Three things are guaranteed in life. They are taxes, death, and anime recommendations that reuse the same five mainstream shows that everyone’s already heard of. I absolutely despise this trope in the anime recommendations community, and I’m here to fix it.
I’m always on the hunt for something good to watch. There are new anime coming out every season, and there are still many from the past that I have missed. So every now and then, I search for anime recommendations, and I get hit with the same results every time.
Anime recommendations that only talk about Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, and One Piece. Recommendations that stand out from the mainstream but then never gain traction beyond the likes of Apothecary Diaries, Frieren, and Mushoku Tensei. Top ten anime with an overpowered protagonist, but it’s just a list of anime that do this, rather than why you should watch them.
The majority of anime recommendations never make it past the popular stuff that are already well known. Most viewers and readers click on them, hoping to find new content to watch, but are met with regurgitated lists of material they’ve probably already seen. It’s almost as if some people only watched enough mainstream anime to create a money-making video, and then left the fandom entirely. I wouldn’t be surprised if some recommendations are entirely AI-generated.
This makes it incredibly difficult for new or even veteran anime fans to find new stuff to watch. That’s why this list exists. I’m here to share real recommendations, stuff that you should be watching, but probably haven’t.
1. 86
86 is likely to be the most well-known anime on this list, and for good reason. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be introduced to a wider audience. 86 is an anime about racism, politics, and mecha, with a little bit of romance sprinkled in. The light novel is ongoing, but the anime only has one season of 23 episodes. But it’s perfect as it is.
The 86th district is where the San Magnolian military sends people who look different. They’re forced to pilot giant machines and protect the nation from a legion of invading machines that have gained sentience. It’s a war against an invading force, but also one fought against themselves.
The fight sequences are phenomenal, and the story is really good. 86 has something for everyone. Great character development, great world building, and of course, mechas. Even if the anime never gets a second season, it’s still worth watching.
The first season received an 8.34 score on MyAnimeList.
2. Irina the Vampire Cosmonaut
I would have never heard of Irina the Vampire Cosmonaut if not for the YouTube channel Memellion. I love watching their anime meme videos, and one day in 2021, there was one for Irina. It was the only time I ever saw the show being talked about, but it quickly became one of my favorites.
Irina is a vampire who wishes to go to space, while Lev is an astronaut in training who’s competing to be the first human to reach space. This world views vampires as inferior beings, so she’s used as a test subject, and Lev is tasked with training her. She starts pretty indifferent towards him, but they get pretty close over time.
The show has its political and violent moments, but it’s incredibly sweet. It’s like Spy X Family, but with faster relationship development. The story is decent, but the way the characters interact and grow based on what’s going on around them is super wholesome. Irina the Vampire Cosmonaut is a must-watch.
The anime received a 7.33 score on MyAnimeList.
3. Helck
Helck is a power fantasy like no other. It’s the most fun I’ve had watching a fantasy anime that wasn’t an isekai. The demon king has been defeated by a human hero, and the demon realm held a tournament to determine the new king. The only problem is that a human entered the tournament, and he’s really good.
His name is Helck, and he’s the brother of the hero who defeated the demon king. Vermilio, one of the elite lords, doesn’t trust him, so she keeps an eye on him. The two get teleported far away and are forced to work together to get back.
The study is very interesting and the pacing is great, but the characters and humor are what I liked the most. Helck is a behemoth of a dude, and Vermilio is angry and chaotic. I love their chemistry and how they interact with each other. They make a show that’s already pretty darn good, way more fun.
The anime received a 7.29 score on MyAnimeList.
4. Akudama Drive
Kazutaka Kodaka is a legend. He’s mostly known for stuff like Danganronpa, but one of the first projects he worked on after building Too Kyo Games was Akudama Drive. It’s full of his signature style, and it’s one of the coolest anime to come out of 2020. But not enough people know about it.
The anime takes place after a huge war between the Japanese regions of Kanto and Kansai. The war left Kansai in shambles, and now the region is in a dystopian future that relies on the far superior Kanto region. A group of the worst criminals ever is forced to work together to pull off the biggest heist. At the same time, they’re being hunted by executioners and learning more about the world.
The characters are okay, and there isn’t much humor, but Akudama Drive makes up for that with its action and style. The animation is great, the action is brutal, and the show oozes coolness, especially in the first episode. Watch Akudama Drive, it will be one of the coolest shows you’ve seen.
The anime received a 7.57 score on MyAnimeList.
5. Re:Creators
Re:Creators is the first Isekai to make the list, and it’s a good one. It’s not just a really good Isekai, but potentially one of the best reverse Isekai of all time… especially since it’s a REVERSE isekai! I know that’s a tough statement for some to believe, but it’s the truth.
Sōta Mizushino is just a normal high school student who is watching his favorite anime. He briefly gets teleported into the world of the anime and then immediately gets teleported back to the real world. But then, characters from a variety of fictional media begin appearing in the real world with no idea where they are or how they got there. Some of them are nice, but others are not so much.
The story is fantastic. The show tackles so many themes in a clever way while keeping everything contained within a grounded world. The animation is also amazing. Re:Creators is a great anime that everyone should watch. The fact that it’s a reverse isekai shouldn’t deter you.
The anime received a 7.55 score on MyAnimeList.
6. Amagi Brilliant Park
Amagi Brilliant Park is an anime that’s all about chaos. Seiya is threatened into going on a date with Isuzu, and she brings him to an amusement park. Turns out it’s a magical amusement park and all the workers are mythical beings. Isuzu actually brought him there to force him into becoming the new manager because the park is failing.
At first glance, the art style and characters make Amagi Brilliant Park appear as if it’s a show for kids, but it’s the complete opposite. The show is violent and incredibly crude, and that’s what makes it so fun to watch. There are a few moments that relate to character development and story, and a few management tips here and there, but the show is ultimately just fun.
Some of the jokes during the first few episodes hit perfectly, and there are three characters that I grew to love so much. If you like anime that are on the chaotic side, like D-Frag and Grand Blue, you’re going to get some enjoyment out of this.
The anime received a 7.45 score on MyAnimeList.
7. Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms
Mecha-Ude is a very unique anime. It was originally a Kickstarter project from 2016 that launched as a 25-minute pilot on YouTube in 2019. Five years later, it grew into a fully-fledged anime. The anime takes place in a futuristic world where mechanical beings called Mecha-Ude come to Earth and fuse with random people.
A middle-school student named Hikaru encounters a very rare Mecha-Ude that fuses with his hoodie. Suddenly, different groups begin chasing after him to get their hands on it. He then fights alongside other users to protect the world from nefarious groups that want to use the Mecha-Ude for evil.
For an anime that started as a Kickstarter project and was a YouTube video only five years ago, the production value is insane. The animation is insane and was the main draw for me. If you enjoyed stuff like Kill la Kill, you’ll enjoy the Mecha-Ude experience.
The anime received a 6.79 score on MyAnimeList.
8. Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy
Moonlit Fantasy is the second Isekai to make onto this list, and it’s one of my favorites, but it’s definitely your standard power fantasy anime in a sense. Makoto gets summoned to another world, though it turns out his parents were from the world that he gets summoned to. He gets rejected by the goddess of the new world, figures out he has ridiculous powers, and tames a dragon. That all happens in the first episode.
I feel like the show does a very good job at balancing humor, world-building, and darker themes. In the first season, which is quite short, the humor is spot on. It’s lots of fun until things take a turn for the worse and you realize the show isn’t all smiles. Then, in the second season, we find out that there were other people summoned from Earth who were designated as real heroes.
This is where the world-building significantly increases and the story becomes even better than it already was. It’s really a guilty pleasure Isekai that has a lot more going on than your average Isekai, and it’s definitely worth a watch.
The first season received a 7.71 score while the second season received a 7.84 score on MyAnimeList. A third season is in development.
9. Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Wistoria: Wand and Sword was an unexpected visual masterpiece for me. Originally, I wasn’t planning on watching it, but then when I finally did, I was blown away by the quality. Will Serfort is a student at the best magic academy in the world, but he has no aptitude for magic at all. Think of Mashle, but with slightly less humor and way more action.
Elfaria Albis Serfort is his best friend, adopted sister, and potential love interest. She just so happens to be one of the greatest magicians in the world. His goal is to graduate from the academy and work his way up so that he can be by her side, in a very similar progression to that of Kafka in Kaiju No. 8. How does he pull that off? With his trusty sword and his kickass ability to run, punch, and slice through any obstacle in his way.
The story progression is pretty good, and there are many interesting characters like Sion Ulster, Julius Reinberg, and a few of the professors. But the real draw for the show is the spectacle of watching Will fight. The animation is sick, and you only need a few episodes to show you why.
The first season received a 7.86 score on MyAnimeList. The second season airs in January.
10. The Vampire Dies In No Time
Vampires and vampire hunters aren’t meant to get along, but The Vampire Dies In No Time aims to prove that wrong. Ronaldo is a famous vampire hunter who’s tasked with killing a vampire named Draluc. He ends up being the weakest vampire ever, and Ronaldo blows up his mansion.
So Draluc moves in with Ronaldo and begins to “help” him with his vampire-hunting business. There aren’t really any overarching stories, and it’s basically a monster-of-the-week format surrounding the vampires, hunters, and officers of vampire control. At its core, it’s a slice-of-life series with a bunch of weird characters.
I have to admit, the show has a lot of cringe moments, but it’s very silly and likable for the most part. The combo of Ronaldo, Draluc, Handa, and Hinaichi is great, and there’s a lot of world-building for such a silly show. The Vampire Dies In No Time won’t be for everyone, but it’s a fun watch.
The first season received a 7.27 score while the second season received a 7.45 score on MyAnimeList.
