Television series
Bungou Stray Dogs
A stylish supernatural crime anime where a ragtag detective agency staffed with gifted misfits solves impossible cases in a richly imagined Tokyo. Think *Sherlock* meets *My Hero Academia*—brisk, clever, darkly funny, with gorgeous animation and a cast you'll want to follow. For anyone who loves quirky ensemble casts and mysteries with bite.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you love anime where quirky, bickering detectives with bizarre supernatural powers carry a surprisingly tender streak, the way Trigun mixes gallows humour with real heart.
Skip it if you want tight, self-contained mysteries; the cases here serve a sprawling ensemble and a slowly unfolding larger story, so the pleasures are character-led rather than puzzle-led.
What it asks of you: Sixty episodes of roughly twenty-five minutes each, so it is a long commitment, and it switches between jokey banter and sudden darkness without much warning.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood2009
A complete supernatural adventure with perfect pacing, complex characters bound by trauma and redemption, and a mythology that rewards close attention. The gold standard of anime storytelling.
But Fifty-four episodes is a commitment, and the early pace is slower while it establishes its world.
Psycho-Pass2012
Slick sci-fi crime procedural with a brilliant protagonist, moral questions that bite, and the same kinetic energy. Each episode moves the plot forward while deepening the world.
But Gets increasingly bleak and abstract in later arcs; some find the philosophy heavy-handed.
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru.2013
Sharp ensemble comedy with genuine character depth. Four seasons of watching messy, smart teenagers solve problems badly then learn something real. Hilarious and unexpectedly moving.
But Slice-of-life pacing will feel slow if you want constant plot momentum.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Bungou Stray Dogs
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Moriarty the Patriot2020
Both remake classic literary detectives as supernatural-powered antiheroes in found families who operate outside the law. Same DNA, different moral center.
The Sherlock universe from the villain's perspective: a genius criminal and his found family take down corruption from the shadows. Inverts the detective story entirely while keeping the puzzle-box plotting.
But Romanticizes antihero criminality; if you need your protagonists morally clean, this isn't for you.
More like this (6)
The God of High School2020
Visually stunning action anime with a found-family core and supernatural stakes. Stylish, funny, with animation so good it transcends the medium. Pure joy to watch move.
But Plot takes a hard turn into the abstract by the finale; some feel it abandons the fun for philosophy.
Mob Psycho 1002016
Supernatural action-comedy centered on a kind, anxious kid with devastating powers. Wildly inventive animation, laugh-out-loud funny, but real about loneliness and growth.
But Visual style is unconventional and won't appeal to everyone; tone shifts unpredictably.
Black Clover2017
Earnest ensemble shounen with a charismatic crew of misfits and a protagonist who refuses to quit. Excellent character arcs and some of the best animation in the genre once it finds its rhythm.
But Slow start with filler, and the protagonist's voice acting is intentionally grating early on.
Akudama Drive2020
Neon-soaked cyberpunk crime thriller with a stylish found-family crew. Quick, brutal, and visually inventive; each episode escalates the stakes.
But Bleak worldview with minimal levity; characters make terrible decisions that lead to consequences.
Carole & Tuesday2019
A gentler ensemble story about artists finding their place and each other on Mars. Gorgeous, sincere, with a killer soundtrack and real warmth between characters.
But Slower burn and more sentimental than action-driven; the sci-fi setting is window dressing.
Arcane: League of Legends2021
Both begin with a desperate outsider finding family in an organization, both have supernatural abilities as a manifestation of social class and belonging, both understand that found family is worth everything.
Riot Games' adaptation of League of Legends is a masterpiece of visual storytelling: breathtaking art direction, a found family split by class and ambition, magic-as-science, and genuine stakes. Treat it as its own thing, forget the game exists.
But Three-year gap between seasons is agonizing; western animation means slower releases than anime seasons.
People
Cast
Recommended by
Tiger & Bunny, Godzilla Singular Point, Baccano!, The God of High School, Noragami, The Eccentric Family, Gleipnir, Black Butler, Hamatora, xxxHOLiC The Movie: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Kiznaiver