10 Best Anime From The Last 10 Years Nobody Talks About
In the last decade, anime has skyrocketed in popularity worldwide, with each year surpassing the previous one’s record for the number of shows produced. Nowadays, anime fans are spoiled for choice, with series to suit any taste releasing every season. Such an abundance of anime, however, also leads to many outstanding but less popular titles getting overshadowed by seasonal sensations.
Yet, once the hype around these new shows subsides, even series revered during their release fear facing oblivion. When looking back at the last 10 years of anime, not only shows everyone talks about, like Jujutsu Kaisen or Solo Leveling, deserve acknowledgement. Alongside these, community-wide hits have released countless outstanding series that either passed most fans by or became unfairly forgotten. None of these titles are completely unknown, but all of them deserve much more attention and acclaim than they get.
Dead Dead Demons Dededede Destruction Is the Most Unusual Sci-Fi Anime of the 2020s
Based on a manga by Inio Asano, an author acclaimed for his peculiar psychological series like Goodnight Punpun and Solanin, Dead Dead Demons Dededede Destruction seemed like a work destined to become a revered modern classic. The series follows the seemingly ordinary lives of two friends, Ouran and Kadode, who face the struggles of adolescence in the most unusual of circumstances, as a giant alien mothership looms over their heads, its mere presence gradually eating away at the world’s peace.
In the best traditions of Asano’s work, Dead Dead Demons Dededede Destruction offers outstandingly stimulating insights into many different topics, from mass paranoia in the face of crisis to the intimate hardships of coming-of-age during unprecedented times. Yet, for how unorthodox and stellarly executed the series was, it only managed to gather small-scale popularity.
Planetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet Is a Heartwarming Sci-Fi Gem
In keeping with the theme of science fiction, Planetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet is an underrated miniseries from 2016 that really stands out within its demographic. Based on a visual novel, which are notorious for having long, convoluted plots, Planetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet manages to condense its narrative into just five episodes without losing any of its charm.
Set in a dystopian future in which humanity has nearly gone extinct, the series centers around Hoshino Yumemi, a companion robot looking over a long-abandoned planetarium, who is about to have her first customer in decades. Introspective and unusually gentle for taking place in such a grim setting, Planetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet is a hidden gem of an inventive sci-fi anime that tackles the most primal themes of science fiction – the future’s infinite possibilities and their effects on ordinary people.
The Yuzuki Family’s Four Sons Explores the Quiet Struggles & Miracles of Family Life
Most anime series that get commemorated by history end up being explosive, bombastic titles with obvious mass appeal. However, some of the best anime released each year happen to be the quieter shows that don’t stand out at first glance, The Yuzuki Family’s Four Sons being one of them.
As evident from the title, the series tells the simple story of the Yuzuki family – four brothers who were left to tend to themselves after losing their parents, forced to rely on their community and one another to get by. While lacking in a grand overarching plot or dramatic developments, The Yuzuki Family’s Four Sons is a thoughtful and earnest series that celebrates the unbreakable bonds between family members, which persevere even in the direst of circumstances.
Kinokoinu Mushroom Pup Presents a Uniquely Earnest Examination of Grief
The theme of grief is ever-present in anime across genres, yet no series tackles it from as unique an angle as Kinokoinu Mushroom Pup. Hotaru Yuuyami, a picture book writer with a peculiar personality, falls down a spiral of sorrow after losing his closest companion – his beloved dog Hanako. Yet, the road to healing opens up to Hotaru in an unexpected way, when a mushroom in his garden takes the shape of a dog he chooses to take under his wing.
The type of grief explored in Kinokoinu Mushroom Pup is rarely brought up not just in anime but in media in general, which makes this little gem of a series a particularly cathartic experience for anyone who has dealt with the loss of a pet. Yet, with a premise as unorthodox as a man taking care of a mushroom-like dog, Kinokoinu Mushroom Pup is also filled to the brim with humorous moments to lighten up the mood.
Appare-Ranman! Is Unprecedently Exhilarating Race Across America
Original anime as ambitious as Appare-Ranman! are a rare treat. However, this eccentric action-comedy was regrettably robbed of proper recognition despite being outstanding. The series revolves around two quirky heroes, Japanese inventor Appare Sorrano and timid samurai Kosame Ishikki, who, in a bizarre play of fate, end up stranded an entire ocean away from home, in Los Angeles.
Desperate, the pair decides to take part in the Trans-America Wild Race, yet unaware of how outlandish an adventure awaits them on their journey across the continent. Appare-Ranman! brims with unrestricted creativity in every aspect, from the vibrant character designs and animation to the zany turns of its plot. And while its narrative, at times nonsensical, doesn’t take itself too seriously, the series’ charm makes up for its occasional writing shortcomings tenfold.
Back Arrow Feels Like a Modern Throwback to Classic Mecha Anime
A hilarious, over-the-top mecha flick from Kazuki Nakashima, the writer behind such classics as Gurren Lagann and Kill la Kill, Back Arrow feels so nostalgic, one would be shocked to find out it came out in 2021. The plot of Back Arrow also appropriately combines complexity and earnest straightforwardness one would expect from an old-school “giant robot” anime.
It follows an amnesiac man donning the name Back Arrow, who crash-lands in the walled land of Lingalind to shake up their entire world’s foundation. Back Arrow’s greatest strength lies in its sincerity — it doesn’t try to be overly sophisticated and wears its influences on its sleeve, prioritizing engagement at every step of its simple yet thrilling plot. While not Nakashima’s most well-known work, this show would be a treat for anyone missing the charm of older mecha anime.
Id: Invaded Doesn’t Pop Up in Conversation Enough Despite Having Plenty of Fans
Id: Invaded belongs to a peculiar category of anime, and despite being acclaimed and well-known in the community, it remains rather niche and rarely talked about. Yet, any fan of unorthodox science fiction and mystery would be missing out by not giving it a watch.
Id: Invaded has a truly one-of-a-kind premise for a detective show: in the series’ world, those who have committed a murder can travel into the minds of other killers through the advanced Mizuhanome System, giving investigators an entirely new way of solving crimes. One such detective is Akihito Narihisago, a man with a mysterious past whose investigative skills are put to the test. An original psychological thriller that doesn’t waste its viewers’ time, Id: Invaded might not have an active fanbase, yet it remains one of the best mystery shows of the decade.
Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju Builds an Emotional Storyline Around an Unorthodox Topic
Similarly to Id: Invaded, Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju wasn’t robbed of critical acclaim. Yet, due to the series’ unusual nature and subject, it’s not surprising that this masterpiece rarely pops up in discussions. A mature drama that examines topics of purpose, artistic drive, and complex interpersonal relationships, Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju dives into the world of a unique Japanese performance art — rakugo.
Through the eyes of rakugo performers from different generations, the series showcases the very grounded struggles of flawed people, who express themselves through their art and broken bonds with others. Combining within its complex, introspective story many tragedies and joys, Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju is one of the most honest and hard-hitting dramas to grace anime in the last 10 years.
Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan Brims with Whimsical Charm
An outspoken yet insecure rookie at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Hisone Amakasu enlists in the military not expecting just how unique a role she’s gonna play in the force. By chance, she gets chosen to pilot JASDF’s Organic Transformed Flyer (in other words, a dragon) after the adorable Masotan grants Hisone his acceptance. Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan is a series of contrasting elements.
Its endearing art style and fantastical concept come off as childishly idiosyncratic. Yet, Dragon Pilot’s whimsy exists in tandem with the series’ deeper character-driven narrative about the search for purpose. Despite the militaristic theme and magical aspects, Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan is a heartwarming, wholesome show one can appreciate both for its lighthearted uniqueness and its subtle complexity.
Sarazanmai’s Initial Oddity Should Not Discourage Viewers
The creator of the iconic Revolutionary Girl Utena, Kunihiko Ikuhara never shies away from oddities in his work. However, his 2019 anime original Sarazanmai turned out to be a tad too off-putting to gain mainstream recognition. The premise of Sarazanmai is admittedly bizarre: the series’ heroes are a trio of boys transformed into kappas by the prince of the Kappa Kingdom.
Assisting the prince in gathering Dishes of Hope, the boys have to collect shirikodama, or the source of one’s desires, from the butts of giant zombie monsters. Wild and nonsensical at first glance, Sarazanmai, nonetheless, is a series of outstanding nuances. And, once viewers get over the eccentricities of its presentation, they are treated to an incredibly thought-provoking, touching story about the value of human connection, differences between love and desire, and self-acceptance.
