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Protagonists of seinen anime series
Protagonists of seinen anime series (Image via GamesHorizon)

13 Best Seinen Anime Series to check out

Stuart RayBy 10 Mins Read Anime

Are you someone who has become tired of shonen tropes and storytelling style, and are looking for the best seinen anime series to watch? Seinen anime is roughly defined as a genre or style that is intended for slightly older audiences than shonen is. While some anime series blur the boundaries between categories, such as Attack on Titan, seinen anime series are generally characterized by darker storytelling, mature themes and different philosophical depths.

This is not to say that seinen anime series are inherently better or deeper than shonen, but it is often necessary to take a break. Try something new. Spice things up with some Berserk or Attack on Titan after the wholesome, optimistic strains of My Hero Academia and Naruto. However, seinen anime series have enjoyed far lesser popularity in the West than shonen, so it is natural for you to be confused about a starting point. Don’t worry. Our carefully curated list has all the seinen anime series you want, each with a unique storytelling style.

Berserk, Tokyo Ghoul, and 11 other seinen anime series that everyone must watch

1. Attack on Titan

Thinking that Attack on Titan is a seinen anime series might initially strike as far-fetched, as it was serially released in Shonen Jump. However, what shonen series features as much blood and gore as Eren’s journey towards liberation? Go on, we will wait. Placing this show as a seinen series makes sense because the violence begins from the very transformation sequences, rather than Sailor Moon-esque changes with bright colours or Dragon Ball-like morphing with hyped background music, the concept of Titan shifting is rooted in self-injury, and the biting of one’s own limb.

That is hardly where the violence stops as to even get the powers, the Titan shifters have to commit cannibalism, by eating the previous holder of the same power. That is not to say the amount of blood and severed limbs and the desecration of the human body that is a staple of the show, as well as the eeriness of the Titans themselves. The show comments on the nature of humanity, freedom and camaraderie, viewing them through lenses that place the titans as a mirror of our own self, such that Hajime Isayama shows humankind at its worst and most nuanced and raw form. 

2. Berserk

Kentaro Mirua’s magnum opus, Berserk, is a masterful manga with incredible worldbuilding. No other adaptation has even come close to capturing the brilliant artwork of this series, which was created by the late great mangaka who poured his soul into the Berserk manga. Despite this, seeing the films and the anime adaptations of parts, aka The Golden Age from 1997, is still a blast. 

Any fan of shonen anime should watch these adaptations because of the excellent direction and character development, but the story is, in fact, a seinen anime series. The dichotomy between the characters of Guts and Griffith that inverts the heroism and villainy associated with black and white highlight a touching form of gritty dark fantasy that is less rooted in wish fulfilment or escapism and more in horror and revulsion.

3. Goblin Slayer

Many people are familiar with the show Goblin Slayer because of its shocking first episode, with a few scenes depicted which caused a great deal of criticism for valid reasons. The adventurer Goblin Slayer, a fierce and brutal fighter who specialises in eliminating goblins, is the subject of the book’s narrative. The controversy also implies that this is a truly a seinen anime series, capable of shocking its audience to the core.

The show received widespread criticism for its needless portrayal of violent violence and its dependence on shock value rather than truly developing anything compelling and engaging. Goblin Slayer is a long burn though, and those who persevere through the admittedly slow and mediocre first episode will find the rest of the show to be really captivating.

4. Elfen Lied

It would be simple to write Elfen Lied off after watching the first episode as hardly nothing more than a mindless spectacle of blood and gore. However, if you stick with the show, you will realize that many words describe this seinen anime series but “mindless” is hardly one of them. Soon, after this startling introduction, the show settles into a show that raises some interesting topics.

In Elfen Lied, Lucy makes a wonderful tragic lead character, and the show’s quality soars as a result of Lucy’s intriguing nature. The manga is always available for those who stuck with it until the finish, even though the anime may have a more hurried conclusion.

5. Gantz

Gantz is one of the absolutely goriest seinen anime series and one of the storylines with some of the most messed-up anime ever made, therefore viewers are strongly recommended to use discretion. In this science fiction anime, a mysterious black sphere that is known as Gantz brings back to life a group of recently departed individuals.

They are made to take part in a lethal game where they somehow must use cutting-edge weapons to battle numerous aliens. The anime is fascinating and thought-provoking to watch because of its violent violence, complex themes, and moral ambiguity, which makes its heart-stopping, high-stakes moments even harder to bear. It is truly a seinen anime series to the core that will appeal to fans of Attack on Titan and Parasyte: The Maxim.

6. Tokyo Ghoul

This is another one of those shows that toe the line between shonen and seinen. However, viewers categorizing it as shonen must have led different childhoods than the rest of us, which makes sense if we delve into the storyline. Few seinen anime series have ever attained the same levels of popularity as the legendary 2014 show Tokyo Ghoul. The dark, bloody series tells the tale of soft-spoken young man Ken Kaneki, who is forcibly pushed into Tokyo’s ghastly underground.

Despite some criticism for altering the plot of Tokyo Ghoul the original manga, the Tokyo Ghoul anime and its second season is nonetheless excellent as a stand-alone work. One of the most captivating character arcs in recent memory, Kaneki Ken’s decline over the course of the show’s two seasons makes for the ideal troubled protagonist. It became well-known at the same time Attack on Titan gaining traction, highlighting an eerie public fascination with the notion of human-like monsters eating humans.

7. Dorohedoro

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Although many seinen anime series are set in utterly horrific environments, Dorohedoro goes one step further by truly placing its protagonists in the chaotic, corrupt city of Hole. Magic users are allowed to do as they like there, which forces many of the area’s non-magical residents into unhappy lifestyles.

Hole is the home of Dorohedoro‘s protagonist Kaiman, a lizard-headed character. He does, however, benefit from a built-in resistance to magic, unlike what happened to many of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. Using this talent, he starts a bloody journey through the entire magic-using world in search of answers to his reptile state.

8. Parasyte: The Maxim

Shinichi Izumi, a high school student who lives in an other version of Earth, is the protagonist of this terrifying television series. Parasitic creatures have penetrated this globe, and they seize control and eat the brains and bodies of individuals. Shinichi traps a parasite in his arm to prevent it from entirely consuming him. 

To aid the rest of humanity in fending off the extraterrestrial menace, he must now comprehend and cooperate with the parasite. It’s spooky, bloody, terrifying, and definitely worth watching. On top of an amazing storyline, the introduction rocks with lyrics questioning the very hubris and nature of humanity itself. 

9. Black Lagoon

This seinen anime series would be more well-known to fans of classic anime. Black Lagoon follows a vigilante-esque group of mercenaries as they carve their own fortunes in the waters off Southeast Asia. It is set in the fictional Thai town of Roanapur. These four people—Revy, Benny, Dutch, and Rock—come from varied backgrounds and occupations, yet their loud demeanours and direct communication manage to bind them together.

Black Lagoon, which is produced by Madhouse, Inc., the company behind One Punch Man, Hunter x Hunter, and Death Note is a total delight for anyone who like gangsta-style violence and dialogue reminiscent of a Tarantino film. The 24-episode season and five OVAs make the show the ideal low-investment option for fans looking for new content.

10. Kaguya-Sama: Love is War

Although Kaguya-Sama: Love is War has some major shojo characteristics, its depth and storytelling techniques make it ideal for older viewers. The humorous series explores what occurs when two intelligent, yet obstinate, teenagers in love attempt to outsmart one another in order to “win” the hubris-filled game of love.

Miyuki Shirogane, the head of the school and an A student, needs to be on his guard since Kaguya Shinomiya, a rich heiress, intends to mislead him into expressing his love to her first so that she may take control of their relationship. Miyuki is prepared to repay the favour, though, and as a result of their deeds, the two’s lives will never be the same.

11. Hellsing Ultimate

It shouldn’t be surprising that Hellsing Ultimate benefited from the popularity of vampire stories because they have been a cornerstone of international media for decades. Only the Hellsing organisation, and its gory secret weapon, the vampire Alucard, can combat the forces of darkness in this brutal seinen story. It is a seinen anime series that has stood the test of time somehow.

The supreme vampiric warrior Alucard even has Seras Victoria as an apprentice.Hellsing is renowned for its gloomy, gothic vibe, blood and gore, vampires, and other supernatural creatures. When the heroes are nearly as frightening as the antagonistic villains themselves, viewers realise they have entered seinen land.

12. Erased

Playing upon the well-known “butterfly effect” hypothesis, this series tells the tale of a 27-year-old man who, after being accused wrongfully of his mother’s murder, awakens in the body of his 10-year-old self. He now has to deal with being a kid again while trying to discover who killed his mother earlier and stop the infamous kidnappings that took place when he was a kid.

With only 12 episodes, this intense anime is perfect for binge-watching in one sitting or two sittings. Erased will appeal to anyone who likes mystery, drama, young friendships, and science fiction. This seinen anime series is a thrilling watch for people looking forward to some gritty storylines. Satoru Fujinuma discovers there that the killing of a guy, one of his former classmates, might be connected to the murder for which he is being held responsible. As he makes an effort to uncover the truth about the past, save the guy he once knew to be his old classmate, and safeguard the future that he values, ERASED continues to follow him.

13. Vinland Saga

This is probably the only seinen anime series based off real historical events and that makes sense, considering that the world of the Vikings was as harsh and unforgiving as anything ever depicted on a mature anime screen. Vinland Saga‘s first season largely served as a prequel, which is incredible given that the show itself presents a compelling and fascinating story. 

The sequel, which begins in Winter 2023, differs from the original in terms of rhythm and place, but its writing and plot as well as character development are equally strong. Thorfinn, who was initially purposely single-minded, has evolved into a complicated hero who is tormented by his previous deeds. It’s been fun to watch Thorfinn mature over the course of the two seasons. Moreover, Vinland Saga has enough content for many more episodes, so perhaps it will remain an engrossing watch for many seasons and years to come.

 

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Stuart loves anime, writing, and writing about anime. Someday, he hopes to illustrate his own manga from his novel!