5 Criminally Underrated Madhouse Anime Series
Since 1972, Madhouse created various shows, contributing much to the Japanese animation industry. And, needless to say, brought great joy to anime fanatics across the world. The studio’s collection of hits includes “Death Note,” “One-Punch Man,” and “Hunter x Hunter.” It also produced Satoshi Kon’s “Perfect Blue,” “Tokyo Godfathers,” “Millennium Actress,” and “Paprika.” Quite an impressive repertoire of popular and acclaimed animated pieces under their belt.
Would it surprise you to know that Madhouse has some underrated anime series? It’s true, and we will delve into five of them throughout this article. Maybe we’ll also find something that could interest you to warrant a future binge-watch.
5. “Btooom!”
Released in 2012, “Btooom!” is a unique anime series from Madhouse. It features a gamer who gets thrown into a real-life survival competition. The good thing is that the content works just like their favorite video game. This show features impressive animation, well-developed protagonists, and fun action scenes. And it contains video game technology and terminology that gaming viewers would much appreciate.
4. “Claymore”
“Claymore” is a dark, gritty fantasy anime starring a predominantly female cast. It premiered in 2007 with 26 episodes, comprising a single season. And it focuses on a band of warriors determined to protect their kingdom from demons. The series’s setting and character design grant it a distinct style. And it shifts between characters to weave stories, presenting a larger story.
3. “Death Parade”
“Death Parade,” a psychological thriller, came out in 2015 with a 12-episode season. It follows souls trapped in purgatory who must win their chance at reincarnation. The series showcases various serious themes, including death, loss, human nature, morality, and forgiveness. And it possessed a stylish aesthetic, complete with interesting morally gray characters. Additionally, the show blends in aspects of the supernatural for an extra kick.
2. “Black Lagoon”
“Black Lagoon” is a still-popular-to-this-day Madhouse anime series from 2006. It stars a mercenary band known as the Lagoon Company operating near a crime-riddled city. The fast-paced adventures of the show’s colorful characters often break out into gratuitous violence. And this animated series isn’t shy about showcasing its tons of gore and brutality. Also, the main female character, Revy, is considered the most iconic gunslinger in anime history.
1. “Sonny Boy”
A more recent 2021 anime, “Sonny Boy,” follows a troop of unassuming high school students. They must learn to work together after finding themselves whisked away into an alternate dimension. And they need to find a way home without suffering any huge losses. “Sonny Boy” is less plot-driven and focuses more on the characters’ development and psychological states. Regardless, it’s still an enjoyable anime that offers much with its uniqueness.
Final Thoughts on These Madhouse Anime
These five underrated Madhouse anime shows honestly sound quite intriguing. Each one has its own charm despite all being somewhat dark in nature. And they all have that extra something that could draw in any crowd. It’s quite a shame these series hardly get the recognition they deserve.
Out of these five anime shows, I’m most familiar with “Black Lagoon.” But that’s mainly from watching YouTube clips and television promotions for the series. I still wouldn’t mind checking out one of the other four, especially “Claymore.” I’m a fan of the fantasy genre, whether it’s dark and gritty or not. Hopefully, you guys experience one of these Madhouse gems for yourselves soon, too.
