Ideally, when you think about anime, your mind instantly conjures up images of brightly colored characters, big round eyes, and slice-of-life stories. But the truth is that anime is a wide-ranging medium that covers all sorts of content and caters to audiences of all ages. Some of the best anime series ever created are rated R because they have the kind of content and themes that are inappropriate for children. We aren’t talking about shows like Pokémon or Naruto here. These R-rated anime series feature complex plots, psychological depth, violence, and mature visuals.
These stories lie on either side of the anime spectrum, featuring natural horror tales as well as lighthearted fantasies. If you are a true anime fan and are willing to expand your knowledge of the medium, then this list of the best R-rated adult anime ever created is the perfect place to start. But remember, for an anime to be rated R, nothing is off-limits. This means here you’ll meet morally corrupted heroes, witness the most gruesome of deaths, and slip into fascinating gore scenes.
Updated on Aug. 19th, 2024 by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
37 Hell Girl (2005)
Based on a story conceptualized by Hiroshi Watanabe, Hell Girl is a short-run anime series that centers around a supernatural system that allows people to enact vengeance upon a person. By using the Hell Correspondence website, wronged individuals can send those who have wronged them to hell. However, the person making the request must also sacrifice their soul in advance. The system is overlooked by Hell Girl, or Ai Enma, who always accompanies the sinner to the other side.
Elegant and Terrifying Tales of Vengeance
Directed with minimalism and elegance, Hell Girl may seem easy to process at first. But as the series progresses, it begins to prioritize atmosphere and gore over anything else. Ai Enma is a character who spares no one and makes you ponder the dark places resentment can take human hearts to. The haunting vignettes are unique and unnerving. Besides, Hell Girl also explores questions about retribution and the act of removing people from the real world, which are mature and disturbing. Hell Girl is currently unavailable to stream.
36 Tokyo Ghoul (2014)
Ken Kenaki is a shy college student who stays unbothered by the world around him, which contains flesh-eating ghouls living as humans until he meets a beautiful girl named Rize and goes out on a date with her. Unfortunately, Rize turns out to be a ghoul and attacks Kaneki. A tragic struggle and a narrow escape from death results in Kaneki having her organs transplanted into his body and waking up as a half-human, half-ghoul hybrid. He then finds himself pulled into a dark and violent world.
A Human’s Gripping Evolution Into a Ghoul
Disturbing and graphic from the very first episode, Tokyo Ghoul mainly centers on Kaneki, a protagonist who is struggling with intense internal and external conflicts. While there is little character evolution across the series, the stylish visuals, philosophical depth, rich supporting characters, and ruthless depiction of violence keep you engaged from start to finish. The story of this chilling dystopian world is interesting as well because it critiques grounded issues through a supernatural lens.
Stream Tokyo Ghoul on Hulu
35 Drifters (2016)
Fans of Hellsing Ultimate would particularly enjoy this series for its tonal similarities. Drifters follows Toyohisa Shimazu, a rearguard soldier who finds himself pulled into a mysterious realm unlike his own, where mystical creatures and fighters believed to be dead reside. After encountering an unlikely band of warriors who share a similar past to Toyohisa, dubbed the “Drifters,” he learns of an enemy faction known as the “Ends,” and their plans to take over the world. Joining forces with the other Drifters, Toyohisa tries to fulfill his wartime destiny.
An Unforgettable Isekai Anime
Under the vision of creator Kouta Hirano, Drifters comes to bold life. There are no restrictions as to what can be achieved in this series. From historical in-jokes to graphic horrors, Hirano’s artistic freedom helps showcase every aspect of the medium’s capacity, with plenty of characters ripped from real-world history to enjoy. The series also pulls no punches in portraying heroes and villains as mere humans who reshaped history through their supernatural fights. Blessed with stellar voice work, including English performances by Robert McCollum and Jessie James Grelle, along with audacious battle scenes, the anime is quite unforgettable.
Buy Drifters on Apple TV
34 Dorohedoro (2020)
Utterly breathtaking in its visuals, Dorohedoro introduces us to a dark and disorderly district named Hole, which is dominated by magic users and sorcerers. Blinded by power, these magic users consider the denizens of Hole as mere insects and often inflict pain upon them. However, some individuals, like Caiman and Nikaidou, are immune to their wrath. Together, with the assistance of Hole’s numerous residents, Caiman and Nikaidou hunt the magic users down, all while attempting to reclaim Caiman’s memories in one of the weirdest anime settings to date.
Dark, Bizzare, and Refreshing
Adapted from the manga of the same name by Q Hayashida, Dorohedoro is a bleak and gruesome anime series that does absolute justice to its source material. Grappling with themes of violence, free will, and humanity’s penchant for cruelty, it douses every episode with a tragic and nihilistic broth that bubbles in visceral fashion. The series is irresistible but not for the fainthearted, with numerous scenes involving elements of body horror and intense violence.
Stream Dorohedoro on Netflix
33 Scum’s Wish (2017)
High school students Hanabi Yasuraoka and Mugi Awaya pretend to be the perfect couple in front of their peers and often receive envious jabs from them. The truth, however, is that their relationship is fake. They are just two lonely souls dealing with a deep-rooted fascination with different people. While Hanabi is in love with her homeroom teacher, Mugi cannot take his eyes off the music teacher.
Contemporary Tale of Unrequited Love
On the surface, Scum’s Wish may appear to be a tender coming-of-age tale about unrequited love. However, each episode masks more mature themes like the secret yearns of youth, forbidden love, and the loneliness that settles in the soul. The series is crafted with care and nuance, and watching the protagonists navigate their virtues and vices, compassion and hidden pleasures, is both essential and relatable. Scum’s Wish earns its R-rating because of the mature scenes and a bit of fan service.
Stream Scum’s Wish on Prime Video
32 Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom (2009)
Another well-executed R-rated anime series on the list is Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom. It follows the story of a Japanese tourist who accidentally witnesses a murder. He is kidnapped by Phantom, a human weapon, created by Inferno, an underground crime syndicate, to carry out illegal operations in the streets. After brainwashing him, the man is given a name, Zwei, and trained to become an assassin for Inferno.
Blends Noir, Crime, and Action
Fans of Hollywood neo-noir thrillers would delight in watching Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom unfold across 26 brilliant episodes. With skilled direction and thoughtful pacing, the series blurs the line between good and evil, reflecting its roots as a choose-your-own-adventure visual novel. Known particularly for its character studies, gruesome violence, melancholic score, and unsettling tone, the anime is an underrated gem that demands to be recognized.
Stream Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom on Crunchyroll
31 Welcome to the N.H.K. (2006)
Welcome to the N.H.K. follows 22-year-old college dropout Tatsuhiro Satou, who has been living as a recluse for quite some time now. In his isolation, Satou develops a huge belief in the Nihon Hikkomori Kyokai (N.H.K.), a secret organization in Satou’s imagination that promotes societal isolation and paranoia-driven displacement. He crosses paths with a mysterious girl who tries to help cure him of his acute social withdrawal, and together they embark on a quest to confront the truth about the N.H.K.
Relatable for Its Protagonist’s Struggles
While its R-rating comes from occasional nudity, the real strength of Welcome to the N.H.K. is in its depiction of mental illness and the habit of dissociation. The show’s overall tone is lighthearted, and it focuses primarily on Satou’s mundane struggles. However, the heavy subject resonates deeply with the audience. Not only does it make you laugh and cry, but the anime also makes you wonder about humanity, addressing a perturbing cultural trend that has only continued to grow since the series originally premiered.
Stream Welcome to the N.H.K. on Crunchyroll
30 Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)
Set in a post-apocalyptic future where a worldwide cataclysm, known as the Second Impact, has turned the nation into one invaded by monstrous beings known as “Angels.” Humanity’s only solace is in the shadowy NERV organization. Shinji is a 14-year-old teenager who has returned to the city of Tokyo-3 after being abandoned by his father, the leader of NERV. Unfortunately for Shinji, he’s the only person who can pilot a giant bio-machine called Evangelion Unit-01, a monolithic weapon that can successfully fight the Angels. In addition to confronting Angels after understanding his estranged father’s motives, he must also face his own internalized trauma on top of it.
Features Spectacular Art and Animation
There are several mecha anime series that have stunned fans with the sheer scope of their animation. However, Neon Genesis Evangelion is the one series that has revolutionized the medium with its philosophical depth and psychological complexity. Every episode is filled with dynamic action scenes that carry the apocalyptic narrative ahead. Meanwhile, the series also gifts the audience with an emotionally charged story because its protagonist is one who feels intense human feelings.
Stream Neon Genesis Evangelion on Netflix
29 Soul Eater (2008)
Death Weapon Meister Academy is a place that only has one mission — to raise Death Scythes. Death Scythes are weapons used to be wielded against the supernatural forces that threaten the human world. They’re not created but are instead transformed by consuming 99 souls of evil beings and one soul of a witch. Evans is a Death Scythe who partners up with the aloof Maka to grow even stronger but ends up embroiled in an escalating plot that leads to pure madness.
Surprisingly Humorous And Original
Soul Eater is a shounen anime that combines elements of fantasy, horror, and comedy and turns it into something very wicked and entertaining. The action and the visual flare are the main attractions of the series. However, beneath the fluid and creative animation is genuine character depth and themes of trust and belonging. The reason for its R-rating is its high levels of violence and the vivid depiction of evil that puts a surreal spell on the viewer.
Stream Soul Eater on Crunchyroll
28 Ergo Proxy (2006)
Ergo Proxy is yet another post-apocalyptic series. It is set in the domed city of Romdo, where humanity has created AutoReivs — androids that help humans in their day-to-day activities. The reason for their creation was a catastrophic event that destroyed the world and made it uninhabitable. However, when these AutoReivs start to contract the “Cogito Virus,” they also begin attaining self-awareness. Re-l Mayer, the granddaughter of Romdo’s ruler, is responsible for investigating this deadly virus. To do so, she ventures outside the dome to deal with strange, artificial creatures.
A Mind-Blowing Sci-Fi Anime
A compelling blend of sci-fi, noir, and gothic, Ergo Proxy is a series that mesmerizes the viewer with its stunning visuals, nerve-wracking themes, and thought-provoking plot. Its dystopian environment outside the sterile and untouchable domed city is what delivers most of the intrigue. Moreover, the anime also comments on a person’s consciousness, the limits posed by technology, and our dependence on it.
Stream Ergo Proxy on Crunchyroll
27 Gantz (2004)
The afterlife is a subject of curiosity. Most people have thought about what it is like after you die. But imagine still not being free from the world after leaving everything behind. Imagine entering deadly games run by a mysterious black sphere. Imagine having to literally fight for survival and freedom. That’s the premise of Gantz, a fantasy anime that focuses on two friends, Katou and Kurono, who have recently died in a train accident. After their death, they’re turned into unwilling warriors and are forced to hunt down aliens, armed with weapons and futuristic equipment.
A Look Inside Our Collective Consciousness
Gantz has a provocative premise that entirely converts the sci-fi survival genre into something new. But remember, it is not for the fainthearted. The gritty action, depiction of violence, extreme gore, and black humor shake you to your core. Despite being criticized for some of its visceral scenes, the series balances it by infusing the narrative with thought-provoking questions about conscience and mortality.
Stream Gantz on Crunchyroll
26 Elfen Lied (2004)
In Elfen Lied, the main character is a dangerous mutant humanoid girl named Lucy. Being born with a pair of horns and invisible telekinetic hands, aka “Vectors,” Lucy became the subject of experimentation. When she gets a chance, though, she escapes captivity and leaves a lot of blood and devastation in her wake. Moreover, her escape leads to Lucy creating an innocent split personality for herself, where she turns into a child without speech. Two college students accept her into their home, unaware of Lucy’s bloody past and the numerous threats closing the distance.
Beautiful and Thought-Provoking
The anime lasted 13 episodes, but in that short amount of time, fashioned a compelling and memorable story with resonant main characters. Notorious for its graphic violence and mild nudity, the series ultimately showcases two facets of the same narrative — one where Lucy is exploited for her powers, and the other where she is treated with kindness and care.
Stream Elfen Lied on Prime Video
25 Deadman Wonderland (2011)
Bringing to life the first five volumes of Kazuma Kondou and Jinsei Kataoka’s manga series, this anime follows teenager Ganta, who is the sole survivor of a mass murder at his high school. When he is framed for the slaughter and sentenced to death after serving time in the titular prison, things get quite out of hand. The prison is staged as an amusement park where all the inmates are expected to take part in sadistic games to earn their privileges. All the inmates are fighting for their lives, with Ganta needing to prove his innocence in order to escape this ordeal.
A Disturbing Premise That Sticks With You
If you’ve recently watched Squid Game and have enjoyed the sheer ridiculousness of its violence, then Deadman Wonderland is here to take one, no, ten steps further in the direction of dark and delirious. The series gets violent and twisted, with its colorful death games and the weaponization of blood being two particularly grisly features.
Stream Deadman Wonderland on Crunchyroll
24 High School DxD (2012)
This OG of R-rated ecchi anime series follows an ordinary high school student named Issei, who is reincarnated as a demon after his first date goes terribly wrong. But the girl who saves him, Rias Gremory, is secretly a devil as well, leaving Issei bound to her via magic. To pay off his debt to Rias, he needs to serve in her army and battle angels and demons. However, Issei’s growing relationship with Rias may prove to be dangerous for all parties involved.
A Standout In the Genre
With epic action sequences and plenty of fan service, High School DxD fulfills every wish of mature anime fans. The anime is known for embracing sexuality without any sort of restraint. However, underneath the R-rated fan service is a surprisingly funny, playful, and endearing story about friendship.
Stream High School DxD on Crunchyroll
23 Ajin: Demi-Human (2016)
Set on an Earth where a mysterious evolved species known as “Ajin” walks among humans, this R-rated anime explores the darker side of co-existing with evil. While the Ajin’s supernatural powers are considered a threat to humanity, humans take extreme measures to hunt and eliminate them. Kei Nagai is a studious teen working hard to become a doctor and never indulging in matters related to Ajin. However, after a fateful accident, he is reborn as an Ajin. Kei must lie low and make sure the government does not capture him, leading him to discover the other Ajin and their impending plans to fight back.
A Fantastic Shounen Anime
The series is based on the manga written and illustrated by Gamon Sakurai, and it goes without saying that it represents the story pretty well, given the acclaim it has won. Filled with hyper-detailed CGI animation and superpowered battles, Ajin: Demi-Human is an intense examination of two distinct perspectives and how they clash with one another.
Stream Ajin: Demi-Human on Netflix
22 Jujutsu Kaisen (2020)
Jujutsu Kaisen‘s sinister charm is perfect for older anime fans. Its storyline goes as follows — Yuuji is a carefree teenager who spends most of his free time participating in one of two activities: visiting his bedridden grandfather and immersing himself in the paranormal activities carried out by his Occult Club. One day, Yuuji unknowingly swallows a cursed object that houses deadly spirits and ends up joining a secret exorcist society to combat supernatural forces.
One of the Most Successful and Satisfying Anime
The Tokyo Anime Award Festival (TAAF) awarded Jujutsu Kaisen Anime of the Year back in 2022, and the main reason for this triumph is the series’ spectacular action and eccentric characters. Jujutsu Kaisen arrived when anime was becoming more and more accessible to mainstream and international audiences, which meant that its bold animation and subtle comedy were reaching the right audience and winning in every formula. Its adult-oriented content was no obstacle to its paramount success, as its source material went on to become one of the best-selling manga franchises of all time.
Stream Jujutsu Kaisen on Crunchyroll
21 Code Geass (2006)
Caught in a misfire between the Holy Empire of Britannia, a highly dominant military nation, and Area 11, a reinterpretation of Japan, is a student and exiled prince named Lelouch. He seeks to overthrow the Holy Britannian Empire, but to do so, he must don the masked persona of Zero and use the powers bestowed upon him by a mysterious girl named C.C. Lelouch becomes the de facto face of a rebellion, blessing this series with intense mecha battles and compelling drama.
Filled With Exciting Cliffhangers
Extremely addictive by anime standards and truly clever in its premise, Code Geass is known for grabbing the attention of mature audiences because of its blend of geopolitical elements and dystopian setting. Filled with numerous strategic battles, dynamic characters, and incredibly mature plotting, the series becomes a multilayered wonder. Its continual popularity has cemented it as one of a handful of anime titles that have achieved mainstream popularity, even outside the realm of anime as a whole.
Stream Code Geass on Crunchyroll
20 Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World (2022)
Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World follows Michio Kaga, a young man who suddenly finds himself transported to a fantastical game world. At first, Kaga is dubious of his surroundings, so he pretends to play, defeats enemies, and passes obstacles. But when he realizes that he cannot log out of the game, instead of finding a way back out, Kaga embraces his new reality and decides to make the best of it. After purchasing a companion in the form of Roxanne, who he quickly grows attached to, he continues to purchase more partners in order to expand his party.
Has A Story Beyond The Fan Service
Despite being adventurous and captivating, Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World is an odd isekai anime. The plot is relatively straightforward, but the series is filled with a lot of blood and violence, and the scenes between Kaga and Roxanne are rightfully censored. Underneath its bright presentation, this is an R-rated series through and through.
Stream Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World on Crunchyroll
19 High School of the Dead (2010)
In this series, Japan is in utter chaos after the dead rise from their graves and attack the living. When they reach the local high school, Takashi Kimuro has no choice but to kill his infected best friend and vows to protect his girlfriend, Rei Miyamoto. After escaping their predicament, Takashi and Rei realize that the outside world is already in shambles. They ally with a group of survivors – the president of the Kendo Club, their high school nurse, a politician’s daughter, and an otaku – and attempt to survive the ensuing apocalypse.
Set in a Post-Apocalyptic World
High School of the Dead starts at a brilliant pace, setting up its premise for a zombie apocalypse from the first episode itself. If you’re a fan of the subgenre, you’re sure to notice the subtle details that make it more realistic and humorous. The episodes get pretty bloody, with each of the characters slashing the zombies with zero remorse. The horror is thankfully balanced with plenty of adult-oriented comedy as well, as its sense of self-awareness opens the door for dozens of ridiculous scenes.
Stream High School of the Dead on Hulu
18 Sekirei (2008)
The anime centers around 19-year-old Minato Sahashi, who is physically weak but is selfless and attentive towards those he cares about. One day, as he is walking home after failing his college entrance exams for the second time, a beautiful woman named Musubi falls from the sky onto him. Musubi is a humanoid extraterrestrial known as the “Sekirei,” and her kind can kiss a worthy person and awaken their abilities. That’s what Musubi does with Minato, and soon he finds himself drawn into a brand-new world of supernatural battles and tense competition.
Well-Paced and Brilliantly-Written
Blending the elements of an unusual romantic comedy with a supernatural premise, Sekirei is a smart, carefully paced, feel-good anime. Filled with dramatic moments and a delicate balance of comedy and romance, Sekirei is a modern imagination of the relationship between men and women. That being said, its adult-oriented content does earn it a spot on this R-rated anime list. Sekirei is currently unavailable to stream.
