Summary
- Aggretsuko uses heavy metal as a coping mechanism for stress in a world of anthropomorphic animals. (120 characters)
- Darwin’s Game blends survival game elements with psychopathic characters, resulting in a weird and frightening anime. (118 characters)
- Evangelion features giant robots with monstrous traits, normalizing the weirdness through its themes and character development. (126 characters)
When considering the weirdest anime on Netflix, a platform that is known for producing a lot of original series, many lesser-recognized anime come out of the woodwork to show their unique flair. Additionally, among the series not marked as Netflix Originals, high turnover is expected, with a lot of anime disappearing from the platform right when the hype has died down or a rewatch feels in store.
Furthermore, to categorize something as “weird” takes a delicate touch and an open mind. Although the word frequently carries negative connotations, in the modern sense, it is used to describe a feeling of absurdity or a breaking of some kind of mold. In the case of discussing the weirdest anime, it is worth considering both the shock value it gives as a stylistic singularity in the media, as well as its ability to captivate an audience, because series that are weird only to be weird can be created by anybody.
The 16 Most Bizarre Anime Series Ever
If you want to get weird with some engaging, funny, and totally bizarre anime, you’re bound to find a few on this list that will tickle your fancy.
An original net animation directed by Rarecho
The series Aggretsuko, otherwise known as Aggressive Retsuko, is an original series that takes influence from the Sanrio Franchise. The story follows a corporate red panda named Retsuko through her daily life and qualms with the people she works with, all of whom are human-like animals.
Although the premise of the Aggretsuko universe and its heavy anthropomorphism is not the only one like it in existence, the series was one of the first to popularize the idea. Aside from the absurdity that comes with the society Retsuko lives in, the real unique aspect of the anime is her coping mechanism for stress: heavy metal screamo sessions.
9 Darwin’s Game Is Survival Among Psychopaths
Based on the manga by FLIPFLOPs
Darwin’s Game begins as a mix of survival game characteristics, and the supernatural qualities of high school life, but the anime slowly displays its weirder side as protagonist Sudou Kaname is thrown into the titular game of the series.
Despite his frightening first interaction with Darwin’s Game, Kaname writes off the experience as hallucinatory and opens the game again, but is unsurprisingly punished. Enter mask-wearing murderers, muscle-bound psychopaths, and even a panda mascot costume-wearing knife wielder of a high school teacher. Against these foes, Kaname faces a game of survival, but never expects it to be as weird and frightening as it turns out to be.
8 Neon Genesis Evangelion Normalized the Weird in Mecha
An original series directed by Anno Hideaki
Considering Evangelion as a whole,“weird” is not the first thought that comes to mind, as these qualities are overshadowed by the amazing action, character development, and psychological puzzles that are present throughout the series. However, when breaking down the details, Evangelion features children who pilot giant robots called EVAs that grow to exhibit monstrous individuality and biological traits. The series normalizes this weirdness through a heavy, and often confusing, focus on its themes.
Notably, all the series’ strangeness comes to a head in the last two episodes. For a wide variety of reasons that have little to do with the series’ actual plot, Evangelion’s last two episodes are a journey into Shinji’s mind and an exploration of his psyche. This results in a philosophical and abstract ending that left many fans with little idea what was literal and what was a metaphor.
7 Saiki K Will Have You Rolling In Absurd Laughter
Based on the manga by Asou Shuuichi
At first glance, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K may only exhibit weirdness in perhaps hair color, which has not been uncommon in anime for a long time. However, through the premise of the series and the main character, Saiki’s abnormal psychic condition, Saiki K often injects a surprise dose of weirdness that will have anybody laughing on the floor.
Saiki’s main goal is to just live a normal life, but this comes into contention with every interaction he has, creating absurd and hilarious scenes involving talking cats, frightening cockroach battles, industrial-level X-ray vision, perverted ghosts, and much more.
6 Dorohedoro Is a Splash of Chaos
Based on the manga by Hayashida Q
Dorohedoro is an underrated original anime that takes place in a place called Hole, a district where criminals and chaos run rampant, and law and order have no room for consideration. In such a setting, the main character, Kaimen, is a man more reptilian than human, who hunts the magic users that threaten the people of Hole.
With its premise alone, Dorohedoro lacks no ammunition for strangeness and absurdity, as Kaimen interacts with human and questionably human companions alike in an environment that has no bounds. As a result, the series’ blending of unique characters and plot twists that range from gory to comedic, create an atmosphere of enthralling weirdness.
5 JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Lives Up To Its Name
Based on the manga by Araki Hirohiko
First airing in 2012, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure follows the Jostar family, who all possess supernatural powers, and battle against evil across generations. As its name implies, the series is a bizarre one, not only introducing frequent twists, but also creating characters that truly embody strangeness.
From the wacky, yet deathly fashionable character designs, to absurd historical references, the story of Jojo’s never has dull moments. Furthermore, the anime structures its seasons uniquely, separating the narrative into parts and following respective Jostar family members and their enemies. From this style, the anime allows for every new season to pack a fresh, head-turning punch.
4 Thermae Romae Novae Is a BathHouse Anomaly
Based on the manga by Yamazaki Mari
With a title as ambiguous as Thermae Romae Novae, this anime establishes one of the wackiest stories in existence, while staying true to its ancient-sounding name. The series follows an architect from ancient Rome named Lucius Modestus, as he explores the wonders of Japanese culture, the bathhouse in particular.
This anime is for all steam lovers, bath enjoyers, and idea seekers alike, as even Lucius himself is searching for inspiration throughout the narrative. Although the premise of the series is something never seen before, the show’s setting and movement through plot is smooth and rather laid back, a nice variation to the chaos that graces other “weird” anime.
3 Kakegurui Takes High-Stakes Realism To Its Limit
Based on the manga by Naomura Tooru and Kawamoto Homura
Kakegurui is an anime famous for its hyperbolic portrayal of gambling, pushing the idea of high-stakes psychological battles to the max. The series focuses on Jabami Yumeko, a student who has transferred to a school with a frightening underbelly. Although Hyakkaou Private Academy is a fancy prep school by day, power-seeking, manipulative students come out of the woodwork by night.
However, what is absurd is that these nightly gambling practices are school-sanctioned under the guise of promoting financial and human management abilities. Yumeko throws in the final straw of absurdity with her personality alone, as she arrives seeking only the thrill of the bet.
Kakegurui: Main Characters, Ranked By Likability
Kakegurui is an anime with some pretty nasty characters, but who in the main cast would win in a popularity contest?
2 Mononoke Is Chaos on Canvas
An original series directed by Nakamura Kenji
Mononoke is an anime that treads psychedelic waters in art style, animation style, and narrative construction, culminating in a compact explosion of weirdness. The story of Mononoke follows an unnamed man who is called “Medicine Seller,” as he travels through feudal Japan exorcizing evil spirits called Mononoke.
Although this premise is almost at the point of overuse in anime, Mononoke spins a wonderfully sophisticated story that utilizes unique forms of exorcism and a painting-like style of art and animation. Apart from the blasts of color, the Medicine Seller is further dipped into strangeness through his deeply analytical and intellectual battles with Mononoke.
1 Devilman Crybaby Is a Cinematic Rendering of Debauchery
Based on Devilman by Nagai Go
The anime Devilman Crybaby is a fascinating depiction of demonic transformations and the fall into decadence, as it is a grotesque and visceral story of a boy with a conflicted heart. The short original series follows protagonist Fudou Akira, who falls into the world of devils in order to save his friend Asuka Ryou after being dragged to a party lacking all moral sense. As a result, the two embark on a new devil-fighting adventure where anything they encounter can range from a traditional beast with horns to an agglomeration of flesh resembling reproductive organs.
Ultimately, aside from horrific enemies, even the way the characters run in Devilman is laughably weird. Series director Masaaki Yuasa is known for his unique animation and storytelling sensibilities, elements that combine perfectly with Go Nagai’s already out-there story. The result is something truly special and makes Devilman Crybaby the weirdest anime on Netflix.
