There's almost too much anime out there. It's a great problem to have for an anime-lover, as there's no shortage of series in any genre for fans to watch. If there is a downside to the incredible amount of animation out there, it's that some shows fly under the radar for way too long. While series like Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Attack on Titan get an incredible amount of views thanks to their quality and popularity, there are a ton of underrated anime series that deserve a lot more attention than they get.

While most series don't stack up to the three mentioned above, they're still excellent in what they try to achieve. It doesn't matter if they're a romance series, shōnen, or something a little edgier - some series just didn't get the views that they probably could have.

10 Classroom of the Elite

Animated By Lerche, Based on the Light Novel By Shōgo Kinugasa & Shunsaku Tomose

Classroom of the Elite is one of the best edgy modern anime series around. It stars Ayanokoji Kiyotaka as he attends one of the most competitive high schools in Japan in an attempt to find someone as smart as him. He came from the White Room, a brutal room that strips kids of their emotions and turns them into the smartest, most dominant people they can be. It excels in what it tries to be and doesn't turn its back on what it is for the entirety of the series.

This is an exceptional anime for anyone who loves a main character so much stronger and smarter than the other characters that it almost becomes a joke. Ayanokoji is always at least 10 steps ahead of everyone around him. If someone thinks they caught him by surprise, he intends for that to happen. Not only does he possess a genius-level intellect, but he's able to fight several people at once without taking any damage too.

9 The Elusive Samurai

Animated By CloverWorks, Based on the Manga by Yusei Matsui

It's surprising that The Elusive Samurai isn't more popular than it is. It won the 69th Shogakukan Manga Award, one of the highest honors in all of Japan's manga industry. Another winner from the same year was the hugely popular Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, and past winners have included mega-hits of the anime genre like Bleach, one of the best sports anime of all time in Haikyuu!, and many more. There's a lot to love about The Elusive Samurai, adding to its potential popularity.

The Elusive Samurai has absurdly good animation. It also features a great story with a simple but thought-provoking premise. In Feudal Japan, when The Elusive Samurai's story takes place, it was normal for most Japanese people to commit ritual Seppuku when they were dishonored. Tokiyuki Hojo didn't, however, and because he lived through his clan's potential annihilation, he's able to lead a revolt against the incredibly evil man who betrayed him.

8 The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten

Animated By Project No.9, Based on the Light Novel By Saekisan and Hanekoto

It's hard to find a good romance anime. There are plenty of anime that are considered to be romantic, but at their core, they aren't. Many romance anime feature weird harems, uncomfortably young characters, or more unrealistic stories that don't make sense outside the realm of fantasy. The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten is a legitimate romance anime in a world of pretenders. It's a great, simple, wholesome story that's perfect for anyone who wants a bit of romance without any of the weird undertones.

While it might not be entirely realistic, it's a lot more real than an overwhelming majority of its competition. It stars two incredibly relatable characters as they navigate the complexities of high school, find out more about each other and themselves, and in true romance anime fashion, eventually fall in love.

7 Record of Ragnarok

Animated By Graphinicia and Yumeta Company, Based on the Manga By Shinya Umemura, Takumi Fukui, and Azychika

Record of Ragnarok is one of the simplest anime series released in the past decade in the best way possible. It stars a litany of gods from different pantheons across a variety of cultures as they take on humanity's best fighters in an all-or-nothing tournament arc. Tournament arcs are already some of the best tropes in anime, and Record of Ragnarok is a tournament the entire time. It features gods like Zeus, Poseidon, Shiva, and more as they take on even more mythical humans.

Some of the people representing humanity include Adam from the Bible, Jack the Ripper from England, and even the swordsman Kojiro from Japan. The fact that a series can bring together so many cultures and beliefs so well is impressive enough, but to pit them against each other in vicious combat makes the series even better.

6 Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

Animated By Doga Kobo, Based on the Light Novel By SunSunSun and Momoco

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian is another romance series much closer to reality than everything it competes against. While it does have a pretty uncomfortable character in Yuki, the rest of the series is a solid piece of anime. It features Masachika Kuze and his new classmate, Alisa Kujo (known as Alya), and their budding relationship. The premise of the show is that Alya sometimes hides her feelings in Russian, and Masachika actually speaks the language.

Alya doesn't know that her crush knows exactly what she's saying, and he's working hard to hide it from her. It's a simple premise that creates a lot of funny and romantic moments other series don't come close to. It also has surprisingly good animation for such a straightforward series. Alya's eyes are animated with a rainbow of colors, and the world they live in looks vibrant and worth exploring as well.

5 I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince So I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability

Animated By Tsumugi Akita Animation Lab, Based on the Light Novel By Kenkyo na Circle and Meru

I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince So I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability might have one of the longest titles in anime, but it's an amazing series that accomplishes its goal with style. It's a great isekai series in which the main character actually gets reincarnated back into the world he came from, but this time, he's reincarnated as the 7th Prince. While he was a weak commoner before, he comes back to his world as a royal with a huge pool of mana to draw from and even more resources to use to his heart's content.

It's a great anime because of how strong the main character is. There aren't many characters in the series who can come close to him in of strength, and that makes the show even better. Prince Lloyd is also a maniac on the battlefield, turning archdemons into his pets thanks to his power.

4 The Most Notorious “Talker” Runs The World’s Greatest Clan

Animated By Felix Film, Based on the Light Novel By Jaki and fame

The Most Notorious “Talker” Runs The World’s Greatest Clan is one of the edgiest anime series released in years. It features a purportedly weak character with ambition working his way up to the top of the world. Like Arifureta, Notorious "Talker" is a great series for what it does. It doesn't pretend to be light-hearted, nor does it waste time trying to justify the actions of its main character. Noel Stollen is a deceptive, manipulative character from the start to the finish.

Like Classroom of the Elite, Noel Stollen will do anything to get what he wants. He realizes that his Talker class is considered to be the weakest in the world, but he couldn't care less. With his allies at his side, he'll create the strongest clan in the world before he turns 20, setting the scene for a great second season when it finally comes out.

3 A Sign of Affection

Animated By Ajia-do Animation Works, Based on the Manga By Suu Morishita

A Sign of Affection is one of the best romance anime to come out in years. It's wholesome, touching, and altogether realistic. It's two main characters are heart-warming, honest, and vulnerable in a genre where that's rare to find. The only bad part, if it can even be considered bad, is that A Sign of Affection is only one season long. It doesn't have any bloat, leaves no stone unturned, and tells a great story through its run time.

A Sign of Affection stars Yuki, a deaf college student attending class and hanging out with her friend Rin. When she meets the multilingual Itsuomi, her whole world is turned upside-down for the better. Their relationship is one of the best in the romance genre. While other couples feel forced, Yuki and Itsuomi go together like peanut butter and jelly.

2 Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again

Animated By Gekkō, Based on the Manga By Kagiri Araido

Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again is another excellent romance series that's only one season long. Through less than 15 episodes, viewers get to experience one of the most wholesome relationships in anime. The premise of the series is that a normal grandpa and grandma find a golden apple in their orchard, allowing them to turn young again. While their lifespans don't change, their physical bodies do, allowing them to relive their youth and fall in love with each other all over again.

It's an insanely touching series that stands out from other romance shows. Grandpa and grandma had already been together for more than a few decades when they turned young again, and it shows. They know each other incredibly well, letting audiences around the world see what true love can really look like.

1 Bocchi the Rock!

Animated By CloverWorks, Based on the Manga By Aki Hamazi

If Bocchi the Rock! was the number one anime in the world, it would still be considered underrated. This show is amazing, full stop. Bocchi is one of the most adorable, most genuine, and most relatable characters in all anime. Bocchi the Rock! stars the titular Bocchi as she navigates her new friendships are her ridiculous abilities on the guitar. She's a socially awkward girl who loves playing her favorite instrument but can't muster up the courage to play her best in front of her friends or a live audience.

In one of the best moments in anime, Bocchi eventually reveals her true talents to her friends and fans, shredding her guitar like Slash himself. When she's not putting on a masterclass in music, she's trying to avoid socialization at all costs like a true awkward kid.