Warning: Sensitive topics are discussed below.

Summary

• Anime like Death Parade, Bocchi the Rock, & A Silent Voice explore mental health themes with depth and sensitivity.
• Fruits Basket, Neon Genesis Evangelion, & Banana Fish delve into complex issues like trauma, depression, & PTSD effectively.
• Series like March Comes in Like a Lion, Perfect Blue, & Welcome to the N.H.K. provide realistic portrayals of loneliness, madness & social anxiety.

Mental health issues are a nuanced subject that can be hard to address and portray accurately, especially in anime. Previously stigmatized, particular matters may have been glossed over in mainstream media. With changing times and increased acceptance and conversation surrounding mental health, anime has also become an art form that includes meaningful dialogue around mind-wellness or specifically highlights characters with lived experiences.

Whether it is to raise awareness or to speak to viewers who can relate, these series explore the depth, struggle, sensitivities, and sentiments around depression, anxiety, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more. Even in otherworldly series that portray situations far from reality, mental health messaging and moving points of view reach watchers. Through the weight of responsibility and isolation, despairing characters, harrowing backstories, and the striking resilience to overcome, these series understandably depict mental health issues and their variations.

10 Death Parade Handles the Weight of Endings

Created and Directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa

Although its main focus is moral dilemmas paired with stunning visuals in an episodic format, Death Parade is a mature look at condemnation and salvation, inherent human nature, and the philosophical journey to understand one another. It takes a delicate approach to an otherwise heavy topic, and its lack of easy, pleasant solutions is a sincere take on burdensome emotions.

Shown through different people and individual circumstances, its themes become a powerful tool that converges with layered emotion and the relatability of pain despite its differing origins. Watchers follow a journey of depression, suicide, death, and the other feelings that amalgamate within. Bordering on cynicism, Death Parade earnestly presents mental struggle through games and judgment.

9 Bocchi the Rock Depicts Overcoming Social Anxiety

Based on the Original Manga by Aki Hamazi

Bocchi the Rock shows the relatable, youthful conflict of mental obstacles that stand in the way of achieving one’s dreams. Viewers follow Hitori Goto who has always wanted to become a rock musician. However, her lifelong battle with social anxiety looms over her as this aspiration does come with public recognition and performance.

This anime is an endearing watch, as the protagonist, despite her withdrawn nature, attempts to conquer her fears and form a resilient independence. Characters know that isolation is not to be glorified, and although the show is humorous at times, the relatable detriment of anxiety is conveyed. The series has recently experienced renewed success with a series of compilation movies.

8 Perfect Blue Is an Artistic Decent into Madness

Directed by Satoshi Kon

Perfect Blue is an artistic psychological thriller that details instability and fear and stands among Satoshi Kon's best movies. Watchers follow the main character Mima Kirigoe as she shifts her career direction from pop star to actress. Particular fans do not take this transition well, and when murders begin to occur around her, the cumulating stress pushes perceived truth beyond reason.

The film blurs the lines between fantasy and reality by both highlighting a crazed fan obsession as well as following Mima’s slipping sanity with increased stress, fear, and trauma. Her dissociative identity disorder intensifies with the movie’s progression and shows a compelling and shocking internal struggle that has external consequences. Perfect Blue is also a great example of how mental health problems can be magnified and amplified in the public sector, where individualism and privacy are stripped away.

7 Fruits Basket Shows Past Trauma and Present Effect

Based on the Original Manga by Natsuki Takaya

Fruits Basket is a poignant and beautiful shojo anime that contains a multitude of mental health issues such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), PTSD, and depression. Following many magical characters with extensive backstories, fans see how isolation, trauma, and grief follow an individual through life and affect their future.

Although many personas share the same family name, each character’s past and trauma they carry show how uniquely each is affected by their relationships, environment, and assigned roles despite their protests. Mixed with heartwarming moments of love and humor, Fruits Basket contains its fair share of darkness and injustice. It addresses suicidal ideation, jealousy, violence, and more, and through these hardships, the series encourages viewers to handle each other and themselves with comion to achieve recovery and happiness.

6 March Comes in Like a Lion Is a Relatable Look at Loneliness

Based on the Original Manga by Chica Umino

March Comes in Like a Lion follows high schooler Kiriyama Rei, a professional shogi player. Living on his own, he uses the game to create space between others, interacting with only a few from his shogi hall. This coming-of-age drama details how depression leads to isolating oneself. As the protagonist makes excuses to avoid, his dissociation removes him from being present. Escapism from facing the harsh realities of loneliness leads many to isolation and dark thoughts.

This series never explicitly states or explains mental illness, but effectively depicts the slowly overtaking darkness created by ostracization and insecurity. Anxiety and depression can snowball, and without outlets and serendipitous meetings with caring people, these emotions become overwhelming. Rei’s perfectionism becomes a habit of harsh self-judgment in a relevant story of criticism and ultimately self-comion.

5 Neon Genesis Evangelion Dives into Complex Psychology

Original Series by Hideaki Anno

Although many watchers are drawn into Neon Genesis Evangelion by the psychological, mecha sci-fi aspects, they walk away changed by this moving story of navigating childhood trauma, self-loathing, and depression. The 1995 series was a trailblazer for the time, as mental health awareness was not as normalized as today. As Shinji traverses dystopia as a mecha-pilot, his mental anguish compounds.

Balancing self-care and acknowledgment with societal responsibility is a heavy cross to bear for such a young character. The series takes a psychologically twisting route to portray this as the protagonist’s depression, anxiety, and perceived shortcomings. Many watchers’ eyes are opened to depression, how it manifests, and the ways to address it.

4 Welcome to the NHK Shows a Shut-In Through Dark Humor

Based on the Original Light Novel by Tatsuhiko Takimoto

Although portrayed with an overarching humor, Welcome to the N.H.K. is a unique peek into the life of a shut-in. The main character Tatsuhiro’s social anxiety becomes so overwhelming that he refuses to leave his house. His agoraphobia, or fear of situations and environments that may cause panic or embarrassment, becomes a detriment to his social life, habits, and place in his community.

After befriending Misaki Nakahara, she tries to help Tatsuhiro shed this unhealthy routine for her own interest. This anime incorporates comical elements and interactions but contains a darker issue that can become dangerous and detrimental if left unchecked. Social anxiety is not uncommon, and this series can speak to many who are affected to varying degrees.

3 A Silent Voice Showcases Bullying, Guilt, & Isolation

Based on the Original Manga by Yoshitoki Ōima

A Silent Voice is a tear-jerking film about bullying, cruelty, and how this drives some to take their own life. Although middle schooler Shoya was not the only one to bully deaf peer Shoko, he became the sole pariah blamed for it and was subsequently shunned by his previous friends and classmates. When entering high school, he must face his feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety to rectify his past and move forward. A Silent Voice experienced great commercial and critical success thanks to its careful handling of these complex themes.

Bullying is a serious issue in Japan and around the world for school-age children, so this series is a relatable look at an epidemic that affects many. Young individuals can get caught up in the social hierarchy and judgment, and as Shoya faces the consequences, his self-loathing and depression grow. Fortunately, there are moments for apologies, repentance, and forgiveness, illustrating how although the weight of certain situations can feel too extreme, there are ways to overcome and grow into a better person than before.

2 Banana Fish is a Devastating of PTSD

Based on the Original Manga by Akimi Yoshida

Banana Fish is a heart-rending series depicting childhood trauma, sexual assault, depression, and PTSD. Following pure-hearted Eiji Okamura, he travels from Japan to the U.S. where he runs into gang member Ash Lynx, who tries to escape his abs and mafia that raised him. Ash and Eiji’s relationship proves that many can find happiness in and change with encouragement from others, but facing their demons is the daunting first step to overcome.

Ash is unwillingly thrown into a series of dreadful situations, being taken advantage of in every sense of the word. This shows the disparity some face, where survival comes before well-being and the resources needed to overcome mental illness and trauma are not available to all. This anime is not for the faint of heart, as it contains grim situations and triggering themes, but those who watch it are left moved and heartbroken by the endearing connections found in dismal situations.

1 Orange Realistically Portrays the Complications of Depression

Based on the Original Manga by Ichigo Takano

Orange is a realistic series following those who struggle with depression and suicidal ideation as well as those around them who do not where and how to offer help. This anime shows the consequences of actions and mindsets, the possibilities of the future, and the weight people carry unbeknownst to others. This slice-of-life is told through a time-twisted alternate reality, and although the premise is unrealistic, the slew of complicated emotions is certainly not.

The main cast receives letters from their future selves to prevent their friend Kakeru from committing suicide. Fans follow multiple perspectives, internally and externally viewing the oppressive depression that causes a character to take drastic measures to end his sorrow and guilt. Orange stands as a sincere and undisguised glimpse into the pain that depression can cause on many fronts.