Anime series can also be really brutal and disturbing. Justifiably, some of them are only suitable for ages 18 and over – we present a few of them.
“Anime? Aren’t they just cartoon series for kids?” Such or at least similar questions, often accompanied by a judging facial expression, are certainly something many have experienced. That anime offers much more and can be quite profound and emotional is clear to most fans. However, some series are even the complete opposite and are not suitable for children at all. Therefore, we present to you today 5 anime series that have received the age rating of “18 years and up” in Germany.
Accordingly, you should also keep your distance from these series if younger family members are nearby – as these 5 anime series are definitely not suitable for children.
Elfen Lied
Alternative names: Elfen Song, Elfic Song, Elf Song
Genre: Action, Drama, Horror, Romance, Supernatural
Episodes: 13
Stream available on: Amazon Prime Video
Lucy belongs to a special type of human, she is a “Diclonius”. She is capable of summoning invisible hands that obey her will. This makes her a target for the government’s cruel experiments – at least until she can escape and leaves a bloody massacre in her wake.
During her escape, she sustains a severe head injury, leading to a split personality. Unable to articulate herself properly, she stumbles upon two college students, Kouta and Yuta, who temporarily take her in. However, this help could prove to be a mistake, as the government is doing everything to bring Lucy back under their control…
Why is Elfen Lied rated 18? The first two episodes of Elfen Lied are particularly marked by very cruel and detailed scenes of violence, which at the time led to a rating of FSK 18. Generally, the entire series is not timid and depicts brutality as well as physical and psychological cruelty with a lot of detail. Body parts are frequently severed, and details such as protruding bones are visible.
Only in 2022 was Elfen Lied re-evaluated by the FSK and the rating was subsequently lowered to “16 years and up” – yet it is easy to see based on the series why it was originally rated “18”.
The Eminence in Shadow
Alternative names: Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!, Shadow Garden
Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy
Episodes: 32 (2 seasons)
Stream available on: HiDive, Aniverse (Amazon Prime Premium Channel)
After his premature death, Minoru is reincarnated as Cid in a fantasy world where he can finally live out his dream: to guide the fate of the world as a shadowy eminence in the background. What starts as a fantasy role-playing game of a boy almost accidentally develops into a major phenomenon – because the organization “Shadow Garden” consists of members who faithfully follow Cid’s orders, even if he only meant it as a joke.
At the same time, Cid tries to maintain the appearance of a “useless NPC” despite his exaggerated powers, just to witness how the story develops from the sidelines.
Why is The Eminence in Shadow rated 18? The ninth episode of The Eminence in Shadow is the reason for an FSK rating of 18. The reasons are the themes of “violence” and “injuries” – anyone who has seen the episode will know what it’s about. The depiction of violence here is very graphic, is described in detail, and is simultaneously glorified by the perpetrator, even if it is a villain.
All other episodes would have given the anime “just” a rating of “16 years and up” – but because the overall rating is based on the highest individual rating, the whole series is rated 18.
More anime rated 18 can be found on the next page.
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