The whole shonen jump is stacked with coming-of-age stories of youthful protagonists as it sells well in the market and targets the young audience in the right way. But, in the flock of these fun and adventure-filled tales, there are gems in the anime world that center around characters in their adult years.

Whether it’s the spacefaring adventures of Spike Spiegel in “Cowboy Bebop” or the goofiness of Gintoki in “Gintama”, these shows feature a mature hero that resonates with a more seasoned audience. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best anime with adult protagonists. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

10. Inuyashiki

Created by the author of “Gantz”, Inuyashiki walks us through the the lives of Ichiro Inuyashiki, a man in his late 50s, and Hiro Shishigami, a teenager, who wake up with armed mechanized bodies after getting struck by an explosion of extraterrestrial origin.

While Inuyashiki uses his powers to heal those with incurable diseases and fight crime, Hiro becomes a psychopath and goes on killing innocent people just for amusement. As their paths are destined to clash, Inuyashiki puts on the suit of a reluctant hero to stop Hiro’s murderous power trip.

9. Dorohedoro

The horror fantasy series Dorohedoro is a tempting show for anyone who enjoys a gruesome, blood-soaked, gory spectacle with a pinch of dark humor. Set in a post-apocalyptic future taking place across three distinct realms, the series follows the journey of an amnesiac reptilian-headed named Caiman.

Being a cursed man who desperately seeks to regain his memory stolen by a mysterious sorcerer, Caiman puts his life on line to uncover the unpredictable supernatural world of death and danger. Dorohedoro is quite an underrated Netflix anime, so make sure to try it out if you’ve got a premium subscription.

8. Gintama

When it comes to unpredictable gags and limitless parodies, there’s not a single anime that comes closer to the iconic Gintama. Developing a show around samurai, aliens, and a trivial middle-aged protagonist is not everyone’s cup of tea and that’s what makes Hideaki Sorachi such a prolific mangaka.

Set in Edo-period Japan invaded by technologically advanced aliens, the series chronicles samurai Gintoki Sakata and his subordinates Shinpachi and Kagura who often embark on endeavors to help other people – though usually in rather strange and unforeseen ways.

7. Trigun

First of all, Trigun has two anime adaptations with the two being 25 years apart and made by different production studios (by Madhouse in 1998 and Studio Orange in 2023). Regardless of that, the main story follows the original hero Vash who remains the central figure in both of the adaptations.

The story takes place on a fictional planet where Vash the Stampede, a legendary gunman is on the run with a 60 billion double-dollar bounty on his head. The story follows him and the officers of Bernardelli Insurance Society across a desert wasteland as it quickly becomes apparent that Vash is more than a simple outlaw.

6. Black Lagoon

A refreshing crime thriller where women are in charge on the battlefield, Black Lagoon carries forward the escapades of a badass adult female in her mid-twenties swinging around with her four-member team of pirate mercenaries smuggling goods in and around the seas of Southeast Asia.

Necessarily not playing the role of a “heroic” or “good” person, Revy and her gang take on various jobs involving criminal organizations and violent gunfights! Having a sadistic protagonist and a colorful character roster, the series succeeds in presenting the moral ambiguity of each persona.

5. One Punch Man

One-Punch Man is the story of a bald-headed 25-year-old man named Saitama who has a knack for defeating his enemies with a single punch. Out of boredom, he joins a hero association and tags along with his apprentice, Genos in order to find a worthy contender to test his overwhelming strength.

The perfect balance of over-the-top action and side-splitting comedy with a serious guy like Saitama being the epicenter of it, makes the series ten folds interesting. To top it off, supporting characters and stunning fighting visuals, provide a more complete experience.

4. Monster

One of the most critically acclaimed medical thrillers from Naoki Urasawa, Monster takes place in West Germany and stars a young Japanese brain surgeon named Kenzo Tenma. On a life-changing night, Dr. Tenma saves a brother and sister in his hospital at the expense of another high-profile patient’s life.

This canon event turns his life upside down when nine years later he comes face-to-face with the kid he saved, knowing he’s now a dangerous serial killer. With the guilt of saving a “Monster”, Dr. Tenma goes on a hunt to stop his rampage while learning the twisted origin and disturbed psyche which made him a human monster.

3. Samurai Champloo

Samurai Champloo isn’t about a single character, it’s a story of three different personalities of different age groups with each having discrete goals. Around these protagonists, the series crafts a meaningful tale that’s enticing and engaging for the fans.

The story follows fifteen years old waitress Fuu, a rough-around-the-edges mercenary Mugen, and a reserved ronin Jin, as the three unlikely companions embark on a grandiose adventure seeking their separate objectives in a society downtrodden with cynical gentility of nobles and backstabbing of the underworld.

2. Psycho-Pass

Psycho-Pass is a cyberpunk psychological thriller anime by Production IG taking place in an authoritarian future dystopia where omnipresent public sensors continuously scan the mental states of every passing citizen in order to determine their criminal propensity.

The anime follows Akane Tsunemori, a young woman who’s part of a team tasked with apprehending individuals whose “Psycho-Pass” levels indicate they may pose a threat to society. Alongside her colleagues, Akane explores the ethical dilemmas surrounding crime prevention in a futuristic setting.

1. Cowboy Bebop

Shinichiro Watanabe’s timeless masterpiece, Cowboy Bebop is arguably the most well-decorated space opera sci-fi anime to date. Apart from a solid grown-up protagonist like Spike Seigel, the anime has an incredible art style, character design, script, and soundtrack to assert its dominion.

Set in the year 2071, the series follows the lives of a traveling bounty-hunting crew referred to as “Cowboys” in their spaceship called the “Bebop”. The captain in charge Spike Spiegel together with his partners, Jet Black and Faye Valentine, travel across the galaxy looking for the high-priced fugitives to bag.

Which one of the following anime with adult protagonist is your favorite? Feel free to comment down your thoughts and make sure to recommend some other anime like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your fellow otaku friends.

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