Interest Stacks

Anime with "Bite": Mature & Brutal Portrayals of Disturbed Reality

Anime
byMordredEX
Oct 12 2022, 8:42 AM | Updated Jan 29, 8:40 AM
These anime have strong & dark depictions of suffering, mental illness, trauma violence, sex and various sociopolitical and economic problems in a grounded way and without sugarcoating it, although in fiction it is often impossible to completely avoid the distorting lense of epicness or melodrama when portraying reality.

When I say that these shows portray reality, I don't mean to say that they are necessarily based in material reality, as some are sci-fi or fantasy. What I mean, is that these shows portray the bleak and harrowing aspects of human condition without pulling any punches, and without romanticizing it (to some extent).

These shows often have a positive and hopeful overall message and/or ending sometimes, so I wouldn't call this a list of "depressing" shows. However, they have in common that they revolve around brutal and mature depictions of psychological, physical and spiritual pain of individuals and society, while also having a haunting and opressive feel to them.
Chainsaw Man
TV, 2022
8.51
1,508,623
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
ONA, 2022
8.60
741,827
Devilman: Crybaby
ONA, 2018
7.75
1,148,087
Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Season
TV, 2020
8.79
1,994,224
Hadashi no Gen
Movie, 1983
7.77
54,494
Hotaru no Haka
Movie, 1988
8.52
675,601
Nido to Mezamenu Komoriuta
Movie, 1985
5.63
4,079
Kenpuu Denki Berserk
TV, 1997
8.59
658,957
Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku
TV, 1999
7.61
145,597
Texhnolyze
TV, 2003
7.77
252,601
Monster
TV, 2004
8.88
1,116,457
Fate/Zero
TV, 2011
8.27
1,500,345
Yakusoku no Neverland
TV, 2019
8.50
1,965,064
Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu
TV, 2016
8.23
2,192,511
Densetsu Kyojin Ideon: Hatsudou-hen
Movie, 1982
7.93
10,348
Kidou Senshi Victory Gundam
TV, 1993
6.82
28,368
Clannad: After Story
TV, 2008
8.93
1,192,657
Malice@Doll
OVA, 2001
6.10
7,618
Kanashimi no Belladonna
Movie, 1973
7.17
50,422
Chika Gentou Gekiga: Shoujo Tsubaki
Movie, 1992
4.74
65,937
86
86
TV, 2021
8.30
772,565
Soukou Kihei Votoms
TV, 1983
7.74
25,397
Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor 2 the Movie
Movie, 1993
8.01
38,092
Vinland Saga Season 2
TV, 2023
8.81
603,734
Shigurui
TV, 2007
7.37
124,221
Dororo
TV, 2019
8.25
1,222,340
Ashita no Joe 2
TV, 1980
8.74
52,259
Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu
TV, 2014
8.33
1,869,060
Death Note
TV, 2006
8.62
3,895,720
Death Parade
TV, 2015
8.15
1,768,608
Zankyou no Terror
TV, 2014
8.09
1,167,032
Psycho-Pass
TV, 2012
8.33
1,631,861
The Sky Crawlers
Movie, 2008
7.27
57,453
Chirin no Suzu
Movie, 1978
7.13
13,757
Jin-Rou
Movie, 2000
7.78
180,976
Aku no Hana
TV, 2013
7.14
225,455
NHK ni Youkoso!
TV, 2006
8.31
742,989
Aoi Bungaku Series
TV, 2009
7.67
221,069
Fumetsu no Anata e
TV, 2021
8.35
868,865
Shinsekai yori
TV, 2012
8.27
777,569
Shiki
TV, 2010
7.73
601,092
Inuyashiki
TV, 2017
7.64
647,493
Wonder Egg Priority
TV, 2021
7.59
753,713
Perfect Blue
Movie, 1998
8.55
708,553
Cowboy Bebop
TV, 1998
8.75
1,864,048
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu
OVA, 1988
9.02
321,662

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