When there are hundreds and hundreds of anime series available on a streaming service like Hulu, it’s easy for some underrated anime to slip between the cracks. For whatever reason, a show may not receive the recognition it deserves, but there are still many qualities that can attract fans. And some of these programs have been around for nearly twenty years.
Whether anime has a compelling plot, interesting cast of characters, or gorgeous animation, there are plenty of series that don’t get the attention they deserve. While Hulu may not be the first streaming service that fans think of when it comes to Anime, its catalog is a treasure trove of beloved classics and series. a little more known. While die-hard anime fans may already be familiar with most of the anime on Hulu, those who are new to anime outside of the hit series have plenty of options to choose from that may already be on the horizon.
10 K Project (2012)
K Project is a lively animated series with a stunning opening, engaging storyline, and a huge cast of unique characters to follow its unraveling mystery story. Its premise focuses on the life of high school student Yashiro Isana and how it is thrown into chaos when he is suspected of murder by various organizations with supernatural abilities. However, for Yashiro there is more to it than seeing with the naked eye, and the series sees this unfold as he navigates new and existing dangers around him and his massive cast of characters. Project K.
K Project has two parts and a movie titled “K: Missing Kings” was released in 2014 and also has a related manga and light novel series, so there are plenty of worlds to experience even outside anime. K Project has been well received for its exceptional and high-quality animation, which it maintains throughout its entire series. Additionally, the series does a great job of balancing the branching stories of many of its characters, taking the time to explain past experiences and relationships that have made them all what they are today.
9 Gangs. (2015)
Set in Ergastulum, a city rife with crime, Gangsta. follows two mercenaries named Worick and Nic working with a newly hired woman named Alex Benedetto. The story explores the developing relationship between newly hired Alex and two “Handymen” mercenaries as she begins to learn more about them and the viewers, more about the society they live in. In this society, there are humans and supermen known as “Twilights” and a sadistic prejudice towards the latter.
The anime is based on Kohske’s manga and aired with one season in 2015. When the studio was in charge of Gangsta animation. filed for bankruptcy, however, the story remains unfinished despite the ongoing manga. Despite the unfinished state of the anime, Kohske’s Gangsta. Overall, it’s notable for its beautiful style, uniquely complex cast of characters, and interesting worlds and storylines. Kohske had been struggling for a while with serious health problems, which led to Gangsta. is on an ongoing hiatus, despite remaining active on the series as her health permits.
8 Tigers & Rabbits (2011)
Tiger & Bunny made a big comeback in 2022 when it released its second season in ten years. The series is set in a society where being a hero is a viable and heavily commercialized business, with heroes hailed as celebrities and frequently watched by the public. However, despite this enormous focus on the public, all heroes including protagonists Kotetsu “Wild Tiger” Kaburagi and Barnaby “Bunny” Brooks Jr. of the city Stern Bild seem genuinely interested in protecting their city and its people.
The first season mainly focused on the budding relationship between new crime-fighting partners Tiger & Bunny, but branched out so viewers could see more of the interesting cast and learn more about the story and goals. their personal consumption. Season 2 continues to explore this world and the new relationships formed by the introduction of the recently rolled out “Friends System”, which sees heroes battling crime in pairs. Overall, Tiger & Bunny is an engaging series that has a nice balance between funny, touching, and action-packed elements. Its premise deals with some very interesting and thought-provoking topics, and features a diverse cast, with several LGBTQ+ protagonists and gender-nonconforming groups.
7 Deer King (2021)
The Deer King is a great movie directed by Masashi Ando, a Studio Ghibli alum, based on a series of novels by Nahoko Uehashi. The premise concerns the adventures of Van, a war veteran, and Yuna, a young girl Van saved after both were bitten by the mysterious disease-carrying Ossam dogs where they were held captive. As survivors, they are hunted by various agencies as a possible means of discovering a cure for Black Wolf Fever.
The Deer King, which opens in 2021 and hits US theaters in 2022, features breathtaking animation in a beautiful fantasy world, focusing on themes of found family and the importance of love. compassion in a world filled with fear. It’s heartwarming, thought-provoking, and a compelling visual in the spirit of Studio Ghibli favorites like Princess Mononoke. This is one of the many reasons The Deer King is a hidden gem.
6 Mushi-shi (2005)
Mushi-shi is a 2005 anime based on the serialized work of Yuki Urushibara, about the main character Gingko and her journey to protect humans from supernatural beings called Mushi. With its premise compelling enough, Mushi-shi is also a visually striking series that viewers consider both poignant and mellow. Although the story follows otherworldly concepts, there are many more meditative moments that focus on relationships between human members of the established world. There were two parts of Mushi-shi released as well as additional media in the form of art books, anime and live action movies, OVAs, video games, etc. Only the first part seems to be dubbed. audio, although both are available to watch with subtitles on different streaming services.
5 Bakuman (2010)
Bakuman is a comedy anime that first aired in the fall of 2010 and has a total of three seasons. Bakuman focuses on the main characters Mashiro and Takagi, who together pursue their dream of working in the manga industry. Through trial and error, Mashiro and Takagi encounter a series of failures and successes that they learn from in order to achieve their ultimate goal. While it mainly focuses on these two characters’ foray into the industry, there are also some romances between Mashiro and his lover, Miho Azuki, who hopes to one day become one of them. become a voice actor.
The manga and anime series that followed spawned the release of a live-action film of the series as well as a video game and novel based on the last works of Mashiro and Takagi. Viewers found the series to be an insight into the world of manga creation and an interesting story, which might come as a surprise to some, as it was written by the original author of the popular series. Death Note sound.
4 Noragami (2014)
Noragami is a supernatural urban fantasy anime series adapted from the manga of the same name. Created by manga artist duo Adachitoka, Noragami follows middle school student Hiyori Iki, who, after an unfortunate accident, finds himself frequently experiencing moments where his soul leaves his body. Through this supernatural experience, she discovers the existence of parallel worlds known as the Near Shore and Far Shore, and meets the unnamed god, Yato, who is determined to do something for her. only me. Hiyori, Yato and Yato’s weapons, made from the soul of a dead person named Yukine, embark on a number of adventures.
The Noragami manga is expected to end with its 27th volume to be released later this year, however, there has been no announcement of a third season to continue the remaining story in the manga. Fans of the series appreciate Noragami’s overall aesthetic and style, the size and portrayal of the characters, and the high-quality storytelling they believe deserves more attention than ever before. it received.
3 D.Grey-Man (2006)
D.Gray-Man is an anime adaptation of Katsura Hoshino’s beautifully illustrated manga. The story is set in the 19th century of an alternate world and revolves around protagonist Allen Walker joining an exorcism organization called The Black Order. The original anime had 103 episodes but ended despite the ongoing manga’s story, and then a new series called D.Gray-man Hallow was adapted to continue the first part of the anime. Up to now, the manga is still being published in Jump SQ magazine.
D.Gray-Man is definitely a darker series at its core, although it does have some comedic moments. Some of the series’ central themes revolve around complex characters who, through their own tragedies, live in a world beyond black-and-white morality. The forces initially portrayed as ‘good’ seem to diminish as the series goes on, making D.Gray-Man a complex and compelling story as the viewer delves deeper into its mysteries. .
2 Kimi Ni Todoke (2009)
Kimi Ni Todoke is a romantic comedy series based on the manga by Karuho Shiina about the journey of finding friendship of high school student Sawako Kuronuma. Sawako is frequently teased by her classmates and there are rumors about her due to her supposedly ominous appearance. Despite everything, Sawako is a kind girl who starts making friends when a popular guy named Shota Kazahaya starts a conversation with her. New relationships and exciting opportunities arise as the characters tell about their everyday high school lives.
The success of Kimi Ni Todoke has led to the creation of a variety of additional media properties, such as live-action films, video games, and light novels. Viewers enjoyed the film’s sweet and humorous tone and how Sawako’s experiences boosted her confidence over time. After all, a lovely story about self-acceptance and love always deserves more attention, especially for shojo fans.
1 The World Ends With You: The Animation (2021)
Despite the popularity of The World Ends With You video game, many fans may not be aware of the anime adaptation set to be released in 2021. This 12-episode series attempts to capture the art style. uniqueness and overall aesthetic appeal to the viewer. along with the story of Neku Sakuraba. Neku is taken to another survival plan and has no choice but to participate in the game known as Reaper’s Game to try to survive. Along the way, he meets several characters and reluctantly cooperates with them to gain the strength to survive, eventually developing genuine friendships as he tries to uncover his lost memories. .
Although a second game has been released in 2021 titled Neo: The World Ends With You, it remains unclear if another anime installment will be made. There is no denying that for fans of the game as well as beginners, this animated series is a new way to experience the fascinating stories of Neku and his friends and certainly is a movie worth watching.
Not every anime gets the limelight time it deserves. However, with many options available to them on streaming services, viewers have the opportunity to pick up hidden gems at any time. anime fans with Hulu at their disposal might want to add some of these underrated series to their list if they’re looking for something new.