Sometimes it’s a difficult task for viewers to find worthwhile anime, even though Crunchyroll is loaded with the latest hits from recent seasons. As a result, it’s often necessary to look back and search for some of the forgotten titles that Crunchyroll has to offer, as the streaming platform has incredible anime that viewers may have missed over the years.
Some brilliant anime aren’t universally appreciated or mainstream because they don’t appeal to a wider audience. That’s why many must-watch anime are only remembered by a select group of fans. However, despite not receiving as many recommendations and flying under the radar, overshadowed by Crunchyroll’s most popular titles, these hidden anime gems offer viewers unique experiences.
Moyashimon
Microbiology has never been so funny as in Moyashimon. Moyashimon follows a college student who is able to see and communicate with microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, depicted in the most adorable way. Tadayasu Sawaki attracts the attention of a wacky professor and is forced to participate in all sorts of projects.
Moyashimon is full of hilarious situations, making it ideal for comedy lovers, and has great educational value, teaching about the uses of microbes in the manufacturing processes of many products. Furthermore, it doesn’t focus excessively on microbes, which could become boring in the long run. Instead, Moyashimon features eccentric characters that viewers will love and whose relationships develop gradually.
Undead Girl Murder Farce
One of Crunchyroll’s most underrated anime, Undead Girl Murder Farce, went unnoticed by many viewers due to its peculiar premise. Based on Yugo Aosaki’s novel, Undead Girl Murder Farce tells the story of Aya Rindo, who has been reduced to a mere head and travels with her servant in search of the culprit, collaborating with a killer hybrid human-oni.
Undead Girl Murder Farce showcases a world filled with conflict between humans and supernatural creatures, but its strong point is the diverse mysteries that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Theatrical, unexpected, and featuring protagonists completely removed from being figures of justice, Undead Girl Murder Farce is a hidden gem for enthusiasts of detective stories.
Shadows House
While Studio CloverWorks is recognized for romance anime like My Dress-Up Darling and Horimiya, it also has a lesser-known work, ideal for suspense lovers. Shadows House is an anime shrouded in mystery whose main charm lies in revealing the secrets and conventions of an enigmatic mansion inhabited by a shadow family and living dolls.
Despite having endearing characters and a beautiful gothic aesthetic, Shadows House manages to capture the dense atmosphere of a Victorian mansion that hides much more than it seems. Shadows House is full of contrasts with slice-of-life elements and dark moments, slowly revealing information about its mysterious world and succeeding in generating interest in the viewers.
Last Exile
Last Exile is an anime that flew under the radar in its time, but whose story has a lot of scope for modern viewers. Last Exile follows orphaned siblings in the world of Prester, made up of two warring kingdoms, where water is one of the most valuable assets and people travel using aerial locomotion vehicles.
Last Exile shares a similar aesthetic between steampunk and dieselpunk and has fascinating worldbuilding like Studio Ghibli’s Castle in the Sky. Last Exile has an intriguing story full of exciting aerial battles that doesn’t fail in showing the consequences of armed conflicts, becoming one of the great works from the early 2000s that viewers shouldn’t miss.
Time of Eve
Time of Eve addresses the ethical question of artificial intelligence development and the intrusion of humanoid androids into everyday life, exploring what their proper relationship with humans should be. Despite falling into the sci-fi genre, Time of Eve is a refreshing slice-of-life that deals with a complex topic in a simple and entertaining way.
Time of Eve is set in a café where robots are treated just like regular human customers, introducing numerous interesting characters whose unique stories will captivate audiences. Additionally, Time of Eve is divided into short OVAs, making it an easy watch for viewers who enjoy futuristic stories and are looking for something different.
Chrono Crusade
When talking about exorcist anime, popular titles like D.Gray Man and Blue Exorcist stand out. However, Chrono Crusade is a must-watch shōnen series that presents a battle between light and darkness, starring Christopher Rosette, a teenage nun searching for her missing brother, who made a pact with the demon Chrono.
Chrono Crusade is packed with action and comedy, developing the strong bond between Chrono and Rosette and revealing their past without being too long or deviating from its main story. This makes Chrono Crusade a well-balanced and solid anime that has stood the test of time and has a lot to offer shōnen fans.
Record of Lodoss War
While Record of Lodoss War became one of the most important fantasies of its time, it has fallen into oblivion, being mostly unknown among the new generation of anime fans. However, Record of Lodoss War features the heroic epic journey of a group of adventurers inspired by the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons.
This high fantasy classic boasts one of the best-established worlds in anime, as Record of Lodoss War features different races, languages, customs, fantastical creatures, and politics. Furthermore, what makes Record of Lodoss War hold up despite the passage of time is its excellent character design and soundtrack, making it a great option for viewers looking to experience Crunchyroll’s retro anime.
The Heike Story
The underrated work of art from the director of the critically acclaimed film A Silent Voice, The Heike Story adapts a traditional Japanese tale with an artistic sensitivity, visual beauty, and masterful narrative filled with humanity that’s difficult to find in other anime. The Heike Story follows an orphan girl’s firsthand perspective of the fall of the influential Taira Clan.
Although The Story of Heike feels overly condensed at times, taking away the depth of some characters, it still offers a powerful take on the classical tragedy. With a stunning production and distinctive artistic style, The Story of Heike is expressive, subtle, and sorrowful, depicting the fragility of life in a moving way and leaving a profound impression on viewers.
Gungrave
Despite being based on a video game, the anime adaptation of Gungrave has sadly been forgotten. Yet, Gungrave is an excellent recommendation for seinen fans looking for an action-packed story of revenge, becoming one of the hidden gems on Crunchyroll. Gungrave is violent and full of suspense, being addictive without offering incredible plot twists.
From the creator of Trigun, Gungrave adds a sci-fi touch while remaining similar to the great mafia films by exploring emotional bonds in a world plagued by crime. Gungrave‘s greatest charm is its realistic characters, with flaws that make them feel human, and a fascinating development that keeps viewers glued to the anime.
Kyousougiga
Kyousougiga is an anime that has gone unnoticed for its unconventional, surreal story. Kyousougiga resembles Alice in Wonderland, being a chaotic and colorful anime riddled with symbolism and incredible characters. However, this anime is an ode to Japanese folklore with many mythological references and is filled to the brim with mysteries that will be slowly revealed.
Kyousougiga has fluid animation and a unique visual style that overflows with madness, taking fantasy to the limit. The way that Kyousougiga mixes the past and the present in its story makes it incredibly engaging and one of the most original anime that, despite being only 10 episodes long, will be impossible to forget.
Kyousougiga
- Release Date
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2012 – 2012-00-00
- Network
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Niconico
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Rie Kugimiya
Koto (voice)
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Kenichi Suzumura
Myoue (voice)
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Akira Ishida
Inari (voice)
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Chiwa Saito
Doctor Shōko (voice)
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
