10 painfully relatable anime about adulting and burnout
Let's face it, adulting is basically a full-time emotional rollercoaster. From the moment you step into the 'real world,' it's deadlines, dishes, existential dread, and the awkward dance of pretending to have it all together.
While anime usually clings to high school romances and magical powers, there's a whole subgenre that hits way closer to home. If you've ever cried in an office bathroom, questioned your life choices at 3 a.m., or just wanted to hit pause on everything, this list is for you. These are the most painfully relatable anime about adulting and burnout, shows that don't shy away from stress, isolation, creative ruts, and everything in between.
These 10 anime get the adulting struggle way too well
Welcome to the NHK
Source: IMDB
This isn't just anime, it's a breakdown in motion. Satou, a college dropout turned shut-in, spirals through paranoia, loneliness, and depression. It's messy, raw, and scarily accurate for anyone who's ever felt stuck in a cycle of self-sabotage and social withdrawal.
Aggretsuko
Source: IMDB
A red panda who silently suffers through her office job, incompetent bosses, and annoying coworkers, only to unleash death metal karaoke at night.
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Aggretsuko is the ultimate millennial burnout anime, and yes, it's way too relatable.
Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu
Source: IMDB
A story about aging, artistry, regret, and legacy. Through the world of traditional Japanese storytelling, this show explores adult friendships, creative passion, and the slow realisation that life rarely goes as planned.
Hataraki Man
Source: IMDB
She's a workaholic journalist trying to balance ambition, fatigue, and society's expectations. This anime digs into gender roles at work, career anxiety, and that ever-familiar question: 'Am I losing myself to my job?'
The Great Passage
Source: IMDB
What's it like to work on a dictionary for years? Surprisingly emotional.
This anime captures the quiet satisfaction of meaningful work, the social awkwardness of office life, and the slow beauty of growing into your purpose.
March Comes in Like a Lion
Source: IMDB
Technically about a teenage pro shogi player, but it feels like adult life. Rei deals with burnout, grief, social anxiety, and the numbness of overworking. It's quiet, beautiful, and cuts deep, especially if you've ever struggled to function while pretending you're fine.
My Senpai is Annoying
Source: IMDB
Yes, it's a workplace rom-com but it's also a slice-of-life look at early adult jobs, new responsibilities, and annoying office dynamics. It's light, relatable, and full of that 'I just want to go home and sleep' energy.
Ojisan in Another World (Uncle From Another World)
Source: IMDB
You think growing up is tough? Try waking up from a coma, realising you're middle-aged, and also a failed isekai hero. This anime hilariously roasts adulthood, nostalgia, and how quickly dreams die in the real world.
Salaryman's Club
Source: IMDB
Who knew adult badminton could be this intense? This anime blends sports with real-world adulting, deadlines, performance anxiety, messy coworkers, and balancing health with hustle. Bonus: no teen angst, just tired grown men.
Rinshi!! Ekoda-chan
Source: Cunchyroll
This underrated gem follows a single woman in Tokyo, working odd jobs and navigating dating, independence, and loneliness. It's brutally honest and stylistically weird but if you've ever lived alone in your 20s or 30s, it'll hit home hard.
Anime doesn't always have to be escapist fantasy. Sometimes, the most powerful stories are the ones that reflect our real struggles, burnout, identity crises, failed careers, or just feeling stuck. These anime about adulting and burnout offer catharsis, validation, and maybe even some inspiration… between breakdowns.
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