A different side
of anime.
A note from us
Four series under 15 episodes, plus a longer mystery to settle into. These picks show a more mature side of anime without asking you to start with hundreds of episodes.
Explore the 5 picks.
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Find a series for the kind of story you want.
0 OF 5 WATCHED
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Erased
Satoru Fujinuma has a strange ability that sends him back in time moments before a life-threatening incident. When tragedy strikes close to home, he is sent much further into the past and given a chance to prevent events that shaped his life.
A murder mystery about regret, second chances and the chance to prevent a tragedy. It does so much in just 12 episodes, making it an easy place to start.
Paranoia Agent
A mysterious attacker on golden skates begins targeting people across Tokyo. As detectives investigate the seemingly unrelated victims, the case grows stranger and the fear surrounding it begins to spread.
Satoshi Kon’s strange, unsettling mystery has stayed with me for years. Beneath it is a thoughtful story about escapism, denial and the pressures of everyday life.
Terror in Resonance
Two teenage boys known as Nine and Twelve carry out a series of attacks in Tokyo, leaving cryptic riddles behind for the police. Their motives remain unclear as a tense game of pursuit begins.
A tense, emotional thriller with beautiful direction and an incredible soundtrack. If anime makes you picture nothing but over-the-top fights, this is a good place to challenge that idea.
Death Parade
After death, certain people arrive at a mysterious bar where an enigmatic bartender asks them to compete in games. As they play, memories and hidden parts of their lives begin to surface.
A simple premise—games played with your soul on the line—opens up difficult questions about judgement, regret and morality. I love how it gives you something new to think about with almost every story.
Monster
Brilliant neurosurgeon Kenzo Tenma chooses to save a young boy instead of an influential patient, a decision that changes the course of his life. Years later, the consequences of that choice pull him into a dark mystery stretching far beyond the operating room.
At 74 episodes, this is the bigger commitment on the list, but it is one of the best series I’ve watched. The mystery, characters and one unforgettable villain make it worth settling into.
