[Top 25] Most Popular Anime Of All Time

Updated:

18 Feb 2021

Top 25 Most Popular Anime Of All Time

25. Soul Eater

In the state of Nevada resides a fictional city called Death City, and in it is the infamous Death Weapon Meister Academy. The academy is run by Shinigami, more commonly known as Death, and these Shinigami have the job of training humans who have the ability to turn into weapons. Along with these humans are their wielders, more commonly known as Meisters, and the Shinigami train then as well.

Maka Albarn and her scythe partner, Soul Eater, are our primary protagonists. Along with them as supporting characters are assassin Black Star and his multi ninja weapon Tsubaki, and Shinigami’s son, Death the Kid, and his pistol partners Liz and Patty Thompson. Everyone at the academy has one goal, and that is to have their weapons absorb ninety-nine evil humans and one witch, turning their weapons into super weapons that will be used by the Shinigami.

Maka and Soul find themselves against the witch Medusa, but she is more powerful than she seems, and she and her cohorts end up reviving a powerful evil being named Asura before a teacher of the school, Franken Stein, defeats her. However, the damage has been done, and Asura is now causing chaos just about everywhere. It becomes the mission of Maka, Soul, and the others to stop Asura before the world as they know it is destroyed.

Soul Eater was released in 2008, and it was met with strong reception. People liked it. They called it stylish, fun and loved the references to classic horror media. Critics praised the unique relationship between the weapons and their Meisters and called the anime visually imaginative. However, people criticized the amount of fan service it has, and some call the characters bland and the plot contrived. Others say that the humor itself hasn’t aged well since its original release almost thirteen years ago, and argue that it can be offensive. However, whichever way you look at it, Soul Eater will go down as one of the most popular anime of all time.

What We Love About Soul Eater

Soul Eater has a great sense of humor, the comedy never running dry in any sense of the word. Each conversation is dynamic, entertaining, and an absolute delight in terms of how the characters interact.
The fights are well written, choreographed to perfection, and exciting to watch. Nothing about the fighting in Soul Eater is typical or predictable, and you’ll always be on the edge of your seat in terms of finding the winner.
The voice acting is stellar, and pairs extremely well with the animation, the character interactions, and every part of their stories as a whole. It’s one of the better dubs out of the popular anime list, and enjoying it is something many people recommend.

24. Citrus

Yuzu Aihara, a fashionable, fun teen from the city has recently moved to a new neighborhood and a new school, as her mother had just gotten remarried to a man Yuzu has never met. Yuzu, someone very outgoing and individualistic, has trouble fitting in at her stern and strict all-girls boarding school. In fact, on the very first day, her clothes, makeup, and phone are described as breaking the dress code, and she is penalized. Her phone is even confiscated by the student council president, a girl named Mei Aihara who is Yuzu’s complete opposite in every way.

Needless to say, they get off to a less than pleasant start. But what they don’t know is that they are now stepsisters, as Yuzu’s mother married Mei’s father. Yuzu is horrified and Mei is practically indifferent, and hijinks commence from there. However, Yuzu is developing some strange emotions towards her new sister, and it turns out that she’s developing romantic feelings for her. The animosity between them slowly lessens as Yuzu explores her feelings, and Mei begins to come around to the fact that she might feel the same way.

Citrus was met with thunderous success, and as a manga first, it even hit the New York Times Bestseller List. It’s described as having emotionally interesting and unique characters, contrasting personalities, and the animation is beautiful. Some have criticized it for certain non-consensual moments, but many have enjoyed the unlikely romance for years, describing it as a unique tale like no other.

What We Love About Citrus

Citrus itself was always a bit controversial with its deviation from heterosexual romance, but that’s what makes it great. People in the LGBTQ + community who may have been searching for an anime they could better relate to having finally found one they might like.
Citrus is based on a manga, and the adaptation was done extremely well. Any fans of the manga itself are definitely recommended to check it out as an anime.
The relationship between Mei and Yuzu isn’t the healthiest, but that’s the point, and the anime acknowledges this instead of simply pretending like some of the things Mei does aren’t totally out of line. It acknowledges those issues, and that’s definitely key.

23. Hetalia

Hetalia is an over-the-top allegory of nations across the world, as well as historical and political events. The series primarily focuses on the Axis Powers and the other major allies of World War II. The main storyline takes place during the war, but many events take place during unrelated historical events, modern holidays, or at literally any random time with no specific plot direction.

The series itself utilizes satire and comedy to portray historical events, as well as some cultural trivia. Any historical, political, economic, or military interactions between countries are often portrayed as the characters fighting or generally disagreeing with each other on a particular matter. In general, it’s incredibly funny and an interesting play on history.

Hetalia itself walks a fine line between being offensive and being funny, and Hetalia manages to fall on the more positive end of the spectrum. People find it hilarious, and reviewers in Britain find Japan’s portrayal of England absolutely hilarious. Hetalia will forever go down as an incredibly comedic portrayal of history.

What We Love About Hetalia

The concept. What an interesting way to learn about the history and completely laugh at it. It’s a very creative and unique idea, and totally worth all of the laughs that it brings to the table. History is made very comedic here.
The character designs match perfectly with their specified country, and it’s absolutely hilarious. The stereotypes played into Hetalia are funny, not offensive, and that was a tricky thing to do. But it was pulled off and pulled off very well in fact.
Despite having a history to go off of, everything about the world-building still feels very unique and original in terms of setup. Hetalia doesn’t feel redone or rehashed and instead feels like an interesting comedy in a world where things have started to feel a little too similar. Hetalia definitely stands out from the crowd.

22. Assassination Classroom

Earth is put in immense danger when a tentacled alien arrives from outer space, destroying 70% of the moon before he lands. He announces that in approximately one year, he will destroy the entire planet. However, there is a way out. In class 3E, the End Class of Kunugigaoka Junior High School, he teaches the children not math or science, but in the ways of deadly assassination. If someone, namely one of his students, can kill him by the end of the year, the planet will be saved. The Japanese government even offers the successful student a 10 billion yen reward if he is officially dead.

However, killing the alien the class calls “Koro-Sensei” is much easier said than done. Not only does he have superpowers, but he can also fly at Mach 20, regenerate his body if it is destroyed, and apply visual cloning. Worse still, he’s actually a good teacher. The year seems to move by almost too fast, and things are looking rough for the students.

Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, that’s exactly what happens. Other assassins outside of the school have heard about the reward, and now they want to kill the alien as well, some holding personal grudges. As the series goes on, the students learn the real reason why Koro-Sensei must be killed, and Nagisa Shiota, who has been making a list of Koro-Sensei’s weaknesses, turns out to be instrumental in his demise.

Assassination Classroom became critically acclaimed, viewers enjoying it and critics praising it for its sleek animation, great battle scenes, and entertaining dialogue. Its manga predecessor won several awards, and people comment on how they love how creative the art style is. While some argue that the children have no real characteristics and Koro-Sensei is the only entertaining part of the show, Assassination Classroom will always be widely renowned.

What We Love About Assassination Classroom

The idea of an alien invasion leading to a similar situation such as Danganronpa is a much more interesting and creative way to go than just being stuck in a post-apocalyptic universe with a private school. In general, the concept is better and more unique.
Koro-Sensei and Monokuma could easily go to war with each other and it would be amazing. And overall, Koro-Sensei could be considered a better villain than Monokuma. Definitely a better teacher.
There are more characters than in Danganronpa, and that slightly works in its favor. It makes the universe a little easier to understand, and even creates a better opportunity for character interactions.

21. Hunter x Hunter

Hunters are licensed, elite, and powerful members of society who can track down secret treasures, rare beasts, and even other people. They can even access certain parts of the world that other people who aren’t Hunters cannot. In order to become a Hunter, a person must pass the annual Hunter Examination, an examination with a success rate of less than one in a hundred thousand. Needless to say, the Hunter examination in itself is not for the faint of heart.

Gon Freecss, a young boy who was told his parents were dead, has discovered that his father is still alive and is actually an acclaimed Hunter. In a desire to find his father, Gon decides to take the Hunter Examination and become a Hunter as well. Along the way he travels with Kurapika, another young boy, Leorio, a physician, and Killua, a young boy who is an assassin.

Along the way there is betrayal, death, departure, and many, many battles. People will do anything to become Hunters, and it shows in positive and negative ways. However, despite the hardships, Gon refuses to give up his dream, and this proves to be one of his greatest personal strengths in the end.

Hunter x Hunter has been praised as being fun, well developed, clever, and entertaining. Each of the characters are generally viewed as endearing and complex, things that already make a great show. It even has humor among all of the seriousness, and it can be a nice relief from the dark themes it sometimes portrays. While Hunter x Hunter is often criticized for having several similarities to Pokémon and for having a pedophilic character, it will always remain incredibly popular.

What We Love About Hunter x Hunter

The characters are definitely one of the show’s strongest points. Even the horrible ones are well developed, well portrayed, and generally, voice acted to perfection. Their designs are exceptional, and they’re unlike any other animated characters out there.
The world itself is very well done. The story is complex, nothing feels contrived, and the story manages to be quite endearing once you get used to the characters and their slightly over-exaggerated personalities.
The plot itself moves pretty quickly, for the most part. The beginning may feel slow, but the rest is well done, and the story feels authentic in every way as if it was written with emotions and its audience in mind. Hunter x Hunter is a genius at this and does it very well.

20. Sword Art Online

In 2022, a virtual reality online multiplayer RPG called Sword Art Online is released to the public. With NerveGear, a helmet that stimulates the user’s five senses via their mind, players experience and control their in-game characters with their minds. Both of these things were created by the game maker Akihiko Kayaba. On November 6th, 10,000 players log into the mainframe only to find out that they can’t log back out.

Kayaba appears to the players and tells them that they must beat all one hundred floors of Aincrad, the steel castle world the game is in, in order to escape. He also informs them that if they die in the game, they die in the real world as well. One of the players, Kazuto “Kirito” Kirigaya, was a tester in the game's beta and chooses to isolate himself from the rest of the players so that he can win on his own.

However, he meets a girl named Asuna Yuuki who he allies himself with and later marries in-game. After they discover the identity of Kayaba, who was the leader of the guild Asuna was in, they confront him and destroy him, freeing everyone in the game. More crazy shenanigans take place once everyone is back in the real world, but in the end, things turn out positive.

Sword Art Online is constantly praised for its beautiful graphics, visuals, and character designs. It was truly ahead of many anime in terms of the way it looks, and people appreciate it for that most definitely. While its story has been accused of being lacking and the characters a little bland, Sword Art Online will always be remembered as the anime that spawned many like it.

What We Love About Sword Art Online

The animation is beautiful, no question. Out of any of the anime on this list, Sword Art Online is the most impressive in terms of animation and overall design. It’s gorgeous, and no one can deny it.
The premise itself is unique and interesting. There are several anime where characters get stuck in video games and are forced to adapt to the world, but Sword Art Online does it better than most. It’s interesting and intriguing on several levels.
The character designs are lovely, and the voice acting is stellar. Sword Art Online is an all-star in every way, and its popularity among the community is proof of that. It’s sleek and artistic, and very well done on a technicality stance.

19. My Hero Academia

In the world of My Hero Academia, the majority of the human population has gained the ability to develop superpowers called “Quirks,” which appear in children around the age of four. It is estimated that around 80% of human existence has a Quirk, and those who have Quirks usually end up becoming Heroes, people who work to defeat the Villains who choose to use their Quirks for evil.

Izuku Midoriya has dreams of becoming a Hero even though he doesn’t have a Quirk, and was bullied by his best friend, Katsuki Bakugo, for not having one. Both of them look up to one of the world’s greatest Heroes, All Might, who they both met and who Izuku knows of a critical injury done to him.

All Might also reveals how, exactly, his Quirk, “All For One,” works. He then gives it to Izuku to succeed him, as his bravery in the face of danger proves him worthy. As he continues as a Hero at high school, he faces nemeses, danger, and many Villains along his path to protecting humanity.

My Hero Academia is extremely popular, and it has a fun concept, endearing characters, and great animation and designs. The internet loves to meme on it, but enjoys it for its story as well. While its accused of being highly overrated, that doesn’t stop it from being a great anime.

What We Love About My Hero Academia

The premise itself is unique and new compared to other anime that focus on superpowers among humans. Izuku is your typical underdog, but the way the show has him interact with his powers sets him apart from other protagonists like him.
My Hero Academia has an all-star acting cast, and that works well in terms of its popularity. The voices are talented, well trained, and they give expert expression to characters with complicated and intertwined personalities.
The fighting is one of the best parts. The battles don’t feel long or drawn out, and they’re very interactive and keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. The action is entertaining to the point where you can’t take your eyes off of it.

18. Fullmetal Alchemist

Fullmetal Alchemist takes place in the fictional world of Amestris, where alchemy is one of the most commonly practiced sciences. Alchemists who work for the government are called State Alchemists and are given the title of Major in the military. Alchemists can create anything they desire, but when they do so, they have to give something of equal value in accordance with the Law of Equivalent Exchange. The only things they are forbidden from creating are gold and humans, and those who attempt to create humans often lose a body part and the result is a horrific, inhuman creature.

Edward and Alphonse Elric live in the city of Resembool with their mother Trisha and their father Van Hohenheim, who left. After Trisha died of illness and the Elric brothers finished their alchemist training, they tried to bring their mother back using alchemy. This ended horrifically, with Edward losing his left leg and Alphonse losing his body.

After Edward sacrifices his right arm to bring back Alphonse’s soul, binding it to a suit of armor, the brothers search for the Philosopher’s Stone to restore Alphonse. However, they aren’t the only ones looking for it, and they face many obstacles along the way.

Fullmetal Alchemist is incredibly critically acclaimed, with a 9.1/10 on IMDB and a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The animation is beautiful, the story complex, and the characters well developed. There isn’t much to say in terms of criticism, as Fullmetal Alchemist has proved itself a giant among many.

What We Love About Fullmetal Alchemist

The emotion behind the intense story is something that the show has going for it. Relationships are portrayed as not just a thing, but as the only thing, and it’s one of the few anime that does that and does it successfully. It dregs up feelings and beautiful moments, and it’s worth a watch.
Fullmetal Alchemist is surprisingly dark, but it’s subtle enough to come across surprisingly well. It’s darkness and depth set it apart from the other fantasy anime it competes against, and it works perfectly in every way.
The characters are extremely well developed and intricate, and Edward especially embraces his flaws and everything about the world he lived in and nearly destroyed. The relationships are fun, endearing, and everything about them is particularly heartwarming.

17. Fruits Basket

Tohru Honda’s life is turned upside down when her mother dies in a car accident and she is sent to live with her grandfather, all in the middle of her high school years. Her grandfather’s house is currently being renovated, and with unsupportive family members denying Tohru a place to stay, she chooses to live in a tent in the woods. On a seemingly normal day, however, she stumbles upon a house in the middle of the woods. This house belongs to her popular classmate Yuki Soma and his cousin Shigure, a surprising discovery. This discovery turns out to be a good one, as Tohru’s tent was destroyed by a landslide and she needs a place to stay. Shigure invites her to reside in the Soma house for a while, and here our story begins.

On her first day living in the house, she is introduced to Yuki’s fiery brother Kyo, who immediately challenges Yuki to a fight out of nowhere. Tohru, attempting to make peace, tries to stop the fight when Kyo crashes into her, suddenly transforming into a cat. Tohru then finds out that the Soma family, excluding Kyo, is cursed with the ability to transform into one of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals. This happens whenever they are weak, stressed, embarrassed, or when hugged by the opposite gender like Tohru did to Kyo.

As long as Tohru promises not to tell anyone the truth, she can continue to live with them, and she vows to stay quiet. The curse is much darker than Tohru initially realizes, but her presence in the household is having a positive influence on everyone who lives there. Over time, Tohru makes it her goal to break the curse, confronting Akito, who keeps the family chained to the zodiac, in the hopes that she might free them.

Fruits Basket is adorable if nothing else, and many viewers agree. Both its original manga and anime have received several awards, and the storyline is praised for being intellectual and moving. The art style is described as sophisticated, sleek, and the animals are very cute. While critics come down on the portrayal of parents and the angst factor in some areas, that didn’t stop Fruits Basket from becoming a huge success around the world.

What We Love About Fruits Basket

The story about the Zodiac animals, especially in personifying them, is one of the most creative choices in anime to date. Pairing this with the romantic aspect of one of the zodiac animals falling in love with a human makes the story even more interesting and engaging.
The romance feels very authentic and real as if the characters were written with true passion. The relationships themselves are generally very healthy, and those that aren’t being dealt with appropriately.
The 2019 rendition of Fruit Baskets is absolutely beautiful in terms of design, animation, and character movement. It’s a real masterpiece.

16. Yuri On Ice

After a staggering defeat in the Grand Prix Final among other losses, Japanese figure skater Yuri Katsuki decides to put his career on hold and return to his hometown of Hasetsu in Kyushu. When he arrives, he visits his childhood friend, Yuko, at the local ice rink, and mimics an advanced routine performed by his idol Victor Nikiforov. When someone secretly records the routine and Victor sees it, he travels to Kyushu to train Yuri and revive his career.

After learning about Victor's career decision, Yuri Plisetsky, a rising 15-year-old Russian prodigy skater, travels to Hasetsu to make Victor keep a promise made prior to the beginning of the series. Victor had promised he would choreograph a routine specifically for Yuri P. if he won the Junior World Championships, which Yuri P. presumably did. Victor, having forgotten about his promise to Yuri P., makes the two Yuris compete against each other to decide who he will coach. He chooses two songs for the skaters, both with the same melody but with a different meaning.

Yuri K. wins the competition and vows to win the Grand Prix. Over the course of the Grand Prix, Yuri K. and Victor become increasingly close, with the two of them kissing in public. and with Yuri K. buying them both gold rings in Barcelona, which leads to remarks by Victor about them being engaged.

On the eve of the final, Yuri K. plans to quit skating so that Victor can return to the sport and tells Victor of his decision, but Victor tearfully rejects the idea, and they agree to choose their paths after the tournament has finished. The tournament ends with Yuri P. winning the gold medal and Yuri K. winning silver.

Critics, audiences, and even professional figure skaters praised the show for its genius and well-written story. Even pole dancers gave the show credit for its accuracy based on one pole dancing scene. Everyone praised the show for not stereotyping professional athletes, and while there was controversy around the same-sex relationship between Victor and Yuri, the show had stood its ground as one of the best.

What We Love About Yuri On Ice

The show has a sports competitive atmosphere but every now and then, the audience will definitely notice the character relationships. It’s very human and can be fierce at times.
The way it capitalizes on the competition, characters, visual dynamics, themes, and directing is genius. The pacing works out quite well as it doesn’t waste much time getting to the point.
Comedy is straightforward and although can get rather awkward at times, it still effectively delivers with character chemistry and reaction faces. Overall the show is incredibly well done in and of itself.

15. Black Butler

In Victorian-era London resides thirteen-year-old Earl Ciel Phantomhive, who earned his position after his tenth birthday on December 14th, 1885, when the manor was attacked by unknown perpetrators and burnt to the ground with his family and his dog. He is later kidnapped by the same people, sold into slavery, and ends up becoming part of a demon-worshipping cult.

One night, during a sacrificial ceremony, to summon a demon, instead of forming a contract with the cult members, the demon states that he was summoned by Ciel, therefore he only agrees to form a contract with him, killing all the cultist members in the process. After the formation of the contract, the demon reveals he will consume Ciel's soul as payment for helping him achieve his goal; revenge on those who brought down the House of Phantomhive. Afterward, Ciel names the demon Sebastian Michaelis, after his deceased pet dog. The duo then returns to society as Ciel takes over his now late father's previous position as the queen's watchdog, a very high-profile individual who is tasked with investigating cases that Queen Victoria herself deems especially important or threatening to England and the crown.

Black Butler did well for its time in the early 2000s. People appreciated the characters, they liked the animation, and the story was of course unique and intriguing to tune into. It was a little disturbing for some, especially in its treatment of Ciel, who is a child, but overall it was well received and very critically acclaimed.

What We Love About Black Butler

The story has extreme depth, is very cerebral, and doesn’t pull its punches whatsoever. It’s dark, horrid in places, yet very well written in all of its aspects, including the minute details in the intricate plot.
The characters are extremely flawed, but well written in every aspect of their personalities. No one character is overworked or overemphasized, and they all balance each other out in the best ways possible.
The animation and art is beautiful. Everything flows well when it needs to, and during the fights, movements are tight, skillfully drawn, and every aspect is well done.

14. Cardcaptor Sakura

Cardcaptor Sakura takes place in the fictional city of Tomoeda, which is supposedly near the city of Tokyo. Ten-year-old Sakura Kinomoto accidentally releases a set of magical cards known as Clow Cards from a book in her basement created and named after the sorcerer Clow Reed. Each card has its own unique ability and can assume an alternate form when activated. The guardian of the cards, Cerberus (nicknamed Kero), emerges from the book and explains that only a person with magical powers could open the seal of the book, clarifying that Sakura can do magic. Kero chooses Sakura to retrieve the missing cards. As she finds each card, she battles its magical personification and defeats it by sealing it away. Cerberus acts as her guide, while her best friend and second cousin, Tomoyo Daidouji films her exploits and provides her with both battle costumes and moral support.

Syaoran Li, a boy Sakura's age and a descendant of Clow Reed, arrives from Hong Kong to recapture the cards himself. While initially antagonistic, he comes to respect Sakura and begins aiding her in capturing the cards. Once Sakura captures all of the cards, she is tested by Yue, the cards' second guardian, to determine if she is worthy of becoming the cards' true master; Yue is also the true form of Yukito Tsukishiro, Toya's best friend who Sakura has a crush on. Aided by her school teacher Kaho Mizuki, Sakura passes the test and becomes the new master of the Clow Cards.

People love Cardcaptor Sakura, and for good reason. It’s often considered one of the best children’s manga and anime in translation, especially when it comes to the English language. The world is well developed, the characters are well written and likable, and the show itself is a credit to the magical girl genre.

What We Love About Cardcaptor Sakura

It's more than just a classic or a title that's influential. It's an example of a series that was not afraid to take risks and defy common conventions of the genre in order to maximize quality.
The relationship between Sakura and Syaoran serves as the basis for the central theme of the series as their feelings and relationships change and develop immensely, from rivals to friends and finally to lovers. This is a very gradual change and it's paced well enough that it feels completely natural, a change you might not even notice without retrospect.
Some characters reveal hidden sides that will surprise the audience and certain side characters develop and become integral to the story. At no point does the show ever feel too silly or too serious; it's a perfect blend of the two.

13. The Slayers

Powerful and arrogant sorceress Lina Inverse travels the world, stealing treasure from bandits and collecting it wherever she finds it. When some of her bandit victims come searching for revenge against her in the forest, a swordsman named Gourry Gabriev comes to Lina’s defense, assuming she’s in some kind of danger.

After defeating the bandits quickly, Lina scolds him for getting in her way, and Gourry escorts her to Atlas City despite her not wanting him to. She treats the swordsman harshly, but this is the true beginning of their friendship that lasts throughout the series.

However, without realizing it, Lina has chanced upon a powerful item in her adventures, and its magic is coveted. Now two mysterious men are hunting Lina and Gourry to obtain this powerful object for apparently nefarious purposes. This way they begin their adventure, one where the fate of the world itself may be at stake.

Slayers is a classic, and not only is it a classic, it spawned several other series, movies, and video games to show for its success. People love it for the characters, the humor, and the world. Those who grew up with it are nostalgic for their childhood, and those who are new to it can appreciate it for the wonder it is.

What We Love About The Slayers

This show, for the most part, sticks to the hardcore adventuring and monster killing aspect. The show tries to put in plot twists and other predictable nonsense, but it's just so well crafted and engineered, that it's easy to look past these things.
And while no major main characters die, if you're a side character in this show or a villain, your life is potentially forfeit. Despite this show's humor and generally light-hearted pace, when the killings are good, the blood is fresh.
The events flow nicely into one another and they frequently recall past events, making it feel as though nothing watched early in the series was a waste of time. Although the plot is quite linear, it is still very enjoyable.

12. Beastars

Beastars take place in a modernized world of anthropomorphic animals where the culture is heavily divided between carnivores and herbivores, discrimination rampant on both sides. Legoshi, a gray wolf who is the only one of his kind at Cherryton Academy, is quiet and very timid. As a member of the drama club, Legoshi works as a stagehand who supports the actors and the star of the club and show, Louis, the Red Deer.

Things were already incredibly tense between students, and things suddenly got worse. Without warning, Tem, the Alpaca, is brutally murdered and devoured by a carnivore at school. Every carnivore is suddenly a suspect, and no one is off the hook. Throughout all this, Legoshi encounters Haru, a small dwarf rabbit who had been in love with Louis. Legoshi himself begins to fall for her, and things go haywire.

In the midst of the chaos, there is still the competition to become the next Beastar, the primary student who is decided to be the most talented and worthy credit to the school.

Beastars was a huge success. It was deemed a darker and more developed version of Disney’s Zootopia, and the animation itself is absolutely stellar. Not only that, but people loved the characters and their designs, personalities, and their intricate stories. Beastars is a show we won’t soon forget.

What We Love About Beastars

Beastars is revolutionary. This level of detail and accuracy is highly uncommon for anime characters even in psychological anime series. There is more depth, detail, planning, and polish than one would expect or let alone see at first glance.
The cast members all come with self-awareness and ideas that come from within the person. There are no moments in the narrative where a thought or piece of behavior seems out of place or controlled by the author.
The psychological side is accurate and clever, the animal prejudices -which are used as metaphors- along with the societal structure and way the world works, do not only have their real-life relevance and political satire factors in them but do an impressive job creating the anime's very own universe.

11. Attack On Titan

Attack on Titan is set in a world where humanity lives inside cities surrounded by enormous walls that protect them from Titans, gigantic humanoid creatures who devour humans seemingly without reason. The story centers around Eren Jaeger, his adoptive sister Mikasa Ackermann, and their childhood friend Armin Arlelt, whose lives are changed forever after the appearance of a Colossal Titan, which brings about the destruction of their hometown and the death of Eren's mother. Vowing revenge and reclaiming the world from the Titans, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin join the Scout Regiment, an elite group of soldiers who fight Titans outside the Walls.

Attack On Titan is revolutionary in terms of style, story, and characters. Attack On Titan’s final season has recently been released, and the reception has been outstanding. It’s been loved by everyone, and Attack On Titan is here to stay in terms of its legendary impact on the anime world.

What We Love About Attack On Titan

The animation is gorgeous. Everything is so finely tuned and colored, it’s very easy to see that there was a ton of tough work put into it. Besides that, the facial expressions are so realistic it can be haunting when a character is in pain.
Speaking of characters, they all have depth and passion in them. Each character is well written and their stories are well executed. Not only that, but they all interact with each other in ways that no viewer can expect on some occasions.
Finally, the violence. It isn’t as graphic as Corpse Party or Parasyte, but the significant violence it does have paired with the better story writing puts it at number one. Its overall balance between the two makes it the most appealing and interesting in terms of an anime to watch.

10. Demon Slayer

In Taisho-era Japan, Tanjiro Kamado and his sister Nezuko travel across the country to cure Nezuko’s demon curse. While they journey, they become stuck in the happenings of a secret society called the Demon Slayer Corps, a society that has been fighting a secret war against the demons for centuries. Demons are former humans that sold their souls in exchange for limitless power, and they feed on humans as they possess extraordinary abilities such as super-strength, magic, and regeneration. Demons can only be killed when decapitated by weapons made of Sun Steel, laced with poison from wisteria flowers, or exposed to sunlight.

Tanjiro Kamado lives with his family in the mountains. He has become his family's source of income after the passing of his father, making trips to the nearby village to sell charcoal. Everything changes when he comes home one day to discover that his family has been attacked and slaughtered by a demon. Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko are the sole survivors, with Nezuko being transformed into a demon, but still surprisingly showing signs of human emotion and thought. After an encounter with Giyū Tomioka, a demon slayer, Tanjiro is recruited by him and sent to be taught by Sakonji Urokodaki, another member of the Demon Slayer Corps, to also become a demon slayer, and begins his quest to help his sister turn human again and avenge the deaths of the rest of his family.

Not many media franchises can say that they have a movie that outsells Disney’s Frozen, but Demon Slayer can. Not only did the movie impress anime lovers the globe over, but the show also did as well. People loved it and still do. The characters are relatable to a wide audience, and the anime community has certainly taken to that with interaction and cosplay.

What We Love About Demon Slayer

This show is yet another spectacle by ufotable – the studio that can take an otherwise generic shounen with a fairly linear story and turn it into a show that has fans craving for more every week. Half an episode of a cleverly directed and masterfully animated battle led this show to become one of the most prominent topics of discussion on online anime communities.
The action scenes are jaw-dropping and are something you would rewind the few seconds of that scene to see again. Basically, the animation is beautiful and extremely well done.
The story also has a deep meaning, each encounter, showing the story and reason behind the demon's life and existence. It makes you want to experience the characters as they are, and it helps you sympathize with them.

9. One Piece

Gol D. Roger was the Pirate King, the strongest and most infamous outlaw to ever sail the Grand Line. When the World Government captured and executed him, the world changed drastically. His last words before his demise were the location of the greatest treasure on the planet: One Piece, a treasure that would bring anyone ultimate wealth, fame, and the title of Pirate King. This revelation led to the Grand Age of Pirates, a time where men all over searched desperately for One Piece.

Monkey D. Luffy is a seventeen-year-old pirate who doesn’t exactly fit the normal pirate characteristics. Rather than a hardened criminal who pillages towns for fun, Luffy’s reasons for becoming a pirate revolve around exciting adventures, meeting new people, and making friends out of a crew. Of course, One Piece is a huge factor as well.

Luffy and his crew follow the path of his childhood friend, Shanks, and they sail the Grand Line searching for glory, adventures, and One Piece.

One Piece is often accused of being too long, but that doesn’t stop people from loving it. Audiences say that it hooks you right from the start and that even though it’s considerably long, they have a difficult time getting bored. People say that while the episode number seems daunting, it’s worth the watch, especially in the later seasons. One Piece is definitely a historical treasure (no pun intended).

What We Love About One Piece

The characters are well done, likable, and bounce well off each other. They work together well in fights and in conversations, a double experience that it great and rare among most animes, especially among the action animes.
The plot seems straightforward, and it is, but the way it develops over time is absolutely huge and impossible to ignore overall. It’s a great and amazing story that just about everyone in the community seems to love.
One Piece does have some pretty powerful scenes and emotional moments that can truly touch your heart. Not all action animes do this particularly well, but One Piece manages to pass the test in terms of this.

8. Dragon Ball

Gokuu Son is a young boy who lives in the woods all alone—that is, until a girl named Bulma runs into him in her search for a set of magical objects called the "Dragon Balls." Since the artifacts are said to grant one wish to whoever collects all seven, Bulma hopes to gather them and wish for a perfect boyfriend. Gokuu happens to be in possession of a dragon ball, but unfortunately for Bulma, he refuses to part ways with it, so she makes him a deal: he can tag along on her journey if he lets her borrow the dragon ball's power. With that, the two set off on the journey of a lifetime.

They don't go on the journey alone. On the way, they meet the old Muten-Roshi and wannabe disciple Kuririn, with whom Gokuu trains to become a stronger martial artist for the upcoming World Martial Arts Tournament. However, it's not all fun and games; the ability to make any wish come true is a powerful one, and there are others who would do much worse than just wishing for a boyfriend. To stop those who would try to abuse the legendary power, they train to become stronger fighters, using their newfound strength to help the people around them along the way.

Dragon Ball is a classic, and it’s hard to go wrong with a classic. As one of the earliest anime’s on the list, older anime fans have watched it time and time again, and their nostalgia makes it great. Dragon Ball is a part of anime history, and really pushed the genre of media itself in terms of the impact it had on society.

What We Love About Dragon Ball

The characters have such a genuinely portrayed chemistry with each other. Dragonball never seems to take itself too seriously, allowing the viewer to sit back and enjoy the ride.
Dragon Ball is divided into multiple story arcs, some longer than others, which are hilariously funny and manage to entertain with fantastic battles. Dragon Ball is genuinely funny.
The fights were always entertaining and well thought out. It was never just a case of running in, attacking, and (if a foe was just too great) tapping into a hidden power.

7. Death Note

A shinigami, as a god of death, can kill any person—provided they see their victim's face and write their victim's name in a notebook called a Death Note. One day, Ryuk, bored by the shinigami lifestyle and interested in seeing how a human would use a Death Note, drops one into the human realm.

High school student and prodigy Light Yagami stumbles upon the Death Note and—since he deplores the state of the world—tests the deadly notebook by writing a criminal's name in it. When the criminal dies immediately following his experiment with the Death Note, Light is greatly surprised and quickly recognizes how devastating the power that has fallen into his hands could be.

With this divine capability, Light decides to extinguish all criminals in order to build a new world where crime does not exist and people worship him as a god. Police, however, quickly discover that a serial killer is targeting criminals and, consequently, try to apprehend the culprit. To do this, the Japanese investigators count on the assistance of the best detective in the world: a young and eccentric man known only by the name of L.

A shinigami, as a god of death, can kill any person—provided they see their victim's face and write their victim's name in a notebook called a Death Note.

People like Death Note mostly for Ryuk. He runs the business, steals the show, he does everything. The world is fascinating, as is the show’s concept of what constitutes the afterlife and who goes where. And as conceited and as obnoxious as Light can be, he is funny, and he does have the Death Note.

What We Love About Death Note

The concept in general is incredibly creative and discusses righteousness, death, and vanity in one of the most original ways an anime has ever done. The violence perpetrated by emotions and the inner workings of Light’s mind, making the world seem smaller in an interesting way.
Ryuk is one of the best anime characters of all time. He’s funny, is the main catalyst for the whole show, and gets along well with Light to the point where their relationship is sometimes comedic. He is definitely the best character in Death Note and definitely makes the story.
The voice acting is on point, especially for Light and Ryuk. Two very talented voice actors are portraying two complex characters and their personalities, and overall, it works in the show’s favor. They aren’t the only talents of course, but they both ultimately steal the show together.

6. Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo has become a cruel and merciless city—a place where vicious creatures called "ghouls" exist alongside humans. The citizens of this once great metropolis live in constant fear of these bloodthirsty savages and their thirst for human flesh. However, the greatest threat these ghouls pose is their dangerous ability to masquerade as humans and blend in with society.

Based on the best-selling supernatural horror manga by Sui Ishida, Tokyo Ghoul follows Ken Kaneki, a shy, bookish college student, who is instantly drawn to Rize Kamishiro, an avid reader like himself. However, Rize is not exactly who she seems, and this unfortunate meeting pushes Kaneki into the dark depths of the ghouls' inhuman world. In a twist of fate, Kaneki is saved by the enigmatic waitress Touka Kirishima, and thus begins his new, secret life as a half-ghoul/half-human who must find a way to integrate into both societies.

Tokyo Ghoul really makes you feel for you Ken, and that’s the idea. Its concept is creative and original, and it’s honestly best at its beginning. I think the pack and alpha mentality of the ghouls is fascinating, and a great play on animalistic tendencies. There was tons of thought put into this anime, and it’s beautiful visually and story-wise.

What We Love About Tokyo Ghoul

The concept itself while disturbing is quite amazing and interesting. Modern-day science fiction lore paired with this level of violence actually works quite well in Tokyo Ghoul’s favor, making it an extremely popular anime.
The animation is beautiful. It’s fluid, sharp, colorful, and the facial expressions on each character were done with immense thought and care. When it comes to the surroundings, each minute detail counts, and each one contributes a great deal to the rest of the story.
Kaneki is a great male protagonist. He’s not completely hotheaded or completely weak, either. He has heart and a genuine personality the audience can grow to love. Of course, the stellar voice acting also definitely helps out.

5. Naruto

Moments prior to Naruto Uzumaki's birth, a huge demon is known as the Kyuubi, the Nine-Tailed Fox, attacked Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf Village, and wreaked havoc. In order to put an end to the Kyuubi's rampage, the leader of the village, the Fourth Hokage, sacrificed his life and sealed the monstrous beast inside the newborn Naruto.

Now, Naruto is a hyperactive and knuckle-headed ninja still living in Konohagakure. Shunned because of the Kyuubi inside him, Naruto struggles to find his place in the village, while his burning desire to become the Hokage of Konohagakure leads him not only to some great new friends but also some deadly foes.

Since Naruto Uzumaki left Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf Village, for intense training following events that fueled his desire to be stronger. Now Akatsuki, the mysterious organization of elite rogue ninja, is closing in on their grand plan which may threaten the safety of the entire shinobi world.

Although Naruto is older and sinister events loom on the horizon, he has changed little in personality—still rambunctious and childish—though he is now far more confident and possesses an even greater determination to protect his friends and home. Come whatever may, Naruto will carry on with the fight for what is important to him, even at the expense of his own body, in the continuation of the saga about the boy who wishes to become Hokage.

Naruto is one of the best anime of all time, according to the public. People loved it for its humor, heart, and overall story. And they still do. When people think of anime, they think of Naruto, and rightfully so. Its spinoffs, movies, and games work well in its overall media favor.

What We Love About Naruto

Despite being accused of being overrated, Naruto does extremely well with the way it portrays martial arts. The technique has substance, quality and all of the training arcs really showed the defining elements of how ninjutsu worked within the naruto universe.
What Naruto often focuses on is friendship and the bonds between said friends. Through these friendships and bonds, this show explores themes of revenge, hate, bonds, and sorrow to a very astounding degree.
Naruto is one of the original shonen animes, and it serves as an effective inspiration for those that came after it. It also serves as a major source of nostalgia, and whether you love it or hate it, you can’t deny that it is a major staple of the anime community.

4. Inuyasha

Kagome Higurashi is just a fifteen-year-old girl when her normal life ends, as a demon drags her into a cursed well on the grounds of her family's Shinto shrine. Instead of hitting the bottom of the well, Kagome ends up five hundred years in the past during Japan's violent Feudal Era, with the demon's target, a wish-granting jewel called the Shikon Jewel, reborn inside of her.

After a battle with a revived demon accidentally causes the sacred jewel to shatter, Kagome enlists the help of a young and angry half-demon named Inuyasha to help her collect the shards and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. Joining Kagome and Inuyasha on their quest are the orphan fox-demon Shippo, the intelligent monk Miroku, and the lethal demon slayer Sango. Together, they must set aside their differences and work together to find the power granting shards spread across feudal Japan and deal with the threats that arise.

Inuyasha is the anime that inspired anime to be normalized as media outside of piracy, and for that reason, alone people appreciate it. It’s genuinely funny, a great time overall, and is appealing to multiple audiences beyond what it attempts to reach on its own. This is why Inuyasha’s belongs where it does.

What We Love About Inuyasha

The advantage that Inuyasha had over other anime was its massive cast of characters, all of whom had entire arcs devoted to their interpersonal conflicts. While many at the time had issues with the nigh-indestructible villain of the series, Naraku, many smaller antagonists proved popular enough to become part of the regular cast.
The villains of a series are fairly unimportant if the audience doesn't care what happens to the heroes. Inuyasha's core cast of characters is very human and lovable, with goals and agendas all their own.
Anime became popular thanks to it airing on television. Fortunately, Inuyasha had a prolonged life on Adult Swim. It aired on the programming block even when other anime was taken off the air.

3. Pokémon

Now that he has turned ten years old, Ash Ketchum is allowed to start his journey in the world of Pokémon and dreams of becoming a Pokémon master. But, on the day he is to receive his first Pokémon, Ash oversleeps and wakes up in a panic, running into Gary Oak, who becomes Ash's rival. Professor Oak, the local Pokémon researcher, has already given away the three Pokémon (Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle) he entrusts to new Pokémon Trainers when Ash finally reaches Oak's Lab. The only Pokémon that he has left is a Pikachu, which he gives to Ash.

Determined to make it on his journey, Ash does his best to befriend Pikachu, but it refused to trust him and chooses to stay out of the Poké Ball, even attacking Ash with its electric powers. It is only after Ash protects Pikachu from a group of angry Spearow that Pikachu realizes how much Ash cares. Along the way, Ash makes many human friends, such as Misty and Brock, and Pokémon friends as he works his way through the ranks of the world's many Pokémon Leagues.

Anyone who doesn’t sing “I want to be the very best like no one ever was” doesn’t know Pokémon. Lucky for everyone in the anime community, most certainly do. Pokémon was a phenomenon all by itself, and the show made the cards a staple part of the anime industry for the rest of time.

What We Love About Pokémon

No one thinks of Pokémon and doesn’t think about their childhood at the same time. Pokémon is fun for everyone, and we all love the adventures and the fun designs of the creatures themselves.
As kids, we all loved Ash, and we all rooted for him. He proved to be a great trainer, and we could all relate to him and his goals. Ash was the ultimate protagonist, especially for kids, and still is.
The original Pokémon actually tugged at your heartstrings. From Ash saying goodbye to Butterfree to sacrificing himself for Pikachu, these moments are touching, kind, and lovely. These were needed in an anime generally cheerful and goofy.

2. Sailor Moon

Usagi Tsukino is an average teenager and a student who constantly scores low on her tests. Suddenly, her life is turned upside down when she saves a cat with a crescent moon on its head from being bullied by younger boys. The cat, Luna, later reveals that their meeting was not an accident. Luna tells Usagi that she is destined to become Sailor Moon, a young guardian with the power to protect the Earth. Given a special brooch that allows her to transform, she must use her new powers to save the city from evil energy-stealing monsters sent by Queen Beryl of the Dark Kingdom.

But getting accustomed to her powers and fighting villains are not the only things she has to worry about. She must find the lost princess of the Moon Kingdom, the other Sailor Guardians, and the Legendary Silver Crystal in order to save the planet from destruction.

Sailor Moon was the original magical girl anime, and every magical girl anime is similar to it in at least some way. When it comes to outfits, plots, protagonists, and more, Sailor Moon is the original when it comes to being a young girl’s hero above a typical superhero in general. Sailor Moon was a genius move, and always will be.

What We Love About Sailor Moon

It walks a funny line between shounen and shojo, showcasing intense fight scenes and drama while also having light-hearted moments and romance. A lot of the episodes also contain little messages and lessons in them, akin to something we’d see in your typical Saturday morning cartoons for kids.
Sailor Moon is particularly interesting in its nostalgia factor. It even inspired a remaster, which basically confirms its influence in the anime world in general. Sailor Moon inspired many and will inspire more.
Sailor Moon was the staple for the magical girl genre. Any magical girl anime took inspiration from the original Sailor Moon, and Sailor Moon pioneered an entire genre of art, stories, anime, and media.

Best Anime Of All Time: Fairy Tail

In the fantasy land of Fiore, magic is an essential part of everyday life. Countless magic guilds are the heart of all magical activity, and serve as areas for mages to band together and take on job requests. Among them, Fairy Tail stands out from the rest as a place of strength, spirit, family, and of course, utter chaos.

Lucy Heartfilia is a young Celestial Wizard searching for Celestial I ate keys, and her dream is to become a full-fledged wizard by joining Fairy Tail. In the town of Magnolia, she runs into Natsu Dragneel and his partner Happy, who are on a quest to find Natsu's foster father, the dragon Igneel.

Upon being tricked by Bora, who was pretending to be the famous Salamander, Lucy falls under an abduction attempt, only to be saved by Natsu. To her shock, he reveals that he is a member of Fairy Tail and invites her to join them. There, Lucy meets the guild's wild and free members, such as the ice wizard Gray Fullbuster and magic swordswoman Erza Scarlet. Together as a family, they battle the forces of evil, help those in need, and gain new friends, all the while enjoying the never-ending adventure that is Fairy Tail.

Fairy Tail was clearly made with love, and we all love it. The plot is amazing, the characters sympathetic, and the visuals amazing. While it's accused of being overrated, its themes of friendship, family, loyalty, and sacrifice are above and beyond any other anime on this list or of all time.

What Makes Fairy Tail Great

The animation is beautiful, friendly in character expression, and the action is smooth. Everything is entertaining, almost beyond so, and the character designs are superior to most other shonen animes in the business.
Speaking of shonen anime, Fairy Tail isn’t your typical shonen anime. It doesn’t just focus on one character as the main hero, it focuses on all of Fairy Tail. The main protagonist isn’t Natsu or Lucy, but it’s the entirety of Fairy Tail itself, and that’s what truly sets it apart from the others.
All of the characters are well written and have well-developed personalities. Some entire arcs are developed for certain characters, and this helps viewers to become sympathetic with them throughout the series.

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Elizabeth Eberle

I carry my pen like I carry my broadsword; with confidence and experience. My entire life has been devoted to creative writing and gaming, and always will be.

Gamer Since:

2012

Favorite Genre:

RPG

Currently Playing:

Shadowverse

Top 3 Favorite Games:

Costume Quest, Star Wars: Battlefront, The Elder Scrolls Online