Every anime series about organized crime organizations are certainly exciting to watch, thanks to its roster of antiheroes, intense fight scenes, and emphasis on a life of crime. Anime (and Japan) is famous for its yakuza, with many anime series like The Way Of The Househusband and Nisekoi featuring them prominently.
The yakuza prove their membership with ornate tattoos and by adhering to the code of honor. The mafia works in the shadows, the members following the Omerta, a code of secrecy. The mafia, in particular, has inspired many of the most iconic works of fiction, like Goodfellas. However, there are plenty of anime about the mafia, too.
10 La Storia Della Arcana Famiglia Is Based On An Otome Game
La Storia Della Arcana Famiglia is one of the best adaptations of an otome game in recent anime history. The story follows the Arcana Famiglia, a group of people who protect innocents from harm. They made contracts with tarot cards, which all have unique supernatural powers.
Mondo, their leader, recently announced his retirement. He proposed a competition called the Arcana Duello, where the winner would become the mafia's new boss. He promises that they'd get to marry his daughter, Felicita, if they win. Felicita, however, had her own plans and entered the competition with hopes of reforming the organization and reclaiming her freedom.
9 Phantom ~Requiem For The Phantom~ Is A Thriller That Isn't For The Faint Of Heart
Phantom ~Requiem For The Phantom~ presents a very grim reality for its protagonist, Zwei. He's a Japanese tourist who visited America during a time when the mafia ruled the streets and assassinations were commonplace. Inferno is the organization behind these events. They have a human weapon who's nearly impossible to defeat called the "Phantom."
Zwei witnessed the Phantom murdering an innocent civilian, so he tried to hide in an abandoned building. Phantom and Inferno's leader quickly caught up, kidnapped him, and brainwashed him into one of their organization's servants. Zwei's trip to America soon turned into a nightmarish reality where the only way to regain his memories is by surviving through all of the mafia's deceit and bloodshed.
8 Katekyo Hitman Reborn! Is A Hilarious Take On The Italian Mafia
Katekyo Hitman Reborn! stars a hilariously unlucky protagonist. Tsunayoshi is a total klutz who doesn't have much going for him other than his crush on Kyouko Sasagawa, though he doesn't really stand a chance with her. Though he's just a middle schooler, other people see him as the perfect example of what not to be.
Enter the Italian Mafia. Tsunayoshi's life turns upside down after discovering the Reborn, a baby hitman. He was sent from Italy's strongest Mafia family and assigned to recruit Tsunayoshi as the Vongola family's ninth boss.
7 Black Lagoon Is A Short Seinen Series That Leaves A Lasting Impression
Black Lagoon follows Rokurou Okajima, an average salaryman who found himself at the wrong place at the wrong time after one of his business dealings didn't go according to plan. The Lagoon Company, a group of pirate mercenaries, got their hands on Rokurou because his managers didn't want to pay his ransom.
Instead of wallowing in despair, Rokurou joins the pirates and befriends some of anime's coolest antiheroes. He quickly realizes just how vast the Lagoon Company's reach is after he meets folks from the Russian and Chinese mafias. Though Black Lagoon is just short of 30 episodes, characters like the lovable gunslinger Revi and the deadly but charming Balalaika left a lasting impression on viewers.
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Gangsta Is An Action-Packed Series About Two "Handymen"
In Gangsta, the city of Ergastulum is plagued with crime. In fact, the only thing keeping it afloat is the mafia. Four of the most powerful families control different regions of the town and have more power than the average civilian would think. The Cristiano family, in particular, looks out for the super-human "Twilights" by delivering the medication they need.
Worick Arcangelo and Nicolas Brown have earned a reputation for being "Handymen," which is just a euphemism for paid hitmen. They have clients in all parts of Ergastulum, whether it's cops, mafiosos, or average civilians. They're responsible for bumping off the city's vermin and protecting the innocent as the city's chaos only worsens.
5 Baccano! Takes Place During The Time Of Prohibition
Baccano! is a must-watch series for anybody who enjoys stories about the mafia. It's a historical series set in 1930s America when prohibition was all the rage and organized crime was on the rise. In Chicago, the Flying Pussyfoot, a transcontinental train, left a path of bloodshed and violence in its wake. In New York, Szilard and Ennis are scientists looking to achieve immortality. The war between some of the most powerful mafia families only worsens while all this is happening.
Baccano!'s nonlinear make for some pretty revolutionary storytelling. The series' soundtrack is period-accurate and memorable, so dedicated fans will surely want to add it to their playlists after watching the series.
4 Gungrave Isn't Afraid To Make Its Protagonists Suffer For The Plot's Sake
Gungrave forced its protagonists to wake up and smell the dying roses around them right at the beginning of the series. They're lifelong friends who wasted their days away participating in local fights, flirting with women, and committing petty crimes to earn a living wage.
Their simple life changed into something terrifying after they joined Mellennion, a local mafia syndicate. They started at the organization's lowest rungs and had to fight their way up. Harry, in particular, wants to replace Millennion's leader. Brandon fully supports him since he wants to rescue his lover, Maria, who the leader captured.
3 Bungo Stray Dogs Is An Exciting Mafia Series Full Of Literary References
Bungo Stray Dogs is a great seinen series that doesn't forget to have a sense of humor. The series follows Atsushi Nakajima after he got kicked out of his orphanage. He didn't know that the tiger he thought was chasing him was actually his supernatural ability. Dazai Osamu decided to take him in and recruit him into the Armed Detective Agency.
The Armed Detective Agency is full of people with special abilities who fight other supernatural organizations, such as their main rival, the Port Mafia. Though the Agency and the Port Mafia are always at each other's necks, their mutual love for the city of Yokohama leads to an unlikely alliance. Bungo Stray Dogs is an exciting, action-packed series with a lovable cast of characters, many of whom are named after beloved authors.
2 91 Days Stars Angelo Lagusa, A Charismatic Antihero
91 Days follows Angelo Lagusa as he takes on a new name and infiltrates the Vanetti family in order to get revenge for destroying his family when he was a kid. Angelo is a charismatic protagonist who serves as the perfect antihero in this exciting series about the mafia.
91 Days has everything that makes mafia stories so great, from themes of corruption and betrayal to high-stakes battle scenes with a noir soundtrack. By the end of the series, Angelo's pursuit of revenge drove him to become the very thing he hated.
1 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind Tackles The Italian Mafia
Many dedicated fans regard Golden Wind as the best part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Compared to earlier parts, fans felt enthralled by the complex villains, well-designed characters, and memorable character theme songs. Golden Wind tackles the Italian mafia in typical Joestar fashion as Giorno Giovanna leads the viewers through a bizarre version of organized crime syndicates.
Giorno has a dream of becoming a "Gang-star." He wants to overthrow Passione, become the new boss, and do a deep clean of the organization from the ground up to weed out the corruption. He joins Bucciarati's team, and they set out on their mission. Giorno and the gang are ruthless in their pursuit of justice and are a great representation of the mafia's moral ambiguity as they take out their enemies to achieve their goals.