As someone who’s been watching seen massive merch rollouts, but they pushed boundaries, told unforgettable stories, or simply dared to do things differently. Streaming anime has made it easier than ever to access these buried treasures. While newer fans often begin with high-profile titles like Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen, there’s a world of hidden anime history just waiting to be discovered. Here are ten standout series (some old, some modern) that I think every serious anime fan should check out.
10 Mobile Suit Gundam (1979)
Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, Produced by Sunrise
Mobile Suit Gundam
- Release Date
- 1979 - 1980
- Network
- Nagoya TV
- Directors
- Yoshiyuki Tomino, Ryoji Fujiwara, Shinya Sadamitsu
Cast
Hirotaka SuzuokiGihren Zabi (voice)-
Tôru FuruyaDegwin Sodo Zabi (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Kenichi Matsuzaki
- Creator(s)
- Yoshiyuki Tomino, Hajime Yatate
It all began here. Mobile Suit Gundam, directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, wasn’t an overnight hit when it aired. The show was pulled early due to low ratings, but reruns and model kit sales gave it new life. Set in the Universal Century, the story follows Amuro Ray, a civilian who’s forced into the cockpit of a high-powered war machine during a brutal space war. It’s gritty, political, and full of young characters dealing with the harsh realities of combat.
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The show would later be re-edited into three theatrical films and ignite a franchise still going strong today with Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. The series eventually moved anime away from superhero-style robots to more realistic depictions of war and ideology. It also helped establish anime as a space for complex, serialized storytelling, especially for older teens and adults.
9 The Rose of Versailles (1979–1980)
Based on the Manga by Riyoko Ikeda, Directed by Osamu Dezaki and Tadao Nagahama
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The Rose of Versailles - Season 1
- Release Date
- October 10, 1979
- Network
- Nippon TV
- Series
- The Rose of Versailles
- Episodes
- 40
While Gundam was reshaping the mecha genre, The Rose of Versailles was leading a revolution in shōjoanime. Set during the French Revolution, it follows Lady Oscar, a noblewoman raised as a man to serve in the palace guard. Her loyalties are torn between her duty to Queen Marie Antoinette and her sympathy for the people. The drama is heightened by sweeping music, strong romance arcs, and high-stakes politics.
This show (which was recently remade into a feature film by studio MAPPA) remains beloved in Japan, where Lady Oscar became a lasting icon of feminist ideas. Riyoko Ikeda’s manga was already a massive hit, and the anime elevated it further with Osamu Dezaki’s signature visual style. It resonates with fans for its fearless portrayal of gender, class, and destiny. And for anyone curious about how anime began tackling progressive themes, The Rose of Versailles is essential viewing.
8 Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982–1983)
Directed by Noboru Ishiguro, Created by Studio Nue and Artland
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Super Dimension Fortress Macross
- Release Date
- 1982 - 1983-00-00
- Network
- MBS
- Directors
- Ryo Yasumura, Hiroshi Yoshida, Yoshizo Tsuda, Hiroyuki Yamaga
- Writers
- Kenichi Matsuzaki, Shoji Kawamori
- Franchise(s)
- Macross
Cast
-
Arihiro HaseHikaru Ichijyo (voice)
-
Mari IijimaLynn Minmay (voice)
- Creator(s)
- Shōji Kawamori
Part love story, part space war epic, Super Dimension Fortress Macross began as a scrappy sci-fi TV project and became one of the most influential anime franchises of all time. Directed by Noboru Ishiguro and developed by the team at Studio Nue, the series introduces viewers to a transforming battle ship, a war between humans and the alien Zentradi, and the unexpected power of pop music. At its center is a love triangle involving rookie pilot Hikaru Ichijyo, singer Lynn Minmay, and officer Misa Hayase set against the backdrop of interstellar conflict.
What makes Macross endure is how skillfully it balances its big ideas. Giant robots and dogfights are just part of the package. Beneath them are emotional themes about culture, communication, and loss. Its mix of melodrama and mecha helped define the '80s anime boom. For many, this is where real robot anime found its heart.
7 Now and Then, Here and There (1999–2000)
Directed by Akitaro Daichi, Animated by AIC
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Now and Then, Here and There - Season 1
- Release Date
- October 14, 1999
- Network
- WOWOW Prime
- Series
- Now and Then, Here and There
- Episodes
- 13
Now and Then, Here and There starts with a whimsical isekai setup, but quickly transforms into one of the most harrowing anime of its era. When cheerful middle schooler Shu is transported to a barren, war-torn world, he’s forced to confront child soldiers, torture, and the horrors of authoritarian control. Few shows hit as hard emotionally, especially for viewers expecting fantasy escapism.
Despite its bleak setting, Now and Then, Here and There finds room for hope and moral courage. The contrast between Shu’s idealism and the surrounding cruelty is at the heart of its impact. While not as widely recognized as some wartime anime, it’s praised by critics and educators alike for portraying the cost of conflict in human . It’s a challenging watch, but one of the most important of its kind.
6 Texhnolyze (2003)
Created by Chiaki J. Konaka, Directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki
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Texhnolyze
- Release Date
- 2003 - 2003-00-00
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Directors
- Nanako Shimazaki, Toshiharu Sato, Yasuhiro Matsumura
Cast
-
Satoshi HagaIchise (voice)
-
Hiroshi TsuchidaKaego Oonishi (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Noboru Takagi, Shin Yoshida
Bleak and minimalistic, Texhnolyze immerses the viewer in a crumbling underground society where humans are enhanced with unstable cybernetic limbs. The story follows Ichise, a brutalized fighter with a missing arm and leg, as he navigates gang politics, synthetic evolution, and existential dread. Dialogue is sparse, and much of the early storytelling is visual and atmospheric.
With its slow pace and abstract plot, Texhnolyze demands patience. But its commitment to tone and world-building is unmatched. The color palette, use of silence, and philosophical dialogue create an oppressive mood that is deeply immersive. It’s a work that rewards attention, offering a chilling portrait of a society at the edge of collapse and perhaps already over it.
5 Noein: To Your Other Self (2005–2006)
Produced by Satelight, Directed by Kazuki Akane
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Noein: To Your Other Self
- Release Date
- 2005 - 2006-00-00
- Network
- Chiba TV
- Directors
- Kenji Yasuda, Mamoru Enomoto, Kiyoshi Matsuda, Yasuhito Kikuchi, Hiroyuki Yokoyama, Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, Naoki Horiuchi
Cast
-
Fujiko TakimotoYuu Gotou (voice)
-
Kazuya NakaiKarasu (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Hiroshi Ohnogi, Hiroaki Kitajima, Kazuharu Sato, Kazuki Akane
A multiverse war comes to the doorstep of a quiet seaside town in Noein, a mind-bending mix of quantum theory, teen drama, and rotoscoped animation. Yuu and his friends are just trying to enjoy their last summer before high school when parallel versions of themselves begin arriving from a devastated future. The story jumps between timelines, realities, and alternate selves.
The result is a visual and narrative rollercoaster. The animation often sacrifices consistency for expression, which some fans found jarring, but others embraced as part of the show’s chaotic energy. Beneath its complexity is a touching story about growing up and facing the future. It’s as emotionally grounded as it is intellectually ambitious.
4 Ergo Proxy (2006)
Written by Dai Sato, Produced by Manglobe
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Ergo Proxy
- Release Date
- 2006 - 2006
- Directors
- Shuko Murase
- Writers
- Dai Sato
Cast
Liam O'Brien-
Rachel Hirschfeld
WHERE TO WATCH
- Franchise(s)
- Ergo Proxy
- Creator(s)
- Shuko Murase
Ergo Proxy is set in a decaying post-human world where Inspector Re-l Mayer investigates a series of android-related crimes. What begins as a noir-tinged mystery soon unravels into a metaphysical odyssey through ruined cities and abstract thoughtscapes. Re-l is ed by Vincent Law, an unassuming immigrant with a secret past, and Pino, a lively AutoReiv robot child.
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Ergo Proxy’s mood is dense and hypnotic. Industrial landscapes, cryptic dialogues, and a brooding score give it a strong identity. While some episodes take detours into psychological experiments and philosophical allegory, others reveal moments of warmth and quiet despair. Like Ghost in the Shell and the best cyberpunk anime, it's not an easy show to summarize or explain, but it’s one of the few that feels like it truly came from another world.
3 Dennou Coil (2007)
Created and Directed by Mitsuo Iso, Produced by Madhouse
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Dennou Coil
- Release Date
- 2007 - 2007-00-00
- Network
- NHK Educational TV
- Directors
- Kazuo Nogami, Nobukage Kimura, Hironori Aoyagi, Akitoshi Yokoyama
Cast
-
Junko NodaTamako Harakawa
-
Sachiko KojimaFumie Hashimoto
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Yōsuke Matsuzawa
Augmented reality becomes a playground and a battleground in Dennou Coil, a unique science fiction story set in the near future. Yuko moves to a new city where AR glasses let kids interact with digital overlays on the real world. What begins as lighthearted fun soon leads to digital ghosts, missing data, and long-buried traumas.
What sets Dennou Coil apart is its commitment to realism in its fantasy. Iso and his team consulted tech experts and child psychologists to give the story a grounded edge. Its themes of loss and emotional healing are subtle but effective. Part speculative fiction, part coming-of-age story, it’s a quiet masterwork that deserves more recognition outside Japan.
2 Kaiba (2008)
Directed by Masaaki Yuasa, Produced by Madhouse
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- Creator(s)
- Masaaki Yuasa
Set in a world where memories can be swapped, stolen, and stored in flash drives, Kaiba is one of the most unique-looking anime ever produced. Its characters resemble children’s book drawings, but the story underneath is a dark and often painful meditation on identity and inequality. The protagonist wakes with no memory and sets out to recover his past, meeting people who have literally changed bodies and lives.
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Director Masayuki Yuasa's (Devilman Crybaby) visual style is as experimental as ever, but what lingers is the heartbreak behind the color. The show critiques capitalism, memory commodification, and emotional isolation with surprising force. It may look whimsical at first glance, but Kaiba is devastating in its own quiet way. There is truly nothing else quite like it.
1 Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (2009)
Produced by Bones and Kinema Citrus, Directed by Masaki Tachibana
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Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
- Release Date
- 2009 - 2009-00-00
Cast
-
Satomi HanamuraMirai Onozawa
-
Yumiko KobayashiYuuki Onozawa
After a massive earthquake hits Tokyo, two siblings must make their way home across the wrecked city. They’re ed by Mari, a motorbike deliverywoman who becomes their guardian. The journey is realistic and emotionally grounded, focusing on small details like food, shelter, and helping strangers in need.
Rather than sensationalizing disaster, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 opts for restraint and emotional realism. Its characters are not heroes, just ordinary people trying to survive and stay together. The creators worked closely with emergency services experts to ensure authenticity. As climate events become more frequent worldwide, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 feels more urgent now than ever. It is heartbreaking, yes, but also deeply human.
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