The anime industry has grown significantly over the past few years, catering to a global audience with over 100 new series each year. As such, many of them often get overlooked by the audience or animation studios for various reasons. Many shows don’t receive the marketing push they deserve, while others become major hits as soon as they are released. One of the most frustrating feelings while watching a really compelling anime is that it ends on a cliffhanger, only for the studio to not release another season for years or even over a decade. Despite being obscure, these series often offer unique storytelling and intriguing characters that deserve recognition, as well as continuation.
Viewers will have no choice but to turn to the manga to know how the plotlines are resolved, but not many enjoy reading since it doesn’t serve the same visual appeal as an animation. Famous series such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, etc, are regularly releasing their sequels while underrated anime have a small but dedicated fanbase who often advocate for a continuation. The demand may not be as high as one of the Shonen’s biggest hits, but most of these series have enough qualities to capture our hearts from the very first episode.
10) The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague
This 2023 anime features a delightful mix of office romance and supernatural elements. The story follows Himuro-kun, a descendant of the snow spirit, who struggles to interact with others because he involuntarily causes a blizzard around himself and anyone nearby whenever he becomes concentrated, stressed, or flustered. He encounters a similar situation on the first day of his new job, but his beautiful and composed colleague, Fuyutsuki-san, helps him regain his composure.
Their interactions continue as she offers simple solutions to his dilemmas, until eventually, Himuro-kun’s feelings for her become impossible to conceal. The manga is still ongoing and continues to explore the development of their relationship while also delving into the challenges faced by more individuals like Himuro, who are descended from yokai or spirits and struggle to live ordinary lives.
9) Why Raeliana Ended Up in the Duke’s Mansion
This otome isekai series is based on the manhwa of the same name, and it has everything one could hope for: a brilliant female lead, a mysterious yet supportive male lead, palace intrigue, and more.
Released in 2023, the story follows Rinko Hanasaki, who is reborn as Raeliana McMillan, the daughter of a nouveau riche baron. She now has a loving family and all the wealth she could ever want, but the problem is that Raeliana is a minor character in a novel who is soon destined to die at the hands of her fiancé. Unwilling to let destiny take its course, Raeliana attempts to break off her engagement, but that proves far more difficult than she imagined. In the end, she has no choice but to enter a fake engagement with the male lead, Noah Wynknight, by leveraging his secret. As the story unfolds, the truth behind Raeliana’s assassination attempts, as well as the reason for her reincarnation, gradually comes to light.
8) Children of the Whales
Children of the Whales is one of the most visually striking and colorful anime series you will ever watch. Yet, it carries a surprisingly dark twist, and it doesn’t take long for the story to reveal the horrifying truths of the world.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where an endless sea of sand covers the earth, a group of people live on a massive floating island called the Mud Whale, home to both the Marked and Unmarked people. The Marked possess special telekinetic powers but have a shorter lifespan, whereas the Unmarked lack such abilities. However, the people of the Mud Whale have no knowledge of the outside world, and they pay a steep price for it when other humans—who have weaponized their telekinetic powers—invade.
In exchange for such powers, the invaders cannot feel any emotions and therefore experience no remorse when massacring the innocents. As the story unfolds, the disturbing truths about the islands come to light, challenging the survivors to confront their fate and attempt to change it before it is too late.
7) Noragami
While the manga reached its conclusion in 2024, Noragami hasn’t released a third anime season since 2015. However, at this point, a reboot would be considerably better than a Season 3, not only because of the decade-long delay but also because the anime made a lot of changes from the manga.
The story follows Delivery God Yato, a minor deity without any worshippers, who takes on odd jobs for only five yen. He hopes to amass a fortune and buy himself a shrine, but trouble never stops coming his way. As luck would have it, he crosses paths with Hiyori Iki, a young girl who pushes him out of harm’s way and gets knocked down by a vehicle. She discovers her soul has come loose from her body, so Yato promises to help her, and of course, he plans on charging five yen for his services.
6) Thursday Kiss
Thursday Kiss is another series that hasn’t released a third season in over ten years, and it may never will, especially since the manga concluded in 2016.
This supernatural romance follows Nanami Momozono, a high school girl who’s been down on luck lately. Even when she’s homeless, buried in debt, and has nowhere to go, she still helps a man being harassed by a dog. The man offers her his home in gratitude, which turns out to be a rundown shrine where two shrine spirits and a fox familiar named Tomoe await their master, Mikage, the land god of the shrine and the man Nanami rescued. Unfortunately, Mikage abandons his home and makes Nanami his substitute, passing on his duties to her. To have a roof over her head, Nanami must take on her divine responsibilities and convince Tomoe to become her familiar.
5) The Way of the Househusband
If you’re in the mood for a wholesome comedy anime series with a romantic touch, then you need to add Netflix’s underrated show The Way of the Househusband to your watchlist.
The story follows Tatsu, a former yakuza known as “The Immortal Dragon,” who suddenly disappears from the underworld one day and becomes a devoted stay-at-home husband to support his wife, Miku, a hardworking career woman. As it turns out, the once-legendary yakuza is surprisingly good at household chores, cooking gourmet meals, keeping the house spotlessly clean, hunting for the best supermarket deals, and budgeting to the best of his abilities.
The series is episodic in nature, with each episode bringing a new set of hilarious events that challenge Tatsu’s ability to manage the house. His intense yakuza mannerisms and attitude make even the simplest tasks feel like high-stakes operations. Although the manga is still ongoing, the anime has yet to confirm a Season 3 since 2023.
4) Snow White With the Red Hair
While the manga series has been serialized since 2006, the anime was released in two seasons in 2015 and 2016, only to never continue the project.
The story follows Shirayuki, a bright and cheerful herbalist from the small kingdom of Tanbarun. Unfortunately, her red hair attracts the attention of the Crown Prince, who wants to keep her as his concubine. Left with no other choice, Shirayuki flees the kingdom and arrives in the neighboring kingdom of Clarines, where she meets its second prince, Zen Wistalia, and his attendants.
Following their meeting and an unpleasant encounter with the Crown Prince of Tanbarun, Shirayuki begins a new life in Clarines as an herbalist. We also see Zen’s journey of becoming a man worthy of being the kingdom’s second prince, as well as the budding romance between the two as they face several challenges along the way.
3) Stop This Sound!
No matter how incredible a music series is, it often goes unnoticed in an industry dominated by Shonen and action shows. This heartwarming high school musical drama is no different, and although it has a dedicated fanbase, it’s nowhere near large enough. The manga debuted in 2012 and is currently ongoing, while the anime released two cours in 2019, only to never confirm a second season.
The story follows Chika Kudou, the grandson of a reputable koto maker whose mistakes indirectly caused the death of his grandfather. In an attempt to understand his grandfather’s passion for koto, Chika joins the Koto Club at his high school. His new club president, Takezou Kurata, is the only member at the club and is in dire need of new members. Slowly but surely, the club expands as three of Chika’s energetic friends and a koto prodigy, Satowa Hozuki, join them. The story follows a group of outcasts who find new meaning in life through their shared love for the traditional musical instrument.
2) Yuri!!! on Ice
This award-winning Boys’ Love anime by MAPPA has yet to announce a Season 2 or a sequel film, even nine years after its debut, but fans still haven’t given up hope. The most frustrating part is that it’s an original anime, so fans can’t even turn to a manga or light novel to find out what happens next.
The story follows 23-year-old Yuri Katsuki, once Japan’s most promising figure skater, who is now reeling from his crushing defeat at the Grand Prix Finale. Just as he is contemplating what to do next with his life, he suddenly finds himself at the center of attention when a video of him performing a routine by five-time world champion Victor Nikiforov goes viral. To his surprise, Victor himself shows up at Yuri’s house, offering to mentor him and bring him back to the world stage.
1) The Heroic Legend of Arslan
The anime adaptation of this 1986 historical classic novel first premiered in 2015 and returned with an eight-episode Season 2 in 2016. However, the anime has yet to release another season, even though the novel concluded in 2017. The series also has a manga adaptation, which is currently in its final stretch. Despite its brilliant story, The Heroic Legend of Arslan never managed to secure a strong footing among the global audience.
The story draws inspiration from Persian history and mythology, particularly the tale of Arsames, an ancient Persian prince. It follows Arslan, the heir to the Kingdom of Parsa and the son of King Andragoras III, who is captured after a crushing defeat by the religiously fanatical Lusitanian army. Despite his strained relationship with his parents and the mystery surrounding his birth, Arslan embarks on a journey accompanied by a small but trustworthy group of allies to reclaim his kingdom and free his father.
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