Anime is not a world for children's eyes alone. While plenty of shows cater to a younger audience, some of the best in the medium come from mature seinen classics. Distinguished from shounen and shojo, seinen explores more mature topics geared towards college-aged men up.
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Many of the best anime around started from seinen manga, including space adventures like Cowboy Bebop and rigid moral plays like Fate/Zero. Of course, some themes found in these types of anime may be a little uncomfortable for younger audiences. However, for viewers looking for a more mature story, a top-rated seinen masterpiece may be more their speed.
10 Berserk
Bloody animes with buff, sword-wielding protagonists aren't exactly the most family-friendly choices in anime. At least, Kentaro Miura's Berserk proves that much. With a brutish sword-wielding protagonist and a band of mercenaries just as violent, the anime is thrilling for the same reasons that it isn't meant for everybody.
Frankly, the story of Guts and the Band of Hawks makes for a great time for willing viewers. Its gory, life-threatening nature makes the story more meaningful, knowing that cheap plot armor isn't in play. All in all, Berserk is a thrilling rollercoaster of emotions, perfect for viewers that loved the battle elements of shounen anime.
9 Vinland Saga
Vikings aren't a common topic in anime. It is fairly uncommon for Japanese animation to explore the intricate world of Scandinavian warriors. Vinland Saga proves why this subject is perfect for the screen, with dark, gory warfare and a historical twist.
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Following the story of the youth Thorfinn, the anime explores the unique lifestyle of Viking warriors and their motivations. Frankly, a lot of the battle elements found in Berserk make Vinland Saga the amazing anime that it is. However, Vinland Saga is a little bit different, as it's a better fit for history lovers.
8 Cowboy Bebop
Few in the anime community are unfamiliar with Cowboy Bebop. The space dawdling, sci-fi adventure became a classic to the anime medium, much like Star Wars was to film. The anime explores a world where Earth is uninhabitable and the protagonists, on the spaceship Bebop, act as bounty hunters working against interspace crime.
Put short, Cowboy Bebop is a unique take compared to other entries in the science fiction genre. As the name implies, the series creates an interesting blend of sci-fi settings and Western themes. In the end, the anime makes for a perfect choice for viewers that want a space adventure that works its way to the mature side in every way possible.
7 Psycho-Pass
Sci-fi anime tends to go one of two routes: a space-based adventure like Cowboy Bebop, or a societal critique. Production I.G.'s Psycho-Pass definitely falls into the latter category, and it does it very well. Following a group of police officers and criminals turned police officers, audiences will be impressed by the series' interesting art style and deep characters.
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Ultimately, Psycho-Pass is a psychological thriller. Audiences uncomfortable with darker atmospheres and suspense may wish to explore other series. However, for those that love all of these themes, the mature atmosphere and network of characters make Psycho-Pass one-of-a-kind.
6 Hellsing Ultimate
Somehow, vampires have become their own genre among fantasy anime. From apocalyptic Seraph of the End to dramatic Strike the Blood, vampires became commonplace. That said, it all comes back to one seinen classic in particular: Hellsing Ultimate.
The story takes audiences into the shoes of Alucard, a vampire and faithful servant of the evil-hunting Hellsing family. While the series doesn't escape common vampire clichés (after all, it started most of them,) it does make for one of the most brutal experiences in modern anime. For suspense lovers that didn't get enough violence from Berserk, Hellsing Ultimate will be sure to thrill.
5 Land Of The Lustrous
Anthropomorphic anything has become a common trope in anime. Warships, animals, even countries have been made into people. However, few know about the series focused on anthropomorphic gems. Following the story of Phos, Land of the Lustrous explores an intricate world where Earth is too toxic for human life and Lunarians are on the assault.
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It's hard to say that there is a more unique seinen anime series than this. Living gemstones make for a world that is hard to beat in that regard, but all of this makes the series so entertaining. The metallic art style that strays from the standard, the unique properties of the characters, and even the unusual factions at play, make Land of the Lustrous a series hard to predict.
4 Death Parade
Seinen can be heavy, it's inevitable with more mature storylines. But no series does heavy quite like Death Parade. The series earns its reputation more from its symbolism and allegory, as audiences follow the story of Decim.
Decim is the bartender of the afterlife bar where people who die are sent to bargain for their souls. The anime offers an interesting perspective of life after death and other themes related to the topic, allowing for a series that really makes viewers think.
3 Bungou Stray Dogs
Bungou Stray Dogs is kind of like Psycho-Pass, but it instead focuses on detectives in alternate-reality Yokohama modeled after the 1920s with supernatural abilities. Okay, in reality, the only thing in common is the focus on detective-like characters. Nonetheless, Bungou Stray Dogs makes for an interesting alternative for viewers that didn't like the dark atmosphere of Psycho-Pass.
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Bungou Stray Dogs' biggest draw is its characters. In a way, the story was built around the characters rather than the other way around. All this means is that the series offers a more complex insight into character development in the supernatural genre. It's really a perfect series for people who enjoy getting attached to each and every character.
2 Fate/Zero
Part of the infamous Fate series, it's hard to say that Fate/Zero isn't seinen. Published as a seinen manga, exploring far more mature philosophical themes than a shounen anime, it has a much darker tone than other entries in the Fate series. The anime is alluring for a multitude of reasons. Deep narratives, heavy world-building, exquisite artwork, sound, and breathtakingly, beautiful fight scenes all make this anime stand out.
That said, audiences should take into consideration the watch order of the Fate series. Of course, Fate/Zero can be watched on its own conclusively. However, for those looking to watch the rest of the series, Fate/Zero serves as the prequel to Fate/Stay Night.
1 Ghost In The Shell
Live-action movies aren't uncommon in the world of anime. However, a series with a live-action movie released in the West is a different story. Ghost In The Shell earned its international acclaim as a seinen masterpiece with striking artwork for the time period and an interesting concept.
Focusing on the story of Motoko Kusanagi, an android designed for fighting, the Ghost In The Shell series creates one of the best narratives in the sci-fi, police genre. Featuring deep, complex characters and an action-packed world, it's easy to see why the series is one of the best among seinen.