What is Seinen Anime?
Seinen anime is about mature storylines made especially for young adult men. It is an older version of the Shonen anime category. As the word Seinen, means “youth”, the anime story is mainly focused on the age group of 18-40.
You can find different storylines in it ranging from horror and mystery to romance and fantasy. Many Seinen animes are extremely loved by fans like Monster, Berserk, Tokyo, etc.
There is indeed a certain expectation aligned with Seinen anime, related to storylines, character development, and animation too.
Check out my best 30-seinen anime to watch now.
30 Best Seinen Anime
30. Fate/Zero

- No. of Season(s): 2
- Total Episodes: 25
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Fate/Zero is a story about the omnipotent Holy Grail, which has started three wars in the past, each very cruel and heinous to leave a winner. But still, the wealthy Einzbern family hopes the 4th Holy Grail War will be different.
They hire a killer Kiritsugu Emiya with a binding contract of marriage to their only daughter Irisviel. Kiritsugu is up against 6 other participants with an ancient history and unique desires.
Who will win this 4th Holy Grail War?
29. Space Brothers

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 99
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Space Brother is a splendid space anime with a grounded but progressive story. It is about two brothers Mutta and Hibito whose childhood dream is to become astronauts, after watching a UFO heading toward the moon.
Hibito wants to be an astronaut, while Mutta chooses Mars. As time passes by, Hibito lives his dream of becoming an astronaut, while Mutta is stuck in an automotive company job.
All is not good for Mutta as he loses his job, now he has got a lifetime opportunity to be selected in an astronaut program.
Will he make it?
28. Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 12
- Watch On: Netflix
One of the most amazing anime in the seinen genre. Love is War with its school-life romance has given many animes tough competition.
The story is about the high school Shuchiin Academy and its president Miyuki and vice-president Kaguya. They both have feelings for each other but none of them wants to confess it first.
Both of them with their different challenging games and psychological warfare want the other one to confess first. Watch the series to know who confesses first.
27. Vinland Saga

- No. of Season(s): 2
- Total Episodes: 29
- Watch On: Netflix
Vinland Saga is an anime series about Vikings. Vinland Sage with its dark, gory warfare and strange twists has generated a serious following, somewhat riding on the sleeper success of Ragnar Lothbrok from VIkings still streaming on Netflix.
The story revolves around Thorfinn, who is a Viking warrior, and his search for Vinland Saga. Vinland Saga is a beautiful place where utopia reigns.
Since childhood, Thorfinn has learned to fight although that’s all he has learned. Now, he is in search for peace. Will he find Vinland Saga? Know when is the Vinland Saga Season 2 is coming out here.
26. Made in Abyss

- No. of Season(s): 2
- Total Episodes: 25
- Watch On: Netflix
Made in Abyss is about an orphan girl named Riko, she lives in the town of Orth, built near a giant Abyss. It hides mysteries unknown since eons and many ‘Divers’ have tried but failed to reach the bottom.
The White Whistles are among the most prolific of Divers and Riko is the youngest of the family.
When she too finds her mother vainly lost in the Abyss, Riko with her friends embarks on a mission to find the secrets of this mysterious place.
Know when Made in Abyss Season 2 is coming out.
25. Erased

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 13
- Watch On: Netflix
What if you get the ability to go back in past and change it? Isn’t this an amazing power? Well, ERASED is a story about Satoru Fujinuma and his power to time travel.
Satoru used his power, which he calls “Revival” to save people from danger. One day, he is charged with the murder of his mother.
He time-travels back to save his mother. But this time, he traveled 18 years back. Will he be able to find the reason for his mother’s murder?
24. I Want To Eat Your Pancreas

- Runtime: 108 minutes
- Watch On: Justwatch
I Want Your Pancreas is a film about an aloof boy, Haruki, who while in the hospital waiting room, comes across a book “Living with Dying”. The strangest thing about the book is not that it is written by hand, but it is a diary.
Later he comes to know that the book belongs to Sakura Yamauchi, his childhood classmate. In the book, it is revealed that she is suffering from a terminal illness in her pancreas.
Only her immediate family knows about this illness, keeping all her friends in the dark. Haruki promises to keep her secret, meanwhile, he also wants to spend time with her and know her better.
Friendship, Romance, Loyalty everything is shown in this film.
23. Hellsing Ultimate

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 13
- Watch On: Netflix
Hellsing and its later part Ultimate, both are violence-based anime series. If you are a fan of violence-based anime, then this will be a treat for you to watch.
The story is about a vampire named Alucard, he is one of the finest vampires of the Hellsing Foundation. He is the attack dog of the foundation and his main job is to protect the organization.
Alucard is so brutal that he won’t even blink his eye while killing his own type.
22. Land of the Lustrous

- No. of Season(s):1
- Total Episodes: 12
- Watch On: Justwatch
Land of Lustrous has gained attention and fans’ love due to the animation style. The production house Studio Orange has raised the bar in 3D CGI anime with this series. The story is about a living crystalline called Gems.
Gems have to fight their species’ enemy known as Lunarians. Lunarians invade and harvest the Gems as valuable resources. The first season focuses on Phos, a weak Gem who is useless in fights.
Will Phos be able to gain strength and fight Lunarians?
21. Gangsta

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 12
- Watch On: Justwatch
Gangsta is a story about two men Nicholas Brown and Worick Arcangelo, known as “Handymen”. They are mercenaries for hire and do the job no one can do. Both the mob syndicate and police alike hire them for their work.
One day, they are hired for a job to kill a local pimp. The prostitute Alex Benedetto is on a hit list in the city. But “Handymen” decides to save her life. There is a new upcoming threat in Ergastalum city.
Will Nicholas and Worick face it?
20. Ping Pong the Animation

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 11
- Watch On: Justwatch
A great seinen anime series with sports as its genre. Ping Pong Animation is one-of-a-kind series, though many won’t find its animation to the point. The story is about two ping pong players known as Peco and Smile.
Though they are rival players but are best friends since childhood. Peco is one of the best players in Ping Pong, he often skips practice. Smile, on the other hand, does not play to his full strength.
One day Peco loses a match and since then he has never been the same. Smile’s mission is to bring back his old friend Peco. Will he do it?
19. Parasyte: The Maxim

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 24
- Watch On: Netflix
If you like watching an anime with bloodshed and lots of action then this one’s for you. Parasyte with its horror plotline has become a huge hit amongst the fans.
The story is about the alien species known as Parasytes who can take over humans by manipulating their brains. But, there is a boy named Shinichi Izumi, who cannot be controlled by Parasyte.
A Parasyte named Migi tried controlling Shinichi, on the other Shinichi takes control of Migi’s right hand. And now, Shinichi is on a quest to save humanity from these blood-sucking monsters.
18. March Comes In Like A Lion

- No. of Season(s): 2
- Total Episodes: 45
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
This series will tell you that Seinen anime is not only about violence, dark story, and bloodshed. March comes in like a Lion is about social pressure, and how it affects people’s minds. You must have heard the saying, “Maturity comes with experience, not by age” and this series is an example of it.
Rei Kiriyama is a professional shogi player, whose father and sister dies in an accident. After this, he starts living with the family of his father’s friend. Rei slowly feels, that he is a burden on them and starts getting into depression.
Soon, Rei leaves the house and starts living on his own. Will Rei be able to make up on his own?
17. Bungo Stray Dogs

- No. of Season(s): 4
- Total Episodes: 41
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Bungo Stray Dog an anime series whose story revolves around a boy named Atsushi Nakajima, he lives in an orphanage and often sees a spectral tiger. Orphanage people, at not being able to see the tiger, kicks Atsushi out.
Homeless Atsushi goes to a riverbank, where he saves a drowning man named, Osamu Dazai. Osamu belongs to an organization of supernatural investigators.
Together Atsushi and Osamu solve the mystery of the spectral tiger. Will they be successful in it?
16. Tokyo Ghoul

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes:24
- Watch On: Netflix
Tokyo has not been the same since Ghoul entered it. Ghouls are human flesh-eating monsters, that can take any human appearance. People in Tokyo live in fear due to these bloodthirsty Ghouls
The story’s main character Ken Kaneki is a shy-natured boy who attends college. he is a geek, who is always into books. He is attracted to Rize Kamishiro, who doesn’t realize that she is a ghoul waiting to feed on his human flesh.
Will Ken Kaneki know the true intention and save himself?
15. Drifters

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 15
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Drifters with its satisfying animation and storyline have gained immense popularity. You may not like it at the first episode, but if you stick around you will see how beautifully the story has been carved.
The story is from 1600 A.D. The Battle of Sekigahara is at its peak. Toyohisa Shimazu rear-guard of the troops is seriously injured. He suddenly finds himself in a gleaming white hallway, the nearest door opens and drags Toyohisa into a whole new world.
In this magical world, he meets all the warriors who have fought in different eras. Toyohisa befriends the infamous Nobunaga Oda, a historical warlord.
What is the mystery of this white hallway?
Fantasy Seinen Anime
14. Broken Blade

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 12
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Broken Blade also known as Break Blade is a story centered on a young man, Rygart Arrow. He belongs to a place where everyone knows magic.
They all can empower and control quartz for any purpose they want, except for Rygart who is an “un-sorcerer” and is not able to use quartz. There is a war going on between the Kingdom of Krisna and Athens.
All the people of Krisna are ready to fight with their quartz magic. Suddenly, Rygart comes to know that he can control an ancient Golem, which is very strong.
Will they be able to win the war?
13. Ah My Goddess

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 5
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Isn’t it lovely if whatever you wish from God becomes true and is granted? Well, the series Ah! My Goddess or Oh! My Goddess is all about a world where humans’ wishes are granted via a goddess help hotline number.
Keiichi Morisato a simple boy, while ordering a pizza accidentally reaches the Goddess helpline number. Jokingly he asks the goddess Belldandy to stay with him forever and to his luck, the wish is granted.
Now, Keiichi is living with a gorgeous woman all alone. They both get lodging in a Buddhist temple. Will their relationship blossom?
12. Witch Craft Works

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 12
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Witchcraft Works is about a school romance life. Honoka Takamiya is an ordinary boy in the school, who is living a normal life. Though the main problem he faces in the school is from a beautiful girl Ayaka Kagari, who is also the ‘Princess’ of the school.
They both take part in the class cleaning duties. The tiniest interaction between both of them leads to the beating of Honoka, from Ayaka’s fan club.
Then one-day school building was about to fall onto Honoka when a witch comes to rescue him. Witch is none other than Ayaka.
Will Honoka and Ayaka move forward in their relationship?
11. Berserk

- No. of Season(s): 2
- Total Episodes: 24
- Watch On: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Berserk is one of the most loved anime series by fans, but it is not a family watch. You may not find the animation of the series to the point, but the way they have proceeded with the storyline and character development is commendable.
It is about the finest swordsman Gut, who takes up a mercenary job. He is haunted by demons day and night. Gut with his giant and most deadly blade “Dragonslayer”, is always up for a battle.
He is accompanied by an elf named Puck, who wants Guts to be his teacher.
Will Guts come out of the demon attack?
Romance Seinen Anime
10. Romeo and Juliet

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 24
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Romeo and Juliet is an anime based on William Shakespeare’s famous and classic play Romeo and Juliet. The story takes place on a floating continent of Neo Verona, Montague, and his army murder and capture the ruling House Capulet.
Only Juliet, Lord Capulet’s daughter, can escape. 14 years later, Montague rules the land with his iron fist and crushes whoever comes his way.
Now Juliet, 16 years old, fights against him as a masked vigilante, given the name “The Red Whirlwind”. She meets Romeo (Montague’s son) at a Rose Ball hosted by Montague and they both fall in love.
Will they be successful in their love?
9. Macross

Macross anime series is all about unity in diversity. The story is about when in between World War 2, an unknown spaceship lands on the deserted Macross Island.
Immediately, a ceasefire is declared and all the nations forgetting about their differences, come together to fight the alien on the spaceship. A ship known as Super Dimensional Fortress One (SDF-1) is built and her technology is also adopted.
Now, Earth has to defend itself. While doing so, the personal lives of the ship’s crew are compromised too.
Will the Earth be able to win from this alien spaceship?
8. Inuyasha

- No. of Season(s): 7
- Total Episodes: 167
- Watch On: Netflix
One of the most romantic manga Inuyasha, has won every fans, heart. The story is about a 15-year-old girl, Kagome Higurashi, and the sudden change in her life.
She is forcefully pulled by a demon into an old well that has her family’s shrine. Kagome unknowingly carries a jewel, the Shikon Jewel, which is a small but powerful sphere.
She meets Inuyasha, a half-demon boy. Both of them get close due to the circumstances.
In the fight for Shikon’s jewel, it is shattered into pieces and scattered around the land. Kagome and Inuyasha should find all the pieces before they reach into the wrong hands.
Will they be able to find the Shikon Jewel pieces?
7. Rurouni Kenshin

- No. of Season(s): 3
- Total Episodes: 95
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
The story is about a legendary assassin known as Hitokiri Battousai. His merciless fighting was unmatched and no one was able to challenge him. Suddenly he lives in a place, at the peak of the Japanese revolution.
It’s been 10 years, and still whenever his name comes up fear runs through the citizen’s faces. No one knows that Hitokiri has left bloodshed and wants to repent for his sins by helping innocents. He is now living his life as Kenshin Himura.
Vowing to never kill again, one day Kaoru comes to Kenshin’s dojo. Kenshin helps Kaoru and both of them become friends.
But will Kenshin be able to live a life of peace?
6. Yona of the Dawn

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 24
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Yona of the Dawn is about a beautiful princess with childlike innocence, Yona. Sheltered in a Royal Palace, Yona knows how to fight any danger.
However, her happy crystal life comes to an end, when treason happens in the palace taking everything away from her. Even her birthright of being a Princess is taken away from her.
She can trust no one but her friend and bodyguard Son Hak. Yona has to flee from the place she once felt safe.
Now, she is on a quest to crush her enemies. Will she be successful?
Best Seinen Anime on Netflix
5. Kotaro Lives Alone

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 10
- Watch On: Netflix
A beautiful anime, which touches the different aspects of Japanese lifelike child abandonment, people, hostess bars, etc. The story is about a 5-year-old boy Kotaro who lives all alone. He befriends his new neighbor Shin Karino, a manga artist
Shin feels weird about the way Kotaro behaves, he speaks very formally, and being just 5 years old, he lives all alone. Karino feels sympathetic towards Kotaro and takes care of him.
Slowly, Karino realizes that Kotaro is just like him and everyone in the neighborhood accepts him.
Will Kotaro accept the neighbors as his family?
4. Dorohedoro

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 13
- Watch On: Netflix
Dorohedoro a mini-series launched recently has gained popularity in a very short span of time. Its on-point sound design and the way the series is executed, tell us about the future of the anime world.
Dorohedoro is about Kaiman, who is half-human and half-reptile, and about a deadly place called “Hole” where survival is the need of every hour and every day. Kaiman, cannot remember who killed him and he is on a mission to find who killed him.
In his search, he is being taken deeper and deeper into warfare and gangs through the Hole.
Will he be able to complete his mission?
3. One Punch Man

- No. of Season(s): 2
- Total Episodes: 24
- Watch On: Netflix
A Japanese superhero manga, with a unique storyline. One Punch Man is about a man’s hobby and passion for becoming the strongest and gaining all powers. He trained himself for three years to achieve it.
In training, he loses all his hair and becomes bald. Though his heart is in the right place. After gaining such power, he can defeat anyone with just one punch.
Slowly he gets bored and waits for an opponent who challenges his strength.
Will he be able to find it?
2. Knights of Sidonia

- No. of Season(s): 2
- Total Episodes: 24
- Watch On: Netflix, Crunchyroll
My biggest nightmare of Aliens coming to our Earth and taking over comes true in this series. Knights of Sidonia is all about, gigantic alien species named Gauna, and destroying Earth. It’s been several years since the Earth has been destroyed.
There is a huge ship in space named “Sidonia”, which has the last mankind left. The year is 3394 and our main character Nagate Tanikaze comes in the light.
Soon, Gauna finds the ship and attacks it. Nagate’s friends fight to save Sidonia.
Will Nagate be able to return to Earth and Will Earth bloom again?
1. Monster

- No. of Season(s): 1
- Total Episodes: 74
- Watch On: Netflix
The series which has topped the chart is Monster. There’s nothing about the Monster which people do not like. The storyline, character progression, and ending, everything is just perfect in this series.
The story is about a very famous neurosurgeon Dr. Kenzo Tenma whose life changes when one day he saves a little boy instead of a famous political figure. Years, later the boy comes back into the surgeon’s life, but this time he is a psycho killer.
Will the doctor be able to save people from this killer?
Conclusion
Above are some of the most famous seinen anime which have thrilling plotlines, that will keep you bonded to your seat.
How many of these seinen animes have you watched?