Not every anime makes it to the S tier, or even the A-tier – meaning, not every anime is a flawless masterpiece that should be on everybody’s to-watch list. In fact, there are wide swathes of anime that are better described as B-tier. B-tier doesn’t mean bad – they may even be fan favorites. B-tier means that they could be improved upon, but are still fully enjoyable.
The best B-tier anime include Future Diary, a high octane battle royale in which people fight to become god; Working!!, a slice of life series about the employees at a family restaurant; Gangsta, a show about supernatural street violence that would have been perfect if not for its botched ending, and many more.
1. Black Bullet
After a parasitic virus called Gastrea turns humankind into monsters, the survivors hide behind walls made of the only material that can keep the virus at bay. Little girls with just enough virus in them to grant them superpowers leave the safety of the walls to fight these monsters. It’s kind of like Attack on Titan, but with more inappropriate fan service and a less intricate plot.
2. Gangsta
With its awesome action sequences, unique characters, and excellent art and animation, Gangsta could have been top-tier anime material. Unfortunately, it came out just before Studio Manglobe was about to go bankrupt, which meant that the ending lacked any sort of resolution.
3. Blood+
Saya Otonashi is leading a seemingly ordinary life until one day she’s attacked by a monster and reminded of her past as a powerful slayer. She and the man who helped her unlock her past join forces to protect humanity from an onslaught of supernatural dangers.
4. Interviews With Monster Girls
Interviews With Monster Girls is a cute show about a demihuman-obsessed biology teacher who ends up teaching several girls who fit that description – specifically a vampire, a dullahan, and a snow woman. The show follows their everyday life while occasionally making points about social justice. It doesn’t quite strike the perfect balance between the two, but it’s a fun time.
5. Full Metal Panic!
The members of Mithril are dedicated to fighting terrorism and protecting powerful individuals called Whispered. Sousuke Sagara, a former soldier with little knowledge of everyday life, must attend high school in order to protect a Whispered named Chidori Kaname – and he might have more of a history with her than he realizes.
6. Hell Girl
Hell Girl tells the story of a website which lets users plug in the name of someone who they wish would be taken to Hell – at the cost of their own souls. So, it’s sort of like Death Note but with the Internet.
Why isn’t it A-tier? Maybe because its episodic nature can get repetitive and it takes much too long to start revealing anything meaningful about the protagonists.
7. Knights of Sidonia
Humanity has been hiding out from an alien race called Gauna ever since they destroyed Earth. Now, the Gauna are back, and it’s up to Nagate Tanikaze and his fellow soldiers to defend humanity. The series makes good use of a tried and true concept but isn’t bringing something new to the table the way an A-tier anime might.
8. Basilisk
Basilisk is basically Romeo and Juliet with ninja instead of members of the Italian gentry. Somehow, it manages to be even bloodier than the Shakespearean tragedy that may have inspired it.
9. Pandora Hearts
Gilbert Nightray may be serving A-tier looks, but over all Pandora Hearts isn’t most people’s absolute favorite anime. It’s still a fascinating story which follows Oz, the 15-year-old heir to the Vessalius Duke House, as he uncovers the secrets of a mysterious place called the Abyss.