Top Seinen Anime Recommendations

One Punch Man

Also known as One-Punch Man.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

Saitama has a rather peculiar hobby, being a superhero, but despite his heroic deeds and superhuman abilities, a shadow looms over his life. He's become much too powerful, to the point that every opponent ends up defeated with a single punch.

The lack of challenge has driven him into a state of apathy, as he watches his life pass by having lost all enthusiasm, at least until he's unwillingly thrust in the role of being a mentor to the young and revenge-driven Genos.

Tags: Superhero , Super Power , Parody , Male Protagonist , Satire , Urban Fantasy , Surreal Comedy , Urban , Cyborg , Seinen , Primarily Adult Cast , Kaiju , Aliens , Cultivation , Primarily Male Cast , Gods , Martial Arts , Demons , Henshin

Tokyo Ghoul

Also known as Tokyo Ghoul.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

The suspense horror/dark fantasy story is set in Tokyo, which is haunted by mysterious "ghouls" who are devouring humans. People are gripped by the fear of these ghouls whose identities are masked in mystery. An ordinary college student named Kaneki encounters Rize, a girl who is an avid reader like him, at the café he frequents. Little does he realize that his fate will change overnight.



Tags: Gore , Urban Fantasy , Tragedy , Survival , Torture , Male Protagonist , Body Horror , Anti-Hero , Seinen , Coming of Age , Urban , Police , Cannibalism , Detective , Crime , Henshin , Primarily Adult Cast , Mythology , Heterosexual , College

Boku dake ga Inai Machi

Also known as ERASED.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

Satoru Fujinuma is a 29 year old manga artist struggling to make a name for himself following his debut. But, that was not the only thing in his life that Satoru was feeling frustrated about… He has a unique supernatural ability of being forced to prevent deaths and catastrophes by being sent back in time before the incident occurred, repeating time until the accident is prevented. One day, he gets involved in an accident that has him framed as a murderer. Desperate to save the victim, he sends himself back in time only to find himself as a grade-schooler one month before fellow classmate Kayo Hinazuki went missing. Satoru now embarks on a new quest: to save Kayo and solve the mystery behind her disappearance.

Tags: Age Regression , Time Manipulation , Crime , Tragedy , Time Skip , Primarily Child Cast , Detective , Male Protagonist , Alternate Universe , Super Power , Snowscape , Seinen , School , Fugitive , Ensemble Cast , Revenge , Teacher , Rehabilitation , Amnesia , Heterosexual , Bullying , Kuudere , CGI

Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensaitachi no Renai Zunousen

Also known as Kaguya-sama: Love is War.

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

Known for being both brilliant and powerful, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya lead the illustrious Shuchiin Academy as near equals. And everyone thinks they’d make a great couple. Pride and arrogance are in ample supply, so the only logical move is to trick the other into instigating a date! Who will come out on top in this psychological war where the first move is the only one that matters?



Tags: School , Heterosexual , Tsundere , Primarily Teen Cast , School Club , Ojou-sama , Episodic , Slapstick , Female Protagonist , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Meta , Ensemble Cast , Parody , Kemonomimi , Rotoscoping , Nekomimi

Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu

Also known as Parasyte -the maxim-.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Psychological , Sci-Fi

They arrive in silence and darkness. They descend from the skies. They have a hunger for human flesh. They are everywhere. They are parasites, alien creatures who must invade–and take control of–a human host to survive. And once they have infected their victims, they can assume any deadly form they choose: monsters with giant teeth, winged demons, creatures with blades for hands. But most have chosen to conceal their lethal purpose behind ordinary human faces. So no one knows their secret–except an ordinary high school student. Shin is battling for control of his own body against an alien parasite, but can he find a way to warn humanity of the horrors to come?



Tags: Body Horror , Shapeshifting , Survival , Aliens , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Gore , Anti-Hero , Revenge , Seinen , Heterosexual , Crime , Tragedy , Cannibalism , Environmental , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Urban , Military , Guns , Love Triangle , Villainess , Female Harem , Bullying , Unrequited Love , Nudity

VINLAND SAGA

Also known as Vinland Saga.

Studio: Wit Studio
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama

Thorfinn is son to one of the Vikings' greatest warriors, but when his father is killed in battle by the mercenary leader Askeladd, he swears to have his revenge. Thorfinn joins Askeladd's band in order to challenge him to a duel, and ends up caught in the middle of a war for the crown of England.



Tags: Vikings , Revenge , Foreign , Historical , Male Protagonist , War , Tragedy , Philosophy , Coming of Age , Seinen , Primarily Male Cast , Military , Politics , Anti-Hero , Swordplay , Primarily Adult Cast , Gore , Survival , Ships , Conspiracy , Slavery , Time Skip , Pirates , Language Barrier , Orphan , Spearplay , Religion , CGI , Heterosexual , Archery , Cult , Mythology , Snowscape

One Punch Man 2

Also known as One-Punch Man Season 2.

Studio: J.C. Staff
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

Saitama is a hero who only became a hero for fun. After three years of “special training,” he’s become so strong that he’s practically invincible. In fact, he’s too strong—even his mightiest opponents are taken out with a single punch. Now, the great seer Madame Shibabawa’s prediction about the Earth being doomed seems to be coming true as the frequency of monster incidents escalates. Alongside Genos, his faithful disciple, Saitama begins his official hero duties as a member of the Hero Association, while Garou, a man utterly fascinated by monsters, makes his appearance.

Tags: Superhero , Urban , Super Power , Male Protagonist , Parody , Satire , Cyborg , Primarily Male Cast , Anti-Hero , Primarily Adult Cast , Surreal Comedy , Seinen , Urban Fantasy , Ensemble Cast , Martial Arts , Kaiju , Video Games

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

Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari

Also known as The Rising of the Shield Hero.

Studio: Kinema Citrus
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

Naofumi Iwatani, an uncharismatic Otaku who spends his days on games and manga, suddenly finds himself summoned to a parallel universe! He discovers he is one of four heroes equipped with legendary weapons and tasked with saving the world from its prophesied destruction. As the Shield Hero, the weakest of the heroes, all is not as it seems. Naofumi is soon alone, penniless, and betrayed. With no one to turn to, and nowhere to run, he is left with only his shield. Now, Naofumi must rise to become the legendary Shield Hero and save the world!

Note:
- The first episode was pre-aired on December 27th, 2018. Regular broadcast began on January 9th, 2019.
- The first episode aired with a runtime of ~47 minutes as opposed to the standard 24 minute long episode.

Tags: Isekai , Male Protagonist , Conspiracy , Travel , Revenge , Magic , Crime , Anti-Hero , Tragedy , Kemonomimi , Bullying , Henshin , Matriarchy , Language Barrier , Slavery , Villainess , Female Harem , Cult , Politics , Spearplay , Swordplay , Seinen , Cultivation , Ojou-sama , Religion , Tsundere , Economics , CGI , Medicine , Nekomimi , Monster Girl , Love Triangle , Heterosexual , Afterlife , Gore

Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai?: Tensaitachi no Renai Zunousen

Also known as Kaguya-sama: Love is War?.

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

After a slow but eventful summer vacation, Shuchiin Academy's second term is now starting in full force. As August transitions into September, Miyuki Shirogane's birthday looms ever closer, leaving Kaguya Shinomiya in a serious predicament as to how to celebrate it. Furthermore, the tenure of the school's 67th student council is coming to an end. Due to the council members being in different classes, the only time Kaguya and Miyuki have to be together will soon disappear, putting all of their cunning plans at risk.
A long and difficult election that will decide the fate of the new student council awaits, as multiple challengers fight for the coveted title of president.


Tags: School , School Club , Ensemble Cast , Tsundere , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Episodic , Primarily Teen Cast , Ojou-sama , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Slapstick , Parody , Meta , Kuudere , Seinen , Bullying , Villainess , Otaku Culture , Crossdressing , Primarily Female Cast

Bungou Stray Dogs

Also known as Bungo Stray Dogs.

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

Stalked by a beastly white tiger, Atsushi Nakajima has no idea that the menace lives inside him—a power that catches the attention of the Armed Detective Agency. Using inhuman abilities to combat crime, this team takes Atsushi under the wing of their most eccentric member, Dazai. Together, they tear through mafia-muddled mysteries while enemies keep an eye on the tiger’s lofty bounty.



Tags: Super Power , Crime , Detective , Mafia , Urban Fantasy , Male Protagonist , Classic Literature , Yakuza , Urban , Primarily Male Cast , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Work , Orphan , Gangs , Seinen , Suicide , Slapstick , Gore , Kuudere , Guns , Terrorism , Shapeshifting , Anti-Hero , Assassins , LGBTQ+ Themes , Incest , Episodic , Tragedy , Bar , Homeless

Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e

Also known as Classroom of the Elite.

Studio: Lerche
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological

Koudo Ikusei Senior High School is a leading school with state-of-the-art facilities. The students there have the freedom to wear any hairstyle and bring any personal effects they desire. Koudo Ikusei is like a utopia, but the truth is that only the most superior students receive favorable treatment.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji is a student of D-class, which is where the school dumps its "inferior" students in order to ridicule them. For a certain reason, Kiyotaka was careless on his entrance examination, and was put in D-class. After meeting Suzune Horikita and Kikyou Kushida, two other students in his class, Kiyotaka's situation begins to change.



Tags: School , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Anti-Hero , Primarily Teen Cast , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Survival , Battle Royale , Kuudere , Tsundere , Nudity , Seinen , Female Harem , School Club , Female Protagonist , Yandere

Tokyo Ghoul √A

Also known as Tokyo Ghoul √A.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

The second season of Tokyo Ghoul.

The ghouls of Anteiku invaded the Aogiri's site in order to rescue Ken Kaneki who is being tortured. Due to provocation, he unleashed greater power enough to defeat Yamori. To become stronger, he decided to join Aogiri and left Anteiku. Ghoul investigators also making their moves by collecting information about the eye-patched ghoul - Ken Kaneki.



Tags: Anti-Hero , Body Horror , Super Power , Gore , Military , Detective , Police , Urban Fantasy , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Urban , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , College , Mythology

Made in Abyss

Also known as Made in Abyss.

Studio: Kinema Citrus
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Sci-Fi

The "Abyss" is the last unexplored place in the world. Strange and wonderful creatures roam within, and it is full of precious relics that present humans can't recreate. Those that dare to explore the depths are known as "Cave Raiders." An orphan girl named Riko lives on the rim. Her dream is to become a Cave Raider like her mother and solve the mysteries of the cave system. One day, Riko starts exploring the caves and discovers a robot who resembles a human boy.



Note: The last episode aired with a runtime of ~48 minutes as opposed to the standard 24 minute long episode.

Tags: Survival , Primarily Child Cast , Environmental , Travel , Chibi , Body Horror , Philosophy , Tragedy , Lost Civilization , Dungeon , Seinen , Female Protagonist , Gore , Amnesia , Cosmic Horror , Robots , Male Protagonist , Steampunk , Outdoor , Anthropomorphism , Femboy , Food , Orphan , Tanned Skin , Agender , Religion , Rehabilitation , Crossdressing , Maids , Dissociative Identities , School , Time Manipulation , Conspiracy

Another

Also known as Another.

Studio: P.A. Works
Status: Finished
Genres: Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

When Kouichi Sakakibara transfers to a new school, he senses a frightening atmosphere in his new class, a secret none of them will talk about. At the center is the beautiful Mei Misaki. Kouichi is immediately drawn to her mysterious aura, but he begins to realize that no one else in the class is aware of her presence. Soon after his arrival, what is known as the Calamity begins, and it claims the lives of many students.



Tags: Tragedy , Gore , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Memory Manipulation , Survival , Rural , Ghost , Kuudere , Urban Fantasy , Female Protagonist , Twins , Denpa , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Seinen , Suicide , Teacher , Death Game , Asexual

Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru

Also known as My Dress-Up Darling.

Studio: CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Ecchi , Romance , Slice of Life

High schooler Wakana Gojou cares about one thing: making Hina dolls. With nobody to share his obsession, he has trouble finding friends—or even holding conversation. But after the school’s most popular girl, Marin Kitagawa, reveals a secret of her own, he discovers a new purpose for his sewing skills. Together, they’ll make her cosplay dreams come true!



Tags: Cosplay , Otaku Culture , Fashion , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Female Protagonist , Gyaru , Seinen , Photography , Slapstick , Coming of Age , Unrequited Love , School , Tsundere , Urban , Nudity

Kobayashi-san Chi no Maidragon

Also known as Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Slice of Life

What happens when a drunken promise leads to living with a dragon? That’s Miss Kobayashi’s new reality when Tohru appears in her life. With a maid-slash-dragon in her home, she’s experiencing a whole new level of domestic bliss! But the dragons don’t stop there. On a mission to find Tohru appears Kanna, a little dragon with a big attitude. Before she knows it, Kobayashi’s got a house full of dragons—one serving tail and the other serving serious moe! Together, they live side by side with only the occasional disaster…well, maybe. But nothing beats coming home to the warm welcome of a dragon maid!



Tags: Found Family , Dragons , Monster Girl , Family Life , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Maids , Magic , Episodic , Urban , Yuri , Urban Fantasy , Seinen , Large Breasts , Primarily Adult Cast , Office Lady , LGBTQ+ Themes , Otaku Culture , Kuudere , Isekai , Software Development , Bisexual , Philosophy , Nudity

Tokyo Ghoul:re

Also known as Tokyo Ghoul:re.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Two years have passed since the CCG’s raid on Anteiku. Although the atmosphere in Tokyo has changed drastically due to the increased influence of the CCG, ghouls continue to pose a problem as they have begun taking caution, especially the terrorist organization Aogiri Tree, who acknowledge the CCG’s growing threat to their existence. The creation of a special team, known as the Quinx Squad, may provide the CCG with the push they need to exterminate Tokyo’s unwanted residents. As humans who have undergone surgery in order to make use of the special abilities of ghouls, they participate in operations to eradicate the dangerous creatures. The leader of this group, Haise Sasaki, is a half-ghoul, half-human who has been trained by famed special class investigator, Kishou Arima. However, there’s more to this young man than meets the eye, as unknown memories claw at his mind, slowly reminding him of the person he used to be.

Tags: Detective , Amnesia , Tragedy , Police , Dissociative Identities , Urban Fantasy , Gore , Hikikomori , Body Horror , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Crossdressing , Femdom , Bondage , Unrequited Love , Martial Arts , Transgender , Urban , Mythology

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 ,

K-ON!

Also known as K-ON!.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Music , Slice of Life

Hirasawa Yui, a young, carefree girl entering high school, has her imagination instantly captured when she sees a poster advertising the ‘Light Music Club’. Being the carefree girl that she is, she quickly signs up. However, Yui has a problem, she is unable to play an instrument.

When Yui goes to the clubroom to explain, she's greeted by the other members: Ritsu, Mio and Tsumugi. Although disheartened at Yui’s lack of musical know-how, they still try to convince her to stay to prevent the club’s disbandment. After playing Yui a short piece which re-ignites her imagination, they succeed in keeping their new member and guitarist.

Along with the tasks of school and homework, Yui begins to learn the guitar with the help of the other band members, experiencing many mishaps along the way. However, with the school-festival drawing near and Yui getting stuck with her practice, will the Light Music Club be ready in time for their debut?



Tags: School Club , Rock Music , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Band , Primarily Female Cast , Female Protagonist , Iyashikei , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Episodic , Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Food , Slapstick , Seinen , Tomboy