Metal and anime should be best friends. They're both loud. They both thrive on high-octane energy and often embrace a sort of "outsider" aesthetic that makes suburban parents nervous. But honestly? If you go looking for anime about metal music, you’re going to find a surprisingly short list. Most shows stick to the safe, bubbly world of J-Pop or the melancholic vibes of "high schoolers in a light music club." Metal is the weird cousin that only gets invited to the party once every five years.
It’s a bit of a tragedy.
When you think about the overlap in the fanbases, it makes no sense. Go to any Wacken Open Air or Hellfest and you’ll see thousands of metalheads sporting Berserk or Evangelion tattoos. The genres share a DNA of intensity. Yet, the industry usually treats metal as a punchline or a niche gimmick. But when a studio actually commits to the bit? It's legendary. We’re talking about shows that capture the sweat, the tinnitus, and the sheer absurdity of trying to be "brutal" while living a normal life.
The Crowning Achievement: Detroit Metal City
You can’t talk about this subgenre without starting—and almost ending—with Detroit Metal City (DMC). This is the gold standard. It’s a 12-episode OVA series that follows Soichi Negishi, a sweet, soft-spoken kid who just wants to play Swedish-style "trendy" pop music. He likes singing about raspberry tarts and love.
But life is cruel. To pay the bills, he fronts a death metal band called DMC under the stage name Johannes Krauser II.
The comedy works because it understands the theater of metal. Negishi hates the violence and the "Satanic" imagery, but as Krauser II, he’s a god. He’s rumored to have raped and murdered his parents (he hasn't) and to be a literal demon from hell. The show leans hard into the "extreme" tropes of the late 90s and early 2000s metal scene. It’s frantic. The animation is purposely rough and ugly, which fits the grime of the underground clubs perfectly. It's probably the most honest look at the performance aspect of the genre, even if it's a parody.
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When Metal Is Just the Backdrop
Sometimes, you find anime about metal music where the music isn't the point, but the "vibe" is everywhere. Take Aggretsuko. On the surface, it’s a Sanrio show about a red panda. You’d expect it to be cute and harmless.
Then she goes to a karaoke booth.
Retsuko’s outlet for her soul-crushing accounting job is death metal. The show features actual death growls (provided by Rarecho, the director himself) and explores the catharsis that comes with the genre. It’s not about "being in a band" as much as it is about metal as a survival mechanism. It’s relatable. Who hasn't wanted to scream lyrics about a terrible boss into a microphone after a ten-hour shift?
Then there’s Bastard!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy-. This isn't about musicians. It’s a high-fantasy epic, but it is dripping in metal references. The creator, Kazushi Hagiwara, is a massive metalhead. Characters and places are named after bands like Anthrax, Metallica, Judas Priest, and Helloween. It’s loud, it’s over-the-top, and it feels like a 1980s album cover come to life. If you want the feeling of a power metal ballad, this is it.
The Legend of Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad
Wait, is Beck metal?
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Purists will argue until they're blue in the face. Beck (known as Mongolian Chop Squad in the West) is primarily an alternative rock story. However, it earns a spot in the conversation because it treats the "heavy" side of music with immense respect.
The series captures the technicality of the gear—the Gibson Les Pauls, the Fender Telecasters—and the grit of the independent music scene. There are moments of genuine heaviness and a deep exploration of how Western rock and metal influenced Japanese youth. It’s a slow burn. It’s about the struggle. If you’ve ever sat in a garage trying to tune a guitar while your neighbors complained about the noise, Beck will hit you right in the chest.
Why is this genre so small?
There’s a practical reason for the lack of metal-focused anime. It’s expensive.
Good metal requires specific production. You can’t just use a MIDI keyboard and call it a day. You need a drummer who can actually play double-bass, a bassist who provides the low-end growl, and a vocalist who knows how to scream without blowing out their vocal cords. Most anime production committees see the "idol" market as a safer bet. Idols sell merchandise, light sticks, and concert tickets to a massive, predictable demographic. Metal is risky.
Also, the Japanese "Loud Rock" scene is its own beast. Bands like Maximum the Hormone (who did the Death Note second opening) or Babymetal have huge followings, but translating that energy into a serialized 24-minute show is a massive logistical hurdle for animators. Capturing the finger movements of a shredding guitarist is an absolute nightmare to animate. Most studios avoid it because it’s a "sakuga" budget sinkhole.
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Finding the "Metal" in the Mainstream
If you’ve exhausted the few dedicated shows, you have to look for the music in the openings and endings. That’s where the metal really lives in the anime world.
- Death Note: "What's Up, People?!" by Maximum the Hormone is pure nu-metal/hardcore chaos.
- Vinland Saga: The first opening, "MUKANJYO" by Survive Said The Prophet, brings some serious post-hardcore energy.
- Parasyte -the maxim-: Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas provides a "trancecore" sound that blends electronic beats with metalcore screams.
- Watamote: The opening track is a chaotic metal track that perfectly mirrors the protagonist’s social anxiety and internal screaming.
These snippets of music often tease fans with what a full-blown metal anime could look like if a studio had the guts to do it.
The DIY Spirit: Dark Cat and Legend of Black Heaven
If you dig into the archives, you find some weird stuff. The Legend of Black Heaven (Kacho Oji) is a forgotten gem. It’s about a middle-aged salaryman who used to be a guitar hero in a heavy metal band called Black Heaven. He’s bored. He’s tired. But then, a mysterious woman tells him that his music is the only thing that can power a space weapon to save the galaxy.
It’s a metaphor for reclaiming your lost passion. It’s also deeply weird.
Then there’s Detroit Metal City’s live-action adaptation, which is surprisingly good, but we’re here for the ink and paint. The reality is that for a true metalhead, the "best" anime often isn't about music at all. It’s the stuff that shares the aesthetic. Berserk (the 1997 version) is basically a Bolt Thrower album in animated form. Devilman Crybaby feels like a frantic grindcore set.
Your Metal Watchlist: What to Do Next
Don't just wait for a new show to drop. If you want to dive into the world of heavy music through the lens of Japanese animation, you have to be proactive.
- Watch Detroit Metal City first. It is the beginning and the end of the conversation for a reason. Don't skip the "f**k" count.
- Listen to the soundtracks. Often, the music in these shows is better than the animation. The DMC soundtrack features actual heavy riffs that hold up outside the context of the gag.
- Explore the "Loud Rock" genre. Bands like Galneryus (who did music for Hunter x Hunter) show the technical power metal side of Japan that rarely gets its own dedicated show.
- Support the indies. Keep an eye on Crowdfunded projects or short films on YouTube. Independent animators are often more willing to take a swing at niche genres like blackened thrash or doom metal than big studios like MAPPA or Bones.
Metal in anime remains a rare delicacy. It's the "ghost pepper" of the medium—too hot for most, but exactly what some of us are craving. While the industry continues to churn out pop-idol fluff, the few instances of true distorted-guitar glory stand out as some of the most creative, hilarious, and visceral moments in the history of the medium. Go find them. Turn the volume up. Rip the knob off.