Akira
Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama
A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a teenage biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by his best friend.
Why you'll love it
A groundbreaking cyberpunk anime featuring mature themes, stunning animation, and philosophical questions that revolutionized the medium for adult viewers.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Sumi Shimamoto, Mahito Tsujimura, Hisako Kyôda
Warrior and pacifist Princess Nausicaä desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet.
Why you'll love it
An epic sci-fi anime with complex themes, action sequences, and emotional depth that captivated adult audiences despite family-friendly content.
Ghost in the Shell
Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi, Akio Ôtsuka
A cyborg policewoman and her partner hunt a mysterious and powerful hacker called the Puppet Master.
Why you'll love it
While technically 1990s, this landmark psychological thriller anime with sensual visuals and existential themes became the definitive adult anime of the era.
Patlabor 2: The Movie
Mîna Tominaga, Briony Glassco, Julie Ann Taylor
When a terrorist attack is blamed on the Air Force, Special Vehicle Unit 2 gets caught in the middle of a growing political conflict.
Why you'll love it
A sophisticated sci-fi police thriller anime with mature storytelling, moral complexity, and stunning animation crafted for discerning adult viewers.
Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer
Fumi Hirano, Toshio Furukawa, Akira Kamiya
The night before the school festival, things seem to be repeating themselves. Gradually, all the world functions come to a stop, the only ones that are not affected are a select group of student friends.
Why you'll love it
A surreal, mature-themed anime film with sophisticated humor and romantic elements that appeals to adult viewers seeking experimental storytelling.
Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend
Christopher Courage, Rebel Joy, Sonny Weil
The relative coexistence of the human world, demon world and beast world is soon to be disrupted by The Overfiend, an immensely powerful demon who'll be reborn after 3000 years to remake the world to his own liking.
Why you'll love it
An infamous dark fantasy OVA series with explicit adult content, extreme violence, and surreal horror that defined the adult anime genre.