10 Overlooked Animated Shows That Deserve Your Attention

Animation has blown up in recent years, with some of the most popular television shows all being animated masterpieces, such as Arcane. But this isn’t anything new, with The Simpsons and other adult animations being a constant source of laughs for fans. Thankfully, the stigma that it is a children’s medium is mostly in the past, but that doesn’t mean every great animated series gets its recognition.

Because animation is so popular, it is easier for amazing shows to fall between the cracks, which is why this list will highlight ten of the greatest animated series that not even diehard fans have watched. Based on aspects such as writing, animation, originality, lack of popularity, critical acclaim, overall quality, and how much it deserves recognition, these ten shows should be next on everyone’s watchlist.

10

‘Scavengers Reign’ (2023)

Image via HBO Max

All the animated series on this list are at least somewhat unheard of, but the most popular is arguably Scavengers Reign, which has a cult fanbase. After a deep-space freighter crashes onto a mysterious planet, the surviving crew members are scattered around the beautiful yet hostile environment. Finding cargo from the ship and other resources, they all try to survive and reunite in order to get off this planet.

Maybe it isn’t right to say nobody has heard of Scavengers Reign, but the series definitely isn’t as popular as it should be, with its cult fanbase unable to save it from cancellation. Its popularity in relation to the other shows is why it places near the bottom, but it is still a fantastic, underrated show. Scavengers Reign has a hypnotic aesthetic and incredible visual style that makes the worldbuilding even better, not to mention its dark, captivating plot.

9

‘Kyō Kara Ore Wa!!’ (1993–1997)

Image via Pierrot

Anime is animation too, and it is home to thousands of underrated series that a Western audience hasn’t yet experienced, including many 1990s classics, such as Kyō Kara Ore Wa!! As two students enter high school, they suddenly decide they want to be delinquents, and the best way to do that is by picking a fight with whoever they see. Each episode is a new misadventure with plenty of backstreet brawls.

The 1990s anime had a different, low-stakes narrative to them that made every show feel like a slice of life. This may not be up everyone’s alley, but it creates a more entertaining vibe to it, where fans can simply enjoy the ride. Kyō Kara Ore Wa!! isn’t the greatest anime series of all time, but it is a compelling delinquent anime with endearing characters, goofy side missions, and gritty fights that feel distinctly ’90s.

8

‘Chaotic’ (2006–2010)

Image via Dong Woo Animation

With a mix of children’s cartoons and adult animation, one of the most underrated of the former is Chaotic. Originally a card game that never really picked up steam, it also had a show which followed a group of teenagers entertaining the world of Chaotic. They explore the world of Perim, scanning creatures, biomes, items, spells, and weapons to use back on Earth in their tournament-style battles, transforming into the creatures and using whatever they scanned.

Chaotic had such an incredible premise that could have been a massive hit for the card game if it had gained traction. Unfortunately, it never stuck, but at least it offered a fun cartoon that used the best of its premise. Chaotic has a great sense of adventure and complex strategic formations that make it an RPG-like animated show, not to mention the animated style is a unique and nostalgic blend.

7

‘Motorcity’ (2012–2013)

Image via Disney XD

Another underrated cartoon that should have kept going was Motorcity, made by Disney. Set in a dystopian future version of Detroit, one man uses his billions to control the city, doing whatever he can to clean up the “scum” of the Earth. However, a group of rebels uses their custom-made vehicles to protect their underground from his iron grip.

Motorcity is an obscure animated series that never made it too far, even though it is jam-packed with high-octane thrills and full-on exhilaration in each episode. With solid worldbuilding, intense action, and excitement oozing out of every episode, Motorcity could have been the next big thing if more fans realized its greatness sooner.

6

‘Seis Manos’ (2019)

Image via Netflix

Not every show gets the benefit of a second season, and Seis Manos is one series that wasn’t lucky enough. Set in 1970s Mexico, three orphans trained in Chinese martial arts under a master. However, after he is murdered, the trio team up with a federale and a DEA agent to enact revenge on the gang, which seems to be dabbling in supernatural dark arts.

With such a wild premise, Seis Manos lives up to its description, delivering one of the craziest experiences that fans will never forget. This is a love letter painted red to the 1970s kung-fu action movies that are full of campiness and gritty action. Seis Manos is unapologetically bloody, displaying its magnificent choreography and brutal fight scenes to deliver a mature animated experience.

5

‘Nippon Sangoku’ (2026–Present)

Image via Studio Kafka

This list features some new animated shows, but none are as recent as Nippon Sangoku, an anime that came out in 2026 that is already a critical sensation. After a war and nuclear fallout destroyed civilization, the future is blanketed by global cooling. Japan is now split into three factions vying for power, but after the death of his wife, Aoteru (Kensho Ono) uses his strategic brilliance to make the world a better place.

Like Scavengers Reign, Nippon Sangoku is a rather unique entry on this list because it isn’t popular, but it only just came out in 2026. It could be a famous anime in the future, and it is already gaining traction, which could easily make it the anime of the year. Nippon Sangoku is an anime with fantastic worldbuilding, stunning animation, and a distinct style that mixes chaotic humor with complex war detail. This is the must-watch animated series of the war, creating a sensational plot unlike anything fans will ever see.

4

‘Detentionaire’ (2011–2015)

Image via Teletoon

Canadian animation is naturally underrated since most people outside of Canada haven’t seen it, including diehards, which makes those shows perfect for this list. Detentionaire follows Lee Ping (Jonathan Tan), who is framed for a ruthless prank on the first day of school. Forced to a year of detention, he sneaks out to piece together the clues about who framed him, but the lore goes deeper than that.

Detentionaire seems like a typical cartoon at first, but the more it goes on, fans realize it is a worldbuilding phenomenon with fascinating lore and intriguing plot development. Despite being for children, this conspiracy thriller has a compelling mystery that weaves together multiple plot lines to create a rewarding viewing experience that is mature for its intended audience.

3

‘Undone’ (2019–2022)

A lot of this list has been action-packed adult shows, anime, or kids’ cartoons, but Undone is a nice change of pace with a much more grounded feel. After surviving a near-fatal car crash, Alma (Rosa Salazar) now has a weird relationship with time, able to see into the past and future, which she uses to investigate the mysterious cause of her father’s death.

Undone is a perfect animated show, but because it is a mature and authentic series without flashy action, it is rather unheard of. Despite this, it is a critically acclaimed show and is renowned for its rotoscope animation and creative narrative. Undone explores themes such as grief, trauma, and perception through its reality-bending visuals and animation, making it one of the most touching and visually stunning modern animated series.

2

‘Welcome to Irabu’s Office’ (2009)

Image via Toei Animation

Some of the greatest animated series that no one has seen are avant-garde productions, and Welcome to Irabu’s Office fits that description. With multiple two or three-episode arcs, different people come to the quirky psychiatrist looking for help when nothing else works. Irabu’s methods may be bizarre, but they are all for curing the patient, working in mysterious ways.

Welcome to Irabu’s Office is such a strange anime, which is saying something. But everything it is, it is in an endearing way. This show is surprisingly wholesome, with it being dedicated to self-help and mental health awareness. It provides genuine treatments on top of the dramatized show aspects. By blending psychedelic and mesmerizing visuals with the occasional live-action sequences, Welcome to Irabu’s Office can be endearing, bizarre, wholesome, engaging, and mind-bending as it treats things like ED, phone addiction, paranoia, and the yips in patients such as a veteran baseball legend, a struggling best-selling author, a typical teenager, and an overworked salaryman.

1

‘Lastman’ (2016–2022)

Image via France 4

A lot of underrated animated shows even diehards haven’t seen come from foreign productions, such as France, which gave fans Lastman, adapted from the comic book series of the same name. Richard Aldana (Martial Le Minoux) is a rough-around-the-edges boxer who reluctantly takes a kid under his wing, bringing them both into the crazy scene of underworld supernatural boxing.

Unfortunately, the third season of Lastman was recently canceled, meaning fans will have even less opportunity to experience this animated marvel. Its unique blend of boxing realism with supernatural phenomena builds a riveting action series with a serious tone and stellar visuals, proving Lastman is an animation masterclass that more people need to watch, not just the diehards.

Lastman

Release Date

2016 – 2022-00-00

Network

France 4, France TV Slash

Directors

Jérémie Périn

• 

  Vincent Ropion

  Howard McKenzie, le Narrateur

• 

• 

  Frédéric Souterelle

  Voix additionnelles

• 

  Coco Noël

  la mère de Cooper