With numerous significant anime studios established up till now, they battle against their consistency and how well the products are animated. In this case, similar to One Piece’s Toei Animation, one more studio takes the slice when it comes to being consistent with absolutely thrilling and famous releases every year: Madhouse.
Known for its top-tier anime like Hunter x Hunter, Monster, and Frieren, from recent memory, Madhouse has never failed to amaze its viewers and critics alike. While the studio has major hits in its catalog, Madhouse is well-known for its numerous underdog anime series which don’t get that much attention. From ’80s anime to the latest generation, here are some of the best, underrated anime by Madhouse.
8
Rainbow
|
Director |
Hiroshi Koujina |
|---|---|
|
Episodes |
26 |
A masterclass in showing the suffering of prisoners in a confined hall where the authorities have no limits, Rainbow hits the viewers with a reality check on how far the guilty culprits can go to prove their innocence and accept the crimes they have committed. Following seven young teenagers in confinement, the anime shows their coming-of-age and how they work together to achieve their freedom.
With every character receiving their redemption arc and how many mental hurdles they go through to accept their crimes, Rainbow is a unique watch that never managed to receive the spotlight it deserved.
7
Texhnolyze
|
Director |
Hiroshi Hamasaki |
|---|---|
|
Episodes |
22 |
With a confusingly unique narrative set out in a cyberpunk-esque dystopian city of Lux where power is everything, Tecxhnolyze follows the life of an orphan named Ichise who tragically loses his leg and arm in a fight. He receives metallic limbs and decides to work under one of the organizations that hold power in the city while he learns about his future through a girl-prophet named Ran.
A neo-noir philosophical adventure of rising to power with a leap of faith, fighting criminals, and prominent visual esthetics that makes the anime an edge-of-your-seat watch, Texhnolyze has something for everyone.
6
One Outs
|
Director |
Yuuzou Satou |
|---|---|
|
Episodes |
25 |
From the mastermind behind the cult-classic high-stakes manga Liar’s Game, One Outs follows its predecessor’s roots and infuses psychological and gambling aspects into the game of baseball. The protagonist, Hiromichi Kojima, lives a normal life as a star baseball player, until he meets the legendary pitcher Touya Tokuchi while training to return to form on an island.
Seeing how great Hiromichi’s pitching is, Touya invites him to a gambling game called ‘One Out’ where he’s the undisputed champion. The stakes are massive, and any point they give up will result in a significant loss.
5
Chihayafuru
|
Director |
Morio Asaka |
|---|---|
|
Episodes |
25+24+24 (Three Seasons) |
Chihayafuru is a unique anime that blends Karuta, a traditional Japanese card game, and romance to create one of the most unforgettable experiences you can ever stumble upon. A love triangle in romance anime has been a reappearing trope since the golden age, but how Karuta influences the progression of this aspect in Chihayafuru is phenomenal.
With coming-of-age elements and our adorable female protagonist Chihaya Ayase, along with her childhood friend Taichi and the Karuta prodigy Arata, their dynamic makes the series an odd one.
4
Btooom!
|
Director |
Kotono Watanabe |
|---|---|
|
Episodes |
12 |
Using the battle royale elements before it was implemented in mainstream games, Btooom! carries the legacy of the original ‘Battle Royale’ manga series. From playing video games to being transported into its world to play a death game, Ryouta Sakamoto finds himself stranded on an island while trying to remember how he even got here.
With an arsenal of bombs, Ryouta realizes he’s now in the world of the famous video game Btooom! and knows he has to outlive other individuals to become the victor, even if it means killing them.
3
Beck! Mongolian Chop Squad
|
Director |
Osamu Kobayashi |
|---|---|
|
Episodes |
26 |
From being a kid who struggled to associate with society, a hikikomori, to becoming one of the members of a rising music group, Beck! Mongolian Chop Squad is a spectacular anime that is severely underlooked. The initial moments may seem awfully drought, until the protagonist, Yukio Tanaka, fatefully meets the guitarist Ryusuke Minami and eventually joins his band named Beck.
With multiple pop culture references and the struggle to rise to the top in the corrupted music industry, Beck is an intriguing journey and the shock value is far greater if you’re a fan of classic rock bands.
2
Kaiji
|
Director |
Yuuzou Satou |
|---|---|
|
Episodes |
26+26 (Two Seasons) |
Gambling has always been about playing with the opponent’s mind; you either fake your way out of a sticky situation or take the loss. Kaiji is a masterpiece at showing how high the stakes are in a gambling game, whether the protagonist Kaiji gets deeper into his debt because of his friend who ran away, or continues to play until he starts earning royalties.
Trusting people always comes with a price, and in this case, Kaiji has the worst experience with his friend as he bears the responsibility for his friend’s debt, and now he has to gamble on death games on a boat to clear everything off.
1
Sonny Boy
|
Director |
Shingo Natsume |
|---|---|
|
Episodes |
12 |
An original anime directed by One-Punch Man’s director Shingo Natsume, Sonny Boy is a treasure for denpa anime enthusiasts, being pretty reminiscent of the ever-esoteric Serial Experiments Lain. From a regular day to a disastrous mess, Nagara and his classmates are mysteriously teleported to another, simple yet depressing dimension where they attain different powers.
With their powers, they can either unite and find a path to escape through the dimension or turn against themselves after forming numerous factions that further divide them, making their return impossible.
