There are tons of anime genres out there, but some get all the love and attention, while the others are often overlooked.
Anime is a film category with numerous distinctive genres comprising films and series of all kinds - created in the Japanese style of animation. The top genres are often determined by their popular titles at the moment. Let us take a look at both ends of the spectrum and explore some popular and overlooked genres that might pique your interest.
Popular: Romance
Romance is one of the most popular genres, and anime connoisseurs love to watch their favourite characters fall in love in all sorts of fictional worlds and circumstances. Fruit Basket is a big name in anime, and it sticks out above all the other romantic shows. It is based on a best-selling rom-com manga, and it is not just some average teen romance story.
Overlooked: Josei
Series based on the Josei genre is targeted at young adult or late teen women, but the audience is not restricted to this demographic. Ideally, Josei has a mature theme and has close relations to life plots. ‘Nana’ is a popular title in this genre, and it follows the story of two young adult women who are very different from one another - one is a hopeless romantic, and the other is a punk rocker in a band.
Popular: Shonen
Some of the biggest anime titles belong to the shonen genre - One Piece, Naruto, and My Hero Academia are just a few of them. Shonen particularly targets teen males, and the theme often revolves around a boy working hard to become the best at something. Mostly these series run for a long span - several years and over hundreds of episodes.
Overlooked: Parody
This genre is perfect for viewers who do not want to watch anything too serious. But parody is not just limited to parodying other themes but genres too. ‘Panty and Stocking with Garter Belt’ is a must-watch and hilarious title that parodies the magical girl genre. The series follows two female angels with unconventional methods of casting magic. Be sure to give it a try.
Popular: Psychological
Death Note reigns in this particular genre, and it is a popular show even among the people who are yet to fall in love with anime. Psychological anime is typically more twisted, weird, and replete with perverted tropes that other anime usually lack. Death Note is an iconic choice with riveting plot twists at every turn.
Overlooked: Sports
This genre often gets overlooked for its real-life correlation. Sports anime are way more than just about the sport, and the series tend to teach a particular sport using proper terminologies. You may find this genre interesting if you play a certain sport.
If you are searching for a new genre apart from the anime staples like shonen and fantasy, give some of these overlooked genres a try.
