Summary
- Fate/Zero's first episode is off-putting, making it challenging to suggest despite being a series standout.
- Elfen Lied's violent gore in the first episode may deter viewers, despite its compelling storytelling.
The realm of anime is full to the brim with some of the best entertainment fans can get their hands on. The compelling storytelling and incredible action scenes are just a few of the many reasons why viewers find it hard to tear themselves away from these amazing shows.
That being said, it's hard for anime fans to recommend certain shows they love when some of the material can be hard to digest for non-anime fans. From copious fanservice to disturbing gore, there's no shortage of anime that is challenging for fans to recommend.
Best Anime For Kids
Most anime are for teenagers or older viewers, but some all-time great series and movies are perfect for children and their parents.
Devilman Crybaby
A Surreal Explosion Of Gore And Sex
Devilman Crybaby
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- 2018 - 2018-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
Devilman Crybaby is full of gore and other NSFW material, mixed with a heavy dose of realism to make for a viewing experience comparable to a fever dream. Akira and Ryo's friendship is tested to the limit after the former becomes a devilman. There are plenty of sexually explicit scenes in this show, but what is truly disturbing is the gore. It doesn't help that the story is as dark as they come, making it hard for some people to tolerate what's happening on screen.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Recommending This Magical Girl Anime With A Straight Face Is Hard
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
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- 2011 - 2011
WHERE TO WATCH
In a rare example of a magical girl anime that both men and women will find hard to describe, the genre-subverting Puella Magi Madoka Magica is one of the greatest anime of all time. However, reinforcing this statement by recommending this show to others is challenging, to say the least.
Dark Romance Anime All About Twisted Love
With sinister and gloomy atmospheres, along with relationships that are anything but healthy, these are some of the darkest romance anime ever.
Recommending the show to people who aren't interested in the magical girl genre is a tall order. Meanwhile, people who love this genre may not like the dark twist in Puella Magi Madoka Magica. However, if fans go into the show with an open mind, they'll enjoy an anime that more than deserves all the love that it gets.
Elfen Lied
The Violent Gore In The First Episode Is Hard To Stomach
Elfen Lied
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end- Release Date
- July 25, 2004
- Finale Year
- October 17, 2004
- Network
- AT-X
As touching and hard-hitting as Elfen Lied's storytelling may be, none of this is conveyed in its first episode, which is as gory as they come. Seeing beheadings, bisections, and amputations happen at a frenetic pace is hard to watch.
To make things worse, the show tackles hard-hitting themes and features a decent amount of romance, meaning that fans of violent anime may be disappointed if they have to wait a while for the action to kick in. This makes Elfen Lied a tricky but excellent recommendation, even if the story ends without adapting the original story to the very end.
Made In Abyss
Dark Themes That Can Be Tough To Fathom
Made in Abyss
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2017 - 2022-00-00
- Network
- AT-X
- Directors
- Hitoshi Haga, Shunsuke Takarai, Satoshi Mori, Motoki Nakanishi
Some viewers don't know what to make of Made in Abyss, with first impressions being all over the place. They'll probably assume that this show is all about a child's hopeful adventure to find her mother, only for the series to become extremely dark and depressing in no time.
As this orphan and her robot traverse the layers of the Abyss, things get downright horrifying. People who recommend this show have no idea what's in store for them in one of the most disturbing anime of all time.
Monogatari
One Of The Weirdest Anime That's Very Tough To Get Into
Monogatari
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- July 3, 2009
Monogatari is one of the weirdest anime of all time, which is saying something given the reputation this medium already has. Every single moment in the Monogatari adaptations makes for a tough watch, even if the art style is beautiful. The setup may seem simple enough, with the protagonist surviving a vampire attack and helping other girls with all manner of supernatural phenomena. However, things become harder to digest once the show's harem-esque roots and fragmented narrative make things more complicated.
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The questionable fanservice and some disturbing content can make it hard to get into what is one of the most bizarre shows to ever exist. People who found JoJo's Bizarre Adventure pretty odd will be singing a different tune with the advent of Monogatari.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
The Protagonist Is Despicable
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 11, 2021
- Network
- Tokyo MX, KBS Kyoto, BS11
Seeing a hikikomori get a new shot at life makes Mushoku Tensei a surprisingly riveting watch. It's one of the better isekai anime out there, but this recommendation comes with a pretty major asterisk.
Rudeus Greyrat is a protagonist who is easy to hate, especially considering the way he looks at girls who are not of age. It's a hard pill to swallow, with the only redeeming factor being how Rudeus matures over time and sheds some of the questionable personality traits that led to him being a loser in a past life.
No Game, No Life
The Ecchi Elements Can Get Downright Ridiculous
No Game, No Life
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2014 - 2014
Fanservice is something that anime viewers aren't huge fans of, and this becomes increasingly problematic in No Game, No Life. The premise of this show is interesting, as two hikikomori explore the world of Disboard and plan to make a name for themselves. However, what makes this show so hard to watch is the way Shiro is used for fanservice despite being underage. It's totally unjustifiable, to the point where fans will think twice before recommending this show to others.
Best Anime On Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video has plenty of great classic and new anime, and these are the very best shows and movies on the streaming service.