10 Underrated Anime that Requires Your Attention!

A lot of anime get released every year. Some climb the heights of popularity, and some are hated till hell. But, between them are some gems that don’t get their fair share of fame and praise.

And this list is all about them. So, let’s learn about these gems and shower them with the praises that they deserve.

10. Legend of Arslan

When I started watching Arslan Senki, I was worried that I would start comparing it to the mangaka Arakawa Hiromu’s other work, “Fullmetal Alchemist,” but as soon as I watched the first episode, I knew that wouldn’t be a problem.

The story, the characters, and the music were my three favorite aspects of Arslan Senki. I adore medieval-themed anime, in fact, the entire medieval subgenre, and I take great pleasure in battle scenes. I received so much of that from Arslan Senki.

Arslan Senki has a few flaws here and there, so it really wasn’t perfect. But it is still far above average. I consistently enjoyed watching the show throughout the season. If you are interested in watching a good war-themed anime, I definitely recommend this one. Each episode of Arslan Senki was well worth watching the whole way through.

9. Zetsuen no Tempest

Zetsuen no Tempest draws heavily on two Shakespeare plays, Hamlet and The Tempest.

The characters are the main attraction, much like in Shakespearean works. They may be extreme representations of human characters, yet they never stop being credible. You become engrossed in their world and find yourself supporting them.

Despite its tendency towards clichés, the plot is engaging and absorbing. In the foreground of a tale in which the entire world is upheaved, Mahiro, Yoshino, and Hakaze’s individual motivations and tribulations provide a great balance. You can be sure that the plot will entertain you if you add a few twists and some astute language that is Death Note-inspired.

8. Moonlit Fantasy

Truck-kun couldn’t do his job in this one. The main character is thrown into a fantasy world where he is rejected by the goddess and left at the edge of the wasteland, where the goddess hopes he’ll die or stay away from any other humans or something like that.

I initially believed it to be another typical Isekai with an overbearing main character who isn’t even really fascinating. But as the plot develops, we really see some solid character growth. They handled this one in a way that was amusing and delightful.

Enjoyable to watch, it’s worth watching if you simply want something more laid-back and straightforward to watch. It’s not going to blow you away or anything like that. It’s a simpler story overall. While acknowledging that there were times when it could go in a dark direction, I think it would be interesting to explore those paths in the future.

You can read my review of this show here.

7. Twin Star Exorcist

Twin Star Exorcist tells the story of two talented exorcists who are destined to become the “Twin Star Exorcists” and the prophesized parents of the Miko—the reincarnation of Abe no Seimei—who will cleanse the world of all impurities.

There was something very sweet and innocent about this anime, as its main plot is romance in Shonen genre which is rare, while simultaneously maintaining the Ghost Buster vibe. The story reminded me a lot of D. Gray-Man. The MC is both the savior and destroyer of the world. The main enemy, the Basra, were just like the Noah. But this anime had more heart to it.

Each character had their own challenges to overcome in order to become a stronger exorcist. Rather than being annoying with all the flashbacks, it helped make the story more immersive.

I believe it is rather easy to underestimate this anime. I believe the main factor is that people anticipate a single-course animation that will wrap up everything. This is not the case with this anime, though. Although it moves slowly, the people and the universe are gradually developed.

6. Mirai Nikki

The story of Mirai Nikki, also known as The Future Diary and based on the manga of the same name, is a game of survival in which the goal is to become God and receive the power to alter the course of history. It wouldn’t be a survival game without players, though. These competitors referred to as the Future Diary owners are handed diaries in their own formats, such as a cell phone, a sketchbook, or a scroll, which provide them with various predictions about the future.

The fact that this series starts off with the game makes it rather interesting in my opinion. Yeah, there are those fillers and side stories (even ones not in the manga), but the overall pace is maintained.

The entire series takes me on an emotional roller coaster of edginess. With the likes of Death Note, Code Geass, Monster, etc. In my opinion, it is one of the pinnacles of psychological thrillers. It has a mature, adult theme, so it’s not for the faint of hearts. While also giving us a, sort of romantic story. The character Yuno is the obvious most recognizable one since she appeared in many internet compilations and memes. She is the sole pioneer of yandere from the early 2010s.

Despite the fact that I thought it started out slowly, it never failed to keep me interested. It quickly became out of control, and each character has their own timeline and backstory.

5. Utawarerumono

Even if you don’t particularly like the idea of harems, Utawarerumono manages to be one of those harem animes that everyone may find amusing. Utawarerumono, which is based on the ero-game of the same name, centers on a man with amnesia who is discovered badly hurt in a small-town village.

With the kindness of the villagers, he recovers and spends his days peacefully with them. The tranquility, however, is abruptly broken by a heartbreaking incident that plunges the guy and his fellow villagers into a life of battle.

The casual anime watcher will find Utawarerumono to be a fun experience. Due to the foreshadowing and substantial amount of background information provided in several episodes, one would want to watch this show more than once. In either case, Utawarerumono offers something for everyone.

For those looking for something less thoughtless and deeper, it features fan service-like scenes and characters, a lot of strong action scenes, and a fascinating and fairly complex plot. It might not prove to be particularly strong in any one area, but it still produces a show that should leave the majority of anime lovers feeling reasonably happy.

4. Claymore

Claymore is a Shonen, Action, Adventure anime in a Fantasy, Medieval setting. The main characters of the story are a special Claymore named “Clare” and her sidekick “Raki,” who go from town-to-town hunting Yoma monsters.

The plot is clear from the first and is quite simple to follow. It is the responsibility of your Claymores, fierce female warriors, to kill the Yoma. The story mainly follows Clare as she journeys to slaughter these Yoma, who become more and more challenging to kill as the game progresses. Clare is a character that has been so well-developed that your feelings about her will fluctuate during the course of the anime

In the end, Claymore proves to be an intriguing anime that offers something fresh to the oversaturated Shonen anime market. Although the anime significantly departed from the manga near the end, which is disappointing to manga fans and decreases the likelihood of it continuing, it managed to maintain the manga’s overall plot throughout.

3. Btoom!

Ryta Sakamoto, the main character of Btoom!, is 22 years old. One of the top Btoom players in the world, a battle royal game with only bombs, Ryta uses BIMS to track down and eliminate rivals in an online multiplayer game. Unfortunately, he is made to play the game seriously after being kidnapped and taken to a remote island.

Btoom is one of those survival horror series that, although occasionally entertaining, can also be irritating due to its odd twists and fanservice. The cliffhangers and occasionally plot twists have become predictable, particularly in later episodes. When we view the action scenes, there is an explosiveness that goes beyond just the BIMs.

It’s not intelligent but packs that feeling of survival horror where your life really is at stake here. Fans of Mirai Nikki, Gantz, and Deadman Wonderland are in for a treat that will keep you riveted from beginning to end.

2. Karakuri Circus

From the same creator as Ushio to Tora, Karakuri Circus is an adaptation of a 90s Shonen manga. It follows the tale of Masaru, a young child raised by a wealthy family who recently received a sizable fortune after the household’s father passed away in a vehicle accident. As a result, Masaru is being sought after by two different sets of puppeteers who are in charge of extremely powerful puppets that are capable of killing anyone at any time.

Both the plot and the character development are fantastic and extremely solid. It features several riddles, all of which are resolved, and there are two complete circles in the plot, which are skillfully accomplished through characterization. Why do I say that? You’ll understand why at the end of the series.

Karakuri Circus is, in my humble opinion, one of the best Shonen series to appear this decade, despite a few minor flaws here and there. It is complete (kind of), has intriguing things to say, memorable characters, is gloomy yet uplifting, and most importantly, is incredibly entertaining.

It’ll probably become more of a cult classic that will gain a following over the years, but sadly won’t break into the mainstream.

1. Gosick

This is not the show you are looking for if you want to see a decent detective series. It is a work of historical fiction that chronicles the Ministry of the Occult’s struggle to hold onto power in the face of the advancement of science. The show’s protagonist, Victorique, uses Sherlock Holmes techniques to solve small puzzles.

The execution of the main plot is quite brilliant. Every clue and hint in different investigations ties to the main plot and works towards the grand scheme of things. The show has some surprising moments and the unpredictability is handled well.

Amongst all the puzzle-solving, a romance also blooms subtly. Which is another significant point to make. Although crucial to the main plot, the romance subplot does not take precedence over it. You can enjoy this show even if you don’t like romance. But you can still obtain a good love story if you want one.

The final third act of Gosick becomes extremely dark as the main narrative is revealed. Action-packed situations can be found, especially near the finish. Every episode raises tension and leaves viewers wondering, and as the series comes to an end, it does not let them down.

Gosick is amusing, and viewers sleuth along with the characters, wondering what will happen next.