Top 17 Best Esper Anime of All Time

 

An esper is a person who has extrasensory perception, or ESP, and develops psychic abilities. The term was coined by Alfred Bester in his 1950 short story “Oddy and Id” and is derived from the abbreviation ESP.

 

In fiction, an esper is also someone who has telepathy and other paranormal abilities. And anime is no exception to that sentiment. Therefore, this list is going to be quite something for you as in this article, we will be diving deeper into the realm of espers and how anime as a medium, approached this idea of espers in the narrative put forth.

 

If you are a fan of Espers then this list will be a feast for you. And if not, you can just read the article for fun. So let’s not waste any time further and hop directly into it.

 

 

 

1. Mob Psycho 100

 

 

Mob Psycho 100 is one of the best anime that you can watch. And everyone knows that. However, what people tend to overlook is how beautiful the “esper” element is in the series. I mean think about it, the main character Mob is an esper himself.

 

And we all know how incredibly powerful he is. Plus, if we talk about other characters who are also espers, we realise that this anime dives deep into that arena. Moreover, since Mob is trying to live a human life, we get to experience an interesting side of the esper narrative that tends to get overlooked by people.

 

You might think that having all these powers would be the greatest thing in the world but Mob Psycho 100 highlights how these powers snatch away your normal life.

 

 

 

2. One Punch Man

 

 

One Punch Man is another series created by none other than the creator of Mob Psycho 100, ONE, and this man knows very well how to push the esper narratives in his story. There are two notable espers in the show.

 

Firstly, we have Tornado who is the second-strongest hero in terms of hero rankings and her personality is just what you would expect from someone who has been placed so high in the world. The other character is Tornado’s sister Fubuki who is just incredible, to say the least.

 

While she is weaker than Tornado, people like her character more because she has a lot more personality to herself. And that’s how fans get to experience the “esper” element in One Punch Man anime.

 

It’s a beautiful story that everyone should go to, at least once.

 

 

 

3. Unlimited Psychic Squad

 

 

If you want something that is a lot more fixated on espers then this is the anime you should go for. It talks about a guy named Kyousuke Hyoubu who is an esper but had the unfortunate experience of being betrayed years ago.

 

Fortunately, his situation is much better now with him being one of the strongest characters in the entire series. And he is a kind man who has been forced to take forceful actions for the sake of his kind.

 

In other words, he is trying to save other espers who are being mistreated by humans. He is the head of an organization called PANDRA and this organization consists of people like him. The show is quite serious in terms of its story and will entertain all the esper fans out there.

 

 

 

4. Code Geass

 

 

This anime needs no introduction. Often considered by many as one of the best anime ever created Code Geass is a series that has always entertained the masses without breaking a sweat. The show doesn’t feature an esper directly.

 

However, Lelouche having the power of Geass is something that is very close to being an esper. Just in case you don’t know, in Code Geass, the main character ends up getting the power that allows him to control other people’s minds.

 

And that’s something way beyond powerful since it allows him to change their memory, make them obey his commands, and so much more. Using this power, the main character leads a rebellion against the enemy.

 

And that’s how this anime uses its plot device that is quite close to being linked with espers.

 

 

5. Akira

 

 

Akira is one of the most beautiful anime you can watch. I mean just look at the sheer animation of this show. It is absolutely stunning. The show talks about a guy named Shotaro Kaneda whose friend Tetsuo Shima has been part of an unfortunate accident.

 

Since both these buddies were part of a biker gang, they have had a great relationship on the streets. However, things changed after Tetsuo’s bike accident as he ended up getting telekinetic powers. And then, the monster within him started to take over and destroy anything and everything that stood against him.

 

This story is all about Kaneda and his attempt to save his childhood friend. However, saving someone who is that far gone won’t be easy.

 

 

6. Cardcaptor Sakura

 

 

Cardcaptor Sakura is a show that changed the landscape for Shoujo anime. This series was way ahead of its time and managed to highlight how capable CLAMP, the creator of this show is. The series talks about Sakura Kinomoto who ended up freeing a ton of cards in the world.

 

Now freeing up cards won’t seem like the end of the world until you realize that these cards have supernatural powers. And if not retrieved again, these cards can cause a ton of problems for everyone around.

 

Since those cards have magical powers, the indirect mention of espers in the show is quite vibrant. And that’s why fans love watching it on screen. I mean just think about it.

 

 

7. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.

 

 

This show is just downright hilarious. I mean anyone who has watched this anime would tell you just how amazing this series is. However, that’s not the only redeeming quality for this show as it dives deep into the lives of espers as well.

 

The story talks about a guy named Saiki who has been blessed with unreal esper powers. And this allows him to do a ton of things, including mess-ups with people’s minds. However, Saiki just wants to live a normal life and the entire show focuses on his attempts of trying to live a normal life without any hassle.

 

This will be difficult since people, problems, and situations will come and collide with Saiki himself. And that is what makes the show so special.

 

 

8. Tokyo ESP

 

 

This anime is very heavy on the Esper element. In fact, they even have a full form for ESP ExtraSensory Perception. Isn’t that amazing? Well, that’s the beauty of Tokyo ESP, a show all about the insanity that exists in the esper realm.

 

The main character involves a girl named Rinka Urushiba who happened to accidentally come across her Esper powers. Moreover, she even meets someone who is just like her. This man, named Kyotaro Azuma is also a person with ESP abilities.

 

While their abilities, they are without a doubt, outstanding supernatural skills that can’t be compared. This is why you need to watch this show as these two will be going on against everyone who will be using their ESP power for evil.

 

 

9. Occult Academy

 

 

Occult Academy is an amazing series that fans should go for without thinking twice. The narrative itself is so fun to think about. The series talks about a girl named Maya Kumashiro who has decided that she will destroy her father’s Academy.

 

And why she wishes to do so is on her but she was stopped by a man named Fumiaki Uchida. Fumiaki is an esper who has travelled back in time to find a key that will allow him to save the future.

 

How? Long story short, aliens have invaded and by destroying the Nostradamus Key, he will be able to save his planet. Therefore, he shakes hands with Maya to get a hold of this key. However, the way they do so is so much fun to watch with countless supernatural activities making an appearance together.

 

 

10. A Certain Magical Index

 

 

This is one of the most admired and sought-after anime series of all time. And that’s why you would want to have a bite of it as a viewer. After all, no one would be repulsive towards a great anime, right?

 

The show is very with their esper narrative, and unlike other shows, highlights an open story where everyone is related to espers and being an esper isn’t all that groundbreaking. While that may seem like something that isn’t all that great, we have to agree that it would be a refreshing experience to watch since the limitation of hiding the esper element in the story genuinely creates a hole in the minds of the viewers, especially when they are hoping for something out of the world.

 

 

11. From the New World

 

 

From the New World is an anime that tends to get overlooked by people. However, what makes it special is the fact that it is very focused on psychic abilities possessed by people. And that makes it worthy of being part of our list.

 

The series talks about Saki Watanabe and her life as a psychic whose skills are getting better at last. Since this is a coming-of-age story, it is filled with a lot of character drama and emotion.

 

Most people would prefer to have something more fighting-heavy or dark. However, if you want to experience some pure drama that revolves around the esper narrative then this is the show you should hope for.

 

It is just so fascinating to watch on screen.

 

 

12. Elfen Lied

 

 

Elfen Lied is a dark show. In fact, it is one of the most loved gory shows of its time. People say that the dark nature of Elfen Lied is what makes it so special for the viewers.

 

The main character of the show, Lucy is the one who will represent this show as she ends up with powers that are very close to what we see in the typical Esper power segment.

 

While a direct reference is missing, we are bound to find some insane sequences that will give us the confidence that this anime is in fact, something that is deep, dark, and gory with ideas, emotions, and arguments clashing, trying to figure out the perfect portrayal.

 

Most of the viewers love this anime and they always look up to it.

 

 

13. Charlotte

 

 

Another anime that is all about espers. I mean I get that, it’s an article about Espers. However, having some entries that are very much connected to the topic is nothing less than amazing as a writer.

 

I mean imagine Yuu getting his share of powers. While his power allows him to pause time for 5 seconds and do whatever he wants to do in that time, the story continues to move forward and bring even more people as part of the story.

 

And these people complete the overall buying experience of the show. Make sure that you watch this anime as the esper element is just way too good. In fact, the world-building around that theme, even in the screenplay was great.

 

 

14. Ghost Hunt

 

 

This anime is something that will shape the way you look at esper anime. I mean it focuses on psychic powers so that’s an unforeseen plus. Either way, let’s talk about the show in a bit more detail.

 

It focuses on the lives of Mai Taniyama and Kazuya Shibuya who happens to be part of the Shibuya Psychic Research Company. The esper element in this anime isn’t about action directly. In fact, it focuses on the fictional side of the story a lot more than the normal side.

 

In other words, this esper power will be used for the sake of understanding and grasping paranormal activities. Moreover, our duo with embark on a ghost-hunting adventure that will teach each one of them.

 

 

15. Kotoura-san

 

 

This anime is a lot more fun than what meets the eye. It dives deep into the realm of having powers in the real world and how it would affect you overall. To put it simply, a girl named Kotoura Haruka happens to have the ability to read people’s minds.

 

She is only 15 years old and this young age is something that is bound to get tainted with the ability to read people’s minds. And that’s why things are tough for Haruka. The fact that her parents divorced is just something that proves the point.

 

Needless to say, this brings an experience for viewers that is more on the negative yet realistic side of things, making this anime worthwhile.

 

 

16. Closers: Side Blacklambs

 

 

In this anime, war has taken place. And it wasn’t any normal war. It is something far beyond that. The show talks about the city of Seoul which was created by people who managed to survive the first-dimensional war.

 

And they will be using the psychokinetic powers present in the world so as to secure themselves from another such mishap. The series is very heavy with its powerful narration and heavy reliance on the esper theme.

 

While most people would think that it would be another typical esper anime, they will be in for a surprise as the show is a lot more dense, heavy, and something that will entertain the masses no matter what.

 

Make sure that you give it a try.

 

 

17. Night Head Genesis

 

 

This anime talks about Naoto and Naoya Kirihara who happen to be brothers. And these two have been abandoned by their parents, making them face severe trauma. The moment they escape their “prison” that used to separate them using psychic powers, they will be going on a spree in their life.

 

These talented individuals would end up doing the right thing and try to bring things back on track in this world. However, doing that would be a challenge and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the sheer excellence that this show offers is just fantastic.

 

It will give us a crucial idea of how things will go for espers if they try to save the world with their skills and how difficult that attempt can be for anyone and everyone involved in the series.