Top Noir Anime Recommendations

Cowboy Bebop

Also known as Cowboy Bebop.

Studio: Sunrise
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Sci-Fi

Enter a world in the distant future, where Bounty Hunters roam the solar system. Spike and Jet, bounty hunting partners, set out on journeys in an ever struggling effort to win bounty rewards to survive.

While traveling, they meet up with other very interesting people. Could Faye, the beautiful and ridiculously poor gambler, Edward, the computer genius, and Ein, the engineered dog be a good addition to the group?

Tags: Space , Crime , Episodic , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Tragedy , Noir , Travel , Guns , Male Protagonist , Cyberpunk , Found Family , Philosophy , Terrorism , Tomboy , Martial Arts , Cyborg , Cowboys , Amnesia , Anti-Hero , Gambling , Yakuza , Heterosexual , Drugs , Police , Female Protagonist , Cult , Tanned Skin , Nudity , Circus , Seinen

BANANA FISH

Also known as BANANA FISH.

Studio: MAPPA
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Psychological , Thriller

Nature made Ash Lynx beautiful; nurture made him a cold ruthless killer. A runaway brought up as the adopted heir and sex toy of "Papa" Dino Golzine, Ash, now at the rebellious age of seventeen, forsakes the kingdom held out by the devil who raised him. But the hideous secret that drove Ash's older brother mad in Vietnam has suddenly fallen into Papa's insatiably ambitious hands—and it's exactly the wrong time for Eiji Okamura, a pure-hearted young photographer from Japan, to make Ash Lynx's acquaintance...



Tags: Mafia , Gangs , Tragedy , Crime , Conspiracy , Drugs , Male Protagonist , Urban , Primarily Male Cast , Revenge , Guns , Coming of Age , Foreign , Boys' Love , LGBTQ+ Themes , Noir , Anti-Hero , Fugitive , Shoujo , Primarily Adult Cast , Assassins , Classic Literature , Criminal Organization , Orphan , Prison , Tanned Skin , Photography

MONSTER

Also known as Monster.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Thriller

Dr. Kenzo Tenma is a renowned Japanese brain surgeon working at a leading hospital in Germany. One night, Dr. Tenma risks his reputation and career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy over that of the town mayor who had been planning to support the hospital financially. A string of mysterious murders begin to occur soon after the operation, and Dr. Tenma emerges as the primary suspect despite no incriminating evidence.

A doctor is taught to believe that all life is equal; however, when another series of murders occur in the surgeon's vicinity, Dr. Tenma's beliefs are shaken as his actions that night are shown to have much broader consequences than he could have imagined. Leaving behind his life as a surgeon he embarks on a journey across the country to unravel the mystery of the boy he saved.

Tags: Crime , Seinen , Detective , Philosophy , Ensemble Cast , Fugitive , Revenge , Primarily Adult Cast , Noir , Conspiracy , Twins , Memory Manipulation , Tragedy , Adoption , Foreign , Urban , Police , Male Protagonist , Amnesia , Medicine , Politics , Dissociative Identities , Travel , Historical , Orphan , Time Skip , Guns , Suicide , Primarily Male Cast , Torture , Episodic , Crossdressing , Nudity , Gore ,

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 , Historical , Orphan , Martial Arts , Anachronism , Episodic , Assassins , Primarily Adult Cast , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Anti-Hero , Prostitution , Kuudere , Tanned Skin , Politics , Drugs , Yakuza , Ninja , Religion , Heterosexual , Crossdressing , Nudity , Language Barrier , Zombie , Noir , Baseball , LGBTQ+ Themes

BLACK LAGOON

Also known as Black Lagoon.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Thriller

Okajima Rokuro is a Japanese businessman in a town full of Japanese businessmen. His normal day consists of social drinking with clients and being kicked around by his bosses. He finally gets a break though, as he's sent by his company to the tropical seas of Eastern China to deliver a disc. But his boat gets hijacked by a band of mercenaries hired to retrieve the disc. Rock (as he is newly dubbed by his captors) catches the interest of the only female merc Revy as she thinks he's worth a ransom, taking him hostage. However, the disc that was stolen has a terrible secret that's unknown to Rock, which causes massive confusion and chaos for both him and his kidnappers.

Tags: Crime , Seinen , Guns , Primarily Adult Cast , Pirates , Anti-Hero , Gangs , Travel , Ensemble Cast , Mafia , Assassins , Female Protagonist , Tomboy , Foreign , Ships , Military , Episodic , Male Protagonist , Triads , Noir , Maids , Politics , Nudity , Nun , Gore

PERFECT BLUE

Also known as Perfect Blue.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Psychological , Thriller

Rising pop star Mima has quit singing to pursue a career as an actress and model, but her fans aren’t ready to see her go... Encouraged by her managers, Mima takes on a recurring role on a popular TV show, when suddenly her handlers and collaborators begin turning up murdered. Harboring feelings of guilt and haunted by visions of her former self, Mima’s reality and fantasy meld into a frenzied paranoia. As her stalker closes in, in person and online, the threat he poses is more real than even Mima knows, in this iconic psychological thriller that has frequently been hailed as one of the most important animated films of all time.



Note: The film received an early premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival on August 5, 1997.

Tags: Dissociative Identities , Denpa , Female Protagonist , Acting , Idol , Otaku Culture , Primarily Adult Cast , Meta , Work , Philosophy , Tragedy , Gore , Nudity , Filmmaking , Noir

91Days

Also known as 91 Days.

Studio: Shuka
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Psychological

The "classic mafia drama" takes place during the prohibition era. In the Lawless district the law has no power, the mafia rule the streets, and the illegally made liquor flows freely. At one time Avilio lived in this district, but after a mafia dispute ended in the murder of his family, he went into hiding. Later, Avilio receives a letter from a mysterious person that ignites his passion for revenge and leads him to return to Lawless. There, he infiltrates the Vanetti family and gets close to Nero.



Tags: Revenge , Mafia , Tragedy , Crime , Male Protagonist , Gangs , Anti-Hero , Noir , Assassins , Foreign , Guns , Primarily Male Cast , Historical , Criminal Organization , Politics , Espionage , Primarily Adult Cast , Tanned Skin , Cannibalism , Time Skip , CGI , Orphan

Baccano!

Also known as Baccano!.

Studio: Brain's Base
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Mystery , Supernatural

During the early 1930s in Chicago, the transcontinental train, Flying Pussyfoot, is starting its legendary journey that will leave a trail of blood all over the country. At the same time in New York, the ambitious scientist Szilard and his unwilling aide Ennis, are looking for missing bottles of the immortality elixir. In addition, a war between the mafia groups is getting worse. On board the Advena Avis, in 1711, alchemists are about to learn the price of immortality.

Based on the award winning light novels of the same name, this anime adaptation follows several events that initially seem unrelated, both in time and place, but are part of a much bigger story—one of alchemy, survival and immortality. Merging these events together are the kindhearted would-be thieves, Isaac and Miria, connecting various people, all of them with their own hidden ambitions and agendas, and creating lifelong bonds and consequences for everyone involved.



Tags: Mafia , Ensemble Cast , Crime , Achronological Order , Historical , Trains , Urban Fantasy , Foreign , Noir , Primarily Adult Cast , Alchemy , Guns , Gore , Travel , Urban , Demons , Meta , Disability , Surreal Comedy , Vore

DARKER THAN BLACK: Kuro no Keiyakusha

Also known as Darker than Black.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Mystery , Sci-Fi

In Tokyo, an impenetrable field known as "Hell's Gate" appeared ten years ago. At the same time, psychics who wield paranormal powers at the cost of their conscience also emerged. Hei is one of the most powerful of these psychic agents, and along with his blind associate, Yin, works for one of the many rival agencies vying to unlock the mysteries of Hell's Gate.



Tags: Super Power , Anti-Hero , Crime , Noir , Urban , Assassins , Conspiracy , Tragedy , Urban Fantasy , Police , Episodic , Espionage , Triads , Kuudere , Gore , Terrorism , Time Manipulation , Detective , Yakuza , Memory Manipulation , Mafia , Male Protagonist

HELLSING OVA

Also known as Hellsing Ultimate.

Studio: MADHOUSE , Satelight , Graphinica
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Horror , Supernatural

Hellsing, a secret organization of the British government, has long been battling supernatural threats to keep the people safe from creatures of the night. The current leader, Integra Wingates Hellsing controls her own personal army to eliminate the undead beings, but even her highly trained soldiers pale in comparison to her most trusted vampire exterminator, a man by the name of Alucard, who is actually a powerful vampire himself. Along with Integra's mysterious butler and Alucard's new vampire minion, Seras Victoria, The Hellsing Organization must face not only regular ghouls and vampires, but a rivaling secret organization from the Vatican, and Millennium, an enigmatic group of madmen spawned by a certain war over 50 years ago...
A bloody battle between monsters is about to begin, the dead are dancing, and all hell is singing...

Tags: Vampire , Gore , Seinen , Urban Fantasy , War , Foreign , Anti-Hero , Primarily Adult Cast , Cannibalism , Religion , Military , Urban , Guns , Body Horror , Butler , Monster Girl , Male Protagonist , Noir , Primarily Male Cast , Monster Boy , Female Protagonist , Demons , Tomboy , Kemonomimi , CGI , Age Regression , Slapstick , Nekomimi , Werewolf , Time Skip , Chibi , Nudity , Bisexual

GHOST IN THE SHELL: Koukaku Kidoutai

Also known as Ghost in the Shell.

Studio: Production I.G
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Psychological , Sci-Fi

2029: A female cybernetic government agent, Major Motoko Kusanagi, and the Internal Bureau of Investigations are hot on the trail of “The Puppet Master,” a mysterious and threatening computer virus capable of infiltrating human hosts. Together with her fellow agents from Section 9, Kusanagi embarks on a high-tech race against time to capture the omnipresent entity.



Tags: Cyberpunk , Artificial Intelligence , Philosophy , Urban , Robots , Cyborg , Police , Primarily Male Cast , Female Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Seinen , Noir , Dystopian , Crime , Guns , Espionage , Nudity , Gore , CGI

Ergo Proxy

Also known as Ergo Proxy.

Studio: Manglobe
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi

Something is wrong in the perfect domed city of Romdo. Between the sudden rash of murders and a virus affecting all AutoReivs-cyborg companions and workers who assist the people of Romdo - all is not right in their dome home. Detective Re-l Meyer begins to investigate, seeking answers to the weird occurrences that are happening more and more around her. But when she begins to uncover the truth, her world is turned upside down.

First, the strange immigrant Vincent Law goes missing and then a monster appears before her, shaking her to her core. But this monster is something more, something dangerous and sinister. With each question and mystery, she is led back to the creature. But what is it really? What purpose does it serve? A sign of the end or a sign of a new beginning? Whatever it is, it repeatedly brings her back to Vincent and soon, alongside his journey back to another dome world called, Mosk. As they make their way across scarred and deserted Earth, Re-l and Vincent will learn more about the monster and the "awakening"-which could be more of an ending than a beginning.



Note: Episode 1 received an advanced broadcast on channel WOWOW on February 5, 2006. The start date reflects the start of the regular series broadcasting.

Tags: Post-Apocalyptic , Philosophy , Dissociative Identities , Dystopian , Cyberpunk , Primarily Adult Cast , Robots , Amnesia , Conspiracy , Noir , Clone , Artificial Intelligence , Fugitive , Female Protagonist , Memory Manipulation , Travel , Lost Civilization , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , Found Family , Denpa , Kuudere , Anti-Hero , Detective , Revenge , Pandemic , Angels , Heterosexual , Gods , Aviation , Survival , Police , Unrequited Love , Guns , Coming of Age , Meta

BEASTARS 2

Also known as BEASTARS Season 2.

Studio: Orange
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life

"Beastar"—a title awarded to beasts who prove their excellence through fighting inequality to unite carnivores and herbivores in an anthropomorphic animal society. Cherryton Academy has gone five years without one such leader. However, following the murder of an alpaca within the school boundaries, the growing tension between the different species poses a greater need for a Beastar to ensure peace and harmony.

When Louis, the prime candidate for this prestigious role, rejects the offer and leaves the academy, the student council declares to honor any student who captures the culprit of the aforementioned murder as Beastar. Meanwhile, Legoshi's sense of duty as a strong wolf who must protect the weak pushes him to investigate the incident. To further complicate his life, he struggles to manage his complex feelings for the white rabbit, Haru.



Note: The first episode had an early delivery on Netflix Japan on January 5, 2021. The regular TV broadcast started on January 7, 2021.

Tags: Anthropomorphism , Animals , School , Mafia , Male Protagonist , Full CGI , Cannibalism , CGI , Psychosexual , Crime , Coming of Age , Noir , Primarily Animal Cast , Philosophy , Adoption , Tragedy , School Club , Gore , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Acting , Urban , Vore , Martial Arts , Guns , Boarding School , Class Struggle , Female Protagonist , Shounen , Love Triangle , Revenge , Nudity , Crossdressing

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

HELLSING

Also known as Hellsing.

Studio: GONZO
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Horror , Supernatural

Hellsing follows the antiheroic vampire, Alucard, and a police girl-turned-vampire, Seras Victoria, two vampires employed by the vampire-extermination group of England, the Hellsing Organization. Slowly but surely, through their active duty, they find a new breed of vampires beginning to arise.



Tags: Vampire , Primarily Adult Cast , Super Power , Noir , Gore , Military , Seinen , Urban Fantasy , Guns , Foreign , Urban , Anti-Hero , Monster Girl , Suicide , Monster Boy , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Body Horror , Cannibalism , Episodic , Butler

BLACK LAGOON: The Second Barrage

Also known as Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Thriller

Okajima Rokuro - now known almost exclusively as 'Rock' - was once a typical, put-upon Japanese businessman. Then, on a routine business trip, he was kidnapped and ransomed by the Lagoon Company: a band of mercenary pirates operating out of the crime-riddled city of Roanapur. Abandoned by his bosses, he joined the Lagoon Company. Now he must try and stay afloat amongst the ever-shifting politics of the criminal underworld, while simultaneously avoiding death at the hands of his quick-tempered, gun-toting co-worker, 'Two Hand' Revy.



Tags: Crime , Guns , Anti-Hero , Gangs , Tomboy , Mafia , Pirates , Primarily Adult Cast , Assassins , Seinen , Female Protagonist , Foreign , Yakuza , Triads , Ships , Male Protagonist , Noir , Travel , Ensemble Cast , Suicide , Delinquents , Language Barrier , Twins , Nudity , Gore

Bungou Stray Dogs: DEAD APPLE

Also known as Bungo Stray Dogs: DEAD APPLE.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Mystery , Supernatural

The film's story involves a mystery case of power users around the world suddenly committing suicide one after another, in all cases after a strange fog appears at the scene. At a request from Ango Sakaguchi, the Armed Detective Agency head out to investigate Tatsuhiko Shibusawa, a power user who calls himself "collector," and a man suspected of being tied to the incident.



Tags: Detective , Super Power , Urban Fantasy , Mafia , Anti-Hero , Male Protagonist , Crime , Seinen , Classic Literature , Police , Kuudere , Noir , Body Horror

Dead Mount Death Play

Also known as Dead Mount Death Play.

Studio: GEEKTOYS
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Fantasy , Supernatural , Thriller

As a legendary hero nears victory against a necromancer known as The Corpse God, things take an unexpected turn with the dark sorcerer’s final gambit—reincarnation magic. This last-ditch effort catches the brave fighter off guard, and now he’s a boy named Polka Shinoyama in a whole new world! The showdown between good and evil just got epic.



Tags: Urban Fantasy , Crime , Urban , Conspiracy , Male Protagonist , Necromancy , Isekai , Magic , Reincarnation , Ghost , Ensemble Cast , Seinen , Anti-Hero , Police , Assassins , Gangs , Cult , Detective , Fugitive , CGI , Skeleton , Zombie , Tragedy , Bar , Noir , Nudity , Vampire , Suicide

Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no Tobira

Also known as Cowboy Bebop: The Movie - Knockin' on Heaven's Door.

Studio: bones , Sunrise
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mystery , Sci-Fi

As the Cowboy Bebop crew travels the stars, they learn of the largest bounty yet, a huge 300 million Woolongs. Apparently, someone is wielding a hugely powerful chemical weapon, and of course the authorities are at a loss to stop it. The war to take down the most dangerous criminal yet forces the crew to face a true madman, with bare hope to succeed.



Tags: Terrorism , Primarily Adult Cast , Philosophy , Crime , Noir , Anti-Hero , Amnesia , Space , Guns , Male Protagonist , Cyberpunk , Ensemble Cast , Martial Arts , Military , Foreign , Female Protagonist , Work , Tomboy , Cyborg

PLUTO

Also known as PLUTO.

Studio: Studio M2
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Mecha , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi

A murder occurs in an orderly world where robots are unable to kill humans. The robotic Europol investigator Gesicht takes the case, but the mystery deepens when he finds no trace of a human at the scene of the crime. As he pursues the truth, Gesicht uncovers the most evil manifestation of hate that history has ever seen, one that is bent on bringing destruction to the world ...



Tags: Robots , Artificial Intelligence , Revenge , Detective , Seinen , Police , Ensemble Cast , Crime , Conspiracy , Tragedy , Memory Manipulation , Politics , War , Philosophy , Urban , Foreign , Male Protagonist , Amnesia , Dystopian , Terrorism , Noir , Travel , Guns , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Adoption , Cyberpunk , Anachronism , Cult , Proxy Battle , Nudity