When it comes toanime, there are tons of series that target a teenage demographic, especially when it comes to some of the best starter shōnen series, likeMy Hero Academia,Hunter x Hunter, andDemon Slayer, as well as classic shōjo series likeSailor MoonandFruits Basket.That is not to say adults cannot enjoy these series, and there are plenty of anime targeting mixed demographics, likeSpy x Family– the once-in-a-generation animethat blends genres to appeal to audiences of different ages.
With this in mind, there are anime geared toward a more mature audience, even when they feature child or teen characters, like inAttack on TitanandErased. Meanwhile, there are grounded psychological thrillers, likeMonsterandDeath Parade, as well as high-genre series likeCastlevania: Nocturne,Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead,andCowboy Bebop. There are also plenty ofromance animethat are set outside high school and feature adults. Here are 10 anime that remind audiences that anime can be for adults too.
Attack on Titan
Attack on Titanis a globally successful manga and anime franchise created by Hajime Isayama. The story is set in a world where humanity lives inside walled cities, threatened by giant humanoid creatures called Titans. The series follows Eren Yeager and his friends as they fight to uncover the truth about the Titans and the world. First serialized in 2009, the franchise has expanded into anime series, films, video games, novels, and live-action adaptations.
Attack on Titanmay seem like it’s set up to be a typical shōnen, but in the first episode,Attack on Titanproves this is going to be a more mature series with its tragic death toll.From there, the series continues to hammer home how it is not just a violent series, but also one that tackles mature themes and issues like genocide, political corruption, and propaganda.
Attack on Titan Is the Neon Genesis Evangelion of Anime’s New Generation
Attack on Titan and Neon Genesis are two ground breaking series that share more similarities than it might initially appear.
BetweenAttack on Titan’sdepiction of warand its more horror elements, it’s no wonder it’s found an audience among older viewers. Make no mistake, this anime is not one for children as it has been rated to be for teens 15 and up, with IMDb clearly marking it as Rated R for its terrifying imagery and failure to shy away from even the most grotesque of death scenes.
A series that features child characters but is suited for a mature audience isErased. The protagonist is technically in his twenties, but he is sent back to his childhood, where he must stop the murder of a former classmate while being a child himself. Along with tackling issues like abuse and murder,Erasedis one of the best thrillers in anime, Although,Erasedmanga’s final volume does differ from the anime in a few ways, it’s best to check out both as they deliver phenomenal mysteries in their own ways.
8Monster
By Naoki Urasawa
Another phenomenal crime thriller – considered by many to beanime’s best psychological thrillers of all time– isMonster.Monsteris a must-read and must-watch series about Dr. Tenma hunting down a ruthless serial killer while getting tangled up in a mystery that gets more complicated with each episode. Where a lot of anime have some sort of fantastical or genre elements,Monsteris grounded in realism, which makes the monstrous acts by the main villain all the more haunting. It’s also a series set in 1980s Germany, so it is embroiled in the politics of that time period.
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebopis not just one of the greatest sci-fi anime of all time.Cowboy Bebopis one ofthe best anime ever, even decades after it first premiered. The seriesis about the crew of the Bebop, a rusty spaceship that travels across the galaxy in search of bounties for its crew – Spike, Jet, Fay, Ed, and Ein – to collect.Cowboy Bebopblends film noir and science-fiction beautifully, making ita perfect watch for fans of movies likeBlade Runner.Plus, its ensemble is one of the best, with Spike and Faye standing out in particular.
Cowboy Bebop’s Creator Is Back, And Lazarus Looks Like the Anime’s Long-Awaited Successor
Lazarus is the latest anime from Shinichiro Watanabe of Cowboy Bebop fame, and here’s why it’s one of the anime I’m most excited to watch in 2025.
As fun as it is, Cowboy Bebop is also rated only for mature audiences above the age of 16. Even for its time, the show got away with its depictions of violence, occasional sexual themes and nudity, as well as colorful language that isn’t suited for children.
A psychological thriller that is a must-watch isDeath Parade; however, this is no murder mystery. Instead,Death Paradetakes place in a limbo-like bar where those who have died go to play games, which will determine what waits for them in the afterlife. However, the host of this bar, Decim, has an unusual case on his hands with Chiyuki, a mysterious woman who’s found her way to this bar with no memories or plans yet to move on.Death Paradeis a phenomenal exploration of death, the afterlife, and morality, taking viewers on an emotional roller coaster.
LikeCowboy BebopandDeath Parade,Castlevaniaand its recent follow-up seriesCastlevania: Nocturneare not based on manga. Despite this, all four series are gorgeous, must-watch anime that are perfect for adults. Castlevania: Nocturnejust wrapped its second series, cementingNocturne as one of the best Netflix animewithits gorgeous animation, dynamic villains, and badass heroes.Annette really stole the show this season. Meanwhile, Richter delivers some wild fight choreography that would make Trevor Belmont proud. This iteration ofCastlevaniais set during the French Revolution, which also adds a nuanced look into classism, rebellion, and more.
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Deadis a recent anime, just in its first season. Adapting the book of the same title,Zom 100is one of the funniest manga coming out, following the adventures of Akira and friends during the apocalypse. Akira is a wage slave, but when a zombie virus breaks out, his first thought is that he doesn’t need to go to work.Zom 100is great fun, and it’sa scathing critique of capitalism and grind culture. Viewers get to see Akira become a person again, and so many adults will be able to relate to his experience.
Crunchyroll’s New Workplace Comedy Captures What Made Zom 100 A Success
My New Boss is Goofy actually shares one key similarity with Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, meaning it could resonate with a lot of anime fans.
As one would expect being in the middle of a zombie apocalypse means fighting against the undead! This has causedZom 100’s rating to teeter along the line of mature and rated teen given its graphic depiction when executing or being attacked by the zombified creatures.
Shifting gears, there are plenty of romance anime out there featuring adult characters. One of thebest and most revolutionary romance anime is also a beloved sports anime–Yuri on Ice. While a big selling point in the anime is the romantic tension between figure skater Yuri and his coach Victor, this is also a series about a grown man wanting to achieve his dreams as a skater before he is too old for the sport. Yuri’s skating aspirations are more than just dreams, as he works hard to deliver beautiful choreography that captivates viewers and judges.
One romance anime that is one ofthe greatest shōjo anime from 2024isA Sign of Affection. While a lot of romance anime takes place in high school,A Sign of Affectioncreates those same feelings of excitement with a first love by taking place on a college campus instead. In it, Yuki – who has a hearing impairment – meets her classmate Itsumoi, and the series follows their budding romance. Like some of the best shōjo, the gorgeous visuals and animation complement the feelings ofA Sign of Affection’scentral couple.
WhereA Sign of Affectionis a newer romance anime, this workplace love story has been around since 2014 in manga form.Wotakoiis about Narumi, who struggles to find love because of her nerdy interests; however, her co-worker, Hirotaka, proposes they date each other because they’re friends and have similar interests. Along with their romance, their friends navigate their own nerdy passions and relationships.Wotakoiis an adorable rom-com that allows its adult characters to indulge in their hobbies,even if they are nerdy to others. That’s a message that’ll resonate with any adult who lovesanime.
