5 Obscure/Underrated Animes You Have to See

Tv shows, movies, anime, books, music...no matter what kind of entertainment you indulge in there are bound to be underrated masterpieces. Just because they didn't blow up like some of the more well known works, doesn't mean they aren't worth your time! There are lot of gems to be found out there if you take a chance on something that doesn't already have a large fanbase.

Naturally you're bound to stumble across a few duds in your search, but this list is here to give you some suggestions.

These anime series each have fantastical elements, though they vary in genre: adventure, slice of life, horror, thriller, etc.

There's something for everyone on this list!

Some are quite long, while others are fairly short, so no matter your schedule or the time you are willing to invest, there's a suggestion for you.

They are in no particular order.

*My rating is based off of personal criteria. Binge-ability, rewatch-ability, story, and originality.*

"Hunter x Hunter"

Language: Currently an English dub is being made but if you want to watch them all, I'd suggest watching it in Japanese.

Episodes: 148 (So Far)

Genre: Adventure

My Rating: 10/10

I want to make it clear that I am talking about the 2011 version, not the 1999 version.

This sweet-at-first-glance anime focuses on Gon, a 12 year old boy on a quest to become a hunter so he can find his father. It takes place on a different world than Earth, although it parodies it with cities such as "York New."

This anime gets progressively darker and more intense the longer it goes on. I would describe the first story arc as light with easy solutions. The first arc involves introducing a recurring sort of antagonist character by having him casually rip off a man's arms before turning them into petals, a 12 year old assassin ripping a man's still beating heart out of his chest, and a man being devoured by giant birds. This is light compared to the rest of the series.

I recommend this anime to... everyone really. It's my favorite. I especially recommend it to fans of Naruto, since the two are fairly similar. Naruto's creator based several elements of his story off of Hunter x Hunter. (I am not bashing Naruto, just saying that even Naruto's creator is a fan of the series. He even admitted to being inspired by it. Obviously he didn't copy Hunter x Hunter or anything like that.)

A brief warning: this series has earned a nickname...Hiatus x Hiatus. The creator has health problems and can only write so often. This is why there haven't been any more episodes since 2014. It's still worth the watch, because where the anime leaves off is actually incredibly satisfying.

"Blood+"

Language: Japanese and English

Episodes: 50

Genre: Mystery, Adventure, Light Horror, Monster Slaying

My Rating: 9/10

This exciting anime follows Saya Otanashi, a teenage girl with an enormous appetite. When I say appetite, I mean an appetite for... regular food. That's what she craves. Usually. Seriously this chick can devour a monster sized bento box in like, two minutes. It's insane.

The girl began living with her adopted father and two brothers one year before the beginning of the series. She has no memory of who she is or where she came from, but she is content. She sees no reason to search when she has a family already.

This all changes when she meets a mysterious man with a cello who she recognizes, but has no recollection of. It escalates when she is attacked by a giant, bat like monster that seems to be drawn to her. She soon discovers that her blood is the only weapon that can truly destroy these things, and goes on a journey with the organization dedicated to destroying them. She eventually learns the truth of who she is, and why her blood destroys the Chiropterans.

This anime is so obscure it's unreal. I have met so few people who have heard of it. It's depressing. This anime is actually pretty dark, and there are a few potentially triggering scenes, though nothing too graphic. Gore and death are recurring themes in the series. Saya suffers over the course of this series. You see her lose over and over again but she always picks up her sword, and continues fighting.

This series deals with moving forward after loss, picking yourself back up, and complicated emotions regarding your own family. Despite being about monster slaying, it's actually quite relatable.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys darker animes that start off intense and stay that way.

"Ghost Hunt"

Language: Japanese and English

Episodes: 25

Genre: Horror and a little bit of slice of life. Mainly Horror

My Rating: 10/10

Warning: This anime is extremely intense. Some episodes will give you the chills and some will make you cry. The last seven or eight episodes are especially dark and unnerving. If you watch this at night, turn the volume down so the neighbors do not think you are being murdered (if you're a girl) because the screams are crazy loud.

This anime follows Mai, a seemingly normal high school girl, who breaks an expensive camera and finds herself assisting Kazuya Shibuya or Naru in investigating a haunted schoolhouse. She decides to stay on with his Paranormal Investigation Company, making new friends, and learning new things about herself in the process. She assists Naru in his many cases, sometimes dealing with murderous spirits, sometimes dispelling curses, other times just helping a sweet child move on. Her life is put in danger multiple times over the course of the series, though she never wavers. I am going to admit that she never stops screaming like a wuss. Seriously. This chick is not brave at all, but she has courage.

I would recommend this anime for someone who enjoys intense animes that will take them on an emotional journey. It is both dark and depressing. People do die in this series, and many come very near death.

I really do recommend this anime. It is excellent.

Now if you get into this anime there are questions left unanswered. If you want those answers you have to read the manga.

"Alice and Zoroku"

Language: English and Japanese

Episodes: 12

Genre: Slice of Life, Fantasy

My Rating: 8/10

This anime follows a small child, named Sana, who broke out of the government agency that held her. Her codename is "The Red Queen." She is what is known as a Dream of Alice. Sana is then found by a cranky old man named Zoroku, who ends up taking her in.

The agency that was holding her tries to take her back, and a whole number of other problems are encountered.

Considering Sana is in no way a normal girl, she struggles to fit in with normal society.

This anime is really sweet. You see that even though Sana isn't entirely human, she is just a scared little girl who gains a grandfather. It's so adorable! It also has an extremely interesting story.

I would recommend this anime for someone who wants to watch something sweet with their kids, or someone who just needs a little extra sweetness in their life. It is also good if you don't have a lot of time.

"Murder Princess"

Language: English and Japanese

Episodes: 6

Genre: Mystery, Horror

My Rating: 7/10

This anime follows two girls, Princess Alita and Falis the Bounty Hunter. While escaping from an attempted coup, Alita encounters Falis and the two end up switching bodies. The rest of the series is spent uncovering forgotten secrets and trying to find a way to switch back.

This anime was actually one of the first animes I ever watched, so it holds a special place in my heart. It has an engaging storyline and so many twists. Considering it only has 6 episodes, that is very impressive.

I would recommend this anime for anyone who likes mysteries. Conspiracy theorists might like this one, too. This is great for anyone who has very little time.