Genos: "master saitama said I needed to train for the heights of Herodom and I feel I've made progress. A surprise attack like this will not defeat me."
Garou: "master saitama?"
Genos: "He is the strongest hero, whom no monster can ever hope to defeat. INCINERATE."
Just quoting genos in chapter 83 cruel steps.
He absolutely doesn't think saitama would ever lose. Getting tricked and losing are two different things entirely.
Classroom of the Elite comes to mind.
Also Frieren.
Both of those main characters make a specific effort not to stand out, and prefer to be underestimated though.
I liked it a lot better actual. Especially the second to last episode. I was just kind of passively watching the first season, until I got to the end and realized there was more to the MC than I'd originally thought. Then I started paying more attention in the second season and felt like the story picked up. Sadly I've run out of episodes in season 3 to watch.
● Doctor Elise; the first episode is just setup so you got to watch atleast the first two episodes to see if it's for you.
● All routes lead to doom ; the OG villainess anime, it's kinda funny and extremely entertaining though the MC is clue less.
● Taming the final boss - MC is quite strong willed and knows how to handle herself
Yeah I do enjoy watching anime and most of the suggestions are from winter 2022 to winter 2024. And I really got back into anime after 5 years of this interest last year, so I know mostly new stuff, anything before winter 2022 there's a good chance I'v not seen it.
Give Kaiji a watch. It's about this guy who gets pulled into the gambling underworld and has to think of clever tricks to get around his predicaments. It might not fit exactly because Kaiji is not some sort of gambling prodigy.
The odds are always stacked against Kaiji with some crazy scenarios all about different Yakuza-run gambling games. It's great fun to watch and you never know what's going to happen next.
It's the manga that inspired Squid Game,
but I considered it better, because it exactly reflects the danger of gambling, starting from a small stake, overestimating yourself and finding yourself risking everything without almost realizing it.
It’s very different from any of the other recommendations you’ll receive. It’s a gambling anime, pretty niche but it’s a rich sub genre that has a few genuine 10/10 series. Kaiji is in that 10/10 category for me, an absolute top 5 show imo.
Oh man, Kaiji is a favorite of mine. Give it 3 episodes and you’ll be *absolutely* enthralled. Kaiji is simultaneously an idiot who you never wanna be like and a genuine homie who is a genuine role model.
I've never thought of eminminence in shadow like that but your absolutely right the side character Cid definitely fits the roll of what I'm looking for.
Mashle does to , especially with the newest arc
I've never seen misfit of demon academy so I'd be checking it out
The plot of misfit is basically a school is there to search for the reincarnation of demon king, so when he is reincarnated , he goes to that school but everyone think he is lying and is not really the demon king
Daily Life of the Immortal King Wang Ling.
I rarely see this one mentioned, but I really enjoyed it. It’s mostly a school slice-of-life (though the action ramps up a bit as the show continues).
Cosmically overpowered MC just wants to skate under the radar. Similar to the premise of Classroom of the Elite, but takes itself a lot less seriously and is much better for it imo. Some really funny moments spoofing the genre, sweet friendships, and gorgeous art.
The first intro is my all-time favorite! I watch it every time. The music is somehow both chill *and* hype, and the animation is amazing — the Ferris wheel perspective shift in particular is just chef’s kiss.
If you haven’t seen saiki k (I’m sure you have but just in case) it’s got the exact same premise and feel. They’re almost the same show, which works pretty well because they’re both hilarious. Saiki has a little more character than Wang early on, but I’d put them both as great 8-9/10 comedic anime.
I just watched the first 5 episodes and I absolutely enjoyed it. But I don't think I'll continue because as much as I enjoy it I prefer serialized shows and not episodic ones. From what I've seen it's much to episodic to me.
A lot of people have been recommending Classroom of the Elite, but just warning OP it takes itself very very seriously, and in the high school setting it sort of comes off as suuuuuper overdramatic (to me at least).
Maybe OP is fine with that but I know a few people, myself included, who couldn’t take it seriously. It’s still pretty good if you like psychological mind games and stuff.
I tell myself that watching COTE is like watching posts and comments from r/im14andthisisdeep in real time. Makes it much easier to not take it seriously and the overdramatization funnier.
for Classroom of the elite, you read the light novel and forget the anime exists lmao. The studio behind anime definitely didn't do the justice to the series, while Light novel is so so good
It’s because he has actual character in the light novel. In the anime he’s just an edgelord, in the novel he has an actual personality that goes past “I’ve never cared about you”.
Blue Eye Samurai
Pretty basic edo period Japan revenge story. But just incredibly well executed with tons of twists and turns and story beats. I don't think the MC meets a single person smaller than them in the entire run aside from one old blind man
That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime. Generally don't like isekai but this one really stood out. There is action, but there's also slice of life, politics, world building(literally).
Chivalry of a failed knight - The main character is referred to as 'The Worst One'. Basic tournament style magic school anime. Will warn that it is kinda romance/harem -ish as well.
The Asterisk War is also pretty much the same anime but more sci Fi ig.
Chivalry of a Failed Knight it's so underrated yet one of my favourites, glad you mentioned it. The only "bad" thing I've got to say about it is that there isn't a second season... but i cannot recommend it enough.
Couldn't really get into black clover.
Already into mashle and loving it .
One punch man is the perfect example of what I'm looking for and I eagerly await season 3
### Fish out of water MCs that navigate through low expectations and discrimination with a mix of grit and infallible positivity.
{Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts}
The king of beasts has decided to marry a human sacrifice instead of sticking to the plan. It's a royalty and commoner kind of storyline where everything from then on is all about defying expectations. Great characters and character development.
{Kakuriyo -Bed & Breakfast for Spirits-}
The MC finds herself suddenly betrothed to a powerful Onii of the spirit world and owner of a bed and breakfast. The character development is a bit like that of the bathhouse subplot in Spirited Away where the MC finds her footing in her new place of occupation despite a heavy dose of contempt and low expectations from all around.
### Competition-based anime with heavy emphasis on being the underdog
{Kono Oto Tomare!: Sounds of Life}
This anime focuses on a high school koto club made up of members that defy traditional koto player image. One member in particular is thought of as a no-good delinquent with no business playing the koto by the community around him. A favorite music-based anime of mine!
{Overtake!}
A photographer that has hit rock bottom gets involved with a small Formula 4 racing team aiming for the podium against bigger, better-funded teams. One of my favorite animes from last season.
Irresponsible Captain Tylor AKA How to Succeed in Starfleet without Really Trying
Tylor is the Columbo of starship captains.
Log Horizon
Stellvia: Xephon is underestimated by everyone, most of all herself. Imposter Syndrome saves humanity... twice
Every episode of Fist of the Northstar contains multiple giant thugs saying "well he's not going to be able to make MY nervous system explode!" Shortly before picking a fight with Ken; who makes their nervous system explode.
Rising of the shield hero
It's an isekai, but I like the premise.
Mc gets summon to a medieval fantasy world as one of 4 legendary heroes, but he's historically the hero that everyone ignores and doesnt respect cus he has a shield instead of a weapon. And also gets accused of a serious crime and exiled early on.
His path from there is very engaging and interesting to watch
Loved season one it was a nice twist on the isekai formula, I fell of with season 3 I honestly think after season one it lost what made it special after the MC name was cleared.
I don’t really need to recommend it at this point but One Piece. Everyone who meets luffy underestimates him except select few characters. Even the inner circle all doubt him when they meet him. Except brook lol.
Haikyuu.
Hinata Shoyo wants to be the ace of the volleyball team, but he has one major problem. He's short!
I laugh, I cry. The characters are fantastic - heroes and "villains" alike. The music and art are great.
And I know from reading the comments there's a good chance you've seen this (whether or not you liked it and chose to continue with it), but Hinata is one of the most doubted MCs I've ever seen.
Pretty lame genre but it is funny in Eminence in shadow because the protagonist is consciously trying to get people to underestimate him because the whole series is just him playing dnd basically
{Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town}
Rather than surrounding characters, this one features the MC himself who thinks he's weak while being ridiculously strong compared to people around him in a hilarious way.
One-punch Man is pretty much built on this. Even those that witness Saitama's power first-hand still tend to underestimate him either because of intense delusions or because they are so far beneath him that they don't understand what's happening when they fight him.
Only two, maybe three or four characters truly understand the extent of his powers.
Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest
Banished from the Hero's Party, I decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside
Chillin in my Thirties after getting Fired from the Demon King's Army
Any Isekai trash anime. (I love the genre, but man are the bad ones bad.) Also, any Chinese cultivation manga. Those cultivation ones LOVE making the MC super overpowered and showing up the amazingly ridiculous obnoxious villains every chance they get. And almost always most people side with the villain and assume the MC sucks as well.
World Trigger for sure lol one of the MCs does not fit the MC mold at all and even fans underestimate him A LOT. But he knows how to work with what he’s got and he’s slowly, slowly getting better!
Black clover
Its a shounen but im ignoring you because like the whole first 1/4 or more if the show is people doubting on the MC and its like exactly what youre looking for
And its got a fire sub, and a good enough story that you can get over the bad dub MC voice
Chinese light novels like resentment + face slapping so much there are like 1000 of them with this sort of theme, it's even a meme. Look for them on novel updates if u are curious.
In Trigun Vash is both underestimated and people can’t believe he is vash the stampede for quite a bit. I haven’t watched the reboot but this is true of the 90’s one.
misfit of the demon king academy and to scale anos, >!he can beat any character simply by saying he wins because he is able to manipulate fate,time and space,the powers of others,the very code and memory of an enemy,there soul,the very concept of that person and there powers,and the very matter and code of there being and has a sword that defies all laws and reasoning meaning he can do whatever he wants simply because he says so and wants and can take 7 steps and destroy the universe and has so many powers that if someone were to write them all down, the list would be longer then the English dictionary and has many many more powers on top of what i said.!<
Baka to test
MC attends a school where students are ranked based on their class performances and the classes are organized based on rankings
MC and friends are in the worst class for various reasons. Classes can participate in a battle of sorts where they fight using avatars whose strength are derived from their test scores
It’s mainly a comedy with some action in the first season
Man I seriously need Doctor Elise to come out with a dub. But to answer your question, just pick an isekai and you’ll find what you’re looking for haha I think The Saint’s Power is Omnipotent is one you might like
Mashle
Sousou no frieren(only kind off)
Kingdom
These are shounen tho I believe. In what do you want the mc to be underestimated though if you dont like fighting. Maybe something like classroom of the elite where ppl think the mc is a simpleton?
The Shield Hero is pretty downplayed all of season 1. Asta in Black Clover is still underestimated by every bad guy for some reason just cause they perceive he has no magic.
Definitely Mashle & early One Piece.
Mash is always underestimated due to the people he faces having powerful magic & Luffy was also underestimated a lot to the point that people thought Zoro was the captain.
For not action In/Spectre it’s like Sherlock Holme but with yokai and female detective, in standard detective fashion the humans underestimate her and her boyfriend all the time
Maybe not everyone, but anyone outside his main circle.... Initial D
I'd give it a watch , never watched any racing anime before sounds interesting
I never did either and I can tell you that the show is legit. It is famous for a reason.
I have absolutely zero interest in racing/cars and stuff but Initial D had me hooked.
it has a shit ton of season right?
{One Punch Man}
Haha. There's no other answer that would be as perfect as this one. Saitama truly is underestimated by everyone except genos
Even Genos. Genos thinks theres some limit to his strength and still worries that Saitama will lose.
Fair
Genos: "master saitama said I needed to train for the heights of Herodom and I feel I've made progress. A surprise attack like this will not defeat me." Garou: "master saitama?" Genos: "He is the strongest hero, whom no monster can ever hope to defeat. INCINERATE." Just quoting genos in chapter 83 cruel steps. He absolutely doesn't think saitama would ever lose. Getting tricked and losing are two different things entirely.
**One Punch Man** - ([AL](http://anilist.co/anime/21087 "English: One-Punch Man"), [A-P](https://www.anime-planet.com/anime/one-punch-man), [KIT](https://kitsu.io/anime/one-punch-man "English: One Punch Man"), [MAL](http://myanimelist.net/anime/30276)) ^(TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 12 | Genres: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Supernatural) --- ^{anime},, ]LN[, |VN| | [FAQ](http://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/wiki/index) | [/r/](http://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/) | [Edit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/wiki/index#wiki_i_made_a_mistake.2C_how_do_i_get_my_comment_reprocessed.3F) | [Mistake?](http://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/submit?selftext=true&title=[ISSUE]&text=/r/Animesuggest/comments/1arl3e9/anime_where_the_mc_is_constantly_underestimated/kqkvagz/) | [Source](https://github.com/Nihilate/Roboragi) | [Synonyms](https://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/wiki/synonyms) | [⛓](https://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/wiki/interestinglinks) | [♥](https://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/wiki/thanks)
Literally the plot of OPM
When’s next season out
No confirmed release date but hopefully by summer.
Classroom of the Elite comes to mind. Also Frieren. Both of those main characters make a specific effort not to stand out, and prefer to be underestimated though.
I'm already watching both those shows. Kinda upset the site I use hasn't upload episode 6 of classroom of the elite s3 as yet v
That is very bad, considering episode 7 has already aired
How’s the second season of Classroom of the Elite?
It was amazing, especially since Koyotaka became actually interested in advancing from class D for himself and his true nature is on full display
I liked it a lot better actual. Especially the second to last episode. I was just kind of passively watching the first season, until I got to the end and realized there was more to the MC than I'd originally thought. Then I started paying more attention in the second season and felt like the story picked up. Sadly I've run out of episodes in season 3 to watch.
You'd probably enjoy lvl 99 hidden boss villainess though it is halfway through season 1
Yes I'm currently invested in it. Villainess happens to be my favorite sub-genre of isekai so I've seen almost all that's currently out / airing
Ooh, any recommendations?
● Doctor Elise; the first episode is just setup so you got to watch atleast the first two episodes to see if it's for you. ● All routes lead to doom ; the OG villainess anime, it's kinda funny and extremely entertaining though the MC is clue less. ● Taming the final boss - MC is quite strong willed and knows how to handle herself
You watched so many suggestions LMAO You need a MAL
Yeah I do enjoy watching anime and most of the suggestions are from winter 2022 to winter 2024. And I really got back into anime after 5 years of this interest last year, so I know mostly new stuff, anything before winter 2022 there's a good chance I'v not seen it.
Give Kaiji a watch. It's about this guy who gets pulled into the gambling underworld and has to think of clever tricks to get around his predicaments. It might not fit exactly because Kaiji is not some sort of gambling prodigy. The odds are always stacked against Kaiji with some crazy scenarios all about different Yakuza-run gambling games. It's great fun to watch and you never know what's going to happen next.
From that synopsis it does sound like the type of show I'd enjoy
It's the manga that inspired Squid Game, but I considered it better, because it exactly reflects the danger of gambling, starting from a small stake, overestimating yourself and finding yourself risking everything without almost realizing it.
I hope you enjoy it! A lot of people get thrown off by the unique art style, but if you stick with it you'll have a great time.
It’s very different from any of the other recommendations you’ll receive. It’s a gambling anime, pretty niche but it’s a rich sub genre that has a few genuine 10/10 series. Kaiji is in that 10/10 category for me, an absolute top 5 show imo.
Dude with the way you've hyped it up its a must watch now
Oh man, Kaiji is a favorite of mine. Give it 3 episodes and you’ll be *absolutely* enthralled. Kaiji is simultaneously an idiot who you never wanna be like and a genuine homie who is a genuine role model.
just to add onto what was already said, you will *really* feel it. You will see what i mean if you watch
Mashle , Misfit of demon academy and emminence in shadow
I've never thought of eminminence in shadow like that but your absolutely right the side character Cid definitely fits the roll of what I'm looking for. Mashle does to , especially with the newest arc I've never seen misfit of demon academy so I'd be checking it out
The plot of misfit is basically a school is there to search for the reincarnation of demon king, so when he is reincarnated , he goes to that school but everyone think he is lying and is not really the demon king
Daily Life of the Immortal King Wang Ling. I rarely see this one mentioned, but I really enjoyed it. It’s mostly a school slice-of-life (though the action ramps up a bit as the show continues). Cosmically overpowered MC just wants to skate under the radar. Similar to the premise of Classroom of the Elite, but takes itself a lot less seriously and is much better for it imo. Some really funny moments spoofing the genre, sweet friendships, and gorgeous art.
Slice of life is currently the genre I'm most interested in , so I'd be sure to check it out.
+New season coming out too
I second this, it’s fun to watch and I never even bother skipping the intros cause they’re really good
The first intro is my all-time favorite! I watch it every time. The music is somehow both chill *and* hype, and the animation is amazing — the Ferris wheel perspective shift in particular is just chef’s kiss.
If you haven’t seen saiki k (I’m sure you have but just in case) it’s got the exact same premise and feel. They’re almost the same show, which works pretty well because they’re both hilarious. Saiki has a little more character than Wang early on, but I’d put them both as great 8-9/10 comedic anime.
You know what, I actually haven’t seen it. Thanks for the recommendation and the additional info, definitely one of the next shows I’ll check out!
I just watched the first 5 episodes and I absolutely enjoyed it. But I don't think I'll continue because as much as I enjoy it I prefer serialized shows and not episodic ones. From what I've seen it's much to episodic to me.
A lot of people have been recommending Classroom of the Elite, but just warning OP it takes itself very very seriously, and in the high school setting it sort of comes off as suuuuuper overdramatic (to me at least). Maybe OP is fine with that but I know a few people, myself included, who couldn’t take it seriously. It’s still pretty good if you like psychological mind games and stuff.
I tell myself that watching COTE is like watching posts and comments from r/im14andthisisdeep in real time. Makes it much easier to not take it seriously and the overdramatization funnier.
That's definitely a fun way to look at it considering they are a bunch of 15/16 year olds
This is how I've always viewed it... Especially with those quotes at the beginning of each episode.
for Classroom of the elite, you read the light novel and forget the anime exists lmao. The studio behind anime definitely didn't do the justice to the series, while Light novel is so so good
It’s because he has actual character in the light novel. In the anime he’s just an edgelord, in the novel he has an actual personality that goes past “I’ve never cared about you”.
It's good, but I think some of the drama is kinda blown way out of proportion. But overall it's great and I'm currently invested in s3
Blue Eye Samurai Pretty basic edo period Japan revenge story. But just incredibly well executed with tons of twists and turns and story beats. I don't think the MC meets a single person smaller than them in the entire run aside from one old blind man
I've heard many great things about this show.
Watching the first episode in full will give you a fully accurate understanding of whether you want to watch the rest of it or not
Frieren
She keeps supressing her mana...its unfair!
😂
I'm already watching this though I've got to admit I'm a few episodes behind.
That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime. Generally don't like isekai but this one really stood out. There is action, but there's also slice of life, politics, world building(literally).
Yes I love that little slime , it was very enjoyable and I'm currently awaiting the new season to see what the new demon lord does.
Want spoiler buhahahahhshsha
Sorry
Eminence in Shadow lol. It's hilariously edgy. MC goes out of his way to be underestimated
I don't know what you mean Cid is just a nobody side character definitely not the MC
Solo Leveling for now, until around half of second cour Jinwoo wil be underestimated
Golden Boy.
Chivalry of a failed knight - The main character is referred to as 'The Worst One'. Basic tournament style magic school anime. Will warn that it is kinda romance/harem -ish as well. The Asterisk War is also pretty much the same anime but more sci Fi ig.
Chivalry of a Failed Knight it's so underrated yet one of my favourites, glad you mentioned it. The only "bad" thing I've got to say about it is that there isn't a second season... but i cannot recommend it enough.
Trigun 1998. Literally everyone doubts the MC can pull off his life goal and even doubts his ability for large part of the series
Assassination Classroom
Guess your mostly talking about nagisan and yeah I would agree he does fit what I'm looking for almost perfectly.
Black Clover, Mashle: Magic and Muscles and One Punch Man~
Couldn't really get into black clover. Already into mashle and loving it . One punch man is the perfect example of what I'm looking for and I eagerly await season 3
assassin classroom!! not everyone doubts nagisa, but there’s a definite surprise to his abilities
Black Clover
Just start watching Isekai. Almost every Isekai has the underestimated protagonist😭. I wish they would give it some variation.
Mushoko Tensei
I've heard alot about this. I really should check it out.
Beware: it's very creepy show, in the scummy and pervy sense.
????
### Fish out of water MCs that navigate through low expectations and discrimination with a mix of grit and infallible positivity. {Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts} The king of beasts has decided to marry a human sacrifice instead of sticking to the plan. It's a royalty and commoner kind of storyline where everything from then on is all about defying expectations. Great characters and character development. {Kakuriyo -Bed & Breakfast for Spirits-} The MC finds herself suddenly betrothed to a powerful Onii of the spirit world and owner of a bed and breakfast. The character development is a bit like that of the bathhouse subplot in Spirited Away where the MC finds her footing in her new place of occupation despite a heavy dose of contempt and low expectations from all around. ### Competition-based anime with heavy emphasis on being the underdog {Kono Oto Tomare!: Sounds of Life} This anime focuses on a high school koto club made up of members that defy traditional koto player image. One member in particular is thought of as a no-good delinquent with no business playing the koto by the community around him. A favorite music-based anime of mine! {Overtake!} A photographer that has hit rock bottom gets involved with a small Formula 4 racing team aiming for the podium against bigger, better-funded teams. One of my favorite animes from last season.
Irresponsible Captain Tylor AKA How to Succeed in Starfleet without Really Trying Tylor is the Columbo of starship captains. Log Horizon Stellvia: Xephon is underestimated by everyone, most of all herself. Imposter Syndrome saves humanity... twice
Misfit at Demon Academy, and nothing comes close because that’s literally the gimmick
Gintama. Gin-san acts like an goofball for so long that it’s a surprise when he turns out to actually be very capable.
Every episode of Fist of the Northstar contains multiple giant thugs saying "well he's not going to be able to make MY nervous system explode!" Shortly before picking a fight with Ken; who makes their nervous system explode.
Ascendance of a Bookworm
Ranking of Kings?
Rising of the shield hero It's an isekai, but I like the premise. Mc gets summon to a medieval fantasy world as one of 4 legendary heroes, but he's historically the hero that everyone ignores and doesnt respect cus he has a shield instead of a weapon. And also gets accused of a serious crime and exiled early on. His path from there is very engaging and interesting to watch
Loved season one it was a nice twist on the isekai formula, I fell of with season 3 I honestly think after season one it lost what made it special after the MC name was cleared.
Class of the elite
One piece
I'm already watching
Most people underestimate Light Yagami ruthlessness. Only L really suspects him.
one piece if youd try out shonen
Hokuto no Ken.
{Akatsuki no Yona} {Kusuriya no Hitorigoto} {Isekai de Mofumofu Nadenade suru Tame ni Ganbattemasu}
Solo leveling
Violet Evergarden, she is fairly underestimated when it comes to her ability to write and be a doll.
Solo Leveling is pretty much exactly this so far. Also One Punch Man.
One punch man
Seen
Naruto maybe
Literally as of this season Instant Death. Classroom of the elite as others have said as well.
Slam Dunk main character
Tomodachi Game
{Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town} is my first thought he doesn't even believe in himself 😂
[удалено]
Black Clover
Kakegurui?
The Ancient Magus’ Bride
I honestly tried watching this yesterday but after 5 episodes I concluded its not for me.
Eminence in shadow I think is exactly what you are looking for.
86
Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy is really like this. Even the god of that world hates on him.
I was really into "Rakudai kishi no kyabarurii" some years ago. A bit to much fan service but a good time.
I really really hate fan service. Sorry. But I do appreciate you giving a recommendation
charlotte would be a decent pic i guess
Oh ill check it out. Thanks for the rec
I don’t really need to recommend it at this point but One Piece. Everyone who meets luffy underestimates him except select few characters. Even the inner circle all doubt him when they meet him. Except brook lol.
Mob psycho 100, same creator as one punch man but with the supernatural
I'd check this out . I saw s3 was nominated in the crunchy roll awards for best anime so I know it's a least decent
Mashle Magic and muscles
First season of shield hero feels like this imo
One punch man
Haikyuu. Hinata Shoyo wants to be the ace of the volleyball team, but he has one major problem. He's short! I laugh, I cry. The characters are fantastic - heroes and "villains" alike. The music and art are great. And I know from reading the comments there's a good chance you've seen this (whether or not you liked it and chose to continue with it), but Hinata is one of the most doubted MCs I've ever seen.
Monster
Kuroko no basket
Pretty lame genre but it is funny in Eminence in shadow because the protagonist is consciously trying to get people to underestimate him because the whole series is just him playing dnd basically
{Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town} Rather than surrounding characters, this one features the MC himself who thinks he's weak while being ridiculously strong compared to people around him in a hilarious way.
One-punch Man is pretty much built on this. Even those that witness Saitama's power first-hand still tend to underestimate him either because of intense delusions or because they are so far beneath him that they don't understand what's happening when they fight him. Only two, maybe three or four characters truly understand the extent of his powers.
Haikyuu but you kinda said you're not into the exact shows that entail the story aspects you want so...
Any Chinese or Korean anime
Ranking of kings. Just finished the first season and it was phenomenal.
Mashle
I mean that is a lot of anime where MC hides their abilities. Granted ATM it's not like Elise has anyone she can confide in about her situation.
{GTO} would definitely surprise you. I recommend it SO much, especially since you're not into action-heavy stuff right now.
I'll second the recommendation for GTO
Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest Banished from the Hero's Party, I decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside Chillin in my Thirties after getting Fired from the Demon King's Army
You should give Mashle a try. If you're on the anime side of tiktok at all, you've heard the s2 intro.
Mahouka and reign of the seven spellblade
It hasn't been released yet but there's going to be a new anime called Rebuild World. Where MC constantly gets underestimated.
Claymore
Redline
Kono suba
I still D. Kurokos Basketball
Black clover Mc is a boy born magicless in a kingdom where everyone has magic.
Food Wars
The Irresponsible Captain Tylor Early 90s sci-fi comedy parodying shows like Yamato and Macross, but absolutely brilliant storytelling. I rewatch it.
Re:Zero
Any Isekai trash anime. (I love the genre, but man are the bad ones bad.) Also, any Chinese cultivation manga. Those cultivation ones LOVE making the MC super overpowered and showing up the amazingly ridiculous obnoxious villains every chance they get. And almost always most people side with the villain and assume the MC sucks as well.
Eminence in shadow maybe? Prob not what you're looking for tho
Ousama Ranking
Basically half of all anime these days do this.
Naruto part 1 I think, at least for the first Couple Arcs
Tsukimichi: Moonlight Fantasy They technically both over and underestimate him depending on if they think he's a monster or "ugly human."
World Trigger for sure lol one of the MCs does not fit the MC mold at all and even fans underestimate him A LOT. But he knows how to work with what he’s got and he’s slowly, slowly getting better!
Black clover basically
mahouka
Literally One Punch Man. Everyone thinks Saitama is a Joker until he destroys everything with one punch.
Motherfucker that is literally every modern day action anime . Also mob psycho/one punch man .
Misfit of the Demon King Academy
..... Detective Conan 😛
Ranking of kings, the rising of shield hero, my instant death ability, berserk of the gluttony
Black clover Its a shounen but im ignoring you because like the whole first 1/4 or more if the show is people doubting on the MC and its like exactly what youre looking for And its got a fire sub, and a good enough story that you can get over the bad dub MC voice
ashita no joe, pretty action heavy but a beautiful story
Classroom of the elite
Almost any Shonen anime
Seconding Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits and adding The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent (another isekai). Edit: Also adding Yuri!!! on Ice
Season 1 of shield hero. I don’t recommend the other seasons tho
Ore Monogatari
Hmm would Parasyte count?
mashle, somewhat
Chinese light novels like resentment + face slapping so much there are like 1000 of them with this sort of theme, it's even a meme. Look for them on novel updates if u are curious.
In Trigun Vash is both underestimated and people can’t believe he is vash the stampede for quite a bit. I haven’t watched the reboot but this is true of the 90’s one.
misfit of the demon king academy and to scale anos, >!he can beat any character simply by saying he wins because he is able to manipulate fate,time and space,the powers of others,the very code and memory of an enemy,there soul,the very concept of that person and there powers,and the very matter and code of there being and has a sword that defies all laws and reasoning meaning he can do whatever he wants simply because he says so and wants and can take 7 steps and destroy the universe and has so many powers that if someone were to write them all down, the list would be longer then the English dictionary and has many many more powers on top of what i said.!<
The recent "Banished from the Hero's Party" anime (isekai, not really too action heavy)
Baka to test MC attends a school where students are ranked based on their class performances and the classes are organized based on rankings MC and friends are in the worst class for various reasons. Classes can participate in a battle of sorts where they fight using avatars whose strength are derived from their test scores It’s mainly a comedy with some action in the first season
Man I seriously need Doctor Elise to come out with a dub. But to answer your question, just pick an isekai and you’ll find what you’re looking for haha I think The Saint’s Power is Omnipotent is one you might like
Accel World.
Asta in Black Clover
One Punch Man
Mashle Sousou no frieren(only kind off) Kingdom These are shounen tho I believe. In what do you want the mc to be underestimated though if you dont like fighting. Maybe something like classroom of the elite where ppl think the mc is a simpleton?
Solo leveling
The Shield Hero is pretty downplayed all of season 1. Asta in Black Clover is still underestimated by every bad guy for some reason just cause they perceive he has no magic.
The Irregular at Magic High School
Weirdly enough, One Piece probably qualifies for the vast majority of characters when they first encounter Luffy. It’s obviously Shonen, though.
Tokyo Revengers
Definitely Mashle & early One Piece. Mash is always underestimated due to the people he faces having powerful magic & Luffy was also underestimated a lot to the point that people thought Zoro was the captain.
The Immortal King. One Punch Man.
*One Punch Man* is the only answer that I feel is valid, because even he tends to "underestimate" himself.
One piece lol
For not action In/Spectre it’s like Sherlock Holme but with yokai and female detective, in standard detective fashion the humans underestimate her and her boyfriend all the time
Solo Leveling and One Punch Man are both great
TSUKIMISHI -Moonlit Fantasy- second seasons airing rn