9 Underrated Anime You Should Watch!

popmediapulse.comMay 4, 2024

As anime fans, we’ve all had those moments of hesitation before diving into a new series. Sometimes it’s an unfamiliar premise, an underwhelming trailer, or simply a lack of buzz that makes us skeptical about investing our time. However, every so often, we stumble upon an underrated anime that makes us grateful we took that leap of faith. We have curated a list of 9 underrated anime series that defied expectations and turned out to be truly rewarding watches.

1. Fire Force

Fire Force is an underrated anime that seems like a fairly generic shounen action series. But from the gripping intro showcasing Shinra’s heroics, this blazing hot anime will have you hooked. The non-stop action, creative fire-based abilities, and likable characters like Shinra made for an immensely entertaining ride that I binged through in one sitting.

2. Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash

Grimgar is another underrated anime that takes the oft-romanticized isekai premise and flips it on its head with a brutally realistic and gut-wrenching take. Instead of being whisked away to a videogame-like world, the characters find themselves trapped in a harsh, unforgiving land where simply surviving is a monumental struggle. This dark fantasy delivers a fresh, unique spin on the genre.

3. Kimono Jihen

On paper, Kemono Jihen’s “detectives investigating supernatural creatures” premise doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel. However, this underrated anime hit on all cylinders with its creative monster designs, entertaining dynamic between Kohachi and Kabane, and seamless blend of comedy and darker story elements.

4. Ranking of Kings

You’d be hard-pressed to find an anime fan who wasn’t instantly charmed by the adorable Prince Bojji and his universal story of overcoming adversity against all odds. With its gorgeous, fairytale-esque visuals and profound themes about judging character over appearance, Ranking of Kings was an underrated anime that is surely going to impress you.

5. Burn the Witch

Coming from the creator of Bleach, this underrated anime spinoff proved that Tite Kubo could still weave entertainment magic. Set in the Bleach universe, Burn the Witch combined stylish animation, an intriguing premise about a dragon-slaying organization, and a tantalizing commitment that the story would eventually continue.

6. Hi-Score Girl

With its nostalgic 90s video game arcade setting and surprisingly mature character focus, Hi-Score Girl was the heartwarming romantic dramedy very few could have seen coming. This underrated anime is filled with relatable observations about young love, ambition, and growing up that makes it a truly special viewing experience.

7. Beastars

Telling a psychological drama/crime thriller entirely with anthropomorphic animal characters shouldn’t have worked. But Beastars is an underrated anime that pulled it off with thought-provoking social commentary, rich world-building, and multi-layered character dynamics that explore complex themes of duality and prejudice.

8. Yuri on Ice

For many, Yuri on Ice was a refreshing curveball – a heartfelt underrated anime revolving around queer sports anime that went against conventions in the best way possible. With beautifully rendered figure skating sequences, endearing characters, and a surprisingly nuanced LGBTQ narrative, it won over countless fans who went in with low expectations.

9. SK8 the Infinity

This underrated anime is based on skateboarding drama that flew under the radar but provided an adrenaline rush of dynamic animation. It is a wildly creative premise about an underground skate racing circuit, diverse representation, and just an infectiously fun vibe throughout. SK8 oozed style and originality.

Sometimes it pays not to judge an anime by its cover. Taking chances on these underrated anime will open your eyes to imaginative new worlds and stories that I may have otherwise missed out on. Hopefully this list inspires you to be a little more adventurous in your viewing!

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