Summary
Be it the mafia, the yakuza, or the triad, people have been fascinated with gangsters, mobsters, and crime bosses for a very long time. There are heaps of anime series that explore the dark criminal underbelly of various cultures in intriguing ways, blending fast-paced action,gun-toting characters, and a deep exploration of morality, psychology, and philosophy.
These shows blend all the hallmarks of the typical Hollywood gangster flick with a dash of anime charm. With their gorgeously animated fight scenes and impeccable soundtracks, these series are sure to satiate the appetite of even the pickiest crime drama fan.
Updated on June 11, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Except for Sakamoto Days, which revolves around a retired hitman, Winter 2025 does not have anyanime about organized crime. Fortunately, Fall 2024 did have Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii, which is worth watching for people craving a romance take on the theme. Alternatively, they can check out a few older series that cover the Yakuza or mafia.
The title alone should be enough to tell viewers what type of show they’re about to get into. The visually stunning opening theme showcases all the offerings of this mature seinen series - drugs, prostitution, and gangsters, all set to an incredibly catchy tune. In the town of Ergastalum exists a group of super-humans named “Twilights;” beings who have heightened senses as a result of a special drug. Nicholas Brown, one such Twilight, and Worick Arcangelo form the ‘Handymen’ duo, are partners who take up deadly jobs no one else can.
Unfortunately, the series ends on a cliffhanger, and as the studio, Manglobe, folded withGangsta.as their swansong, the series will most likelynever get a second season. The anime, therefore, is more of a promo for the manga than anything, although it does a pretty good job of being one.
Hinamatsuriis a weird one. On the one hand, it is comfortably among thebest anime with organized crime; however, this aspect is relatively shallow and only a minor selling point. Consequently, this series is for people who are craving a hilarious comedy that happens to feature espers, the yakuza, homelessness, and a bartender teenager.Hinamatsuri’s brilliance lies in how it combines all these elements to create a surprisingly complete experience, one that has quite a few sweet and moving moments to complement its many, many laugh-out-loud scenes.
A fairly low-level yakuza member, Nitta’s life takes a strange turn when he finds a girl in a pod in his apartment. As ignoring her does not work, he finds himself acting as a surrogate father to Hina, apowerful psychic who escaped her world to try and start fresh on Earth.
Based on a Nitroplus visual novel directed and written by Gen Urobuchi (the creator behindPuella Magi Madoka MagicaandPsycho-Pass),Phantom: Requiem for the Phantomtells the story of Zwei, a young man with amnesia who is taken in by the infamous crime syndicate Inferno. He is brainwashed by Inferno’s top killer, a woman named Ein, to be a puppet of the organization. Zwei fights to navigate the cruel world of Inferno and hopefully get his memories back.
Viewers looking for a mature show that’s more about character development than action sequences may find the complex relationship between Ein and Zwei to be an intriguing exploration of the human psyche. Despite a glaring plot hole regarding a time skip and the characters' ages,Phantom: Requiem for the Phantomis still a worthwhile watch.
On the surface,Jormungandhas many similarities toanother organized crime-themed anime series,Black Lagoon. Jonah Mar, a former child soldier, takes up the task of protecting an illegal arms dealer, Koko Hekmatyar. The twist is that Jonah hates weapons and weapons dealers, leading to several conflicting loyalties.
In contrast toPhantom: Requiem for the Phantom,Jormungandis substantially more action-packed, although some might say it comes at the cost of the plot and character development. However, if fans are looking for a turn-your-brain-off, guns-blazing action series, then this anime is a treat.
It’s not at all uncommon to find anime that are set outside of Japan, but it’s pretty rare to find one set in Latin America. The series follows escaped convict Michiko Malandro and her search for her former lover, Hiroshi Morenos, in the fictional South American country of Diamandra. To reach her goal, she “rescues” a girl named Hana Morenos (Hiroshi’s alleged daughter) from her abusive foster family, nicknaming her Hatchin. Unfortunately for Michiko, a crime syndicate named Monstro Preto catches wind of the situation, and a cat-and-mouse chase begins.
Created by the minds behindSamurai ChamplooandErgo Proxy,Michiko & Hatchinprovides some much-needed representation to a part of the world often overlooked in anime, with some cool visuals, a stellar soundtrack (courtesy ofCowboy Bebop’sShinichiro Watanabe), and a cast of unique and realistic characters.
Focusing on an unassuming kid who suddenly learns that he is the heir to a powerful mafia organization,Reborn!is arguably the definitiveorganized crime anime. At least, in the sense that this show should be among the first to pop into somebody’s mind when they think of this theme.
However, the anime mostly uses the mafia angle as window dressing for what is generally a traditional battle shonen story, which is not necessarily a bad thing. As long as somebody does not go in expecting an in-depth look into the mafia, they should enjoyReborn!’s blend of over-the-top action, flashes of humor, and world-building.
Split into different parts,JoJo’s Bizarre Adventuredoes not generally have anything to do with organized crime, with most entries being far more concerned with the supernatural than the Yakuza. However,Golden Windshakes things up by not only being set in Italy but also directly involving the mafia, specifically a group called Passione.
As this isJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, situations are resolved by the use of stands rather than traditional weaponry or manipulation.Golden Windsticks close enough to the standard battle shonen formula to be an easy recommendation for somebody who enjoys those types of stories, all the while making great use of its fresh setting to set itself apart from both its contemporaries and the franchise’s other parts.
Odd Taxi’s brilliance kind of sneaks up on viewers, taking them on a wild ride that features anthropomorphic characters. As this is one of those series that should really be experienced blind, spoilers will be kept to a minimum.
Odd Taxiis an effective story-driven mystery anime that is surprisingly grounded in reality, despite the presentation of its characters. A fairly ordinary everyman, the taxi driver protagonist regularly finds himself witness to things that are well beyond his paygrade, which causes him to be dragged into the world of organized crime.
The 1920s prohibition era provides fertile ground for mafia media, and91 Daysstands out quite a bit in this colorful catalogue. Angelo Lagusa, witnessing the murder of his parents by the Vanetti crime family, is out for vengeance. After seven years in hiding, he returns to his appropriately named hometown of Lawless, Illinois, totake revenge onthe Vanetti’s Don Vincent, and he does so by befriending the Don’s son, Nero.
One might say that this series more closely resemblesThe GodfatherorGoodfellasthan a typical action anime. Fans of revenge stories are sure to get a kick out of this crime drama with a morally ambiguous protagonist, stylized action scenes, and ingenious gambits. For extra immersion points, it’s best to view this anime in its absolutely stellar English dub.
TheCyberpunk 2077video game may have had a tumultuous start, but the same cannot be said about itscritically acclaimed prequel series,every moment of which is a feast for the eyes and ears. Set a year before the events of the video game,Edgerunners' story follows troubled teen David Martinez as he gets caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting, gravely injuring him and his mother.
Armed with a prosthetic that grants the wearer super speed, Martinez vows to exact revenge on those who have wronged him. Netrunner Lucy Kushinada takes notice of his abilities and introduces him to her criminal gang. From then on, the protagonist is faced with several difficult moral decisions out of his control.
