For most, the world of anime and manga is dominated by shonen series, typically action-focused storyies aimed primarily at a young male demographic (famed hits like Dragon Ball Z and even Death Note included). However, there are also anime and manga aimed at an older demographic, and that category is known as seinen.
So, what is seinen? “Seinen” is media aimed at older males in their late teens and 20s. In general, these series tend to star older protagonists, feature more explicit content, and deal with darker subject matter (though not all have to). While that male audience is the only real requirement to be seinen, the series can be enjoyed by anyone, and contains the variety to do exactly that. Below are ten of the absolute best seinen series available, offering great entry points into this diverse and underappreciated genre.
20 Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
Created By Coolkyousinnjya; Serialized In Manga Action
Coolkyousinnjya’s Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid stars Kobayashi, an overworked office worker who gets drunk one night and saves the life of a dragon who had been stabbed with a sword. The dragon, Tohru, is so thankful that she takes on a human form and becomes Kobayashi’s live-in maid, and their developing relationship leads to Kobayashi constantly learning more about Tohru’s world and the complexities of the people who inhabit it.
Not only does the series have surprisingly good fight scenes and worldbuilding, but Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid‘s character writing always stands out for its stellar development and thoughtful execution, especially when it comes to Kobayashi and Tohru’s relationship. It’s a far more heartwarming story than it appears, and it’s plenty worth reading as a result, even if it does tend to be a little too raunchy.
19 Land Of The Lustrous
Created By Haruko Ichikawa; Serialized In Monthly Afternoon
Land of the Lustrous is an anime series set in a distant future where crystalline beings called Gems fight against moon-dwellers who seek to capture and turn them into decorations. Phos, one of the Gems, is assigned the task of creating a natural history encyclopedia, leading them on an introspective journey to find their purpose and strength.
- Cast
- Tomoyo Kurosawa , Sarah Wiedenheft , Ai Kayano , Yumi Uchiyama , Ayahi Takagaki , Mamiko Noto , Shelley Calene-Black , Heidi Hinkel
- Character(s)
- Phosphophyllite , Phos , Diamond , Rutile , Jade , Euclase
- Release Date
- October 7, 2017
Haruko Ichikawa’s Land of the Lustrous is a visually beautiful and creative fantasy seinen manga. As eye-catching as Ichikawa’s emotionally expressive art style is, the series doesn’t slack on depth in the story department, either. The story follows Phos, a member of a humanoid jewel-like species of beings who are deemed weak by their peers in their war against the Lunaris, who want to hunt them down for their value as jewels.
As the story goes on, Phos discovers that their powers come with a brutally steep cost. These revelations gradually unwind in a shocking fashion, and Land of the Lustrous‘ CG anime adaptation garnered special praise for accomplishing the rare feat of creating exceptional 3D animation that does justice to one of the best seinen manga out there.
18 20th Century Boys
Created By Naoki Urasawa; Serialized In Big Comic Spirits
Though he’s more well-known for his work on Monster, Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys is another excellent seinen effort by the writer/artist. Urasawa has made himself known for stringing together mysteries that are equal parts intricate and engrossing at the core of his stories, and 20th Century Boys works that in with a sci-fi twist.
The plot follows an average convenience store manager, named Kenji Endo, who starts to feel suspicious of the suicide of a childhood friend and a dangerous new cult on the rise. From there, 20th Century Boys spirals into a tense psychological and conspiracy thriller that easily ranks among the best seinen series.
17 Kingdom is One of the Best Historical Fiction Manga
Created By Yasuhisa Hara; Serialized In Weekly Young Jump
Kingdom (2012) is a gripping drama following the lives, challenges, and relationships of a family-owned mixed martial arts gym, exploring themes of loyalty, ambition, and personal struggles within the intense backdrop of the MMA world.
- Cast
- Yutaka Nakano , Rie Kugimiya , Masakazu Morita , Jun Fukuyama , Yoko Hikasa , Toshiyuki Morikawa , Junichi Suwabe , Tessyo Genda , Akio Kato , Rikiya Koyama
- Character(s)
- Chang Wen Jun , Karyou Ten , Shin Li , Ei Sei , Kyoukai , Li Mu , Chang Pin Jun , Lü Buwei , Teng , Wang Qi
- Release Date
- June 4, 2012
- Seasons
- 5
- Franchise(s)
- Kingdom
- Writers
- Naruhisa Arakawa , Noboru Takagi
- Directors
- Jun Kamiya , Akira Iwanaga , Kenichi Imaizumi , Kazuya Monma
- Creator(s)
- Yasuhisa Hara
With a somewhat similar genre appeal to Vinland Saga, writer Yasuhisa Hara’s Kingdom is an equally acclaimed historical fiction and sweeping seinen drama. Kingdom‘s length and success make it rival One Piece, but in a very different setting. Its story is a fictionalized version of the Warring States period of China, during the fifth century BCE.
Kingdom uses this setting to follow a war orphan named Xin, who is on a grand quest to become the world’s greatest general, and plans to unify China in the process. The seinen manga series has been ongoing since 2006, and it’s been acclaimed for maintaining a thrilling narrative throughout thanks to its compelling characters and strikingly expressive artwork across 64 volumes and counting.
A thrilling narrative throughout thanks to its compelling characters and strikingly expressive artwork across 64 volumes and counting.
16 Bocchi The Rock!
Created By Aki Hamazi; Serialized In Manga Time Kirara Max
Bocchi the Rock! follows Hitori “Bocchi” Gotou, a shy high school student with social anxiety who dreams of becoming a rock musician. Despite her introverted nature, Bocchi joins a band called Kessoku Band and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and friendship. Set against the backdrop of a lively music scene, the series explores themes of personal growth, teamwork, and the power of music to connect people.
- Cast
- Yoshino Aoyama , Sayumi Suzushiro , Saku Mizuno , Ikumi Hasegawa
- Release Date
- October 9, 2022
- Seasons
- 1
- Franchise(s)
- Bocchi the Rock!
- Writers
- Erika Yoshida , Aki Hamaji
- Directors
- Keiichirô Saitô
- Creator(s)
- Aki Hamaji
Aki Hamazi’s Bocchi the Rock! stars Hitori Gotoh, a girl with crippling social anxiety who learned the guitar in a failed attempt at making friends until the day she ran into a girl begging her to be the guitarist for her band, Kessoku Band. Now finally having a proper outlet for her music, Hitori, now nicknamed “Bocchi”, will use her time in Kessoku Band to both make friends and slowly learn to overcome her social anxiety.
Just like the hit anime of the same name, Bocchi the Rock! excels through its thoughtful and often surreal exploration into social anxiety, and the comedic character writing and pleasing artwork to accompany it always works to sell that even further. Anyone who was a fan of the anime will find plenty to love about the manga, as well, especially when it’s currently the only way to keep progressing through the story.
15 The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You
Created By Rikito Nakamura & Yukiko Nozawa; Serialized In Weekly Young Jump
The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You is a romantic comedy series that follows high school student Rentarou Aijo, who, after being rejected 100 times, meets 100 girls destined to be his true loves. Each girl falls deeply in love with him, creating humorous and complicated scenarios. Adapted from the manga by Rikito Nakamura and Yukiko Nozawa, the series explores themes of love, destiny, and teenage relationships.
- Cast
- Wataru Katoh , Kaede Hondo , Miyu Tomita , Maria Naganawa , Asami Seto
- Release Date
- October 8, 2023
- Seasons
- 1
Rikito Nakamura and Yukiko Nozawa’s The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You stars Rentaro Aijou, a young boy who’s failed to find love after going through 100 confessions over the past 15 years. After his latest failure, the God of Love tells Rentaro that he will meet and fall in love with 100 soulmates in high school, but he needs to love them all equally, or else they could literally die of a broken heart.
As controversial as harem anime and manga tend to get, The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You works for how well it commits to its premise and effortlessly justifies Rentaro having a harem beyond fanservice, all of which is perfectly complemented by its absurdist, parody-style writing. The series excels in both romance and comedy, and it’s one every seinen fan should try and read.
14 Delicious In Dungeon
Created By Ryoko Kui; Serialized In Harta
Based on the manga series, Delicious in Dungeon is a comedic fantasy series with a cooking emphasis. The series follows the exploits of a guild leader named Laios as he heads into a massive dungeon that contains a sunken kingdom, lured by the promise of untold treasure if he can slay the magician that caused it all. When a dragon takes his sister captive, Laios partners up with a new group of adventures and finds themselves cooking monsters to keep themselves filled as they seek to stop the dragon and save his sister.
- Cast
- Sayaka Senbongi , Kentarou Kumagai , Hiroshi Naka , Asuna Tomari
- Release Date
- January 4, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Franchise(s)
- Delicious in Dungeon
- Writers
- Ryoko Kui , Kimiko Ueno
- Directors
- Yoshihiro Miyajima
Ryoko Kui’s Delicious in Dungeon opens with Laios’ adventure party being wiped out by a dragon and Laios’ sister, Falin, being eaten alive. What’s left of Laios’ party must hurry back through the dungeon to revive Falin, but they lack the funds a party would normally need to do so. Laios’ solution, much to everyone’s chagrin, is for them to eat the monsters they encounter in the dungeon, although for Laios, it’s less a survival tactic and more a dream of his he finally gets to fulfill.
While mostly a comedic take on JRPGs, what truly sells Delicious in Dungeon is its stellar artwork and writing combined with its creative and intricate worldbuilding that only gets better as the story progresses. Because of that, Delicious in Dungeon is one of the best takes on classic fantasy in recent years, and anyone looking for something like that won’t be disappointed.
13 Record Of Ragnarok
Created By Shinya Umemura, Takumi Fukui, & Azychika; Serialized In Monthly Comic Zenon
Record of Ragnarok is an anime adaptation of the manga works by Shinya Umemura and Takumi Fukui. In the show, the gods have convened to decide the fate of humanity. Determining that they have failed to justify their existence, they are sentenced to extermination until a valkyrie pleads for one final chance. To redeem themselves, humanity will send its best warriors to face off with the gods in a tournament with the help of the valkyries
- Cast
- Miyuki Sawashiro , Tomoyo Kurosawa , Anairis Quinones , Laura Post , Chris Edgerly , Yukihiro Nozuyama , Kellen Goff , Cory Yee
- Release Date
- June 17, 2021
- Seasons
- 2
- Writers
- Kazuyuki Fudeyasu , Yuka Yamada
- Franchise
- Record of Ragnarok
- Number of Episodes
- 27
In Shinya Umemura, Takumi Fukui, and Azychika’s Record of Ragnarok, all the gods in the universe have decided that humanity has become irredeemable and needs to be erased, but the valkyrie Brunhilde offers an alternative. Rather than just erase humanity outright, the 12 strongest gods will fight history’s 12 strongest humans in a tournament called Ragnarok, giving humanity a chance to fight for their right to exist and the gods a chance to definitively prove their superiority.
Record of Ragnarok is a story that’s very much all about fighting and little else, but fortunately, Record of Ragnarok‘s gorgeous artwork and fight choreography always results in incredible action in every fight, and the few bits of depth the characters are afforded are plenty great to see, as well. There are few manga as good at pulling off pure action as well as Record of Ragnarok, and that’s unlikely to ever change.
12 Grand Blue Dreaming
Created By Kenji Inoue & Kimitake Yoshioka; Serialized In Good! Afternoon
Grand Blue Dreaming follows the comedic misadventures of university student Iori Kitahara as he navigates life at a seaside town, joining an eccentric diving club that leads to many unexpected and humorous situations.
- Release Date
- July 14, 2018
- Network
- TBS , MBS
- Cast
- Yuma Uchida , Ryōhei Kimura , Chika Anzai , Kana Asumi , Toa Yukinari , Maaya Uchida , Katsuyuki Konishi , Hiroki Yasumoto , Junya Enoki , Takuya Eguchi , Natsuki Hanae , Robert Waterman , Shinji Kawada , Jun Fukuyama , Shouta Aoi , Inori Minase , Rie Kugimiya , Saki Yamakita
- Character(s)
- Iori Kitahara , Kouhei Imamura , Chisa Kotegawa , Aina Yoshiwara , Azusa Hamaoka , Nanaka Kotegawa , Ryuujirou Kotobuki , Shinji Tokita , Shinichirō Yamamoto , Hajime Nojima , Yū Mitarai , Kenta Fujiwara , Toshio Kotegawa , Captain Kudō , Mixed voice A / Mixed voice B / Mixed voice C , Rie Ohashi
- Directors
- Atsuko Tonomizu , Yoshihisa Matsumoto , Tarou Iwasaki , Nanako Shimazaki , Ryuta Kawahara , Takashi Kobayashi
- Producers
- Toshihiro Maeda
Fantasy and high-octane action will always attract plenty of attention, but Kenji Inoue and Kimitake Yoshioka’s Grand Blue is a welcome change of pace. Grand Blue is a grounded seinen slice-of-life/coming-of-age comedy revolving around college student Iori Kitahara. He’s looking forward to starting this new phase in his life, staying in a room above his uncle’s diving shop.
Iori tries to steer clear of the antics of the diving club there, who are more interested in partying than actually diving, but eventually gets roped into the group’s exploits and learns more about diving through his cousins. It’s become a fan favorite when it comes to seinen manga in the slice-of-life genre, with an anime adaptation by studio Zero-G earning a strong reception as well.
11 Rosen Garten Saga
Written By Fujisakimori; Illustrated By Bakotsu Tonooka; Serialized On Comiplex
Fujisakimori and Bakotsu Tonooka’s Rosen Garten Saga takes place in a world where all myths are true, although they often have far more sexual bends to them than their real-life counterparts. When the village of the inexplicably ostracized Lynn is attacked by vandals, Lynn is saved after being possessed by the legendary warrior Siegfried, and while she hates the perverted situations he forces her into, she’ll go along with it to try and win the heart of the beautiful warrior Brunhilde.
While Rosen Garten Saga often makes sex, rape, and fetishes integral to its story, not only does it end up looping back around to pure absurdity, but it’s paired surprisingly well with Rosen Garten Saga having some of the best artwork and most creative fight choreography of any modern manga. Rosen Garten Saga is one of the best seinen manga around and is great for fans of pure action.
10 Parasyte
Created By Hitoshi Iwaaki; Serialized In Monthly Afternoon
Parasyte: The Maxim (2014) is an anime series that follows high school student Shinichi Izumi, who becomes partially infected by a parasitic alien. As the parasite takes control of his right hand, the two must coexist and collaborate to survive against other parasites that seek to consume humanity. The series explores themes of identity, morality, and survival within a modern urban setting.
- Cast
- Adam Gibbs , Luci Christian , Brittney Karbowski , Terri Doty , Hilary Haag , Rob Mungle
- Release Date
- October 8, 2014
- Seasons
- 1
- Franchise(s)
- Parasyte
- Writers
- Shoji Yonemura , Shinzô Fujita
- Directors
- Ken’ichi Shimizu
- Creator(s)
- Hitoshi Iwaaki
In Hitoshi Iwaaki’s Parasyte, alien parasites came to Earth one night, each one taking over someone’s body and turning them into bloodthirsty monsters who feed on humanity. By pure chance, Shinichi Izumi gets away with a parasite only possessing his right hand, the parasite then adopting the name Migi, and together, they’ll protect Shinichi’s home from the evil parasites, all while Shinichi repeatedly has to grapple with the slow decline of his humanity.
Not only does Hitoshi Iwaaki’s artwork always do a great job of selling gore and body horror, but the dramatic character writing of Parasyte never fails to sell the philosophical elements the manga always delves into, especially when it comes to Shinichi struggling with his humanity. Parasyte can easily be seen as one of the most influential horror manga of all time, and overall, it’s easy to see why.
9 Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction
Created By Inio Asano; Serialized In Big Comic Spirits
Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction Part 1 follows high school girls Koyama Kadode and Nakagawa Ouran in Tokyo as they navigate adolescence amidst an ongoing alien presence. The film explores human nature and everyday life, focusing on their experiences rather than the broader intergalactic conflict.
- Director
- Tomoyuki Kurokawa
- Release Date
- March 22, 2024
- Writers
- Reiko Yoshida
- Cast
- ano , Lilas Ikuta , Atsumi Tanezaki , Miyuri Shimabukuro , Saeko Oki , Azumi Waki , Ryoko Shiraishi , Miyu Irino , Koki Uchiyama , Taito Ban , Junichi Suwabe , Kenjiro Tsuda , Tomokazu Sugita , TARAKO
- Runtime
- 120 minutes
- Character(s)
- Ouran “Ontan” Nakagawa (voice) , Kadode Koyama (voice) , Kiho Kurihara (voice) , Ai Demoto (voice) , Rin Hirama (voice) , Futaba Takemoto (voice) , Makoto Tainuma (voice) , Keita Ōba (voice) , Kenichi Kohiruimaki (voice) , Naoki Watarase (voice) , Hiroshi Nakagawa (voice) , Nobuo Koyama (voice) , Isobeyan (voice) , Debeko (voice)
Inio Asano’s Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction starts three years after an alien spaceship appeared above Tokyo. The aliens have done nothing in that time, but they’ve still sparked conflict and discussion around the world as people can’t agree on what to do about them. For the most part, though, Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction is unconcerned with all of that and focuses primarily on the daily lives of Kadode, Oran, and their circle of family and friends.
Between its unique character writing and cutting social commentary, a plot that never fails at building tension with every volume, and some of the most gorgeous artwork in any manga, there are no stories with as unique a take on slice-of-life storytelling as Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction. It’s not Inio Asano’s most famous work, but any fan of his would be remiss to pass up such a clear modern classic.
It’s not Inio Asano’s most famous work, but any fan of his would be remiss to pass up such a clear modern classic.
8 Hellsing
Created By Kouta Hirano; Serialized In Young King OURs
Hellsing Ultimate is an anime series that follows the Hellsing Organization’s battle against vampires and other supernatural threats in a dark and gothic world. The series focuses on Alucard, a powerful vampire serving the organization, and his master, Sir Integra Hellsing, as they confront enemies like the Nazi-originated Millennium group and the Iscariot Organization. Hellsing Ultimate is known for its intense action and dramatic storytelling.
- Cast
- Katie Gray , Crispin Freeman , Victoria Harwood , Ralph Lister , Jōji Nakata , Fumiko Orikasa , Yoshiko Sakakibara , Gildart Jackson
- Release Date
- December 5, 2006
- Seasons
- 1
- Creator(s)
- Kohta Hirano
Kouta Hirano’s Hellsing takes place a century after Bram Stoker’s Dracula and is centered around the Hellsing Organization, an organization of vampire hunters headed by Van Helsing’s descendant, Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing. Integra is the only person in the world who can command Alucard, the world’s deadliest and most infamous vampire, and together, the two protect the world from other vampires looking to cause trouble, most notably those associated with the Nazi organization Millennium.
Thanks to Kouta Hirano’s unique character writing and an art style that perfectly works for gore, Hellsing is a manga that never fails at selling itself as a stunning piece of gothic horror, especially when it comes to the ever-escalating final arc of the story. The OVA series Hellsing Ultimate is the most iconic part of the franchise, but that doesn’t make the manga any less worth reading for fans old and new.
7 Goodnight Punpun
Created By Inio Asano; Serialized In Big Comic Spirits
Inio Asano’s Goodnight Punpun follows the life of an 11-year-old boy named Punpun Onodera as he navigates the complications of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. This is another grounded slice-of-life seinen manga, but it’s one that takes a darker and more dramatic approach. Punpun is initially a naive romantic with preconceived notions of what romance is like, and he ends up discovering the complications of not only keeping a relationship together, but the bleaker aspects of those he once looked up to.
Punpun realizes this after witnessing his father assault his mother, sending him into a spiraling state of fearful reclusiveness. Goodnight Punpun has been praised for being a compelling, coming-of-age drama that explores dark psychological themes and social commentary, ensuring its place among the best seinen manga.
6 Monster
Created By Naoki Urasawa; Serialized In Big Comic Original
Monster is an animated psychological thriller series directed by Masayuki Kojima, based on the manga by Naoki Urasawa. The story follows Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a Japanese brain surgeon working in Germany, who saves the life of a young boy destined to become a notorious serial killer. As Tenma seeks to rectify his actions and uncover the truth, he becomes entangled in a complex web of moral dilemmas and dark secrets.
- Release Date
- April 7, 2004
- Seasons
- 1
- Writers
- Tatsuhiko Urahata , Naoki Urasawa
- Cast
- Liam O’Brien , Keith Silverstein , Karen Strassman , Richard Epcar , Laura Bailey , Tara Platt
- Directors
- Masayuki Kojima , Morio Asaka
- Creator(s)
- Naoki Urasawa
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster is one of the few acclaimed seinen manga that could justify a live-action adaptation, should the likes of HBO take interest in it. It’s one of the best and most grounded seinen manga series out there, telling a grim and riveting crime drama story that could arguably serve as a premise for a series like True Detective.
Monster tells the story of Kenzo Tenma, a Japanese doctor working and living in Germany. His life first begins to crumble when he refuses to operate on a political official in favor of a child in critical condition. Years later, things begin to unravel further, as that same boy returns as an elusive, psychopathic serial killer. A gripping crime-thriller, Monster‘s anime adaptation still stands as one of the greatest seinen anime ever produced.
5 Pluto
Created By Naoki Urasawa; Serialized In Big Comic Original
Pluto is an anime series set in a dystopian future where advanced robots coexist with humans. Based on the manga by Naoki Urasawa and inspired by Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy, the story follows Gesicht, a robot detective investigating a series of robot and human murders. As Gesicht delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a conspiracy that challenges the very essence of humanity and robotics.
- Cast
- Laura Megan Stahl , Mike Pollock , Jason Vande Brake , Keythe Farley , Romi Park , Kirk Thornton , Erica Shroeder , Rachel Slotky
- Release Date
- October 26, 2023
- Seasons
- 1
- Writers
- Tatsuro Inamoto , Heisuke Yamashita
- Directors
- Toshio Kawaguchi
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Creator(s)
- Naoki Urasawa
Naoki Urasawa’s Pluto is a modern reimagining of the classic “Greatest Robot on Earth” story arc from the legendary manga Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka. In this take on the series, robot detective Gesicht begins investigating the murders of the world’s strongest robots by a mysterious figure named Pluto, and in doing so, he uncovers a massive conspiracy that threatens to put the entire world at risk.
Naoki Urasawa is one of the most famous mangaka in the business, and Pluto might easily be his best work. Between his always incredible artwork, the stellar action, and the war-based social commentary that’s still relevant after over 20 years, Pluto is as perfect a modernization of Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy as someone could have hoped for, and even those who haven’t experienced the original story will surely find a lot to love.
4 Vinland Saga
Created By Makoto Yukimura; Serialized In Monthly Afternoon
Vinland Saga is an adaptation of the historical-action manga series by Makoto Yukimura. Centering around young Thorfinn, the story sees the young man on a quest for revenge following the murder of his father by the mercenary Askeladd. To accomplish this feat, Thorfinn joins Askeladd’s company to bide his time and prepare to face him in the future. The story starts around 1002 AD and revolves around fictional accounts of the Danish invasion of London.
- Release Date
- July 6, 2019
- Seasons
- 2
- Network
- Netflix
- Cast
- Yûto Uemura , Mike Haimoto , Shinya Takahashi , Alejandro Saab , Hiroki Gotô , Aleks Le , Kaiji Tang , Michael C. Pizzuto
Despite 2019 being a stacked year for anime with the likes of Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan season 3, and more, Vinland Saga still managed to be one of the best series of the year. Makoto Yukimura’s original manga is a sweeping Viking epic, with its story evolving into a philosophically and emotionally resonating journey of self-discovery for Thorfinn that explores themes of redemption, the aftermath of war, and growing past vengeance.
This seinen manga series is a consistently enthralling tale of historical fiction, able to tell immersive, character-driven stories without a fantasy wrapping. The strong reception to Vinland Saga‘s first anime season made sure that a second one debuted in 2023, and it gained a spot among the best anime of the recent past.
3 Vagabond
Created By Takehiko Inoue; Serialized In Morning
Vagabond is one of those manga series that arguably can’t be adapted in a way that’s worthy of writer/artist Takehiko Inoue’s work. In addition to telling a deeply intimate and character-driven story, Inoue could be put on the same pedestal as the late, great Kentaro Miura of Berserk when it comes to his artwork.
Vagabond chronicles a fictionalized account of Musashi Miyamoto on his journey to become the “strongest under the Sun.” He gains a daunting reputation as such, but he begins to discover that such a title isn’t the key to feeling whole. Unfortunately, Vagabond remains unfinished, but Inoue’s storyboards for the ending have been released online, which should provide some closure to one of the best seinen manga ever written.
2 JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run
Created By Hirohiko Araki; Serialized In Ultra Jump
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is an anime adapted from Hirohiko Araki’s manga, following the Joestar family whose members discover their unique supernatural abilities. Spanning multiple generations and diverse settings, each arc explores different members’ battles against malevolent forces, blending action, horror, and fantastical elements.
When it comes to popularity, Hirohiko Araki’s colorfully chaotic and stylish JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has to take first place. It’s one of the most vibrant and inventive manga ever, with the series getting even more mainstream with the ingenious and iconic invention of Stands. As esteemed as the sprawling generational adventures of the Joestar bloodline have been, however, Steel Ball Run still sits at the top for many veteran fans. This seventh part of the long-running manga rebooted the series, aiming at older fans in the seinen demographic for the first time.
Though
Steel Ball Run
has yet to be officially translated by Viz, Parts 1 – 5 are fully translated with a translation of Stone Ocean currently ongoing.
Steel Ball Run takes things back to the American Old West, where Gyro Zeppeli and Johnny Joestar take part in the titular grand race for a shot at winning $50 million. The JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime has excellent adaptations of the story’s arcs, but longtime fans are surely salivating at the thought of a Steel Ball Run anime.
1 Berserk
Created By Kentaro Miura; Currently Written By Kouji Mori; Serialized In Young Animal
Berserk
Berserk is a dark fantasy manga series by Kentaro Miura, first published in 1989. Set in a medieval Europe-inspired world, it follows Guts, a lone mercenary, and his struggle against demonic forces after his betrayal by Griffith, leader of the Band of the Hawk. The franchise has expanded into multiple anime series, films, video games, and merchandise.
- Created by
- Kentaro Miura , Kouji Mori
- First Film
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc 1: The Egg of the King
- Video Game(s)
- Sword of the Berserk: Guts’ Rage , Berserk: Millennium Falcon Hen Seima Senki no Sho , Berserk and the Band of the Hawk
- Latest Film
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc 3: The Advent
- First Episode Air Date
- October 7, 1997
- Cast
- Nobutoshi Canna , Toshiyuki Morikawa , Yûko Miyamura , Hiroaki Iwanaga , Takahiro Sakurai , Kazuki Yao , Unshô Ishizuka , Kenta Miyake
- Character(s)
- Guts , Griffith , Casca , Judeau , Pippin , Corkus , Rickert , Gaston (Berserk) , Puck (Berserk) , Farnese de Vandimion , Serpico , Isidro , Schierke
While it may sound cliché, there’s some merit in hearing Berserk touted as the seinen manga equivalent of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels. Series creator Kentaro Miura passed away in 2021, unfortunately, but the series has been picked up by his longtime friend and fellow mangaka Kouji Mori. Miura will be sorely missed, but the late, great writer/artist leaves behind a revered legacy as having put one of the greatest dark fantasy manga ever put to pen and paper. It’s filled with stunningly detailed art, cathartic fights, and dense fantasy worldbuilding.
It must also be said that the grueling and horrific scenes in the series are understandably not for everyone, but several of Berserk‘s powerful themes of healing from trauma, letting go of the past, and the power of sheer human will at its best are timeless. Guts, Casca, and co.’s personal journeys have been punishing ones, but the story of Berserk evolves past revenge and into one of inspiring perseverance and indomitable hope. With its impressive legacy that continues to this day, Berserk remains the greatest seinen manga of all time.
