When it comes to Spy x Family -- the once-in-a-generation anime that blends genres to appeal to audiences of different ages.

With this in mind, there are anime geared toward a more mature audience, even when they feature child or teen characters, like in Attack on Titan and Erased. Meanwhile, there are grounded psychological thrillers, like Monster and Death Parade, as well as high-genre series like Castlevania: Nocturne, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, and Cowboy Bebop. There are also plenty of romance anime that are set outside high school and feature adults. Here are 10 anime that remind audiences that anime can be for adults too.

10 Attack On Titan

By Hajime Isayama

Attack on Titan may seem like it's set up to be a typical shōnen, but in the first episode, Attack on Titan proves this is going to be a more mature series with its tragic death toll. From there, the series continues to hammer home how it is not just a violent series, but also one that tackles mature themes and issues like genocide, political corruption, and propaganda.

Between Attack on Titan's depiction of war and its more horror elements, it's no wonder it's found an audience among older viewers. Make no mistake, this anime is not one for children as it has been rated to be for teens 15 and up, with IMDb clearly marking it as Rated R for its terrifying imagery and failure to shy away from even the most grotesque of death scenes.

9 Erased

By Kei Sanbe

A series that features child characters but is suited for a mature audience is Erased. The protagonist is technically in his twenties, but he is sent back to his childhood, where he must stop the murder of a former classmate while being a child himself. Along with tackling issues like abuse and murder, Erased is one of the best thrillers in anime, Although, Erased manga's final volume does differ from the anime in a few ways, it's best to check out both as they deliver phenomenal mysteries in their own ways.

8 Monster

By Naoki Urasawa

Another phenomenal crime thriller -- considered by many to be anime's best psychological thrillers of all time -- is Monster. Monster is a must-read and must-watch series about Dr. Tenma hunting down a ruthless serial killer while getting tangled up in a mystery that gets more complicated with each episode. Where a lot of anime have some sort of fantastical or genre elements, Monster is grounded in realism, which makes the monstrous acts by the main villain all the more haunting. It's also a series set in 1980s , so it is embroiled in the politics of that time period.

7 Cowboy Bebop

By Shinichirō Watanabe

Cowboy Bebop is not just one of the greatest sci-fi anime of all time. Cowboy Bebop is one of the best anime ever, even decades after it first premiered. The series is about the crew of the Bebop, a rusty spaceship that travels across the galaxy in search of bounties for its crew -- Spike, Jet, Fay, Ed, and Ein -- to collect. Cowboy Bebop blends film noir and science-fiction beautifully, making it a perfect watch for fans of movies like Blade Runner. Plus, its ensemble is one of the best, with Spike and Faye standing out in particular.

As fun as it is, Cowboy Bebop is also rated only for mature audiences above the age of 16. Even for its time, the show got away with its depictions of violence, occasional sexual themes and nudity, as well as colorful language that isn’t suited for children.

6 Death Parade

By Yuzuru Tachikawa

A psychological thriller that is a must-watch is Death Parade; however, this is no murder mystery. Instead, Death Parade takes place in a limbo-like bar where those who have died go to play games, which will determine what waits for them in the afterlife. However, the host of this bar, Decim, has an unusual case on his hands with Chiyuki, a mysterious woman who's found her way to this bar with no memories or plans yet to move on. Death Parade is a phenomenal exploration of death, the afterlife, and morality, taking viewers on an emotional roller coaster.

5 Castlevania: Nocturne

Created By Clive Bradley

Like Cowboy Bebop and Death Parade, Castlevania and its recent follow-up series Castlevania: Nocturne are not based on manga. Despite this, all four series are gorgeous, must-watch anime that are perfect for adults. Castlevania: Nocturne just wrapped its second series, cementing Nocturne as one of the best Netflix anime with its gorgeous animation, dynamic villains, and badass heroes. Annette really stole the show this season. Meanwhile, Richter delivers some wild fight choreography that would make Trevor Belmont proud. This iteration of Castlevania is set during the French Revolution, which also adds a nuanced look into classism, rebellion, and more.

4 Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

By Haro Aso And Kotaro Takata

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is a recent anime, just in its first season. Adapting the book of the same title, Zom 100 is one of the funniest manga coming out, following the adventures of Akira and friends during the apocalypse. Akira is a wage slave, but when a zombie virus breaks out, his first thought is that he doesn't need to go to work. Zom 100 is great fun, and it's a scathing critique of capitalism and grind culture. Viewers get to see Akira become a person again, and so many adults will be able to relate to his experience.

As one would expect being in the middle of a zombie apocalypse means fighting against the undead! This has caused Zom 100’s rating to teeter along the line of mature and rated teen given its graphic depiction when executing or being attacked by the zombified creatures.

3 Yuri on Ice

By Sayo Yamamoto

Shifting gears, there are plenty of romance anime out there featuring adult characters. One of the best and most revolutionary romance anime is also a beloved sports anime -- Yuri on Ice. While a big selling point in the anime is the romantic tension between figure skater Yuri and his coach Victor, this is also a series about a grown man wanting to achieve his dreams as a skater before he is too old for the sport. Yuri's skating aspirations are more than just dreams, as he works hard to deliver beautiful choreography that captivates viewers and judges.

2 A Sign of Affection

By Suu Morishita

One romance anime that is one of the greatest shōjo anime from 2024 is A Sign of Affection. While a lot of romance anime takes place in high school, A Sign of Affection creates those same feelings of excitement with a first love by taking place on a college campus instead. In it, Yuki -- who has a hearing impairment -- meets her classmate Itsumoi, and the series follows their budding romance. Like some of the best shōjo, the gorgeous visuals and animation complement the feelings of A Sign of Affection's central couple.

1 Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku

By Fujita

Where A Sign of Affection is a newer romance anime, this workplace love story has been around since 2014 in manga form. Wotakoi is about Narumi, who struggles to find love because of her nerdy interests; however, her co-worker, Hirotaka, proposes they date each other because they're friends and have similar interests. Along with their romance, their friends navigate their own nerdy ions and relationships. Wotakoi is an adorable rom-com that allows its adult characters to indulge in their hobbies, even if they are nerdy to others. That's a message that'll resonate with any adult who loves anime.