Anime Underrated Anime

[Railgun]

Mawaru Penguindrum.

It's my favorite anime of all time. Beautiful story containing magical realism with love, family, and loss. I own the entire manga, the official artbook of it by the artist, Lily Hoshino... and the songs performed by Triple H. I have seen the recap movies that came out in 2022. I listen to the soundtrack on Spotify, and several episodes of it have made me cry. Including the ending. It's so difficult to find fans for that show. The subreddit and Discord for it are practically dead, and it just makes me sad because I love it so much. I got my boyfriend into it, at least.

I said this before on Reddit, but I'll post it here. Penguindrum is popular in Japan but it lacks popularity in the West due to most of the Western audience unfamiliar with the anime’s historical and cultural references. The Tokyo Sarin Gas attack is a crucial piece to know about to truly understand Penguindrum. It’s really interesting to watch the social commentary Kunihiko Ikuhara made regarding it in the anime. Haruki Murakami’s stuff is also mentioned and those unfamiliar with him and his works would have the references fly over their heads.

Plus, it can get confusing on the first watch (some people may be turned off by that) but once you give it another try you start to appreciate it way more.

Therefore it’s pretty niche in the West. But it’s still a wonderful anime that deserves more praise.

 

[Guinea]

Deca-Dence is one of the best animes I've ever seen. Its 12 episodes of epicness and I highly recommend it.

The Shenmue anime is really good. It covers the first two games.

Legend of Mana and Final Fantasy: Unlimited are two animes from Square Enix that I enjoyed as well.

 

[Blanc]

Mawaru Penguindrum.

It's my favorite anime of all time.

Oh my god, I could cry and hold your hand rn LMAO. Mawaru Penguindrum is also my favorite anime of all time!!!! I collect every piece of merch I can of the series T_T You're the first other person on the forum I've seen talk about Ikuhara's works here besides myself...I envy your Triple H soundtrack and art book!! I mostly just own figures of the Princess of Crystal and planned to cosplay her when I get funds again.

As for my own post here... Eighty-Six. I do NOT see enough people talking about Eighty-Six ever. It's a newer one, but it feels like it flew under people's radars and I really wish it didn't. Eighty-Six is an anime that subverted my expectations going into it, if you're familiar with military-esque tales, you'd probably come into it like I did and assume you know where it's going and be pleasantly surprised you're wrong. The soundtrack is by Sawano Hiroyuki (mostly known from Trigger anime OST fame), one of my favorite composers, and the entire feeling between all of the cast just feels so organic and real, that feeling of kids forced into a situation and trying to make the most of it... Please do check it out!

 

[skynerel]

Hyouka

 

[Audrelite]

• The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting

• The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague

• My Happy Marriage