There is a never-ending supply of unique and groundbreaking anime series and each year brings hundreds of more promising series into the industry. There's a wealth of diverse genres that help anime find audiences, but shonen stories that are geared more towards a younger male demographic with an emphasis on action represent some of anime's most popular offerings.
There are certain stereotypes that are embraced in shonen series, especially when it comes to their protagonists and their character development. Shonen anime are often homes for extremely edgy individuals and narratives, with some of these shows being more egregious than others.
10 Attack On Titan Cannot Escape Death & Pain
Attack on Titan has grown into a genuine phenomenon and its fandom has reached a fever pitch as the anime heads into its final season. Attack on Titan has layered storytelling and elaborate character development to fall back on, but it's still a show that's filled with constant death, betrayal, and tragic circumstances. The very first episode of the series forces Eren to grapple with death in a significant way. The person that he's pushed to become, as well as those that grow to idolize his decisions, could certainly be considered edgy.
9 Deadman Wonderland Lives In Darkness & Plays With Blood Weapons
Deadman Wonderland accomplishes a lot in only 12 episodes, but the dark path that it sends Ganta Igarashi down is full of events that would even turn that most balanced of individuals into an edgy wreck. Ganta gets framed for a series of murders that he didn't commit and finds himself in an especially twisted correctional institution. Ganta's dark environment and the people that surround him all feed into this energy, but the anime also involves weapons that are made from the characters' blood, which offers a natural level of edginess to it.
8 Inuyashiki Looks At A Troubled Youth's Unhealthy Use Of His New Powers
Inuyashiki is a harrowing meditation on power that's only 11 episodes long but manages to say more than many anime series do with twice as many episodes. Inuyashiki, an elderly man, and Shishigami, a teenager, are both turned into cyborgs after they're affected by a supernatural explosion.
Inuyashiki tries to use his powers for good, but Shishigami goes on a manic killing spree that feels reminiscent of a school shooter. Shishigami's actions are a terrifying look at what can happen when the wrong person has too much power. This short series crafts a powerful story that reaches an emotional conclusion.
7 Devilman Crybaby Is The Bloodiest Love Story Between Best Friends
Go Nagai's Devilman series and its many transformations have been a staple of the anime industry for decades, but Masaki Yuasa's most recent update on the monster story, Devilman Crybaby, is one of the most powerful versions of Devilman yet. Yuasa's fluid animation style allows Devilman Crybaby's death and bloodshed to swallow up the viewer and truly feel overwhelming. The sheer amount of carnage makes Devilman Crybaby an edgy series, but the central relationship between Akira and Ryo is the edgiest take on this star-crossed relationship, which ultimately ends in a bittersweet place where the Earth suffers the most.
6 Hellsing Ultimate Gets Too Confident In Its Demon Slaying Skills
There have been so many different takes on vampires and vampire hunters that there's been an increasing edginess that's forced upon creatures of the night in a way that doesn't always feel natural. Characters like Alucard and Van Hellsing have such infamous reputations that an anime like Hellsing, and its OVA follow-up, Hellsing Ultimate, should have more confidence in their characters. Hellsing is full of bloody fights with deadly creatures and organizations, but Hellsing Ultimate makes Alucard far too cocky and there's no sense of danger that surrounds him. It's a shift that makes everything edgier as a result.
5 Future Diary Turns A Bunch Of Oblivious High Schoolers Into Would-Be Gods
Future Diary comes across as the even more twisted hybrid of Battle Royale and Death Note. Yukiteru Amano learns that he's suddenly one of a dozen candidates to become the new God of space and time, a position that will be determined by whoever is the last one standing.
This macabre competition between a bunch of seemingly normal high school students naturally turns to edgy behavior as they each differently come to terms with this strange opportunity. The heavy violence, as well as the motivations that propel characters forward, make Future Diary an appropriate fit here.
4 Tokyo Ghoul Is Full Of Figures Who Relish Death & Pain
Tokyo Ghoul fans have likely become a little edgy themselves after the rocky road that the series' anime has been down. Tokyo Ghoul's anime goes down a messy road and reaches a rushed conclusion that's robbed of a lot of emotional impact, but the core foundation of the dark series remains effective and some of the anime's strongest moments occur in the earliest episodes as Ken Kaneki first comes to terms with his hybrid ghoul status. Character and ghoul designs in the series are edgy, but so many ghouls are heightened figures who lose control when it comes to the concept of death.
3 Akame Ga Kill! Heads Into All-Out Warfare Between Extremely Intimidating Parties
There are plenty of edgy characters who express their feelings by rebelling against the establishment, especially when a corrupt group of individuals has taken control of society. Akame ga Kill! is an inspirational anime series where a young and passionate boy, Tatsumi, is recruited by an elite group of assassins to take on the oppressive Empire. The Night Raid are ultimately altruistic, but they can give off an edgy demeanor with how they operate. It's also a series that's not afraid to put its characters through the worst of conditions as they try to stay focused on their cause.
2 Elfen Lied Is A Tragic Tale About Fearing The Unknown
Elfen Lied is not for the faint of heart, as it tells a brutal story across 13 episodes that can be emotionally devastating for some. Lucy's dealt a bad lot that only progressively gets worse across the course of Elfen Lied. The series argues that Lucy is a liability that needs to be destroyed, which is a hard pill to swallow. The series is drenched in intense violence and the haphazard way in which Lucy tears her targets to shreds is difficult to watch, but can also come across as an edgy power fantasy.
1 Death Note Often Feels Like An Edgy Teenager's Manifesto For The Perfect World
One of the reasons that Death Note has become such an enduring anime is because there’s such a simple premise at its center. The destructive nature of the Death Note and how easy it is to end someone's life allows the anime to ask some fascinating questions about corruption and responsibility. The slippery slope that characters end up on is inevitable and the radical visions that delusional characters preach for an "improved" world are only exercises in control. The themes and questions that fill Death Note are edgy, but the characters and the appearance of Ryuk also embrace this energy.