Best Anime About Delinquents

May 20, 2023

There is a lot of anime out there, and in this golden age of TV streaming, the choices have never been more significant. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic? We’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, most fabulous, and unforgettable anime through the years.

For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best anime, our attention this time turns to anime that center their tales around delinquents. From school-themed comedies to action-packed endeavors, these anime deliver enough nuance and intrigue to warrant your attention.

Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll add them when we can!

Great Teacher Onizuka is a hilarious school-themed comedy that’s sure to entertain audiences. It follows a former gang leader named Eikichi Onizuka who wants to score a date with a young woman. He becomes a teacher at a local high school to accomplish his goal but winds up receiving something more wholesome in return.

This anime explores the challenges delinquents face on a daily basis. Each chapter presents viewers with a new and delightful story arc. Some episodes tackle themes like bullying, academic pressure, family issues, and societal expectations. At the same time, the anime highlights why it’s important to be compassionate and understanding toward people who are less fortunate than yourself.

The characters in this series receive great development and personalities. Viewers will adore Eikichi and his unorthodox teaching methods for disciplining his students. It’s the connections he forms with his students that will grasp viewers’ attention and make them more interested in the anime.

If you love school-themed works with great humor and drama, Great Teacher Onizuka’s will impress you.

Yu Yu Hakusho is a fantastic anime series with fun supernatural and adventurous aspects. Our tale follows Yusuke, a boy who sacrifices himself to save a girl from a car accident. After dying, Yusuke meets Prince Koenma, who offers him a chance at reincarnation. However, Yusuke must become Koenma’s Spirit Detective and complete numerous missions to earn his shot at life again.

This anime seamlessly weaves together engaging plotlines, intense battles, and captivating character arcs, all while delving into Yusuke’s journey from a delinquent to a hero. This narrative structure provides a remarkable outlook on the life of a delinquent, exploring themes of purpose, responsibility, and personal growth.

If you’re searching for a classic shonen with compelling story beats, fascinating fights, and well-designed settings, check out Yu Yu Hakusho.

For those looking for an unforgettable and grounded basketball series with a charming cast, Slam Dunk has you covered. This story follows Hanamichi as he discovers a passion for basketball and transforms his life for the better. Despite starting off as a brash individual, Hanamichi becomes more likable after participating in several games with his teammates.

Through Hanamachi’s journey, fans witness how playing sports can help a delinquent like Hanamichi turn his life around. Other characters like Takenori and Kaede have their own challenges and personalities that help them stand out. Audiences will be ecstatic to see how they grow and develop closer connections with one another.

On top of having entertaining basketball games that delve into the fundamentals of the sport, Slam Dunk is a must-watch series for its characters and storytelling alone.

Angel Densetsu examines the misadventures of the kind-hearted, eerie protagonist Kitano, as he navigates high school and tries to prove that looks can be deceiving.

This anime’s narrative is somewhat strange. Rather than examining Kitano’s delinquent lifestyle, it showcases the contrast between Kitano’s fearsome looks and his pure-hearted attitude. This provides the anime with genuine comedic moments and challenges stereotypes surrounding delinquents. It also ensures the story remains engaging and intriguing to new audiences with its fresh spin on the concept.

Through Kitano’s interactions with other students and staff, the anime highlights the importance of understanding and accepting others for their differences. This will resonate with people who’ve gone through issues surrounding their looks like Kitano.

If you’re looking for a hilarious and memorable anime with an interesting lead, check out Angel Densetsu.

Rainbow: Criminal Seven of Compound Two Cell Six is a gripping storyline that highlights the lives of delinquents in a juvenile correctional facility. Through its intense storytelling, complex characters, raw emotions, and themes, Rainbow stands out as a great anime surrounding delinquent-like protagonists.

Our story delves into the lives of seven male teenagers who were thrown into prison because of their actions. The plot explores their personal struggles, traumas, and the challenges they encounter within the establishment and in the outside world. The series tends to address sensitive topics surrounding abuse, discrimination, and the brutal realities of prison life.

This anime’s known for leaving a lasting impact on audiences because of the harsh circumstances our characters endure. Each teenager receives a compelling personality, motivation, and backstory to help audiences connect with them.

This is a must-watch anime for those who like shows with intense drama, great action, and captivating storytelling.

Cromartie High School is a phenomenal anime that revolves around a group of delinquent high school students. This anime combines elements of parody, satire, and slice-of-life storytelling, giving viewers an engaging experience. With its hilarious characters, brilliant writing, and unexpected twists, Cromartie High School will leave a lasting impact on audiences.

The characters embody many delinquent stereotypes, such as the tough leader, the dim-witted sidekick, and the misunderstood class president. The interactions between these characters drive the story’s comedic moments heavily, leading to many over-the-top and bizarre situations. It’s these characters’ personalities and the show’s unpredictable atmosphere that make it a must-watch for comedy fanatics.

School Rumble, while not primarily focused on delinquents, is an exceptional anime that incorporates delinquent characters into its funny narrative. It takes place in a high school setting and follows Tenma and her friend’s daily antics. Among this diverse cast, delinquents play a prominent role, adding more humor and excitement to the series.

One of the series’s best delinquent characters is Harima. He’s a hot-headed student who constantly finds himself in many hilarious situations. Despite his intimidating appearance, Harima is a hopeless romantic at heart and struggled with his feelings for Tenma. This clash between his delinquent and heartfelt side leads to many more funny moments fans will love.

In addition to striking a fun balance between humor, romance, and slice-of-life elements, School Rumble is a fabulous anime that’s worth checking out.

Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto is a modern classic. It delves into the life of an enigmatic and popular school student named, Sakamoto. It features many delinquent-like side characters who serve as excellent foils to Sakamoto’s pristine persona. This unique dynamic between Sakamoto and these characters adds to the show’s comedy and charm.

Throughout the story, Sakamoto meets many delinquents who try their best to ruin Sakamoto’s image. However, with his grace and collected demeanor, Sakamoto always turns the tables on these foes. The contrast between his style and his foe’s rougher appearances creates many hilarious and entertaining moments that keep audiences captivated.

Although they have ill intent toward Sakamoto, Sakamoto will also convince most delinquents to reflect on their actions and make positive changes in their life. This emphasis on personal growth, even within the context of unrelated characters, adds depth and meaning to the anime, making the series go beyond a typical comedy.

Banana Fish is a great anime that masterfully showcases the dark and gritty world of delinquency and street gangs. It takes place in New York and follows Ash Lynx. He’s a charismatic gang leader who becomes mired in a dangerous conspiracy.

This anime gives audiences a great portrayal of delinquency and gang culture. It delves into the psychological and social intricacies of its delinquent cast, exploring ideas such as loyalty, survival, and the consequences of violent lifestyles. From gang wars to drug trafficking, Banana Fish fearlessly confronts delinquency’s harsh aspects, leaving a lasting impression on audiences.

Ash Lynx is a fascinating lead character too. His journey is filled with inner conflicts as he strives to escape the clutches of his past and find redemption. Additionally, the supporting cast, like Shorter Wong and Sing Soo-Ling, bring unique perspectives to this tale, adding to the anime’s depth and realism.

If you’re looking for a fun anime about street culture with some essence of delinquency, check out Banana Fish.

Kyou kara Ore wa!! is another high school comedy with an excellent stance on delinquency. It follows the misadventures of two unlikely friends, Takashi and Shinji, as they navigate the challenges of delinquency and friendship.

This anime delivers excellent comedy and delves into deep concepts such as loyalty, growth, and self-discovery. Takashi and Shinji, although initially portrayed as rigid delinquents, display genuine moments of vulnerability and growth that’ll help viewers attach themselves to them. The way their bond develops over time is heartwarming. The supporting cast adds some depth and intrigue and leads our two companions to experience more bizarre circumstances.

On top of having some unexpected plot twists and creative story beats, Kyou kara Ore wa!! is a great anime with enough delinquents and bizarre scenarios to satisfy you.

So, there we have it, our picks for the best anime about delinquents through the years!

What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!