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The 7 Most Underrated Original Anime of The Last Decade
The anime industry is growing in popularity each year, and it’s already becoming one of the mainstream media forms now. While Crunchyroll is the biggest global hub of anime series and films, the streaming giant Netflix finds all kinds of unique films and series for global fans to enjoy. However, most of these anime series are based on manga series, light novels, or even video games, most of which already have dedicated fanbases. Even so, it’s not unusual for original anime to be released every now and then, which always offers something unique not only in terms of story and setting but also in animation.
Unfortunately, although these original shows showcase the diversity and artistic range of modern anime, they often get overlooked due to poor marketing and not enough hype. Not to mention that most anime fans go for the catchiest shows, especially Shonen or action have a considerable fan base. As such, it’s often easy to overlook these original anime that they know nothing about. However, these seven series deserve to be on the watchlist of every anime enthusiast.
7) Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song
This futuristic sci-fi series remains one of WIT Studio’s most underrated anime even after five years since its release. The story is set in the span of 100 years, following the AI songstress Vivy at the amusement park NiaLand, who embarks on a journey to save humanity.
In only 13 episodes, the anime features an incredibly soul-crushing story that focuses heavily on what it means for an AI to sing from the heart. The world has highly evolved AIs set out to eradicate mankind, and is on the brink of ruin as the air is filled with the stench of blood and burning bodies, leaving Vivy alone fighting to save humanity.
6) Odd Taxi
Due to the art style and the anthropomorphic characters, the story is often slept on, despite having complex and mature themes. While a manga series was released around the same time as the anime debut, the story and script were written by Kazuya Konomoto specifically for the screen.
The anime follows a 41-year-old taxi driver, walrus Hiroshi Odokawa, who meets several unique individuals every day and learns about their stories. However, his ordinary life is turned upside down when he finds the cops and the yakuza on his tail after he is suspected of being involved in the case of a missing girl.
5) Apocalypse Hotel
With no hopes for a sequel, this underrated anime might just get buried since it never received the hype it deserved. The story is set in the year 2157, long after humanity abandoned Earth due to its toxic atmosphere. Amid the collapsed civilization, Gingarou Hotel, a luxury establishment in Tokyo, functions to this day as the hotelier robots await humanity’s return.
Although the anime follows robotic characters, their loneliness and dedication to work leave a sense of underlying sadness as we gradually learn more about the broken world.
4) Sonny Boy
This award-winning original anime series by Madhouse features mind-bending narratives, surreal visuals, and shows that challenge the boundaries of reality. The story focuses on 36 middle school students, including Nagara, Nozomi, and Mizuho, who are transported to a dimension known as “This World.”
This mysterious world they are forced into has its own set of rules, and the students discover they can now use unique supernatural abilities. As the truth about the world comes to light, the students confront various challenges and conflicts while figuring out a way to return home.
3) Eden of the East
This is yet another award-winning mystery series that takes place after an unusual terrorist event when Japan was hit by missile strikes, but surprisingly, no one was harmed. The incident became known as “Careless Monday” and was forgotten by the world in no time. Three months after the incident, college student Saki Morimi travels to America on her graduation trip and encounters an eccentric man named Akira Takizawa lying naked in front of the White House.
Despite his suspicious behavior, Saki soon befriends him and gets tangled in a dangerous death game as the shocking connection between him and Careless Monday comes to light.
2) Terror in Resonance
This MAPPA original is considered one of the best psychological anime shows ever. The story begins with two teenage boys, Nine and Twelve, orchestrating a series of bombings under the alias “Sphinx,” causing mass panic. The police run around frantically to catch the perpetrators, but to no avail, until one day, the boys decide to upload cryptic videos.
They wear masks and challenge the police to prevent further bombings, causing mass panic. Amid the chaos, Lisa Mishima, a high school girl with no friends and her own troubles, befriends the boys and gets entangled in their plans as the reason behind their actions comes to light
1) 91 Days
This psychological thriller will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time as the story explores the moral complexities of the characters. Angelo Lagusa, a child living in the town of Lawless, had his whole life turned upside down after he witnessed the brutal murder of his parents and younger brother by the Vanetti mafia family.
Shattered by the tragedy, he leaves behind his name and his hometown and returns seven years later with a new identity to take revenge on the Vanetti family after receiving a mysterious letter. He befriends the Vanetti don’s son, Nero, and begins his bloodstained path to vengeance.
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