Some anime are beloved by all who see it and have been able to make their way into the mainstream. They get tons of accolades, are celebrated by a large and active fandom, and have endless merchandise and fan art created in honour of both the show and its characters. But not animes can be so lucky.
Some animes deserve a larger fanbase and more support but end up being truly underrated, even years after their initial release. They never end up getting picked up by mainstream audiences and end up flying under the radar for years. Today, we are going to explore some of the more underrated, yet truly captivating, animes from the past five years in the attempt to get them in front of a wider audience and get them the recognition they deserve.
Dragon Pilot: Hisone And Masotan (2018)
Dragon Pilot: Hisone And Masotan is a show that follows a young military pilot and a dragon that has been hidden within the airbase itself.
The protagonist is chosen by the dragon and it is revealed that it was their destiny to become this dragons pilot all along. It sounds truly bizarre and it is... but in the best way.
Laid-Back Camp (2018)
Laid-Back Camp is a show about a young girl who wants nothing more than to camp-solo for the rest of her days. Of course, things don't always go according to plan.
When a setback knocks her off her plans, she reluctantly reaches out for help and finds herself rather pleased with the company of the person that responds to her pleas.
Banana Fish (2018)
Banana Fish is a show which follows the life of a character named Ash Lynx as they attempt to survive a world filled with gangs, drugs, and post-traumatic stress caused by the war.
When a gang member attempts to retrieve a special drug from Ash, things go south and a photographer and Ash's friend are abducted by the gang. Ash must then retrieve those who have been taken while navigating his own ties to the mafia.
Joukamachi No Dandelion (2015)
Joukamachi No Dandelion is a show about a normal suburban family, or so they want you to believe. It is quickly revealed that this is no ordinary family as each of its members possess fascinating and unique powers. It is also important to note that they are under constant surveillance; much to the chagrin of our main character.
Our main character is a truly shy girl named Akane Sakurada who wants to do everything in her power to take down each and every camera and cancel the network dedicated to streaming her and her family every activity, if she ever becomes queen.
Skull-face Bookseller Honda-San (2018)
Skull-face Bookseller Honda-San is a truly remarkable show in that it is able to both completely absurd and truly mundane. The show itself about the daily life of a man who works at a bookstore. It is based upon the life of the man who wrote the manga from which the show was adapted.
The characters of the show appear as Halloween type creatures with unique heads. One character has a pumpkin-shaped head, another has a rabbit head, and one character is a living skeleton.
Hugtto! PreCure (2018)
This show begins with one of the most relatable premises of all time. Hugtto! PreCure is a show centered around a young girl who is frustrated by being seen as a child and wants to be seen as a mature woman. However, her plans for a speedy race into adulthood are curtailed by her stumbling across some rather peculiar figures one day.
She ends up uncovering a truly evil plot that threatens both her own future and the future of everyone around her and commits herself to stopping it. That is one way to prove to the adults around you that you are mature.
Flying Witch (2016)
Flying Witch is a shonen style anime which follows the young witch named Makoto as they are sent off to spend some time with their extended family while learning how to perfect the use of their magical powers.
Though the subject matter is focused on the supernatural elements of the series, the show itself revolves around our leads attempts to adjust to their new surroundings and figure out how to make the best of their unique life.
Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai (2018)
Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai is a show which follows the life of a character named Sakuta Azusagawa. Though things start out quite normally, things quickly take a turn for the supernatural when he encounters a girl dressed up as a bunny rabbit that no one else can see.
Our protagonist decides to dedicate his life (or at least the foreseeable future) to figuring out exactly why he cannot see her and if this issue affects anyone else in the world.
Flip Flappers (2016)
Flip Flappers is a show about two close friends who head on out a magical adventure in order to reunite the separated and broken fragments of a genie-like stone that they believe can grant the wishes of those who possess it.
The show falls into the "magical girl" genre of anime and is a perfect show for those anime fans who enjoy the more surreal elements of the medium.
Cells At Work (2018)
Cells At Work is a show about the cells that live inside of a hosts body. In a similar fashion to the classic film Osmosis Jones, these cells take on a human shape themselves and are able to communicate with each other and the "world" around them.
The show revolves around a red blood cell and a neutrophil as they go about their daily lives. It is important to note that, even though these cells have been anthropomorphized, the show is actually surprisingly accurate in its portrayal of the systems of the human body and its functions.