sorry to bother, but do you have any anime recs for people who want to break out of the normal shounen/shoujo genres? like, something more niche and less action or romance.
There’s a lot that could fit with those specifications… but I’ll do my best to present underrated shows that don’t concretely fit within those two genres.
This post is SUPER long. Here we go!
If you’re looking for unique art:
Gakutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo – a loose, more magical and sci-fi-esque adaptation of the famous novel The Count of Monte Cristo made in 2004. It’s a fantastic show, and the art and animation are incredibly unique, even fifteen years later.
A wonderful take on the original story, and an even more wonderful experiment with underused art and animation forms. Though it can be a bit hard on the eyes sometimes, and the (rarely used) CG is rather outdated, Gankutsuou is a beautiful show that I just can’t forget about.
Tsuritama – a sci-fi coming-of-age story about a boy with extreme social anxiety who makes some friends and bonds with them through fishing.
It’s a bit weird, but the show’s uniqueness and absurdity in terms of its plot and characters is what really makes it special, along with its beautiful art and color palate. Though it’s been years, I still remember Tsuritama fondly.
and 3-gatsu no Lion – a slice of life/drama that follows Kiriyama Rei, a depressed 17-year-old professional shogi player. The show chronicles his depression and subsequent slow recovery after meeting and befriending a neighboring poor family who own a sweets shop.
This is a phenomenal show. It realistically handles depression, and portrays it symbolically in such a way that you really won’t be able to forget it. But it’s not just an angst-fest– Rei does find happiness and contentment with himself, and eventually comes out of his shell through the help of his friends and coworkers. As a teenager who struggled with similar feelings, seeing that message of recovery meant the world to me.
If you’re looking for humor and comedy:
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. – a short-form comedy about a boy named Saiki Kusuo, who has psychic powers but hates the fact, and keeps getting wrapped up in wacky, stupid shenanigans with his eccentric classmates and family members.
Here is peak comedy in anime. You probably won’t surpass it, not even in the oft-recommended Gintama. I actually enjoyed the dub over the sub for this one, which is saying something considering I’m a subtitles-only person (sadly, only one season out of three is dubbed). But even so, Saiki’s deadpan personality and irritation towards getting caught up in abnormal situations when all he wants is to be normal carries through no matter what language you watch it in.
My Neighbor Seki – a simple short-form show about a girl named Yokoi Rumi who keeps witnessing her seat neighbor, Seki, doing increasingly odd activities in the middle of class. Though she tries ratting him out at first, she slowly gets more and more invested in his strange pastimes.
This show was both funny and odd because of its sheer absurdity– the boy goes from dominos to cards to playing miniature golf on his desk. Short and sweet, this show and its skits all appealed to my sense of humor.
and Aggretsuko – another short-form about a red panda named Retsuko who deals with the obnoxious realities of office life and de-stresses by singing death metal at a karaoke bar.
The sheer realness of working that Aggretsuko presents– though a bit painful, given how life is for most Millennials and Gen Z-ers– is part of what makes it so relatable and funny. Everyone knows what it’s like to have annoying coworkers, or an asshole boss you hate. That’s exactly what made me enjoy it.
If you’re looking for heartwarming slice of life:
Usagi Drop – a show about a man who adopts a young girl whom his grandfather had illegitimately, and him adapting to fatherhood as he raises her.
It’s adorable, and made me realize some things about parenting as well. A necessary warning, though– don’t read the manga, because the author decided to make the story go from heartwarming to gross towards the end.
and Sweetness and Lightning – a show about a widow who begins to take cooking lessons from one of his students from school so that he can prepare proper home-cooked meals for his young daughter instead of having to order takeout all the time.
Similar to Usagi Drop, this show was just a nice breather to watch– it’s sweet and cute, and I got to learn a few things about cooking as a bonus!
If you’re looking for pure drama and feels:
Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu – a historical drama spanning the Shouwa era of Japan (~1926-1989) that tells the story of a man nicknamed Yotaro, who, after being released from prison, becomes the apprentice of famous rakugo performer Yurakutei Yakumo. The story alternates between Yakumo’s haunting past with his late friend Sukeroku, another rakugo performer, and the present in which Yotaro struggles to gain popularity due to rakugo dying as an art.
I’ll say now that I usually can’t stand drama, especially contrived anime drama. But this series truly is a masterpiece. Its story is among the most phenomenal I have ever seen, and will tug on your heartstrings if not make you sob outright. The journey is absolutely unforgettable– it’s a must-watch.
If you’re looking for slice-of-life with supernatural elements
Natsume’s Book of Friends – a story about an orphaned boy named Natsume Takashi who has been able to see and interact with yokai spirits as long as he can remember. When he is adopted by kinder, distant relatives, he moves into a new town and learns that his grandmother Reiko had the same ability. She manipulated the yokai she met by trapping them into a contract with her using a prized artifact known as the Book of Friends. Having inherited the Book from her, and with a new cat-like yokai companion named Nyanko-sensei, Natsume resolves to set the spirits in the book free.
Though the premise may seem a bit heavy, the show itself is relaxed. The gentle kindness with which Natsume’s problems are treated warmed my heart. Watching Natsume’s life with his new family and friends– both yokai and human– is really a treat to enjoy.
and Flying Witch – a story that follows the daily life of a teenage witch named Makoto who moves in with relatives in Aomori in rural Japan so that she can study magic. Surrounded by nature and kind-hearted people, Makoto finds peace and fun in her whimsical, magical life.
Flying Witch is a genuinely relaxing series– there is absolutely zero underlying plot, no evil magical threat that Makoto must tackle. It is 100% calm and quiet, and because it is so rare for a series to have that, I must recommend it.
If you’re looking for a coming-of-age story
Silver Spoon – a story about a boy named Hachiken Yuugo, who enrolls in an agricultural high school far from home to avoid his parents’ harsh expectations of him. Though he expects the school to be easy, he comes to realize the difficulties of farm life and management, and makes friends while learning to adapt to his new environment and find his own path for the future.
Hachiken’s trials and tribulations as a teenager are both relatable and harsh to face. It gave me a new perspective thanks to its uniqueness– be honest, how many series about farming have you ever watched? Through both its humorous and thoughtful moments, Silver Spoon made me smile and appreciate the hard work of others.
and finally, IDOLiSH7 – an anime that follows seven young men who form a new idol group, each with their own goals and personalities. Though they become fast friends and coworkers, the industry is harsh, and they learn both through their missteps and successes what it really takes for them to follow their dreams.
Though I normally wouldn’t recommend idol anime, I really loved this one, specifically because it’s more realistic about how toxic the industry can be to its young, emotional performers. It highlights how idols themselves aren’t just cookie-cutter smiley-faces wanting to perform and make people happy 24/7– they’re real people, too.
