One of the best aspects of being a fan of anime is not really knowing what a series will end up delivering by the time its finale rolls along. Many anime series are known for marketing purposely deceiving art to truly instill shock when the big moment comes and the show takes a sudden turn for better or for worse (but usually worse).
However, often time it isn't all about purposely deceitful cover art. Sometimes it just so happens that an anime has a vast range of different themes and explores them quickly, yet thoroughly; and this doesn't simply mean taking the viewer from happy to sad. Whether it be a series that takes viewers from sad to enraged, happy to distraught, disappointed to amused, some animes can take their viewers on an intense ride in the matter of just a few episodes. Here are some of the most notable anime series that take their audiences on an emotional roller coaster.
Disclaimer: Slight spoilers!
8 Devilman Crybaby
- Debut Year: 2018
- Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy, Superhero
Right from its cover art, Devilman Crybaby seems to wear its heart on its sleeve. The series isn't shy about showing off its darker, violent side as well as its heavier one that deals with serious topics such as puberty, sex, love, and LGBT+ identities.
However, the series isn't just ten whole episodes of heavy content that is difficult to swallow; it features much more lighthearted (and hilarious) moments as well. The series is almost able to split itself into two halves with the first five episodes having the occasional moment for a few laughs and funny animations and the last five taking a quick turn away from the lighthearted side of the series. As the story slowly unfolds and all the secrets are revealed, Akira realizes there isn't any more time for him to have fun or discover himself and that it's all up to him to stop the impending end of the world.
7 Great Teacher Onizuka
- Debut Year: 1999
- Genre: Action Fiction, Comedy, Yankee/Yanki
The "yankee/yanki" genre is popular in Japan and is used to describe anything that resembles a delinquent youth. Great Teacher Onizuka finds itself being mostly a comedy due to its main character constantly feeling out of place, being a former biker gang member (in Japan, this was the epitome of "yankee" culture), turned school teacher.
However, in between all the outrageous shenanigans that Onizuka was constantly pulling around the classroom, the series did have its more heartfelt moments. Onizuka was horrendously under-qualified for his job, but the series finds itself slowing down just a bit for him to have the occasional heartwarming moment with his students where they warm up to him and eventually grow to respect him and care for him not just as a teacher but as a person. The series also hones in on the difficult reality of being an adult, finally saying farewell to the comforting familiarity of their carefree youth.
6 Naruto/ Naruto: Shippuden
- Debut Year: 2002
- Genre: Adventure, Fantasy Comedy, Martial Arts
In between all the hilarious memes Naruto has spawned over the many years it has been around, the series still has its variety of moments that weren't all fun and games. Naruto has been meme'd for ages and even one of its most beautiful and bittersweet songs was made into funny audio to use to parody any satirically sad moments.
However, any true fans of Naruto will know that behind all the memes is genuine heartbreak. Naruto, for the most part, features fun slice-of-life moments and intense fights for the village of Konoha. But every now and then, amongst the hilarious fillers is a heartbreaking story or nerve-wracking fight that leads to a character's tragic death.
5 School Days
- Debut Year: 2007
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy, Slice Of Life
The roller coaster School Days takes its viewers on is less of a conventional one with its consistent ups and downs and rather one that has an incredibly steep fall, right at the very end. School Days was originally based on an adult game that debuted in 2005 in Japan and in 2012 in North America.
Beginning as a simple slice-of-life anime surrounding protagonist Makoto Itou and his life at school, as the series progresses, things become dire rather quickly. The intense ending of the series was one of the biggest twists in anime history; and a horrifyingly bloody one at that.
4 Death Note
- Debut Year: 2006
- Genre: Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Thriller
There aren't many anime fans that don't already know that Death Note is absolutely filled with darker tones and isn't really for the faint of heart. However, the emotional roller coaster Death Note takes its audience on isn't much of a "light to dark" feeling as most would imagine.
The overall tones in Death Note stay consistently dark, but within that darkness are very different emotions. One moment audiences may find themselves engrossed in their hatred for Light/Kira and his heartless actions that eventually lead to many innocent lives being put in danger, purely for his own benefit. Then, in a blink of an eye, the sadness and hopelessness of the mess Light has created will set in.
Switching between the anger and rage over Light's tyranny and the immense sadness and sympathy for his innocent family members is undoubtedly an exhausting emotional roller coaster.
3 Fruits Basket
- Debut Year: 2019
- Genre: Romantic Comedy, Slice Of Life, Supernatural
While the first Fruits Basket animated series debuted in 2001, the new anime adaptation was finally announced in 2018 and debuted in 2019. It's true that the overall series features a girl's typical everyday school life, but the supernatural aspect of the series doesn't add as much adventure as it does heavy emotional investment.
While anime labeled "supernatural" tend to show off a fantasy-like feel and atmosphere, Fruits Basket still manages to keep viewers engaged while still maintaining a bit of an overall mundane theme. Fruits Basket has its "cutesy" moments that make fans' hearts flutter and scenes that are filled with drama surrounding the relationships among the cast, but beneath it all lies something deeper. Fruits Basket may begin with the interesting relationships Tohru builds with each new character but eventually delves into dealing with heavier themes, such as generational trauma, abuse, and all the hardships that come with the Sohma family curse.
2 Fullmetal Alchemist/Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
- Debut Year: 2003
- Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Steampunk
Both renditions of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga are equally filled with highs and lows. Although the series isn't exactly marketed as a fun slice-of-life, it still manages to keep things fairly light. The series still manages to deal with heavy topics while having its colorful cast goof around, slinging audiences from one emotion to another in just a matter of a few scenes. One moment, Ed and Al are bonding with a young girl and her beloved pet dog, then in the blink of an eye, Ed is threatening a man for his life.
Although FMA has its very dark lows, its fun, cheery moments allow fans to remember that there's still hope in the darkest of moments.
1 The Great Pretender
- Debut Year: 2020
- Genre: Comedy, Crime.
The life of a swindler isn't really known to be an easy time. While The Great Pretender does heavily focus on its action-oriented elements and the intricate heists and ploys the team plans out in order to get their hands on whatever riches they had their eyes on, each member of the team has their own somber past the series delves into.
Makoto and friends aren't simply greedy thieves for the fun of it; they all have their own personal reason why they're in the shady business they're in and what keeps them going. Seeing the glimpses of each character's past slowly revealed and watching as the team keeps growing closer and closer is enough to warm the heart between each nerve-wracking heist!