10 best mafia anime series that you should watch

The intriguing world of mafia anime has captivated audiences for decades, as anime creators have crafted compelling stories about mob families, assassins, and organized crime, blending intense drama with themes of identity, trauma, loyalty, and redemption.

While a story could focus on low-level thugs up to elite crime lords, the unpredictability of trying to operate outside the law opens fascinating narrative potential. These unpredictable characters also enable funny clashes or moments of emotional bonds you wouldn't expect.

Through these top mafia, anime picks exploring prohibition-era mobs, international spy rings, superpowered assassins, and beyond - fans can explore the creative directions anime takes this beloved genre trope of gun-toting gangsters.

Note: the opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

10 must-watch mafia anime series that you can't miss

1. Baccano!

Baccano! brings the prohibition-era American mafia to life through a gripping mafia anime series. Applications of alchemy and immortal alchemists may not immediately scream "mafia," but this supernatural twist combines brilliantly with the 1930s organized crime backdrop.

Through intersecting plotlines stretching across decades, Baccano! pulls viewers into the past through events tied to characters like Firo Prochainezo, an important member of the Martillo crime family. Firo's rise in the Martillo crime family, which oversees the city's underground liquor trade, is revealed.

This central mystery links factions of deranged cult alchemists, sociopathic assassins, homunculi searching for purpose, and mobsters adjusting to shifting Prohibition dynamics caused by government agencies and rival syndicates threatening their underworld order.

2. 91 Days

A historical revenge tragedy set in Lawless, during the Prohibition Era, 91 Days shines a lens on the origins of American organized crime through a thrilling mafia anime series. When Avilio Bruno's family is murdered during a mafia dispute, he embarks on a quest for retribution against the Vanetti crime family.

After seven years in hiding, Avilio returns to Lawless to infiltrate the Vanetti by becoming close to the don's son, Nero. This suspenseful drama captures the complex inner workings of a 1920s mob family wanting to maintain power against rival families and government agencies.

Layered characters and strong attention to historical detail give a realistic lens into the world of these gangsters. Action-packed shootouts enhance the gripping drama of Avilio's deception and the quest for revenge. With compelling characters and an impactful finale, it shines as a gritty, concise gem for mafia anime fans.

3. Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Katekyo Hitman Reborn! (Image via Artland)

For a crazy, action-packed take on the mafia filled with cool assassins and plenty of laughs, Katekyo Hitman Reborn! is an excellent mafia anime pick. The series stars middle-schooler Tsuna Sawada, an underachieving klutz who discovers he's the heir to an Italian mafia group called the Vongola Family.

He gets drafted into the family by Reborn, a hitman in the form of an infant, who has come to train Tsuna to eventually take over as the Tenth Boss. What follows is a wildly entertaining coming-of-age tale as Tsuna gradually discovers his strength with the help of his new mafia friends.

The animation and score bring an infectious energy to the amusing battle scenes and training montages. Though it starts slice-of-life style, the series expands into an action saga pitting Tsuna against various assassins and enemy groups. With great humor and heart, it puts a very original spin on the mafia anime genre.

4. Banana Fish

This 24-episode mafia anime dives deep into New York's underground crime networks through Japanese photographer Eiji and mafia heir Ash Lynx. When Eiji arrives in New York City to assist his mentor Shunichi Ibe on a story about street gangs, their lives intersect with Ash and his brotherhood gang.

As Ash confronts his traumatic past abuse and entanglement with mafia boss Dino Golzine, he uncovers an experimental hallucinogenic drug known as "Banana Fish" that various corrupt factions will kill to get their hands on.

It offers a suspenseful journey as Ash and Eiji uncover the drug's origins, linking it to Ash's brother Griffin, a Vietnam War veteran. With a gritty urban setting, stylish action, sharp animation, and a compelling bond between Eiji and Ash, it offers a bleak perspective on the underworld's exploitation of vulnerable youth.

5. Gungrave

For fans wanting a gritty, sci-fi take on mafia assassins, Gungrave offers brutal gun battles, super-powered weapons, advanced technology, and tons of bullets, bullets, bullets flying everywhere.

The series follows Beyond the Grave, a powerful hitman brought back from the dead through advanced technology. He returns to get revenge against his former mafia organization Millennion led by his backstabbing best friend Harry MacDowel.

With stylish gun-fu action sequences, cool future tech, and a killer soundtrack, Gungrave delivers gripping drama detailing the rise and fall of two friends amid the shifting organized crime landscape. This mafia anime brings thrilling action and complex relationships worth diving into.

6. Black Lagoon

Set in 1990's Thailand, Black Lagoon follows Japanese businessman Rokuro Okajima whose mundane life gets turned upside-down when he gets kidnapped by a rag-tag squad of mercenaries aboard their black market smuggling ship Black Lagoon.

After his company abandons him to his captors, Rokuro decides to join the Black Lagoon crew and remake himself as "Rock," the group's newest gun-slinging pirate. Amid thrilling land and sea battles in Southeast Asia, Rock and his crew navigate arms deals, assassinations, and betrayals.

With top-notch animation, extremely graphic content, and compelling flawed characters, Black Lagoon delivers a viciously original mafia anime action experience.

7. Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO)

Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO) (Image via Pierrot)

Great Teacher Onizuka may seem like an unlikely candidate for a top mafia anime series given it's a comedy about an eccentric 22-year-old becoming an inspiring teacher. However, Onizuka's shady past comes into play during the show's storyline which dives deep into the Japanese criminal underworld.

Onizuka gets caught up trying to help one of his students, whose mother is hospitalized by malicious yakuza thugs trying to acquire their property. A suspenseful clash sees Onizuka facing crafty foes in a hilarious, triumphant showdown that parodies yakuza tropes.

Beyond just the gangster storyline, GTO succeeds through great comedy and a unique appeal seeing the day-to-day life of school through Onizuka's wild methods.

8. Darker Than Black

For a fresh take on assassins with superhuman abilities, the mafia anime series Darker Than Black delivers slick spy action within intricate sci-fi worldbuilding. When mysterious gates appear on Earth, they create powerful Contractors who trade their humanity for superpowers with bizarre conditions.

Operating within intelligence agencies and criminal syndicates, these Contractors carry out top-secret espionage, capture missions, and assassinations while keeping their powers hidden from the public.

Protagonist Hei masquerades as a Contractor named "The Black Reaper" who maintains secrecy around his abilities, payments, and allegiances. With sharp plotting, creative fights, and intriguing character mysteries, it excels in its sci-fi espionage theme.

9. Joker Game

For a slick period drama set before WWII, it focuses on an elite team of Japanese spy agents known as the "D Agency" engaged in international espionage to gather intel and influence enemy countries. Set in 1937, the story follows the various spies of D Agency amid brewing global tensions and a looming world war.

Episodes tackle specific covert missions dealing with key events leading up to World War II. With its vintage setting, stylish character designs, and emphasis on deduction, schemes, and subterfuge rather than action, Joker Game has an intriguing hook for this list focused on mafia anime.

Seeing the spies stealthily uncover secrets and handle crises makes for several clever capers to unravel. D Agency's coordination mirrors crime syndicates, showcasing fascinating tradecraft. For period-piece thriller fans, Joker Game delivers suspenseful spy fiction with an engaging backdrop of pre-WWII tensions.

10. Hellsing Ultimate

Hellsing Ultimate (Image via Madhouse/Satelight)

An action horror with vampires may seem an unlikely pick for mafia anime, but the secret Catholic order of monster hunters known as Hellsing has plenty of organized crime and conspiracy elements that make Hellsing Ultimate a unique pick for this list.

Set in England, the country's first defense against occult threats lies in the mysterious Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing and her lethal servants Alucard and Seras. The 10 OVA episodes showcase intense action as Nazi-created vampires and Iscariot clash, threatening global security.

Hellsing Ultimate succeeds through the strong dynamic between cold tactician Sir Integra and vampire Alucard with his twisted levels of power and bloodlust. This mafia anime blends blazing guns, blood rituals, and crime scenes with a paranormal twist, making it a standout mature action series.

Conclusion

With organized crime elements woven into plots spanning revenge quests, superhuman battles, global conspiracies, and beyond, these series showcase the creative directions mafia anime can explore.