10 Perfect Anime No One Is Talking About

Published Sep 16, 2026, 4:05 PM EDT

Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts. 

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Everyone is talking about anime nowadays, with the medium at an all-time high in popularity because of its creativity, incredible animation, exhilarating action, and unique stories. Series such as One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen are the topic of popular discussion, but there is an entire world outside of the most popular anime.

Some might think perfect anime are hard to come by, but that is only because they look for mainstream options. This list will celebrate those rare but perfect anime series no one talks about. Based on obscurity compared to quality, animation, writing, originality, critical acclaim, and overall quality, we've compiled a group of unsung shows that deserve far more acclaim than they usually get.

‘The Irresponsible Captain Tylor’ (1993-1996)

Image via Tatsunoko Production

The 1990s are a treasure trove of anime that, despite being perfect, are hardly talked about since they’ve been forgotten by time. The Irresponsible Captain Tylor follows the titular character somehow stumbles into the role of space captain, leading the Soyokaze and its crew into dangers beyond their wildest imaginations, yet always walking away unscathed.

‘90s anime had a different feel about them, and that is perfectly represented in The Irresponsible Captain Tylor with its goofy comedy, gorgeous hand-drawn animation, and endearing characters. This anime has a lot of heart and silliness to it, yet it still boasts a solid narrative with some sincere and serious moments to add a layer of tension and intrigue.

‘Nippon Sangoku’ (2026-present)

Image via Studio Kafka

Most of the anime on this list will be from the early 2010s or earlier, but sometimes there are underrepresented hits of the modern day, such as Nippon Sangoku. Set in the future, when a third world war has rendered the world into a nuclear winter, Japan is split into three territories, and one young man may be the deciding factor in which one wins the war.

Nippon Sangoku just came out, and even though it's one of the best anime of the year so far, it's still severely underrated. While it may be talked about more than others on this list because it's so recent, it should be among the most widely discussed efforts of 2026, considering its quality. The characters are eccentric yet well-written, and the war plot is one of the most fascinating games of chess in the medium.

‘Daily Lives of High School Boys’ (2012)

Comedy anime are really hit or miss, but despite being a polarizing genre, it still contains some classics, like Daily Lives of High School Boys. High school is a time that almost everyone can relate to, including the good, bad, awkward, and weird, and that is exactly what this anime represents, as it follows a group of guys doing whatever they want and having a blast doing it.

Daily Lives of High School Boys was popular during its time, but since then it hasn’t been talked about nearly enough. The group of guys perfectly represents all types of high schoolers and the life it leads, resulting in hilarious and sometimes cringeworthy situations. Despite being over a decade old, this underrated gem is still a relatable anime that new fans can also find funny.

‘Kaiji’ (2007-2011)

Image via Madhouse

Some anime on this list still have ongoing manga, and one of them is Kaiji, which is still putting out content decades later. When the titular character is in serious debt, a mysterious offer comes to him to wipe it clean. However, after accepting it, he realizes he has to compete in a series of death games against others in debt.

Kaiji is a classic anime better than most modern shows, maintaining its quality because of its distinct art style and suspenseful story. It is a tenser experience than any other anime, keeping fans on the edge of their seat with escalating stakes and wins and losses that will keep them on their feet, guessing what will happen next.

‘Area 88’ (1985-1986)

Image via Studio Pierrot

The 1990s definitely have a lot of unheard-of anime, but the 1980s have even more, such as Area 88. Tricked into becoming a fighter pilot for mercenaries, Shin is now part of the civil war for the nation of Aslan. In trying to earn enough money to buy out his contract, he has become one of the fiercest pilots in the titular base.

For its time, Area 88 was an innovative anime that dealt with the psychological effects of war, specifically how it was hard for soldiers to reintegrate into normal society after going through so much. But more than its social commentary, Area 88 is also an exhilarating action story with engaging character moments and dogfights, beautifully animated with much of the flair that made '80s anime such a treat.

‘Mawaru Penguindrum’ (2011)

Image via Brain's Base

It is only natural that avant-garde anime aren’t talked about as much as other shows, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t perfect. Mawaru Penguindrum is a tale of two brothers who will do anything to save their ill sister. When she is possessed by an entity telling them she’ll be saved if they get her the titular object, they find themselves in danger at every step of the way.

Mawaru Penguindrum is weird and hard to understand, but those who make the effort to analyze its complexities will uncover a world of thought-provoking themes. This near-perfect yet forgotten anime was directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara, a titan of the medium and a key figure in the success of many icons of anime, including Sailor Moon. Fans can see his influence in Mawaru Penguindrum's iconic transformation sequences.

‘Natsume’s Book of Friends’ (2008-present)

Image via Brain's Base

Most of these anime aren’t long-running, since those with multiple arcs have a better chance of achieving mainstream success, but Natsume’s Book of Friends is an outlier. The main character and their family have always kept records and dealt with the spirits, but when the book opens and lets all of them out, he and another yokai must work together to seal them all again.

Profound, emotional, and heartwarming at times, Natsume’s Book of Friends is a gorgeous anime that will make viewers cry and fall in love. Despite being an ongoing anime, this remarkable gem hasn’t picked up steam in the West, so it isn't talked about as much by mainstream audiences. Still, it is basically a perfect anime because of its relaxing vibe, heartwarming story, and plenty of new spirits to add fascinating moments.

‘Flame of Recca’ (1997-1998)

Image via Studio Pierrot

The Irresponsible Captain Tylor isn’t the only 1990s anime on this list, because another classic that no one talks about anymore is Flame of Recca. Ninjas are mostly a thing of the past, but the main character likes to think of himself as one. However, his fantasy turns out to be reality when a strange girl reveals his destiny as the last surviving member of a legendary ninja clan.

Flame of Recca isn’t a 1990s classic anime masterpiece, but despite its straightforward approach, it became a cult classic. This series felt like a bunch of shows wrapped into one, yet still retained an original value that was novel for the time, attracting viewers to it. Flame of Recca is barely ever mentioned nowadays, but fans should check it out and maybe experience some nostalgia they never had.

‘Rainbow’ (2010)

Image via Madhouse

Everyone can get behind a good prison break story, and for anime, the best comes from Rainbow. Set after the Second World War, a group of boys are all arrested, but they find new bonds in prison and declare their dreams for the future, some of which will come true, and others that will wake up in a nightmare.

The era of hardboiled anime is over, and that is partly why Rainbow isn’t talked about as much. The gritty and unwavering brutality of the anime depicts the story against the backdrop of post-WWII Japan, making it a proper tragedy that might be a tad intense for most viewers. However, some hope remains, as it always does, and that is the beauty depicted in Rainbow that more fans need to talk about.

‘Space Brothers’ (2012-2014)

Image via Apple TV

This list is home to some of the best anime that no one talks about anymore, and one last spectacular series that viewers should watch is Space Brothers. When two brothers witness the same object they believe to be a UFO, they both dream of becoming astronauts. While one will be the first Japanese man to step on the moon, the other works in the automotive industry, but when he is presented with the chance to catch up with his brother, he leaps at the opportunity.

The two storylines start separately, before slowly merging as the plot reveals more and more. However, the main appeal of Space Brothers is its realistic plot and surprisingly accurate portrayal of space, creating a captivating experience that immerses viewers in this wondrous setting. Space Brothers has one of the best casts of characters in anime, which it uses with the story and realism to create a must-watch anime.

Space Brothers