- 2 days ago
These anime are brutal, bold, and definitely not for kids. From violent action to psychological thrillers and mature themes, here are the 30 best R-rated anime that push the boundaries of storytelling and visuals. Viewer discretion is advised!
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the best anime with strong
00:11adult-oriented content.
00:18While modern media is generally regarded as being more violent and prone to adult content,
00:28there are some bloody and bloody great classics to be found.
00:35Ninja Scroll follows Jubei, a ninja-turned-mercenary who intervenes when a group of powerful ninja
00:41seek to overthrow the Shogun in feudal Japan.
00:53In Madhouse production, Ninja Scroll proved influential in exposing the West to how dark
00:58anime could go.
00:59The violent exchanges, gripping storyline, and tremendous animation that holds up well
01:05make Ninja Scroll a must-view for connoisseurs of older anime with an edge.
01:1629.
01:17Technolize
01:19Cyberpunk anime were in their heyday in the 90s and early 2000s, but Technolize still flew
01:25under many people's radars.
01:29Another Madhouse production, Technolize follows Ichise, a former underground fighter who, after
01:39having his limbs replaced, becomes involved in a conflict between his city's major factions.
01:46The series is primarily a thriller with plenty of violence throughout.
01:58The bleak atmosphere and occasional dips into surrealism are also decidedly not for the younger
02:03crowd.
02:04It may be pretty depressing, but if you can handle the existential nihilism, Technolize is a hidden
02:10gem of a cyberpunk series.
02:1628.
02:17Prison School
02:18After miraculously finding themselves enlisted as the only guys in an all-girls school, it doesn't
02:25take long for our cast of characters to completely ruin whatever luck they had.
02:35When their peeping plan goes south, this crew finds themselves locked up in a school prison
02:40that is run by the student council themselves.
02:44What follows is quite possibly the most ridiculous prison break you'll ever witness, with twists,
02:53and turns, and outlandish shenanigans that will have you laughing every step of the way.
03:0327.
03:05Goblin Slayer
03:06If you're looking for a fantasy romp with more edge than a Go Gaia roleplay, you needn't
03:11look any further than old GS over here.
03:23Due to a traumatizing event from his past, this ironclad killer has only one thing in mind,
03:30slaughtering every little green SOB he can find.
03:33While the premise may sound pretty thin, this is a surprisingly hard-hitting tale that doesn't
03:39know the meaning of boundaries.
03:46You'll soon find yourself getting an endorphin rush every time Slayer takes down one of these
03:51little freaks.
03:52Trust us, they more than deserve it.
03:56You are damn right we're going to be recommending this one.
04:09How could you not want to feast your eyes on the show that managed to blur the line between
04:13aero comedy and something you have to watch on an incognito browser to such an extent that
04:19it ended up pushing the boundary too far for modern audiences?
04:33So what sets it apart from the other fanservice-based shows out there?
04:37It's hilarious as it follows a cluster of wannabe adventurers going around and reviewing
04:42the various, ahem, businesses made up of mythical ladies.
04:46It knows exactly what it is and does it better than anyone else.
04:52Thank you so much for your time.
04:5625.
04:57Drifters
04:59Ever wondered what it would look like if an all-powerful enigmatic entity picked up and dropped off several
05:04historic figures into a medieval setting with elves and dragons and have them run wild?
05:10Chances are, it's not nearly as slick and ferocious as this.
05:24With the Black King and his horde of famous real-life villains running amok and causing chaos,
05:29the likes of Toyohisa Shimazu, Oda Nobunaga, Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, along with numerous
05:36other icons, are forced to band together and start slaying their way through every orc,
05:42corrupt noble and evil figure that comes their way.
05:4924.
05:50Dorohedoro
05:51A guy with a lizard head slicing apart sorcerers all in the hope of trying to reclaim his lost
05:58memories and discover why there's a random guy living inside his mouth.
06:0525.
06:06Bonkers, bloody and brutal, Kaiman's exploits in this crazy-ass world are nothing short of
06:12a delight.
06:1326.
06:14It's a wild mystery made all the sweeter thanks to so many colorful characters to bounce off
06:26of, especially Kaiman's adorable badass bestie, Nikaido, and the smiling Amazon goddess, Noi.
06:33How can such a bloodbath of a show have this many great girls?
06:4023.
06:42Chainsaw Man
06:43After pulling its cord back and letting it rip, Chainsaw Man and its accompanying hype have
06:48scarcely let up.
06:5023.
06:51The series follows Denji, a teenager whose contract with a chainsaw devil gets him involved with
07:04an organization that polices devils that threaten the public.
07:0824.
07:09Shocking is perhaps the best word to describe Chainsaw Man, as its ultra-violent action,
07:14dark humor, and boundary-pushing perverse moments are all extreme, even by the standards of most
07:19other R-rated anime.
07:30Its tone and content may not appeal to everyone, but Chainsaw Man is a rip-roaring good time for
07:35fans of darker anime.
07:3822.
07:39Kengan Ashura
07:44Underground tournaments, death matches, absurdly powerful fighters, and one man's yearning for
07:50revenge.
07:51Welcome to Netflix's most kick-ass action romp to date.
07:59With the illustrious position of chairman on the line, numerous martial artists, killers,
08:04and borderline monsters are dispatched to represent their respective companies in the
08:09Kengan matches.
08:14This includes Oma Tokita, whose personal goal continues to push him to beat the crap out of
08:21anyone who steps up to him, and is Niko-style, all in the hope of landing some much-deserved
08:27vengeance.
08:28As silly as it sounds, they really don't pull their punches here.
08:3621.
08:37Parasite the Maxim
08:39Aliens walk among us, and they just so happen to be hiding inside of people, just so they
08:44can continue their insatiable hunger for human flesh.
08:54This guy Shinichi unfortunately finds himself caught up in this bloody struggle when one
08:58of these intergalactic parasites takes up sentience inside his right hand, allowing him
09:04to retain his humanity while relying on his new shape-shifting partner to help defend him
09:09and his loved ones from some not-so-friendly body snatchers.
09:16Fair warning, they don't skip out on the gore here.
09:2220.
09:23Baki Franchise
09:32If you can withstand the whiplash that is this martial arts fiesta's continuity, then prepare
09:37yourself for plenty of do-or-die fist fights.
09:4521.
09:46It's payback time.
09:47Following the muscular exploits of the fighting prodigy, he along with his fellow ridiculously
09:52ripped allies, find themselves hauled into an endless series of grudge matches where you
09:57simply can't guess what's going to happen next.
10:00You may come for the showdowns, but you'll be sticking around for the absurdity that is
10:09Baki.
10:1119.
10:13Cyberpunk Edgerunners
10:15Based on the video game Cyberpunk 2077, Edgerunners takes the gritty cyberpunk world envisioned
10:22there and goes nuts with the concept as only Studio Trigger can.
10:3720.
10:38Teenager David Martinez falls in with a group of underworld mercenaries after a personal tragedy.
10:4320.
10:4420.
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10:5120.
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10:5620.
11:1421.
11:1520.
11:1721.
11:1821.
11:1922.
11:2023.
11:21Fate Zero and Madoka Magica.
11:23Yeah, expect plenty of darkness going into this, along with an unhealthy amount of hating
11:28mankind as a whole.
11:31In a future where your very emotions are monitored and can land you life imprisonments should
11:37they spike to dangerous degrees, Rookie Detective Akane, along with hard-edged enforcer Kogami
11:43are thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse, with a mastermind looking to disrupt the new
11:48world order, only to discover that the status quo might be the greatest evil of all.
12:0317.
12:04Black Lagoon We could go into great detail about how this
12:07show doesn't shy away from violence, how its setting allows the worst that
12:18humanity has to offer to run rampant across the screen.
12:22Hell, we'd be happy to delve into the intricacies that come with seeing a boat full of baddies
12:27get wiped out.
12:32However, all we really need to highlight in order to prove this series isn't for the kids
12:39is Revy's motormouth.
12:41This woman can curse like no other, to the point where it's kind of poetic.
12:45Why don't I do you a f***ing favor and show you what color your brain is?
12:50Wait!
12:51And we're connected.
12:5216.
12:53Higurashi When They Cry franchise Don't let the fact that it's mostly about
12:57school kids fool ya.
12:59If real kids watch this show, they will be dramatized.
13:11The residents of a small village repeatedly find themselves experiencing some violent and
13:16disturbing events in the summer of 1983.
13:20And by repeatedly, we mean time loops.
13:23And by violent, we mean mostly a lot of murder.
13:31Travelling the how and why of it all takes several loops and multiple anime.
13:37But if you have the stomach for the grisly events and an eye for mystery and time travel,
13:42Higurashi may be the anime for you.
13:4615.
13:47JoJo's Bizarre Adventure This anime starts with a kid who will one day
14:00be a vampire moving into an upper-class family, and it only gets stranger from there.
14:05The generational tale of the Joestar family and their many encounters with the supernatural,
14:15JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is never afraid to go to the most outlandish and bloody places.
14:28The battles are as strategic as they are weird.
14:31And while the cast changes frequently, each group of characters is as entertaining as
14:36the last, though there are some recurring faces.
14:39Plus, the music and art style are killer too.
14:43There's just nothing quite like JoJo.
14:4614.
14:51Jujutsu Kaisen It may be a shonen battle series, but Jujutsu
14:55Kaisen goes darker than most in the genre.
15:05Itadori Yuji and his friends' battles against villainous curses and fellow sorcerers are as
15:11action-packed as they are grisly or heartbreaking.
15:15While the series features all of the comedy and fight scenes that pervade the genre, JJK delves
15:26deeper into its characters' psychologies, while also pushing both them and the audience
15:31to their limits, with shocking developments, elements of horror, and tragic deaths galore.
15:37Especially from season 2 onwards.
15:39Although it's not as mature as some other series, among its competitors, it's downright
15:44grown up.
15:45Mostly.
15:4613.
15:51Fate Zero The Fate franchise is no stranger to adult content,
15:58if you know what we mean.
16:00But its darkest chapter is arguably Fate Zero.
16:03The Fourth Holy Grail War sees seven mages summon an equal number of heroic spirits, famous
16:09historical or legendary figures, to compete over the wish-granting object.
16:18Given that it's essentially a death match with the ultimate prize on the line, underhanded
16:23tactics, betrayals, and plenty of killing are basically expected.
16:27Yet, Fate Zero also features mature themes and delves deep into the motivations and minds
16:39of its cast.
16:40Of course, that only makes the inevitable tragedy hit that much harder.
16:4412.
16:45Hellsing Ultimate On one side, you have the crazed Catholics
16:56seeking to exterminate all sinners.
16:59On the other, you have the vampiric remnants of the Third Reich, led by a major who adores
17:04nothing more than war and killing.
17:16And in the middle, a gun-wielding Dracula, who might just be the most bloodthirsty of them
17:21all.
17:26If you're looking to witness pure stylistic carnage, then you can't go wrong with watching
17:31Alucard go on one of his signature rampages.
17:35One thing is for sure, it sucks to be a civilian in this series.
17:4511.
17:46Kaiji It's just an anime about gambling.
17:49Surely this can't be more intense than a fighting series?
17:53You wanna bet?
17:59The titular Kaiji is a gambler through and through, and the series sees them get involved in the
18:04world of high-stakes wagers.
18:06The way the show manages to ratchet up its stakes with each new game is incredible, with
18:11the relief and despair that accompany them flying off the screen.
18:23While it's not as consistently violent as some other anime, that only makes the few brutal
18:28moments even more shocking.
18:30There's no need to roll the dice on whether Kaiji will be good or not.
18:34It's a guarantee.
18:3910.
18:40Perfect Blue A running theme of all great R-rated anime
18:45appears to be that the worst monsters out there are none other than human beings.
18:50After immersing ourselves in this whirlpool of a psychological thriller, we're inclined
18:54to agree.
18:55While pursuing a career as an actress, former singer Mima soon finds herself on the receiving
19:00end of a dangerous stalker, all the while her grip on reality seems to slowly be starting
19:06to slip.
19:17Primal in its presentation, with a visceral truth to it, this classic will have you holding
19:22your breath right up until its fever dream of a finale.
19:299.
19:33Attack on Titan It's survival of the fittest, and unfortunately,
19:37mankind is no longer at the top of the food chain.
19:44As giant humanoid beasts, known as Titans, wander the land, the duty of expanding humanity's
19:50reach is handed to the poor souls of the Survey Corps.
19:58After his mother is killed and he finds himself inexplicably cursed with the power to transform
20:03into a titan himself, a vengeful young man named Eren decides to take the fight to the enemy,
20:14prepared to see a lot of characters get digested.
20:188.
20:19Ghost in the Shell What separates man and machine?
20:23The answer might just be trickier than you think, especially when AI enters the picture.
20:33As Major Motoko Kusanagi hunts down the elusive hacker known as the Puppet Master, the film
20:39explores the concepts of life, death, and the ways in which technology holds sway.
20:44Don't worry if metaphorical musings aren't really your thing, there's plenty of disturbing
20:48imagery to pull you over, there's some scenes you really can't unsee.
21:007.
21:01Barkano Gangsters, immortality, and a whole lot of bullets
21:14Thanks to the show's dynamic cast of characters and their endless supply of charm,
21:18you'll find yourself falling head over heels for them, in spite of their large body counts.
21:23Don't get us wrong, there's blood and guts galore.
21:26But that doesn't make Isaac and Miria's antics any less funny.
21:30Just like how captivating it is to see Claire Stanfield talk about how he is nothing short
21:35of a blood-soaked, omnipotent being.
21:37There's so much to love about these guys, that by the end of it all, you won't even blink
21:45twice at all the murders that occur on the flying pussyfoot.
21:506.
21:51Vinland Saga You can't be a historical fantasy that chronicles
21:57the Viking occupation of England without highlighting the bloodshed and brutality involved.
22:03Going from innocent youth to an animal driven by an overwhelming desire for revenge, Thorfinn's
22:18journey is as compelling as it is heartbreaking.
22:21While the fight scenes between the various factions make for quite the spectacle, it's
22:25the narrative and character interactions that propel this series to the title of masterpiece.
22:37Do not miss out on experiencing this unfiltered epic, even if it's only to watch Torkel punch
22:43the choice.
22:515.
22:52Devil Man Cry Baby Are you feeling good about life at the moment?
22:58Then just watch this latest adaptation of the 1970's classic and you'll soon be reminded
23:03of how our species is no more virtuous than demons.
23:08After being informed by his bestie that the denizens of hell are using human bodies as
23:13hosts, local wimpy kid Akira finds himself unwittingly turned into a devil himself, but
23:19one with a human heart.
23:27Everything in this modern masterpiece is hardcore, from the violence to the feels.
23:32Won't be long before you're crying just as hard as Akira.
23:404.
23:42What happens when you save the life of a monster?
23:45Dr. Tenma finds out after he chooses to save a boy over the mayor of a town.
23:54The boy-turned-man, Johann Liebert, proceeds to haunt Tenma's every step.
23:59The psychological thriller examines the darkest parts of human nature in a mature and measured
24:05way.
24:12The nature of good and evil, and other weighty topics, can be difficult to convey well, yet
24:17Monster does so with grace and through nail-biting tension.
24:22Actions can have unintended consequences, but chances are good that the result of watching
24:27monster will be you calling it a masterpiece.
24:383.
24:39Berserk
24:40It's a cruel world, and one the swordsman Guts knows all too well.
24:48Born from a corpse, beaten, thrown on the battlefield from the time he could walk, this guy has seen
24:54more carnage than any can imagine.
24:57And that's all before he finds himself drafted into the mercenary company known as the Band
25:01of the Hawk.
25:10From there, he finds himself embroiled into a 100-year war, facing down creatures not of
25:15this world, and suffering the greatest betrayal in anime history.
25:23As far as dystopian futures go, this is one you certainly wouldn't want to be caught up
25:31in.
25:32Well, maybe for those slick motorcycles, but that's about it.
25:40As gang warfare erupts around the city of Neo-Tokyo, friends Kaneda and Tetsuo find themselves
25:46thrown into a whole new kind of hell when the latter finds himself imbued with immense psychic
25:52abilities.
25:59From that point, it's on.
26:01As Tetsuo's powers rage out of control, you can expect to see plenty of want on destruction,
26:06along with what could quite possibly be the most disgusting transformation sequence of all
26:11time.
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26:321.
26:33Cowboy Bebop There may not be as much blood, arrow, or violence
26:38as other entries on this list, but in terms of sheer style, nothing tops the space cowboy.
26:47As the likes of Spike Spiegel and his mix-matched crew traverse the galaxy hunting down bounties,
26:54each find themselves thrown into a variety of hotspots with dangerous criminals, deadly assassins,
27:00and the infamous Red Dragon Syndicate.
27:14There really is no other word for this show than cool.
27:23Is there an R-rated anime we forgot?
27:26Don't restrict your comments and tell us your favorites down below.
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