13 Most Challenging Anime To Watch That You Should Know - OtakuKart (2024)

Anime is an interesting genre offering a wide range of stories, from touching to intense drama. At a time when many anime genres offer lasting impressions, there are some that push the boundaries of emotional sustainability, immersing viewers in stories that are hard to comprehend.

We will delve into 13 anime wherein the raw intensity, complicated themes, and gut-wrenching moments take a look at the limits of our emotional resilience. Put yourself together for an emotional roller coaster as we see this compilation of thought-provoking and tragic anime series.

From war-torn landscapes to mental explorations, those anime push the limits of what we can bear as site visitors. They deal with issues like loss, despair, moral dilemmas, and human circ*mstances, leaving us with a profound impact long after the last credit roll.

However, people will experience a reasonably unique and worthwhile phenomenon, allowing them to discover the depths of human emotion and discover the complexities of the human psyche. Be a part of us in this adventure as we discover the 13 most tough anime, searching for emotional turmoil, deep storylines, and unforgettable characters. Be organized for an emotional roller coaster to go away an indelible mark.

13 Hardest Anime to Watch

Code Geass

Code Geass is an anime collection set in a changing future in which the Holy Empire of Britannia has conquered a huge portion of the world. The tale revolves around the protagonist, Lelouch Lamperouge, a high school student who is secretly the exiled prince of Britannia.

Lelouch leads a double life as he assumes the identification of “Zero,” the masked leader of a resistance institution called the “Black Knights.” His last aim is to overthrow the Britannia Empire and create a better global for his sister, Nunnally, who is blind and wheelchair-certain.

The series combines factors of political intrigue and supernatural competencies. Lelouch gains a strength called the Geass, which lets in him command others to obey his orders without query. As Lelouch wages his rebel in competition to Britannia, he forms alliances with friends and foes alike, collectively with Suzaku Kururugi, a youth friend who joined the Britannia military, and C.C., a mysterious immortal female who presents Lelouch his Geass strength.

Code Geass offers an intriguing story with twists, details, and plenty of mecha battles. Famous for complex characters, intricate political strategies, and thought-provoking research on the consequences of power.

Steins;Gate

Steins; Gate is an anime anthology that combines technical fiction, time travel, and occult thrills. The story follows Rintaro Okabe, a self-proclaimed mad scientist, and his strange group of friends as they accidentally discover the ability to send messages to the other side and alter history. The collection is set in Akihabara, Tokyo, and centers around the “Future Gadget Lab,” a makeshift lab where Okabe and his friends conduct research.

One day they encountered a way to alter the past using microwaves and cell phones, so they used the name “Phone Microwave.” These supposedly innocent experiments are soon discovered to have unintended consequences, and they attract the attention of a shadowy organization called SERN.

As the group of friends goes deeper into time travel, they find themselves implicated in a conspiracy of great importance. Okabe teams up with leading neuroscientist Kurisu Makise and hacker Daru to navigate the complex web of the timeline and thwart destructive activities, even facing the consequences of their actions as the timeline changes and the main functions modify it.

Steins; Gate anime series explores the complications of motive and impact, the consequences of time manipulation, and the gender of reality. The story is characterized by distorted narrative details. It is filled with emotional moments and philosophical dilemmas as the characters struggle to maintain their relationships and deal with the consequences of their actions.

Also Read: 40+ Movies Like Clueless That You Should Not Miss

Parasyte

Parasyte is a series of anime adapted from the manga with the help of Hitoshi Iwaki. The story revolves around Shinichi Izumi, a mischievous college student whose life takes a dramatic turn when Earth is invaded by mysterious alien creatures called parasites.

One night, small, malicious worm-like creatures fall from the sky and invade the earth. These parasites invade the bodies of us humans, take over their brains, and manipulate their hosts. However, when a virus tries to invade Shinichi’s mind, he can stop it via his headphones. Instead, the virus takes over his right arm.

Shinichi named the parasite Migi, who was unlike any other parasite of its kind. It remains focused and symbiotic with Shinichi. Where humans and parasites fight for survival, the two form an uneasy alliance. As the story progresses, Shinichi and Migi stumble upon various strangers with bad intentions.

Within the series, Parasyte explores themes of identity, the human condition, and the emotional stability of humans and nature. It delves into a thought-provoking journey for its viewers that is filled with horror, thriller, drama, and suspense.

Psycho-Pass

Psycho-Pass is a dystopian cyberpunk anime set in a futuristic Japan wherein a complex machine known as the Sibyl device is used to hold regulation and order. The tale follows Akane Tsunemori, a newly appointed Inspector at the overall public safety Bureau’s crook investigation division and her encounters with a mysterious and elusive criminal mastermind called Makishima.

In this society, the Sibyl device scans the highbrow and mental profile of every man or woman to determine their Psycho-Pass, a numerical representation of their intellectual stability and functionality for criminal behavior. Those with volatile Psycho-Passes are labeled “latent criminals” and may be subjected to enforcement actions or rehabilitation.

Akane is, first and foremost, an idealist and believes in the operation of the Sibyl machine to ensure justice and save the country from crimes. However, her intentions are challenged when she meets Makishima, an apparent psychopath who manages to evade detection due to his incredible intelligence and ability to manipulate others.

Psycho-Pass attracts viewers with its incredible story, intellectual prowess, and world-class design. The anime offers a fascinating insight into a society that balances safety and freedom and asks profound questions about justice and the nature of human consciousness.

Also Read: 44 Movies Like Blind Side to Watch

Death Parade

Death Parade is an anime series that takes the field in a mysterious otherworldly bar called Quindecim, where dead souls come seeking justice. The story revolves around the mysterious bartender Decim, and his assistant, a humanoid girl called Chiyuki.

In this afterlife, individuals are transported to Quindecim after their death and participate in various bar video games and challenges. Unbeknownst to them, these video games are designed to reflect their true nature and memories when Decim examines their souls and decides their ultimate fate: rebirth or eternal oblivion.

Chiyuki, unable to forget her death circ*mstances or her past lifestyle, begins off evolving to impeach the equality and legality of Decim’s decisions. As she supports Decim in his duties, she challenges his unwavering sense of justice and encourages him to challenge their social model. Throughout the duration of the series, Decim encounters a diverse group of souls, each with their own unique stories and regrets.

The series weaves together a compelling story with beautifully developed characters and moral dilemmas. A seamlessly stirring moment between extreme drama and heartfelt communication, “Death Parade” offers a profound and unforgettable journey into the mysterious world of the afterlife.

Terror In Resonance

Terror in Resonance is a gripping anime collection that follows the lives of enigmatic young adults, Nine and Twelve, who are called Sphinx. The story takes a region in modern-day Tokyo, where the city is thrown into chaos with a series of carefully orchestrated terrorist assaults.

Nine and Twelve are former subjects of a mysterious government check called Athena, which granted them amazing intelligence and abilities. They get away from the power and decide to carry out acts of terrorism to show the dark secrets of their beyond and undertake society’s apathy.

To communicate their intentions and reasons, Sphinx leaves elaborate clues and riddles for the police and the general public. This creates an annoying cat-and-mouse recreation between the terrorists and the police, led by the determined detective Kenjirou Shibazaki. Amidst the chaos, Lisa Mishima, an isolated high school lady, will make an association with Nine and Twelve.

Terror in Resonance is known for its atmospheric animation and belief-scary exploration of terrorism, morality, and the pursuit of justice. It captivates its viewers with its thrilling plot twists, complex characters, and emotional intensity. It leaves a lasting effect and welcoming contemplation on the human circ*mstance and the consequences of society’s movements.

Also Read: 13 Masterpiece Anime to Watch in 2023

Ergo Proxy

Ergo Proxy is a dark and unfocused cyberpunk anime series set in a dystopian destiny. The story takes place in the domed city of Romdeau, an iconic utopian society where humans and androids, known as AutoRevis, coexist, but this beautifully iconic world carries a mess of mystery and dark truth buried.

The story follows the story of Re-L Meyer, an inspector at Romdeau’s security agency, who is tasked with investigating a series of mysterious deaths and riots. During his search, he encounters the mysterious and iconic AutoRevis, who are infected with the Cogito virus, an event that unleashes AutoRevis’s self-awareness and emotions.

Re-L’s pursuit of answers leads her to come upon a mysterious amnesiac referred to as Vincent’s Law. As the 2 of them delve deeper into the mysteries of Romdeau and the outside world, they find out that their truth is more complex and sinister than they may have imagined.

Ergo Proxy is praised for its complex and philosophical narrative, tricky global construction, and beautiful visible aesthetics. The collection explores subject matters, including identity, free will, social mobility, and the effects of unchecked technological advancement. It affords a deep and introspective journey that requires observers to challenge their own perceptions of reality and the human condition.

Elfen Lied

Elfen Lied is a dark and emotionally charged anime series that weaves factors of horror, drama, and era fiction collectively. The story centers around Lucy, a mysterious and powerful mutant with horns and telekinetic competencies called “Diclonius.”

The series starts off evolved with Lucy’s break out from a secretive studies facility in which she became held captive and subjected to relentless experiments. While trying to escape, she suffers head damage and loses her memory, reverting to a seemingly harmless and vulnerable character. She is located via Kouta, a university scholar, and his cousin.

Kouta and Yuka take in the amnesiac girl and call her ‘Nyuu’ because of her restrained vocabulary, which pleasant permits her to mention ‘nyu.’ No, depend on her childlike demeanor, Lucy’s violent and deadly nature quickly resurfaces, mainly in tragic and brutal encounters. As the tale progresses, it delves into Lucy’s past, exploring the motives at the back of her confinement and the cruelty she endured.

Elfen Lied is garnered for its striking visuals and unflinching portrayal of violence and human emotions. It has received a reputation for its darkish and unsettling problem subjects, making it a hard and impactful anime that leaves a long-lasting impact on its site visitors.

Monster

The story follows the life adventures of a highly qualified and compassionate neurosurgeon who works at a prestigious medical practice in Düsseldorf, Germany. One fateful night, Tenma faces an ethical dilemma when two patients in critical condition are simultaneously admitted to the health facility.

The head of the health institute urges him to prioritize the life of the mayor over that of a boy named Johann Liebert. Struggling with his choice, Tenma decides to buy Johan’s life, resulting in the mayor’s death. As a result, his work slows down, and he loses clinical supervision.

Years later, Tenma discovers that Johan, the boy he saved, has grown into a charismatic and dangerous young man. Johan is discovered to be a deeply disturbed and manipulative psychopath, liable for numerous murders and conspiracies. Realizing the grave mistake he made by saving Johan, Tenma units out on a quest to make amends by preventing him.

Monster is a gripping and idea-frightening thriller that maintains viewers on the edge of their seats with its elaborate plot, well-advanced characters, and masterful storytelling. It is one of the most celebrated and great anime series for its mature and complicated narrative.

Serial Experiments Lain

The story revolves around a shy and introverted 14-year-old girl Lain Iwakura who lives in a future near the idea of ​​a confused wired world controlled by a global networking community. This wired communication is a progressive thing larger than the internet we see these days, bordering on digital reality-like existence.

Lain is a standard teenager who spends most of her time on Wired, including her own social life and online presence. But her presence takes an uncharacteristic turn at the same time she receives an email from a classmate named Chisa Yomoda, who had recently committed suicide and now turned in with a message that Chisa is not vain in reality but has “quit her physical body” and transcend herself into the virtual realm.

This revelation sparks Lain’s interest and draws her deeper into the mysteries of the wired. As the series progresses, the lines between reality and the virtual world blur, and Lain’s existence turns increasingly more intertwined with wire. She profits from the ability to manipulate reality via the virtual realm.

Serial Experiments Lain explores complicated topics, which include the character of focus, the effect of a technological era on society, and the existential questions surrounding identification and existence.

The narrative is summary and surreal and frequently leaves viewers thinking what’s real and what’s simply a assemble of the “Wired.”

Also Read: Top Gun Actors and Actresses Then and Now

The Flowers of Evil

The Flowers of Evil is a mental drama that follows the life of Takao Kasuga, a bookish and introverted center faculty-student dwelling in a small rural city. He’s an avid reader and has a specific fascination with Charles Baudelaire’s poetry collection, “Les Fleurs du Mal” (The Flowers of Evil).

One fine day, Takao forgets his book “Les Fleurs du Mal” in the classroom and returns to locate it. In doing so, he stumbles upon the gym garments of his classmate and love, Nanako Saeki. Driven with the aid of impulsiveness and encouraged by the themes of Baudelaire’s dark and taboo troubles, Takao takes Nanako’s fitness center garments and hides them as a form of twisted souvenir.

Unbeknownst to Takao, Sawa Nakamura, a strange and withdrawn girl who uses her beauty, witnessed his move. Nakamura is a reflection of her own bizarre character; she immediately discovers Takao’s secret and begins to accuse him, threatening him to expose his unethical behavior unless he complies with her demands.

Flowers of Evil garners both praise and controversy for its unconventional animation, an unflinching exploration of the darker elements of human nature that remains a mind-altering anime making it a memorable and remarkable get entry to within the intellectual thriller style genre.

Erased

The story follows Satoru Fujinuma, a 29-year-old aspiring manga artist with a precise functionality known as “Revival.” This power robotically sends him back a few minutes in time to prevent injuries and disasters from taking place. However, he has no manipulate over his capability on when this power will take effect or how long back in time he is going to be sent.

After a tragic event regarding a series of kidnappings and murders in Satoru’s place of origin, he will become a suspect due to the unfortunate timing of his “Revival” ability. Falsely accused of the crimes, Satoru’s lifestyles takes a downward spiral, and he starts off evolving to question the reason for his unique energy.

Someday, while Satoru returns home, he reveals his mom was brutally murdered. Full of guilt and regret for not being capable of holding her, his “Revival” capability unexpectedly triggers once more. Still, this time, he has dispatched again all of the way to his adolescence in 1988, simply earlier than a sequence of abductions and killings that marked the start of a sad chain of activities.

Erased is praised for its gripping storytelling, properly-evolved characters, and emotional depth. It explores problem matters of redemption, sacrifice, and the importance of the connections we make with others. The series remains a well-known and cherished anime for its compelling narrative and heartwarming message.

Also Read: Who Narrates Barnwood Builders? Answered

Soul Eater

The tale is set in the fictional demise town, wherein the Death Weapon Meister Academy (DWMA) is placed. This academy is administered by using Lord Death himself, also known as Shinigami. It trains students to grow to be “Meisters” and their living guns are referred to as “Weapons” Those Meisters and Weapons artwork collectively to accumulate souls and maintain the stability between good and ill, in the end aiming to show the weapons into Death Scythes, which might be the handiest weapons wielded through Lord of Death.

The major protagonist is Maka Albarn, a skilled Meister, who’s partnered with the dwelling scythe Soul Eater Evans, moreover referred to as Soul. Together, they formed a powerful group and were given down to gather 99 evil human souls and one witch soul to transform Soul into a Death Scythe.

Throughout the series, Maka and Soul, along with their pals and fellow Meisters, Black Star and Tsubaki Nakatsukasa, and Death the Child, alongside his twin pistols, Liz and Patty Thompson, encounter diverse witches, evil creatures, and ambitious opponents.

Soul Eater is loved for its particular dynamic movement sequences and a mix of darkish, gothic factors with humor and lighthearted moments. The anime weaves together subject matters of friendship, recollection, and self-discovery, creating a compelling and exciting narrative that captivates traffic from beginning to completion.

The 13 hardest anime to watch gift a various range of emotionally tough and excessive experiences. These anime delve into darkish problems, intellectual turmoil, and profound human struggles that can deeply affect anime lovers. From the mental mystery “Monster” to the traumatic exploration of early life in “The Flowers of Evil,” each anime leaves an enduring effect.

“Serial Experiments Lain” disturbing situations, reality, and identification; at the equal time, “Erased” delves into the complicated minds of its characters. These anime call for resilience from audiences, making them unforgettable and notion-horrifying trips into the darker components of life.