By J.R. Waugh
Thread 1
Your changes have been saved
Email is sent
Email has already been sent
You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.
Manage Your List
Follow
Followed
Follow with Notifications
Follow
Unfollow
Link copied to clipboard
Sign in to your ScreenRant account
Some timeless anime is not for all ages, with seinen anime adaptations originally geared towards adult male audiences in mind, being exceptionally provocative experiences. Seinen anime has a reputation for sparking fierce debate among connoisseurs of the medium, with everything from action to horror to sports and drama encompassed by the many manga it adapts. While the medium's greats are far more numerous, the best seinen anime boasts experiential satisfaction, artistic innovation, and usually a sophisticated adaptation that elevates the source material to greater heights.
✕ Remove Ads
Seinen anime adaptations gained particular prominence in the 1990s with high-profile adaptations of some of the best manga of the era. Many of the best series are short-lived but have long-tail buzz potential as a discussion topic among fans due to their poignant and intense narratives or iconic quirks of the adapting studios and staff. While only certain series stands tall above the rest, the demographic is rich with beautiful and cerebral anime for discerning viewers.
10 Initial D First Stage
Animated by Studio Comet & Studio Gallop, Based on the Manga by Shuichi Shigeno
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Initial D
Initial D, released in 1998, follows Takumi Fujiwara, a tofu delivery driver whose skills behind the wheel of his Toyota AE86 attract the attention of underground street racers. As challengers come from across the region, Takumi navigates his ascent in the high-stakes racing world, aiming to prove his prowess.
Beyond the memes, Initial D ages well as a thrilling and original racing sports anime and yet another win for a Kodansha manga adaptation. The series follows Takumi Fujiwara, whose origins are the definition of plain, as he starts the series delivering tofu for his father's business. But as Takumi gets drawn into the world of street racing by his father, Bunta, the series takes on a brilliant and exciting direction as its hero deftly maneuvers the iconic Toyota Sprinter Trueno to win after win.
✕ Remove Ads
Initial D's status as a seinen manga is sometimes overlooked, but it's no less true, originally published in Weekly Young Magazine much like its sequel, MF Ghost. Initial D lives on in fan memory for its exciting race coordination, stunt depictions, and incredible Eurobeat soundtrack destined to crank excitement to eleven for any viewer.
9 Oshi no Ko
Animated by Doga Kobo, Based on the Manga by Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
17 8.8/10
Oshi No Ko
Oshi no Ko is an animated supernatural mystery series that follows a gynecologist named Gorou, a big fan of an idol whom he is caring for as she prepares to deliver her children. After an obsessive fan of the idols murders Gorou, he is reincarnated as her newborn son - but along with him, a terminal patient he knew is reborn as his twin sister. Years later, after yet another seemingly related murder, Gorou (now known as Aqua) decides to enter the idol world and find the culprit.
Aka Akasaka manga adaptations tend to go over well with audiences, even if they frequently have controversial endings. But with Oshi no Ko, Doga Kobo brings Mengo Yokoyari's illustrated characters to vibrant life, adapting the delirious highs and soul-crushing lows of Akasaka-sensei's writing throughout. Episode #1 quickly captivated viewers with its feature-length journey into the tragic origin of Aqua and Ruby Hoshino and their murdered idol mother, Ai.
✕ Remove Ads
Oshi no Ko deserves a spot among the best seinen anime adaptations of all time despite only having two seasons out due to its straightforward and present excellence. The anime tops music charts with its music, sparks fashion collaborations, and breaks the internet with its shocking developments. There are few contemporary anime, let alone seinen, with as weighty an imprint as Oshi no Ko.
8 Parasyte -The Maxim-
Animated by Madhouse, Based on the Manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Parasyte: The Maxim
Parasyte: The Maxim (2014) is an anime series that follows high school student Shinichi Izumi, who becomes partially infected by a parasitic alien. As the parasite takes control of his right hand, the two must coexist and collaborate to survive against other parasites that seek to consume humanity. The series explores themes of identity, morality, and survival within a modern urban setting.
Another Kodansha manga adaptation, a running pattern with the best seinen anime, Parasyte -the maxim- is a spectacular body horror anime. The series has a bonus appeal for fans of Spider-Man's Eddie Brock and his symbiotic bond with Venom, with Parasyte's Shinichi Izumi finding his arm inhabited by the Parasite known as Migi. Due to Migi failing to take over Shinichi as a host body, the two cooperate and fight other Parasites that begin to surface.
✕ Remove Ads
Parasyte -the maxim- has a strong twenty-five-episode run to its credit, animated by Madhouse, the studio behind massive hits including Trigun, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, and Hunter x Hunter. The anime stands out for its unpredictable and unusual premise, intense violence, and impressive character development, even if its subject matter has led to bans such as in China.
7 Ping Pong the Animation
Animated by Tatsunoko Production, Based on the Manga by Taiyo Matsumoto
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Ping Pong The Animation
Ping Pong the Animation follows the intense journey of high school friends Peco and Smile, who navigate personal and competitive challenges within the world of ping pong. Directed by Masaaki Yuasa, the series portrays their growth as athletes and individuals under the mentorship of their coach, exploring themes of friendship, defeat, and ambition.
✕ Remove Ads
With a creator as brilliant and introspective as Taiyō Matsumoto behind this series, it's no surprise that even an anime about table tennis is more provocative than any viewer can perhaps expect. The story of Ping Pong the Animation is exceptional, but where it truly shines is its characters, beyond the juxtaposed main leads, Peco and Smile. Ping Pong the Animation explores the motivations and soul-searching of its characters, their relationship with table tennis, and how they view themselves as competitors or fans of the sport.
Not only is Ping Pong the Animation a worthy contender among the best seinen anime, but it's easily among the best sports anime of all time. Combining thrilling animation with an authentic treatment of Matsumoto's eclectic and humanistic style is a recipe for a truly unique viewing experience that is over far too quickly after eleven episodes. But the result is an unmissable, character-driven journey.
6 Made in Abyss
Animated by Kinema Citrus, Based on the Manga by Akihito Tsukishi
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Your comment has not been saved
Made in Abyss
Made in Abyss is an adventure anime series that began in 2017. Based on the Japanese manga series of the same name, Made in Abyss tells the story of a young girl and her robot searching through a mysterious chasm for her mother. Luci Christian voices Reg alongside Brittany Lauda as Riko.
✕ Remove Ads
One of the best-looking anime of 2017, Made in Abyss, quickly made impressions as a maniacally dark fantasy seinen adventure despite its initially cute veneer. Riko, the protagonist, joins robotic companion Reg to explore the giant subterranean hole near the town of Orth in search of her mother. The series dives into potent, mature territory, with the latter portion of the first season diving into particularly violent territory, before even mentioning the series' other disturbing subject matter.
But Made in Abyss is not just an impressive showcase of seinen's disquieting yet compelling sides; it's an excellent demonstration of its animating studio, Kinema Citrus' range. Between installments of the seinen anime Made in Abyss are massive hits like My Happy Marriage, with a keen eye for shojo, before diving right back into seinen with The Rising of the Shield Hero.
5 Mushishi
Animated by Artland, Based on the Manga by Yuki Urushibara
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Mushi-Shi
Mushi-Shi is an anime series set in a world where ethereal creatures called Mushi exist, influencing the natural environment and human lives. The series follows Ginko, a Mushi Master, who travels from village to village investigating Mushi phenomena and helping those affected. Rich in atmosphere and philosophical depth, Mushi-Shi explores themes of nature, life, and the unseen forces that connect them.
✕ Remove Ads
Yet another great seinen offering from Kodansha's publications, Mushi-Shi evokes a softer, more subtle visual aesthetic, more reminiscent of something out of Studio Ghibli's bag of tricks. The anime follows Ginko, a Mushi Master who can perceive the eponymous ethereal creatures affecting the everyday lives of the humans he meets. The series depicts a fictional period in Japan between the Edo and Meiji periods, with a great deal of focus on an experiential and emotionally resonant anime rather than a more conventional spectacle.
Related
Netflix's Hit Death Game Anime Is My Guilty Pleasure and Coincidentally One of Manga's Best Seinen Gems
Record of Ragnarok is Coamix's seinen manga spectacle that, while having a letdown of an anime, is still a highly worthwhile read.
The result is a peaceful, humanist seinen anime experience far removed from many other greats from its demographic, described as meditative, healing, and serene. One cannot go wrong with a supernatural slice-of-life without following a massive overarching plotline, and Mushi-Shi is a tranquil gem to be cherished decades after its 2005 debut.
✕ Remove Ads
4 Berserk
Animated by OLM, Based on the Manga by Kentaro Miura
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
10/10
Berserk
Based on the manga series created by Kentaro Miura, Berserk was an action-fantasy series initially released in North America in 1997. The series acts as an adaptation of the first portion of the manga, covering the origins of Guts the Black Swordsman, a powerful warrior who joins a mercenary group known as The Band of the Hawk.
Berserk, as far as its manga is concerned, has come immeasurable distances from its humbler, edgier beginnings in 1989. The manga's most iconic story was conveyed in this 1997 masterpiece, beloved by the masses as the best adaptation the manga got before Miura's passing. The anime depicts the Black Swordsman Arc, but more importantly, the Golden Age Arc, as formative events in the development of Guts from a wayward mercenary into an agent of vengeance. While Guts eventually finds his way, Berserk's 1997 anime tells the events pushing him to his most abyssal lows.
✕ Remove Ads
No conversation about the best seinen anime would be complete without Berserk, as it has influenced countless anime into the present, with even video games like Elden Ring paying heartfelt tribute. The 1997 anime has also aged well thanks to an excellent English dub and, perhaps most iconic, the near spiritually resonant score by Susumu Hirasawa. With Berserk's recent Blu-ray release, it remains the definitive anime adaptation.
3 Akira
Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, Based on Otomo's Manga
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Akira
A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends and a group of psychics.
Akira warrants practically no introduction, as it's frequently discussed among the greatest anime films of all time. The film is a violent and volatile glimpse at how the cyberpunk genre got a special twist in Japan, influenced partially by postwar perspectives and a mix of potent socio-political themes. Shōtarō Kaneda stars as the iconic protagonist, a delinquent biker in Neo-Tokyo who witnesses his friend, Tetsuo Shima, develop dangerous powers.
✕ Remove Ads
Beyond just a seinen anime adaptation, Akira is one of the most influential pieces of fiction on film in general. The "Akira Slide" is so often replicated that there are entire compilation videos dedicated to the classic animated maneuver. The music is top-notch, blending traditional Japanese rhythms against a harsh and unforgiving futuristic backdrop, while the animation lingers in viewers' memories far beyond their first screening. Akira is an incredible anime film and, more importantly, a must-see movie, period.
2 Monster
Animated by Madhouse, Based on the Manga by Naoki Urasawa
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Monster
Monster is an animated psychological thriller series directed by Masayuki Kojima, based on the manga by Naoki Urasawa. The story follows Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a Japanese brain surgeon working in Germany, who saves the life of a young boy destined to become a notorious serial killer. As Tenma seeks to rectify his actions and uncover the truth, he becomes entangled in a complex web of moral dilemmas and dark secrets.
Monster is a fantastic demonstration of how seinen anime explores all facets of fiction, even more grounded stories like a bona fide all-time great psych thriller. Dr. Kenzo Tenma begins the series as a brain surgeon in West Germany who experiences a rapid fall from grace after choosing what he believes to be right. His choice forces him to overlook Mayor Roedecker, who was also dying, saving a young gunshot victim instead. But things only get worse as Tenma's life falls apart, and this choice comes back to haunt him years later.
✕ Remove Ads
As far as masterpieces go, Monster is in a class of its own for crafting a masterful, addictive thriller. In terms of sheer episodic volume, it far outlives nearly all other noteworthy seinen anime. Madhouse has a sterling reputation for its seinen anime adaptations, with Monster being a key favorite as a binge-able mystery thriller.
1 Vinland Saga
Animated by WIT Studio & MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Makoto Yukimura
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
9/10
Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga is an adaptation of the historical-action manga series by Makoto Yukimura. Centering around young Thorfinn, the story sees the young man on a quest for revenge following the murder of his father by the mercenary Askeladd. To accomplish this feat, Thorfinn joins Askeladd's company to bide his time and prepare to face him in the future. The story starts around 1002 AD and revolves around fictional accounts of the Danish invasion of London.
Adapted by two of the foremost studios in anime, Vinland Saga stands tall as the most consistently strong contemporary seinen anime, with profound themes strong enough to rival any classic series. Thorfinn Karlsefni's journey is at times tragic. Still, it becomes uplifting as the series conveys his early years through his coming-of-age, with each arc exploring his relationship with war and violence. As he ventured forth with hopes of capturing a romanticized vision of war and conquest, the horrors and anguish he experiences force him to reassess what there is left to live for when no enemies remain.
✕ Remove Ads
Vinland Saga's second season in particular has contributed a cultural moment of its own, a stellar example of MAPPA's phenomenal 2020's resume of adaptations, with remarkable fidelity to Yukimura's vision. Still two arcs away from fully completing its adaptation, Vinland Saga is immensely quotable, provocative, and emotional for those craving a poignant sword and sandal epic for hte ages.
- Anime
Your changes have been saved
Email is sent
Email has already been sent
You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.
Manage Your List
Follow
Followed
Follow with Notifications
Follow
Unfollow
