This series is incredibly dark and contains mature content, but it is widely considered one of the greatest manga of all time for its art and storytelling. How to Choose?
| Title | Anime | Manga | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Complete (74 eps) | Complete | A doctor saves a boy who becomes a serial killer. Slow-burn, realistic, set in post-Cold War Germany. Masterpiece. | | Neon Genesis Evangelion | Complete + Rebuild movies | Complete (different) | Deconstruction of mecha anime. About depression, trauma, and human connection. Confusing but iconic. | | Paranoia Agent | Complete | No manga (original anime) | Satoshi Kon’s only series. A social thriller about a mysterious attacker. | | Made in Abyss | 1 season + movie + 2nd season | Ongoing | Warning: extremely dark. Cute art style hides body horror and existential dread. Incredible world-building. | | Homunculus (manga only) | No anime | Complete | A homeless man undergoes trepanation (hole in skull) and sees people’s inner distortions. Unforgettable and bizarre. | hentai-jp.com
If you want to feel uneasy or think about existence. This series is incredibly dark and contains mature
| Title | Anime Status | Manga Status | Why Start Here | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | (Shingeki no Kyojin) | Complete (4 seasons) | Complete | Gripping plot, massive twists, incredible action. The "Game of Thrones" of anime. | | Death Note | Complete (1 season) | Complete | Intellectual cat-and-mouse game between a genius with a death notebook and a detective. No fighting—just mind games. | | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood | Complete | Complete | Widely considered a masterpiece. Perfect balance of action, philosophy, humor, and heart. | | Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) | Ongoing (Seasons + Movies) | Complete | Stunning animation (Ufotable). Simple but emotional story of a boy fighting demons to save his sister. | | My Hero Academia | Ongoing (Final season soon) | Ongoing (Final arc) | X-Men meets Japanese school life. Easy entry into "battle shonen." | Slow-burn, realistic, set in post-Cold War Germany
Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a talented brain surgeon, chooses to save a young boy's life over a powerful politician's. Years later, he discovers that the boy he saved has grown into a cold-blooded serial killer.