The best anime and manga sets set in prison

The great thing about anime and manga is that you can have any story and any kind of setting. Whether it's an otherworldly location, a distant planet, or a futuristic city, the sky's the limit and even more mundane stories can take place under extraordinary circumstances.

One of the unique settings in anime and manga is prison. Especially in prison because most of the characters become criminals. While most stories avoid these kinds of settings, darker series take the opportunity to explore such grim settings, and some even do so comically.

Updated on October 7, 2024 by Mark Sammut. This article has been updated with specs for each show and two new specs. prison animation. That means the series only features prison for brief but important episodes.

9 dead leaves

MAL score: 7.21

Two amnesiacs, Retro and Pandy, wake up naked in a dystopian Earth. As they continue their crime spree, they are arrested and sent to Dead Leaves, a moon prison. There, they face bizarre treatment under the Galactica warden, and soon discover that there is more to the prison than meets the eye.

dead leaves This is a bizarre film produced by Hiroyuki Imaishi, founder of Studio Trigger and producer of the popular show. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann and Kill la Kill. The film has a similarly bizarre and offbeat feel, so even people who aren't necessarily fans of his other work may like it. Nonetheless, fans of unconventional animation will enjoy what this film has to offer.

8 Cross Ange

MAL Score: 7.39 (Animation)

Angelise Ikaruga Mitsurugi has always believed that it would be better to exterminate the Norma, the people who cannot use Mana, a world-changing technology. However, when she turns 16, she is revealed to be Norma and is banished to Argentina, where Norma must battle interdimensional beasts known only as dragons. Now a Norma soldier, Ange must figure out her own identity as she fights to survive in her new role.

Cross Ange is a science fiction mecha series produced by Sunrise, better known as its creator. Gundam. while Cross Ange is a show that is quite different from its respective franchises, but contains enough similar elements that fans of mecha anime will enjoy this particular series.

Cross Ange
It was adapted into a manga by Kenjiro Takeshita.

7 One Piece (Impel Down Arc)

A hilarious prison break that serves as a precursor to a major war.

In the grand scheme of things, Impel Down is only a very small part. one pieceConsists of fewer than 30 episodes; But it's longer than almost anything else prison animationSo the arc is worth mentioning regardless. With Ace's execution imminent, Luffy plans a prison break by sneaking into Impel Down with the help of Boa Hancock, and the operation goes sideways pretty quickly, with far-reaching ramifications.

Impel Down feels like a footnote in the broader run of comics and animation, but it's nonetheless fantastic, offering a unique setting, a great antagonist for Magellan, and a quick pace by adaptation standards. Impel Down as a prison is also interesting. Each level has its own new Hell.

6 Nanbaka

MAL Score: 7.33 (Animation)

Namba Prison, the most feared prison in the world, is home to four men who were sent there due to constant escapes from other prisons. There's escape expert Jugo, gambling addict Uno, giant monster Rock, and otaku Nico. The four men live their lives together in prison under the watchful eye of various guards.

Nanbaka It is a slice-of-life comedy animation with a core cast centered around a handsome young man with the goal of capturing the hearts of female audiences. Despite its comedic core, the series has its dramatic moments and it's not just about silly gags.

5 Kaiji: It's against all the rules.

MyAnimeList: 8.24(animation); 8.40 (cartoon)

It can be argued that all of them are as follows. Kaiji It revolves around the protagonist trying to escape from a financial prison. If that wasn't enough, Season 2 takes place specifically in captivity. Along with numerous other debtors, Kaiji found himself having to work in an underground hell to pay off the Teiai Group, which kept him trapped for many years. His only hope is to escape temporarily to the outside world and then earn enough money to gain proper freedom. Both ambitions are highly unlikely to happen.

Kaiji is a gambling story at its finest, and the anime will culminate in the first eight or so episodes of Season 2, set in the dungeons of the Teai Group. Here, Kaiji is drawn into a game designed to maintain power over some of the prisoners, forcing him to act much more proactively than usual. While the rest of the season takes place outside of prison, Kaiji is constantly fighting to ensure he never has to be tortured again.

4 prison school

MAL score: 7.49 (cartoon), 7.60 (animation)

Hachimitsu Academy, once an elite all-girls academy, has decided to admit male students for the first time. Kiyoshi Fujino is one of several boys who eventually enrolls in the school, but they soon discover that the school has a harsh punishment system that forces misbehaving students to be locked up in the school prison. If any boys are caught peeking into the girls' bathhouse, they are imprisoned for a month or deported.

prison school is a strange comedy cartoon that features a huge amount of fan service. The characters find themselves in all sorts of bizarre and salacious situations, and there's a lot of indirect cringe-making, but viewers who can look past it will be in for an incredibly entertaining experience.

3 Deadman Wonderland

MAL score: 7.94 (cartoon), 7.14 (animation)

Ganta Igarashi was an ordinary high school student until a masked man appeared and massacred his entire class. Accused of murder, Ganta is sent to Deadman Wonderland, a privately owned prison that also functions as a theme park. Faced with disgusting shows and contests taking place within the prison, Ganta struggles to survive in prison while discovering who the Red Man is who killed his classmates.

Deadman Wonderland It is a thriller series that combines elements of horror, action, and mystery. Those who like edgier stories and death games will definitely enjoy this series, while fans of more straightforward shonen action series will also have a good time.

Deadman Wonderland
The manga is much better than the anime. Because the anime only has one season.

2 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean

MAL score: 8.25 (manga), 8.08 (animation season 1)

Jolyne Cujoh realizes she has been found guilty of murder and sentenced to 15 years in Green Dolphin Street Prison. Disappointed with her fate, Jolyne soon discovers that her father's gift has given her the power to summon mysterious spirits known as Stands. Jolyne initially uses her powers to survive in prison, but she soon discovers that there is much more to prison than meets the eye.

stone ocean This is the sixth part of the long run jojo's bizarre adventure series and the most recent series to be animated. This anime is said to be the first to feature a female protagonist and is also home to one of the most bizarre stands in the series. Although the adaptation received some criticism, stone ocean It's still considered a high score, and much of its success depends on the setting.

1 rainbow

MAL Score: 8.48 (Cartoon), Animation: 8.46 (Animation)

In the chaos of post-war Japan, six boys are sent to the Shonan Special Correctional Center after committing various crimes. They end up in a cell with Rokurota Sakuragi, and they quickly form a bond and become as close as brothers. Caught up in the corruption of the Wardens and the cruelty of the outside world, the boys promise to go out and make a name for themselves.

rainbow is a coming-of-age historical drama set in Japan in the 50s and 60s. The stories of the seven boys of the Shonan Reformation Center range from heartbreaking to inspiring, and it is a joy to watch them grow from boys to men. Among prison animations, rainbow It's by far the most uncomfortable and features one of the most loathsome villains in animation.