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What is the best hidden gem of an anime you've found?

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Apr 18, 2022 11:15 AM
#1
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What anime do you love that just never is talked about or is not watched often?? My favorite one is Bartender, it's extremely relaxing.

Others I recommend to put in your PTW
- Welcome to the Ballroom (Sports/Drama)
- Boogiepop and Others (Psychological/Supernatural)
- My Roommate is a Cat (SoL)
- Time of Eve (Sci-Fi/SoL)
- High Score Girl (Romance/Comedy/Drama)
- Garden of Sinners movies (Psychological/Supernatural)
- Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle (Comedy)
- The Duke of Death and His Maid (Romance/Comedy)
- A Day Before Us (Romance)

Thank you guys for making this a relatively busy thread, I hope everyone could find a cool show to put on their PTW. This is one of the reasons why I think the anime community can be good at times, thanks for the lovely suggestions.
official_brownApr 19, 2022 3:39 PM
The right mindset when watching an anime is hoping that it will break your top 10
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Apr 18, 2022 11:25 AM
#2

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Sep 2019
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I guess Zettai Shounen, below 7.00 rating and also has less than 20k members, but I thought it was pretty good, I like the vibes it radiated, my kind of show.
Apr 18, 2022 11:26 AM
#3
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Zayvex said:
I guess Zettai Shounen, below 7.00 rating and also has less than 20k members, but I thought it was pretty good, I like the vibes it radiated, my kind of show.


The synopsis looks cool, I'll give it a try!
The right mindset when watching an anime is hoping that it will break your top 10
Apr 18, 2022 11:27 AM
#4

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Mar 2020
3584
Heike Monogatari (less than 20k scored it)
Because most people saw it and skipped it and a ton didn’t understand/follow it well
Apr 18, 2022 11:32 AM
#5
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Jan 2021
73
Opera girl! Was the anime aired last year i suppose i really liked it but doest really see much talk about it and yeah heike monogatari was also pretty good stuff like the guy above me said
Apr 18, 2022 11:55 AM
#6
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Jan 2021
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phantom24X7 said:
Opera girl! Was the anime aired last year i suppose i really liked it but doest really see much talk about it and yeah heike monogatari was also pretty good stuff like the guy above me said


Oh cool, I'll check those out. I have heard of Opera Girl since it aired semi-recently, but now I'm interested
The right mindset when watching an anime is hoping that it will break your top 10
Apr 18, 2022 12:09 PM
#7

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Feb 2020
76647
- Aikatsu on Parade!
- Binzume Yousei
- Futsuu no Joshikousei ga [Locodol] Yattemita.
- Girlfriend (Kari)
- Null Peta
- One Off
- Ongaku Shoujo
- Precure Dream Stars! Movie
- Rebirth
- Show By Rock!! Mashumairesh!!

Chandela said:
Serafos said:
- Aikatsu on Parade!
OMG another Aikatsu fan! That makes like 10 of us on MAL now!

Haha. :D We definitely need more Aikatsu fans here.. It's a pretty underrated show.
SerafosApr 18, 2022 12:30 PM
Apr 18, 2022 12:14 PM
#8

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Oct 2018
5592
I don't know if it can be considered a hidden gem because it's got 200k members here on MAL, but Gankutsuou is an anime that I love and I think it deserves more attention.
If you're a fanboy, please don't waste my time.

Watch more movies, please.

Kafka, Fu Xuan, Jingliu, Topaz and Huohuo.
Apr 18, 2022 12:16 PM
#9
Neet Specter

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Mar 2022
11180
Dear boys (basketball)
Giant killings (football)
Puppeteer sakon (mystery)
Solty rae (sci fi, conspiracy)
Oinari-sama (supernatural, youkai)
Kishin Douji Zenki (battle shonen)
 

Apr 18, 2022 12:18 PM

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Dec 2015
12
Genshiken is a hidden gem about otakus
Apr 18, 2022 12:20 PM

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Jan 2013
2173
Serafos said:
- Aikatsu on Parade!
OMG another Aikatsu fan! That makes like 10 of us on MAL now! (lol jk kinda)

But yeah Aikatsu!, a long running idol show about challenging yourself, for sure.
Ristorante Paradiso, about a 'hole-in-the-wall' restaurant in Rome, as well.
ChandelaApr 18, 2022 12:23 PM
Apr 18, 2022 12:26 PM

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Dec 2015
7749
Hmmmmm.
Jantama Pong☆ Episode 0
Diamond no Ace
Hero Mask
Jikan no Shihaisha
Binbougami ga!
Mashiro no Oto
Heavy Object
Gatchaman Crowds
Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse
Lost Song
Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm
Isshuukan Friends.

and from seasonals:
I guess:
Paripi Koumei (the only thing people talk about is opening x) but nothing more )
Birdie Wing
Kono Healer, Mendokusai
RPG Fudousan
Shachiku-san wa Youjo Yuurei ni Iyasaretai.



Apr 18, 2022 12:35 PM
Seigi no Mikata

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Sep 2021
1439
One Outs - A thrilling and suspenseful baseball Anime in which the MC using his wits and talent to help his team beat out other rival teams in the league. The level of strategy and psychological in this Anime is about the same as Death Note or Code Geass.

Mononoke - Kinda get overshadowed by a certain Ghibli Movie with the similar name. Mononoke used an artstyle resembles traditional Japanese woodblock printing with colouful, flamboyant backgrounds that may put a lot of people off judging by the first impression. Not to mention its story is a bit confusing at some point. This Anime is indeed a unique masterpiece albeit picky to the majority of fans.

Maquia - Peak fantasy Anime for sure. The story follows an immortal girl and her journey to learn the meaning of life by raising an abandoned child

Link Click - Is considered to be the best Chinese Animation so far. While having time travel theme and mystery genre as the main plot which similar to Steins;Gate, this Anime also isn't lacking of emotional moments and scenes that might made you shed tears.
kizumi91Apr 18, 2022 8:52 PM
Apr 18, 2022 12:44 PM
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Nov 2021
1673
Mononoke, Heike Monogatari there's a couple more I'm sure I'm just blanking on them
Apr 18, 2022 12:52 PM
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Jul 2019
432
Shansui Qing, Gosenzo-sama Banbanzai, Saibi, Malice@Doll & The Death Lullaby

Apr 18, 2022 12:59 PM

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Mar 2017
159
Patapata Hikousen no Bouken, without a doubt. I've got a lot of nostalgia tied to it which probably makes me think it's better than it is, but it's definitely worth a watch. I can't believe it's barely got 7k members.

Arashi no Yoru ni is a children's movie, but it's honestly a great film. It's only got a little more than 20k members, which is a crime.
Apr 18, 2022 1:10 PM
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Mar 2021
1424
I haven't gone deep excavating yet, but there's a number of shows that received some attention on release, but zero people talk about them now. ymmv, but Maoyu worked for me despite its flaws because it does very interesting things with its concept, it has really nice background art and music, and the "Demon King" is wife city, smart and cute and hot and idealistic and badass all at once. All the characters being labeled by their roles instead of names is a pretty unique stylistic choice that gives the story an archetypal, almost storybook feel. And I think it's at least slightly underrated in its MAL score.

Apr 18, 2022 1:17 PM

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Mar 2017
2847
They Are My Noble Masters is pretty good. 109K members, but I'd be willing to bet most of them date from around the time it aired. Hardly anyone mentions it now; the DVD is out of print, it's never been released on Blu-ray, and I don't think any streaming service carries it.
A møøse once bit my sister...
Apr 18, 2022 1:33 PM

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Sep 2018
4046
Eiga Daisuki Pompo-san 4.2k completed
Hanada Shounen-shi 4.4k
Kanashimi no Belladonna 14.7k
Hakumei to Mikochi 17.7k


Apr 18, 2022 1:45 PM
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Nov 2017
738
Not sure if this is a hidden gem, but Vivi- Sapphire Eyes (I think its called that).

Also not japanese anime per se (chinese anime), there are several in my list. Pretty much a bunch if stuff done by Haoliners Animation League.

And luo Xiao Hei, + Link Klick
Apr 18, 2022 1:50 PM
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Aug 2021
224
I've heard Girls' last tour being called a hidden gem

Other than that, I actually think I'll go with one I watched today, "Kanojo to kanojo no neko: everything flows"
"What the hell did I do wrong?
All I did was skip out on my parents' funeral to jerk off to uncencored loli porn."
- Rudeus Greyrat
Apr 18, 2022 2:00 PM

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Mar 2015
1833
Rokuhou-dou Yotsuiro Biyori a feel good anime.
Apr 18, 2022 2:03 PM

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Jul 2014
6837
The fact that Osamu Dezaki's Black Jack OVAs are so underseen and slept-on never fails to puzzle me.
Take care of yourself

Apr 18, 2022 2:03 PM

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Nov 2019
5322
Hajimete no Gal. It's better than the majority of RomCom I've watched.
Kanojo mo Kanojo.
School Days. Masterpiece bad ending.
Help! I need somebody. Help! Not just anybody. Help! You know I need someone. Helpppppp!

Apr 18, 2022 10:39 PM

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Jan 2020
66666
Kageki Shoujo. It was a seasonal from like a year ago and it's still unknown and underwatched



Apr 19, 2022 12:48 AM

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Jan 2021
122
-Astra lost in space
Not many people have watched it but I thought it was great.
Apr 19, 2022 1:10 AM
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Jul 2018
564488
Sket Dance (comedy)
Sabagebu (comedy)
Utawarerumono (drama)
Uma Musume (sport)
High Score Girl (romance)
Apr 19, 2022 1:23 AM

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Jan 2022
574
The entire Di gi Charat franchise, I would have never have gotten into it had I not come across some art for it about a year ago and decided to look back into it recently.

Apr 19, 2022 1:24 AM

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Jul 2019
73
- Kaiji
- Deca-Dence
- The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace
- Id Invaded
- Astra lost in space
- Dorohedoro
- Run with the wind
- Talentless nana
- Odd Taxi
- One Outs
- Rainbow
- Ghost Hunt
- The Duke of death and his maid
- World Trigger
- Uramichi Oniisan
- Moriarty the patriot
ErenJaeger004Apr 19, 2022 1:41 AM
Apr 19, 2022 1:32 AM

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Oct 2008
8484
Jyu-Oh-Sei
Junketsu no Maria
Kitsutsuki Tanteidokoro
Apr 19, 2022 1:37 AM

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Jun 2021
384
Don't mind me, I'm just here to look for recs that interest me 👀
Apr 19, 2022 1:50 AM

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May 2021
1197
- Oushitsu Kyoushi Heine (SoL + European royalty)
- Whistle! (sports)
- Miira no Kaikata (SoL + cute creatures + healing)
- Diamond no Ace (sports)
- Hakuouki (history + supernatural + action)

Never talked about but ABSOLUTE GEM

𝑇𝐼𝑃𝑆 𝐼𝑁 𝐺𝐼𝑁𝑇𝐴𝑀𝐴
- NOT your usual shounen anime
- Pure comedy? DEAD WRONG
- Treat Gintama as SoL/weekly sitcom especially earlier seasons
- Ep 1 & 2 are for manga readers
- BIG patience for its 'slow' start

Apr 19, 2022 2:09 AM
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May 2021
1093
Serafos said:
- Aikatsu on Parade!
- Binzume Yousei
- Futsuu no Joshikousei ga [Locodol] Yattemita.
- Girlfriend (Kari)
- Null Peta
- One Off
- Ongaku Shoujo
- Precure Dream Stars! Movie
- Rebirth
- Show By Rock!! Mashumairesh!!

Chandela said:
OMG another Aikatsu fan! That makes like 10 of us on MAL now!

Haha. :D We definitely need more Aikatsu fans here.. It's a pretty underrated show.


Congratulations @Chandela, you finally found one :-D
Apr 19, 2022 10:22 AM

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Oct 2021
269
sonny boy. its my no 2 favorite anime . but its getting popular slowly.
Apr 19, 2022 10:24 AM

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Oct 2021
269
Tendo_GM said:
Heike Monogatari (less than 20k scored it)
Because most people saw it and skipped it and a ton didn’t understand/follow it well

it is a good one. it was probably third best seasonal I watched last year after sonny boy and odd taxi. the animation,ost and yamada sans direction was great.
Apr 19, 2022 10:27 AM
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Aug 2021
10439
The Aquatope on White Sand

I'm so lucky to find it because it's a Masterpiece.
Apr 19, 2022 10:37 AM

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Aug 2012
2623
Capeta
Shounen Maid
Terra e...
Kaleido Star
Shoukoku no Altair
Shounen Onmyouji

Bonus (some Chinese donghua):

Yi Nian Yong Heng
Meng Qi Shi Shen
Scumbag System (made by creator of Mo Dao Zu Shi and Heaven Official's Blessing. It's the less known, less talked about series because it's CG animation...)
Bai Yao Pu
Apr 19, 2022 10:40 AM

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Oct 2014
732
Ojamajo Doremi is the hidden gem among gems
Apr 19, 2022 12:41 PM

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Mar 2020
3584
RBTHE1ST said:
Tendo_GM said:
Heike Monogatari (less than 20k scored it)
Because most people saw it and skipped it and a ton didn’t understand/follow it well

it is a good one. it was probably third best seasonal I watched last year after sonny boy and odd taxi. the animation,ost and yamada sans direction was great.

It was a collab between Yamada and Kensuke Ushio, the duo that also worked on Koe no Katachi, it was going to be amazing no matter what.
I liked the fact that it was a true story and there were a lot of details that were nice, like how the anime opens up with a song with the same words as how the book Heike Monogatari starts; or the fact that the story of the Genpei War was passed down by the musicians known as Biwa which is embodied through the made up protagonist; Biwa’s implementation in the story is also amazing as she’s a made up figure who’s actions replace the mysterious real world events that happened, like
Apr 19, 2022 12:50 PM

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Feb 2019
5511
Astra lost in space
Kono Oto Tomare!
Apr 19, 2022 12:55 PM

Online
Dec 2021
984
Anime: Children who chase lost voices (title is something along those lines)

Manga: Brutal
Apr 19, 2022 1:05 PM

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Feb 2021
349
Rokka no yuusha is one of my favorite anime, it got a survival game like setting with plot twists and and the characters were interesting

Redline is an underrated racing movie that needs more attention, the animation is on par with today’s biggest hits and the artstyle is similiar to jojo in a way

Shadows house, good mystery anime with an interesting concept, the anime changed some stuff but the manga is one of my favorites
bam
Apr 19, 2022 1:10 PM

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Apr 2017
203
Knowing that no one mentioned it in this thread and how the s4 airing now , i will say its Kingdom , the real hidden gem that i found coincidences
Moe is Love ! Moe is Life !
Apr 19, 2022 1:11 PM

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Aug 2018
34
Uchuu Kyoudai
Planetes
Kemono no Souja Erin
Princess Principal
Gungrave
Ga Rei Zero
Casshern Sins
Shigofumi
X-GodspeedApr 20, 2022 1:21 AM
Apr 19, 2022 1:28 PM

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Jul 2017
462
Kageki Shoujo!!
Oshi ga Budoukan Ittekuretara Shinu
Minami Kamakura Koukou Joshi Jitenshabu
High Score Girl
Heavy Object
Gin no Guardian
Fune wo Amu
Buddy Complex
Break Blade
Area no Kishi
Giant Killing
Aishen Qiaokeli-ing...
im not too good to speak english

.. -- / -. --- - / - --- --- / --. --- --- -.. / - --- / ... .--. . .- -.- / . -. --. .-.. .. ... ....




Apr 19, 2022 1:30 PM

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Jan 2020
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I watch a lot of old and obscure animes, but a lot of them are pretty bad… Out of all the lesser-known anime I’ve seen, a really good one I’ve found is Armed Librarians: Book of Bantorra. It’s a fantasy/mystery, and it’s got a great soundtrack and setting. Also the art style is a bit different from most animes, but it works surprisingly well. I will admit, it is kinda dark and gloomy, but it’s pretty exciting and it keeps you on your toes!!
Apr 19, 2022 1:40 PM

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Aug 2016
1807
Shigofumi
Now and Then, Here and There
Wolf's Rain
Koi Kaze
Last Exile
Gungrave
Bokurano
Ie Naki Ko Remy
Kuuchuu Buranko
SKET Dance
Planetes

Not sure if all of those are exactly obscure, but I haven't seen too many people talking about them before watching, some I still don't see being much commented on even nowadays.
Who are you and why do you show your hostility towards a complete stranger whom you've not once spoken with before. Are you seriously asking to get blocked? Well, if that's what your intent is; to tempt me into throwing hands with someone as lowly and insignificant as you, then i may grant your wish provided you articulate yourself a bit better when trying to spite a person of my wavelength.
Apr 19, 2022 1:58 PM

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Oct 2013
541
Going off of entries with a popularity above 1000:
Hikaru no Go (game)
Mitsuboshi Colors (slice of life)
Sansha Sanyou (SoL)
Slow Start (SoL)
Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru (magical girl/SoL/psychological)
Baby Steps (sports)
Bamboo Blade (sports/comedy)
GJ-bu (SoL)
Kannagi (comedy)
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha
Major (sports)
PriPara (idol)
Saki (game)
Sore ga Seiyuu! (SoL/showbiz)
The iDOLM@STER
Yuri Kuma Arashi (psychological)
Shounen Maid (SoL)

"The kindest person in the room is often the smartest."
All failures of the individual are the failure of society to provide the means by which they could have achieved success.
Apr 19, 2022 2:16 PM

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Jun 2021
92
Not quite the "BEST" hidden gem ever, but I'm watching Cutey Honey F right now, it's basically like a shoujo version of Go Nagai's Cutey Honey manga. (Which i've read some of and I've been meaning to watch the original 70s anime...) It had a lot of the same people working on it as Sailor Moon, so the artwork is gorgeous.

I can understand why it only has 8.7k members, but it's just a little sad to me!
Apr 19, 2022 2:44 PM
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Feb 2022
394
Slow Start (SOL)
Comic Girls (SOL)
Garo: Vanishing Line (Mythology)
Angolmois: Genkou Kassenki (Historical Military)
Joshikousei no Mudazukai (Comedy)
Radiant 2nd Season (Action, Adventure, Fantasy)

Those are just few series I can think of but I am not sure because would you consider an anime with overs 200k members on MAL a hidden gem?
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