It is no surprise thatanimeis a truly unique form of storytelling. While Japan established the art, anime has gained a global recognition and garnered high praise through its immense variety of genre, narrative style, and the ability to explore heartwarming as well as intense themes with ease. The form of animation differs vastly from the Western ones, and the series, sometimes spanning decades, revolve around sci-fi, crime thrillers, coming-of-age, and mystery.
In the 21st century, a burgeoning crop of gritty anime noir titles has emerged, taking the genre in a darker direction. These shows draw a massive influence fromclassic film noir of the 1940sand many even chronicle the Prohibition era. The aesthetic usually involves shadowy streets lit by lonely lamp posts and anti-heroes who find themselves torn between doing the right thing and seeking revenge. Within their gritty backdrops of urban decay and the ever-looming threat of violence, these mysteries unfold at an intriguing pace.
So, if you thrill at midnight-noir intrigue and a Godfather-esque blend of moodiness and mystery, these animes and their hypnotic characters will linger with you like cigarette smoke. Without wasting much time, let’s take a deep dive into the dark heart of anime.
10Gungrave
Gungravetells the story of two street kids Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell who realize that the quickest path to earning fame, glory, and wealth is entering the gritty world of crime. After joining the Millennion crime organization, which is practically a massive crime syndicate with a reputation, they climb up the ranks and find their place in this cruel and merciless world. However, it isn’t long until they get way deep in their heads and they become rivals. From being former best friends to navigating a lawless metropolis, the two dwell in degrees of betrayal and morally ambiguous paths. The series engulfs its viewers in the neon rain by using a somber tone but maintaining the gangster action. The visual style is pretty immersive and cool too, giving us a detailed and spiritual picture of the criminal underworld.
9Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
BeforeGhost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complexbecame an essential neo-noir anime series, the franchise gave us the pioneering movie in 1995. The originalGhost in the Shellnot only introduced cyberpunk action to the mainstream audience but also featured incredible stylised animation. This one, set in near-future Tokyo where people have the choice to transform their human selves into machines, creates a nice political intrigue in a high-tech urban jungle.
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When the bad guys make use of this option, the Japanese Government enforces Section 9, giving a standalone army of police an official right to eliminate any threat. But leaders Daisuke Aramaki and Motoko Kusanagi have one big problem to deal with – a hacker named “The Laughing Man.” Lauded for sophisticated world-building and a close inspection of technology’s impact on peace, the series is an excellent blend of science fiction and noir mystery.
8Darker Than Black
For almost a decade, a strange supernatural appearance has loomed over South American and Japan. Named “Heaven’s Gate” in its former location and “Hell’s Gate” in the latter, it is Tokyo that faces greater difficulties. In such a scenario, people called “Contractors” arise as saviors, with their paranormal abilities overpowering their erased memories. Enigmatic agent Hei takes jobs as an assassin for Syndicate while searching for clues to uncover a mystery that is threatening the very existence of Contractors. Created by Tensai Okamura,Darker Than Blackhas superb action sequences and rich characters. The whole picture of a criminal underworld where deception pays the bills is anchored by amoody atmosphere and bleak tone. However, the show’s ability to cast a spell on its viewers defines it as the ultimate noir fantasy.
Adapted from Ryohgo Narita’s award-winning light novels, this elaborate series is set on the lawless streets of Prohibition-era New York. On one hand, there are mafiosos duking out their differences and on the other, rumors swirl of alchemists revealing a shocking truth about immortality. Also, in 1930 Chicago, Flying Pussyfoot, a transcontinental train, is determined to leave devastation in its wake. With its non-linear storytelling andPulp Fiction-like carnage,Baccano!whisks us through an epic saga involving criminals, scientists, thieves, and misfits, all caught up in a clever game of rip-roaring action and dark humor. Despite the noir elements being subtle and spaced, the series’ energetic twist on classic tropes has elevated its status to being one of the most interesting anime of all time.
6Psycho-Pass
Cyberpunk Edgerunnersmay be the coolest and thebest cyberpunk thriller animeever created, butPsycho Passis undoubtedly a close second. Set in a future where crime is vanishing into a thin and non-existent matter of concern, thanks to the Sibyl System, two officers are caught in a game of moral credibility. Apparently, the Public Safety Bureau has begun monitoring citizens and their psychology for any signs of deviance, based upon which the Sibyl System decides whether or not a person is a potential threat. Caught in the misfire are Inspector Akane Tsunemori and Enforcer Shinya Kougami, who happen to find a glitch in the system. With its sleek modern sets and a piercing commentary on surveillance, the series crafts a thought-provoking reflection of our current world, where we are dependent on technology and the digital haze caused by it.
91 Daysis set in a town named Lawless during the violent Prohibition-era gang warfare, and that piece of information alone conveys the tone of this 12-episode gritty noir thriller. Angelo Lagusa was quite young when he witnessed his family being brutally murdered at the hands of the Vanetti mafia family, leaving him with no choice but to leave town. Seven years later, with his name changed to Avilio Bruno, he returns to Lawlesswith a plan to take revenge. He befriends Nero, the head Vanetti’s son and infiltrates the mob syndicate responsible for giving him this insurmountable pain. The series submerges us in memorizing just how ruthless the mafia underworld is. From dealings to unhappy souls to liquor obsession, it takes notes from all the best noir genre details and creates a poetic story. Moreover, its beautiful animation and crisp narrative also demand praise.
4Ergo Proxy
There is nothing more satisfying than watching machines go rogue and sending humans in a frenzy to reverse things and protect themselves. When paired with mesmerizing cyberpunk vistas and a compelling pace, the result is truly phenomenal.Ergo Proxycharts around the same territory. Depicting a world where humans and androids co-exist, we are taken to the ravaged domed city of Romdo. Humans didn’t have much going on after a global catastrophe destroyed everything, so to assist them, they created “AutoReivs,” robots that resembled humans. But when these robots develop self-awareness, they turn into unstoppable monsters. Re-l Mayer and her AutoReiv partner, Iggy, set out to discover a cure. This dystopian saga showers the audience with exciting scenes and a terrifying protagonist with the sole aim of keeping them immersed and haunting their dreams after.
3Black Lagoon
Rated R for its shocking depiction of violence,Black Lagoonfollows the exhausting and uneventful life of 25-year-old Rokurou Okajima, a Japanese salaryman trying really hard to work his way up to the corporate office. In one of his people-pleasing attempts, he ends up becoming hostage to the Lagoon Company after a trade deal goes south. When his managers refuse to help him out, Rokurou decides to join the crew and become a mercenary instead.
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Rokurou not only begins tounderstand the anarchic underworld of Roanapur, but also ends up making enemies within the company, like his badass colleague Revy. The series effortlessly carries its narrative made of mob warfare and angry hijackings. From every crashing wave to gun-blazing escapades, it remains a pinnacle of pure fun and glory.
2Cowboy Bebop
One of the oldest displays of how far anime can go with its creativity,Cowboy Bebopintroduced the world to bounty hunter Spike Spiegel and his eccentric crew aboard the spaceship Bebop as they evade syndicates and fight criminals across the solar system in pursuit of the next payday. The year 2071 has not only allowed humanity to stretch across galaxies but also created an unimaginable underworld of crime lords carrying out murders and theft. Only our beloved band of bounty hunters can stop these intergalactic outlaws. The 1998 series had rich character detail and splendid animation. And yet, it provedmore than just a noir-tinged sci-fi Western. With each episode, we watch the crew solve crimes against stunning jazz scores, deeper noirs of trauma, and themes of redemption. Even today, the series is a perfect and beautiful one.
Kenzou Tenma is a gifted young neurosurgeon living in Germany in the 1970s. Faring well in his profession and engaged to the hospital director’s daughter never put him at cross with anyone. Until one night when he’s forced by the director to perform a brain surgery on a famous personality. Tenma fails to save the man’s life and is kicked out of the hospital, shortly after which the director and few other doctors are pronounced dead, making Tenma a major suspect in their murder. Naoki Urasawa’s manga is a masterpiece, and its on screen adaptation also creates an equally compelling cat-and-mouse game with the mysterious “Monster” always lurking around the brilliant yet troubled protagonist. Turns out that no other anime noir hasbaked its social commentaryinto such a slowly twsited crime thriller likeMonster.
