey and the stellar animation helps tell his tale even better. Despite how well-known Mushishi is, we here at Honey’s Anime still hear many haven’t checked out this series! Please watch Mushishi as we think it’s an anime that proves why we will never fall from the otaku world!

Ping Pong isn’t considered a sport to many but for two young friends, ping pong is everything! Makoto Tsukimoto and his pal Yutaka Hoshino have a desire to enter the world of table tennis and show their admiration and love for this game isn’t a joke. The duo won’t find their path to victory coming easy though. Out there in the world of table tennis exist numerous players who also wish to prove their worth!

Ping Pong the Animation might have a very different art style—which we kind of dig—but that shows the wide library of amazing seinen works. Despite being about ping pong/table tennis, Ping Pong the Animation is a fun sports anime series filled with passion and heart. Watching these kids unleash their skills on the court was never not exciting and it’s why we can’t recommend Ping Pong the Animation any harder!

Long ago, Dr. Kenzou Tenma was a name revered in the medical world. As a neurosurgeon, Tenma’s skills were second to none but that all changed when he makes a decision to save one life over another, Dr. Tenma finds his personal sanity in judgment. Making matters worse, after then saving a boy over a mayor, the doctor ends up later learning that for each action comes a consequence. Almost a decade passes and the young doctor learns that one of the patients he operated on has become less human and more akin to a monster. Tenma must undo his sins and stop a threat that could possibly take a multitude of lives…

Monster is ranked #31 for a reason on MAL readers. This absolutely wonderful anime focuses on a story that continues to surprise you with strong mature themes of what it means to sacrifice and what a bolstered ego/reputation can do to any sane human. Monster has never not been one of our top anime series even now and still holds up incredibly well for a nearly 17-year-old series.

Almost 60 years old in age, Ichiro Inuyashiki struggles to find meaning in his life as his wife and children continue to show him disdain and disinterest. His only comfort is an abandoned Shiba Inu that he adopts only to discover he himself has only a couple of months to live. When he finally reaches his breaking point, he dashes away from home to find himself face to face with a mysterious being and captured in a dust cloud while a bright light overcomes his vision. He wakes up to find he is a living weapon. He seeks to do good with his new abilities all the while uncovering the mystery of his power’s origin but will this strange being share his same moral compass?

From studio MAPPA, the creators of Terror in Residence and Yuri on Ice, comes an anime that challenges our perception of what makes someone a true hero or villain. Inuyashiki explores the humanity of its characters, both the good and bad through the use of sheer power or new found abilities being thrusted on an individual and seeing how that changes the person himself. The saying “absolute power corrupts absolutely” comes to mind. Packed with drama and brilliant action sequences, Inuyashiki might cause you to reflect on your own self and how your decisions or morals may change with circumstance.

We all need a break from our demanding jobs every now and then, whether you are working full time at a restaurant or are the living embodiment of enlightenment, such is the case for Buddha and his pal Jesus. Together, they agree to escape from their normal duties for a while and become roommates in a Tokyo apartment. One can only imagine what sort of shenanigans two deities can get into. What can possibly go wrong?

A-1 Pictures brings you an OVA that takes an absurd “what if?” scenario and adds plenty of humour to it. In a very quirky way, this anime utilizes a possible controversial premise and seeks to humanize two of the most widely worshipped figures today . It is the shortest entry on this list in terms of episodes, so if you find that you need a laugh but don’t want to make a long commitment to a show to get that fix, this is an anime for you.

Shinichi Izumi, a bright but lanky high schooler, becomes the unwilling host to a strange alien creature as part of a secret alien invasion. Lucky for Shinichi, the creature ends up in his hand rather than his brain. The creature and Shinichi now must cooperate, whether they like it or not, to survive this invasion and defeat other aliens which seek their destruction.

Studio Madhouse brings a seinen, sci-fi, horror anime that takes a nerdy protagonist, Shinichi, and puts him into a potentially world ending scenario. Let us say first that there is a reason this is not considered a shounen and that is in no small part due to the sheer amount of violence, blood, and shock that is to be found. Kiseijuu offers a refreshing spin on the alien invasion premise and does not pull any punches when it comes to delivering on violence. This is a great pick for any fans of anime who like horror and gore mixed in with their science fiction.

Nitta, a successful member of the yakuza and vase collector, is relaxing in his posh apartment one day when suddenly, out of nowhere, a girl in a metal pod drops on his head. Nitta discovers the girl, who goes by Hina, has strange and scary supernatural abilities that, if not utilized, could lead to her exploding. Will Nitta be able to use Hina for his own ends and climb the ranks of the criminal underworld or will he fall prey to the powers that Hina possesses?

Studio feel., who brought you My Teenage Romantic Comedy SNAFU! And Tsuki ga kirei, bring you a supernatural comedy laced with top notch dry humour. Hinamatsuri will catch you off guard with some oddly interjected comments or intense situations that stem from the protagonists use of her powers. If you ever doubted that an anime about the yakuza and a telekinetic school girl could ever work, then you haven’t seen Hinamatsuri.

In the shadows of civilization lies the secret operations of the Hellsing organization, led by Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing. The organization is tasked with eliminating the dark and monstrous threats that seek to harm the day-to-day lives of the world’s citizens. Hellsing uses covert operations to eliminate all sorts of threats and when needed will bring in one of the greatest threats known to man, a vampire named Alucard.

Madhouse brings Hellsing back in a new anime that carries more material from its original manga source. This supernatural, vampire, action, and horror anime hit all the right notes for fans of series that deal with occult themes and secret organizations. Most impressive is the ability of the anime to take classic notions of vampires and create a new story out of those tropes. Warning for the squeamish, Hellsing Ultimate is as bloody and disturbing as it is entertaining.

Eighteen-year-old Nakajima Atsushi is discarded from his abusive orphanage because of suspicions placed on him surrounding the attacks perpetrated by a white tiger. Devoid of options and starving, Nakajima is about to collapse when he comes across Osamu Dazai, a suicidal detective who is rescued by Nakajima from an attempted suicide by drowning. As it so happens, Osamu is investigating the mystery of the tiger. Due to his unfortunate circumstance, Nakajima is pushed into joining a company of supernatural detectives who tackle weird jobs. Together, with an absurd cast of characters named after real literary icons, Nakajima and his colleagues work to solve strange events and defeat those who seek to harm them or others.

Produced by Studio Bones, Bungou Stray Dogs is regarded as a seinen, supernatural, and mystery anime that holds an eccentric sense of humour brought out by it’s characters. As far as watching a seinen anime that is not strictly a comedy, this one is plenty of fun to watch and not nearly as bloody as some previous entries on this list. As it stands, Bungou Stray Dogs has a healthy balance of plot, humour, and action that can fit various anime diets. Considering the recent announcement of a third season for the anime, now is a great time to hop on the wagon for those who are looking for a less gory supernatural anime.

Mikado Ryuugamine arriving in the downtown Tokyo district of Ikebukuro to attend high school with his childhood friend, Masaomi Kida. Mikad has always wanted to experience city life but he is not prepared to experience the strange world of Ikebukuro. While living there he will come across gangs, murderers, and urban legends such as the Black Rider, a motorcyclist who is said to have no head. Along the way Mikado will make some interesting friends who will become increasingly involved with the mysteries of the district. What will they uncover and what dangers must they survive?

Durarara!! is an action, mystery, and supernatural anime from the studio: Brain’s Base. Durarara!! introduces you to an intriguing cast of fun characters and takes you on an exploratory journey of the seedy streets of Ikebukuro. This anime is not so much simply about following investigations into mysteries of the district as it is about individual characters learning to survive amidst various threats both mysterious and not. If you enjoy urban legends and gang wars, this is for you.

One drunken night, a young woman named Kobayashi, takes a walk in the mountains and surprisingly stumbles upon a homeless dragon who, in her inebriation, agree to let her stay at her apartment. Waking up the next day she is shocked to find the giant head of a dragon staring at her on her front porch. The dragon quickly transforms into a cute maid and dedicates herself to watching over the house as thanks for Kobayashi’s hospitality but what does housekeeping look like to a dragon?

From the very talented Kyoto Animation, this is an anime for anyone who enjoys slice of life anime mixed with fantasy and comedic elements. The anime does a well enough job of taking its absurd fantasy elements and grounding them to fit with in the day-to-day city life of its protagonist. Yet the absurdity is a part of the shows charm. If you are a fan of dragons or cutesy maids, then you will thoroughly enjoy Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon.

Rei Kiriyama has excelled at one thing his entire life, Shogi. After he lost his parents at a very young age, his adopted father introduced him to shogi and he became fixated on the game and developed into one of the youngest professionals in the shogi world by middle school. Now in high school, Rei struggles with social ineptitude and past trauma with his adoptive family. Yet through support from mentors and neighbourly sisters: Akari, Hinata, Momo Kawamoto and their grandfather, Rei will seek to grow beyond the obstacles in his way, both personally and professionally.

From the creator of Honey and Clover comes this anime with strikingly beautiful visuals and a story of individual growth and resilience. 3-gatsu no Lion is a slice of life, drama, and game anime that does its job when it comes to making you feel an assortment of emotions and empathise or despise it’s characters. If you watch anime in part for cathartic moments with multi dimensional characters, then this is the anime for you.

In the later half of the 21st century, humankind has moved beyond planet earth and colonized numerous planets and moons across the solar system. In the vast dark expanse of space, criminal organizations and smugglers are an everyday problem for the police. Among those who combat the criminals are outlaw bounty hunters often referred to as cowboys. The charming Spike Spiegel is one of these so-called cowboys as he and a collection of other strange characters join together to hunt down criminals from planet to planet to make money all while avoiding the cops.

From Studio Sunrise comes an anime that has cemented itself as a modern classic among the anime tradition. Cowboy Bebop stands as a great gateway into seinen anime with its mature themes and action sequences. Not to mention that opening theme. If you enjoy jazz along with your fight sequences than this is certainly one for you to check out. Science Fiction and fantasy anime when done poorly, may over rely on their interesting settings and expanded world and not enough on plot or character. Cowboy Bebop makes the top of the list for not just avoiding this issue but managing to make sense of utilizing an entire galaxy as a setting and still maintain an interesting story with sympathetic or enticing characters.

Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji is one of MADHOUSE’s many masterpieces. Some people may not be acquainted with this show since there really isn’t a big fanbase for gambling shows. Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji is the story of Kaiji Itou, a good-for-nothing young man who one day finds himself owing a lot of money to the wrong people. His only chance to repay his debt is by participating in underground gambling events, where his own life will be at stake.

Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji is definitely aimed at a mature audience for its highly psychological content. This show explores the darkest and scariest corners of the human mind, such as greed, perversion, dishonesty and despair. Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji is a show where we’ll see the main character being beaten, humiliated and taken advantage of constantly, and even though he never loses hope and has his little victories, Kaiji is definitely not the typical triumphant hero.

Mushi are basic and mysterious forms of life that transcend what humans regard as good or evil. These entities have no purpose of being and they take many different forms. Ginko is a mushi-shi, someone who studies mushi in order to find more about them and their existence.

Mushi-Shi is one of those mind-blowing shows that make you meditate on some of the deepest and most philosophical aspects of life. It has a combination of mystery, fantasy, slice of life and adventure that make for a complex and meaningful high-quality show. Mushi-Shi is a beautiful seinen anime that can teach us a lot about life.

Seinen also has a place for romance, and as it turns out, 5 Centimeters per Second is one of the best romantic seinen out there. This is the story of Takaki Toono and Akari Shinohara, two middle school kids who begin to develop strong feelings for each other. Eventually, Akari has to move to a distant town, so she and Toono keep in touch mostly through mails, rarely visiting each other. The longer they are apart, the more they realize they love each other, but they also find out the distance is too great and life goes on. Will they ever be able to meet again?

5 Centimeters per Second is one of those stories that will make you cry your eyes out. Just keep in mind that this is not the typical high school love story that ends in a “happily ever after”. 5 Centimeters per Second presents a more down to Earth story that portrays in a very realistic way how love and relationships actually work… or should I say how they don’t work. Anyway, this romantic seinen is meant to appeal to those who are more emotionally mature and especially to those who’ve had some relationship experiences (whether good or bad).

Boku dake ga Inai Machi (or Erased for short) was one of this last winter’s highlights. It is about Satoru Fujinuma, a young man in his twenties who has a rather peculiar ability; every time there’s an accident around him, he’s taken back in time a few minutes to prevent it. To his surprise however, one day he’s sent back 18 years in the past into his 11 year old self. Satoru realizes he has to prevent a series of murders that occurred when he was a child in order to make his present time right.

More than half of this show revolves around Satoru as a kid and his childhood friends, although that doesn’t mean this show is aimed at a young audience. Boku dake ga Inai Machi is clearly not the usual kawaii show about cute children playing around and holding hands in the park (well, they do hold hands in the park, but that’s not what this show’s about!). Boku dake ga Inai Machi is a dark and complex mystery show that will play with your mind until the very end.

An all-time classic, Berserk, tells the story of Guts (or Gatsu in Japanese), a young warrior who fights for profit, selling his sword to the highest bidder. Being a skilled and promising fighter, he is eventually recruited by the Band of the Hawk, led by the unrivaled Griffith. In his long journey alongside Griffith, Guts will finally find a purpose to fight for.

Berserk is almost unarguably one of the most legendary seinen shows ever. It just has it all, a bunch of gory action, a really dark atmosphere and the most twisted and dramatic turns of events. Berserk is a magnificent tragic tale about greed, ambition, lust for power and finding one’s own path. It’s obviously no surprise why we’re so excited about Berserk 2016.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is an epic badass seinen anime. It is set in a future where humans can be transplanted from machines, enhancing their physical and cybernetic abilities. Motoko Kusanagi is a police woman belonging to the elite Section 9 unit, which fights against criminals who use this sort of cybernetic enhancements. Motoko will have to face a dangerous hacker known as The Laughing Man, who poses a real threat to everyone in Japan.

GITS is a fantastic sci-fi seinen filled with action and underlying moral themes. It deals a lot with the concept of humanity and what it means to be human. Furthermore, GITS provides some insight about such philosophical and moral themes in a very dark way as it blurs the line between man and machine. The awesome action in GITS may appeal to all kinds of audiences, but its complex plot is aimed at those who are mature enough to follow it closely.

One Punch Man is an extraordinarily original show and one of the highlights of 2015. This show gives us the lamest superhero (in appearance only) we’ve seen so far. However, this bald guy with an awful taste for costumes, known as Saitama, hides the kind of power we’ve only witnessed in Dragon Ball Z. Saitama is in fact so strong that he always defeats his enemies with just one punch, regardless of how terrible they are. This is his main cause of frustration as he can no longer have a proper battle he can enjoy, and of course, it’s also what triggers the comedy in this show.

Obviously, seinen is not only about gore, tragedy and dark themes. Seinen come in all genres, and comedy is not the exception. One Punch Man is an action comedy and a parody of the usual superhero show. As we would expect from a seinen anime, the comedy in One Punch Man is not silly or kawaii as in most of the shows aimed at a younger audience, but it’s rather sour and filled with irony, often mocking the traditional canon of superpowered heroes. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking this is a sophisticated comedy with subtle humor. One Punch Man may appeal more to young adults, but it’s still absolutely ridiculous and absurd.

Steins;Gate is probably one of the most celebrated seinen anime ever. It presents a fascinating sci-fi story in which a mad scientist, Rintarou Okabe, with the help of his two friends, Mayuri and Daru, creates a machine he baptized as the Phone Microwave. It’s not long before they realize this machine can do something they never expected: send emails to the past and change the course of history.

Steins;Gate is an original high-quality show that will blow your freaking mind. It deals a lot with the concepts of time travel and alternative realities or universes. Of course, the way Steins;Gate approaches these ideas are not as simple and linear as in… say, Back to the Future, but they are much more complex, mysterious and unpredictable. Steins;Gate is a brilliant adventure that is meant to captivate a mature audience with its intricate and well-developed storyline.

Psycho-Pass is a brilliant sci-fi police seinen. It takes place in Japan in the near future, where criminals are identified by special devices that analyze their mental state, known as their psycho-pass. In this way, the police can apprehend or neutralize criminals before they actually commit any crime, pretty much like Minority Report (has anyone seen that awful movie?).

Psycho-Pass is the perfect example of the gray morality concept portrayed in seinen shows. One of the main themes in this anime is the fine line between good and evil, between what sets the law-abiding citizens apart from the criminals. The highly psychological content of Psycho-Pass is one of its strongest points and what mostly defines it as a seinen.

As you probably know, Tokyo Ghoul tells the story of Kaneki Ken, an 18 year old boy who’s deceived and ambushed by a female ghoul, a flesh-eating demon. Kaneki barely manages to make it out of that situation, but not without turning into a half-ghoul half-human hybrid. As such, he begins his new life trying to cope with his new self.

Tokyo Ghoul’s huge success may give the idea that this show is not aimed specifically at young adults, especially considering the amount of both male and female teens that watch it. Although it is true that Tokyo Ghoul appeals to a broad audience, this is intrinsically a seinen show. And it’s not just the gore and the disturbingly peculiar characters that make it fall into this category.

Tokyo Ghoul is a well-developed show with a rather complex storyline and psychological themes. There’s also hardly a distinction between good and evil, as the two races (ghouls and humans) fight each other not for justice but for their own survival. These are all particular traits of most seinen shows and they make Tokyo Ghoul one of the most representative anime of this demographic.