10 Near-Perfect Retro Anime That Deserve To Be Classics

Anime is known to have its established classics like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Dragon Ball, Akira, and so on. Yet, there are other shows outside these select few, released around the same time, that could have reached the same heights. They fully boasted the quality to do so, but other factors left them largely overlooked by fans.

This disconnect often stemmed from poor international distribution or bad timing. Audiences also tend to bypass older series due to the overwhelming task of navigating a vast ocean of obscure titles without knowing what to look for. Luckily, this piece highlights the best of the rest, anime that, if given another chance, could easily become staples of the medium.

Claymore

Claymore is a twenty-six-episode dark fantasy anime produced by Madhouse, the studio responsible for established classics like Death Note and Monster. It is set in a world plagued by deadly beings known as Yoma, opposed by The Organization and their titular Claymores. Claymores are hybrid warriors who are half-human, half-Yoma, armed with large, formidable swords.

The show is very much in the Berserk mould, as it also features grotesque monster designs as well as a protagonist, Clare, who possesses a relentless thirst for revenge. She is a Claymore herself, embarking on her quest for vengeance after her mother-figure was brutally murdered by a fellow warrior named Priscilla.

Kino's Journey

Kino’s Journey is a largely episodic series that leans heavily into deep, atmospheric world-building. The plot follows the wanderer Kino as she travels alongside her talking Motorrad, Hermes. She moves from one isolated place to another, adhering to a strict personal rule that does not allow her to stay in one location for more than three days.

What the story lacks in exciting action, it makes up for in profound philosophical messaging. Every area Kino visits is unique, presenting complex social conditions she does her best to observe from an emotional distance. The show provides a truly comprehensive experience, unabashedly showing both the good and the bad of Kino’s world and delivering relevant lessons with each venture.

Paranoia Agent

Released in 2004, Paranoia Agent is an anime original that is also a product of Madhouse’s golden age. It was conceived by legendary director Satoshi Kon and utilized his unused narrative ideas in a fresh TV format. It centers on the mysterious assailant Lil’ Slugger, armed with a bent golden bat, who seemingly attacks people at random.

Two detectives, Keiichi Ikari and Mitsuhiro Maniwa, are assigned to the case, and it is soon revealed that every attack is connected, with the situation evolving into a widespread phenomenon. The anime offers special commentary around burnout and exhaustion, coupled with the weight of unrealistic social expectations still plaguing people today.

Welcome to the N.H.K

Welcome to the N.H.K follows the twenty-two-year-old shut-in, Tatsuhiro Sato, living in a cluttered Tokyo apartment and battling intense anxiety. Worst of all, he genuinely believes in a made-up, shadowy, and omnipotent organization called the N.H.K, a malicious group that exists to deliberately keep people like him unemployed.

His life of isolation begins to change after encountering Misaki Nakahara, a random girl who vows to end his reclusive lifestyle while secretly harboring deep insecurities of her own. The anime goes on to introduce many other enigmatic characters, showcasing the strength of codependent relationships and how even deeply flawed individuals can help each other grow.

The Big O

The Big O is set in Paradigm City, a metropolis home to a population whose memories were wiped out thanks to a mysterious event forty years ago. The story centers on Roger Smith, a charming man who serves as a professional negotiator in the public eye but secretly pilots The Big O, the titular mech of the series.

The show evolves from a standard monster-of-the-week format into a more layered narrative, exploring both Roger and the city’s puzzling origins. The Big O faced production issues due to its reception in Japan, but was saved by its overseas audience. Had it targeted the international market more intentionally at the start, it could have been propelled to much greater heights.

Darker than Black

Darker than Black is a gripping sci-fi thriller released in 2007 by the famous studio Bones, famed today for standout works like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Soul Eater. The events of the story take place in a world rocked by the emergence of two reality-warping spaces named Hell’s Gate and Heaven’s Gate.

These anomalies gave rise to Contractors, special individuals boasting supernatural powers that come with distinct drawbacks. The story follows Hei, a notoriously powerful Contractor who performs complex missions for the mighty Syndicate. He is accompanied by a Doll named Yin and an unfortunate feline Contractor named Mao, as they are caught up in a deadly large-scale conflict hiding unimaginable secrets.

One Outs

The story of One Outs kicks off when Hiromichi Kojima, a standout batter for the weak Saitama Lycaons, discovers Toa Tokuchi during an off-season training camp. Tokuchi is a skilled gambler involved in the titular high-stakes game of One Outs that pits a pitcher against a batter with money on the line.

Kojima recruits Tokuchi after witnessing his immense skill, inviting him to join the Lycaons despite opposition from their greedy owner. Tokuchi then proposes the One Outs Contract to persuade him, agreeing to pay fifty million yen for every run conceded while only earning five million for every out. This sets up multiple thrilling games of baseball featuring intense psychological warfare.

Great Teacher Onizuka

Great Teacher Onizuka follows Eikichi Onizuka, a twenty-two-year-old, largely reformed, former biker gang leader. He initially aims to become a high school teacher solely to get close to attractive girls. To that end, he secures a student teacher role at Holy Forest Academy, but is assigned to a class consisting of a rogue group of students.

These troublemakers have successfully driven multiple instructors away in the past, but Onizuka will not be moved. He also eventually matures past his initial goals, vowing instead to reform his troubled class members using his own unique, highly unorthodox methods. The series tracks his immense internal growth while he helps his class confront their personal struggles through any means necessary.

Shaman King

Shaman King debuted in 2001 and introduces the laid-back teenager Yoh Asukara. He operates as a powerful shaman who possesses the power to communicate with and channel spirits of the dead. He is soon dragged into the legendary Shaman Fight, a brutal tournament where shamans from all over the world gather to compete.

The winner is granted the ability to channel the all-powerful Great Spirit, giving them the power to completely reshape the world. The anime features a distinct power system where shamans can channel spirits directly or integrate them into weapons. The franchise notably received both a reboot and a sequel in the 2020s, offering a more faithful adaptation of the manga.

Baccano!

Baccano! is a brilliant, fast-paced show released in 2007 that masterfully weaves multiple narratives into a cohesive masterpiece. The story originates from the events aboard the ship Advena Avis in 1711, where a group of alchemists summons a demon, hoping to gain immortality. This sets off a chain reaction with far-reaching effects that ripple across several centuries into the future.

The series features an ensemble cast of eccentric thieves, rival mafiosi, ruthless assassins, and many more interesting figures. Their stories are told in parallel across eras, but they remain intricately linked. Audiences are constantly treated to a host of fascinating characters everywhere you look, and the events notably occur in the same universe as the author's other hit series, Durarara.