Tyler Ouellette
Despite what society tells you, not all cartoons are intended for children. Anime is one of the few genres that can cater to all ages. At times, adult fans complain that their options are limited. As anime continues to evolve a lot of those who have a more mature pallet find it more and more difficult to enjoy the shows from a time where cartoons could make you gasp and covering your mouth in shock.
In this countdown, we polled our Age of Anime and Gaming group to find out what the most mature adult themed amine are of all time and which ones are the best of the best. We asked the question and the members voted. Here’s how things went down!
#10: Fist of the North Star
Fist of the North Star is one of the few anime that has held up with audiences since its adaptation in 1984. Running for 109 episodes the show is still hailed by fans as a staple in historic anime culture. Fist of the North Star is one of the most aggressive series on the list saturated with violence and intense emotional drama throughout both the first and second series. Fist of the North Star is set in a timeline where civilization has been shattered by a worldwide nuclear war in which mankind has barely survived and still teeters on the brink. The series stars protagonist Kenshiro as the successor to the assassination skills known as Hokuto Shinken and faces off in countless battles which leaves all involved beaten bruised and bloodied and continues to keep viewers on the edge of their seats even today.
#9: Elfen Lied
Fan votes secured the twisted Elfen Lied at the 9th spot on our list. Bred by the government to be the perfect weapon, the girl known simply as Lucy uses her unfathomable powers walks away from captivity leaving nothing but bodies in her wake. The price, however, comes at the expense of her mind and her memories leaving her a helpless and fragile girl and hunted fugitive. Elfen Lied is a tale that weaves both drama that pulls on your heartstrings and gore that makes even the sadist wince.
#8: Perfect Blue
Lauded by many awards and strong positive critical reception, Perfect Blue has been critically praised and enjoyed by anime fans since 1997. Perfect Blue tells the cautionary tale of the height of fame and the deepest fall. Having made the decision to leave a declining K-Pop band and transition during the pinnacle of her career into acting, the decision is not received well by all her fans. Perfect Blue explores the world of trauma, rape, and the eventual break from reality as she sinks deeper into her anguish.
#7: Attack on Titan
Chances are if you are an anime fan, you’ve heard of Attack on Titan. The series was an instant smash success and resonated with audiences of all tastes and backgrounds. The series now in its third season follows protagonist Erin Yeager as he reels from the loss of his mother and the discovery of a power that also subsequently puts him in league with societies most hated creatures, the Titans, who have overrun laid waste to the outside world. With only a small corner left behind three holy walls, the human race stands upon the brink of extinction. Yaeger and the Scouts take to the lands to unlock the secrets of the Titans while battling against numerous dark twists and shocking events. At number 7 on our countdown audiences just can’t enough of Attack on Titan!
#6: Claymore
When you’re a shapeshifting demon warrior wandering the lands in search of monsters, there’s bound to be a few twists and turns along the road. Claymore is the tale of ultimate vengeance. Claire, the lowest ranked among a dangerous organization known only as the mysterious Claymore is set upon a path to ferret out the true enemy who slaughtered her mentor and most beloved friend while in the process endless tests her ever-dwindling connection to her humanity and the growing darkness within.
#5: Fate/Zero
Coming in at #5 on our countdown is Fate/Zero. Zero is the original tale, told as a prequel to Fate/Stay Night in which seven mages summon seven servants of historic lore and fame to fight against their side in the ultimate death match. Upon the stack of bodies left in their wake, the winner is granted one wish by the omnipotent holy grail. However, as the winners always discover, the grail’s price is always much more than what they bargained for.
#4: Death Note
Death Note diverges from much of anime culture in the sense that what little tomfoolery is to be found in the tale is tied to a very serious and deadly threat in which someone always ends of forfeiting their lives. Seemingly by random chance, Light Yagami finds a book with countless names within its pages. Joined by the trickster Shinigami whose main source of entertainment is beguiling humans into a game against themselves in which the author of the notebook is granted the ability to kill upon scribe and falls prey to the seductive power of false godhood. Light faces off against his main adversary known only as L in a race that will leave one of the two falling victim to their own mortality.
#3: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Ghost in the Shell is one of those anime that if you are a consumer of the genre you will undoubtedly hear about at one juncture or another. Set in the far-flung future in which cybernetic enhancement are a part of everyday life, special agent Motoko Kusanagi is assigned cases far beyond the capabilities of the future police known as Section 9. When “The Laughing Man” rises, the secrets of Japan and it’s dirtiest, darkest secrets are forced into the light.
#2: Berserk
Without a doubt the most twisted, horrific, and sadistic anime series to make the 10s list, Berserk is not by any stretch a cartoon and most certainly not for kids. Berserk forays into the darkest parts of humanities temptation with sex, violence, and power. Set in a medieval Europe-inspired dark fantasy world, the story centers on the characters of Guts, a lone mercenary, and Griffith, the leader of a mercenary band called the “Band of the Hawk.” As so often happens in quests for power and glory both Guts and Griffith fall victim to the ultimate tragedy in which will change their lives forever. This anime in particular shocks audiences as it explores the subjects that are so taboo it’s been banned in many markets.
#1: Cowboy Bebop
Securing the number 1 spot on our countdown is the infamous Cowboy Bebop! Don’t sleep on this futuristic tale of an easygoing bounty hunter just trying to make a buck. The major difference with Bebop, as opposed to its competitors on this list, is one thing. Laughter. This story filled with action and comedy follows the team of Spike Spiegel and Jet Black as the pair chases those with a bounty on their head just to earn a living. Along the way the couple is joined by a host of characters, all of which under the hilarity hide a deep dark secret which unfolds throughout the 26 episode series. Trust me folks, they don’t make em’ like this anymore.
There you have it folks! Comic Watch’s 10 Anime for Adults ONLY! Want to share your thoughts on the poll? Sound off in the comments below! Wanna talk with other anime fans? Are other anime groups too immature for your taste? Join our Age of Anime and Gaming Facebook group and chat with other fans just like you!