Top Hip-Hop Music Anime Recommendations

DEVILMAN crybaby

Also known as Devilman Crybaby.

Studio: Science SARU
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Psychological , Supernatural

New Devilman project marking Go Nagai's 50th anniversary as a creator.

The protagonist Akira Fudou learns from his best friend, Ryou Asuka, that an ancient race of demons has returned to take back the world from humans. Ryou tells Akira that the only way to defeat the demons is to incorporate their supernatural powers, and suggests that he unite with a demon himself. Akira succeeds in transforming into Devilman, who possesses both the powers of a demon and the soul of a human. The battle of Devilman and Akira Fudou begins.



Tags: Demons , Tragedy , Body Horror , Psychosexual , Gore , Urban Fantasy , Gods , Shapeshifting , Nudity , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Cosmic Horror , Monster Boy , Curses , War , Angels , Post-Apocalyptic , Henshin , Anti-Hero , Mythology , Coming of Age , Unrequited Love , Cannibalism , LGBTQ+ Themes , Conspiracy , Revenge , Athletics , Hip-hop Music , Heterosexual , Guns , Urban , Drugs , Meta , Masturbation , Public Sex , Bisexual , Politics , Afterlife , Motorcycles , Shounen , Flash , Boys' Love

Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Ultra Romantic

Also known as Kaguya-sama: Love is War -Ultra Romantic-.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life

The elite members of Shuchiin Academy's student council continue their competitive day-to-day antics. Council president Miyuki Shirogane clashes daily against vice-president Kaguya Shinomiya, each fighting tooth and nail to trick the other into confessing their romantic love. Kaguya struggles within the strict confines of her wealthy, uptight family, rebelling against her cold default demeanor as she warms to Shirogane and the rest of her friends.

Meanwhile, council treasurer Yuu Ishigami suffers under the weight of his hopeless crush on Tsubame Koyasu, a popular upperclassman who helps to instill a new confidence in him. Miko Iino, the newest student council member, grows closer to the rule-breaking Ishigami while striving to overcome her own authoritarian moral code.

As love further blooms at Shuchiin Academy, the student council officers drag their outsider friends into increasingly comedic conflicts.



Note: The first episode had an advanced screening on April 2, in both New York & Los Angeles.


Tags: School , Heterosexual , School Club , Primarily Teen Cast , Slapstick , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Tsundere , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Surreal Comedy , Meta , Ojou-sama , Parody , Episodic , Hip-hop Music , Love Triangle , Satire , Seinen , Kuudere , Detective , Unrequited Love , Cosplay , Crossdressing , CGI , Archery

Samurai Champloo

Also known as Samurai Champloo.

Studio: Manglobe
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy

Let's break it down. Mugen's a reckless sword-slinger with a style that's more b-boy than Shaolin. He's got a nasty streak that makes people want to stick a knife in his throat. Then there's Jin, a deadbeat ronin who speaks softly but carries a big blade. He runs game old-school style, but he can make your blood spray with the quickness. When these roughnecks bring the ruckus, it ain't good for anybody, especially them. Enter Fuu, the ditzy waitress who springs her new friends from a deadly jam. All she wants in return is help solving a riddle from her past. She and the boys are tracking the scent, but there's 99 ways to die between them and the sunflower samurai.



Tags: Travel , Swordplay , Samurai , Rural , Assassins , Historical , Episodic , Orphan , Female Protagonist , Martial Arts , Anachronism , Hip-hop Music , Primarily Adult Cast , Anti-Hero , Male Protagonist , Prostitution , Kuudere , Heterosexual , Calligraphy , Tanned Skin , Religion , Pirates , Ninja , Yakuza , Drugs , Politics , Nudity , Shogi , Crossdressing , Language Barrier , Zombie , Baseball , LGBTQ+ Themes , Indigenous Cultures , Guns , Disability

Zombie Land Saga

Also known as ZOMBIE LAND SAGA.

Studio: MAPPA
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Music , Supernatural

A typical morning. The usual music. Their normal lives. The peace these seven girls experience will suddenly be destroyed. By the living dead... zombies. A reality that they never wanted a part of, an amazing and terrifying zombie world. They all share one wish: "We want to live." These girls will struggle through this saga, in order to achieve a miracle. MAPPA, Avex Pictures, and Cygames team up to bring you a juicy, 100% original anime. A timeless shocker for all audiences, a brand new style of zombie anime, will soon rise.



Tags: Zombie , Idol , Monster Girl , Primarily Female Cast , Female Protagonist , Surreal Comedy , Satire , Necromancy , Parody , Body Image , Ensemble Cast , Amnesia , Dancing , CGI , Transgender , Time Skip , Rural , LGBTQ+ Themes , Oiran , Episodic , Motorcycles , Gangs , Hip-hop Music

Odd Taxi

Also known as ODDTAXI.

Studio: OLM , P.I.C.S.
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Thriller

The taxi driver Odokawa lives a very mundane life. He has no family, doesn't really hang out with others, and he's an oddball who is narrow-minded and doesn't talk much. The only people he can call his friends are his doctor, Gouriki and his classmate from high school, Kakihana.

All of his patrons seem to be slightly odd themselves. The college student who wants the world to notice him online, Kabasawa. A nurse with secrets named Shirakawa. A comedy duo that just can't catch a break named the Homosapiens. A local hoodlum named Dobu. An idol group that's just starting out named Mystery Kiss... All these mundane conversations somehow eventually lead to a girl who's gone missing.



Tags: Crime , Anthropomorphism , Urban , Animals , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Male Protagonist , Work , Revenge , Noir , Satire , Aromantic , Gangs , Yakuza , Mafia , Fugitive , Primarily Animal Cast , Amnesia , Cars , Police , Idol , Tragedy , Philosophy , Bullying , Adoption , Anti-Hero , Twins , Martial Arts , Manzai , Suicide , Hip-hop Music , Video Games , Heterosexual , Age Gap , Bar

Paripi Koumei

Also known as Ya Boy Kongming!.

Studio: P.A.WORKS
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Music , Supernatural

Fate and reincarnation deliver brilliant military strategist, Kongming, from warring, ancient China to Japan’s modern party hot spot in Shibuya City, Tokyo. After a lifetime of battles and military skirmishes, Kongming wished with his last breath to be reborn in a world of peace and prosperity. It’s nearly two millennia later and he’s finding his way in a very different world than that of his past life. When he meets Eiko, an amateur musician with big dreams, the unlikely duo strikes up an even unlikelier friendship. Eiko has street smarts to help Kongming navigate this strange new world, and Kongming will use his strategic mind to help Eiko achieve stardom!



An advanced online screening of the first episode was held on March 31, 2022, but the weekly TV release began on April 5, 2022.

Tags: Reincarnation , Urban , Band , Primarily Adult Cast , Idol , Anachronism , Hip-hop Music , Historical , Female Protagonist , Bar , Work , Ancient China , Male Protagonist , Ensemble Cast , Seinen , Rock Music , Dancing , Classic Literature , Fugitive , Nudity

BECK

Also known as Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Music , Slice of Life

Tanaka Yukio, better known by his nickname Koyuki is a 14 year old who feels disconnected from life in general. Through the act of saving a mismatched dog, he meets guitarist Minami Ryuusuke, and becomes involved in Ryuusuke's new band BECK. Koyuki's life starts to change as the band struggles towards fame.


Tags: Band , Coming of Age , Urban , Rock Music , Male Protagonist , Ensemble Cast , Heterosexual , Primarily Male Cast , School , Bullying , Hip-hop Music , Shounen , Language Barrier , Crime , Love Triangle , Baseball , Gyaru , Female Protagonist , Swimming , Work , Acting

Oemojisangjuui

Also known as Lookism.

Studio: Studio Mir
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Supernatural

In a society that favors good looks, a high school outcast leads a double life switching between his two bodies that are polar opposites in appearance.



Tags: Delinquents , Male Protagonist , Body Swapping , Bullying , Urban , Urban Fantasy , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Martial Arts , Hip-hop Music , Dancing , Gangs , Work , Fashion , Musical Theater , Boxing , CGI , Coming of Age , Parody

Ponkotsu Fuuki Iin to Skirt take ga Futekisetsu na JK no Hanashi

Also known as The Klutzy Class Monitor and the Girl with the Short Skirt.

Studio: Zero-G
Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

Sakuradaimon is the school's prefect. A prefect is a student who is authorized to enforce discipline. As a prefect, he's supposed to be a role model to other students, but unfortunately he's not perfect. Kohinata is one of the people who Sakuradaimon has tried to discipline into wearing appropriate school attire, but she has thusfar been disobedient.

And so this is a story of the two interacting with one another.

Tags: Slapstick , Tsundere , School , Heterosexual , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Gyaru , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , Iyashikei , Surreal Comedy , Urban , Shounen , Hip-hop Music , Otaku Culture

Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- Rhyme Anima

Also known as HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Rhyme Anima.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Music , Sci-Fi

After the war, women have taken over ruling politics in the Chuo ward and have banned and destroyed weapons. This has caused men to fight through rap battles using Hypnosis Mics, which can be used to affect people's sympathetic nerves and influence their thought process. However, the legendary rap group, The Dirty Dawg, has split up into four groups, each representing a division of Tokyo, Japan and are engaging in territorial battles using words and the HypMics.



Tags: Primarily Male Cast , Ensemble Cast , Band , Super Power , Urban , Gangs , Delinquents , Episodic , War , Matriarchy , Primarily Adult Cast , Hip-hop Music , Henshin , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , CGI , Parody , Slapstick , Medicine , Clone , Politics

Project Sekai: Kowareta SEKAI to Utaenai MIKU

Also known as COLORFUL STAGE! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing.

Studio: P.A.WORKS
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

Set in modern day Shibuya, Ichika Hoshino, a high school girl and street musician, encounters an unknown version of Hatsune Miku after hearing a Miku song that she'd never heard before in a CD store. Ichika learns that this version of Miku is having trouble reaching people with her songs, so together they team up to try to touch the hearts of their audience through music.



Tags: Primarily Teen Cast , Ensemble Cast , Urban Fantasy , Band , Vocal Synth , Urban , Idol , Female Protagonist , Rehabilitation , Isekai , Virtual World , Primarily Female Cast , Hip-hop Music , Rock Music , Dancing , Bar , Musical Theater , Nekomimi , Restaurant , Kemonomimi , Artificial Intelligence

Odd Taxi: In the Woods

Also known as ODDTAXI In The Woods.

Studio: P.I.C.S. , OLM
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Thriller

Note: This is a reconstruction of the television anime that will also depict what happens after its finale with a new story written by Kazuya Konomoto.

Tags: Crime , Anthropomorphism , Tragedy , Mafia , Animals , Urban , Work , Yakuza , Cars , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Animal Cast , Ensemble Cast , Revenge , Philosophy , Adoption , Anti-Hero , Police , Idol , Twins , Hip-hop Music , Bullying , Bar , Heterosexual , Age Gap , Martial Arts , Video Games , Suicide

Paradox Live THE ANIMATION

Also known as Paradox Live THE ANIMATION.

Studio: PINE JAM
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Sci-Fi

Saturated in hip hop culture comes the birth of a new movement known as “Phantom Live”. Each of the artists have a metal accessory known as “Phantom Metal” which chemically reacts to the wearer’s emotions to produce an image, setting a magnificent stage for enthusiastic youths. With legendary club “CLUB paradox” hosting the mysterious Paradox Live, four teams: BAE, The Cat’s Whiskers, cozmez and Akanyatsura each receive an invitation to participate, each with their own genre of music in a race to the top. Each of the four teams go into the competition for a reason. As the competition heats up, so do the unimaginably large motives each of them hides…

The curtain now rises on a swirling illusory stage battle between light and darkness–!



Tags: Primarily Male Cast , Conspiracy , Hip-hop Music , Ensemble Cast , Idol , Found Family , Urban , Tragedy , Suicide , CGI , Primarily Adult Cast , Super Power , Memory Manipulation , Transgender , LGBTQ+ Themes , Bar , Cyberpunk , Bullying

Paripi Koumei: Road To Summer Sonia

Also known as Ya Boy Kongming! Road to Summer Sonia.

Studio: P.A.WORKS
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Music , Supernatural

Compilation film of Ya Boy Kongming! The film features new footage in some of Eiko's performances.

The music industry becomes a battlefield when ancient strategist Kongming is transported from historical China to modern Japan. He’ll use military tactics to turn his new friend Eiko into a music star, and together they’ll take the party hotspot of Shibuya by storm! The story is a clever take (and smart twist) on fish-out-of-water and person-out-of-time themes with out-of-this-world results for Ya Boy Kongming!



Tags: Idol , Bar , Hip-hop Music , Reincarnation , Urban , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Seinen , Work , Primarily Adult Cast , Found Family , Time Manipulation , Classic Literature

Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- Rhyme Anima+

Also known as HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Rhyme Anima PLUS.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Music , Sci-Fi

The second season of Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle - Rhyme Anima. Unlike the first season, which depicted the first division rap battle, it will be set after the second Division Rap Battle.

Tags: Primarily Adult Cast , Hip-hop Music , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Urban , Matriarchy , Parody , Chuunibyou , Clone , Amnesia , Battle Royale , Band , Boys' Love , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Gangs , Delinquents , Henshin , Politics , Police , Memory Manipulation , Yakuza , Artificial Intelligence , CGI , Tragedy , Slapstick

Good Morning

Status: Finished
Genres: Slice of Life

A not so "good morning" greets a little bear as he tries desperately to reach his destination on time but is hampered by improbable obstacles along the way. Directed and produced by Takashi Murakami of "Superflat Monogram" fame.

Tags: Hip-hop Music , College , Full CGI , Urban , Animals , CGI , No Dialogue , Anthropomorphism , American Football

Journey to Bloom

Also known as Journey to Bloom.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

A series of digest animations commemorating the 3rd anniversary of the "Project SEKAI COLORFUL STAGE! feat. Hatsune Miku" mobile game.

This entry includes:
1) Leo/need ダイジェストアニメーション - Journey to Bloom『STELLA』
2) MORE MORE JUMP! ダイジェストアニメーション - Journey to Bloom『HOPE』
3) Vivid BAD SQUAD ダイジェストアニメーション - Journey to Bloom『RESOLVE』
4) ワンダーランズ×ショウタイム ダイジェストアニメーション - Journey to Bloom『HAPPINESS』
5) 25時、ナイトコードで。 ダイジェストアニメーション - Journey to Bloom『SELF』


Tags: Band , Idol , Artificial Intelligence , Ensemble Cast , Alternate Universe , Isekai , Primarily Female Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Transgender , Urban , School , Real Robot , Robots , Acting , Bullying , Found Family , Bar , Twins , Musical Theater , Rock Music , Kemonomimi , Nekomimi , Virtual World , Urban Fantasy , Vocal Synth , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Restaurant , Hip-hop Music , Female Protagonist

Gunjou Sanka (2022)

Also known as Gunjo Sanka (2022).

Studio: Minakata Laboratory , Scooter Films
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Slice of Life

Initially unveiled on the "Project Sekai 2nd Anniversary Namahousou" stream, a special animated music video commemorating the 2nd anniversary of the Project SEKAI COLORFUL STAGE! feat. Hatsune Miku mobile game.

The featured song Gunjou Sanka was composed and lyrically written by Eve, initially made to celebrate the first anniversary of the rhythm game in 2021. This new version features the vocal work of Ichika Hoshino, Minori Hanasato, Kohane Azusawa, Tsukasa Tenma, and Kanade Yoisaki's seiyuus, along with vocaloid Hatsune Miku.

Tags: Idol , Found Family , School , Band , Musical Theater , Dancing , Rock Music , Bar , Artificial Intelligence , Primarily Female Cast , Isekai , Acting , Primarily Teen Cast , Alternate Universe , Kemonomimi , Nekomimi , Virtual World , Urban , Urban Fantasy , Vocal Synth , Restaurant , Hip-hop Music , Female Protagonist , Twins , Transgender , Robots

Journey

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

Initially unveiled on the "Project Sekai 2nd Anniversary Namahousou" stream, a special music video animated by Riri Yamashita for the song Journey. This track was made to commemorate the second anniversary of the Project SEKAI COLORFUL STAGE! feat. Hatsune Miku mobile game.



Tags: Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Found Family , Alternate Universe , Acting , Isekai , Band , Kemonomimi , Nekomimi , Virtual World , Urban , Urban Fantasy , Vocal Synth , Hip-hop Music , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Idol , Transgender , Rock Music , Tragedy , Artificial Intelligence , Robots , School , Twins

Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- Movie

Studio: POLYGON PICTURES
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Music , Sci-Fi

"In a world where words mean power, they risk all that they stand for".

The final Division Rap Battle begins. 48 different patterns, 16 new songs and 7 possible endings.

This film will be Japan's first-ever interactive movie, where the audience's choices will change the development and outcome of each screening. The story unfolds differently based on the audience’s decisions, offering an entirely new participatory cinematic experience.



Tags: Hip-hop Music , Full CGI , Primarily Male Cast , Ensemble Cast , Super Power , Matriarchy , Band