Everyone knows the big names. Here are the anime that hardcore fans love but casual viewers have never heard of.
1. Ping Pong the Animation (11 episodes, 2014, dir. Masaaki Yuasa) A sports anime about table tennis that is actually about ambition, friendship, and what it means to be talented. The art style is polarizing — intentionally rough and expressive. If you can get past it, you will find one of the most emotionally resonant anime ever made. Source: 8.62 on MyAnimeList.
2. Mushishi (26 episodes + specials, 2005-2014) A wandering medicine man studies supernatural creatures called Mushi. Every episode is a standalone tone poem. There is no overarching plot, just beautiful atmospheric storytelling. The perfect show to watch before bed.
3. March Comes in Like a Lion (44 episodes, 2016-2018, Shaft studio) A depressed professional shogi player finds a surrogate family. The bullying arc in Season 2 (Episodes 30-34) is the most devastating portrayal of bullying in any medium. Source: 8.81 on MAL for Season 2.
4. Land of the Lustrous (12 episodes, 2017, Studio Orange) Gem people fight moon dwellers. Sounds ridiculous. The CGI animation is gorgeous, the existential horror builds slowly, and the protagonist's transformation across the series (continued in the manga) is one of the most haunting character arcs in anime.
5. Odd Taxi (13 episodes, 2021) An anthropomorphic walrus taxi driver gets entangled in a missing persons case. A mystery thriller disguised as a cute animal show. The final episode twist is one of the best in recent anime.
6. Monster (74 episodes, 2004, Madhouse) Already mentioned in my beginner guide but it cannot be overstated. Dr. Kenzo Tenma hunting Johann Liebert across Europe is the best long-form thriller anime has produced.
Sources: MyAnimeList ratings and member counts, AniList data for viewership estimates
March Comes in Like a Lion Season 2 bullying arc destroyed me. Episode 32 where Hina stands up and says she will not regret being kind — I had to pause the show because I was crying too hard.