Aired on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block, Banana Fish is a mafia anime adaptation from the manga series of the same name. It was acclaimed by critics for the series' plot, dialogue, and action scenes. The anime tells about a fierce, brutal and tense battle of power, fame and the strange name “Banana Fish”.

Set primarily in New York City in the 1980s, the series follows street gang leader Aslan Jade Callenreese, known as Ash Lynx. He was formerly an enforcer and child sex slave to Dino Golzine, the infamous godfather of the mafia. When becoming the boss of his own gang at 17 years old, Ash begins investigating the mysterious "Banana Fish" which his older brother Griffin, a Vietnam War veteran, uttered. However, Ash’s inquiry is impeded in this endeavor by Golzine, leading him to turn on his member.

Through his investigation, Ash encounters multiple allies and enemies. One of them is Eiji Okumura, who is a Japanese photographer reporting on American street gangs, and with whom Ash forms a close bond. They gradually discover the mystery of “Banana Fish” but at the same time have to bear an extremely expensive price.

In conclusion, Banana Fish is attractive because of the way it portrays the dark side of society through heavy details and dialogue or fiery gunfight scenes as well as the warmth and hope of a love between people. Won award of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2018, this deserves to be one of the best mafia animes of all time.

Aired: Summer 2018
Produced by: MAPPA
Episodes: 24
Duration: 22 min/ep
MAL Rated: 8.48

Based on the light novels of the same name of Ryohgo Narita, Baccano! follows several events that initially seem unrelated, both in time and place, but are part of a much bigger story. Merging these events together are lifelong bonds and consequences for everyone involved.

The first event is about a group of alchemists aboard the ship Advenna Avis in 1711. They summoned a demon in the hopes of getting eternal life and gained. They received an elixir of immortality and the method of ending their existence. Maiza Avaro and most of the alchemists agreed that no one else must become immortal, except Szilard Quates. Then some alchemists were devoured by Szilard, so the rest scattered across the globe.

Next, the second context is in New York City in 1930. Szilard succeeds in recreating the elixir, but it is stolen by Dallas Genoard, then moves around the city and makes the war between the mafia families worse. Unfortunately, others drink the elixir, mistaking it for alcohol, at a party. Finally, the Gandor punished Dallas for killing their members by cementing him to a barrel at the bottom of the Hudson River.

Then in late 1931, a transcontinental train, the Flying Pussyfoot, with a wide range of different intentions of passengers is taken off. After all which happened on the train, the survivors go their separate ways. As the old woman said, the passengers who were able to survive on that train must have been extremely lucky or not human.

Finally, in 1932 and following years, some of these people gained their goals and others failed, changed their goals or even died.

In sum, Baccano! has lots of surprises and lots of characters, seemingly unrelated to each other but in fact, there is a connection. There is humor, action, adventure, a bit of detective and horror in the scene of picking up people from the fateful ship, the clash scene between mafia gangs, the scene of asking to see Rachel's train ticket and much more. All brought the best mafia anime for people of all time.

Aired: Summer 2007

Produced by: Brain’s Base

Episodes: 13

Duration: 24 min/ep

MAL Rated: 8.36

Besides Baccano!, Durarara!!, also the Japanese light novel of Ryohgo Narita, is a good work built into one of the best anime series for the mafia. This 24-episode anime television series was broadcast from January to June 2010. And following are other seasons of Durarara!!.

Take a look at the synopsis of this anime. In the downtown district of Ikebukuro in Tokyo, Mikado Ryuugamine is a high school student, who has just moved to Ikebukuro at the invitation of his friend Kida Masaomi, the former leader of a famous mafia in the past Yellow Turbans. Mikado makes friends with Sonohara Anri - a quiet, bespectacled girl, but actually, she is the owner of the demon sword Saika, who is capable of commanding a powerful army scattered throughout the city. About Mikado, no one knows that he is the hidden leader of the Dollars mafia, Ikebukuro's most famous mafia. Despite their own secrets, they still trust each other and keep that beautiful friendship to the end.

Besides, Ikebukuro’s residents are not that straightforward, like The Black Rider, a headless motorcycle rider who has become the city's urban legend or Shizou, a waiter owning an incredible strength like Hercules. Each character is a separate story, each story is a piece in the picture of bustling life in Ikebukuro.

With chaos yet strangely logical, Durarara!! leads the viewer from one mystery to another, from one case to another, but there is no detective to solve it, the answer is gradually revealed through the movement of the lives of the figures.

Aired: Winter 2010

Produced by: Brain’s Base

Episodes: 24

Duration: 24 min/ep

MAL Rated: 8.11

Aired in 2007, Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha was awarded Best Original Anime of The Year by GoGoplex, a popular magazine for teens and one of the jury's recommendations in the "Animation Division/Long Animation” of the 2007 Japan Media Arts Festival. With its achievements, this anime deserves to be one of the best mafia anime of all time.

The story is set in a world ten years after Heaven's Gate appeared in South America and Hell's Gate appeared in Japan. The world changed drastically with an oppressive and ominous skyscape instead of a familiar night sky. The Contractors owning supernatural abilities appeared to handle these strange situations. In the Japanese city surrounding Hell’s Gate, while Hei, called “Black Reaper” in the underground world, and his associates undertake many different tasks for the mysterious and ruthless Syndicate, they also step by step demolish a nefarious plot that threatens the existence of Contractors. The wars silently erupted in the dark shadows.

About main characters of Darker than Black, they possess unique designs, styles and likeable personalities. Firstly, the couple Hei and Yin (a blind teenage doll who supports Hei’s Syndicate team) has a full backstory and development. Misaki Kirihara, Section 4 Chief, is a police officer in Tokyo who is investigating Contractors and is at odds with Hei. Another Contractor, Amber, is also known by the codename February. She is a former MI-6 agent and a member of the Syndicate; however, after Heaven’s War, she established the organization Evening Primrose to fight the Syndicate. Two other followers of Hei are Mao, a contractor who lost his original body and resided within the body of a black cat and Huang, a normal human and the leader of a cell of Syndicate operatives.

In short, Darker than Black features the genes of Action, Mystery, Drama, Sci-Fi, Shoujo, Super Power, and Supernatural. With its dramatic action scenes, exceptional sounds and brilliant art, you will not regret watching the series.

Aired: Spring 2007

Produced by: Bones

Episodes: 25

Duration: 24 min/ep

MAL Rated: 8.06

Based on the manga series of the same by Rei Hiroe, Black Lagoon is a Japanese anime television series produced by Madhouse and directed and written by Sunao Katabuchi. This anime has 2 main seasons: the first season was broadcast in Japan from April to June 2006 and the second season, called “The Second Barrage”, was also broadcast in the same year.

The anime follows the dramatic life of Rokurou Okajima, a 25-year-old Japanese employee of Ashahi Industrial Corporation. One day, he is assigned to bring a secret disk to deliver to a partner in Thailand. Unfortunately, he is taken hostage by Lagoon Company, a group of pirate mercenaries specializing in smuggling goods around the seas of Southeast Asia.

The Black Lagoon group was founded by Dutch, the leader, and has consisted of the main gunfighter, Revy and the mechanic, computer specialist, and researcher called Benny. They operate in the fictional town of Roanapur, Thailand, home to pirates, thieves and other criminal organizations, especially the Russian and Italian mafias, the Colombian cartel, the Chinese triad or the Japanese yakuza.

About the main character, after his manager refuses to pay his ransom and abandons him, Rokuarou decides to join the very crew who kidnapped him with the new name “Rock”.

It can be said that Black Lagoon is an action anime series reeking of gunpowder in the mafia city. With the fiery gunfights, fierce pursuits, and miraculous escapes that can only appear in movies, this anime won the Best Action 2006 and deserves to become one of the best mafia anime of all time.

Aired: Spring 2006

Produced by: Madhouse

Episodes: 12

Duration: 23 min/ep

MAL Rated: 8.03

The Japanese anime series Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom, which went on air in the spring of 2009, is animated by Bee Train and directed by Koichi Mashimo. Based on the video game Phantom of Inferno, the anime is successful in all aspects including story, characters, animation and sound. And then a manga adaptation of this anime was released in May of 2009 by Media Factory and Nitroplus.

The anime takes place in America and focuses on the underground mafia scene, particularly a West Coast organization known as Inferno. This is a mysterious mafia organization seeking to expand its influence by utilizing the top assassin, known as Phantom, in their company to take out anyone who may get in their way.

At the beginning of the series, Reiji, a young Japanese tourist visiting Los Angeles, witnesses Phantom's murder accidentally. To prevent his revelation, Phantom, a young woman called Ein (the number “one” in German) and the leader of the Inferno, Scythe Master, kidnapped and brainwashed Reiji. Then he is given a new name “Zwei” (the number “two” in German) and trained to become a second Phantom. As a tool of this mafia organization, he must fight to survive, try to regain his memories and leave this world.

An incredibly action-packed series with loads of gun-slinging and the meanings hidden in the story, Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom is really worth giving a watch. Especially, this show is recognized to be one of the best mafia anime of all time.

Aired: Spring 2009

Produced by: Bee Train

Episodes: 26

Duration: 24 min/ep

MAL Rated: 7.94

A fascinating Japanese anime television series, 91 Days is set in a fictional town called Lawless in America during the Prohibition era. At that time, mafia gangs held almost all power and the government became powerless. The quest for Angelo's dark, bloody path of revenge officially begins.

The film tells the story of the life of Angelo Laugusa – the son of a Vanetti Familia member. One day, he witnessed a tragedy: a gang purge in which the victims were his own family. He was the only one still alive and escaped from his hometown with a new identity, Avilio Bruno. For seven years, he has lived in hiding and constantly sought for news to plan revenge. Then his chance for revenge comes when he receives a mysterious letter prompting him to return to Lawless and take reprisal. And from now on, Angelo’s revenge begins by any means, any tricks.

About the main characters of 91 Days, the first one to mention is Angelo Laugusa. After the tragedy 7 years ago, Angelo became quiet and lived alone, but always had a desire for revenge. With a fake identity Avilio Bruno, he approaches enemies and implements his plan step by step. Vincent Vanetti known as the tycoon of the Vanetti mafia family is a really venomous snake. In contrast, his son Nero Vanetti is quite sociable and respectful of family members.

To sum up, with beautiful graphics, perfect music and the characters being voiced elaborately, 91 Days successfully recreates one of the darkest eras of American history and deserves one of the best mafia anime of all time.

Aired: Summer 2016

Produced by: Shuka

Episodes: 12

Duration: 24 min/ep

MAL Rated: 7.83

Based on the video game, Gungrave is a Japanese anime TV series created by Yasuhiro Nightow. An epic story of friendship, betrayal and avarice, the anime not only defines the real art and style of the mafia anime world but also defines what exactly an anime masterpiece is.

Gungrave starts with a scene that will happen in the following thirteen years. In an unknown city where organized crime and monsters rule, Brandon Heat (now called Beyond The Grave) is reborn through the use of necrolyzation and begins the revenge against the mafia organization Millenion he joined before.

Then the story comes back to the past when Bradon Heat was still a good friend of the same man who killed him, Harry MacDowel. At this time, they with their friends live a carefree life as outlaws, but drama ensues when all of their friends are murdered. On the run, the two accidentally joined Millennion, a notorious Mafia organization. From their lowlife street gang beginnings to their rise to power in the Organization, Brandon and Harry are always side by side. Then their close-knit relationship was destroyed by Millennion, the mafia organization that connected them. Ultimately, Brando was killed because he became caught up in his duty of protecting the organization and protecting his friend's dream.

Return to the present, Harry with technological advancements begins using monsters to govern the city, which is his initial dream. The mission of Beyond The Grave now is putting an end to the tyranny of Harry and his organization, Millennion. After all, the confrontation of the two best friends comes to an ending that carries a significant amount of emotional power.

Aired: Fall 2003

Produced by: Madhouse

Episodes: 26

Duration: 25 min/ep

MAL Rated: 7.83

Bungou Stray Dogs is a mafia anime adaptation of the manga of the same name released in 2012. In 2016, the first season of anime made by studio Bones aired on television and quickly received strong reception from audiences around the world. The anime then released part 2 in the fall of 2016, and part 3 in 2019. Up to now, the anime has a total of 5 seasons.

Bungou Stray Dogs, set in Yokohama, is quite familiar in Japanese detective anime because simply, this is a Detroit (the largest crime city in America), a Rio de Janeiro (a city specializing in robberies). in Brazil) of Japan. Behind the glory of a thriving city, lies a dark side of a society. A place full of human trafficking, arms dealing, collecting protection money from businesses and the most vicious of them is the Port Mafia.

The main character is Atsushi Nakajima, abruptly kicked out of the orphanage and left hungry, homeless, and wandering through the city. While standing on a river bank, he saved the life of a suicidal maniac, Dazai Osamu. He and his partner, Kunikida, are members of a special detective organization that has been investigating a strange tiger. It seems like there is some connection with Atsushi, and once everything is resolved, Atsushi is coerced into joining that supernatural investigation organization and takes on unusual cases the police cannot handle, alongside his numerous enigmatic co-workers.

Overall, Bungou Stray Dogs is an attractive detective anime with full of strong characters. Though the plot is a bit predictable, this film still captivates the viewer and is judged to be one of the best mafia anime of all time.

Aired: Spring 2016

Produced by: Bones

Episodes: 12

Duration: 23 min/ep

MAL Rated: 7.82

Released in 2015, Gangsta, also called “Gyangusuta” in Japanese, is a mafia anime about gangs, particularly the rivalries between four main families: The Corsica, Monroe, Cristiano, and Paulklee. They hold significant power over Ergastulum, the fictional city where the anime occurs. Gangsta has received many welcomes from those who like action, mystery and bloodshed of all time.

Nicolas Brown and Worrick Arcangelo are both referred to as the Handymen or mercenaries for hire who handle jobs no one else can take on. They collaborated with powerful criminal organizations as well as the police. They met and started working together when Worrick’s father hired Twilights as his bodyguard.

Due to a unique drug, Twilights, known as super-humans, were born with a marvelous fighting ability and were hunted down by a fierce underground organization. They havened and heightened their senses in Ergastalum, a city built to house Twilights.

Although they took longer to explain the plot, the first episodes of Gangsta would hook you in and make you want to finish it in one sitting. Let’s try the anime judged one of the best mafia those and enjoy the coming war.

Aired: Summer 2015

Produced by: Manglobe

Episodes: 12

Duration: 23 min/ep

MAL Rated: 7.41