Entertainment
8 Greatest Animated Shows Even Diehards Haven’t Seen
Animation has such a packed and genuinely brilliant library that it is far too easy for stranger, quieter, or simply just less heavily promoted shows to fall through the cracks. Some of the best in the genre haven’t even been seen by mainstream audiences, sadly missed by viewers who would likely fall headfirst in love if they ever stumbled upon them. Even quite a few diehard fans of animation tend to let some of the greatest hits slip past them.
Standout but woefully underrated watches, like Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld, which brings together Chinese mythology, teen comedy, supernatural danger, and personal identity in a captivatingly fresh way, and the anime World Trigger, which rewards its viewers with detailed team battles and smart, strategy-driven action, are just two examples of rewarding experiences in animation that most haven’t even heard of. Compiled on this list are the shows that may be standouts, featuring compelling storytelling, but have somehow been missed by even the most diehard animation fans.
‘Wakfu’ (2007–Present)
Wakfu is truly peak animation television. The series follows the young Eliatrope, Yugo (Jules de Jongh), who discovers he can open portals and sets out to find his true family. Along the way, he gathers a loyal group of friends and embarks on an adventure rife with powerful enemies, ancient mysteries, and hidden truths that begin to quickly unravel.
Wakfu may be a colorful bout of animated fun that seems incredibly childish, but what truly makes it a number one standout is the fact that it sincerely lets adventure mature without becoming joyless. It’s a world-building experience that is well-crafted, with characters that are masterfully developed, offering audiences a story that’s expansive, funny, heartbreaking, and increasingly mythical. Most diehard fans aren’t even aware Wakfu even exists, despite how genuinely brilliant it is. The series begins as a simple, fantastical quest that gradually grows into a multi-season epic about destiny, identity, history, chosen family, and world-scale conflict, marking it as a masterpiece that may be consistently overlooked but stands as a quiet icon in the animation genre.
‘Astra Lost in Space’ (2019)
This underrated good time is a Japanese sci-fi animated series that has somehow slipped through the cracks due to how short and self-contained it is. Astra Lost in Space centers around a group of students who head to space, only to get stranded thousands of light-years away from home when the excursion is derailed by a mysterious anomaly.
There aren’t many anime sci-fi adventures that come with as many twists and shocking moments as Astra Lost in Space does. It’s a satisfying discovery for first-time viewers, most lauding the series as a hidden gem that charms with its humor, suspense, heart, and adventure. What truly makes Astra Lost in Space even better than its setup is how clean the ensemble’s bonding and escalating conspiracy is. Most mainstream audiences haven’t seen it, the show being so woefully underrated, but viewers who adore excellent writing rife with space antics, heartfelt moments, and jaw-dropping twists are sure to be entertained from beginning to end.
‘World Trigger’ (2014–2022)
World Trigger is a widely underrated anime series, which sadly means it has never received the same attention as bigger battle anime, but that is exactly why it belongs on a list of fantastic animated shows that even diehards may have missed. Set in a world where alien-like beings called “Neighbors” invade through portals, while an organization called Border trains agents to fight them, the series focuses on a teen, Osamu Mikumo (Tomo Muranaka), his new friend, a Neighbor refugee Yūma Kuga (Yūki Kaji), and Chika Amatori (Nao Tamura) as they work together to defend humanity while uncovering the truth about their fight.
World Trigger is a criminally overlooked shōnen action anime, with devoted fans who praise its lovable characters, intelligent power system, and captivating tactical battles. The show is so worth discovering as it gives its action a different kind of excitement through clever characters’ wins. World Trigger wields a distinct style of thrill, allowing it to stand out despite its underrated status, making it a much more impressive viewing experience than most who haven’t seen it even realize.
‘Erased’ (2016)
This iconic thrill ride is definitely one for the books. Erased follows a 29-year-old manga artist, Satoru Fujinuma (Shinnosuke Mitsushima), whose involuntary “Revival” ability sends him back in time after his mother is brutally murdered.
Erased is definitely a unique watch that most have yet to discover. It’s an enticing mixture of regret, mystery, time travel, and emotional urgency that dubs it one of the strongest under-seen thrillers in the anime genre. Erased‘s writing is tighter and more emotionally persuasive than its extremely short run suggests, with every leap backwards sharpening the brutal stakes. It may not be the most underrated series on this list, but it is sadly lacking the attention it deserves, making it a great addition to this catalog of hidden gems.
‘Mushi-Shi’ (2005–2014)
Mushi-Shi is a true standout that even the most experienced fans can overlook because it sits on the back of most streaming shelves. The series delivers an episodic anthology, set in a semi-historical Japan where primordial lifeforms called “mushi” live among humans. The show focuses on Ginko (Yuto Nakano), who travels from place to place as a Mushishi, investigating strange cases and trying to help those who have been affected by mushi.
Even though Mushi-Shi is sadly an under-seen anime, it ranks high among some of the best animated series because it stays pretty calm without ever becoming boring. Among anime fans, it’s a pretty beloved series, but outside that circle, the show doesn’t get much attention, especially against louder fantasy titles. Mushi-Shi wields compassionate writing, with a philosophically precise approach that never mistakes explanation for wisdom. Even by the end of its relatively few episodes, it remains incredibly beloved by its rather minor audience, a true quiet beauty that deserves a place among the greatest animated series more fans should discover.
‘Sym-Bionic Titan’ (2010–2011)
This fantastic sci-fi series is as underrated as they come. Sym-Bionic Titan centers around Princess Ilana (Tara Strong), soldier Lance (Kevin Thoms), and robot-scientist Octus (Brian Posehn) after they escape an intergalactic war and move to hide out on Earth as ordinary suburban high-schoolers.
For even the most diehard animation fans, Sym-Bionic Titan is a stark reminder that even some of the best shows never get the viewership nor the great attention they deserve. With an enticing blend of identity struggles and surprisingly sincere character moments, with giant robot battles and alien politics, the show offers audiences quite the entertaining experience. Because the series was cancelled, its unbridled potential cut short, most forgot it existed—if they ever knew of it at all. Despite this, it stands as one of Genndy Tartakovsky‘s most underrated works of art.
‘Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld’ (2024)
Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld is a Netflix surprise that is one of its newer titles that simply never truly got off the ground. The fantasy series focuses on the Chinese American teenager Jentry Chau (Ali Wong), whose fire-based powers that sent her life into complete chaos have reawakened just as a demon king starts hunting her.
Not many have heard of Netflix’s Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld, despite how surprisingly entertaining it is. It’s the type of good time that feels like it could easily slip past most viewers, as its appearance may seem a bit underwhelming at first glance. But in truth, Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld is also quite easy to champion once given a chance. It’s addictive, a sharp genre series with emotional warmth, comic timing, and a specific cultural texture that sets it apart from the more generic YA supernatural animated series. Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld is in a league of its own, with a captivating story that many may not know but would be well-loved by any diehard animated fan who comes across it.
‘The Midnight Gospel’ (2020)
This underrated sci-fi animated series has to be one of the most captivatingly odd shows Netflix has ever released. The Midnight Gospel follows Clancy Gilroy (Duncan Trussell), a spacecaster who uses a reality-simulating machine to jump through apocalyptic or collapsing worlds, going on bizarre but funny adventures.
The Midnight Gospel, at first introduction, seems like a watch that is genuinely impossible to pull off, yet somehow it blends philosophical conversations with surreal animation, offering viewers something deeply moving and unforgettable. The series is honestly quite absurd, but also wields a compelling depth that marks it as a standout—one that is, albeit underseen. It’s likely that The Midnight Gospel may be too bizarre or emotionally intense for some, an unconventional watch that, at first glance, may put off some viewers. Diehards have likely skipped over it in an attempt to find something more seemingly normal and less cosmically humorous, which is a shame since it’s a memorable hidden gem that deserves far more recognition.
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