Top 10 Serious Anime With an Intense Storyline
Last updated October 29, 2024
While there are various types of anime people can enjoy, fewer "serious" anime have come out these past few years. Now, the word "serious" can be subjective to each individual - for some, it might mean mysterious or dark, while others would consider it synonymous with psychological.
In this article, serious anime is defined as shows that have an intense atmosphere. However, this doesn't mean that every single episode has to be dark in nature, but that there should be an ongoing sense of crisis or development in the story. Our list features a diverse selection of serious anime that spans several genres, including dark, action-packed, thrilling, and psychological themes.
Even under these strict specifications, a lot of diverse serious anime has been covered in this list. Most of these shows have made a name for themselves in the community and are highly rated by their audience. So, with that said, let's take a look at the top 10 serious anime with an intense storyline!
10. Death Note
Death Note is a supernatural thriller that follows the story of a high school student named Light Yagami. One day, a bored Shinigami, which is a figure from Japanese folklore similar to the Grim Reaper, carelessly drops a mysterious notebook called a Death Note into the human world. This notebook has the power to kill anyone simply by writing their name in it, as long as he knows their face. And it falls into the lands of none other than our protagonist, Light.
Light realizes that he can use the Death Note to eliminate criminals, which leads him to adopt the dark persona of "Kira," and he eventually turns into a sociopath. As Light uses the Death Note to impose his sense of justice, he faces moral dilemmas and encounters a brilliant detective named L, who tries to figure out who he really is and stop him.
Death Note explores moral choices, pride, and the inner struggles that push characters to act. It has at least one death in each episode, but these moments are usually quick and not very graphic. The anime will constantly have you on the edge of your seat, and will make you think twice about the question: Is murder wrong?
9. Code Geass
Code Geass is set in an alternate reality in which Britain conquered the rest of America. Thus, the Holy Britannian Empire became the world's largest superpower, covering 1/3 of the world. The story follows Lelouch Lamperouge, the eleventh prince of the Empire, who develops a hatred for the emperor of Britannia and the entire imperial establishment.
After encountering a mysterious young woman named C.C., Lelouch gains the power of Geass, granting him the ability to force anyone to do what he wishes. With this ability, Lelouch finally had enough power to begin his battle against the Britannian Empire.
As the story hops along with an arc-to-arc system, a sense of mystery slowly develops. Furthermore, there are enough twists and turns involved to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. The pacing and the progression up to the conclusion, in particular, are exceptionally brilliant.
Despite a few comedic relief episodes, an ongoing sense of crisis keeps developing in the anime. With great characters, blood-pumping soundtracks, political intrigue, action, drama, and strong moral themes, Code Geass is a serious anime we had to put on this list.
8. Mushi-Shi
Mushi-Shi is a series of short stories styled after East Asian legends and folktales. However, instead of gods, demons, and spirits, we deal with "Mushi," the most basic life forms in the world. They exist without goals or purposes and are beyond the shackles of the words "good" and "evil."
It is the work of Ginko, a "Mushi-Shi," to deal with these lifeforms. He wanders from town to town, looking for interesting cases, and lends a helping hand to those affected by Mushi.
Since Mushi-Shi is episodic in nature and is not bound by an overarching plot, every episode is intense. The self-contained stories vary in theme but are always skillfully crafted and connected with Ginko at the center. The episodes deal with human drama and familiar emotions infused with an element of the natural and alien world.
Despite each story's briefness, the tales are original, powerful, and gripping. With its rich writing, enchanting audio, and visuals, Mushi-Shi is a serious anime that’s truly worth a try.
7. Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju
One can never go wrong with Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu! Set sometime after WWII, the anime takes place during Japan's rapidly changing social landscape. The series follows a freshly released prisoner who is fixated on learning the ways of Rakugo, a traditional Japanese form of comedic storytelling. But, inspired by the performance of Yakumo Yuurakutei, he manages to get taken under his wing.
As Yotarou eagerly begins his training, he meets Konatsu, a young woman who has been under Yakumo's care since her father, Sukeroku Yuurakutei, passed away. Through her passion, Yotarou is drawn to Sukeroku's unique style of Rakugo. The story often changes focus from the present tale of the apprentice to a narrative of the past concerning Yakumo and his deceased friend Sukeroku.
At its core, Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is a story about the art of Rakugo, friendship and family, and sacrificing everything to reach one's potential. Still, notably, it is a story about life — the lives of two talented, troubled, and yet ordinary men.
While the premise may seem a little daunting and tedious, nothing is farther from the truth. Despite lacking flashy fights, gratuitous fanservice, and overpowered heroes, the anime offers a compelling, evocative experience with a laudable handle on its ambitions. The pacing is well-balanced, and everything progresses with a clear direction.
Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is an intense anime where greater comfort is found in showing its story rather than telling it.
6. Steins;Gate
Steins;Gate tells the story of Okabe Rintaro, a self-proclaimed mad scientist, and his colleagues at the Future Gadget Laboratory, Hashida Itaru and Shiina Mayuri. Okabe spends his days indulging in his habit of inventing prospective "future gadgets," the strangest of which is a "Phone Microwave" — a device that does nothing more than turn bananas into a green, jelly-like substance.
At least, that is what the trio thinks until they are spurred into action by a string of mysterious happenings. Their saving grace? The Phone Microwave can send emails to the past, altering the flow of history.
Steins;Gate takes Okabe through the depths of scientific theory and practicality. Now forced across the past and present, he must shoulder the burdens of holding the key to the realm of time.
Steins;Gate is a very entertaining series that isn't afraid to play with various scientific concepts. However, at the same time, it clearly avoids tackling specific significant issues related to time travel, which is acceptable considering its fictional status.
Since it doesn’t get too bogged down in technicalities, Steins;Gate focuses the better part of its energy on the story, making it one of the best serious anime, particularly of the sci-fi genre, to appear in the last few years.
5. Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is set in 2071 when the space is full of bandits, people with dreams of a brighter future, and treasure seekers. With such people venturing into space, the Bebop crew is a bounty crew that enforces the law. Spike Spiegel, one of the Bebop members, works alongside his partner, Jet Black, to take down bounties. However, Spike's past haunts him and inches closer than ever.
Filled with action, Cowboy Bebop entertains its audience with every episode. The series constantly builds up the tension and ends with a chilling and beautiful resolution that many fans think back to even today. Cowboy Bebop is pretty much perfect from a narrative standpoint and should be a must-watch for everyone, especially those who favor serious anime.
4. Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is often used as an example of why anime is not only for kids, and well, understandably so. While the series is filled with man-eating monsters, with blood and gore everywhere, the story and the characters themselves are dark and intense enough to scare children away.
Attack on Titan has an interesting premise. One hundred years before the start of the anime, humanity has been on the bridge of extinction due to monstrous humanoids called Titans that devour humans. These giants are terrifying because their taste for human flesh is not born out of hunger but pleasure.
Now, in the present, the remaining small population of humanity lives confined within 3 "heavenly" walls, resulting in one hundred years without a single titan encounter. However, that calm is soon shattered when a titan manages to breach the outer wall and initiates a massacre.
During this tragedy, our main character, Eren Yeager, witnesses his mother's horrific death and vows to exterminate all Titans one day. To do so, he enlists in the Survey Corps, an elite military unit that combats the Titans outside the protection of the walls. Along with his adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman and his childhood friend Armin Arlert, they join the brutal war against the Titans and race to discover a way of defeating them before the last walls are breached.
Attack on Titan has an expansive story, with epic fights, gore, and lots of intense dialogue. Undoubtedly, it is one of the best serious anime in recent years.
3. Berserk
Berserk is a legendary anime that is set in a medieval world of strife. The story follows Guts, a young mercenary who embraces the battlefield as his only means of survival. He puts his life on the line just to make enough to get by as he moves from one bloodshed to the next.
After a run-in with the Band of the Hawk, a formidable troop of mercenaries, he is recruited by their charismatic leader, Griffith. Guts quickly climbs the ranks, becomes the head of the offensive faction, and takes Midland by storm. However, he slowly realizes that the world is not as black-and-white as he once assumed during this time.
This gritty tale follows one man's struggle to find his own path while supporting another's lust for power and the unimaginable tragedy that unravels.
There are very few anime as intense as Berserk. I mean, the show literally brims with violent battles and head-to-head confrontations, resulting in a lot of gore and action. The world of Berserk is full of evil and brutality and definitely not for the faint of heart.
2. Mob Psycho 100
Mob Psycho 100 is about a boy named Mob who has psychic powers. He keeps his feelings inside until they build up and then his powers go out of control.
Shigeo Kageyama, nicknamed Mob, is an average middle school boy. He seems like a regular person, but he has powerful psychic abilities. To control this power, he keeps his emotions in check. Mob works as an assistant to Arataka Reigen, a con man who claims to be a spirit medium. Mob wants to live a normal life like everyone else, but he keeps facing problems. As he holds in his emotions, his powers grow stronger. Eventually, he encounters other ESPers, including a group called the Claws.
The story focuses on themes like power, personal growth, and the negative effects of allowing power to corrupt people. It looks closely at power: how people use it and how it changes them. It shows the appeal of power and the moral choices that come with it, highlighting how easily someone's character can be affected by strong influence.
1. Monster
Monster is the poster boy for dark and serious shows. While it is recommended by almost every self-proclaimed intellectual type and is easy to discount as overhyped, the show deserves to be placed first on this list.
Monster's story revolves around Dr. Tenma, a man who owes the world a lot just because he saved the life of a boy nine years ago. However, while the anime might have started off as the tale of a doctor who tries to redeem himself by trying to put a stop to the killer's machinations, it is so much more than just that. At its core, the series delves deep into our psyche and raises the question of whether a monster lurks in every one of us.
Monster is a truly psychological and dark anime that leaves a feeling of dread in the audience. While the series has little to no action, it is the complex storyline and the intensity of the characters that make Monster a serious anime.
